Coming from the Bay Area, I didn't expect to find such amazing Korean fried chicken. The outside was perfectly crispy and saucy, and the inside was perfectly juicy and tender. Definitely one of the best Korean fried chicken places I've ever had! read more

Ttobongee - Soy Sauce & Garlic Chicken (Spicy) - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Okay, so we (my sister and I) found Ttobongee on yelp after a day of walking around Cannery Row. We want something spicy and familiar to our palates. We are complete tourists in Monterey, so we were hoping that this isn't one of those hyped places that have pretty food and okay taste. We ordered the soy garlic and yangnyeom chicken. The Verdict: They were amazinggggggg. I've had yangnyeom chicken in other places, and they have a certain je ne sais quoi that I am not fond of. However, Ttobongee's yangnyeom chicken is exactly up my alley. Just the right amount of spice for most people. I wish that they were a tad spicier as I have a high spice tolerance. We picked up some other food after we got our chicken, so when we ate it, it was room temperature already. Please note that even cold, the wings are still good! Definitely recommend it! P.S I dont have food photos because we were too busy eating. read more

Delicious Korean fried chicken! The Maip dak wings are truly spicy, so good with the radishes too. The original wings are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. The owner was also very friendly! read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I cannot say enough positive things about this place! The service is some of the best I've ever had. Anywhere. There was a steady spread of people picking up, placing orders, and waiting and still the person working the front was friendly (above and beyond even bringing your food to your car) the whole time. The food was just as good as the service. The chicken was so spicy, crunchy, and juicy. The Yaki noodles were the perfect chewy chicken accompaniment. If you're anywhere close.... like within 100 miles, you have to come here. read more

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This place is great. The food was delicious ( had the sweet and chili chicken wings and beef jap chae). Chicken was crispy and moist, come with plastic gloves for my savage eating habits and jap chae was flavorful. Great family runned business with friendly service. Prob the best in pacific grove. It is def on the list when I come down here. read more

Ttobongee - Chapchae - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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I have heard so much about this place but in my mind there are no decent Korean fried chicken in the Monterey Peninsula. Boy, was I wrong! I do not need to drive to San Jose to satisfy my cravings, my go to place has been Bonchon. I had my doubts but once I bit into the chicken I knew I was in heaven. The crispy skin and the different flavors of the chicken, while Bonchon has only two this one has more of a variety. The price is comparable as well. I am actually sad that I did not know about this place sooner. We had the Ttobongee, Soy Sauce & Garlic (spicy) and Green onion chicken. I must say I did enjoy the Soy Sauce & Garlic, it had a good kick to it. I now must try the Maip Dak Chicken (very spicy) to compare the difference. I will be definitely coming back here sooner than later! If you are in the area this place is a must try! read more

The only Korean fried chicken joint in the Monterey Bay Area unfortunately but the chicken always comes out piping hot and flavorful! Slightly expensive for fried chicken and not the best Korean fried chicken but gets the job done! I suggest calling your order in ahead of time and picking up. Wait times can be long b/c they get busy. read more

We came from out of town after going to the aquarium. Service was great. We were seated right away. We ordered the full order of k honey chicken that was hot and crispy as well as sweet with a little kick. We also ordered the sodduk sodduk appetizer which featured crispy rice cakes and fried sausage dipped in spicy Korean sauce. It was nice and busy on a Saturday night but the service didn't skip a beat. I will definitely come back after a long hectic day at the aquarium. read more

I was so sad when Yi's closed down. Then I ate this chicken and it was so good I almost died of a dopamine overdose. You must try this chicken. It is the best chicken. This chicken is so good it makes me not want to kill chickens anymore because now I know how good they can be. read more

Hidden gem. We ordered several things: Japchae 9/10 Corn dogs 8/10 Shrimp chips 8/10 Tteokbokki 8/10 sauce too runny for my liking, flavor was delish Garlic and soy wings 10/10 Service was great! Space is small but so worth the try read more

We were at Lover's Point and yelped for chicken in the area and this restaurant popped up as the first choice. And who would've thought to find Korean fried chicken out here? Not I, but glad we pulled the trigger and ordered! My husband ordered the half and half wings that was garnished with green onions and another one had a sweet mustardy flavor to it. We also had fried mandu and shrimp chips. Everything was piping hot, fresh, and delish! Way better than Bonchon and you can tell the wing quality is very fresh. We learned upon pickup that this is the second location and just opened in March. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Jay, and he was so personable when he brought our order to the car. Highly recommend this place and we will be back again soon! read more

If you're looking for an authentic Korean chicken wings, Ttobongee will not disappoint! The staffs are super nice and friendly. Stan has always been very nice and helpful too. read more

First of all, customer service is superb! My boyfriend and I discovered this gem by accident. Turns out, it is the best Korean restaurant we have been to! We ordered bi bim bap, half & half chicken, and dduk boki. Everything was so good especially dduk boki because the taste is unique than any other dduk boki we have tasted. Even the rice cake is sooooo soft (we had left overs and the next day, it's still soft!). Definitely we will come back read more

Ttobongee - Half & Half Chicken - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Oh my goodness, this is a little gem in Pacific Grove! scrolling to find out what we would order for the evening and when I saw the Korean Fried Chicken I had to try it. The reviews were all stellar so they had to have something good going but I did not imagine it would be so damn good!!! We ordered the Ttobongee Fried Chicken and the Green Onion Chicken with Onion Rings and Kim Chi. It could not have been better, the fried chicken was crispy and not too spicy but super flavorful, tender and just delicious! The Kim Chi smelled overpowering when we opened it but the flavors were right on and not too spicy again but full of rich smokey chili flavor with the tangy sourness of the fermented cabbage. Even the onion rings stand out from others with a little spice and then just an awesome flavor. This is now a goto restaurant for great Korean Fried Chicken! read more

Stopped by on my way home from Big Sur and ordered take out. It looks like they have a table outside, but I was just passing through. I ordered boneless soy garlic chicken and it was phenomenal! It had a bit of spice to it and just the right amount of crunch, it was not a heavy batter and quite light. I also ordered chapjae which was also amazing and it had bits of cabbage to add some crunch. My daughter asked for fried rice and it was served with a fried egg in top. It was a rather large order and she at the whole thing! She said it was the best fried rice she's ever eaten and we've had fried rice at many places. I also ordered tteokboki and asked for rice cake only and mild spice. It was still pretty spicy but I love the texture of rice cake. Finally, their pickled radish is hands down the best I've had. Typically there's quite a bit of vinegar taste and this one was mild and almost sweet. I would definitely go back if ever in the area. I don't have pictures of the food (other than the half eaten chicken), because we devoured it lol read more

Ttobongee - 1/2 order of the full size soy garlic boneless chicken. - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Nice gem in Pacific Groove. Super friendly staff and the food is yummy! This is our go to whenever we are in Monterey.

A bit pricy but their wings are amazing! This is definitely our go to spot whenever we're in town.

We are big fans of Korean fried chicken and have been meaning to stop by this new restaurant for the last couple of months (since we discovered Yi's is no longer open). Wow...I wished we had gone sooner. This chicken is so delicious. We tried the original, gal bi and green onion wings; we liked the green onion the best but the other two were very good too. The guy that helped us was very nice. Order early to get your favorites. We'll definitely be back. read more

I was craving Korean Fried Chicken and so I decided to give this place a try as a recommendation from a friend. Also, it's the only Korean Fried Chicken place in the Monterey area. I ordered a #2 (Sweet & Chili) in a full order (5 drums and 10 wings), a side order of steamed rice, and a side order of sodduk sodduk (3-rice cakes and 2-sausages per skewer; 2 skewers per order; pricey). The chicken had a good crisp texture on them and were fully cooked. The taste was pretty good; there were generous amounts of sauce for the chicken and the skewers. The one side of rice was generous as well (approx. 2 cups). It's too bad you can't customize the chicken order (i.e., 1/2 of the Sweet & Chili, 1/2 Soy Sauce & Garlic; or to whatever of your liking). Disappointed that my order did not come with the radish side as it said on the menu. I didn't feel like I needed to check. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until I got home (15 min drive). Annoyed that it wasn't a complete order. read more

Ttobongee - Upper Left: Side of Steam Rice Bottom Left: Side of Sodduk Sodduk Right: Yang Nyum Chicken (Medium Spicy) Full Order Missing: Radish! - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Great food and friendly staff. I had a wonderful meal and a bottle of my favorite Korean beer "OB". Moderately priced, but a great value. I will return again read more

The server was very attentive and the food was good. We stopped by after walking around cannery row. It was a great family friendly option without the crowds. The chicken selection all has some level of spicy, even the soy garlic chicken. We ordered the garlic soy chicken with the request of no/minimal spice and it was really good. The outside has a nice crunch and flavor while the inside was juicy. We also ordered a side of fries and rice. The fries are really seasoned and has a nice crunch. The corn dog was also good. It was crunchy on the outside and the dough was chewy inside with a fish stick and sugar topped on the outside. read more

Great takeout experience with green onion wings and kimchi. Delicious! Slightly specify wings but perfect for me. Great tasting kimchi that they make. read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I made a trip to Monterey recently, and of course I always have to stop by Ttobongee at least once. I've moved them to 5-stars now, as they have only gotten better since my last trip (and my last review)! They did an awesome job with everything, as usual. I just wish I lived closer to this delicious Korean food! The Bibimbap w/beef is so filled with flavor, and the house-made Kimchi is tip-top! Thank you for always taking great care of me, Ttobongee! read more

The best and probably the only Korean wing spot you'll find in a 50 mile radius from Monterey! If you haven't had Korean chicken you're 100% missing out and Ttobongee has real authentic Korean chicken that reminds me of being back home in Seoul. The owner is amazing and the staff is crazy nice. But let's talk about the real gem of this place: Saturday night karaoke! The atmosphere is simply electric. They have a great selection of English and Korean songs, catering to various tastes, so there's something for everyone. The staff does a fantastic job of making everyone feel welcome and comfortable on the mic. One thing that truly stands out is the exceptional service. The staff is attentive, friendly, and efficient, making sure your experience is smooth and enjoyable. You can tell they genuinely care about their customers' experience. The space is just the right size, ensuring you feel cozy and intimate without being cramped. Whether you're here to enjoy the best Korean chicken wings in town, sing your heart out, or both, Ttobongee is the ultimate destination. Trust me, after one visit, you'll find yourself coming back again and again. I know I will! Tell all your friends! read more

Wonderfully crispy chicken and sides that stayed that way even an hour later. Adam, who took our order, and the owner were both incredibly welcoming, helpful, and fun to chat with. They've only been open since March just before the shelter in place mandates but you can see that the owner loves seeing people smile as they leave the restaurant. So stoked for this new addition to PG! read more

Ttobongee - chicken from left to right: half+half (ttobongee, yang nyum), soy sauce-garlic, and maip dak - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This place is so good I craved it so badly I had to return three days after trying it- Just wonderful. The chicken is hot and fresh, the sweet and spicy sauce is to die for- the perfect amount of heat and sweet that makes something addicting! The green onion chicken with spicy mustard is equally as captivating. Kimchi rice is rich, salty, sour- the Bulgolgi sweet and tender- and of course the little Daikon pickles for bites in-between. Love it. The cherry on top is the owner and staff- they're as attentive and kind as they come! Please support them in these trying times for restaurants!! I know I certainly will! read more

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I ordered full order of Original Wings, for $30.44. Got many small pieces, not worth the price. If the wings are smaller than you should add few extra in the box and explain to the customer since it's small, we added few more to make up for it. I wanted full order as a meal but instead got SNACK size. I could have saved my money and ate well next door at Los Amigos or Taste of India restaurants. I encourage others to post their wings-sizes so the restaurant improve the orders. I don't mind paying, I just want what's fair. This is NOT acceptable 1/12/22. The flavor continues to be good but I will not be coming back until the size improves!! I will include pix and you can see the size compared to my index finger (female finger). If you don't improve this issue, you'll lose more customers, not worth $30. So disappointed!!!! read more

Ttobongee - Small wing, half the box had small wings. - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Delicious fresh hot and NOT DRY Korean fried chicken. This is truly the peninsulas hidden gem.

Service was great and the food was delish. I normally can handle spicy food but I was grateful to the server who helped guide me. The boneless wings were amazing and the jalapeño chicken was just right (spice and flavor) Will definitely be back again. read more

We are locals and go to this place at least once a month. This place is pricey, but the food and portion sizes are usually good, so can't complain...until today. I placed an order to go $18 for a half order of chicken, full pieces, and fried rice $16 which we usually get. Today, to my surprise I got home and saw small little party wings in my to go container. Not cool at all. When we eat there in the restaurant, we get full legs and wings. I take it the to go orders get a bag of party wings. I'd really like my money back for the wings or at least a credit. This place really let this faithful to their restaurant, Monterey Local down. Make it right. read more

I mean... It's great KFC! Although I had expected the KFC to use whole chicken and not just wings and drummets. The tteokbokki was good too, it was very soupy with a generous portion of fish cake! We dipped our original fried chicken into the tteokbokki sauce. Very delicious! I still prefer BB.Q chicken (in SoCal) tho. Vons KFC in the bay area probably comes close. read more

This is a hidden gem in Monterey! Cutest little hole in the wall Korean fried chicken place. Honestly some of the best Korean fried chicken I've had, and I've had PLENTY in Northern California. The staff was so welcoming and accommodating. They were great with food and drink combination suggestions. I would definitely come back again! read more

100% recommend! We visited from NYC and this place was one of the best fried chicken spots we've been to.

For a small restaurant, the quality and service is definitely up there. Owner (i assume) was very friendly. Invited us in as if it were his home. Served us fast and the food was delicious. I'm not huge on chicken wings, but this place definitely has its own unique taste. Would definitely come here more often if I were a local. read more

Ttobongee - Half & Half Chicken - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Yang nyum chicken is soooo good. My husband and I have been looking for KFC to replace Orchard City Kitchens KFC since moving down here from San Jose. It's definitely pricy for how much you get. Like 3x the price of OCK. But great stuff. read more

I think of fried chicken when I'm hungry and 9/10 this place comes to mind. 10/10 times when people talk about fried chicken I recommend this place. This fried chicken is so good you'll have dreams about it. I need some right now but I'm 800 miles away. read more

Great place for Korean wings! The tteokbokki is really spicy (we loved it).

Delicious food and great service! While it's not always super fast (for example take out wait is 30 mins+), it is worth the wait!

As first-time Korean Fried Chicken goers, we were very impressed! We ordered the nyang nyum and jalapeño chicken. YUM! We give them 4 stars instead of 5 because we ordered wings/flats only and ended up with two orders (one half, one full) of a "combo" of drums and wings. We feel that's a simple request to execute and they didn't. BUT - it won't stop us from going back! read more

Ttobongee - Our graveyard. - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Stopped by this spot for dinner after the beach and it was great! The worker who took our order was super nice as well! Overall the chicken was good and similar to the Bonchon we have in Elk Grove / Sacramento! read more

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