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.“

“Truly authentic Korean food!

It tastes exactly like the food I had back in Korea — comforting and full of real Korean flavor. I ordered kimbap and Korean fried chicken, and both were delicious. The kimbap was fresh, and the chicken was perfectly crispy and satisfying.

I got it to-go for my hotel, and even after it cooled down, it was still very tasty. Perfect for takeout and enjoying at a nearby park on a nice day. 🌿“

“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! 😋“

“Food: one word, AMAZING. From banchan to tofu soup, everything tasted like I had in Korea. The flavors are spot on and portion is good. Their bibimpap is highly recommended!

Service: one of the warmest I’ve had in Bay Area for sure. The guy was very welcoming, attentive and helpful! Makes the overall dining experience better.

Ambiance: I love how the name of the restaurant and “delicious” in Korean is corresponded. Overall it’s casual but I hope the kitchen vacuum is better so we don’t get too stuffed by the smell.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!!!“

“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.“

“Got a gyudon bowl from the donut shop, seems like it was a little heavy on the mirin but it was ok. Donuts were fine too. Also got some salt and pepper chicken this one unfortunately wasn't very good(not spicy at all, not really even much salt on it. Kinda bland). Also tried a strawberry macha latte from the coffee shop and that was good. Service is a little weird, you just order from kiosks off to the side and then it's like a weird 3 card monte where you pick up your food from since it's obvious all 3 places share the same kitchen with the same guy popping out from behind all 3 curtains periodically. Also the rice bowls from the donut shop seems a bit pricey for the quantity.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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 “

“I got the banana matcha, the banana definitely overpowered the matcha like at most other places. I couldn’t really taste the matcha, so it was basically a banana drink, but it was still really good! I think this is a good spot to come study/work at.“