Dae Bak

I visited this Korean restaurant during the bustling Chinatown Night Market, where the streets were alive with energy and the crowd was nonstop. Despite the packed tables and fastpaced atmosphere, the experience I had here was calm, personal, and unforgettable. The server who took care of me was truly exceptional. Amid the noise and rush, he remained composed, attentive, and genuinely kind. He greeted me with a warm smile, helped me navigate the menu with thoughtful recommendations, and checked in just enough to make me feel cared for without ever interrupting the flow of the evening. His presence brought a sense of calm and hospitality that made the busy night feel intimate. I ordered the squid bibimbap and grilled mackerel, and both dishes were outstanding. The bibimbap was vibrant and full of texture. The squid was tender and flavorful, perfectly balanced with crisp vegetables and spicy gochujang. The mackerel was grilled to perfection, with a smoky richness that paired beautifully with the side dishes. Among the banchan, the kkakdugi, a Korean kimchi made from cubed radish stood out. It was crunchy, bold, and deeply satisfying, adding just the right contrast to the main dishes. At one point, I mentioned how the flavors reminded me of my grandmother’s cooking, and the server smiled and said, “That’s the kind of memory we hope to create.” That moment stayed with me. This restaurant doesn’t just serve Korean food offers a heartfelt experience, even in the middle of a crowded night market. I left feeling nourished, appreciated, and genuinely impressed. Highly, deeply, and sincerely recommended.

From the moment we walked in Mark greeted us with such warm hospitality. His smile was amazing. He served us amazing food. He even gave us two free sodas. He also recommended cheese on a specific dish, which turned out to be probably the best thing I ever put in my mouth. He also recommended the perfect spice level, which just got me feeling just right for the day. All in all, highly would recommend coming here.

Been here a few times and food and service has been consistently great! We ordered the squid stone pot and seafood pancake, which were delicious. Without needing to ask they made sure we were always stocked with water and napkins at our table 😊

Great, authentic Korean food. I had the daktoritang which was perfectly spicy for me. They offer all the Korean staples + more traditional dishes for those looking for something more authentic. Also have the Korean alcoholic drinks for sale when you wanna come have fun with your friends. Would recommend!

Their spicy is REALLY spicy - still very flavorful and good. Great portion sizes, banchan was tasty. Not super upscale but budget friendly place to get drinks after work with shareable snacks - appetizers are huge

Service was good, gave us extra side dishes without even asking. So much tofu and seafood in the soup. Good ambiance!

A true hidden gem in Chinatown! It’s on the second floor so we almost missed it, but so glad we found it. The food is incredibly authentic and delicious — my husband’s new favorite spot in Philly! The servers were so kind, even teaching us the proper way to mix soju and beer with a spoon and recommending a shop for rice cakes. Amazing food, warm service, and a memorable experience — can’t wait to go back!

I had a taste for Korean food and found this spot while walking in Chinatown. It had a decent rating, so we decided to give it a try. The entrance is a bit weird. You walk in and go past the restaurant on the left, down the ramp, take a quick left, and then walk up the stairs. There was a paper sign providing directions. The first course was a variety of kimchi. However, theirs in clouded a little bowl of pasta salad (just ok) and some type of beans (just ok). The cabbage and other leafy kimchi were good. The radish kimchi was bland. The seafood and scallion pancake appetizer was fantastic. It was huge and enoigh for 4 people to share. It is cooked in wheat flour (gluten) and vegetable oil (inflammatory), which we learned later, but we did enjoy it. I ordered the tofu bibimbap and added shrimp. It came with a small bowl of miso soup, which was really yummy. However, my bibimbap was just ok. I added the red sauce and the sauce that came with the pancake, and that made it better. None of the veggies, tofu or shrimp were seasoned. The dumplings were ok. They were fried and very crispy. The grilled whole croaker was seasoned and pretty good. The japchae with chicken was pretty good--the chicken was good, but the noodles were just ok. The portion sizes were large. Service was attentive.

I came him looking for something spicy and I got exactly what I wanted. The restaurant itself was hard to find. You have to walk into a deserted looking food court and walk up to the second floor. There weren't many people there when I went so I was seated right away. I got a ton of bon chon almost immediately and then I ordered the squid bibimbop. It came out sizzling hot in a dol sot bowl and comprised of rice, spicy squid, fried egg, and some bell peppers. I loved how hot it was and it was incredibly filling. It was a bit pricy at $20 or so, but given how full I was afterwards, a total bang for your buck.

First time here. Would gave never found it or gone there if it weren't for someone who ate there before recommending it. Great options and huge portions!! The prices are reasonable and affordable if you factor in that you can get an additional meal or two, or share the big dishes. Got the blackbeans n rice, mandos, and seafood pancake for $40. We had alot of leftovers! Small, very casual room. Believe it or not they asked us if we had reservations lol!

Still a solid place to go when we're craving Korean Food. It doesn't compare to LA, sorry not sorry, but it hits the spot. The service is always reliable and quick. We always get our food in a timely matter and they're good at anticipating needs. The vibes are the same, playing local sports, kpop videos or news. One drawback is that they do not have their own bathrooms so you are succumbed to the grimy building's bathrooms. Their banchan can also be improved, not much excitement to the sides overall. Prices have also gone up, but such is our economy now. Our go to is the seafood pajeon, kamja tang, or LA Kalbi. It's still the best Korean in center city!

Philly doesn't have a ton of Korean options to choose from but Dae Bak was conveniently located where we were traveling so stopped by for a bite. It's located in a mall with other restaurants and bars within Chinatown. Ordered the Jjangmyun (15) which was just ok. Portion was really big so definitely come if you're hungry but taste wise, it's about as average as it gets. Good service and plenty of seating which is nice.

I wanted Korean food and this was near our hotel. We got several apps to share and I wish I was hungrier to have eaten more food. There were so many options and everything was fresh and tasty.

Korean options in the city are surprisingly pretty limited, but Dae Bak has been our go-to. We have only ordered takeout from here and it has always hit the spot. Their bulgogi, seafood pancake, boneless chicken, jap chae and cha Jiang myun have been our favorites. Food has always come fresh and well packaged. Serving sizes are generous.

Cozy Korean spot on the second floor of Chinatown Square. It is a hidden gem and comfort food to say the least! They also have Soju to accompany your meal. Plenty of seating for a large group.

Good food! Banchan is also very good, service is nice! I'll come back for sure next time!

Great flavor and a nice size portion. Food came still pretty warm. Had a good amount of pork and potato. Would order this again. The cold noodles were SO refreshing.

Very good Korean restaurant in Philly. Highly recommend if you are visiting Philly and are craving some quick Korean food.

Food and service was amazing! Highly recommend! We got the hot stone pot it was super flavorful

Food was hot and good! Sizzling when it came out. The side dishes were great as well - we got 2 rounds of sides

Amazing service and food! Cute spot in Chinatown upstairs above surreal. Love coming here on the weekdays :)

A decent Korean restaurant in the middle of Philadelphia's Chinatown - I had the nyaegmyun, which was pretty good, as was everything else we tried (Kal guksu, Kalbi, and grilled mackerel).

The food is so amazing! Love the customer service and ambience. Would definitely come back again. Highly recommend!

One of my favorite Korean restaurants in Chinatown. The food can be a bit pricey but it is delicious and pretty authentic. Service is quick and the space is large and can accommodate for large parties.

Save your money! I can only speak to what I received for delivery, but I spent $50 on this Galbi dish alone, and they literally have no flavor at all. Waste of money!

I'm so glad this restaurant is here! This is like the only Korean restaurant in Philadelphia, other than dubu in north Philly and a couple of spots in west Philly. It's probably the best Korean restaurant that is really close to my area. The gamja tang was really good!!!

my go to korean restaurant in philly. Their seafood pajeon is always made so fresh and packed with seafood that pairs amazingly with their seasoned soy dipping sauce. Their jigaes are also top notch and are so comforting on cold days, being so savory and bold in flavor. their cold noodles are also so refreshing and pairs perfectly with their korean fried chicken or their jeyuk bokkum. This place boasts of a homey, korean family dinner spot, where you feel and are treated like part of their family.

A nice spot in Chinatown. Restaurant space has lots of tables for larger groups. Staff was incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable of the menu. We started with a bunch of appetizers, all were fantastic. Food came out so quick. I wasn't crazy about the sweet and spicy chicken which was my entree, it was a lot of food and I liked the sauce but the chicken was a little gummy. Every other entree I tried was really good. Prices are reasonable. Definitely worth a visit.

Amazing service! Got free side dishes and the kelp side dish was my favorite. I got Kal Gook Soo. Noodles were bouncy and the soup was very flavorful. Very filling and good value!

How weird are a lot of things when you compare the way things were pre-covid and post-covid?! Before Covid-19 there were a number of years when I had absolutely fantasized about coming to Dae Bak to enjoy some spicy Korean cuisine, only for me to end up being COMPLETELY side-tracked over all of the other tantalizing food options that the Chinatown Square food truck had to offer! But when I finally got around to making my second Philly Chinatown visit during *sort of* post-Covid-19, I couldn't help but shed a tear over how gutted Chinatown Square was outside of the three businesses that were open! Hopefully, this changes for the better soon, and Surreal Creamery moving in could be the first move towards this. But, back when Chinatown Square was at maximum capacity Dae Bak was its centerpiece, and with the fantastic food, great service, and wonderful view of Chinatown from the window, I soon understood why. With noodles, hot pots, stews, rice dishes, and then some, its one of those menus where you'll want to order all the things! But to start things off we definitely needed dumplings, and whether you go fried, steamed, or with sweet and spicy sauce their mandu is perfection! With the weather not at its best soup and spicy was definitely in order. and the Champong delivered both in spades with delicious noods and ALL THE SEAFOOD! A good Korean restaurant surprises you with all kinds of extra mini dishes, and Dae Bak did not disappoint with spicy kimchi, bean sprouts, fresh coconut, mushrooms, and then some! Hopefully next time I come more of Chinatown Square will be restored to its former glory. But even if it isn't I know that Dae Bak will deliver a win!

The Galbi Tang is a must get every single time you come here! The soup is sooo flavorful and the radish is cooked to perfection. The portions are perfect too. The service is also really nice! Place is clean.

It was cool spring Saturday night with light rain misting over the neon lights of 9th street chinatown. We walked into chinatown square exploring the liminal hallways filled with vacant restaurant space until we stumbled upon the second floor restaurant, Dae Bok. Overall it was a great casual meal at a neat table with street views. - Great food. We ordered the shrimp fried rice and the steamed mandu. - Floor to ceiling windows make for a scenic meal - Table water served from a sippy cup - Dae Bak could use some decorating help. Kitchen supply boxes were all over the place, amazon light strips provided a color changing glow, and walls are covered with asian beverage ads - A fruit fly bothered us the whole meal - A two tone ding rings anytime someone new arrives like a convenience store - Waiter was frantically switching between sports games on the tv. Worried about his wagers? He was otherwise a great host - Shrimp too small. - Metal chop sticks (you already know i had to grip those)

I only ate here once and I am basing my review heavily off what my Korean colleagues who I dined with said, so take my review for whatever its worth. I had the 2c. Bulgogi Dolsot Bibim Bap, and it was...okay. Although I come to Chinatown regularly, I haven't eaten a lot of Korean food so my scale is limited. But it just didn't wow me or make look forward to trying it again. My two Korean friends both described their meals as "average". The atmosphere is cool and well kept, and I like the view of Race street from the 2nd story window. The prices seemed a tad high for the servings. The service was kind of slow despite not being busy, but honestly I didn't mind as the lunch conversation was good.

Really great service and the food came out fast too. Their tofu stew tasted amazing g and the portions are a pretty good size that left us full.

My bf and I ordered dinner from here last night and were not disappointed at all. Everything was delicious, service was great, prices were right and facility was extremely big and clean. They were playing Korean drama in the background, which is always a nice fun plus! We ordered hae mul pajeon, japchae and mixed soft tofu stew. The seafood pancakes were our favorite. Generous with the seafood portions and tasted amazing. So tasty and I highly recommend trying this out! My bf loved his japchae and I thought it was tasty as well, but a bit too oily for my liking. I ordered the mixed tofu stew and the portion size was also very generous! A lot of meat, vegetables and seafood (octopus, shrimp, etc). I chose medium spice level which was perfect for me. It actually was pretty spicy! The dish also came with white rice! Only complaint was the bonchon. Only gave 3 sides and they were each in a tiny little cup. I know it was takeout, but I still usually get a lot more side dishes. I cannot wait to return and try more food from here.

The food is great! Would recommend. Side dishes are yummy. Everything was so good. Service was great.

I've been here multiple times and though it's not the best Korean food, it satisfies my cravings and I do finish most food on my plate when I visit here once every few months. Beef fried rice - 4/5 it's good and hard to mess this one up. Naengmyeong - 5/5 though I had to ask for the gochujang to make it spicy. Seafood Pajeon - 4/5 very thick, dense, and chewy (I'm used to the thin and crispy versions) but delicious with the soy sauce Jajangmyeon - 3/5, sauce was clumpy at some parts, noodles were too thin and soft from being a bit overcooked. The flavor was accurate though. Tangsuyuk - 3/5, like the jajangmyeon, the flavor was there but the ratio of meat vs. vegetables vs sauce was so off. There wasn't enough meat OR vegetables to justify the price imo and there was so much sauce it became a soup. Overall, they reliably hit the flavor cravings for Korean food and with such limited Korean choices in Philly, this place is a staple of mine to revisit.

I was craving Korean fried chicken and someone recommended this place. It's a little hidden, casual spot but we found it. The portions were HUGE! We got the rice cakes and fish cakes for an app and the sweet and spicy fried chicken for our main. The server saw my bf watching the Phillie's game on his phone and put it on the tv which was super sweet. Everything was just overly sweet. The rice cakes were supposed to be sweet and spicy but was mostly sweet. The sweet and spicy chicken was extremely sweet. My bf is sensitive to super spicy items and he didn't even taste any spice. It was unbearably sweet for me. I'd probably try a different place when I have a craving.

Daebak is now my go-to Korean restaurant in Philly-- so many options, and so good! I went here because my friend religiously orders them on Doordash and recommended it to me. Best recommendation! We ordered the Army Stew (Budaejiggae), Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon), Bossam, and Black Bean Noodles (Jajjangmyeon). Army stew was good but one complaint is that there's not enough ingredients inside it (in terms of quantity and variety). No complaints for everything else. Everything was so tasty, big portions, and good plating! The prices are okay, not too pricey not too cheap. The place is upstairs above the Halal Guys and can be easy to miss, but is worth the stairs up. I will 100% be coming back to try their other dishes!

We ordered the seafood pancake and kimchi beef stew. Both were fresh and hot, with flavors complimenting each other. The portions were large for the price and the meal was delicious. Highly recommend !

The portion sizes here are great and very worth the money. The tteokbokki was also very delicious! The food came fast and the employees were kind too. Definitely recommend to try out!

So I come here once a year with my mom and the food is great! The service is solid. The restaurant isn't huge and the location is a little weird (upstairs and you have to go through what you think might be a closed building) but once you're there, the place is bright and nice.

This place has one of the best food in chinatown. The service was nice and it has a nice atmosphere and view from the second floor. Recommend :)

Great Korean restaurant in Philadelphia. Loved it all. The fried chicken, the tofu soup, the egg dish. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor. I have zero complaints.

Hotpot came out very fast, we had good service with an attentive waiter. The hotpot is a bit expensive but I think it's meant for 2-3 people because it came out with a lot of food and bowls of rice. The japchae was great- good flavor and texture of noodles. Nice clean space. Would recommend.

Absolutely amazing service and food. Got the soft tofu soup and it was too spicy for me so the waiter took it back and modified it! Soup was the perfect blend of sesame, spicy, savory. Kimchi fried rice also 10/10

Yummy seafood pancake, the fried rice was really tasty with the kimchee. The bulgogi was a little watery for me, wish it would have been more meat and had a good glaze sauce.

Service: 5/5 Beef tofu stew: 4.5/5 Rib eye bibimbap: 3.5/5 Was a little hard to find (2nd floor) but was pretty satisfied with the food here. Restaurant is very clean and the waiter was very nice. Beef tofu stew- a plethora of tofu but minimal beef Bimbibap- comes in a stone bowl. Thought it lacked some flavor but still pretty good

Wow. Wow. Wow. I am impressed. I was craving Korean food delivery and the food honestly reminded of what I would get it I was there! I got ddukbboki, spicy squid bowl, tangsooyook, fish roe stew and naengmyun. Every single dish was so delicious. Ddukboki - loved the flavors. I wish the rice cakes were bigger and longer but I was pleased by the dish Spicy squid bowl - def could use more squid but good flavors Tangsooyook - loved that they packaged this dish separate of the sauce. Flavors were yummy and pork was cooked well Fish roe stew - I could have used a deeper and spicier broth but all in all it was nostalgic and reminded me of getting it in Korea Naengmyun - unfortunately it was packaged on the way bottom so the noodles became over cooked halfway of eating it but the first 15 min were amazing! Good sauce, good beef and good noodles. Loved the pear and radish I honestly thought there was no good Korean delivery in the fort but Dae Bak is it!! Will be my go to from now on

Loved the side dishes - the egg was our favorite, it was silky and melted in the mouth! Dolsot Bibim Bap: Pretty bland, the only flavoring came from sauce that was served on the side. Also, barely any meat! Fa Dak (Soy Sauce) / Korean Style Fried Chicken: Definitely our favorite dish - the sauce was super flavorful! They used dark meat so the chicken was juicy and the green onions added a refreshing touch.

I visited a Korean restaurant today and had a delicious kimchi stew. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. I look forward to visiting again.

I like the spicy soups, stews & Banchan. Been here a few times and the food is consistently good.

Food was on par with other Korean restaurants but pretty pricey. Seafood pancake was very good but the tofu soup was average. Overall, solid place if you're looking for Korean food in Chinatown

My best friend introduced me to this place a few months ago after we had a nice, relaxing day at the spa. We ordered a whole bunch of dishes (seafood pancake, LA Galbi, beef soondubu, and jajangmyeon - yes, it's a *weird* mixture of dishes but we were STARVING! Everything was delicious. Their banchan was standard - their kimchi was delicious (not too fermented, still crunchy). I wish the seafood pancake was a bit more seasoned and crispy on the edges, but it was still pretty decent. Their galbi is flavorful, chewy, and had the right amount of fat. Their soondubu was a good spice level (could've been a bit spicier imo) but didn't have much beef in it. The jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) was amazing - it reminded me of the noodles I had back in K-town NY. Overall, delicious dishes for a reasonable price but nothing was especially memorable for us. We would still come back though if we're in the area!

really nice place! i recommend, we got the galbi tang and bulgogi bibimbap, it was very good

Just bad. Save your money and eat elsewhere. Ordered 4 dishes on UberEats and food was not as advertised and utterly disappointing - so much so that I chose to write this review, probably my 2nd or 3rd of all time. My wife is Korean and we were so looking forward to Korean food. I've eaten at plenty of Korean restaurants across the quality spectrum. I don't consider myself a tough critic and have realistic expectations. However, tonight's food was so below average, lazy, and bland (nearly impossible for Korean food) that I got hot and needed to review so folks don't waste their money and this restaurant does better. Only 1/4 dishes were good. Uber would only let me review the driver so addressing the food here. Quick hits / details below: Bibimbap with Beef: Didn't look like the photo. Almost no meat (literally a pinch of ground meat). Overcooked egg. Random, heaping pile of lettuce on top (not pictured or part of this dish ever). Banchan: Moochae and Kim chi included were dry and bland. Could've closed my eyes and thought it was a shaved carrot. Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles): Wife enjoyed this dish. Pajeon: Generous serving but very average dish. Seafood pancake was more like a quiche - very thick and squishy / wet, no crispiness, just weird. Sulungtang: Honestly didn't even try this dish yet. To avoid further disappointment, put it in the fridge for the wife to eat tomorrow and made a PB&J instead. TL / DR - spend a fraction of the price in Trader Joe's frozen Korean food section and you'll be better off.

definitely the best korean restaurant in center city area. i've tried the gamja tang, beef tofu stew, al tang, and sulung tang. they are all very good but i definitely recommend the gamja tang! lots of meat and really good flavor. service is good and there are lots of seating inside.