Always a great meal here. The flavors are amazing and the service was excellent. One of our favorite neighborhood spots.
Lia Saville-Finch
Love the chicken and the appetizers. The atmosphere is very cute comfy. The place is great. Nice wine selection. Highly recommend.
Midnight Agenda
We stopped here on a whime after tooling around 2nd st for a while. There was one other person having dinner but otherwise dead.The restaurant smelled of cleaner, not of food.I had the Pork Soondubu Jjigae and my companion had the Beef Bulgogi.My soup had Zero salt. Like, none. It tasted very under flavored and kinda flat.The Bulgogi was in large pieces like a flank steak and also tasted under seasoned, like it wasn't marinated for very long or with enough seasoning. It was cooked well though, and butter tender, a knife was not needed to cut it.The kimchi itself was bad. It tasted so heavily of horseradish. That is not a flavor anyone expects while eating kimchi.The dumplings were pretty clearly frozen and not house made which is surprising considering the price.The best thing I ate there was actually the green beans they brought out with the little side bites spread. Those were very very good.
Mark F.
There is a serious lack of representation of Korean food in Long Beach so we were excited about this place. Then we heard that this was Korean fine dining, which sounded intriguing but it sounded like people complained so they re-branded to something more casual. But now the problem is that it's just an ordinary Korean restaurant that is kinda pricey and not as good as something you could find in Garden Grove. We got the tofu soup, the oxtail soup, the bibimbop, and the cauliflower. The bibimbop was pretty boring and flavorless. Did get some good crispy rice at the bottom but nothing memorable. The tofu soup had a different taste in the broth, a little smokier than what you might find in a traditional tofu soup spot but still decent. The soup also wasn't that hot so the egg never really cooked at all. Now onto the good. The banchan (which comes with the soups or any of the main dishes) was decent but really small portions. The oxtail soup was the most flavorful and probably the best of the bunch. The fried cauliflower (we got the spicy kind) was also good. A little sweet, had a spice (but not spicy) and some crunch to it. Probably the dish with the most mass appeal. The waiter was SUPER nice although maybe not that attentive? He never offered to bring more banchan and we had to always ask for more water. At the end of the day, I'm not sure what this place is supposed to be. A neighborhood Korean joint with good home cooking? A modern Korean spot with a twist? Just not sure and I'm not sure the owners know either.
Filippo A.
The perfect mix of flavors! Loved the glabitang meat and borth along with everything else we got.
Jennifer K.
Overpriced and not as authentic or delicious as Korean food elsewhere, would not come here again. The ban chan, dukbokki and bimbimbap were all just ok but my main gripe is that for less money you could get amazing Korean food in Garden Grove or OC. As there's a dearth of Korean restaurants in Long Beach the cost might have been justified if the food was better tasting.
Lissa Newton
Hands down some of the best Korean fare I've eaten. From the Soju and Orange wine to the radish wraps, Korean fried chicken, bulgogi and kimchi fried rice, this is a restaurant I could visit over and over again and never tire of the food. Owned and run by the same couple who operate Poke Pola next door, Haewah Dal is a little slice of yum in Belmont Shore that is unlike any other. I recommend getting all of the items I had. You'll have a lot of leftovers, but it's worth the splurge.
Paul L.
There is a lack of Korean cuisines in the city of Long Beach. I came to this restaurant with my in-laws, and knowing that this restaurant is on 2nd St in Belmont Shore, I was initially skeptical that it would not meet my in-law's authentic taste for Korean food. What We Ordered: Upon arrival and looking at the menu was a challenge. The in-laws wanted an item not available on the menu. KIMCHI JJIGAE (Kimchi Casserole) is a traditional Kimchi soup dish that any Korean mom can make. We asked the waitress and she had to go into the kitchen to ask the chef/owner if that was possible. Luckily, the owner obliged and made the stew for them. The casserole was packed with Kimchi and pork. My FIL finished the bowl until it was empty. I ordered GALBI TANG (Beef Short Rib in its broth, Glass Noodle, Daikon (Radish), and Eggs) - This soup was hearty. It had a rich taste of the beef broth and the boiled radish brought out a sweet texture. There were two large beef short ribs where the bones stuck out like a tomahawk. It was delicious, and I finished the dish only to leave behind the daikon. Sorry, but I am not a fan of the soft gelatinous texture of the radish. We also ordered BBQ LA Short Ribs - People also know this dish as Galbi, where the short ribs are thinly and vertically cut. The meat was grilled in the kitchen. I thought it was good but a bit heavy on the price. I would give them five stars for accomodating our needs and taste. However, I feel the price is a bit steep. But, I guess this is the price you pay for dining at Belmont Shore.
Henali H.
Delicious! And I can't wait to come back. Don't be scared of the price because you get a lot of food! This place used to have a sampling concept. But now, the new concept for the restaurant is family style, but modern. We tried a good handful of vegetarian options. The cauliflower was hot (temperature), crispy, mouthwatering, and just overall really well done! It's topped with crushed peanuts. This is a dish you can order to share with the rest of your party! One bowl was plenty for about 3-4 people. If you don't finish these, take them home and put it in the air frier for about 5 mins on 400 and they taste fresh! (9.7/10) Veggie dumpling. I personally loved them more than Din Thai Fung. The sauce that comes with it is very umami and the flavor inside each dumpling was very good! (10/10) Silken tofu soup: the soup has so much depth and paired with kimchi *chefs kiss* I personally would have liked more broth and less filling. (9.5/10) Glass noodles: strong sesame flavor. My sister is the pickiest when it comes to Asian foods however she liked this dish the most. It was subtle, healthy, and fresh. (9.4/10) Not pictured: owner made cheesecake! Not on the menu but ask for it! And get extra berry compote! I didn't eat it, however, my brother said it was the best ending to this amazing meal. (100/10) Support this local business. Step out of your comfort zone! Grab 2-3 friends and enjoy the food family style.
Tyler Newton
Oh my!!!! Some of the BEST Korean food. Staff was very attentive and friendly so if not sure what to order, just ask. Everything is made in house.In Korean fashion, had the refillable small plates: kimchi, mushrooms, potatoes salad, cucumber and green beans. Oh, and had yummy grapefruit soju. For apps, got the spicy Korean chicken (highly recommend-not spicy at all), and radish wraps. Both FULL flavor. So good. Next got kimchi fried rice. Loved this, but you gotta like kimchi and seaweed. Last was bolgogi....making my mouth water just thinking about it.
It's really good. Nice staff and cool design. There are many great options. High quality
Howard Rubinstein
Fantastic food. Not much decor here, but the food is superb. We had vegetable dumplings (crisp and feathery light), sautéed squid (rich and flavorful with lots of veggies), and black cod (tender with wonderful complex flavors). The charming owner is welcoming and delightful.
Charlie D.
This place reminds me of my in-laws restaurant in DTLA. Family owned, with one of the owners always present. They care about the food and experience and it shows! My wife and I went for the third time yesterday and continue to enjoy the food and atmosphere. Definitely worth the money! Try the japchae!
Shirley H.
Haewah Dal is a small, unassuming Korean restaurant on the busy 2nd street. Their menu is small but diverse -- they offer soondubu, yuk gae jang, galbitang, bibimbap, and more. We were seated quickly on a weekday night. The banchan included the regular spicy cucumber and kimchi, with the addition of a small bowl of salad. We ordered the hot stone bibimbap and yuk gae jang. Both were absolutely delicious. The bibimbap came out piping hot in sizzling bowl. I loved the different vegetables and beef. Altogether, it tasted like a sizzling party of flavors. If I could give them 4.5 stars, I would. Prices are more expensive than the average Korean fare, but well worth it.
Mimi M.
Haewah Dal offers the best Korean food around in a pleasant environment with excellent service. Their menu has great variety--from my favorite traditional foods like japchae, to dishes that show the chef's own unique touch. A lot of tasty vegetarian options featuring tofu. Everything I've ordered has been delicious, and consistently well-prepared and well-presented. A great choice for lunch or dinner in Belmont Shore!
Always a great meal here. The flavors are amazing and the service was excellent. One of our favorite neighborhood spots.
Love the chicken and the appetizers. The atmosphere is very cute comfy. The place is great. Nice wine selection. Highly recommend.
We stopped here on a whime after tooling around 2nd st for a while. There was one other person having dinner but otherwise dead.The restaurant smelled of cleaner, not of food.I had the Pork Soondubu Jjigae and my companion had the Beef Bulgogi.My soup had Zero salt. Like, none. It tasted very under flavored and kinda flat.The Bulgogi was in large pieces like a flank steak and also tasted under seasoned, like it wasn't marinated for very long or with enough seasoning. It was cooked well though, and butter tender, a knife was not needed to cut it.The kimchi itself was bad. It tasted so heavily of horseradish. That is not a flavor anyone expects while eating kimchi.The dumplings were pretty clearly frozen and not house made which is surprising considering the price.The best thing I ate there was actually the green beans they brought out with the little side bites spread. Those were very very good.
There is a serious lack of representation of Korean food in Long Beach so we were excited about this place. Then we heard that this was Korean fine dining, which sounded intriguing but it sounded like people complained so they re-branded to something more casual. But now the problem is that it's just an ordinary Korean restaurant that is kinda pricey and not as good as something you could find in Garden Grove. We got the tofu soup, the oxtail soup, the bibimbop, and the cauliflower. The bibimbop was pretty boring and flavorless. Did get some good crispy rice at the bottom but nothing memorable. The tofu soup had a different taste in the broth, a little smokier than what you might find in a traditional tofu soup spot but still decent. The soup also wasn't that hot so the egg never really cooked at all. Now onto the good. The banchan (which comes with the soups or any of the main dishes) was decent but really small portions. The oxtail soup was the most flavorful and probably the best of the bunch. The fried cauliflower (we got the spicy kind) was also good. A little sweet, had a spice (but not spicy) and some crunch to it. Probably the dish with the most mass appeal. The waiter was SUPER nice although maybe not that attentive? He never offered to bring more banchan and we had to always ask for more water. At the end of the day, I'm not sure what this place is supposed to be. A neighborhood Korean joint with good home cooking? A modern Korean spot with a twist? Just not sure and I'm not sure the owners know either.
The perfect mix of flavors! Loved the glabitang meat and borth along with everything else we got.
Overpriced and not as authentic or delicious as Korean food elsewhere, would not come here again. The ban chan, dukbokki and bimbimbap were all just ok but my main gripe is that for less money you could get amazing Korean food in Garden Grove or OC. As there's a dearth of Korean restaurants in Long Beach the cost might have been justified if the food was better tasting.
Hands down some of the best Korean fare I've eaten. From the Soju and Orange wine to the radish wraps, Korean fried chicken, bulgogi and kimchi fried rice, this is a restaurant I could visit over and over again and never tire of the food. Owned and run by the same couple who operate Poke Pola next door, Haewah Dal is a little slice of yum in Belmont Shore that is unlike any other. I recommend getting all of the items I had. You'll have a lot of leftovers, but it's worth the splurge.
There is a lack of Korean cuisines in the city of Long Beach. I came to this restaurant with my in-laws, and knowing that this restaurant is on 2nd St in Belmont Shore, I was initially skeptical that it would not meet my in-law's authentic taste for Korean food. What We Ordered: Upon arrival and looking at the menu was a challenge. The in-laws wanted an item not available on the menu. KIMCHI JJIGAE (Kimchi Casserole) is a traditional Kimchi soup dish that any Korean mom can make. We asked the waitress and she had to go into the kitchen to ask the chef/owner if that was possible. Luckily, the owner obliged and made the stew for them. The casserole was packed with Kimchi and pork. My FIL finished the bowl until it was empty. I ordered GALBI TANG (Beef Short Rib in its broth, Glass Noodle, Daikon (Radish), and Eggs) - This soup was hearty. It had a rich taste of the beef broth and the boiled radish brought out a sweet texture. There were two large beef short ribs where the bones stuck out like a tomahawk. It was delicious, and I finished the dish only to leave behind the daikon. Sorry, but I am not a fan of the soft gelatinous texture of the radish. We also ordered BBQ LA Short Ribs - People also know this dish as Galbi, where the short ribs are thinly and vertically cut. The meat was grilled in the kitchen. I thought it was good but a bit heavy on the price. I would give them five stars for accomodating our needs and taste. However, I feel the price is a bit steep. But, I guess this is the price you pay for dining at Belmont Shore.
Delicious! And I can't wait to come back. Don't be scared of the price because you get a lot of food! This place used to have a sampling concept. But now, the new concept for the restaurant is family style, but modern. We tried a good handful of vegetarian options. The cauliflower was hot (temperature), crispy, mouthwatering, and just overall really well done! It's topped with crushed peanuts. This is a dish you can order to share with the rest of your party! One bowl was plenty for about 3-4 people. If you don't finish these, take them home and put it in the air frier for about 5 mins on 400 and they taste fresh! (9.7/10) Veggie dumpling. I personally loved them more than Din Thai Fung. The sauce that comes with it is very umami and the flavor inside each dumpling was very good! (10/10) Silken tofu soup: the soup has so much depth and paired with kimchi *chefs kiss* I personally would have liked more broth and less filling. (9.5/10) Glass noodles: strong sesame flavor. My sister is the pickiest when it comes to Asian foods however she liked this dish the most. It was subtle, healthy, and fresh. (9.4/10) Not pictured: owner made cheesecake! Not on the menu but ask for it! And get extra berry compote! I didn't eat it, however, my brother said it was the best ending to this amazing meal. (100/10) Support this local business. Step out of your comfort zone! Grab 2-3 friends and enjoy the food family style.
Oh my!!!! Some of the BEST Korean food. Staff was very attentive and friendly so if not sure what to order, just ask. Everything is made in house.In Korean fashion, had the refillable small plates: kimchi, mushrooms, potatoes salad, cucumber and green beans. Oh, and had yummy grapefruit soju. For apps, got the spicy Korean chicken (highly recommend-not spicy at all), and radish wraps. Both FULL flavor. So good. Next got kimchi fried rice. Loved this, but you gotta like kimchi and seaweed. Last was bolgogi....making my mouth water just thinking about it.
Restaurantji Recommends
It's really good. Nice staff and cool design. There are many great options. High quality
Fantastic food. Not much decor here, but the food is superb. We had vegetable dumplings (crisp and feathery light), sautéed squid (rich and flavorful with lots of veggies), and black cod (tender with wonderful complex flavors). The charming owner is welcoming and delightful.
This place reminds me of my in-laws restaurant in DTLA. Family owned, with one of the owners always present. They care about the food and experience and it shows! My wife and I went for the third time yesterday and continue to enjoy the food and atmosphere. Definitely worth the money! Try the japchae!
Haewah Dal is a small, unassuming Korean restaurant on the busy 2nd street. Their menu is small but diverse -- they offer soondubu, yuk gae jang, galbitang, bibimbap, and more. We were seated quickly on a weekday night. The banchan included the regular spicy cucumber and kimchi, with the addition of a small bowl of salad. We ordered the hot stone bibimbap and yuk gae jang. Both were absolutely delicious. The bibimbap came out piping hot in sizzling bowl. I loved the different vegetables and beef. Altogether, it tasted like a sizzling party of flavors. If I could give them 4.5 stars, I would. Prices are more expensive than the average Korean fare, but well worth it.
Haewah Dal offers the best Korean food around in a pleasant environment with excellent service. Their menu has great variety--from my favorite traditional foods like japchae, to dishes that show the chef's own unique touch. A lot of tasty vegetarian options featuring tofu. Everything I've ordered has been delicious, and consistently well-prepared and well-presented. A great choice for lunch or dinner in Belmont Shore!