Honestly, it was one of the worst tofu soup I’ve ever had. I ordered seafood and beef soup, and it was purely salty and tasted even worse than the BCD instant soup pack. I’d suggest people who want to get regular Korean tofu soup not come here.Also, the service sucks. The waiter (might be the boss) didn’t finish listening my order and turned around. If you are that busy, please hire some hands.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup
Wook Chung
I don't know when Soon's opened but I've been living in the Peninsula for 6 years and cannot believe I just discovered this restaurant. For authentic Korean food, you typically have to head down to Sunnyvale or Santa Clara. But obviously for those who live in the Peninsula or above, it is a journey. Soon's finally starts to establish options alongside Daeho in San Mateo.From the outside, Soon's looks confusing. It is supposedly a Korean restaurant in a western plaza selling a whole variety of things. Is it fusion? Is it "Korean" cuisine by inspiration? And there's even some hints of Chinese, Hawaiian and Mexican in the menu. Again, not a good sign. Also, you need to stare at the ceiling when you're inside... it could've been a 3-story building.But let the food speak for itself. The banchan already is diverse and authentic, as well as every single dish that came out. The food is cooked by your "aunt" with decent sprinkling of love and nostalgia. It is Korean comfort food done well across the board. We had a tofu soup, galbi, kimchi fried rice and jjajangmyun... (?) - yes, the things from Chinese restaurants.And yes, all of them turned out great. It definitely is created with your aunt's interpretation but proper. The food tends to be on the sweeter side (so a bit additional sugar) but still within normal ranges.Ah, and the staff is super friendly.I am so glad we discovered Soon's. We'll absolutely be back. And one less reason to go down to Lawrence and El Camino.Parking: Plenty of parking in the plaza.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Hien P
I’m a big fan of Korean food and have loved it for a very long time. However, today was a major disappointment at the restaurant I visited with my friend. The water served tasted terrible, and to make matters worse, we found hair in our food. As much as I love Korean cuisine, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Sorry!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup, Spicy Pork BBQ Small
Humberto Garcia
Horrible service Horrible food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Guest
I’m a big fan of Korean food and have loved it for a very long time. However, today was a major disappointment at the restaurant I visited with my friend. The water served tasted terrible, and to make matters worse, we found hair in our food. As much as I love Korean cuisine, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Sorry!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup, Spicy Pork BBQ Small
Wei-Ai Tai
Food was very average, especially compared to the Korean food that you can find in the South Bay. Bulgogi was slightly over cooked and too sweet, and the kimchi jigae was okay. However, the friendly and super efficient service bumped up the review by a star!Parking: Free parking lot
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Stew
Jenisa Thompson
This is about my experience with their lack of kindness and customer service.Would not go to Soons for Korean bbq due to lame customer service.MY son was hunched over and in TEARS because he needed the bathroom (we were on a dog walk, aka my job, so I couldn't accompany him but stood at the doorway, and the man working there started bullying and harassing him about needing to ask to use the restroom and then gave me a lecture about how it’s not a public bathroom. ? he’s 6 dude, just leave it alone.I can appreciate businesses not wanting to offer a *public* restroom for anyone but for children I think more grace and kindness should be allotted. They’ve lost our business for sure.Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly.
Service: 1
Wei Yuan
Food is of good quality. But the quantity is <sigh>. Will go if considering diet.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Hector Mau
I am not sure why they are Hawaiian food with Korean tofu soup.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup
H Mau
I am not sure why they are Hawaiian food with Korean tofu soup.
Met up with some friends for lunch. We ordered seafood and beef combination tofu soup, pork tofu soup, kim bap with bulgogi beef, and a classic poke bowl. The food was simple and filling, service was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soon
Rachelle Talag
Met up with some friends for lunch. We ordered seafood and beef combination tofu soup, pork tofu soup, kim bap with bulgogi beef, and a classic poke bowl. The food was simple and filling, service was friendly.
Suji Jeon
I ordered Gopchang tofu soup, expecting the main ingredient would be beef intestines. I found only one piece of Gopchang in the soup. The soup was full of other organs I couldn't figure out what it is. I would never have ordered this dish if I knew there was no Gopchang. The tofu soup was pretty similar to other tofu soup I have tried at different restaurants. I have no reason to go back to this place. I can't believe they make a dish that is missing the main ingredient. Very disappointing.
Jay Paroline
The tofu soup and dolsot bibimbap with spicy pork were
Honestly, it was one of the worst tofu soup I’ve ever had. I ordered seafood and beef soup, and it was purely salty and tasted even worse than the BCD instant soup pack. I’d suggest people who want to get regular Korean tofu soup not come here.Also, the service sucks. The waiter (might be the boss) didn’t finish listening my order and turned around. If you are that busy, please hire some hands.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup
I don't know when Soon's opened but I've been living in the Peninsula for 6 years and cannot believe I just discovered this restaurant. For authentic Korean food, you typically have to head down to Sunnyvale or Santa Clara. But obviously for those who live in the Peninsula or above, it is a journey. Soon's finally starts to establish options alongside Daeho in San Mateo.From the outside, Soon's looks confusing. It is supposedly a Korean restaurant in a western plaza selling a whole variety of things. Is it fusion? Is it "Korean" cuisine by inspiration? And there's even some hints of Chinese, Hawaiian and Mexican in the menu. Again, not a good sign. Also, you need to stare at the ceiling when you're inside... it could've been a 3-story building.But let the food speak for itself. The banchan already is diverse and authentic, as well as every single dish that came out. The food is cooked by your "aunt" with decent sprinkling of love and nostalgia. It is Korean comfort food done well across the board. We had a tofu soup, galbi, kimchi fried rice and jjajangmyun... (?) - yes, the things from Chinese restaurants.And yes, all of them turned out great. It definitely is created with your aunt's interpretation but proper. The food tends to be on the sweeter side (so a bit additional sugar) but still within normal ranges.Ah, and the staff is super friendly.I am so glad we discovered Soon's. We'll absolutely be back. And one less reason to go down to Lawrence and El Camino.Parking: Plenty of parking in the plaza.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I’m a big fan of Korean food and have loved it for a very long time. However, today was a major disappointment at the restaurant I visited with my friend. The water served tasted terrible, and to make matters worse, we found hair in our food. As much as I love Korean cuisine, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Sorry!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup, Spicy Pork BBQ Small
Horrible service Horrible food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I’m a big fan of Korean food and have loved it for a very long time. However, today was a major disappointment at the restaurant I visited with my friend. The water served tasted terrible, and to make matters worse, we found hair in our food. As much as I love Korean cuisine, I cannot recommend this place to anyone. Sorry!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup, Spicy Pork BBQ Small
Food was very average, especially compared to the Korean food that you can find in the South Bay. Bulgogi was slightly over cooked and too sweet, and the kimchi jigae was okay. However, the friendly and super efficient service bumped up the review by a star!Parking: Free parking lot
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tofu Stew
This is about my experience with their lack of kindness and customer service.Would not go to Soons for Korean bbq due to lame customer service.MY son was hunched over and in TEARS because he needed the bathroom (we were on a dog walk, aka my job, so I couldn't accompany him but stood at the doorway, and the man working there started bullying and harassing him about needing to ask to use the restroom and then gave me a lecture about how it’s not a public bathroom. ? he’s 6 dude, just leave it alone.I can appreciate businesses not wanting to offer a *public* restroom for anyone but for children I think more grace and kindness should be allotted. They’ve lost our business for sure.Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly.
Service: 1
Food is of good quality. But the quantity is <sigh>. Will go if considering diet.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I am not sure why they are Hawaiian food with Korean tofu soup.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup
I am not sure why they are Hawaiian food with Korean tofu soup.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tofu Soup
Restaurantji Recommends
Met up with some friends for lunch. We ordered seafood and beef combination tofu soup, pork tofu soup, kim bap with bulgogi beef, and a classic poke bowl. The food was simple and filling, service was friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soon
Met up with some friends for lunch. We ordered seafood and beef combination tofu soup, pork tofu soup, kim bap with bulgogi beef, and a classic poke bowl. The food was simple and filling, service was friendly.
I ordered Gopchang tofu soup, expecting the main ingredient would be beef intestines. I found only one piece of Gopchang in the soup. The soup was full of other organs I couldn't figure out what it is. I would never have ordered this dish if I knew there was no Gopchang. The tofu soup was pretty similar to other tofu soup I have tried at different restaurants. I have no reason to go back to this place. I can't believe they make a dish that is missing the main ingredient. Very disappointing.
The tofu soup and dolsot bibimbap with spicy pork were
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, friendly staff, always a good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5