Dong Baek - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant has been disappointing due to a noticeable decline in food quality. On my latest order, the food had a pungent smell that was not expected. Both orders containing tofu also had a strong vinegar-like smell. Even the side dishes, which we usually skip, smelled old and tasted soured. This has been a consistent issue for some time.

The owner is very kind and warm-hearted. Honestly, this is the real Korean restaurant in SF ㅋㅋ. If you are Korean and want to eat authentic Korean food, Dongbaek is the place to go. The food is so delicious and tastes exactly like the food you eat in Korea. The side dishes are also very tasty, and while other Korean restaurants have localized their food, this place serves authentic Korean food!

I went for dinner with friends and was immediately put off by the many flies, which made it impossible to eat. The food quality was not good, although the waitress (possibly the owner) was okay. Due to the overwhelming presence of flies and the poor food, I will not be returning.

I forgot to take pictures because the food was too good! The sides were beautifully fermented. We ordered the Black Bean Noodles with pork ($14), Kimchi stew ($16), and Pork marinated in special spicy house sauce ($32). My wife and I found that a single order's portion could have easily filled us both, but we ate everything, even re-ordering all the sides. The amount, quality, flavor, and price of the food place Dong Baek's food: quality ratio very high. As someone who knows how to cook, I don't eat out very often, typically once every 7-9 weeks, as I don't find the price of food served to have a suitable food: quality ratio. All this to say, not only am I a picky eater, I'm a picky payer. Dong Baek's food is worth every penny. I'll be back to support the business and to add reviews with pictures!

Oh la la. I absolutely love the homemade Korean food so much 💜❤️ The sweet lady is so amazing! I loved the Spicy Squid, Seafood Pancake, and Tofu Soup 😋 💋 I will definitely come back for more! Thanks so much 🙏😊

I've been ordering takeout from Dong Baek for about 2. 5 years, and I've noticed a significant decline in both their food and service quality. On multiple occasions, my drink orders have been missing. Once, my delivery arrived in a heavy-duty cardboard shipping box because they had run out of plastic bags. I've also received Bibimbap with Gochujang packets that were clearly over 2 years past their expiration date. Most recently, I got food poisoning from their bibimbap and seafood pancakes. What's particularly concerning is that my last meal included a hand-poured cup of Gochujang sauce that was so terribly expired it had spoiled, with a disgusting color and pungent smell. It's baffling how no one in the kitchen noticed or smelled this awful sauce quality during preparation. When I tried to address the sauce issue with the restaurant, I could only communicate with a Korean-speaking lady who didn't speak English, and there was no one else available to assist. After a difficult 5-minute explanation, I was offered one free Bibimbap. However, this terrifying and shocking experience has left me scared to ever trust this place again. It's a 100% boycott for me from now on.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially on a cold, rainy day. The kimchi jjigae was absolutely perfect and really hit the spot. The atmosphere was also a highlight, contributing to a very pleasant dining experience. I highly recommend this place, especially for its comforting food and great ambiance.

I'm giving this restaurant a solid 3 out of 5 stars. For my meal, I ordered the dolsot bibimbap, while my sibling opted for a spicy fish soup. The side dishes were generally nice, with the slivered potatoes, radish kimchi, and bean sprouts being particularly great. However, the broccoli was just okay, the kimchi leaned more sour than spicy, and the seaweed salad was standard. We were the first customers of the day, and the service was acceptable. My bibimbap was decent, though I've had better elsewhere; it lacked salt and the classic sesame oil taste. The red pepper sauce was bland, requiring a significant amount to be added. A minor point, but the fried egg was fully cooked instead of having a runny yolk, which I usually prefer. It was filling, but left me wanting more. My sibling enjoyed their fish stew, despite the fish (possibly pollock) having quite a few tiny bones to pick out. They were very satisfied with their meal overall. The restaurant's decor is definitely dated and dingy in some areas, but it appeared clean enough and was easy to find.

I visited this restaurant because a friend recommended it when I was craving Korean food. The bibimbap was truly delicious! It felt just like the stone pot bibimbap I eat in Korea, which was great. The kkanpunggi was also tasty! The staff member working there was Korean and was very friendly and helpful. Since they were Korean, I asked them about potentially unsafe areas and times, and they provided good information. Thank you! The photos are of the seafood bibimbap and boneless kkanpunggi.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! If you're looking to try real authentic Korean food, this is the place to go. The food was rated a perfect 5 out of 5, and the atmosphere was also very enjoyable, scoring a 4 out of 5. For dinner, the price per person was between $20–30, which felt reasonable for the quality received.