20 Best Korean Restaurants near Hayward

“The food and service here is wonderful, get as many flavors of the fried chicken that you can. Surprisingly, even the boneless fried chicken is fantastic – it’s made with chicken thighs, so it still has a crispy skin and dark meat texture.

My wife and I visited during a workday lunch hour so the owners, a mother and her son, we’re operating and taking orders. They were very nice and super hospitable. I wish them all the best with this business because they have a fantastic product.

No seating inside, as it is kiosk/countertop ordering, but there are tables outside to enjoy your food there. Super chill, nothing fancy.“

“Don't mind my child's photo bombing hand, but it's a reference for how big their servings are I suppose. Most items are in the $20 range, but the servings are huge, so I think that makes it worth it.

5 stars also because I would like this spot in general to do well as I am a fan of food courts. I would like to try out the other restaurants here as well. But all that said, I thought the food was pretty good as well. My family enjoyed the kimbap, jajangmyun, soondubu, and teoppokki.

It was completely empty when I came, so the seating was comfortable. But if this spot gets popular, that'll be a problem as there are only like 4 tables. I suppose it's more like a takeout food court though.“

“My son-in-law went to school in Korea, which is how he got familiar with Korean food. Hang Yang BBQ is a short drive from his house, and it's where he eats on special occasions. The BBQ we ate was delicious, but this is not a one-off because I have eaten here three times. It's also a good sign that other customers are Korean. I'll keep coming back.“

“Please be more mindful about updating your holiday hours. Google showed the restaurant as open and DoorDash was still accepting orders, but when I arrived, the sign said ‘Closed for Thanksgiving.’ This caused inconvenience and could be avoided by keeping online hours updated. Thank you.“

“The Korean fried chicken was delicious. The staff was a big help. They helped me pick out a good bottle of cold sake.“

“So good and so dangerous being right down the street… The honey butter dusted fried chicken is like if Crispy Crunchy and farmer’s market kettle corn had a beautiful baby. Do yourself a favor and get some spicy kimchi rice with your chicken for that hot sauce style heat on the side. Bomb!“

“I’ve been a regular here since opening day, and it’s easily my favorite lunch spot in San Ramon! Their kimbap is always incredibly fresh—I especially love the variety with the mini rolls and triangle kimbap. Their new kimchi triangle is a total game-changer and a must-try for any fan of spicy, fresh flavors. Beyond the food, the staff is always super friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend for a quick, delicious lunch! 😋“

“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.“

“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.“

“Great service and absolutely delicious food! They have slightly higher prices than I’m used to, but not complaining, just giving heads up to anyone else new. You’ve gotta know your worth!
Probably the best tofu soup I’ve ever had from a restaurant. I hope to keep coming back.“

“Rice Junky is such a pleasant surprise! The food is flavorful, fresh, and served in generous portions. Everything tastes well-balanced and satisfying. The staff are friendly and the service is quick, making it perfect for a casual meal or takeout. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to!“

“Extra busy here tonight. Yet we were still seated right away. Service was slow. We had to wait a looong time for our orders to be taken. But the food came quickly. The Short ribs was yummy. The sliced pork was yummy. The seafood pancake was yummy. The beef rib soup was different than what I was used to. Peppery and I liked it!!! Korean restaurants tend to be more expensive but you get better quality food.“

“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!!!!“

“Fusion done right! I unfortunately couldn't eat our meal until I get home but that did not matter, the flavor, texture its all there. I was also hesitant to get the Ube horchata cause I didn't think it would work together and I do not like horchata, but it's darn good. Worth the 25 min drive from Walnut Creek.“

“I only got 8 ban chan, that's still ok. Just the side dishes alone made coming here worth it. The Yuk gae Jang spicy beef soup was very delicious, I use it as a barometer to determine the level of the chef kind of like you can use plain fried rice to determine the level of a Chinese chef.

1/2026- The potato ban chan is my personal favorite, followed up by the bean sprouts and kim chee.

Bright atmosphere, hardly any of the customers here were speaking English. Strongly recommend this place.“

“Inside of the food hall, there are three stalls. Capture for coffee, YaDaebak! for appetizer, breakfast, or entree, and Smochi for mochi donut. The black sesame latte was so good! We got the Egg & Bulgogi breakfast rice bowl from YaDaebak and for $9, portions were generous and delicious. For a person that has always been meh about mochi don't, got a new perspective and experience through their chocolate with white chocolate swirl. The staffs are really nice and if you don't know what to get, just ask. Love the cleanliness of the space, too.“

“Best jajang around“

“Love taking my family here. Wide tables, perfect for families and friends. This chicken is to die for. I honestly don’t know how they get it so perfectly and evenly crispy while being super moist inside. It’s a true art. Pricing is great for what you get. Fries are also very good and crunchy. The place has a nice and comfy feel to it. Sometimes they have only one person servicing which could be better but most of the time it’s perfectly fine.“

“Tried Matzip recently under the new management and wow — everything was amazing. We ordered the buldak fried chicken, soy-garlic fried chicken, and jajangmyun, and each dish was spot on.

The fried chicken was crispy to absolute perfection — the kind of crunch you normally only find at top spots in Korea. The jajangmyun noodles were perfectly chewy and flavorful, exactly what you’d expect from an authentic Korean Chinese restaurant in Seoul. Even the side dishes, especially the kimchi, were fresh and balanced just right.

Overall, the food exceeded expectations. Highly recommend giving it a try and experiencing it for yourself. Matzip under new management is definitely worth checking out!“

“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 “