Hojokban

I came for a weekend dinner with a friend recently; I think reservations can be a little hard to come by -- we booked at least a few weeks out -- and they did seem to be quite full/busy throughout our meal, so probably best to just plan ahead. Despite the busy-ness, service was very prompt and attentive!We ordered the perilla oil noodles and the tiger budae jjigae to share.The noodles were fantastic. I really love the flavour of perilla oil, which I think is relatively uncommon at Korean restaurants in the US, so I was really excited to give this is a try, and thankfully they didn't disappoint! I can see why this is one of their most popular specialities.The buckwheat noodles had a lovely texture - perfectly chewy - and the overall light, fragrant flavour, a mix of the perilla seed oil and the soy sauce, was very balanced and just delicious through and through. The diced chilli sprinkled throughout was an interesting addition; not sure if I was the biggest fan, since I felt the spice clashed with the aroma of the perilla oil.The budae jjigae was also really good, but not in a particularly unique way. It was spicier than I expected, lots of yummy sausages, noodles, etc. and just overall a very comforting stew haha. The portion sizes were really good -- I think on a hungrier day we might have wanted to order one more dish, but sharing these two plates was a perfect amount for us this time. Price point was also really good, especially since I think Korean food in NYC (especially recently) can often be overpriced,,,I'd love to come back and try some of the other dishes on their menu! So many yummy things to try (I had my eye on the frozen makgeolli for next time)

Been meaning to try this place for a while. It's hard to get a reservation but it should be easy to walk in and sit at the bar. We tried the Galbi, Ramyum Fried Rice, and Tteokbokki. Would def recommend the Ramyum Fried Rice! At first we thought this was gonna be overhyped but we were pleasantly surprised at how delcious it was. Def made a comfort food upscale in a great way. For drinks, I was surprised that they don't serve tea here, but if you want something warm and non alcoholic, they have water with lemon lol.Overall, a great place for some Korean comfort food. Service is friendly. Price is average.

3.5 - I was pleasantly surprised by the interior and decor of this place, as it embraced a modern aesthetic rather than the traditional Korean restaurant style. My friend and I shared the Hojok Galbi, Soy Glazed Bossam, and the Ramyun Fried Rice. The presentation of the dishes was impressive, and they looked incredibly appetizing when they arrived. However, I felt that the dishes looked far more enticing than they actually tasted. While the food wasn't bad, there were no standout flavors that wowed me. The visual appeal set high expectations, but the taste fell a bit flat, which was somewhat disappointing.The service was great though!

4/5 stars! Hojokban has been on my food bucket list since last year and I'm glad I finally got to try it after all the hype died down. The interior is very cozy and intimate, which is perfect for date night. The service is fast and very attentive to detail which was an added bonus. I ordered the signature Hojokban galbi, truffle potato pancake, and beef tartare. All the dishes were solid. The galbi was tender and had a nice spicy kick from the peppers, truffle pancakes kinda reminded me of a dressed up version of tater tots, and the beef tartare paired well with the lotus root chips. The banchan unfortunately was lacking- not sure if I liked the sweet potato and kimchi combo but apparently it's popular in Korea. For dessert, we got the hotteok ice cream which was underwhelming. I think I was expecting more than just hotteok flavored ice cream with a wafer and sprinkled granola. Overall, I'm glad I got to visit Hojokban- I'm not sure if I would come again since the prices were steep for the portion size (esp the galbi which was $56) but I guess it's expected for K-town though I did feel a bit hungry 1-2 hours afterwards.

A fantastic new spot to hit K-town! Came here and shared a bunch of dishes with friends. We got the Honey KFC chicken (so flavorful and big portion!), chapaguri fried rice (very cute presentation and my first time having fried rice with noodle bits inside!), the perilla oil noodle, and their famous hotteok ice cream (cinnamon flavor in monaka shell). Everything tasted amazinggg. Would come back just for the ice cream alone! Service was friendly and inside was clean and intimate (though can feel crowded during peak hours).The only small point of suggestion is that the banchan left much to be desired - there were only 3 dishes and 2 of them tasted almost the same.

I did a walk in with a friend on Tuesday and was really happy we were able to get seated right away. We ordered some cocktails and ordered the Hojok Galbi and the perilla oil noodles. The Hojok Galbi was very tender, flavorful, and well cooked. The presentation was clean & i was really impressed how the meats were already cut into bite-sized pieces for easy consumption.The Perilla Oil Cold Buckwheat Noodles was a nice & refreshing addition to compliment the meat. The perilla oil gave it a nutty flavor, and the house-blend soy sauce really enhanced the flavors. Overall, the food was pretty delicious, and I think this is a spot worth checking out!The only feedback I have is the pricing for the galbi. I understand the meat prices are expensive, but for the portion of the food, I felt like $54 was a bit much.

Absolutely loooove this place! The interior is clean, the staff are friendly and the food is *chef's kiss*!! My favorite was the Hojok Galbi platter! It comes with a lot of well seasoned meat, and a scallion salad to pair with it, and peanuts/chili peppers on top. Well thought out savory dish, and 100% delicious and packed with flavor! Next favorite was the beef tartare. The lotus root chips are thin and go nicely with the well seasoned beef. We did wish they gave us a little more lotus root chips but nonetheless- one of the best beef tartare in the area. The truffle potato pancake (requested with parm only on half and on the side for someone who can't have cheese) was also on point. Normally I tend to be wary of truffle flavored items because the truffle usually ends up being too overpowering in taste and in smell. But this one was subtle and the crispy potato pancakes were just the right texture! I loved that the truffle mayo was a dip rather than smothered on. This way you get to choose how much sauce is on each. Dip dip! The perilla oil noodles were interesting as this was my first time having it in general. It was definitely refreshing! Lastly, I would steer clear of the Tiger Budae-Jjigae. This one was disappointing even though it's one of their signatures. I absolutely love stews and am usually not picky but this one wasn't it... just way too bland. If you're in the mood for stews of any kind, maybe find another restaurant in the area for it. Overall- would def come back again! And definitely ordering the Galbi and the beef tartare!

The 'Soul Food' theme intrigued me so much that I couldn't resist giving it a try. The Perilla Oil Noodles, Hojok Galbi, and shrimp dumplings were absolutely delicious--each bite packed with bold flavors and a perfect balance of textures. Korean cuisine has such a unique and satisfying taste, and this experience definitely left me wanting more. It was a fantastic first try, and I can't wait to explore more dishes next time!

Hojokban is in the Hand Hospitality group, same restaurant group as Atomix, one of my favorite restaurants I've ever tried, so I was excited to finally check this place out. This restaurant specializes in modern Korean dining at a fairly affordable price. We made reservations for 6 people for 7pm Wednesday about 2 weeks in advance just in case.The Banchan is a bit weak as we were only offered sweet potato and kimchi, but the food we ordered is very delicious.- Truffle potato pancake - nice truffle flavor, a slight tang, texture is like hash brown with fancier fixings- Beef tartare - liked the uniqueness of the seaweed sauce instead of pickles, and the beef is very fresh- Tiger budae jjigae - this didn't really stand out compared to the standard budae jjigae. Also hard to share amongst 6 people. I'd skip this if I go again- Hojok galbi - so good! Very tender and flavorful. Nicely presented with a large short rib bone. The salad pairs the dish quite well. Priced on the expensive end but worth the cost- Ramyun fried rice - love the flavor and they cooked the rice just right. It wasn't anything special flavor-wise, but the execution is pretty solid. I love the presentation though, as do many of the people in the IG/blogging space- Perilla oil noodle - cold noodle, well executed, refreshing. The dish alone is flavorful enough to eat as-is, but you could elevate it but pairing it with the meat dishes- Frozen makgeolli - topped with puffed rice that adds texture, the makgeolli itself is good, a bit sweet for an Asian dessertService is good as food arrives in a nice pace and they take away dishes fairly quickly. Overall, I love the flavors and execution of each dish and meets my high expectations of these types of restaurants.

I've been wanting to check this place out for a while since it opened! I heard it was a spot from Korea which made me really curious on the type of food and dishes they would serve. After seeing some positive reviews on Yelp and seeing that some of my friends have gone, I decided to go to catch up with some friends. The place was busy, staff were attentive, and the drinks were strong in a good way. The cocktails are premixed so no substitutes are allowed. But the food came quickly and all of the meat dishes just were so tender (like the beef and pork). All of the dishes were so worth getting and we all were super satisfied by the food!