What a cute little shop with some delicious food! I was in the Pacific Grove area and my friends and I were craving some Korean Fried Chicken. The worker taking my order was also SO sweet and really friendly. We had a big order, so I appreciated the fact that they packaged everything into a bigger box so we could carry everything easily. Totally come check this place out for some KFC and other Korean foods! -- - Half Yang Nyum Chicken ($15.99) // Super crispy and flavorful chicken! I liked the slight amount of heat and the sweetness that came through with the sauce. The chicken also came with pickled daikon that added a perfect amount of freshness and crunch with every bite of chicken! read more

Ttobongee - Yang Nyum Chicken (Medium Spicy) - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I found this hole in the wall spot by accident while I was trying to find a Thai restaurant I had ordered food from while I was vacationing in the area. I decided to look it up and what do you know, it had a perfect 5-star rating and I had to get some food from here as well. I called and ordered the half and half. The location is tiny and not much to look at. They have a couple of tables on a balcony-type setup and the inside is closed off. The guy who "helped" me was curt...told me "we only open at 4" with an attitude. You could have told me that when I called in to order buddy, I did not have to get your food. Anyways, the chicken was decent. Might have tasted better if the guy was friendlier. read more

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Came here I many times before leaving Monterey. Staff is very friendly. Food is great. Quite addicting actually.

Yes, we usually come here for the half order chicken: 3 drums+6 wings. Pick your sauce(s). Comes with a side radish. Rice cake and red hot dogs are off the hook good and delicious here. Best ones I've had in a very long time. Red hot dogs were excellent in taste. This is actually the best location for delicious Korean flavored fried chicken compared to other locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Casual good vibes inside. It is common to see U.S. military soldiers dine-in or takeout around here since it's not far from military/defense language institution and CSU Monterey. U.S. Navy soldiers were eating inside. Love everything about it. Excellent customer service. This location is very small though. Lots of public parking outside in the lot. It's like an old shed place/old building/old plaza. Overall, this chain has decent chicken selections and appetizers. You can order other smaller bowl items. Not far from visiting Cannery Row or downtown Monterey. I rate this one excellent for flavors, texture, and taste of fried chicken. Highly recommended. Place reminds me of military service days where soldiers just hang out and chill during lunchtime. A small traditional Safeway is located at the next plaza down same street. Definitely finger licking good. No rush and no long lines. Public restroom is spacious and well maintained in back. Try crispy honey flavor or BBQ anything. Love these small businesses. We will be revisiting again. Absolutely the best Korean flavored fried chicken chain if you're looking for droopy marinated sauces that are so good and so delicious. Fresh and soft white colored chicken meat! Can't stop licking my own fingers here, haha. read more

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So what happens when you miss the turn to the Trader Joe's parking lot? You find a nice gem of a restaurant! Soon as we saw the sign "Korean Fried Chicken" we knew we had to try it. We're glad we did! We kept it simple, a half-order of the Ttobongee original fried chicken and an order of the chap chae (they spell it jab chae) noodles. The chicken is moist yet has a good crunch, just the mildest of spiciness. Very addicting! My son couldn't get enough of the jab chae, I was impressed with the variety of veggies. At first I thought the price was a little high, but after the meal we had at least one meal's worth of leftovers. That's value. It's always fun to find a nice dining surprise. We can't wait to return when they can offer dining in. My son is already fantasizing about trying the kim chee spam fried rice. We'll be back. We visit here from LA frequently, so imagine finding a good Korean eatery here in Pacific Grove. read more

Ttobongee - Even as a takeout, the chicken made it home crispy while the meat was moist and tender. - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

After going here for a few years today was our last time. The food is delicious but the customer service is absolutely repulsive. The waiters show up 15-20 min late to their shift and deliver the worst service I have ever had. The waiter who is by far the worst is also the one who thinks he is Taylor Swift with his frequent vocal solos that assault the ear drums. Today was the last time we spend a dime here. Going to miss the food but the terrible singing and poor customer service make it impossible to go back. read more

Was pleasantly surprised to actually find good Asian food in Monterey lol. The chicken is decent size and is sooooo juicy. 2 orders of chicken is plenty for 2 people. They also offer other Korean dishes, but I would recommend just sticking with the chicken here. Oh, and skip out on the tteokbokki - wasn't worth it. read more

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We visit Monterey and Carmel once a year, and we have been to this spot, possibly 5 times... decent fried chicken! Awesome price and value! But the last few times, it's the atmosphere! The service from the folks here is the best! And that whole chicken dish? Is so unique. I have not seen any of the other spots have this on their menu, and this order comes whole guys, possible request to get it chopped up!... I can be a little bigger bird, but that's the fat boy talking! Lol! See you guys next year! read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The food was great the service was so nice and friendly however when you go to pay they unexpectedly charge you extra so I recommend keeping the bill I was charged extra and wen I call the cashier they were just making it a joke and help in no way and when asked for management they wana give a run around that they won't be in for a while and don't know when so just be careful and keep receipt . read more

If you are a fan of really good fried chicken, or have had Korean fried chicken anywhere else in the big cities, you'd understand my deep need to visit this establishment the first chance I had. It's one of those comfort foods that I'd easily drop $50+ without second thought as nothing pairs so well with a couple good beers (or more) than good ol'well-seasoned fried chicken. Some people may come here ordering just the variations of the wings but my friends and I who grew up on this know there is only one route to go. Everyone orders a whole spring chicken, a couple beers, sits in a circle waiting for about 15-20 minutes chatting up excitedly about life until the food arrives. The next 5-10 minutes becomes mostly silent exceptional the occasional sigh of satisfaction or the unexpected burp from having chugged a whole beer. It's a unique and satisfying experience. One worth repeating often once people can dine in again. So here I was driving home as fast as I could with a whole spring chicken. Laid it out on a plate and grabbed a couple cold pilsners and began my 5 minute process of obliterating that awesomeness in front of me. It was good. Really good. Every part with its unique flavor and texture all coming together to satisfy the palate. It was really good. So good I just had to write a review and look forward to the next time I have it again. Definitely stoked to have a chicken spot like this in Monterey! read more

Ttobongee - Whole Fried Chicken (about 1.25-1.5 lbs) - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Best wings in town! We like to try a different flavor each visit and they have all been very tasty! Parking is not the greatest, but it's worth a visit. read more

The chicken is not bad, but I have had much better Korean fried chicken in both Hawaii and Los Angeles though. The Kimchi is good, but the portion is small in my opinion. read more

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

The bulgogi was extra juicy and absolutely delicious. I also suggest the tteokbokki or dukbokki at this place because it is the right amount of spice and sauce that you would look for in dishes like this. The jap chae was a bit peppery for my taste but overall, my experience at this restaurant was spectacular. read more

I loved both of the flavors we chose:Yang Nam and Soy sauce and garlic sauce. We ordered a side of white rice as well. Each bite was full of flavor and yummy juicy chicken. This was a late night snack for us and it did not disappoint. Loved the Yang Nam flavor. Highly recommend if you're in the Carmel area. Yummy. read more

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So I have been looking forward to trying Ttobongee chicken wings for quite some time. I've missed the crispy, flavorful Korean wings I used to get from Bonchon when I lived in VA. Finally, my husband and I stopped in and picked up some wings to take home. They are conveniently located in the small plaza behind Mezzaluna Pasteria. We were undecided on flavors. My husband loves the very spicy (Maip Dak it is), I love the flavors of Gal Bi and I thought my mom would enjoy the soy garlic the most. We ordered three half orders with a split of flappers and drums. The friendly people taking our order advised that it would be about 15 minutes before they were ready. Perfect! I will say the one thing that surprised me was the price. Three half orders of wings (no drinks or sides) ran about $57 before tip. A bit high in my opinion, but isn't everything here on the Monterey Bay. We received the wings on time as promised and headed home to dig in. They were hot even after the short drive home. The first thing I noticed was the very light breading. I liked this in comparison to Bonchon as I always thought their breading, although super crispy, was heavy. However, where Bonchon wings were loaded with flavor, I felt these lacked a bit. As much as I wanted to love them, the flavor for me fell short. Perhaps a bit more sauce after frying would have remedied the lack of flavor. I'm honestly not sure that I'll go back to try them again. So many good reviews so maybe we just hit them on a bad day. However at that price point, I would think they would be consistent. read more

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Delicious chicken. Great for appetizers, dinner, potlucks ... try it you'll like it.

My family and I ordered the jalapeno chicken, k-honey chicken, pork dumplings and Dduk bok gi. Everything came out hot, fresh, and super delicious. We also ordered one beer and a sujo with the bill coming out to $120 for everything which I thought was a little pricey but was worth it for a treat once in a while. read more

Best wings!!! If you love wings like I do this is the place to go.. get The soy garlic ones bone in...delicious! read more

We got the Bulgoki dish. There were only a few pieces and the meat was fatty. Very small amount of sides. For the price the quality didn't match. read more

the food is good, but the prices aren't properly listed anywhere. i ordered half maip dak and half garlic soy sauce and i was charged $47.

3.5/5 merry christmas! Ttobongee was my family's choice as a restaurant that was open on the holiday, and it seemed like many other people were there for some christmas fried chicken too. service was pleasant and quick, especially the manager/owner who was very friendly. my family got our food to go but appreciated the warm and clean atmosphere inside the establishment. we ordered hot stone bibimbap, a half order of the yang nyum chicken and a half order of the soy garlic chicken. the total was about $60 before tip - bibimbap: was not crispy, but flavorful with a good amount of toppings. there was plenty of sesame oil to make the dish fragrant - fried chicken: also not crispy but not too heavy or dry either. we preferred the yang nyum chicken which had a nice glaze and balance of slightly spicy and sweet overall the i would give the food 2.5 or 3/5 - not bad but texture and taste not as good as other korean food i've had. but i appreciated the prompt and friendly service and that this korean restaurant exists here in monterey! read more

These are the best Korean fried chicken wings I have tasted with my little taste buds. Wow just wow. As I'm writing this review, I can't help but imagine my fingers all over the must-try yang nyum wings. When I think of restaurants that are holes-in-the-wall, Ttobongee is it. My partner and I ordered from outside the door as we were greeted by our wonderful servers who were the most kind, attentive, and funny people ever. We shared a large order of the yang nyum wings with sides of rice and sat outside under the shade. It must have been the combination of the perfect weather and the scrumptious sweet-n-sour flavor of these wings, but I was so content the entire meal with a huge smile on my face. On top of the delicious wings, our two servers were having the time of their lives singing to each other and trying to hit the high notes haha! I told them that we should all go to karaoke the next time I come back to the area. Happy eating : ) you better not pass up on this place!!! read more

Ttobongee - Yang Nyum Chicken (Medium Spicy) - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I visited this place last time, and the chicken was overcooked. I also saw blood on the bones, I believe chickens are not fresh and these are pretty much outdated. I will not be visiting again. read more

best fried chicken in town! nice people that never disappoint. Now I have to go get some

OMG!!! We thought seafood would be the best choice...but it's not!!! This place is hands down best food I've had in Monterey The chicken is crispy, juicy, and sooooo flavorful. Best, friendliest service too! I would eat here every night, lol!!! The restaurant is small, but cute and nice outdoor seating. So YUM!!! read more

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I saw the positive reviews, and was in the area for dinner. It was fine, but nothing special if you live in Silicon Valley or SF. The best dish was the fried chicken, but I don't think it was as good as Bonchon. The dol sot bibimbap was good. The Korean hot dog (which was a fish cake sausage) was pretty bad, and the topoki (rice cake noodles in spicy tomato sauce) was a bit soupy and bland. Service was friendly, and the restaurant itself was a bit of a cozy hole in the wall type of place. read more

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Ttobongee is a true KFC (Korean Friend Chicken) which is always cooked to order and I recommend eating it there and not have it be delivered. You'll get the crunchiest and delicious chicken there. Since they cook everything to order, yes, it will take a while - they will tell you it may take up to 30 minutes, depending on how many orders they are cooking ahead of yours. So, if you are starving, I recommend ordering something like shrimp chips or something - I promise it's well worth the wait!!! If you are new to Korean fried chicken, try their "original" first. It is not aggressivly seasoned yet it has a kick. read more

Ttobongee - Japchae lunch special!!!! YUM!!! - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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This spot is fire! So delicious! My daughter and I shared a half serving of the boneless Yang Nyum chicken and oh my goodness! It was fried to perfection and the flavor whew sweet chili was soo good and not too spicy. We each got an order of sodduk sodduk, which is the best I've had in my opinion, and a Korean corn dog! Best Korean food Ive ever had! I didn't get his name but the man that took our order was very nice and funny! You can tell the staff all get along well, very homey like feeling. Do not sleep on this place! read more

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Best KFC (Korean fried chicken) in California! This place is a MUST! All their sides are tasty and authentic and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu! I'm really surprised to find this flavor in a very bland city like pacific grove! read more

Tasty Korean food! Spicy, but flavorful. The tteokbokki came with fish cakes but the restaurant graciously made it vegetarian by keeping only the rice cakes in the sauce. Simple place, good food, and good customer service. read more

Ttobongee - Tteokbokki, kimchi, etc. - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Can I give your fantastic food & service 6 stars ? We stopped by on our way home from Carmel. I order 2 favorite bibimbob with egg & tofu & devoured all, super full. My parents ordered boneless soy garlic chicken, chicken japchae , French fries, & gal bi ( grill beef short ribs served with rice were phenomenal. Plus a waitress is very friendly , went out of her way to accommodate us. Seating is limited and over counter top in front that has propane heaters. Lastly this place is small, cute but too bad have strong windy & they have only 2 blankets for us. So I just paid and all of us eat in the car. My parents is happy & satisfied. read more

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If you like Korean food, this is the best spot. They have great crispy chicken and spicy tteokbokki. Also the beers are absolutely refreshing and good. The staffs and the owner are very friendly and accommodating especially "Stan". Service is fast and good. read more

Ttobongee - Beers and Soju - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I was looking for Korean fried chicken and came upon this place...still can't believe there is such a place here. Called in an order so I can go in, pay and leave. It was gonna take 20 minutes which was fine since I was 10 minutes out. This is a must so you don't end up waiting too long for your order especially when it gets super busy. Customer Service: Pleasant Price: Expensive Food Quality: Excellent, NO visible feathers and NO smelly chicken essence that sometimes accompanies this foul. Taste: Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!! The original flavor was very tasty and seasoned just right, spice heat was mild. The yang nyum flavor was sweet with a mild spicy sticky taste. Will definitely return when the craving arises. read more

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Owners are super nice. And the kimchi fried rice is BOMB! Plus they use spam which is the right move! I'm also obsessed with their green onion fried chicken. If you like fried chicken that's real this is the spot! read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This hidden spot is the wing heaven. Best wings in the area. Very authentic Korean style fried chicken. Staff is very friendly and excellent customer service. Food is delicious. Must try is their #7 MAIP DAK for spicy lovers. Highly recommend if you have not tried this place. read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Ordered the Sodduk Sodduk and the half and half chicken to go. It was all so delicious! The chicken had a nice spice without being too spicy for me. Such good flavor! Friendly staff as well. Plan on coming back for sure! read more

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

This place is incredible. If we order in I make a gojuchang based dipping sauce for the original, but the other flavors don't need anything. The chicken is never too dry or soggy, and the flavors feel authentically Korean. Thank you Ttobongee! read more

Best chicken wings ever! We ordered some and went back the same afternoon, only hours later to order more! Then came right back a couple days later to get 40 wings for a family of four to devour. It's that good!! Highly recommend the yang nyum flavor. It is the perfect amount of sweet and spicy. The crunchiness is on point. It hits the right spot! Easiest way is to call and order and pick up. I'm excited to try others on the menu when we're back in town. So glad to get more diverse cuisines in PG! read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

A successful visit to Ttobongee in 2021. I read some comments about the food here being "overpriced" (we are in a tourist spot, isn't this the case for everything? Also 9.5% sales tax, and food even more expensive in Carmel) and that rice or other dishes are not offered with the main dishes. Yet the quality of the fried chicken is very high and side dishes (including carbs) are available for purchase. Like I mentioned in previous reviews, the fried chicken stays crisp even after a 20 min drive. Today I also got the chance to meet the owner. He is a friendly and hospitable. Definitely one of my favorite places in Monterey county and will be back. read more

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I haven't had Korean fried chicken since I visited Korea last summer. LET ME JUST SAY, this place exceeded my expectation. The flavor and crunchiness Highly highly recommend if you're craving some chicken! We ordered the yang nyum and jalapeño fried chicken, with a side order of onion rings read more

Ttobongee - Korean Near Me - Pacific Grove, California