42 Best Korean Restaurants near East Palo Alto

“Got the foods here with. Both items we ordered tastes very delicious. Prices are right on. Portions are pretty generous. Seatings are okay. Parking is good. I do recommend this place for good foods and casual eating that worth the price you pay. Linh recommend 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻“

“Soft Opening on the 12th 2023“

“I just had lunch here with my mom, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting much since we eat Korean food at home every day. But I have to say, this was the most memorable Korean restaurant experience we’ve had in a really long time.

The food was done right, and I could truly taste the effort put into every dish. The banchan was perfectly seasoned, cooked to the right texture, fresh, incredibly balanced, and so generous. I had the kimchi tofu soup and the pork belly combo. Again, both dishes tasted exactly like what they should have tasted like, not masked by intense or unnecessary flavors, but balanced and pleasant.

I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed every single banchan and dish that was served on the table. I used to find myself driving from Fremont down to Santa Clara for my fill of soondubu, but there is really no need anymore. This place exceeded all expectations, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for good, authentic Korean food.“

“Oh my god, this place is a hidden gem! I love Korean cuisine and this place is by far one of the best!
We stumbled upon it by accident after getting a flat tire and were looking for food near the repair shop. The service was fantastic, and the food was amazing! I would easily travel a long distance just to come back here.“

“Absolutely incredible experience at Don Blanc! If you’re looking for a good place in Santa Clara, this is the spot. The quality of the wagyu and beef short ribs is unmatched. You can really tell they don't skimp on the grade of meat. Even the side dishes were fresh and flavorful. Highly recommend. Took the work from us bbq the meat ourselves they took the time to do it for us.“

“Delicious food and great service. We love many dishes from this restaurant“

“A restaurant that stays true to the original taste of these old dishes. I’ve been disappointed by a handful of other well known Korean restaurants on El Camino as they’ve been making their dishes way too sweet to make it more palatable for the masses. I’ll probably come back here often whenever I come back to SJ. I got soondae gopchang guk and jjokbal :)“

“We had the best brunch ever at Giwa Dining. The decor, service, and food were all immaculate. You can tell that they put a lot of thought into the restaurant and into training staff. The food truly stood out and everything we ordered was spectacular: black sesame toast (recommend asking for more black sesame paste and sauce), truffle egg sando, sweet potato fries, and fried chicken. We’ll definitely be back for the souffle pancake and cheesy hamburg steak (dinner only).“

“Very nice ambiance and great service. All staffs look professional and prompt.“

“Best soon dubu I’ve ever had in the Bay. This could rival any place in LA’s K-town and is miles better than anything you can find in East Bay.

The broth is so deep, savory and flavorful that you can taste it in the tofu, which soaks up the seasoning beautifully. Also, I could taste that they might season their mushrooms and beef before boiling it in the soup. These are small details that make this place really special.

It’s super busy on a Sunday afternoon but one server still managed to ask if we wanted refills on banchan. I didn’t expect that so that was nice!“

“bbq is the best of the best quality chicken in the world. I ordered bbq chicken here on Thanksgiving Day yesterday and tried it.
Especially the bbq Apple Park store chicken here is crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside, and the taste of secret sauce is fantastic.
Be sure to give it a try. Maybe you won't regret it.“

“Wow....., it was quite better than my expectations.... I hoped I had found this place sooner when I lived in the area!!!! Away due to work, I came back for a quick visit to see my brother at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church(father Binh). We went out for lunch and since he liked Korean food I picked this one due to the close proximity to his church, and it was surprisingly good, I mean, not like Americanized; they kept great Korean flavors and taste, and Korean service attitude!!!!! A gem in an unexpected neighborhood ✨️ Will definitely come back whenever I come to the area!!!!“

“The food was great! In my bowl I got white rice and japchae mix, protein: bulgogi, carrots, cucumbers, and kimchi for my banchans. I also got a fried egg for a little extra. Everything was bomb, I would definitely go again. I'd like to try the other meats, i will say the meat was a little cold and wish it was a bit warmer.

For sauces I tried the Seoul Spicy Sauce and the Mayo Siracha and like both with my food. The service was friendly and chill.“

“The food here was great. We ordered the stone plate dish which is very good. I also liked their kimchi.
Their hot sauce(gochujang) wasn't as spicy as expected. It was more on the sweeter side.
However, overall good experience.“

“So good !!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥“

“We ordered chicken soup/ Hanbang Dakgomtang from here for delivery on the regular. It's comforting, flavorful, and easy to digest. I recommend ordering it for yourself or if you need to send soup to a friend or family who needs a little love.“

“Super Pot in Mountain View is one of those spots the boys are always down to wait for. We pulled up knowing there’d probably be a line, and sure enough, we waited about 15 to 20 minutes. Honestly, it never feels that long because you already know it’s going to hit. Once we were seated, ordering through the QR code was stupid easy. No flagging anyone down, no confusion. You just tap what you want and it starts rolling out. And when I say fast, I mean fast. Our first round came out in about 2 to 4 minutes. That kind of turnaround makes a huge difference when you’re starving.

The staff is on it too. They were attentive the whole time and swapped out the BBQ grill the second it started getting too charred. That’s clutch because nobody wants burnt flavor ruining good meat. The sauce combinations are fire. I tried the peanut butter dip and low key thought it would be weird, but it actually worked. Sweet, savory, and perfect with the grilled meats.

And the fact that dessert is included in the price? Say less. For the quality, speed, and overall vibe, it’s a solid deal. Super Pot is one of those dependable spots where you can catch up with the boys, eat heavy, and leave satisfied without feeling like you overpaid. Always a good move.“

“I don't venture out to San Carlos that much, but I was happy to try this Korean-Chinese restaurant! It was nice to find out that there were exclusive dishes that can ONLY be ordered at this location, so we made sure to order at least one of those items.

My favorites were the Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and the Meat Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles). Both had very different flavors, but still comforting. The seafood soup had a nice kick to it, but was perfect on that cold night we went. Noodle texture here is also pretty close to perfect with just enough bounce to them.

What we ordered:
* Chili Shrimp
* Black Pepper Beef (only available at this location!)
* Jjamppong
* Meat Jajangmyeon
* Garlic Soy Chicken Wings (10pc)“

“This place is absolutely incredible!!! The food is beyond delicious - especially the Korean dishes, which are so good they’ll leave you speechless. The service is wonderfully friendly, making the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. I also love that they have outdoor seating; it gives the restaurant such a pleasant and vibrant atmosphere.

If you go, you must try the Korean tteokbokki(spicy rice cake 떡볶이) korean fried chicken, and the kimchi fried rice , all highly recommended. Even the coffee is amazing here!!!! they serve it generously and it tastes fantastic.

Overall, a perfect spot for anyone looking for excellent food, outstanding service, and a great vibe!“

“Bibimbap hot pot with spicey pork, yum. lots of great vegetables and and the pork with egg over rice.“

“Great food! Staff are really nice. They give lots of ban chan.“

“Ordered through door dash. Bulgogi fries, chocolate torte, and soy garlic chicken. All incredible. Chicken was juicy had a great crispy texture with a great sauce taste. Even reheated and maintained crisp well when we had leftovers. Also nice big portion sizes.“

“Never done me wrong. I dropped my ice cream once, they took pity on me. Love this place, wish I lived closer to it. Will be coming here every day during summer. A couple topping options, and multiple ways to eat your ice cream, or even get pancake versions.

They don’t accept cash though.“

“Biked over from our hotel and grabbed a table without waiting on a Saturday evening. Plenty of tables inside, good lighting, and nice staff. Large sushi roll menu. We started with the spicy edamame and it was great, to an addicting point. I got the monster roll and the spicy hamachi. Good quality fish, rice was solid, and the ingredients tasted fresh. Solid spot for sushi.“

“OLHSO Truck isn’t just a food truck—it’s a fully automated robotic kitchen on wheels. Fresh ingredients are prepped daily by human chefs, but the actual cooking is done by a high-tech robot loaded with Chef Han’s perfected recipes. Once an order is placed, the truck’s system stir-fries everything while en route, so the food is piping hot and fresh just minutes before arrival.

For something made entirely by a machine, the food is impressively flavorful and well-executed.

Wagyu – Boneless wagyu short ribs marinated in a rich house sauce, stir-fried with fresh veggies. The meat is tender, packed with umami, and perfectly caramelized.

Dak Galbi – Chicken stir-fried in a gochujang-based spicy sauce with plenty of chewy rice cakes. The heat is customizable, but the deep, smoky flavor always shines.

SEOUL Food – A bold combination of kimchi, pork belly, soybean paste, and shrimp, all stir-fried together for layers of intense, savory flavor.

Japchae – Glass noodles tossed with mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and a sweet-savory soy sauce. Light yet satisfying.

Orders are placed through their app, and the robotic kitchen times the cooking process to ensure food arrives fresh—not sitting in a takeout container for half an hour. The whole concept is futuristic and efficient, and for a meal made entirely by a robot, the taste is surprisingly impressive.“

“This place is amazing! The spare ribs are bbq'ed right in front of you along with all of the other meats. The owners are kind and very personable. :) I went here two days in a row. Delish!“

“I had the bento box at Mikado in downtown Los Altos and it was excellent. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and very flavorful. The portions were generous and well balanced, making it a perfect lunch.

Friendly service and a cozy atmosphere — I’ll definitely be back!“

“We haven’t been to this Vons in a while, but were in the mood for some gimbap and had to stop in to try their new menu additions.
The staff were so kind and welcoming! They introduced the new menu to us and highlighted some of the items. We ordered the combo fried chicken and gimbap.
Fried chicken was amazing as always, juicy and crispy. The gimbap was delicious! This will be my go to spot now to order gimbap from.
I’ll definitely be returning to try their other new menu items!!“

“I was misled by this restaurant’s name for a long time—I always thought it was a Chinese restaurant. But when I finally came here, I realized it’s actually a Korean one. My husband used to come here often before the pandemic.

Their black bean noodles are delicious, but that’s not really what I want to talk about. What truly stands out isn’t just the food, but the service. In today’s Bay Area, especially among Asian restaurants, it’s rare to encounter genuine service. You often end up tipping for people who simply drop off your food and disappear.

But at Beijing Restaurant, you’ll understand what real service feels like—and you’ll be happy to tip for it. Their servers focus on actually taking care of your needs during the meal, without being intrusive or using those overly scripted lines like, “How’s everything tasting so far?” that interrupt your dining experience. Their Mexican waiter is neat, attentive, and makes you feel genuinely comfortable. The female server, who has apparently been working here since before the pandemic, adds to that sense of familiarity and warmth.

Altogether, it gives the impression of a place with integrity and care—a restaurant that truly values its customers. I’m more than willing to pay for real service, and I’ll definitely be coming back again!“

“Had a great experience! As a vegetarian, I’m always a bit cautious when trying Korean restaurants, but this place pleasantly surprised me with several delicious options.

The vegetarian-friendly Bibimbap was flavorful and satisfying, packed with fresh vegetables and perfectly seasoned. I also tried the Japchae, and the sweet potato glass noodles were cooked just right — slightly chewy, lightly sweet, and full of vegetable flavor. I also enjoyed the crispy fried seaweed rolls, which made for a perfect appetizer.

What I really appreciated was how accommodating the staff was when I asked about the ingredients and vegetarian modifications.

Overall, it’s a wonderful spot for vegetarians who want to enjoy authentic Korean flavors without feeling limited in choices. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“I heard good things about Vons and was not disappointed. The quality of the chicken can vary month to month, but the flavor and crisp is top notch. I love a good Korean fried chicken and Vons delivers there and more. The additional seasonings are great and the sides make the show. Japchae, dumplings, and tteokbokki are our go-tos here. We always do takeout, but the dining area is clean, albeit cramped. Anytime friends or family visit and mention fried chicken, we point them to Vons.“

“Wonderful Uni. Very fresh!!! The rolls were very well done: tasty with a great presentation. Recently remodeled, keeping the best of the old with a crisp new look. Warm and friendly service that you don't experience in most restaurant.“

“Absolutely loved this place! The donuts are fresh, soft, and full of flavor, and the boba drinks are perfectly made—chewy pearls, not too sweet, and so refreshing. The staff is super friendly and welcoming, and the shop has such a cozy, inviting vibe. It’s the kind of spot that makes you want to stay a little longer just to enjoy the atmosphere. Definitely my new go-to for a sweet treat and boba fix!“

“Lovely little restaurant with the most attentive staff and delicious food. I got some crispy Yang-nyum chicken and it was heavenly. Best Korean fried chicken place I’ve ever been to. The owners are so friendly and make the entire experience so much “

“Great fried chicken. Cheesling fries are also great. A bit slow to come out as they make it fresh, but well worth it. Takeout is great and they package things super well.
Overall feels very Korean, down to the cardboard soju ad standees.
Not a super fancy place or anything, but nice for some fried chicken.
Small (8 piece) boneless wings + fries are basically enough for 2 people. Leftovers are fine but you can't get the chicken as crispy as when it comes out fresh....“

“Had dinner here with 2 friends and we ordered the honeynut squash, chilled perilla noodles, scallion croissant, galbi, and crispy anchovy rice. Loved the perilla noodles - they were so light, refreshing, and tasted/smelled lightly like green tea. The galbi was so tender and flavorful. Also enjoyed the croissant - it was very crispy and the bottom 1/4 really was like a scallion pancake! I’d skip the rice next time, it wasn’t anything special. The soju cocktails are light, and my favorite was the natural oasis. Great spot for a date night or nice dinner but is on the pricier end.“

“This place is NOT a 4.2. It deserves a 4.7 AT least.

The fried rice, fried chicken, and seasoned fries are all really good. Spicy chicken fried rice is incredible!

They serve everything super hot, makes the food taste even better. Highly recommend trying it, definitely surprised me with how delicious it was.“

“Spicy sea food udon was sooooooo good!!!
I can not handle spicy so I asked them for less spicy on this. I thanked I did when I tried this. It was spicy enough. My kids enjoyed this. I also thanked for finding this korean cusin place.“

“Semi self-service. (Raw) meat selection for the table & personalized soup base are brought to you; the remainder (veggies, tofu & seafood) come on the conveyor belt. You pick your own side-dish sauces (buffet style). All you can eat but limited to 90 min.

Meats were very fresh, as were the seafood, since we had an 11 am reservation (allowed for > 6 people; more on this below). Plentiful and speedy conveyor belt since we were the "1st shift" (get my drift?). I preferred shrimp & chicken (low fat), but was able to tear off the fat (yup, strip by strip if your diet tends in that direction) from the red meats. After a while, no one could tell what meats were on which plates! We thought the baby scallops were great: fresh and tender if you let it into the soup only for 15 seconds, yet they didn't toughen up if you left them in for a while. Shrimp: delicious & fresh, and you have a choice of shelled vs with the full metal jacket!

The variety of tofu was really good. The puffy rectangles were especially nice since they soaked up the soup and softened upon contact with moisture. There were sufficient greens to even things out. We saw a group of Buddhist monks in the queue, so you know it's possible to eat vegan here.

Some of the soup base selections were exceptional: tomato (so good!), mushrooms & Tonkatsu highly recommended (these all start with bone broth, I believe). Miso not so much (uninteresting). The soup gets more flavorful as the meal progresses, so it's better to get something not too intense.

We secured a reservation with 7 people, but personally, I wouldn't do this again. The seating for a big group still places the conveyor belt next to only 2 people, so now those closest to the belt must continuously serve the rest of the table. It's too much. Far better to break up the group into foursomes. However, I've heard that sometimes they stuff a lone customer onto a table for 3. How weird is that?

While the atmosphere is alright, the style of food service is such that it made for a feeding frenzy with no conversation (except to praise the food). If it's a visit you seek, this is not the experience you'd want. Or plan to visit another place afterwards.“

“So glad my favorite KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) place is back open again!! Appreciate all the extra precautionary measures they took as they even cleaned my credit card👍🏻 My purchase even got me an additional discount next door at ShareTea!🙌🏻😁“

“Waterfront view, great service, awesome hot pot. What else can I ask for? Yeah. Love this place and will surely come back again!“