Seoul Garden

I visited this Korean restaurant two days ago with a group of six. While we were excited to try it, unfortunately, our experience left us disappointed. The positives: the atmosphere was good, the restaurant was clean, and the service was absolutely excellent – the best part of the experience by far. There’s also free parking available, which was convenient. However, the food fell short in many ways. The portions of protein in our orders were extremely small. For example, dishes like salmon with vegetables or chicken teriyaki with vegetables came with just a tiny amount of protein and way too much onion. Their definition of “vegetables” seemed to be a plate dominated by onions with barely one piece of each other vegetable. Another shock was the spring rolls I ordered – the menu said eight pieces, but what I received was four rolls cut in half. This was quite surprising and felt misleading; I’ve never had this happen in any other Asian restaurant. While the service and atmosphere earned one star each, the food unfortunately doesn’t earn any. We wouldn’t visit this restaurant again, as the portion sizes and misleading presentation left us unsatisfied. Overall, I’d give this place two stars. I hope they improve their food quality and portion sizes in the future.

Seoul Garden, one of Raleigh’s original Korean restaurants, has consistently been a great place to dine. Despite some changes over the past few years, its quality has remained unwavering. The bibimbap is a must-try, and the chicken wings are great.

A lovely korean restaurant with amazing bbq. If you haven't tried korean bbq definitely give it a try here! Super friendly staff. I had some amazing haemul bokkeum, which was incredible. Their rice cakes were phenomenal. The fried chicken was also yummy. Lots of good side dishes as well.

My first time doing Korean bbq. The restaurant is clean, large and nicely decorated. The experience was fun. The server was polite, he brought us to a table immediately, brought menus, took order and food arrived quickly. He forgot the rice so we went for it ourselves. We waited a little to get the bill. It wasn’t that the service was slow (NY standards), it was they weren’t rushing us. Most importantly the food we cooked ourselves was well seasoned, flavorful and delicious. Meat was thin enough it didn’t take long to cook properly. I don’t know if I’d do it again but I’d probably eat there again and check out cooked food options. Both my kids ate it and felt full. It was a little pricy but serving size was appropriate. Three of us shared two dishes. Bathroom was clean too.

Absolutely phenomenal food. You can’t replicate this taste. I’ll put Seoul Garden on Atlantic/Millbrook up against any downtown Raleigh foodie spot.

Oh my goodness!!! My server was super kind and helpful as I made my selections! The setting is sooo relaxed and mellow. I just loved the beautifully arranged appetizers that arrived. They were an amazing precursor to my fantastic meal. The food here exceeded any expectation I could think of!

Pretty good Korean food in Raleigh, NC. We were there around 2pm on a weekday. The food, in my humble opinion, was a bit bland, but it was still good. The service wasn't horrible, but the server barely spoke to us and the guy at the register, who may have also been the cook, literally grunted at me when I asked how he was doing and spoke no other words. It was weird, we kinda felt like we were imposing on them or something for being there. Maybe they were tired from a recent lunch rush or something. The atmosphere was cool enough though. I would definitely try it if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of your way to get there. It's a good, but fairly forgettable Korean dining experience.

Everything was great!! We came for dinner there was no line the vibe was nice and it smelled great! We didn't sit at a bbq table so the bbq was prepared for us. 🥟Fried dumplings: nice size and great filling, the sauce goes nicely with it as well. 🥩Bulgogi: amazing just amazing!!! 🍗Fried chicken: a tad too much pepper powder for my preference, it overtakes the chicken flavor a bit but still good. Our server was very nice and friendly, he checked up on us here and there to make sure we're doing alright. We were seated quickly at dinner time and the food was served fast. Overall, nothing to complain about and we will definitely return to try their tteokbokki and kalbijjim and bibimbap and japchae and soondubu and many more!!!

I have yet to try their Korean BBQ but their Dolsot Bibimbap (hot stone bowl with meat n veggies) is solid. Loved the shallower bowl which gives more surface area for toasted rice flavor. The Kimchi Jigae was decent and the banchan side dishes were good. The side dish of mayo-based macaroni with raisins was reminiscent of church meals that someone's mom or grandma always made. I requested a refill on that one. Nice way to offset the heat and spice. We'll be back for the Korean BBQ!

DO NOT ORDER THE DOLSAT BIBIMBAP TO GO. It is heated, but the rice is not crispy and that makes a difference. They did not provide the pickled radish or the other accoutrements. Order dolsat bibimbap from Kim's Asian instead. I recommend going to Seoul Garden and dining in, because the food is great. Now I know. Wish I hadn't wasted the money.

I love this place, but they have lost all of their servers except for 1. She literally runs the whole place by herself and service is very slow. She tries but one person cannot take care of the whole restaurant by herself. The food is great if you have the patience to wait...

Atmosphere: Seoul Garden has a spacious interior with many tables equipped with grills for KBBQ. Service: We ordered takeout, and our food was ready when we arrived to pick it up. Food: We ordered a Jjajangmyeon and Squid Bokkeum. Both were absolutely delicious even as takeout dishes, and the portions were also pretty generous. The Jjajangmyeon was flavorful, and the noodles were nice and chewy. The Squid Bokkeum was saucy, spicy, and had a nice variety of stir fried vegetables in it. Our to-go order even came out with a box of banchan, which was amazing! Overall: It can be hard to find good Korean food in the Triangle, but Seoul Garden passes the authenticity and quantity tests with flying colors. For 2 people, our order was very filling and we had plenty to make another meal out of the leftovers.

I was surprised when I read some of the recent reviews because this has been our go to place for Korean food for the past 20 years and we have always had outstanding service and delicious authentic food. Today was no exception. Our waitperson could not have been sweeter, attentive and professional. He brought everything correct, gave us hot tea to start and was on hand when we needed more napkins or cutlery. I loved my bento box and it sure filled me up. I had salad with a light flavorful dressing, a beef sushi roll, lots of beautifully cooked tempura and chicken teriyaki with a generous portion of rice. I forgot to mention the miso soup which was good, and all those little dishes of endless amounts of kimchee, macaroni salad, broccoli salad, and some other yummy spicy items. I love this restaurant and we had a great lunch at a reasonable price with great service.

Always amazing food and service!. We love to sit at the grill table to "do it ourselves". Any time we run out of ingredients- the staff is happy to bring more.

Missed not having the bbq grill to cook. Food was delicious however. Customer service was great.

I've been a fan of Seoul Garden since their opening so I was a little concerned when I saw the recent drop-off in their reviews. I had also heard firsthand that it just wasn't the same anymore so I was worried. I can only judge based on my experience. I can say that it was different but not necessarily worse. The tables and floors are starting to show their age and could use a refresh but it's not too bad and everything is clean. I don't recognize any of the servers now but they are friendly, polite, and as efficient (or not) as the previous staff. The menu looks the same, although it's QR code only now and I hate that. Prices are up a bit but they're up everywhere. The new recipes seem a little sweeter than before. It's was mostly noticeable in the fish cake banchan and the iced noodles. The number of different banchan brought out was fewer than previously but they were refreshed without asking and I think the cold barley tea was a little weaker than before but it was kept topped up at all times. The iced noodles are one of my favorite summer dishes. To nitpick, the amount of beef was ridiculously scant, one small slice only, and the noodles were entirely clumped together although surprisingly they were not overcooked. The broth was both tart and sweet, requiring only mustard to spark it up. The goat stew was well-liked, spicy enough to be nasal clearing and tasting deliciously goaty. Portion sizes were generous. The pace of service was badly off. I was halfway through my lunch before the goat stew came out. A table seated after us was mostly finished by that point. To be fair, that table ordered lunch specials so I would expect that to be fast. However, since my noodles were supposed to be cold, they could have waited and served both dishes simultaneously. All in all, the experience was nowhere near as bad as I was afraid and I'm still very willing to return. We'll see how things go.

Food: 2/5 Service: 4/5 Price: $$ My family visited from Dallas a while back and came here for a late lunch. Since we have a Koreatown near us, we were accustomed to a particular flavor profile for Korean food. Unfortunately, we didn't find as much satisfaction in the food here. We got the following: * (2.5/5) Chicken Teriyaki My brother found it good enough for what he was looking for. * (2/5) Soft Tofu Seafood Soup It was a very small bowl, and it was lacking a bit of flavor. * (2/5) Ja Jang Myun This was a massive portion. Sadly, there wasn't much flavor in the black bean sauce. I was hoping for a stronger umami or black bean taste. I will say that service was friendly and prompt. Maybe we got the wrong dishes for our first visit, but I don't have plans to try this place again.

Stopped in for lunch today and had an excellent meal. I had never been here before and I am unfamiliar with Korean food, so the waiter spent a lot of time with me, explaining the different dishes and making suggestions. I wound up ordering a bibimbap with beef. Everything was really delicious. I enjoyed looking up the different dishes on the Internet as I was reading them and learning about them. I asked the waiter about some dishes that people around me were eating, and he was very patient and helpful explaining what was what. When I told him one of the soups looked good that someone was having at the next table, he brought me a sample. I'm looking forward to coming back here and trying more of the dishes. Highly recommended.

Food is ok but too pricey for what it is ! Good place for the big group and special occasion.

Delicious food, a large menu, and great service. I love all the condiments brought to the table. They are all very appetizing. It's a great place to dine.

Yummy! Food was fairly fast and tasty. Not a ton of side options, but they bring more if you ask.

Excellent fried chicken + friendly staff! We also got bibimbap and bulgogi, which were also great.

Experience korean bbq the fun way by cooking your meat on the grill. Tender and flavorful with numerous sides to roll into your lettuce leaf. Our server kindly cut our meat off the bone into bite size strips and informed us that a party of two is the minimum to sit and use the bbq. The restaurant is set up with bbq and regular dining seating to accommodate singles and groups. I recommend korean food for the unique experience and new flavor palate.

We ate the the other locations years ago, very good. This location was horrible. We were seated at a table for 4, there was 6 people. Not starting out ok. We sat for awhile waiting for server to take our order not knowing you have order from QR code card, server never told us. Service was not good, food was just ok. I would definitely not return or recommend to others.

Very authentic Korean experience here. We chose 3 of the barbecue meats, pork and beef bulgogi and galbi. All nicely seasoned and high quality meat with no grizzle. Served just like they do in Korea, they cut the meat with scissors and put it on the hot grill in front of you. Most delicious! Also, just like in Korea, they bring you many small dishes of pickled vegetables. You get the classic kimchi made from Napa cabbage as well as daikon and many other tasty small plates. We will definitely be back!

Staff were very friendly the minute we walked inside the place. Food was so good and decently priced. Really nice portions as well. The atmosphere was so chill and music not too loud or anything, great spot for a late night dinner.

Come here for authentic, fresh and delicious Korean food! It's been a family owned institution in this same spot (just expanded over time) for 30 years? Maybe longer... You may get the stern but helpful waitress or the grandma you want to drink with. Either way service is always on point and more than willing to make your meal a wonderful experience. They have all the Korean staples and some special, unique dishes as well. Hard not to go with a favorite or what you're wishing for but I always try to incorporate at least one new item into every visit.

Food was good, not cheap but very satisfied with all the side dishes that came with every meal. This is also a fun experience if you come with a small group of people.... Up to 6 people I would say, then you all can fit in one of the booths that include the Burner, then you can cook your own meat. Meat is marinated and once cooked it is very tasty. When we came we were a group of 10 so we didn't really have a good experience as not all of us fit in front of the burner. But I am not letting that impact my review I just mention it so that you are aware and make the right decision. Food was good overall, not cheap though in my opinion .

Quality food great customer service, great family / group place. Best Korean restaurant around, still. 2nd topic, The new K-pot on capitol Blvd is a trendy, hip BAD rip off of this style, it is overpriced, medium quality food, poor & little customer service but 18% mandatory gratuity, TOTALLY BS 2-hour time limit! NOT worth exploring when Seoul garden is superior & a sure thing

I came here for a solo lunch after going to the Cary location for lunch with a friend a few days back. We'd been fans of Golden Pig and were happy to try Seoul Garden for the first time and it did not disappoint. The food was so good then that I had to have it again. This time I opted for the Raleigh location but I knew exactly what to order-- the spring rolls as an appetizer and the LA Galbi lunch box which when added to the sides makes for a lot of food. The lunch box comes with miso soup, salad, 1 piece of Korean Sushi, 2 pieces of tempura veggies, a fried dumpling, a piece of katsu, 4 or so pieces of galbi and steamed rice. The spring rolls come in 5 small pieces. The flavor is absolutely spot on. The galbi is perfectly seasoned and perfectly tender with the right amount of fat. As always the accompaniments are out of this world and always the perfect complement to the galbi. Though pricey for lunch it is definitely $25 well spent. The decor is dated but clean and split 50/50 between BBQ tables and regular tables. Best of all the location is central to North Raleigh making it easy to grab a solid bite whenever you're craving Korean cuisine. I will definitely be back again soon.

While in the Triangle Park area, I was craving Jjajangmyun and Tangsuyuk, and knew this restaurant had both! First of all, they were practicing their mask wearing, but first seated me smack in the middle of the restaurant (?!?), amidst other patrons...and well, I refused nicely and requested someplace more socially distanced. This led me into a private banquet room! Now, I call that 100% socially distanced lol...and didn't mind that one bit! Now the food. First of all, I loved their complimentary sides...just four dishes, but loved them all! They did a good job with presentation as well. However, as for the Jjajangmyun and Tangsuyuk, I gotta be honest. As much as I wanted to love them, I only liked them. They weren't bad tasting...but just not that great. Just didn't have that authentic taste that I've known to love. BTW, I DID appreciate the generosity...in the HUGE portion of Jjajangmyun in a monster-sized bowl. This struck me as a family restaurant, and everyone was really friendly...and service was really good on the most part. I only wish I loved the food here, but just can't. Given how everything else was above board, I'd most definitely be willing to give this place another try in the future.

Portions have been shrinking while prices have gone up and service is lacking. If you have a party of 4 or more at a BBQ table, you will get all the attention you need and more. If you are a single or double you get mostly ignored. Jap Chae keeps getting smaller and more bland. Stuck with it hoping it would get better, but this last time was it for us.

Really enjoy the Korean BBQ here, I have gone twice in the last month. Ask for the table with the grill you won't be disappointed. I always get the bulgogi and pork. It is so good especially with the sesame seed oil. The vegetables they serve on the side are good too I have my favorites. It honestly depends on what they have in stock in the kitchen based on what vegetables they serve you. So sometimes it will vary. It's about $20-30 split between two people for the grill depends on if you get other things too. I say it's reasonable for the amount of meat you get. Definitely will go back! It does get busy on weekends.

Not the first time here, but definitely was our last dinner we had for my son's birthday. The waiter looked like he was daydreaming, so he messed up our order. We ordered Galbi for five people. We said it twice. He brought a little bit of meat and four bowls of rice. On the side only kimchhi and some radish, just it. Leafs of lettuce were not included either, even though they had to serve salad leafs for Galbi. When I asked for another bowl of rice, the waiter looked surprised. I felt ashamed for bringing my family for my son's birthday to this place. When I got the check, there was only four servings for us. How, if we ordered five? He placed an order for four and brought some food for three. I've never seen such a small amount of meat for a party. And no side dishes, really? We left this place hungry and disappointed .

Years ago, we absolutely loved going to the restaurant, great customer service and the food tasted great! Unfortunately, it has drastically changed. The service was poor, took almost 15 mins just to get our drinks ordered. The pon chon was limited, the prices are higher, and the food didn't taste like it use too. Sadly, we will not be back.

Great authentic Korean food in the heart of Raleigh. We came on a Monday night and got a table with grill. For meats, we ordered Bulgogi, Galbi, and Brisket. The portions were ok-sized, I wish there was a little more for the price. However, the quantity was absolutely there. I could taste the freshness in all 3, and the marinated meats were mouth-watering. Seoul Garden gives you lettuce wraps and ssamjjang (bean paste) without you needing to ask for it, which adds to the authenticity of the experience. To feed a party of 5, we also got Galbijjim, Kan Poong Gu (sweet and sour fried chicken), 2 soups, and lots of soju. The entrees were bursting with flavor, and tasted way better than expected. Our initial order wasn't really enough, so we ordered a kimchi pancake, as it seemed popular. This turned out to be a great choice - the pancake was crispy and tantalizing. The restaurant seemed to be short-staffed, but our server was attentive and repeatedly brought out extra side dishes for us throughout the meal. Overall a great experience!

Great food! The best service! Server was attentive, courteous and helpful. Tofu soup and side dishes were the best. We can wait to come back soon! Highly recommended!

I really do not understand the poor reviews and complaints. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, and there was almost too much food for me to eat. I had the steamed edamame & Dolsot Bibimbap Beef. The portions were generous, the banchan was really good (although I do have to question the very non-Korean macaroni salad ‍), and I received plenty. My bibimbap was great, rice was crusty on the bottom like it should be, portion was generous. Two different sauces, available on the table, a sweeter bibimbap sauce, and then the spicy sauce. And I am speaking as a US Marine Veteran who spent significant time deployed to Korea! Customer Service was wonderful, ALL the staff were very friendly and attentive. Dinner was $27 including my drink (iced tea with multiple free refills).

It was our first time trying this restaurant everything was delicious and fresh! I would've preferred something broths but overall excellent food! Definitely recommend ordering the steamed egg!

AVOID AT ALL COST!! Korean BBQ is typically an unlimited amount of meat and veggies for a set price. This restaurant will charge you north of 100$ for a 10$ cut of skirt steak, then make you cook it. The waiters are rude, the restaurant is disgusting and the food is overpriced. This is not Korean BBQ this is a scam than makes you cook your appetizer then makes you pay exorbitant prices.

Coming from NYC - this place has a very good hameul Pajun (seafood pancake) - crispy, thin, and flavorful and galbi - so tender and flavorful. The sundobu (tofu soup) is pretty good. The banchan (side dishes) are really good and fresh. The owner made it themselves. The service is good too. Overall, great experience and highly re ommended

My coworker ordered in from Seoul Garden when I came down to visit her - we both used to be in NJ together, and now I was down in the NC office for the day! And I told her to pick any place she wanted, so here goes Seoul Garden. We each got a lunch platter and agreed on sharing some dumplings for an appetizer. I think she got boiled dumplings, which says 8pc but we got 10! I prefer fried myself, boiled are a little too moist, but I can say they were nice, a little small, and a little underseasoned overall. I went for the LB7, ojinguh bokkeum or spicy squid, for my platter. It was fairly spicy, not up to the level of Korean places near me but certainly noticeable. The squid was rather overcooked and rubbery, and so between that and the dumplings, that's my main reason for knocking off a star. The food actually arrived early at 11:45, still warm, nice flavors and a variety of sides packed into the box. Steamed rice, a fried _something_ instead of soup - which I am glad for! - and a little bit of salad like you'd get at any Asian restaurant. Maybe carrots in there, I forget. Anyway, I certainly would have Seoul Garden on my list of lunch places if I worked in that office. I admit to being biased for comparing it to Korean in places up my way, but I think overall it comes down to just a little more in the flavor department, PLUS if I actually visit the restaurant I am TOTALLY open to a fifth star once I get the full experience. So perhaps next time!

First visit to this place based on yelp review. Very quiet Ordered kids menu for my son - chicken teriyaki- I think the portion is too small. My son is 5, and it was not enough. Seafood pancake - very crispy and yummy. Love it. Lots of seafood was well. Combination tofu soup - a bit on the light side. Good flavor, I asked for mild. Will come again for sure. Tasted authentic. Love their little appetizer dishes as well.

I haven't had Korean food for a few years. I was definitely craving it. So I met up with a friend for dinner, she recommended this place. We got a table with the grill in the middle. They as before they sit you if you want to grill or not. We had Kalbi but without the bone and spicy pork bulgogi to grill. I was surprised the cook it for you i thought we were going to have to do that. It was so nice that the server cooks our meat and even divides it amongst the people at the table!! They give you rice and lettuce wraps for the meat. We also had bonchon, not sure if it's unlimited but that's what I'm used to at other Korean restaurants. However we were not offered more and didn't ask for more. Combination Soon du bu had beef, clams and shrimp. A great keto option. Spicy soup with meat and veggies, tofu, and you crack and egg into it. They also have some options of meat that aren't marinated. But i wanted flavor so I was willing to gamble with sugar being used in the marinades because i haven't had Korean in a while. Great place, we will definitely be back!!

Fantastic staff. Very friendly, helpful in guiding a table of six to dishes that would complement each other. Excellent bbq and the japchai was peppery and delicious. Been twice. Now in rotation :)

I underestimated Seoul Garden when it opened many years ago. It has also grown up a lot since then. I was very impressed at how far this restaurant goes to provide such nice meals. It's busy for a reason!

I recently relocated from being stationed in Korea, and we were craving Korean BBQ and came across Seoul Garden. Loved it and the staff were so nice and accommodating! Very oriental vibesIt hit the spot, and man I missed eating kimchi. Highly recommended!

It is not traditional Korean Restaurant anymore. Disappointed food qualities. Looks like new owner came and not run by Koreans anymore. It felt strange that they don't even know how to say menu in Korean. Shame...

When you dont understand anyone in the resturant because everyone...from staff to patrons.. .all speak Korean....you've found really good, authentic Korean. Dont speak Korean? That's okay, between hand gestures and stilted English, you will still be able to translate the menu. Service is great and the staff is super accommodating. Everything is clean and fresh. Lots of little side dishes come with any food ordered. Everything I've tasted has been spectacular. I highly reccomend the seafood pancake...its to die for.

Not bad but the worst Korean BBQ I've ever had. In terms of portion, price, service, & experience they were the worst on all fronts. If there was more Korean BBQ in the area this place would probably closed.

Golden Pig in Cary was closed so my friend and I searched for another spot to get Korean food. We had to wait about 15 minutes as the place was pretty full (surprised us). Gratefully, we were seated in a separate room away from the main area (hello, COVID). The waitress was friendly and quick. My friend and I both got the beef bibimbap and it was good. I felt it lacked flavor and needed more kick.

My first time here. I took my son with me. My friend Paul waited on us. We sat at a table. With a burner. We cooked the meat on it. My son was having fun cooking. The food was really good. The people were really nice. The atmosphere was really nice. . I would definitely recommend going back. A lot of people come here.

Some of the best Korean food ive had, especially the banchan. The banchan had amazing Kimchi and potatoes. Ended up getting the yook gae jang extra spicy. It came out pretty hot yet still had a nice flavor. Would highly recommend for those upcoming cold evenings. I also got to try the vegetable fried rice without soy sauce and it was pretty good. The kimchi jigae was another stellar dish. Nice flavor with large chunks of tofu. You are allowed to dine in. Proper social distancing and good service.

The food is fantastic. Decor, not so much, The food is fantastic. Our waitress didn't speak much english, The food is fantastic. Did I mention the food is fantastic?

Sooooo good I had to order food for my layover while working. And again the Korean food is really good and comforting! This Bento box was awesome! I'm in love with Bento Boxes I need a Korean Man ! The food is the bomb! I love it!

It's ok, nothing to write home about. Restaurant is tucked in slightly middle of a pretty empty plaza. It is decent korean food but definitely on the expensive side especially for the Korean bbq. (Starting $20 pp) I've been here twice and both times have been consistently mediocre. I have tried the soondubu, jjampong (spicy seafood noodle soup), tonkatsu (fried chicken cutlet), and the chulpan meat udon dish. Just for anyone who is sensitive to MSG, they use a lot. I knew the moment I took a sip of the soondubu that there was lot of that junk in that soup. (Kind of tastes like they put ramen seasoning in there) My husband and I were both super bloated almost immediately afterwards so def be aware. Taste wise- it is good but too much msg for me. I did really like their banchan/side dishes. Specifically the pasta salad. They put onion and raisins in it which is rly unique as most Korean restaurants just bathe the pasta in mayo. It was the star of the meal.

Fantastic food and service authentic Korean Food at its finest! Loved the menu selections and the food was definitely prepared with love and skill!