The Best Korean in Phoenix

Koreatown

★★★★☆ 4.2 (528) • $$

"Another spectacular meal at Koreatown! I've been on a Japchae kick and Koreatown's japchae definitely hit the spot for me. I love that the japchae is as big, if not bigger than my head! U can't beat the portion size here! It's fantabulous!! The texture and flavor of the japchae was outstanding! Love that they put more veggies and mushrooms in it than another Korean spot that I visited recently.Our servers were nice and upbeat with very pleasant attitudes! For as long as the restaurant has been around, it's very clean, with a relaxing vibe. Looking forward to enjoying another awesome meal here!"

Gangnam Sushi & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (587) • $$

"Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but the food was not good at all. Service was very friendly and attentive.Came here for lunch one day. The restaurant was not busy at all so I was able to get a table right away. There was two other patrons. Food came out fairly fast which was very nice. The seafood salad was super duper sugary and tasted like the package ones you get from the Asian grocery store. I had two bites and left it. The tofu soup was even worse, it was basically packaged miso soup add it with water, and there were pieces of tofu in the soup. This is definitely not the Korean tofu soup that it claims to be. Prices are reasonable, but I definitely would not return for the food."

Myungrang Hotdog Westgate

★★★★☆ 3.9 (83) • $

"Stopped in to checkout the new Korean dog spot by home. They have plenty of options and sauces available. We went with a potato dog and a half cheese and half dog. We also got a side of the highly recommended garlic Parmesan fries. The place was clean and service was friendly. We tried a bit of each sauces and all of them were really good! The outside of the dogs were crispy as they should be with plenty of flavors. There is plenty of cheese inside for that cheese pull pic as well! ;)Overall, a good spot to cure that crunchy Korean dog craving!!"

Echo Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (273) • $$

"We were in the area shopping and happened to come across Echo Sushi. We stopped to order couple things. We had sashimi salad and calamari to share. The calamari was really crispy and delicious. It was already salty so didn't really need the accompanying dipping sauce. The sashimi salad had a pleasant dressing on it so we really didn't need soy sauce/wasabi for it. For the price we paid, it came with good amount of sashimi, however, not premium fish/cuts we hoped for.Overall decent place. I saw some ramen dishes coming out of the kitchen and those looked delicious. If you're in the area, give it a try."

BBQ House

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (383) • $$

"It's hard to get a seat here when they are busy. There were a few employees when I went. Even though the restaurant may not be full, the employees seem pretty preoccupied and busy. They had a menu out front on the greeter lectern with a sign that said to take a photo of the menu. The inside of the restaurant was very smokey.The restroom seemed clean, which was nice. A lot of places the restrooms can be pretty dirty or they are very cramped and it is hard to get in and out of the stalls. When I left the restaurant, I felt like I smelled of bbq, which I did. The next day I could smell the smoke on my clothes from the day before."

Manna BBQ | Westgate

★★★★☆ 3.8 (556) • $$

"Being a newcomer to this place, we were truly amazed. The moment we stepped into the restaurant, the adventure began. Our server, Edaile (pronounced as Adele - like the singer), was absolutely wonderful. She guided us through the entire process of how things worked. Since it's an all-you-can-eat place, you can order up to three meat items from the menu at a time. This helps in reducing food wastage, no matter how hungry you may be feeling. Sometimes our eyes are hungrier than our stomachs. Haha. Each meat dish we ordered, all shown in the menu, was outstanding. The great thing about grilling it yourself at the table is that you can choose how you want your meat cooked. Whether you prefer it rare or well-done, every bite is sure to be a delight. Remember, if you have a group of more than four people, it's best to call ahead and reserve a section or table. They seem to be able to accommodate groups ranging from two to 20. The seating options range from tables for two to four people, as well as high bar tables that can seat around 10 or more. Having lived in South Korea for quite some time, if I ever crave some authentic Korean food, I now know exactly where to go. I will definitely be coming back"

Jeong’s Noodle

★★★★☆ 4.3 (44)

"Second time trying Jeong's noodle and decided to try their jjamppong, spicy seafood noodle soup. Got it to go and it was packed with care to prevent leaks, and with the noodles in a different container so they would get soggy. The soup came with lots of protein and was perfectly spicy. The noodles were chewy with the perfect amount of bounce. Prices are great and portions are big!"

Manna BBQ - Peoria

★★★★☆ 4 (522) • $$

"Wait time was a little bit on a Thursday night around 5pm. Customer service was amazing from Alonzo! We were checked on frequently, grill swaps were also frequent and food came out quick! Cheese corn was amazing! Cuts of meat were good. Japchae was a bit overpowering with the sesame seed oil.Definitely give it a try if your in the area.I believe cost was about $40 person."

OBON Sushi Bar Ramen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (601) • $$

"We had to walk through a strange gusty sandstorm to get here from our Airbnb. I literally had sand in my hair, eyes and mouth. That's Tucson for ya. Craving some Japanese food, I'm glad we found this place.We were greeted by a lovely hostess that was also our waitress. She was extremely attentive and came by often. We wanted a super light dinner so my son ordered an assortment of sushi. I wanted an eel and cucumber roll that was not on the menu. I appreciate that the sushi chef was able to make it for me upon request. I was surprised that it came rolled in brown rice. It was actually delicious. We all enjoyed the steamed edamame as well. Great spot in downtown Tucson. Ambience offers that sexy chic vibe."

Krispy Dogz

★★★★☆ 4.4 (82) • $$

"Delicious drinks and dogs!This place has such a dope ambiance! It is truly a place where you can bring your laptop, grab a corner, and eat some good treats. They have a variety of teas, bobas, fruit jelly, blended drinks, and more. I love tropical fruits, so seeing Lychee and Passion fruit on the menu is a huge win. My kids love the teas. They are a little too sweet for me. However, I added water, and it was perfect. I do believe you can adjust the sweet level for more balance. Now, for the star of the show, the Krispy dogs! Filling-Beef,Cheese, or half and half Coating-Hot Cheeto, Churro, Krispy,Potato, or Classic. What I love is that meat is a great quality beef, and the coating options are legit! The Krispy Dog is probably my favorite because it offers a nice balance of sweet and savory, which compliments the hot dog perfectly. My son loves the Hot Cheeto because what kids aren't obsessed with hot stuff right now.I would have given them another star if the dogs were crispier. If the Hot Dog is called Krispy, then I expect a crunch when I bite it and soft on the inside. Circa Ala Hot Dog on the Stick mall days, man miss them. However, I brought the dogs home and popped them in the air fryer for a few minutes, and it truly was another level!!! All in all, this place is solid, unique, and great customer service. I can't wait to try the Kimchi fries, which I will update my review when I do. Until then, go get one!"

Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.4 (200) • $$$

"First time at a Korean bbq and I quite enjoyed my experience. The tiger combo was a lot for two people so we opted for the wagyu thin sliced brisket, shrimp, pot stickers, kimchi pancakes, beef kimchi fried rice, spicy stir fried squid. Honestly typing this review up, we got a lot of food for two. I didn't enjoy cooking the beef so I made my cousin do it. It was tasty after she was done. My favorite meal were the beef kimchi fried rice and the spicy stir fried squid. Those dishes were packed full of flavor, and we had good amount of leftovers. Great drink menu, as well. The staff were amazing, helpful with the recommendations. For the price, I do think you get your money's worth. Also the restaurant had a lots of packing space, we didn't have to wait at all because we made reservations as well. Definitely will be back."

Takamatsu

★★★★☆ 4 (425) • $$

"Really good Korean food. This is a mom and pop shop and the restaurant owners and staff is amazing. The service is so friendly and world class. I would definitely recommend everyone come here to try this restaurant!Everything I had was delicious but the service was top level."

Ban Chan

★★★★☆ 4.1 (142) • $$

"After reading a Phoenix Times review about this place, we came here tonight after running with Aravaipa.The article reports that you shouldn't order some of your go to Korean dishes here and really give their authentic grandma country cooking a try.We ordered the pork belly and kimchi stew, the steamed cod and acorn jelly salad.The stew was very interesting and the woman who served us brought over a small stove to finish cooking the stew and prior to turning on the stove, cut up the big pieces of fermented cabbage right before our eyes. Soup was fairly sour and tasty. Pork belly was good, but that's not how I like it cooked. I like pork belly caramelized and very very tender. Lots of tofu, so that was great, I love tofu.Steamed cod was also interesting, it was very red when it came to the table and doused in hot pepper sauce. I was able only to eat one piece because a little too spicy for me.My favorite was the acorn jelly salad. I loved it and I will come back just to eat this! It reminds me of a Chinese dish I love, but cannot get out here. This will be excellent when it is so hot outside outside and I'll have the cold buckwheat noodles too when I come back! Overall, a very nice experience and I'll definitely be back to try their other standouts. There was a lot of Korean spoken in the restaurant and I guess it made me really want to visit South Korea at some point to experience the food and culture firsthand."

Sizzle Korean Barbeque

★★★★☆ 4.2 (339) • $$$

"I'm not much into Asian food, but I was impressed with this place. My husband loves Asian food so I took him here for his birthday dinner! It was quite the experience! The place is very nicely decorated and the staff there was very very helpful. The food wasn't bad but it's nothing that I really cared for but my husband absolutely loved it. I will say the ribeye steak was really good and tender but the brisket was horrible! Stay away from the brisket! The sides were cute and flavorful and overall a pretty good experience just not for me. But if you like Asian food, and if you like Korean barbecue, then this is the place for you! Enjoy it try it you'll like it! Oh yeah, and the staff cooks the food right in front of you instead of you cooking it yourself. Which is nice because that way it will be cooked properly."

The Stone House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (170) • $$

Nami-Korean Kitchen & Sushi

★★★★★ 4.8 (71)

"For the price point and quality of sushi this is a great spot in N. PHX! Located in a very plain and casual plaza, what a gem.Great service - friendly staff. Friend and I ordered 5 dishes - salmon carpaccio (omg such pretty presentation), spicy scallop roll, snow flower roll, over the rainbow roll, and yellow tail lover. Rolls are definitely a few dollars less than some of the well known sushi spots in PHX. Everything was fresh and tasty. Some sushi toppings were combos I had never seen before which was cool. Definitely would return - check it out for your next casual sushi date!"

Zu & Pocha

★★★★★ 4.5 (230)

"We wanted to visit Zu & Pocha now before the ASU students get back and tables are hard to come by, so we made a reservation on Open Table. It turned out we didn't need them tonight, but better safe than sorry. I love the decor of this place, with ring lights and plants peeking through the wood hanging from the ceiling. The place settings are really pretty with gold spoons and chopsticks. Our server was one of the best things of the evening--she was charming and helpful and cute as a bug's ear. She was also our bartender. The menu is not huge but has great choices. We ordered the Zu Bramble and Seoul Highball for cocktails. Both were blackberry based and both were delicious. They make their own syrups, so they aren't overly sweet. We had the Bulgogi Tteokbokki, which had a fantastic broth, clear noodles, rice cake, and veggies. Different from other bulgogi we've had, but it was fantastic. We also had spicy tuna and spicy yellowtail sushi rolls and shrimp tempura. What a great meal!"

Ohya Sushi, Korean Kitchen & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (688) • $$

"Don't skip the lunch menu here. You can get a giant meal for under $20. It'll last for 2 meals, effectively making each meal less than $10. I think the lunch menu is only M-F but it's never too busy during lunch, service is nice and the food is great. I usually just get water with lemon bc I really like to taste all of my food. So no beverage was counted in the cost. After tip it was over $20. I was absolutely starving when I was here but left so full with extra food for another meal. They have a few TVs on, so even if you go by yourself and forgot your phone, you're not just eating quickly and leaving. As far as the food goes: Miso soup- pretty standard as all miso soup is pretty similar. Spicy crab roll - it wasn't mostly rice, so that's always good. I think they may have changed either the sushi rice recipe or the actual rice as it was different than I remember here but it was still pretty good. I could have had it spicier though. I used *all* of the wasabi & they now use "Melinda's sriracha" which is also different. Most sriracha fans know about the shortage though. Chicken katsu- decent but it was pretty basic. I think their pork katsu has better flavor. I wanted to try something different this time, but if you're having trouble deciding, the pork is better in my opinion. Teriyaki beef- so so so good. The beef is always tender and flavorful. It's really my favorite place to get beef teriyaki and I don't go anywhere else for it. Korean sides- yum. Really that one word suffices. You get different kinds of sides, but kimchi is always one of them. It's always delicious here. The spring roll they include tastes like a standard frozen veggie spring roll but it doesn't bother me. There are karaoke rooms too, so karaoke isn't limited to the east side. When I was here there were not that many patrons, but seemed like quite a few to-go orders. Keep this place busy so it never closes."

Choy's Golden Rice Flour Crispy Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.5 (23)

"Got a boneless bucket to go. It took maybe 5-10 minutes for them to fry it which wasn't too bad I thought. The bucket was enough for 2-3 people depending on appetites and consisted of dark meat chunks in varying sizes. I liked the rice flour batter which made the chicken crispy and the seasoning was spot on. You have your choice of mild or hot spice level. We had the mild which was just right for me. It had just enough heat to highlight the other flavors in the batter. The to go packaging was well thought out too. The bucket has a partially open lid to let heat escape so that your chicken doesn't steam and get soggy on the way back home.The order came with a sweet/sour type sauce, a sweet mustard sauce and pickled daikon. All were full flavored and went well with the chicken. As for price, the small bucket is $11.99 which is an OK price for what you get I think."

Myungrang Hotdogs - Mesa

★★★★★ 4.7 (96) • $

"Why isn't this place more popular? I kind of want to gatekeep it because I don't want all the two hands girlies to flock over there and ruin the short wait time. Yet again this place needs more business because it truly is the superior Korean corn dog establishment. The batter was thick and crispy, the cheese pulls were 10/10, and the selection was chef's kiss. I personally got the sweet potato dog with half cheese and half dog and it was the best Korean corn dog I've ever had. Better than two hands down the road. I definitely want to go back and try the squid ink dog because the picture looked SO intriguing. They also sell teokbokki and they have so many sauces to choose from (my bestie wants to call out the sweet chili sauce because that is a. NEED)The prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity since the dogs are HEFTY. TRUST we will be returning when we need a Korean corn dog fix again."

KFood Garden

★★★★☆ 3.6 (27)

"When I was browsing around the H Mart food court and saw meat jun on the menu here I knew I had to try it out!It took a bit of time to make my order but the wait wasn't too bad. I got the meal as takeout and it was packaged securely. Coming home and opening the Styrofoam box it looked great! In addition to the meat there was a small container of sauce, a small box of rice and banchan consisting of bean sprouts, cucumber and kimchi. The meat jun was tender and I liked the eggy, slightly crispy batter. All the banchan went well with the meal. The dipping sauce was heavily vinegary tasting, a very pungent dip to go with the meat. Based on this experience I'll be back to try more!"

K-Monster Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.8 (12)

"Q: Why are Koreans so good at making fried chicken?A: Because it's Seoul food.Bad-dum-tss!On soft opening weekend, I was lucky #8 and I had ordered a $10 lunch box with fries and chicken thighs (with Korean sweet & spicy sauce and topped with almonds). It was tasty! Despite the commute home, the chicken stayed crunchy and the flavor is moreish.They have so many interesting flavors here and I wanna try them all! They're inside the 99 Ranch Market food court so do some shopping, buy yourself a tasty drink, and get some K-Monster!"

Hanshin Pocha

★★★★★ 4.6 (101)

"3.5 stars. Ordered to-go via Fantuan. Everything was ready at the said pick up time. Looked like a large restaurant with colorful lights, def a karaoke atmosphere although not sure if they have KTV.Egg omelette: got the regular one without meat. I love cheese so appreciated how much cheese was in it lol. Tasty.Grilled squid: Not as good as expected. Cooked fine, wished the sauce was thicker. Maybe better to have in person than take out.Fried whole chicken: crispy and delicious. Fun to pull apart. The chicken isn't that big - probably a cornish hen?Crab egg soup: thought it would have real crab, but just crab sticks so that was a disappointment. Lots of diff veggies in the soup. Thick soup and flavorful, husband really liked it.Overall not bad, felt like the price point was a bit high for portion size but we enjoyed the food for the most part."

Paradise Hawaiian BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.7 (251)

"Now I somewhat have an idea about the afternoon action of Downtown Phoenix. Well, it took me long enough to figured that out.There are more lunch options in the downtown area. With some good options in the area, I ran across this small Hawaiian dining spot for my final meal in "the Valley of the Sun".You can either order at the counter or if you are in a hurry, order ahead through the Door Dash app. I was looking at the menu above the kitchen. The café has your usual Hawaiian dishes, like the chicken katsu in which I was craving and ordered for lunch for $10.50. The meal also comes with rice, macaroni, and greens. What this place also have is brown rice for $1.50 extra. Not many places offer brown rice, but I just became a fan of the brown grain.There are some tables for dining in. But I took my meal back to my hotel. The chicken katsu meat was thick and cooked nicely. The brown rice was a difference maker with my meal. This was a solid meal."

Drunken Tiger

★★★★☆ 4.1 (408) • $$

"Drunken Tiger in Mesa is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy some great food and drinks! The happy hour deals were absolutely amazing--excellent prices and a good variety of options to choose from. The atmosphere is vibrant and fun, making it a perfect spot to hang out with friends. The staff are attentive and friendly, ensuring a wonderful experience every time. Highly recommend stopping by for happy hour and beyond!"

Gogi & Asian Cusine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (8)

"Upon entering you are overwhelmed by the wonderful smells of Korean food. Ordering was quick and efficient and Danny has a friendly, welcoming smile. The atmosphere is pleasant as Korean music is played in the background. The restaurant is clean and tables were quickly wiped. We ordered lots of winter dishes: 3 types of bibambap (tofu, bulgolgi, and spicy pork) and soft tofu soup in the hot earthen stoneware dishes that continue to cook as you stir, stir and eat. These dishes warm you up in temperature and if you add gochujang, heat you on the inside. We also had an order of squid and pork, which was delicious (highly recommend), dumplings, garlic honey wings and an order of sweet and sour chicken.They serve Pepsi products and Stubborn brand drinks- agave vanilla creme soda and root beer.It is definitely worth the travel and we will be back soon. Especially since it is next to the Snowtime ice cream!They have a"

The Stone Korean Tofu House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (292) • $$

"Rain or shine, I'm ordering soft tofu soup. Even in 80° weather! I wish I could eat fry bread tacos everyday. But for our last dinner in Arizona, we made the mature decision to pick something "healthier". This restaurant was conveniently located in a plaza across from the H Mart I just visited. They're in own little corner building in a large plaza, so parking is very plentiful. I saw some umbrellas and tables on their outdoor patio, but it wasn't in use. There's a good amount of seating inside; most had partitions for a bit of privacy. It wasn't crowded on a Sunday night, but they were understaffed. It took a while for someone to come over and lead us to our table. No paper menus here, pull out your phone and scan the QR code on the wall: https://thestonetofuaz.netlify.app/qr/Side dishes (banchan AKA 반찬) were average, you get one plate for free and it comes with six different options. Refills are $3.00; I understand they have a business to run, but thought it was important to point out because Korean restaurants traditionally don't charge for more sides. They say each plate serves up to three people, but it felt like the portions were better suited for two. Beef Soft Tofu Soup (sogogi soondubu AKA 소고기 순두부) came with lots of soup... not so much beef or tofu. The pieces of meat were tough to chew. No complaints on the tofu consistency, it was soft as expected. The soup came with assorted vegetables like onions and zucchini. Spice level was tolerable and the purple rice was fine. Overall not bad, 3.5 stars taste-wise. Rounded down for cutting corners."

Two Hands Fresh Corn Dogs - Phoenix

★★★★☆ 4.3 (62)

"Yummy!!! Brought me back to my childhood, at the fair! These corn dogs are amazing. They have unique coatings, but today I went all American, and had the traditional corn dog, it was crispy, with just right amount of sweetness. Loved it. The fries were crispy, hot and spicy. The customer service was awesome, all made to order, the establishment was clean and inviting. The food packaging is perfection! Love the boxes. Price point is great, you get what you pay for! 100% recommend"

Gen Korean BBQ House

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (207) • $$

"Oh, KBBQ, I love you soju much!I just realized that after coming to this second location, not all Gen Korean BBQ Houses are the same. While the food quality and portions are about the same as their Tempe location, they were out of a multitude of items like red wine pork belly, rice paper, daikon wraps, the house salad, pork cheeks, et cetera. While there isn't a maddening wait time like the Tempe location, you won't get to experience the full menu, so consider that when deciding which location you want to give your money to.Lots of space, no wait time, and the women's restroom only had one working stall. Also, during the weekends, this plaza gets busy, so have fun parking."

Paik's Noodle

★★★★☆ 3.9 (106)

"Not sure why but I always got Jajangmyeon noodle. I hardly ever find this menu at other restaurants and the noodle here is so tasty. It like a comfort food to me. I will need to try other menus that they have."

DA PAN

★★★★☆ 3.8 (44)

"This is inside H Mart. It's literally like being in a mall food court except it's cleaner. Service is about on-par with any fast food place. Depending on the time you go, parking for H Mart may or may not be a huge pain. I've never had bad food from here. However, I've only ever gotten 2 things from here, and I usually just get those because I like them so much and I'm not here very often. I often get the bulgogi noodles. This time I purchased the pork belly noodles. The pork belly is always crispy but still tender. It's cooked well, nothing is over seasoned. This dish tastes good whether you eat it there or take it home and reheat it. Maybe next time I'll try something new."

Croque Famous Sandwiches

★★★★★ 4.5 (233) • $$

"My only noticeable craving during my pregnancy so far has been sandwiches, and I had been so excited to try croque sandwiches for so long! I ordered online and picked up on my way home from work. I got the madamoiselle, which was a toasted veggie sandwich. I got it on the cracked wheat bread. It had a ton of veggies, mozzarella cheese, and I got mine with the garlic sauce on my and dill sauce on the side. I got the large and it was huge!! I don't think I've dealt had a sub with corn on it before but it was delicious. Definitely made it messy but tasted wonderful. The spreads were absolutely delicious too. Pricey, but got amount of food and great quality. There's a little bit of seating but definitely a small place and much better to order to go! Nice staff too. And plenty to choose from, I'd love to try another sandwich or one of the Korean dishes!"

Tipsy Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (165) • $$

"1/13/2024: Korean American Day We just got SERVED! All hail the KFC GAWDS: Tipsy Chicken AZ in the Asian District on Main Street of Mesa Az!They really got it going on! Serving up some of the BEST! I'm talking piping hot, beautifully breaded CRUNCHY chicken wings with a juicy tenderness underneath (lip smackin- finger lickin' - morsels of goodness) that are available in three delicious flavors! The Original, Soy & Garlic, and Sweet & Spicy! P.S. Those are some BIG BIRDS too!Don't forget to try the Bulgogoi Fries, Pork Belly Corn Cheese, & their signature cocktails too! All items are seriously on point!"

Sushi Crush

★★★★☆ 4.3 (238) • $$

"After an appointment in the area and wanting to try a new place for sushi for lunch, found this place on Yelp. We were greeted right away and our server was very kind and attentive the entire time. They have a great lunch menu. Hubby and I both chose the Lunch Sushi Crush $13.75 which consists of miso soup, salad, 4 pieces of nigiri, 8 pieces of California roll and 8 pieces of spicy tuna roll. It was a ton of food and what a great value! My favorite was the tuna nigiri with a bit of real wasabi on top. It was so buttery and melted in my mouth. We were both very full and still had 11 pieces of California roll and 7 pieces of spicy tuna roll left over! I loved their decor, atmosphere, and how friendly everyone is. Will definitely be back when I'm in the area again."

Bop And Roll

★★★★★ 4.7 (285) • $$

"Hit the SpotThis was our first visit to Bop + Roll. The restaurant is clean and the staff are welcoming and they even helped us pick out dishes based on our preferences.There's something for everyone at Bop + Roll, on this visit we ordered the chicken and steak Bop Bowls. Both entrees were delicious. The vegetables were perfevtly steamed, the meat was tender, flavorful, and juicy and the serving sizes are large, enough for two. I am looking forward to going back and trying other menu options If you're in the area you have to stop in and give this place a try. You won't be disappointed."