Love the sweet cozy Korean ambiance here! Great service by the staff. Banchan were all great but the food we ordered were only okay. Maybe my mul nang myun (cold buckwheat noodles in cold beef broth) was just mediocre. My daughter's tteok mandu guk was better than mine but not great. I'm open to coming here again and ordering something else. Parking here is challenging. Be patient, you'll find something! read more

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I had the cold noodles and squid spicy rice. Unfortunately, the broth in my noodles did not taste like real beef broth to me--it had a very strange, artificial taste. My friend also let me try the beef bone soup that came on the side, and I had the same impression. After the meal, I felt sick and nauseous from its artificial tastes. The condiments and everything we ordered were also extremely sweet, which overwhelmed the flavors and was disappointing for Korean food. Overall, the food simply did not taste authentic or made with the quality of ingredients I expected. I really dislike leaving negative reviews because I genuinely want to support local restaurants. However, based on what we were served, I cannot recommend this place. The restaurant presents itself as an authentic seolleongtang restaurant, and one entire wall is covered with large advertisements emphasizing its authenticity. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to those claims. I was also confused by the restaurant's name, YiGah, because it sounds essentially the same in Korean as the well-known LeeGa name in Los Angeles. That initially gave me a different expectation of the restaurant. Unfortunately, the food was simply terrible during our visit. I hope they will improve the quality, especially the broth and seasonings. read more

Fantastic! I didn't realize until I got to the parking lot that Yigah was just one of many Asian restaurants in one big outdoor shopping mall. I'm glad I decided to stick with my original choice, though, because the food was fantastic. Service was very fast and friendly. Banchan came to the table quickly and had lots of tasty bites, including fish cake and kimchi. My dolsot bibimbap was the bomb - so good, so fresh, and a huge portion. I will definitely go back when I'm next in Irvine. The restaurant was clean and stylish, and I really enjoyed my dinner there. read more

On a cold and rainy evening, my buddy and I headed here to eat. We were destined for another Diamond Jamboree popular restaurant, but as it was a late Saturday night, everything was packed. We ended up at Yigah, and I was so glad we did. I saw they had Galbitang...and was excited to try their version of it. But my buddy was sold on Yukkaejang... Being a fan myself..mostly because I have never found my favorite one, I agreed. We also wanted to order mandoo and bibimbap as a control. The waitress comes over and we order those three items. She tells us that we shouldn't order the bibimbap, we should order the hot stone version. I love Korean restaurants....it's way more important to order what the employee thinks is best....yes let's do it! Our food comes out and everything is delicious! The Yukkaejang is very good....but also very spicy. Definitely at the top of my threshold for spice...but I am wimpy. The stone pot bibimbap was interesting and yummy. It had a miso flavor to it...very good! The hilarious part was the mandoo seemed so bland after eating the other two dishes....just due to the intensity of flavor! The banchan was good as well. I was using the wonbok kim chee to cool down my mouth from the Yukkaejang...that's how spicy it was...lol I know we will be back...definitely for the Galbitang! read more

Yigah Restaurant - So yum! - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time. Finally my daughter and I went for early dinner. My daughter ordered the Tonkatsu and I had the Kalbitang. We also ordered Japchae. Even though the Japchae was categorized as appetizer but the portion was huge. In the end, we didn't finish any of the dishes but took the leftovers home. The dishes were delicious and great portion for 2 meals. Service was great too. We had early dinner so the place wasn't too busy. But, there were a few takeout orders. read more

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Pretty good! The japchae was good. The texture of the noodle was bouncy, chewy, and the marinade used was slightly sweet. There were some carrot pieces, mushrooms, spinach clumps, and some onion slices. I liked how the mushrooms were salted, it contrasted well with the sweeter flavors of the marinade. There were small pieces of beef in there as well that added some body to the dish. The fried mandu was good as well. I liked that the fry wasnt too crazy such that it makes the wonton wrapper on the outside super hard. These were very easy to eat. The meat on the inside was juicy and flavorful. These dumplings come with its own soy sauce. The panchan here was pretty standard and was good. They offer iced barley tea as well here. Good service with a plain ambiance. read more

Yigah Restaurant - 2. 잡채 / Japchae - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Very friendly, hospitable. You're made to feel at home here. Their side dishes are so tasty!! Bulgoligi was a generous portion. Food, drinks, atmosphere- everything was so nice. Such a simple touch of delight just the way you get treated here, like family! And taste was SO GOOD! No need to drive over to K-Town. Very authentic. Very fresh! All around local, convenient, A+. Everything you would want in a dining experience! read more

If you're looking for authentic, home-style Korean food, this is a great spot. The dishes taste like a comforting homemade meal rather than a modern or fusion-style restaurant. Be prepared for a wait, though--it gets very busy. If the line is too long, there are plenty of other restaurants nearby where you can grab a bite while you wait. The service was decent, and the banchan (side dishes) were fresh and flavorful. However, the selection is quite limited. If you're someone who loves Korean restaurants with a wide variety of refillable side dishes, this may not be the best choice. But if your priority is authentic, home-style Korean cooking, the quality of the food makes it well worth the visit. read more

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I got the sullungtang (설렁탕) to go. It tasted gritty. I could see the powder like substance on my spoon. It didn't look like fragments of bone marrow. It also didn't look like disintegrated bone that has been boiled for too long. It also didn't look like disintegrated pieces of meat. The color of the soup seemed suspicious, also like it was too creamy for it to be just bone broth. It looked different from what gets served in other restaurants and what I make at home. After I was done, my husband ate his (we ate separately). I hadn't told him what I thought about the soup before he tried it, but he asked me later if I noticed grittiness with the soup. We are both Korean. We had some soup leftover, so it went in the fridge. The next day I was expecting it to be gelatinous. To my surprise, there was NO gelatin. Like ZERO. It was kept in the fridge for over 20 hours. An entire pot full of leftover soup. A friend of mine told me some restaurants put milk in their sullungtang to cut corners. I wonder if that's what they did. Evaporated milk powder maybe? That's just speculation, but for sure they are cutting corners somewhere. read more

Yigah Korean Restaurant -- Korean Comfort Food with Heart (and Serious Soup Game) Yigah is one of those Korean restaurants that quietly reminds you why Korean food--especially Korean soups--has such a loyal following. No gimmicks, no shortcuts, just deeply comforting, traditional dishes done the right way. We came this time to celebrate a birthday and brought my daughter's former daycare teacher, which honestly felt perfect for a place like this. Yigah has that warm, multi-generational energy where celebrations feel natural--shared banchan, steaming soups, good conversation, no rush. It felt more like a family gathering than a night out, and that says a lot. Now, let's talk about the food--starting with the soups, because this is where Yigah truly shines. The doganitang is special. This is not just comfort food; it's functional nutrition. Slow-simmered beef knuckle releases collagen, gelatin, and amino acids like glycine and proline through long extraction. From a science standpoint, that means support for joint health, gut lining integrity, skin elasticity, and immune function. It's clean, gentle, and incredibly nourishing. My son loved this soup when he was a baby--that's how pure and comforting it is--and I still consider it one of the healthiest things you can order at a Korean restaurant. Their yukgaejang is easily one of the best I've had anywhere. Deep, spicy, smoky, and layered--not just heat, but real complexity. The broth is rich without being greasy, packed with tender beef and vegetables, and that signature chili oil aroma hits you the second it arrives. This is the kind of yukgaejang that sets the standard. We also ordered the tonkatsu, which my wife absolutely loves. Perfectly breaded, golden and crispy outside, juicy inside--classic Korean-style tonkatsu done clean and right. Simple, satisfying, and a great contrast to the soups. The banchan deserves its own mention: fresh, balanced, and served in those classic stainless steel bowls that somehow make everything taste even better. Nothing over-seasoned, nothing tired--just well-prepared staples that complement the meal. The atmosphere is relaxed, family-friendly, and welcoming. You'll see locals, families, and regulars who clearly know what they're doing by eating here. Service is warm without hovering, and everything arrives thoughtfully paced. If you love authentic Korean food, especially traditional Korean soups made the old-school way, Yigah is a must. This is the kind of place that feeds your body and your soul--and makes even a simple birthday dinner feel meaningful. Highly recommend. read more

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NEEDED THIS after a long weekend! The galbitang was exactly what I needed to soothe the soul and recover from a long weekend of going out! The portions were also super generous and everyone in our party had some leftovers. I'm always in diamond jamboree, but I feel like this is one of the hidden gems in the plaza! We went for dinner and were seated immediately. It was not too busy and the servers checked up on us to refill the sides. There's plenty of space and perfect for family style as well! Definitely would come here again when I'm in need of a hearty meal. read more

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My friends and I came here after a long and busy weekend of going out looking for something warm and hearty for our trips home. This place did not disappoint! I got the seolleongtang which just...soothed my soul...so good. My friend got the Spaghetti Cheese Pork Cutlet which is good if you're looking for something a bit heavier and my other friend got the Galbitang which she said is also really good. Would definitely come here again when I'm in Irvine. read more

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Service was so weird but food was good except the whole experience was ruined by their own mistakes! ... even though they messed up my order... I had to ask for fixing it and they were acting weird, but food was good!. Instead of apologies I got they took my noodles off of my soup.huh ... and then they asked me to repayment same amount of money... I'm still a little confused why... they did that!? My Dogani Tang was empty without clear noodles and salt was not enough... also no black pepper was given to me! But side dishes were good! read more

One of my staple favorites in Irvine! When you're sick, when you want some simple yet amazing soup, great banchan sides, Yigah is probably one of the better tang/soup places in Irvine. Seolleongtang is pretty solid, & I did also enjoy the Gamjatang as well. The side dishes do change from time to time & the staff is always super nice, it feels like visiting my aunts house! Of course if you're looking for the best, Buena Park & LA KTown has it all, but I always love going to Yigah for a simple tasty meal. read more

Yigah Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Back at it again, one of the best location for Bossam and authentic cold noodles Always a pleasure for best food and mostly friendly services with the most amazing ambiance spot By UCI 10 outta 10 every time read more

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If you are looking for authentic Korean food this is the place to go. The Servers were so nice and kept refilling our side dishes and water/tea. They are quick with their food as I manage to finish within the hour lunch break. Place was clean and had plenty of guests all speaking Korean. So you know when you find a gem. They have various Korean dishes to try that you may not have had as it's not a tofu house or Korean bbq. It's more of a home cooked food feel. I highly recommend and will be trying their other dishes next time. read more

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We came in here while waiting for one of the other restaurants in the plaza. We saw they had bossam so decided to eat here instead. Food was delicious. And so glad to have options It is a midday meal and standard nice Korean ladies helping serve and take the meal. Very nice atmosphere and food Will be back to try their giant katsu read more

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I was craving a hearty soup after a long day and stumbled into Yigah. The first thing I noticed -- the portions were huge. We decided to order Seolleongtang with brisket and Gamjatang. The brisket was thinly sliced, but a bit tough. The pork in the gamjatang was so soft though. The service was quick and super friendly. The side dishes came out right away and were unlimited. Both soups arrived hot and were absolutely delicious and comforting. read more

Yigah Restaurant - Seolleongtang & Gamjatang - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

clean. friendly service. tasty food. I got sullungtang. the kimchi is really good too. irvine korean food at its best. this isnt ktown. this isnt korea. but the food is greaat and tasty. i really enjoy it. read more

Hungry for some Korean food, we decided to try this restaurant for lunch on a holiday afternoon off of a recommendation. I must say, I think it was pretty decent! It was my first time here, so I did not not know what to get. I saw the writing about seollungtang on the walls and, because I have never had it before, I decided to order a dish that had the seollungtang soup as a side instead of just ordering that as the main meal. I decided to order the katsu! The katsu was pretty good but it was a wee bit dry and could have had more meat. But it was a pretty good portion so there is nothing too much to complain about that. We also got the Seafood Dupbap. It was pretty good, however I prefer meats like pork and beef over seafood. The service was very nice and the wait was not long at all. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice as well and parking for the restaurant was pretty easy. Overall, I would recommend going here! read more

Yigah Restaurant - Seafood - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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A very cozy, modern, korean restaurant. The staff were all super sweet and constantly refilling our water and sides. A little pricey but definitely worth it considering the portion size. I loved all the banchan which is a super important aspect at korean restaurants. Every order also comes with a little side of seulantang. - dumplings: 8.8/10! Fresh, crispy, warm, and juicy. Paired with the sweet soy sauce like sauce was perfect. - pork cutlet: 8.0/10. Normal pork katsu, but HUGE. Bigger than the size of my head with a generous serving of the cabbage salad. - galbitang: 7.2/10. Flavorful, warm, and homey. Not my preferred dish, but still tasty. - spicy cold noodles: 6.9/10. HUGE portion with plenty of brisket and salad. Could not be finished between two people. However, the sauce was not my favorite/not the typical sauce that is usually used. read more

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This is a very nice, modern Korean restaurant in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center, so it can be difficult to find parking if you're here for any rush. Service was quick, but I will say I don't think it's the most family/kid-friendly. You can definitely bring kids, though. We ordered the mandu, japchae, dolsot bibimbap, tonkatsu with sauce on the side, and spaghetti cheese pork cutlet. Everything here is standard Korean food, so it tastes as you would expect. The tonkatsu is comically large, but it's thin and crispy, and the sauce adds a nice tang. The spaghetti cheese pork cutlet is a wild dish. The sauce is curry-based and the dish comes out bubbling hot. I really don't think you could go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

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Delicious Korean food! Serving size is plentiful, presentation is beautiful! Excellent service. This place gets busy pretty quickly - go early! read more

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Ah man it's Yigah again! I came in with expectations of it not tasting like the one in GG, but boy did they deliver. The food here is absolutely wonderful, their bibimbap, the braised beef, and the katsu were absolutely great! We ended up choosing due to coco's having no options for no peanuts, and we still left satisfied. I highly recommend a family style dinner here, where everyone orders one dish for the table! DO NOT ORDER only for yourself :) since you'll get tired of the same taste for sure. The service here was absolutely wonderful, and they were extremely attentive and caring! Since it's in the middle of the diamond jamboree, parking may be hard to come by. The ambiance within the restaurant feels very sleek and modern just like the original. P.S get the BOSSAM, you will not regret it. I was so sad that they sold out by the time we got there. read more

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I love their soup here. The spicy squid was a little bit bland but the spice level is good. read more

Yigah Restaurant - Food - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Our favorite spot for Korean soup since we moved to south oc, that's not more than 25 mins drive. We like there's no music (yea we getting old) and we can actually have a conversation without having to yell at each other. Their kimchi is really good. read more

Local place to get traditional Korean food. The variety is amazing since they have traditional soups to hot stone rice bowls to Donkasu. There is definitely something for everyone. The side dishes variety given is decent but very delicious. The service is great and the ladies are super on it. Plenty of parking since it's in a giant shopping center read more

Yigah Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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We ordered takeout (bossam, gamjatang, and tonkatsu), and everything was absolutely delicious. The bossam was tender and flavorful, the gamjatang was rich, comforting, and full of deep flavor, and the tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Everything was well-prepared, fresh, and still tasted great even as takeout. Definitely will be ordering again!" read more

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Finally tried this restaurant and I'm glad I did! The spaghetti was fantastic and I'm happy that there was also the Korean sides because it helped with temperature of the sizzling hot spaghetti. I will say I went during lunch break so I had like 40 mins to eat - this is not enough time for a sizzling plate to simmer‼ So I definitely had to pack half to go but I will return and enjoy my food next time! read more

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Probably walk in the restaurant at the wrong time. There were about 4 tables but nobody was found at the desk so we just left. It was about 3:30 pm or 4 ish. My husband pointed out that some staff was having lunch at a corner when we walked by. But no greetings and we did not know what to do or feel welcomed so we left. read more

I will never talk about this cheese katsu spaghetti omggg. This is a dish you'd never see at another Korean restaurant and we were honestly hesitant on ordering it, but wow I have zero regrets. So flavorful and cheesy and my perfect decadent meal. The cold noodles were also amazing although the noodles could have been cooked a smidge longer. I've been here before and can also vouch that their galbitang is super good. read more

Yigah Restaurant - cheese katsu spaghetti - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Our family (of 6) have been many times to this Korean restaurant. We always enjoyed very much with their Authentic Korean foods. Everyone loved them. I would like to rate 5 + 1 Stars for their foods. And 5 Star for their Excellent services. Thank You read more

Located in a less-trafficked corner of Diamond Jamboree Plaza (or should I call it the 'H-Mart Plaza' since it's now dominated by Korean businesses.) Solid Korean comfort food is served here. We ordered hot stone beef and vegetable rice and pork cutlet, both very tasty and very big, but we managed to finished them. The side dishes are good too and go great with the rice. read more

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Restaurant is small but spacious. Very clean and bright. We came in for lunch. The restaurant was a little less than half full. We were sat almost immediately. Large menu. We ordered 1 solleuntang with brisket, 1 with intestines, and 1 bulgogi. Everything came out pretty quick. Our soups were delicious. The broth was nice and milky and not terribly beefy (although beefy). We had our sea salt, black pepper, and green onions already on our table. The bulgogi was really good too. It was served with a side of bean paste and whole leaf lettuce for wrapping. Yum! The banchans were good too. We asked for extra radish kimchi for our soups. Will definitely come back read more

Yigah Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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I must say this food reminds me so much of the motherland. As others have noted, portion sizes are huge. Everything I've ever ordered has been delicious. I think the reviews pointing out the service may not be as familiar with Asian service styles. Servers generally do not check on you, and you only flag them down when you need something. 항상 너무 맛있어요~ read more

Been here a few times and this is probably my favorite place to get yukgaejang! I've had it from the place called Yuk Dae Jang but I feel Yigah does it better. Place is g that big and it can get packed during peak times. My last visit I got togo on a Friday night around 6:45 and there was a waitlist for dine in. Prices are a lil steep but I think it matches the GIANG portions they give you. As you walk in you can see tables around you with giantass plates of food. You'll definitely have some leftovers if you're not a big eater! I've also tried their katsu plate and the katsu is HUGE and tasty! Love it with the brown sauce especially. But my go to will always be the yukgaejang :) it's priced at about $22 before tax but well worth it. Comes with some glass noodle and a bowl of rice. The amount t of broth you get is a lot but it's also packed with veggies and beef. I always end up with leftovers which works for me cause I just add my own noodle and some extra protein! Service is fine, it gets busy and I don't really know how many staff they typically have on the floor (like 2-3?). But food is good so I'll come back - definitely recommend if you want Korean food that isn't just tofu soup! Ps - parking here is gonna be rough at peak times cause it is in the Diamond Jamboree plaza read more

Yigah was such a great spot for our group! We came with a party of 10, and they were super accommodating. Their cabbage galbitang was the star of the show--loaded with tender beef and tons of fresh veggies in a rich, flavorful broth. Perfect comfort food! read more

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Really good bibimbap and banchan! As someone who hasn't tried a lot of Korean food outside of kbbq, this place was really solid. The Korean style tonkatsu was pretty okay too, wouldn't order it again but it wasn't bad. I had high hopes for the galbitang but found it to be underwhelming in flavor. Would go back for the spicy version. read more

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Food is great! Service is good! If you like Korean food, come here. I love the sole tang and banchan! Their katsu is fresh everytime and big big portions read more

Loved it here! We got sat right away on a Monday night (although parking is always kinda crazy at the Diamond Jamboree). Ordered a couple soups and the bossam. The bossam was yummy! Side dishes were good. The place itself is clean. Not a whole lot of options on the menu, but I like it that way. Good little Korean spot with authentic taste. read more