Koreana Rittenhouse Square

A friend and I stopped in to enjoy the lunch special that’s offered as part of cc’s let’s do lunch. The servers were really pleasant, fast, and considerate. We ordered the veg dumplings as our app and got the teriyaki tofu &chicken. The dumplings came out fresh/hot and were very tasty. The actual teriyaki entrees were alright so recommend trying something else offered but it is a safe bet as it was serviceable. Overall recommend if you’re in the mood for a very fast and hot lunch.

You get fairly good korean food but without the full experience of banchans, etc. What we had was much better than what I expected which was a pleasant surprise. We had tofu soup, bibimbop and kimchi fried rice. We were visiting Philadelphia and just wanted to stop and have some Korean food.

I wasn’t feeling Korean food but my husband was, so I decided to go with a more hybrid option. I got a Korean pork burrito, it was good! The chipotle sauce was my favorite part. The service tonight wasn’t the friendliest but I liked the vibe.

It was quite good actually. I'm a novice at Korean food so I got beef bolgogi and rice. The spice and flavor was perfect with the right amount of rice and vegetables. I enjoyed it and would go back to this restaurant again. I saw their delivery guy constantly coming and going so I believe it's quite popular even if there was only one other diner in the store besides me.

I had the deoki bokki (which I am assuming is the same as tteokbokki) with cheese and sparking ginger lemon tea. Both were amazing! The portions are so big that I had plenty to eat thr next day. The little pieces of sugar lemon at the bottom of the drink was a pleasant surprise and added additional flavor to it. I love it all! Also, the cashier was super nice. She explained the portions to be and the food. I was very ignorant about the ingredients, but she was very sweet in explaining everything.

Excellent food, quick and friendly service, great dining-in vibes! We split the traditional (cold) bulgogi bibimbap and a chicken teriyaki bento box. The bento box comes with great sushi and pork dumplings. The chicken Teriyaki and bulgogi were deliciously seasoned; I can't wait to return to try more of their menu!

Some of the most excellent Korean food I’ve had in the city- it’s my go-to. I’ve never been disappointed with the food- I’ve tried the pork and beef bibimbap, dolsot, fried chicken, and kimchi fries, all of which I highly recommend! They give you very good portion sizes and lots of meat in the meat dishes. Staff are always friendly too :)

Excellent food. I had the Bibimbap and it was accompanied with miso soup and kimchi, both of which are delicious. Also tried the Milkis bananna which wasn't bad. This place has plenty of seating, but if it becomes as popular as the university City location, then I can forsee long wait times.

Bulgogi bento box - cold noodles, bulgogi, rice, broccoli, and miso soup Cold noodles + sweet sauce was delicious but the sauce was limited Bulgogi and rice was great Broccoli + spicy sauce was okay Overall, average meal that was worth it's cost Service was quick and prompt. Place was clean and spacious

Koreana reminds me of college (RIP UPenn location). While this place doesn't have the same feel, it was cool to see their menu with pictures of the food on the wall. You have to order up at the front but food is brought to you when it is ready. The lunch special is pretty interesting. They have several bento boxes to choose from. We got the beef bulgogi. It is definitely a good size for one person. It came with rice, miso soup, bulgogi (which was delicious), broccoli, and dumplings. The place also has a ton of Korean drinks to try out and some of the popular Korean snacks. While this place isn't as good as the original Koreana, it still adds a smile to my face!

I was so happy to have an authentic Korean meal for the first time. I didn't know what to get but the lady who was there was very informative and recommended a delicious dish. I couldn't finish it all because it was so delicious. 10/10 will be back soon.

Stopped here for the first time with two of my children. We all agreed it was fantastic. The service was great, the food was wonderful and the value was very good. We each ordered a bento box as well as kimbap to go. I forgot to order Kimchee as a side and was going to pay for it with cash, but the lady at the counter generously provided a dish of it for free. The restaurant is literally a block or so off Market Street and easy to get to. Will definitely come again and highly recommend it to others.

Cute little Korean eatery, perfect for lunch or a quick bite. Affordable and delicious food. The lunch bento can't be beat -- featuring a choice of main dish, plus gyoza, japchae, broccoli, rice and miso soup. We ordered the spicy chicken and the bulgogo bentos, and left very satisfied.

Was absolutely craving some rice and jeyuk bokkeum/spicy pork and the bento box here called out to me. The pork was about average. I don't typically enjoy korean dumplings and these were again average. It surprised me that the box doesn't come with any kimchi or pickled vegetables. I would certainly eat here again but it doesn't blow me away.

I decided to try out this Korean restaurant because it was literally right next door to my hotel. I am so glad that I did. The food was amazing. Not only was it very flavorful, there was a good amount of food in the bowl. That being said, I did order my cup bap with extra meat, so I'm not sure what the difference would have been, but I ordered 2 different meats, and there were a lot of both types. I wanted squid in the cup bap, but they didn't offer it. But, I realized I could add it, so I ordered a bulgogi cup bap and added extra squid to it. Luckily, this mixture was delicious. I also grabbed a triangle kimbab with tuna in it.

We stopped by for a snack after walking around. Kimchi fries - the sauces on top were good and the fries were crispy. I was disappointed that there was no kimchi. Soy garlic wings - super crispy and flavorful on the outside but was bland on the inside. Their Korean fried chicken is a little different than other Korean fried chicken I've had. I appreciated how big the wings were.

Nice Korean restaurant. Good selection on the menu. This place is a hidden gem in the city. The food came out fast and delicious.

Good for the fast food of Korean food. But price is pretty good and customer service is great

Pleasantly surprised by this little place in the center of the city. We ordered soondubujigae (seafood) and the duk mandoo guk. Both were large servings and and the soondubujigage was delicious - very seafoody. The duk mandoo guk was good but the mandoo wasn't that great and they put a lot of black pepper and sesame oil. I was okay with that but some many not enjoy it as much. The place seems more like a take out joint and is priced pretty high. But I was satisfied and would go back if I'm in the area.

An average Korean spot. I ordered the Pork Dolsot and 6pc half+half wings - nothing crazy stood out to me. Chicken was pretty hard to chew and the dolsot itself was pretty slim in flavor. Service was just ok. Was pretty excited to eat here, I really loved the Ucity location but pretty disappointed :/

Not my favorite. Fried rice with chicken was not good at all. Threw it away. The short ribs were okay. Not tender enough. Pork was okay. The Dumplings and egg roll on the side was my dinner and received the lonely star. Delivery took forever and they don't answer the phone for customers nor delivery courier. I would not return.

This place is really stupid for hiring criminals. The last two times one was missing my drink and the other I never got. Their delivery guy steals your food and when you call to complain they tell you they can't do anything for you. AVOID THIS PLACE!

Updated review is for the seafood soon dubu. Wowww. Not sure if it's because I haven't had it in awhile or they changed chefs but it's so much better. The flavors are definitely there and they give you a loooot of broth, which I love because I'm a big soup gal. I think they changed the portion size too? Definitely worth the price now :) It's hearty, salty (in a good way), but not oily and definitely filling with a side of rice and kimchi. Perfect for when that soon dubu craving hits. My only complaint would be they don't really give you much seafood, just little pieces of clam and small pieces of teeny tiny baby shrimp (not actual shrimp that most places use) that probably came from one of those frozen mixed seafood packs. lol Overall, still a solid 4/5! I would get it again.

Apparently every time I order my go-to yuk gae jang, it just keeps getting better! They've even upped their plating game, presentation has never looked better. This last one was so rich and delicious that I couldn't finish it because I wanted to enjoy it the next day. Portions are generous, high quality ingredients, and the broth is spicy and velvety with beef fat. Incredible and best you can get anywhere!

I am extremely disappointed by this restaurant. Koreana in University City was a staple, a home. I felt welcome and loved by the owners in terms of food portions and price. The food at this Koreana in Rittenhouse is double the price and half the portions. I'm gutted, hurt, and downright sad. Is this what a Koreana should be? The chicken wasn't crispy and the rice was mid. I'm upset that this will be my everlasting Koreana memory.

Ordered the spicy squid rice plate and the budae chigae at the Rittenhouse location after having eaten at the University City location many times. I was craving a spicy soup, and the budae chigae hit the spot. It was a flavorful, spicy stew with an aromatic chicken flavor, and it was filled with veggies, sausage, rice cake, and tofu. It came with noodles on the side which were a very good texture. It was very filling and a good portion, but slightly too salty for my taste. The squid plate was decent, it was sweet and spicy and had zucchini and other vegetables. Overall the food was great for the price and when you're craving Korean food.

This is the place I go when I'm feeling homesick and I want to be left alone. The food is good, the servers aren't overbearing, and its quiet and cozy in here. Ive never been to a korean place that makes soon dubu right except here. I've tried their ddukbokki, kimbap, soon dubu and short ribs, you'll not be disappointed

My new favorite lunch spot by work! They're fast, food is delicious and portion is good! A guilty pleasure of mine is the fried dumplings! A little pricy but they hit the spot lol I usually get it to share since the entree contains ample amount of food already. My only tip is that be ready to smell like korean food for the rest of the afternoon. Lol will need to have body spray ready in the office!

Bright, airy space with gentle jazz in the background. Friendly, helpful staff, and tasty, beautifully presented food. You order at the counter, and they deliver to your seat. I had the spicy pork box lunch, which was big enough for dinner. The box came with a bowl of soup, and box sectors containing two crispy dumplings on a bed of glass noodles, sauteed pork pieces in tangy sauce, lightly sauteed broccoli and carrots, and sticky rice. All for $15. Next time I'll bring a beer!

Maybe I'm the wrong person to be reviewing this place -- I spent a week in Seoul earlier this month and am probably spoiled by Korean restaurants in the San Francisco East Bay. But anyway: I ordered the soondubu with seafood and was pretty disappointed by its taste. There were five of us; the diner across from me said that her tofu (served over rice) tasted like it was first deep-friend and then covered with a sugary glaze. The fellow who ordered edamame (and nothing else) was ok with what he got. Diner #4 thought that this place rated three stars. Diner #5, who suggested the outing, was probably the most cool with our experience. Overall, I think that a two-star rating is correct. I do not plan to return.

This place is a hidden gem! The service was amazing, the food was fresh, and the atmosphere is great! I ordered the sweet and sour chicken bento box. DELICIOUS!

My bf and I picked up food from here for the first time last week. Everything was extremely tasty and we would come back! HOWEVER, I ordered the beef bulgogi cup bap, which is supposed to come with rice, noodle and lettuce. They gave me the beef bulgogi rice plate instead. My bf ordered the sweet and sour chicken cup bap, which is supposed to come with seasoned rice, japchae noodle and mix salad. He ended up getting the chicken w/rice and miso soup, which is not even an option on the menu. Almost all Korean restaurants provide banchan (small side dishes) even if it's for pickup. They didn't do that here. The food was still delicious though which is why they still get 4stars even after all of that!

I've been ordering Koreana via door dash a lot over the past two years and the food is decent. My son has a huge love for kalbi. The portions however, get smaller and smaller. Today was the straw that broke the camels back. For $30 (pre Tip and tax) I got 6 pieces of kalbi. Each piece is $5!!! Each piece is maybe two bites. This is highway robbery, will not be returning. Save your money and go elsewhere.

Cute little restaurant. Can't beat their lunch meal for the price $15 for a box including japchae, rice, vegetables, and your meat of choice. Flavorful and a good bargain

The food is average regarding price, portion and taste. I ordered Kimchi Jijiage and la Galbi. The soup was a decent portion with the familiar amount of heat. I can say they add a more than a fair amount of pork compared to other restaurants. However it started strong and ended on a whimper. The initial flavors were robust and fragrant however the flavor gets lost as it cools. The La Galbi was a very small amount of meat for $12. It has a great presentation and it's tender but tasteless. This restaurant is a nicely decorated for a to go or Korean on the go meal. If it's lunch time I would order ahead if possible and only if I worked in the area, I would not make a special trip. But this is a clean but very causal restaurant when it comes to dining in. So if I wanted the Korean experience there are better and cheaper choices.

I was craving some Korean food the other day and ordered Galbi Tang, Plain Deok Bokki, and Koreana Wing and Kimchee Fries Combo through Grubhub. The delivery took roughly 35 minutes and the food was still hot when it arrived. My personal favorite was the Galbi Tang, which was rich and the soup really hit the spot. Overall, the food was great for the price and came in good portions. Highly recommended!

I was reading a review from the 38th street location and I cannot agree more that if you don't like the gochujang sauce that is on the side, the bibim-bap is intensely bland. The menu reads "marinated" chicken however my bowl contained only a few dry morsels of unseasoned meat. I would have preferred if the chicken had been cooked with a soy, garlic or teriyaki sauce. Bottom line, I don't recommend this particular dish unless it tastes any better with the side sauce poured on top. As far as other criteria - staff was very friendly, place was clean, and customers who had ordered other things did seem to be enjoying their food. I do advise that store invest in more professional signs for the interior. There were a few hand-written signs on the back of cardboard boxes.

Highlights: (1) A lot of options (2) high quality (3) much cheaper than most Korean places in town (4) they also sell Japanese snacks!! . . Soooo, after discovering this new Korean restaurant in town, I have taken different friends here several times in the past week. I have tried their beef Dol Sot (hot stone pot), chicken wings, and Soon Dubu. My friends have tried their Bibim Bap, Dwen Jang Chigae, and their shrimp Dol sot... all were liked except for the chicken wings (they were a little hollow...). One of my friends is Korean and she pointed out the Bibim Bap is very traditional (a rarity in town), and her Dwen Jang Chigae was super good. As mentioned in the beginning, prices are more reasonable here compared to others -- about $3 cheaper for a regular lunch size dish... so, definitely recommend!!

This place is a rip off and should be out of business they doubled the prices and gave you less food. I will never order from here again to go from $12 to $25 and give less food than $12 is very bold. Unfortunately I will not stick around. Sorry let's get the real numbers $38 for Korean BBQ and rice while they removed all the sides. This place is insane $40? Then when I complain about the overage charge you hang up and cancelled my order while it was in the delivery persons hands? No problem count my dollars and the dollars of my friends out.

I came to know and love Koreana from its University City location. My first shot at Koreana in Rittenhouse (a take out order) showed consistency between locations. I managed to sneak in right before the noon rush. Actually, I got in around 1210, but a line formed nearly immediately after I ordered. They offer a great deal on a few lunch specials and also have lunch 'boxes' as well. I decided to go straight for the Beef Bulgogi lunch box. The lunch box is sort of a sampler, as it comes with rice, salad, a pair of dumplings, and a few slices (3) of kimbap. Mine also came with a small miso soup, however, I didn't see that included on the menu (not complaining). I could live without the salad, however, everything else was great. The beef bulgogi was delish and included just the right amount of seasoning. The dumplings had a good deal of meat. My only complaint on the kimbap was that there wasn't enough. And at about $12, the price point felt right. I didn't wait too long for my order to be boxed up and delivered. I can see the wait time being a bit long if you go at true peak time. While they do have the option to eat-in, seating is a bit limited. Net, really good Korean food. I'll be back and am happy to have another go-to lunch spot!

This is a review based on my delivery experience and just to show good fate to local restaurants during this time! We ordered for dinner and it took under an hour to get the food delivered to our door. It's my first time ordering from Koreana - so I wasn't sure what to expect. We ordered some staple foods - the hot plate bulgogi, comes with a side of rice and soup. I was astonished by the portion size! So much bulgogi and it was delicious. Came with the cutest little cup of miso soup - and I know this comes across ridiculous but I was obsessed with their broth. Normally not a big fan of miso - but theirs was awesome! Also ordered Korean wings (half and half) - half soy and half spicy sauce. The soy sauce is more sweet than soy so don't be deceived - they were my favorite. You NEED to order the wings if you're ordering from here - so good! My boyfriend got the rice with spicy pork, and he loved it. All in all - great experience and delicious food for a night in (with many leftovers).

I'm pretty underwhelmed with this location as opposed to its flagship in University City. It may be the same owners, but the heart of what made me like Koreana was lost. I'm a huge fan of more "traditional" Korean dishes like kimchi jjigae, galbitang, and even kimbap, but I can't say I sensed the same quality here as I usually do in UCity. The kimbap is obviously premade (or at least mine was?) since the laver was kind of soggy and the speed at which it was ready was pretty alarming. I'm sure the cup baps and rice + protein dishes like bibimbap are decent, but I hold Korean food (particularly if you're gonna open up in the thick of Center City) to a higher standard and I know this restaurant has incredible potential to be better.

I had the Kimbab and Deok Bokki for lunch. The Kimbab is standard. It's good. The Deok Bokki is a little rich for me. It's slightly sweet and slightly spicy. Half way through I had enough. I wouldn't get it again to eat on my own but if I could share it I'd get it again. This was also my first time trying this dish ever. The rice cake was yummy and the fish cakes were too.

This is a fast casual joint where you order at the counter We ordered kimchi fries, seafood pancake, beef bulgogi rice bap cup, and spicy rice cakes The kimchi fries were very good. If they would have separated the fries and the sauce so we could dip as we went along this would have been even better as the fries got a lil soggy at the end. Fried potatoes go surprisingly well with Korean food Seafood pancake was a bit undercooked as the pancake batter was still a little runny. I prefer it to be crispy on both sides Bulgogi beef rice and noodle cup was good. Flavor was good and so was the portion The spicy rice cakes were pretty standard. Nothing out of the ordinary

Our group of 4 came here for lunch at 11:45 on what turned into an insanely busy Driday lunch rush. You gotta come early or the waits are long. We shared 20 wings (double fried, K-style spricy and soy) and each got entrees. Note - way to much food. Next time just the entrees or fewer wings. The food was great - the Gal-bi (beef) costs $4 extra but for me it is worth it. We like Giwa too, but Koreana is a winner in my book. I shall return.

Found this place by chance as I'm in from out of town and this is walking distance from my hotel. Placed an order online and it was ready very quickly, kimbap was fresh and delicious. I ordered the Jeyook for my main, and at first bite, thought "uh oh, where's the heat?" But it builds, bite after bite, and I enjoyed this dish thoroughly! After a long day of traveling, this was a treat. Thank you!

Let's begin at the obvious place, the food. Most of it is mediocre and frankly interchangeable. They skimp on the protein additions to most plates (shrimp, pork, beef, etc.). On this basis alone I would not return; however, the quality of food is not the big issue. The prices are outrageous and, depending on the site you visit online (there are so many for this restaurant) the pricing can fluctuate. You be the judge: 10 fried chicken wings (the best of the meal), two Jeyook chicken; one shrimp rice plate; one Chicken Teriyaki Bento; one steam edamame; one dish with beef, noodles, vegetables. Total: $125 AND, one dish was to come with miso soup but we were told that is only provided at the restaurant, not take out. We picked up the order. It was not delivered. In sum, an outrageously overpriced dinner of mediocre food. Why, dear reader, you might ask didn't we notice the prices and should have been well prepared for the cost? A good question. The trouble was that we were looking at one of many (ten or more?) sites listing the menu for this particular branch of the chain and the prices were nearly half of what we were charged. This was takeout food for four that we picked up. Five main dishes, wings and edamame. Never again.

When this place first opened, the food quality and value were satisfactory. I thought the soondubu was decent. However, all the times afterwards were disappointing. Recently, I tried ordering something else - the bulgogi. The Bulgogi was tough and dry. Also, the proportion of meat was very lacking - the dish consisted of mostly onions with a big portion of rice. So you're paying for mostly onions and rice when you pay the price for this dish. I am unsure if I would return after the recent times of disappointment.

Came in on a slow day for the first time ever and the lady was extended helpful, friendly and professional explaining to me everything on the menu as I was undecided on what I wanted. I ended up getting the Beef Bulgogi Rice Plate and it was really good! This place is a nice little gem in downtown. Will definitely visit again!

Great place to grab some quick Korean food for lunch and dinner. I frequently stop by to get their Kimbab for lunch if I'm not too hungry. The quality is consistent and only costs $4. Also I haven't been able to find any other restaurants in Rittenhouse that sell it. The Seafood Pa Jeon / Pancake is also amazing and always comes out piping hot. Only downside is that it takes a bit for them to make it. It's also very filling so I usually either share it or have that by itself as a meal. My family ordered the Bimbim Bap and Beef Bulgogi Dolsot which were alright in my opinion. I can't handle spice so if you exclude the spicy sauce, there's not much flavor. The LA Galbi Short Rib platter was great! Lots of flavor and reminds me of the galbi from other Korean restaurants. Wish it came with a few more pieces though.

The food would be really good if they wouldn't add so much sugar. I heard the kimchi plate and it would have been great if it wasn't so sweet. I love sugar, but in my deserts only. Won't be back.

1 Star for the customer service experienced. I placed an order on Grubhub and have been a long time 10+ year customer of Koreana University City. I didn't realize they had a new location in Rittenhouse and accidentally placed the order at that location. I IMMEDIATELY called the restaurant at 5:37 after placing my order at 5:36. Spoke to a woman who confirmed my name and order and said " thank you so much for calling. We will NOT prepare your order and please call Grubhub to cancel the order ". I called Grubhub and they said they would call the restaurant to confirm. After Grubhub came on the line they said they couldn't cancel the order because the restaurant already prepared the order .... I spoke to the same female when I called back and she said that she didn't know the other staff member already started making it so they can't refund me. She handed the phone off to another male coworker. He said " I started making it because it came through fax. Who takes the responsibility??" How about your staff member that originally thanked me for calling ??? He refused to refund me no matter what even though I'm picking up the SAME ORDER from their other location in Ucity and am now paying $20 for 2 of the same meal, 1 of which will never be picked up?? I was honestly surprised and taken aback by the lack of ownership of responsibility by the restaurant staff as a whole and trying to blame me as the customer. Although I understand I ordered incorrectly initially, I took all the correct courses of action immediately - and they went back on their word from when i originally called, and I consider that unprofessional on all accounts. Clearly I will not be returning or supporting their business in any capacity and would caution others to heed caution.

I've been going to this place since college at their Penn location. Fast, cheap Korean food. After upwards of 10+ orders, I can confirm it is consistent. Personal favorites include the kimchi jiggae, soon dubu, kimchi pancake, and steamed mandu. Pro tip: they sometimes have BOGO deals through Uber Eats and you can order for pickup.

Love the Dolsat spicy chicken dish I got here, packed a lot of flavor and not too overwhelming with the spice. I got extra spicy sauce on the side, which I recommend due to how good it is with any of the dishes here. The best part about the meals served in the stone plates, is the crispy parts where the chicken/rice hits the stone. Only thing I didn't like was the miso soup on the side.

I have gotten takeout and dined in once at Koreana so far. Great experience with takeout through the Ritual app! My food was ready on time and the pick up process was very smooth. I also got $5 off for my first order! The tofu lunch box was PLENTY of food. The sauces were pretty sweet and the kimchi was VERY fermented (great, just not for opening back at the office). Will order again and try something new next time.

What a hidden gem! Having lived in Korea, I'm always skeptical about Korean food in the US, but this was some of the most authentic and affordable Korean food I've found! Ordered a large to-go order for lunch and it was ready earlier than expected. Everything was freshly prepared and nicely packaged. The lunch boxes are very filling and come with a nice variety of food: salad, kimbap, dumplings, kimchi, miso soup, and your choice of entree with rice. Kimchi fries didn't have actual kimchi on it, but some sort of spicy kimchi-like saucr and nacho cheese. A big hit with my teammates. Cup bap is a significant portion and includes some vegetables and japchae noodles. (Would recomend the cup bap over just a rice plate.) Seafood pajeon had good flavor, but not great to-go because it gets soggy from the steam in the box. Highly highly recommend this place!!

this food was so mf good, if you want to try korean food and enjoy it then you MUST come here, the people are so sweet too!!

Vibes: modern, fast casual, counter and table seating Tasting notes: -Bulgolgi dolsot: comes with fried egg on top and miso soup and spicy gochujang (though not the pasty kind) on the side; flavorful, generous slices of beef mixed in with chips of crispy rice with each scrape of the hot stone bowl Other thoughts: -Pricing is reasonable, around 8-11 dollars a main dish -Drink fridge stocked like the Asian grocery store (hello Ito-En bold unsweetened green tea!) -Asian snacks (aka Hello Panda) available -Credit-card friendly -Finally a Korean restaurant I can get behind in Center City! Will come back for: the soups and soondubu in colder weather!