Dining out lately has been disappointing—expensive with mediocre food and service—so I rarely do it anymore. However, this restaurant was a wonderful exception. Both the food and service were exceptional, and the atmosphere was lovely. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy and delicious, and the seafood soup was full of flavor. They even treated us to a complimentary small drink at the end! What impressed me most was their honesty: they calculate the suggested tip based on the pre-tax amount. Many places nowadays calculate tips after tax, which I find unfair. It’s refreshing to see a business with such integrity. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
NickyFoodReviews
Bell86 is a newly opened Korean Tapas restaurant located in the heart of Coolidge Corner, with little signage outside but located next to Ganko Ittetsu Ramen's location.
We came in on a Monday night, and it was quiet and had a nice atmosphere, with few tables filled. However, the service was exceptional. The staff were quick to take orders, deliver dishes, and also provided complimentary foods to try out and explained each dish when they arrived.
The food is just as good. We received kimbap and cinnamon tea on the house. The kimbap was small and only came with 3 pieces, but was wrapped really nicely and had great flavor. We didn't really enjoy the cinnamon tea, but that was a preference thing as we don't enjoy cinnamon. As for the menu, we got the Yun Ja Yook (Pork Belly), Prime Boneless Short Rib, and the Kimchi Odeng. The Yun Ja Yook was very tasy, and came with a nice pollock side to add to the meat. It was very tender and worth the price. The Kimchi Odeng came out in a nice pot, and had plenty of fishcakes and a nice Kimchi taste, not too sour but flavorful. The highlight had to be the Short rib. It came out on a sizzling platter, and was still hot as it came out. The garlic butter wasn't overwhelming, but the pieces were cooked very well with a nice flavorful taste. Only downside is there wasn't that much pieces of meat and was primarily vegetables, but overall was very tasty and satisfying to eat.
The pricepoint is good for Tapas, though I wouldn't come here if you are completely starving and are adverse to spending a lot. We only paid around $70 for the total, and were filled at the end, but we only came in with a party of 3 and weren't that hungry. Overall, would be a wonderful place for a mini celebration or a date night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
M K
Kind stuff and good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jjbang
Food really good. Love the jazz vibe!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Caroline Hammer
The food is just not that good unfortunately— we were excited to try this place, but I really think other spots in the area have better Korean food. Also it’s kind of over priced for the amount of food you get. The staff and service is great and it’s a lovely place to sit, but I’m afraid there’s just too many other better versions of these dishes nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Truvo Support
Had a company dinner at Bell 86 , the food is definitely the best Korean food I ever ate in the US, the service is top tier, definitely recommended this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meghan
The food and drinks are excellent and good portions, and the staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anastasia Bozhenova
Amazing food and service! Very attentive !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael M
The complete opposite of how Korean food should be—bastardized, tiny portions, overly salty, and wildly overpriced. Don’t be fooled by the Resy recs and the $30 no show.
Just pick anywhere else in Allston.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
TheMadO13
We came in very late after a movie, and we just wanted a little snack, and the staff was very nice and welcoming! We love Korean food and I was pleasantly surprised to find non-standard Americanized items on the menu. I got Spicy pig feet, and my husband got shrimp and we shared Salmon sashimi! Everything was amazing, and the staff brought out complementary Kimbap and juice samples. Everything was flawless! Definitely will be back!
Great atmosphere, clean, and tasty food. Food is pretty authentic Korean. They give you a free sample of their pumpkin drink and a piece of kimbap while you choose menu. Seafood nooroongi was so good, soothing and perfect for chilly weather - a highly recommend. Also galbi was very good. The server was polite and helpful. They also get you to experience Korean coffee machine with 100 won when you head out. Pretty cool. Definitely put this restaurant on the list of places I want to take my visitors to Boston. Parking can be very tricky in the area though. Would recommend transit (there is Green line nearby and several bus stations) or Uber/Lyft. However our Lyft driver could not stop in front of the restaurant for some reason so had to wait on the other side of the road. FYI if you are planning to Uber/Lyft to the place. Busy street but inside is pretty well insulated noise-wise and they played classic Korean ballads. Bathrooms were also clean and tucked inside. Would recommend. Apparently some Korean celebrities ate here too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
G. Hauray
Cute inside. The servers were incredibly helpful and kind. We sampled a lot from the tapas and got some specialties as well. The standouts were the pork belly, the mung bean pancake, and the kalbi jjim. The banchan is complimentary!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miles Black (mabrocks97)
The food was incredible and I’ll definitely be going back soon! The drinks were also really tasty
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Hyesun Lee
Their service and food were really excellent. I will take guests there for a decent meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Orr
Very fine Korean cuisine. Complex, rich flavors presented in single-sized sizzling cast-iron pans. Highly recommend the grilled chicken. Like the food, the service is exceptional. The place is not cheap. My only quibble is the music which did not match the delicacy of the food.
Dining out lately has been disappointing—expensive with mediocre food and service—so I rarely do it anymore. However, this restaurant was a wonderful exception. Both the food and service were exceptional, and the atmosphere was lovely.
The fried chicken was perfectly crispy and delicious, and the seafood soup was full of flavor. They even treated us to a complimentary small drink at the end! What impressed me most was their honesty: they calculate the suggested tip based on the pre-tax amount. Many places nowadays calculate tips after tax, which I find unfair. It’s refreshing to see a business with such integrity. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bell86 is a newly opened Korean Tapas restaurant located in the heart of Coolidge Corner, with little signage outside but located next to Ganko Ittetsu Ramen's location.
We came in on a Monday night, and it was quiet and had a nice atmosphere, with few tables filled. However, the service was exceptional. The staff were quick to take orders, deliver dishes, and also provided complimentary foods to try out and explained each dish when they arrived.
The food is just as good. We received kimbap and cinnamon tea on the house. The kimbap was small and only came with 3 pieces, but was wrapped really nicely and had great flavor. We didn't really enjoy the cinnamon tea, but that was a preference thing as we don't enjoy cinnamon. As for the menu, we got the Yun Ja Yook (Pork Belly), Prime Boneless Short Rib, and the Kimchi Odeng. The Yun Ja Yook was very tasy, and came with a nice pollock side to add to the meat. It was very tender and worth the price. The Kimchi Odeng came out in a nice pot, and had plenty of fishcakes and a nice Kimchi taste, not too sour but flavorful. The highlight had to be the Short rib. It came out on a sizzling platter, and was still hot as it came out. The garlic butter wasn't overwhelming, but the pieces were cooked very well with a nice flavorful taste. Only downside is there wasn't that much pieces of meat and was primarily vegetables, but overall was very tasty and satisfying to eat.
The pricepoint is good for Tapas, though I wouldn't come here if you are completely starving and are adverse to spending a lot. We only paid around $70 for the total, and were filled at the end, but we only came in with a party of 3 and weren't that hungry. Overall, would be a wonderful place for a mini celebration or a date night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kind stuff and good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food really good. Love the jazz vibe!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is just not that good unfortunately— we were excited to try this place, but I really think other spots in the area have better Korean food. Also it’s kind of over priced for the amount of food you get. The staff and service is great and it’s a lovely place to sit, but I’m afraid there’s just too many other better versions of these dishes nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Had a company dinner at Bell 86 , the food is definitely the best Korean food I ever ate in the US, the service is top tier, definitely recommended this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and drinks are excellent and good portions, and the staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food and service! Very attentive !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The complete opposite of how Korean food should be—bastardized, tiny portions, overly salty, and wildly overpriced. Don’t be fooled by the Resy recs and the $30 no show.
Just pick anywhere else in Allston.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
We came in very late after a movie, and we just wanted a little snack, and the staff was very nice and welcoming! We love Korean food and I was pleasantly surprised to find non-standard Americanized items on the menu. I got Spicy pig feet, and my husband got shrimp and we shared Salmon sashimi! Everything was amazing, and the staff brought out complementary Kimbap and juice samples. Everything was flawless! Definitely will be back!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great atmosphere, clean, and tasty food. Food is pretty authentic Korean. They give you a free sample of their pumpkin drink and a piece of kimbap while you choose menu. Seafood nooroongi was so good, soothing and perfect for chilly weather - a highly recommend. Also galbi was very good. The server was polite and helpful. They also get you to experience Korean coffee machine with 100 won when you head out. Pretty cool. Definitely put this restaurant on the list of places I want to take my visitors to Boston. Parking can be very tricky in the area though. Would recommend transit (there is Green line nearby and several bus stations) or Uber/Lyft. However our Lyft driver could not stop in front of the restaurant for some reason so had to wait on the other side of the road. FYI if you are planning to Uber/Lyft to the place. Busy street but inside is pretty well insulated noise-wise and they played classic Korean ballads. Bathrooms were also clean and tucked inside. Would recommend. Apparently some Korean celebrities ate here too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cute inside. The servers were incredibly helpful and kind. We sampled a lot from the tapas and got some specialties as well. The standouts were the pork belly, the mung bean pancake, and the kalbi jjim. The banchan is complimentary!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was incredible and I’ll definitely be going back soon! The drinks were also really tasty
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Their service and food were really excellent. I will take guests there for a decent meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very fine Korean cuisine. Complex, rich flavors presented in single-sized sizzling cast-iron pans. Highly recommend the grilled chicken. Like the food, the service is exceptional. The place is not cheap. My only quibble is the music which did not match the delicacy of the food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
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