Ahjae Gookbap

4.5 stars rounded up for being a small business. The food is pretty amazing but some of the food can be too flavorful for some people (although I like it - my wife prefers plainer versions of some of the dishes). Service is a bit slow. The interior design is meant to maximize people who can sit (which is not surprising). They serve some dishes that are relatively difficult to find in other Korean restaurants. This was our second time and we'll probably be back. (The bathroom could use some upgrades like a better paper towel).

We came here in March. We had a great experience and the food was delicious. The restaurant space is quite small. You get your own water. My husband really enjoyed the egg side dish. We love this place a lot and can’t wait to come back. The soy sauce marinated crab is a must try.

The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, whereas the ambiance was on the casual side with not that many seatings. The best dish we got was the large raw crabs (ganjang gejang) for 36, which priced out around 9 per crab that was cut in half. The marinade was so incredibly delicious and the crab was filled with fresh meat! I know some diners say it's pricey, but honestly for its high quality and freshness, I think it's relatively reasonable. We also got the braised prime beef (ahjae ppyo jjim), which has an intense and rich flavor, but the amount of bone to meat ratio was overwhelmingly imbalanced, where each piece had about 20% meat versus 80% bone. I definitely liked the dish but hope they can choose more meaty cuts next time! Lastly, we got the buckwheat noodle in cold broth (mool naengmyun), which was refreshing and tasty, just be careful not to add too much vinegar! Overall we had a really good time and we can't wait to come back, especially for more of the raw crabs! Thank you for reading and best of luck! (:

We arrived here 30 mins before they closed and they still sat us. The service was one of the best I've ever experienced. They continued to give us extra dishes that were on the house even after they closed. We ordered the oyster pancake and raw blue crab marinated in chef's special soy sauce. Really all you need to get here. I can eat probably 4 plates of this in one sitting because I would want to keep tasting it.

I would say it's worth a try. Not really plenty in the side dishes but the kimchi is good, the mandoo is fresh but maybe needs more salt, ganjatang was pretty good with not too much MSG, the ppyojjim was more sweet than I expected and the meat wasn't tender enough. Seating is a little limited but they do the best that they can.

Surprising delicious. I came without any expectations but I am a picky eater. Is rarely I give a place 5stars. All the dishes we had were great besides the seafood combo. That was way too salty. But every other dish made up for that one bad dish. Very well balanced flavor nothing over powering. Raw crab was fresh and delicious.

Potato and pork bone spicy stew (Gamjatang) was intense and gratifying. Fermented crab...outstanding. Small restaurant but only a short wait.

Ahjae Gookbap is an absolute gem! Their gookbap is hands down the most flavorful and comforting I’ve ever had – rich, hearty, and packed with authentic taste that keeps you coming back for more. But the real showstopper? Their soy-marinated crabs! Each bite is a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and umami goodness, with the freshest crab meat melting in your mouth. The quality of the ingredients and the care put into each dish are evident. The friendly service and cozy atmosphere make the dining experience even better. If you’re looking for a spot that delivers mouthwatering Korean comfort food, Ahjae Gookbap is the place to go. Highly recommend!