Ramen was delicious, left out the egg! Peach iced tea was yummy! Definitely going back!! read more

YumSem is bringing your favorite Korean street foods to Closter! This is the spot to satisfy your cravings for kimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), ramen, egg toasts, donkatsu, Korean-style burgers, hero sandwiches, and more. In addition to food, they offer drinks like sparkling ade, coffee, tea, smoothies, and K-yogurt. I was really excited to try their toasts and kimbap, so I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. It's located on a corner with plenty of street parking in the area. It's a casual atmosphere with a modern and minimalistic interior design. There's seating for small and large groups. The menu items are reasonably priced and budget-friendly. I ordered the Korean Street Toast ($7.99) and Kimchi Tuna Kimbap ($7 for 10 pieces). Service was on the slower end... although the employees were friendly, it took around 20+ minutes to get my food. I appreciated that everything was freshly prepared, but I recommend ordering ahead if you're short on time. The K-Street toast included a vegetable omelette (cabbage, carrots, green onions, corn), shredded cabbage/carrots, smoked ham, and cheese. You have the option of having it sweet or unsweet. The sweetened version has a light sugar coating over the toast. I went with that and I HAVE NO REGRETS - the bread was soft and buttery with a crispy exterior. The sandwich had the perfect blend of different flavors and textures - crunchy, creamy, savory, sweet. The portion size was filling for a light meal. The kimbap roll included kimchi, tuna, radish, carrot, spinach, burdock, and seasoned rice wrapped in dried seaweed. The ingredients are most definitely fresh and their flavors blended really well together - you can tell after just one bite! I recommend this roll if you like tuna salad. Can't wait to try more of the menu! read more

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Amazing little spot serving Japanese/korean food. Prices are really reasonable and the food is really nice quality. The place is also very clean and cute. I tried the katsu, kimbap, and shrimp sando, and all were delish! read more

YumSem - Shrimp sando - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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I love the rose tteokboki here and the kimbabs! I've tried the spicy original tteokboki before which was decent but the rose is creamy and an absolute must! My only complaint is that they only give you half an egg.. I would've been much happier with the whole egg in there to dip in the sauce! The kimbabs are always good. My favorite is the spicy squid, wasabi donkatsu, and spam&cheese. They are always busy on weekends but the service is quick! My husband usually picks up from here and we haven't dined in yet but the food is always fresh and hot! read more

YumSem - rose tteokboki, spam& cheese kimbab, spicy squid kimbab - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

What a great local spot with awesome to-go food at affordable prices! You can get a gimbap for $5 here! I highly recommend their toast-- its jam packed with flavor and also hefty! read more

YumSem - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

Great tasting, freshly prepared food + friendly and attentive staff + clean, comfy setting = touchdown! The K street toast with a bit of sweetness was a literal taste of Korea, and the two rolls (one spicy pork, one odeng) were delicious. I do need to mention that their spicy pork was definitely on the savory side without the typical subtle sweetness. I look forward to the next visit. read more

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Solid food and affordable pricing! We had some really tasty food at YumSem and definitely plan to be back soon. It's on a busy street but it's perfect to keep toddlers entertained outside looking at all the cars going by. Parking is available in the back. The Korean street toast wasn't even on the menu but I was pleasantly surprised. It's hard to find places that do it well. Ramen was so good - definitely do the add-on. Ddukbokki was delicious. Maybe skip the $4 add-on for the cheese though! Kimbap was tasty as well and not bad at all for $5-7. Solid drink options and lots of variety of food ideal for lunch. Self-serve, and the place has seating but it can get crowded. Super cozy. Can't wait to be back! read more

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First time here, I'm so glad we finally try this place! We got a bulgogi Kimbab, gochuchang fried chicken sandwich and Ktoast ham & egg. The kimbab was still warm when they serve to our table. It was only $7 and it was a good portion, the Ktoast was 10/10! I love the sweet mustard sauce, and lastly.the chicken sandwich was amazing! I love the packed it with pickles and the sauce it's delicious! Will be back to try other stuff. The place is clean and very bright. read more

YumSem - Ham & egg K- Toast with sweet honey mustard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

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**Overview:** Newly opened this month, YumSem has replaced Tao Haus in Closter as a Korean restaurant offering quick and delicious comfort food and specialty drinks. Their menu includes breakfast, brunch, and lunch options ranging from various types of toast and sandwiches/heroes to a wide array of kimbap (Korean rolls), tteokbokki (spicy Korean rice cakes), donkatsu, Korean ramen, drinks, and desserts. **Food:** The food was amazing, though the service could improve, particularly in taking orders and processing payments. - Classic Donkatsu $20 (+ $3 for ramen): The portions are huge--one dish is enough for two people! The picture doesn't do justice to how large this dish really is. The donkatsu (fried pork, with a fried chicken cutlet option) featured white meat, which indicates it hasn't been refried, and it was super crispy without being overly breaded. The fries had a perfect balance of crispness and mushiness. The traditional Korean ramen was intriguing and subtly different, with a nice addition of onions and possibly a bit of cheese. **Drinks:** - Grapefruit-ade ($3.50): My favorite so far; it's not too sweet, and I love the use of real fruits. - Purple Lemonade ($4) and Rose Yogurt ($6): These were too sweet for my taste. **Ambiance:** The environment is clean with a modern, mid-century/industrial interior design. There is plenty of space for a medium size group (of ~6-8 people) and has limited parking on the side of the building. **Conclusion:** I can't wait to go back and try their kimbaps and sandwiches! -------------------- UPDATE (a few days later): Went back to order a quick kimbap, and service was a train wreck... I was waiting in line for about 20 minutes, and when I was finally the next person in line, I was told that food will take ~25minutes to make. I ended up leaving, unable to order anything, along with a few other people who were also waiting in line. The food is good, there's so much potential... But they really need a new system, to fire the waitress standing around and doing nothing, and to hire someone more competent (who's able to read/write/spell things correctly, know the menu, and take orders and payments). One person (the owner's younger brother) was doing everything in the front (from start to finish) by himself... read more

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Food was great. Had the spicy tuna kimbap, cheese donkastu, and classic donkatsu. Though I was a bit disappointed with the cheese donkatsu because I thought it was actual fried mozzarella - I should've read the menu a bit longer. It was still delicious though! Spicy tuna Kimbap was good! read more

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Amazing prices, delicious food, what more could I ask for? If I lived closer, I would come here multiple times a week! It's the perfect spot to come by for a quick lunch that's delicious, filling, and a great bang for your buck. Highly recommend any of the kimbaps, ddukboki, Korean street toast and mango smoothie. I already can't wait to come back and try everything else! read more

YumSem - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

I saw this new spot so I decided to stop by for dinner. I was surprisingly impressed. The quality of food was great and the pricing is reasonable too. My favorite item was the strawberry iced tea. I def enjoyed the food but this drink was the most impressive to me. I also like how they have a lot of items on the menu. I had to think hard about what I wanted to get. read more

Great food and service; the ordering process was simple, the staff were very amicable and the interior was appealing.

This place deserves feedback sooner than I gave it. The staff brings wit, warmth, and thorough service. The dishes deliver on flavor. I've visited several times with consistent quality. The full dinner service was impressive. read more

Food was great for the price point. You can't find kimbap for $5/$6 these days! The portions are on the smaller side so between two people, we did need to order another roll and could've eaten more. Can't wait to try other items on the menu! The space is very clean. Street parking is a bit tricky and there are a few steps so it's not wheelchair accessible or stroller friendly. read more

Every element contributed to a memorable visit. The workers here show genuine interest. Their menu items are clearly described. The layout is perfect for friend groups. Everything delivers satisfaction. read more

YumSem is a cute Korean cafe with a very friendly staff that has taken over the spot where Tao Haus used to be. We ordered the Donkatsu, which, while appearing large, was very, very thin. Too thin, in our opinion. We couldn't actually taste the pork it was more breading and sauce. However it was cooked very well! It was light and crispy and not oily. We would just prefer one thicker cut than the 2 slim ones. The Donkatsu also came with a generous side of french fries, rice, and salad. We also ordered the tteokbokki, which is delicious, and you should definitely get an order. There is a reason every single table had an order of it. Lastly, the Kimbops were spectacular! They were made fresh and were a great bang for the buck. We will definitely be back! read more

Great new spot in Closter! Kimbap rolls are delicious and reasonably priced. The katsu is delicious and their combo includes a great deal of food so you can share it with a friend. I've only done take out but the restaurant does seem like a nice place to sit down for a casual meal with your family or friends. Staff are very friendly and I've tried it about 5-6 times now and have been very happy with our meals. read more

Just had dinner there. We have been a few times and the food and service are always excellent. Tonight 9/7 we had the yum sem ramen, 4 different kimbaps, cheese hero and bulgugi hero and all were very good! Very clean and relaxing. We enjoyed sitting by the window bc it feels like we were outside. Great food and even better customer service. Will definitely be back! read more

I dream about having a standing reservation at this place. Their dishes satisfy with good taste. Customer opinions guided me to this spot. The restaurant workers combine kindness with competence. This location delivers consistent quality. read more

Hits the spot every time. The food quality and portions are consistent with each visit. I've dined in and taken out more than 20 times since they opened. Their menu is varied and very fairly priced in comparison to the area for Korean food. They're very popular among those who know, so get your order in early. The owner and employees are extremely nice as well: always look at you and smile even when they're super busy with orders. Lately, when I get Korean bunsik, I always compare to Yumsem- not just their kimbap and rose ddukbokki, but also their fried chicken and donkatsu combos are great. Even today, went down the street to try a newer spot in Closter, but they were horrible. Couldn't write a negative review for them because they don't appear on yelp yet, so decided to write a positive one for Yumsem. My mom and I immediately regretted not going straight to Yumsem. Don't waste your money on bunsik anywhere else in the local area. Just go to Yumsem! read more

Absolutely delicious! And $5 for kimbap is a steal! I hope they never raise their prices because the low prices are precisely what drives their customer base. read more

How much is one KIMBAP nowdays? Minimum $7 to $10. However try $5 Kimbap here and you will be surprised! Great taste with good price. I wish this place lasts forever. read more

YumSem - Jeyuk and odeng kimbap. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Closter, New Jersey

This place is incapable of handling big orders and big crowds - meaning, if you happen to walk in when they have a large group or are taking a larger order over the phone, just walk out. We've walked out of this place three separate times - once, after waiting for our order for 45 minutes and no signs of it, second when they had a big group and said simple Kimbaps would be very delayed, and third when the owner (?) lady was taking a large order over the phone while we stood there for almost 10 minutes and she didn't acknowledge us once. Disappointed! read more

Great taste with good price Best Donkatsu! It still crispy and delicious at home. Friendly staff is a plus read more

This place is so good! I'm very happy that they opened and this will definitely become part of my regular rotation. Their kimbap was so good, and so reasonably priced. The dining area is clean and airy. I will be back! read more

Above and Beyond expectations! We already visited multiple times, tried Donkatsu, kimbab, street toast, rose ddubokee, burger etc! They were all so good. My favorite is Donkatsu, it's so crispy and juicy inside, not to mention how big it was! Also tomato lemon twist cold drink was the bomb And the price is unbeatable! we are so happy we got some real Korean Bunsik near out house Finally! Staff were super friendly and food came out quickly read more

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Best kimbaps! My favorites are tuna, Yumsem and Bulgogi. The ingredients are fresh and portioned perfectly, making each bite so satisfying. The donkatsu combo is a deal that's too good to be true. The donkatsu is fresh to order, with perfect crispy layer. My favorite has to be the rose teokbokki. The sauce is so creamy, and not too spicy. It brought me back to Korea. I only wish that the portion was a little bigger. Misugaru latte was perfect to cap off the meal - it's healthy grain drink that's served lightly sweetened with honey. The rest of the drink menu looks so good - I can't wait to try the others! Owners were so sweet and attentive, even on a busy Sunday afternoon. Wishing them all the best on their new restaurant! read more

So glad that I can get some korean comfort food in closter.. good taste and portion! I would go there regularly.

the food came out pretty quickly but it's honestly quite mid. it's not bad but it's not good either. read more

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Poor poor service- waited 45 min for complete order. My daughter's food came out in 10 min, mine came out (after I asked about it) after 35 min. I ended up just getting mine to go since she was done. I would not go back read more

Friendly service, good food and very reasonable prices. I've been there a couple times with my family and plan to return.

The food is amazing and reasonably priced. My daughter loved their chicken fingers and fries. The breading on the chicken fingers is lighter than other Korean fried chicken and the chicken itself was very tender and juicy. The portion was enough for two meals. I had the bacon cheese burger and I was blown away. I was not expecting my best burger of 2024 to be from a Korean restaurant! The patties are smash burger style, but very juicy, the pickles on the burger were delicious as were the sauces. Really fantastic food at this new place!! read more

Amazing K-Comfort Food. Nice frittery Panko crusted Donkatsu combo comes with 2 large pieces, salad, and rice for $20. Kimbap $5-7. This place is solid. I recommend to call in to make an order and pick up in 20min. Will have to try some of the drinks. read more

The food is really good and the portions are great. The Donkatsu is easily enough for two. The tteokbokki is exactly what you want it to be. We had both bulgolgi and SPAM kimbops which were sizeable and delicious. We had a mango snow drink and a strawberry yogurt drink which we enjoyed and weren't obscenely sweet. The seating area is fairly small but not cramped probably seating about 30 comfortably. I've been inside twice and it was very busy both times between take-out and dine-in orders. The place just opened 2 weeks ago so my sole criticism is about order accuracy. I imagine this will be an irrelevant comment inside of another month but if you order take-out check the order before you leave. If they run out of something or get something wrong they make up for it in spades, just make sure you give them the chance to make it right. It's an awesome new place with good food and very good value. The staff was extremely nice and pleasant even though the kitchen looked like it was getting slammed. It seems to be pretty popular already. Definitely give this one a try. read more

Food is amazing and cheap. Donkatsu all the way. Drinks are really pretty as well. The service is good and it's a family run business