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    Spoon

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Noodles, Barbeque
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Spoon Takeout or Delivery

    Spoon Photos

    SPOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Spoon

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    Reviews With Photos

    KFC Chicken Wings (6pcs)
    Maximillian S.

    Wow. Can't say enough great things about this place. First off, I love the atmosphere. Super chill vibe. Very laid back and casual. Staff are very friendly and were willing to answer the multiple questions that I had about the food choices. Now let's get to the food. I had the KFC soy garlic wings. These are delicious. The wings were perfectly cooked and the glaze was sweet and delicious. I also had a bowl of the Ramen. I chose spam and pork for the protein. Dumplings were my topping. This was such a delicious bowl of ramen. I had the spicy level. Perfect amount of heat for me. They give you so much protein in the ramen. Really loved the portion also. I had to take some wings honestly cause I couldn't finish it all. Let's not forget about the small plates they provide as well. These were great! I have been to a few other Korean BBQ places, but this one is tops on my list. I consider this a must try place. It is now one of my top spots at which to eat.

    Cheese corn
    Monica M.

    Spoon is a neighborhood Korean and Hawaiian restaurant in the Berkeley area, with something on the menu for everyone. We ordered the cheese corn, kimchi pancake, rose tteokbokki, chicken katsu, and bibimbap. Everything surpassed our expectations, and we had plenty of food to bring home as leftovers. Added plus was all the banchan they served! Service was fast and friendly, and there's ample seating both inside and outside. Their back bar area has a nice private room setting for larger parties. There's a loop of K-pop videos playing on the TV in the main room, and the entire time we were there, there was a steady flow of patrons coming and going. I found it a little disappointing that they no longer serve sushi even though I'm seeing they had it on their menu at some point, but the offerings they serve now is still excellent and worth coming back for.

    Chicken katsu
    Michelle M.

    FOOD was delicious. You get unlimited side dishes. I enjoyed the broccoli and I think pickled radishes. Chicken katsu was crispy. Macaroni salad is saltier than I'm used to but good. They have vegetarian options like tofu. Different spicy levels too. Ginger tea was yummy. VENUE has a front casual dining section with a fancier night time club feel back section. There's also outside seating with heating lamp option. PARKING is along the side of the building. There was an unhoused man asking for money so be careful. It's well lit at least. STAFF was on par.

    Pork katsu
    Ngoc Minh Anh H.

    Perfect restaurant for Korean food. Good food and cute plating! Friendly and responsive service.

    Bibimbop 비빔밥
    Jose Manuel C.

    After strolling through other locations in Berkeley, we stumbled into this place. The bibimbap was amazing! The tonkatsu and chicken kayak looked good! Thats what everyone else had they gave me good feedback. We shred a corn cheese that was great. The sides were cool also. A graffiti clean restroom, great service and a wide variety of drinks ! I'll return sometime yes or yes! 5/5

    seafood pancake
    Janine L.

    Such a cute restaurant with friendly staff! We got seats immediately and they were so nice & kept refilling our banchan! The service was super quick and the food came out immediately. The star of the show was definitely the KFC soy garlic! Would definitely come back!

    Faith M.

    Haven't been here since COVID & it's still just as good! Had gangnam fries 10/10, seafood soft tofu soup 10/10 & tteokbokki were all really good & the staff are friendly and attentive!

    Menu
    Emily H.

    Came on a weekday around 11:30am for lunch since I work nearby. There are a few parking spots in front but they were full when I was there. The place is spacious, with tables inside and outside seating as well. The server was nice but the only one working the lunch crowd. I ordered the seafood ramen with rice cake, mild. It did take about 20 minutes for my food to come out, which according to other reviews is not standard so unsure why that happened. Thus the 4 stars. But I enjoyed the meal, they gave generous fillings and the broth was good for a cold day. You can also refill the side dishes at no cost. Will definitely come again!

    Chanyaphon C.

    This is an amazing home style Korean spot in Berkeley! The vibe is cozy and the workers are very attentive and helpful. The menu isn't overwhelming but it still has a lot of variety of options! Prices are very reasonable too. We ordered the Army Stew, KFC (Soy Garlic), Galbi, Steamed Egg, Rose Tteokbokki. Everything we ordered was SO GOOD. The galbi was cooked and marinated perfectly. Not tough or chewy at all. The chicken was crispy but so juicy. However my favorite was definitely the Army Stew, a classic but such good flavor and just enough for 4 people. But the Rose Tteokbokki! SO YUMMY! The flavor is different from the usual style and I think it's my new favorite. Please come and give this place a try!

    Veggie pancake
    Christine L.

    I've always been curious about Spoon when driving by because it's located on a little triangular island. If you've been thinking about it like me, I definitely recommend checking it out, it's worth it! There is indoor and outdoor seating but I've always sat outdoors the few times I've been now. The servers are super attentive and accommodating to any specific dietary requests. The outdoor seating is cozy and quite nice for larger groups. The food is your standard Korean restaurant offerings with stews and meats. I did try their sujebi stew which I don't see as commonly around other Korean restaurants. And it BROUGHT ME BACK TO LIFE. I mean I was hungry, but it was like the PERFECT thing on a colder day. The soup was flavorful, warm and full of veggies. The little sujebi (torn dough) bites were so delightfully chewy I couldn't get enough.

    Back bar lounge area

    I have been to many Korean restaurants and this one has been my absolute favorite. First, there are 3 different vibes to this place, all welcoming. The patio area has a refreshing and casual vibe. The main restaurant is what you would expect and the back has more of a bar lounge kind of vibe. The tables and the restaurant itself is clean and inviting. Second, the food was indescribably delicious. I have never had bad Korean food. That just doesn't exist in Korean cuisine, but SPOON was so good that it makes me feel like I have been eating mid Korean this whole time. We received four sides in our banchan and I knew I was in for a treat when I tried their kimchi. The menu had a good variety ranging from classic appetizers to vegetarian options and even bbq. We ordered the kimchi stew, miso stew, japchae with tofu, kimchi fried rice with spam and a ramen bowl and I cannot express how much everyone enjoyed everything. We were a group of 5 and they all raved over their dish. Do you know how hard that is? To have everyone in your party enjoy their food?! You will notice the lack of pictures of our food but that's because once I started eating I couldn't stop. Last, the service was fast, attentive, and courteous. They check in periodically to see if anyone needs anything. They provide banchan refills on request! Our drinks were always replenished. They were quick to bring out to go containers when we were done eating our meal and the check also arrived in a timely manner. Great ambience, wonderful service and amazing food. I haven't been to a restaurant that was a triple kill in such a long time. I loved it so much that I can't wait for my next visit.

    The food here is amazing! Would definitely recommend coming with friends since portions are big.

    Rose-Tteokbokki 떡볶이

    Love this place so much! The food here is always amazing and the service is incredible. Came here today for lunch with my partner. Daniel was our server and was very friendly, attentive, made us feel welcomed. Prices are very reasonable, (between 15-20$ for an entree and 10-15$ for appetizers. KBBQ is around the 30$ range). Highly recommended

    Tteokbokki 떡볶이

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    The cheesy corn was super good. Also really enjoyed the tteokbokki and the custom ramen. The service was excellent and really helpful

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    10 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The service was fast and the food came out extremely fresh, I loved the kpop music and the light hearted atmosphere!!

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Delicious food, great service, fun atmosphere and a lovely back room that is great for groups!

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Very generous portions! Good Flavor. Very Yum. Music very hip. Service super fast. The banchan are very good.

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    9 months ago

    Good service!!! Great food!!!!!! Would love to come back!!!!! Prices are affordable and portion is huge too

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    Page 3 of 29

    Ask the Community - Spoon

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$

    Temescal, North Oakland

    After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here…read more Really good BBQ spot. Glad we came here. Everything looked so yummy when it came. Good flavors from everything. My favorite was the mac & cheese and brussels sprouts. The meats were so tender! Although, I tried a piece of pork link, for some reason, I didn't like it. It seemed too grainy. The ambience was chill, and they have full bar. Nice and spacious. My only complaint is that I was trying to order & the phone rings & the host took the call. What I learned in customer service in my 20 years +, you attend to the customer in front of you first. Phone calls can wait. When she got off the phone, other workers came over and they started talking about what's next in their schedule. Still, I'm over here, waiting to order the rest of the stuff. That what the unprofessional part of things.. Glad we still came here to try. It still earned a star to come back!

    The ambiance felt more like being at a loud concert than a place to sit and enjoy a meal. As for…read morethe "service," there really wasn't any--food was brought out on tin cookie sheets with whatever they had left, since they were out of chicken, tri-tip, and most of their meats. The food itself was extremely disappointing. The potato salad was clearly not homemade and very bland. The collard greens were overly salty. The pulled pork was dry and had no flavor. The brisket came as two very thin, tiny slices that looked more like pieces of bread than meat. I also ordered a sausage, and it was soggy with a ground beef-like texture, as if it had been sitting in water. For $18, I expected something that at least resembled sausage. The ordering process was inconvenient--you place your food order at the register, then have to go separately to the bar to order and pay again for drinks. In total, we spent $100 for two meals (each with one meat and two sides), two IPAs, and the sausage. Definitely not worth it. Would I recommend this place? Maybe if you just want to grab a beer and don't plan on having a conversation due to the noise. But for the food--absolutely not. I'm from Texas, and I've never had barbecue this disappointing.

    Pig in a Pickle - baby back ribs

    Pig in a Pickle

    (297 reviews)

    $$

    This lives within the food court next door to Guitar center and is my goto in east bay for an…read moreexcellent brisket. Nothing else is as consistently good in quality and service as these folks. Their sides of collard greens and pickles are also great.

    Tucked away inside the Public Market in a little side nook, this is easily one of the best barbecue…read morespots I've come across in the Bay Area. It's the kind of place you almost miss if you're not looking for it, but once you find it, you'll keep coming back. The brisket, pulled pork, and spare ribs are consistently excellent. The meat is incredibly tender, it basically melts in your mouth, and that deep, smoky flavor really seeps all the way through, not just on the surface. The sauces come on the side, and they're free, so don't be shy about asking for extra. I actually asked if there was a limit once, and the cashier laughed and said something like, "Maybe six containers?" If I'm being picky, I'd probably skip the hot links next time. They're not bad, just nothing special compared to how strong everything else is, slightly smoky, but otherwise pretty standard. The collard greens are a standout side dish. They've got this nice acidity that cuts through the richness of the meat really well. There is a noticeable vinegar tang, though, so if that's not your thing, you might want to pass, but if you like that balance, they're great. Another big bonus, there's a park right outside the building near the exit by Cashew Creamery. It's perfect if you've got kids. There's this whale structure they can climb into (through the mouth or side), with a slide on top and climbing holds all over -- fins, back, tail, the whole thing. There are also surfboard-style balance boards on springs and plenty of open space and greenery to run around. And if you're making a little outing of it, it's only about a 10-minute walk to Bay Street, so you can easily pair your meal with a stroll, some shopping, or more food and drinks nearby.

    Everett & Jones - 3-Way Combo

    Everett & Jones

    (987 reviews)

    $$

    West Berkeley

    Ever since Ms. Mary, the owner of Everett and Jones passed away, Sorry to say - you never know…read morewhat to expect in terms of food quality from E&J these days. I happened to be in the bay near university right around the time the store opened and since they are my favorite bbq spot, decided to give them another try. I'm so glad I did. Got a 3 way with ribs, sliced beef and links with sides of potato salad and baked beans for $46.00. Again, so glad I went. Everything was delicious! The meat was cooked to perfection and tender. The sliced beef had pieces of garlic cooked into it. So good! The beans were a little too sweet for my liking and the potato salad was basic potato salad made to satisfy many different palates so it was just ok. But the star of the show was the meat and it didn't disappoint. Everything was hot and fresh. The bbq sauce was hot and there was plenty of it on the meat. One change I noticed was the walk up window. No longer are you able to walk inside the building. All orders are taken at one window and picked up at a different window. The guy taking my order was nice and friendly. He smiled a lot, told me that I Clearly hadn't been there for a few months when I commented on the new walk up window. When I mentioned I live out of town, he thanked me For stopping by on my visit to the bay. Ms. Mary would have been proud all the way around, for the food, service and the presentation this particular day!!!

    I order delivery through the Uber app. This was our first time eating from this restaurant. I…read moreordered the four-way combo & 2 orders of Biscoff banana pudding. Unfortunately, the banana pudding was not delivered. I did request a refund through the Uber app regarding the banana pudding's missing from the order. As for the four-way combo. The meats order was the ribs, brisket , link, and the burnt ends. Unfortunately, the combo did not have any burnt ends, instead it seemed like extra ribs. As for the sides with the combo, we did ordered the mac & cheese and the potato salad. The mac & cheese was slightly different than other mac & cheese, I've had from other places. It seemed to have a little bit of different spices in it, a strong garlic and paprika taste. As for the potato salad, at first, I wasn't sure if it was potato salad or mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the potato salad did not taste or seem at all like potato salad to me. They pour the barbecue sauce on top of all the meat. The only problem with that, is by the time we got the bag it was soaking wet at the bottom with the barbecue sauce that had spilled out of the container. Personally, I feel, orders for delivery or to go should have had the barbecue sauce on the side to prevent this from leaking outside of the container or in somebody's vehicle.

    Don Blanc - marinated boneless angus short rib (주물럭)

    Don Blanc

    (295 reviews)

    $$$

    Temescal, North Oakland

    I always start by saying the parking situation, being a tiny tiny lot you need to be extremely…read morelucky for. Even street parking on a weeknight is a bit hard because it's right where everything is on telegraph in Oakland. You'll find a spot around, just a matter of walking a bit further. It's not an AYCE spot but you're paying for the meat quality which is really worth it. The service is wonderful here. There's a button on the table if you can't flag anyone down if you need something. We got our appetizers first which is what I really like in a restaurant and then the good quality meat comes out. I always get cheese corn if I see it on the menu and tbh, this one was just ok. They come with a good big set of bonchons for you to enjoy as well. For 2 people, we got a 3-4 person meat platter (set A) and it was actually enough food for us to finish just because the meat was THAT delicious and great quality. They opt to cook for you as well if you're patient to wait because they do that for a lot of tables. We just weren't patient and cooked our own, they were already plenty busy, no need to add more work. If but you don't like cooking, but enjoy your kbbq, this is a good spot to check out.

    Had my birthday celebration here today with friends and Don Blanc Oakland did not disappoint!…read more Amazing food, outstanding service, and such a welcoming atmosphere. Wi was really helpful, and John & Chris made the night even better with their great energy and entertainment. Perfect place for celebrations -- highly recommended!

    Spoon - korean - Updated May 2026

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