Location: Berkeley
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Most Popular Korean food in Berkeley, California, United States
Find out what Korean restaurants to try in Berkeley. The counter-culture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian Berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. Shift into low gear and people-watch along quirky Telegraph Avenue while checking out the bookstores and cafes. After strolling through the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley Rose Garden and the Downtown Arts District, head into the hills for an outdoor adventure in Tilden Park or cruise down to the waterfront park, where the San Francisco skyline sparkles across the bay.
Things to do in Berkeley
1. Berkeley Social Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Inspired, contemporary Korean American cuisine located in the heart of Berkeley's University Avenue. Serving innovative Asian dinners and a creative American breakfast and brunch menu with a touch of Asian influence. We combine top notch chefs, top-qualit
Reviewed By jalfong
The name "Berkeley Social Club" doesn't exactly scream Korean restaurant, but surprisingly, that's exactly what it is, with a Korean-American fusion vibe. Located in the gigantic former Perdition Smokehouse space, the restaurant is the brainchild of co-owner Steven Choi, who has several other restaurants in the Bay Area, many of which are known for their Korean-inspired breakfast dishes and their signature dish known as "Millionaire's Bacon." I have been to both Sweet Maple and Kitchen Story in San Francisco, so imagine my happiness that Choi and his partners finally opened a branch in the East Bay, specifically in Berkeley where the college crowd meet urban professionals vibe really gels well with the menu they tend to serve up at the restaurants owned by Choi.We came to Berkeley Social Club on a Saturday afternoon not only because we've wanted to try out this place in the past year that it opened but we were ecstatic that they had Happy Hour seven days a week! So with happy news in tow, our party knew we had to go with the Sampler Happy Hour which featured an assorted variety of appetizers including crispy fried oysters, Doggy which are sliced corn dogs, Takoballs which are pancake balls with minced octopus, scallions, bonito and nori flakes, and of course their signature KFC otherwise known as Korean Fried Chicken which were boneless and skinless and had plenty of ooey gooey sauce all over them. We like getting the sampler because it gives an indication of what a restaurant's menu is all about. I found the KFC a bit too sticky for my taste, but well prepared nonetheless. The oysters were a little too overcooked and the corn dogs were not the most remarkable, but we really liked the uniqueness of the Tako Balls. So much so that we ordered an additional order of the Tako Balls a la carte with a Happy Hour discount of 6 dollars, that an an order of Garlic Fries at a Happy Hour discount of 5 dollars really satisfied us. Of course we had to get our cocktail hour on and I ordered the Strawberry Yuja made with fresh strawberries mixed with soju, lemon juice and citron tea. It was a refreshing delight with a Happy Hour discount at 7 dollars a piece, it was like a strawberry margarita done right.For dinner my dining mates had the options to go in a number of different directions, which gave off what a true vibe their Korean American fusion aesthetic is all about. Others went with the traditional meets hip Bulgogi Bowl, Spicy Pork Bowl and the Belly Pot, I decided to take a chance and go with the G.I. Fried Rice which was Kimchi Fried Rice topped with bacon, span, egg, nori and scallion. I'm always down for something truly unique, especially something you can't make a home and this Korean fusion fried rice definitely fit the bill. The dish was nicely composed with lots of different ingredients you wouldn't normally see together as I loved the large slices of Spam right on top of the sunny side up fried egg on top of bed of fried rice. I think others in my party liked their dinners as well as nothing was left over despite the big order we had.Berkeley Social Club is a unique restaurant mainly because their specialty is brunch as highlighted by their continued popularity of their Millionaire's Bacon and Fried Chicken and waffles. I've been for breakfast and it's great. But dinner might be a real find due to the fact of how affordable their dishes are and of course that Happy Hour that lasts seven days a week! You can't beat prices like that on this particular stretch of University Avenue in Berkeley and for that we should all be making our membership at the Berkeley Social Club an annual due.Hi Jalfong. Thank you for being a fan of our sister restaurants and for visiting Berkeley Social Club. It sounds like you are a true food lover, enjoying so many items and we appreciate your comprehensive review on our dinner offerings. We're pleased to know you are a fan of our breakfast as well. Hopefully we'll see you back sometime soon for you to try even more items and we'd love to hear your feedback again!
2. Bowl'd Korean Rice Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By 3ACDs
We stopped in for lunch on Saturday. There were only a few tables occupied, and getting seated was easy. The dining room was simple, yet warm and attractive. My husband ordered the beef stew and chose "mildly spicey" for the broth. It was a huge bowl containing a variety of pickled and other vegetables and beef. He chose the mixed grains instead of the white rice that goes with it, and the grains were perfectly made. Soft, yet chewy, plain yet flavorful. The broth had a delicious depth of flavor. I ordered the "cold bowl" of bulgogi (flavored sliced beef) over rice. It also came piled high with at least six or more types of veggies, each with their own flavor profile. All good. There was a decent amount of the beef, but if you are a big meat eater, it's not a lot of meat. A sunny side egg sat on top of the food. My egg could have been on the griddle a bit longer. The egg white was still clear and gelatinous on the top. There are also 8-10 small "sides" that automatically get delivered to the table with your meal - kim chee, garlic pepper tofu, seaweed salad, pickled daikon, argar blocks with scallions & sesame oil, kale in soy sauce & sesame oil, broccoli. Everything was very tasty, and seemed very healthy. A lot of veggies, and the food was not oily or greasy. When we were nearly finished, one of the servers asked if we wanted more of any of the side dishes. We were stuffed and declined refills. We also liked having the carafe of water at our table. All in all, a really good place to eat, and a great deal.
3. KoJa Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By hatetoflySFbayArea
KoJa has a light, airy, clean atmosphere. I had a âchicken bowl with white riceâ, which turned out to be tasty and quite different than anything Iâve had before. Lots of ingredients I couldnât identify. I had to leave about half the rice as I was getting pretty stuffed. I also had Strawberry Mango Mint Lemonade which was quite nice. I would have liked to follow it with some unsweet iced tea, but the canister said it was sweetened.I'll definitely be back.
Most Popular Bar food in Berkeley, California, United States
