50 Best Korean Restaurants near Albany

“Food Very tasty 🤤 authentic Korean food delicious friendly staff decor trendy modern nice clean.“

“Great food and quick service! A must try place if you’re in the area!“

“The best Korean fried chicken!!“

“As a goodbye/love note to Oakland, I'm leaving reviews for all my favorites. Joodooboo is my #1 for lunch. It's unpretentious, delicious, nourishing -- the place I'd go to on my own AND the place I'd take friends from out of town. I still crave the Fried Dooboo Set. Many thanks to Steve and Sarah and Akari and everyone else who ever served me.“

“Went with a party of 12 and joined the waitlist early so we were able to get seated pretty quick! Our table ordered one kalbijim medium spicy with cheese and one mild kalbijim. Between the two we liked the medium spicy with cheese a lot more since we thought the mild one a little too sweet.

Meat was super tender and so were the veggies, and it paired very nicely with the purple rice! Wish they had more variety for their side dishes but rly delicious over all, just a little pricy!“

“We returned to this restaurant twice during our visit to SF, it was that good. Very much enjoyed the garlic soy chicken wings, salmon eggs benedict, kimchi, bulgogi, pimped up ramyun, and of course the bacon.“

“Got there in time for both lunch (12-4pm) and happy hour (3-5pm) so enjoyed their lunch meal along with $2 off a beer.

The lunch meal can be enough for two people since we left stuffed and still took some to-go. The food was delicious and served quickly so no complaints there.

Only annoying thing was little knats and flies flying around while we ate but not sure how they'll control that besides closing door.“

“Super cute place tucked into a busy street!

Good:
- The jjajeong tteokbokki was super unique and tasty! Good portion size too
- More casual place but I liked the homey feel

Bad:
- Took a while to get our food
- The kimbap wasn't too flavorful and was on the smaller side

Overall would come again!“

“Get the soondae guk here. This nationwide chain is well known for their soondae, but this location seriously loads up on the meat. The broth is ridiculously rich but delicate. I never finish my rice but I ended up ordering another bowl. Service is top notch. They’re so busy but took time to listen to us.“

“We loved this place! The food felt really authentic and everything we tried was delicious and high quality. We especially liked the banchan. The kimchi was excellent too.

The service was also very friendly, and overall we had a great experience. We would definitely come back. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait because this place is popular. we went on a Monday evening and it was still quite busy. Parking can be tough too. Definitely worth the wait!“

“Bansang is such a lovely restaurant. The space is beautiful with high ceilings and tasteful decor. The staff are friendly and attentive. Food was amazing. We ordered everything on the menu except the tofu stew (wasn't available) and we're definitely going back again to try that.“

“Our first time at Olchi and our family enjoyed it! The place is smaller, clean and comfortable. The service is great - welcoming, friendly and fast! The food was absolutely delicious! Everything we ordered we loved - the special Galbi (BBQ ribs), combination Soondubu, Donkatsu, Sweet & Spicy Chicken Bites, Kimbap, and some beers. Needless to say, we left stuffed and had a nice take away container for another meal!“

“What a great surprise. The food was delicious, and the service was great. We look forward to trying the rest of the menu. I highly recommend the Loco Moco.“

“This place should have a line out the door every day. Incredible value. Excellent service. Delicious food. Warm and friendly staff. They greeted all their regulars by name like old friends. I can't wait to become a regular myself. I can't recommend enough. Coming back as often as I can.“

“We were looking for a place for a quick breakfast and, based on reviews, stopped in here. The portions are generous and all the dishes are very fresh. What really makes this a stand out spot is the hospitality. The owners/staff are beyond friendly and welcoming.“

“Just incredible Korean contemporary fusion cuisine. Kept the fundamentals of the Korean authenticity with unique broad appealing western gastronomic desires. Well done!!!👍“

“I come here almost every week, it's my go-to for filling and fulfilling Korean food. I usually get bulgogi and japchae, although I've tried most of the menu at one point or another and can say it's all very high quality, especially their fried chicken. The side dishes are also fantastic. The staff here are also really lovely and attentive and will refill the side dishes if you ask. I love coming here and highly recommend this place!“

“This is easily the best Korean Chinese food I’ve had in the Bay Area. The Spicy Pork Gan-Jajang was incredible, the black bean sauce is stir-fried with fresh chili peppers, which keeps it from feeling too heavy or greasy. If you love spicy food, this dish is a must :-)

The pork was perfectly crispy on the outside. It was even better dipped in the sweet and sour sauce that came with it.

The portions are also generous for the price, and the two dishes were more than enough to fill both of us. We also enjoyed chatting with server, who was warm and friendly. We’ll definitely be back :o“

“Picked up dinner twice this week. Delicious.“

“Enjoyed the different meals thoroughly. Have had the Chicken Curry Rice Bowl, the Spicy Chicken Ramen Bowl, Bulgogi, and a few other dishes. Easy to become a repeat customer“

“GOPCHANG LOVER’S PARADISE
If you’ve been missing your Korean Gopchang/intestines you had in SoCal, this is the spot to try! The portion is decent and flavor is there! Also love that there’s potato slices in there!

To avoid long lines, come during off hours like 3pm~ They don’t take same day reservations.

Other dishes-
Cold buckwheat noodles are 9/10
Soy sauce garlic chicken 7/10 (wish they weren’t full of fried batter clumps and wanted just wings)
Pork belly single serving 9/10
Spicy tofu soup 8.5/10 (love the tofu in there!)
Side dishes 8/10

Atmosphere-
Very loud and the music just adds to the noise, have to yell across the table for my friends to hear me, vise versa…. During busy hours that is.“

“Got here at opening, the place was mostly empty. The staff was polite and helpful. Placed my rice bowl with Korean Bulgogi as protein, the bowl was tasty and with fresh vegetables. The service was quick, got my food in 5 minutes.

The bulgogi was bit plain, not a lot of flavor and wish more meats too😊. There are both indoor and outdoor seatings.“

“Approved by a Korean👍🏼
We ordered the buldak with corn cheese and bibimbap. The bibimbap was served on a sizzling skillet which made the rice wonderfully crunchy. Buldak and corn cheese was addictive. This + makgeolli = perfect meal at a reasonable price ~$50 before tip.
Would come back, 10/10.“

“I came here for the smashburger, but i guess they dont do lunch untill later in the day. I ordered a breakfast sandwich instead, and it was really good! Hopefully i can try the lunch menu one day but i dont think it lines up with my work schedule. 🙃 will be comming back for breakfast though.😇“

“Loved this spot. We came in about an hour right before closing, and the staff was still very welcoming and friendly.

The serving size are huge. I would want to come back and take some photos.

Galbitang, soy garlic wings, and the banchan were the stars of the dinner. Highly recommend coming here. Please support this business !“

“This place has super fresh kim chee. Food comes out quickly. Their Kim Chee and chives pancake is perfect. I don't eat meat but my husband does and he was never disappointed with his order. He really likes their soup. The only thing to flag is that their soft tofu soup comes with pork even though it isn't listed on the menu. They were very nice to switch it out once I got it. Just wanted to flag for anyone who wanted the soft tofu soup but don't eat pork. The soft tofu soup with Kim Chee (no pork) is also totally yummy“

“My husband and I wanted to try Korean fried chicken. 🍗🐔 The place is very clean and The owner was helpful and kind. 😊👍 He helped us choose a few chicken flavors. 🌶🍯 Absolutely delicious 😋. 💯“

“I finally decided to give Saucey Asian a try, and it definitely lived up to the hype!

The food came out fresh, hot, and packed with flavor. Every dish we ordered was well-seasoned, the portions were generous, and you can tell they don’t skimp on quality. It’s one of those places where everything on the table makes you want “just one more bite.”

The atmosphere was casual, fun, and perfect for grabbing dinner with friends or family. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal.

If you’re in the Emeryville area and craving flavorful Asian comfort food, I definitely recommend checking this spot out. Great food, generous portions, and a great overall experience. I’ll definitely be back!“

“We catered from here for our baby’s first birthday party (25 people) and can’t say enough how happy we were with our decision! They were kind enough to make several Korean dishes not on their standard menu (mung bean, imitation crab, and squash pancakes) in addition to heaping portions of their pork bulgogi, beef bulgogi, chicken, mackerel, various gimbaps, banchans, and fried chicken. Our guests LOVED all of it and given the amount of food they prepared for us, it was very very reasonably priced. We’ve frequented this spot for banchans and lunch often but will definitely be catering from here again!“

“That we're here once a week, and notice other regulars, says something. This is authentic Korean comfort food made with care. Feels like we're eating at owners Heera and Jacob's dining table. Thanks to them and their hardworking crew.“

“We had such a great experience at ABSteak by Chef Akira Back. The quality of the meat was exceptional, and the tableside grilling made the dinner feel special and interactive. Everything we tried was flavorful and beautifully prepared, especially the wagyu and the Korean-inspired dishes.

The restaurant has a sophisticated, modern atmosphere, while the service was attentive and professional throughout the evening. It’s definitely a more elevated take on Korean BBQ and a great choice for a special dinner or date night in San Francisco.

We really enjoyed our experience and would happily come back!

@visit_sf“

“Quick lunch, good portions, and really good depth in taste for the price. Wanted some Korean rice bowls for our family and was presently surprised. The owner Jin was very courteous and food came out really fast. Also got to use the photo booth. Got the protein bowl, kaamjang bowl, and a pork jowl bowl for the kids. Really a nice experience“

“My review is for the dinner tasting menu. At $89/person you get a full course Korean inspired meal. Each dish was fresh, light and had hit the tongue palate in all the right spots.

Beef tartare was light and perfectly seasoned. The main galbijjim steak with rice and chimichurri was buttery soft with hint of sweet aftertaste .

My friends and I could not stop eating! We were a larger group of 9 and the host did so well explaining each dish. She even gave tips on how to get the photos ! Atmosphere inside at night was modern and trendy. I can imagine it as a good date spot as well.“

“We came here for an early dinner before a show at The Freight. Service was quick and friendly. We had the pork belly and beef sausage curry rice bowls for only $9.99 each. Both were very tasty. The server offered extra sauce and rice if we needed it, but the basic serving was filling enough for us. We'll be back to try some of their other dishes.“

“This is our local, “go to” place whenever we’re craving Korean food. It never disappoints. At night, they generally project K-pop music videos onto a large wall, which brings the whole room to life. Lotsa fun!“

“everything is freshly made. very good. 💯🔥“

“My foodie coworkers have nothing but praises every time you guys cater for us. Impressive how you pull off such tasty AND healthy food. Thank you!“

“I am glad that they are located in Montclair. They have a clean store with good selection of items. Great customer service!“

“I knew exactly what I wanted as I walked in. I smelled the Bibimbop and my tummy was already smiling. the service was great! and the food was delicious! our 3 year old approved the Chicken Cutlets with their special sauce! we're definitely coming back the next time we're in town!“

“My husband brought me here for my Birthday. It was amazing. I love Korean food, but this was next level. It is in the Tenderloin, I do not let that intimidate you. It is worth the walk from the Hotel Nikko. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. The food earned it Michelin Star. Try the Korean pancakes.“

“A good place to taste Korean and Japanese cuisine with a twist.“

“First timer, great experience and great food! Loved it! Will be going back.“

“人生吃過最好吃的士林大雞排，竟然不是在士林！是在柏克萊！好吃到爆炸！爆汁！皮超脆粉超好吃！瘋掉！ 葡萄柚綠茶裡面有葡萄柚本人！超好喝！它們家是用有機茶～成本比一般的飲料店貴兩倍～烏梅汁也超好喝很濃～ 旁邊的貢茶不只奶蓋是我喝過美國最好喝，裡面賣的雞蛋仔超級好吃！滿滿的紅豆抹茶 日本麻糬鬆餅好吃到，回台灣開都會爆的那種！“

“I stopped at this restaurant due to the time I decided to find something to eat, as it was late and everything was closing for the evening. I stopped in and was greeted by the friendly staff, and the place was a little busy. I was able to get served for the time i had about a little over an hour before they closed. I was very limited on what I could order due to the gluten problem. but the server and staff was very helpful in finding dishes that I could get just had to leave out a few things to make it gluten free. it was a very good choice of what we came up with and everything turned out to be a success for a late night dinner. Thank you again guys for the help and the service. You guys are awesome. Stop and check this place out the food was full of flavor and the toppings on the side made for tasteful options to add for each bite.“

“Great Food! And Very nice Small Restaurant“

“Pros:
- dog friendly
- Good vegetarian tofu bibimbap with huge portion size
- refillable complimentary small eats of which the cucumber was really tasty

Cons:
- husband didn’t like his shrimp fried rice
- chicken bibimbap could be more flavorful“

“Super nice/friendly folks. Food came out quick. Nice large portions. Was super satisfied“

“The best sea bass and the best sushi 🍣 Love it“

“Better than Seoul Sausage and they won the Great American Food Truck Race! Perfect balance of spice, sauce, and crunch. The outside is amazing and the Parmesan was a nice touch!“

“I like the Sam’s hamburger“