MUGUNGHWA Korean Restaurant

The food is really good! You order through a tablet on you're table. I forgot to take a picture of the bossam, but it was SO GOOD! The the tofu soup was so good too! The banchan was good and tasty. I would return and highly recommend! The food stayed very warm for a long time and that was perfect! Come check it out!

We love Mugunghwa, their food is delicious & authentic. It’s a privilege to have such well established, family owned Korean restaurant around, something that is not always given. All the main dishes, I believe, come with 6 set of side dishes and please don’t sleep on them - the portions are very generous (& you can ask for refills) and are flavorful. I think they make all their kimchi in house as well. And as a Korean, I grew loving sotbap which is basically a rice cooked in a pot where you can take out the cooked rice to a side bowl and let the rice stuck to the pot simmer in broth which makes a nutty nooroongji. So I got pretty excited when I heard they have sotbap. Our current favorites are: Sellongtang, galbijjim and bone harjangguk. But honestly all of their stuff is great in my opinion so try whatever sounds interesting to you!!

Good and nice clean atmosphere, tasty authentic korean foods. fresh ingredients And kind and smile service especially weekdays.

A friend recommended this place, and we decided to give it a try. The wait wasn’t too bad—about 15 minutes on a Friday evening —but they were a bit unorganized. We ordered three combo sets of meat and soup, along with their famous garlic bossam. The spicy pork was a highlight for me (it had more fat than meat, though), and the soups were rich and flavorful. While the bossam was good, it was a bit too sweet and overly garlicky for my taste. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely return when we’re craving authentic Korean cuisine!

The star of our dinner was the Galbi Jjim. I would recommend to bring a sophisticated friend to enjoy with you. Try before they get the Michelin star they deserve!!!

I've visited this place twice, and it came highly recommended by a friend. Everything was fantastic, especially the fried chicken and tteokbokki. It was definitely worth it, and it's now my go-to spot for Korean fried chicken. Moreover, the restaurant has a lovely modern decor. The staff were incredibly nice and friendly, frequently checking in to see if we needed anything else.

As a huge fan of Korean food, I can confidently say Mugunghwa is on another level. This restaurant blends elegance, tradition, and flavor in the most beautiful way. The ambiance is serene and sophisticated perfect for a special night out or anyone who truly appreciates refined Korean cuisine. The staff made the experience even better: attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about each dish. Now, let’s talk food, I tried the steamed pork dumplings plump, juicy, and full of flavor. The beef japchae had that perfect sweet-savory balance with silky glass noodles. The beef tartare bibimbap was fresh, vibrant, and perfectly seasoned. The galbi short ribs were so tender they practically melted in my mouth, and the galbi jim was rich, hearty, and deeply comforting. But the surprise favorite? The Mugunghwa cold noodles icy, chewy, with the perfect touch of mustard heat. So refreshing and absolutely addictive. Every dish was a hit beautifully presented, thoughtfully prepared, and full of bold, authentic flavors. If you’re craving a next-level Korean dining experience with gorgeous views and impeccable service, Mugunghwa is it. I’ll be dreaming about this meal for a long time

Exceptional banchan, high quality dishes from pancakes to soups, large servings, and ease of ordering (tablet at table). But orders sometimes get forgotten or missed, the order in which they come can be unpredictable, and most of the restaurant has no natural light or windows, with tight seating. It's also quite pricey and can get very loud and crowded. Overall, still the best option around.

We were lucky enough to score a parking spot and a table on a Sunday afternoon. The place was packed and cozy. We ordered kalbi, tofu soup, and fried chicken with purple rice. The service was great. We got 8 banchans - my favorites were the chives, soft tofu, and spinach/ daikon. The beet flavored daikon cubes and slices were delish as well. The kalbi came quickly. There was enough meat for the two of us to share and to take home. The purple rice was yummy but some of it was burnt. The seafood tofu soup was a little spicy for me even though it was plain. The fried chicken had a heavier coating than I would have liked. We would come back though for that kalbi and the banchan.

Food: 4 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance 2.5 stars Value: 3.5 star Let's start with the experience. We arrived before 6 pm on a Tuesday and were seated quickly as there were only r three or four tables occupied. Before we even sat the servers disappeared and we were left to navigate a tiny monitor against the wall to place our order. Now let me preface the following by saying I work in technology (web application development & UX). Trying to order using the digital menu is EXTREMELY annoying!!! Only one person can browse it at a time and only the two people sitting next to it can reach it. How are others at the 6-too tables supposed to review the menu and order, Never mind trying to get details on any of the dishes because you have to click so many times to navigate back and forth. Maybe they think they are being cool or modern but that shit has to go!! we were so frustrated with it we had to ask for physical menus. But HOW do you get the servers' attention?! You have to use the damned digital menu to "place an order" to call for the server FFS! When the server came, she was actually nice and helpful in taking our order. We ordered the seafood pancake, galbi bibimbap combo with spicy pork and the spicy noodles with beef and veggies combo (also with spicy pork). A few side dishes came out, followed by our order. They missed one of the combo dishes (spicy pork) but they said they would remove it from the bill. In the meantime the place started to fill up and by the time we were half way through our meal it was SO LOUD in there that we couldn't hear each other without raising our voices. It was so bad that a couple that sat across from us got up and left before ordering. Our bill (2 people) came to $102 including tip. Honestly, we were so ready to get out of there that we didn't check to see if they actually took the missed combo off the bill. Chalk it up to experience Even though the food is good, there are other Korean restaurants that serve equally good food without the headaches and noise pollution of this place.

Pretty solid Korean food. I can with two others around noon on a Saturday and was seated quickly. We ordered the seafood pancake, dulsot bibimbap, & fried chicken. Seafood pancake had lots of seafood and green onions and was very good. It wasn't dense and crisped up well. The dulsot was ok - the stone wasn't got enough so the rice got a bit over steamed instead of crispy. The chicken was light, didn't taste very oily, and started very juice. I like that they had combos. Got original and soy garlic on the side which I recommend. They also provide lots of banchan - kimchee has great flavor and I loved the dooboo too. We also had chive kimchee, spinach, pickled radish, and kimchee radish to name a few. I found the tablet convenient to order, but it was to see the menu and full and really decide what you want to order. You can ask for a paper menu which we did and was very helpful. One thing I'm hoping management can consider is to rinse the dishes a bit better. I understand that they use bleach to clean the dishes, but all our items had a very strong smell.

When I first saw that a new Korean restaurant was going to be in town, I was immediately intrigued. Even though Korean food is one of my favorites, I have been going to the same two places for several years. That has now changed since Mugunghwa! The food is absolutely superb. The vegetables and rice are fresh, and the meats are cooked to perfection. The portions are also generous, which is greatly appreciated in an era where "shrinkflation" has become so common. Mugunghwa has now become my favorite Korean restaurant and a bimonthly staple for me. Be sure to stop by, whether it's for dine-in or takeout. You will not regret it!

After hearing such raving reviews of this spot, we had to try it. And yes, the reviews most def do it justice. So so good. How refreshing for a new and local spot creating this much buzz in El Cerrito. Mugunghwa on San Pablo is a spacious new Korean restaurant specializing in comforting favorites like Korean fried chicken and pork cutlet, BBQ meats, bibimbap bowls, seafood pancake, and more. I would highly recommend joining the waitlist on Yelp ahead of time because this place is hoppin'. We arrived shortly after they opened and were able to be seated immediately..but by the time we were finished with our meal, every seat in the restaurant was taken/parties waiting outside or in the hallway. Great sign the word is out :) FYI also, you order through a tablet on the table. You can space things out so everything doesn't come at one time, and when finished eating, let someone from the waitstaff know you're done. We went with the pork dumplings (Mandu), pork cutlet with cheese (Cheese Don Katsu), Galbi (beef short ribs), an order of the special 'purple rice' (check out the way it's made by the register upon leaving), and beer. They also have soju/wine/and NA drinks. Everything was SO flavorful and quite delicious. Kiddo approved also. This was my first time having Galbi and I'm def a fan. The meat was so tender and juicy, with such a nice char. The pork cutlet was also so tender and oozing with cheese, paired with pickled radishes and a salad with creamy dressing. The dumplings were plump and a super yummy start to the meal, and the banchan (complimentary side dishes) were equally as nice to nibble on. Everything was incredibly spot on. This restaurant has a great system in place and they know what they're doing! Wonderful staff and lively atmosphere. Such a fun experience ~ we hope to come back with a group to try the blow-torch galbi jjim with cheese ($75). Looks like a stellar and shareable moment that shouldn't be missed with others. Until next time...amazing find and great vibes. New community spot? I think so.

Mugunghwa has become one of my favorite Korean restaurants in the Bay! Yes, Daeho is great and all, but people who enjoy them should really consider checking out Mugunghwa! Once you are seated, you do have to order from a tablet. But the banchan and food comes out pretty quickly! The menu is quite big with a number of choices: soups, noodles, dumplings, kalbi jjim, bibimbap, Korean Fried Chicken. I have gone two times now trying something different each time and I have not been disappointed by anything so far. I especially enjoy the banchan which is also delicious with some choices that you don't really see elsewhere. Even though the restaurant got busy, the servers still did a good job of checking in and seeing if we needed anything. They do have a small designated parking lot for customers, but if you can't park inside, there should be some street parking nearby. They do have a Yelp waitlist so during peak times, may be good to see if you can add yourself on before coming over. Mugunghwa delivers great quality Korean food that is definitely worth coming back!

Brief Summary: - Close to the El Cerrito Plaza - Parking is available - You can order via the tablet set on each table or you can request a paper menu from the staff - Indoor seating only - As a person with really low spice tolerance, some of the items are pretty spicy - Cool machine that makes tea and coffee for 50 cents This restaurant is found on the way to the El Cerrito Shopping plaza. The building stands out with a unique sign and entrance way. Walking inside it's designed with a short narrow hallway for waiting to get a seat, in which this opens up to a wide dining space with multiple tables and chairs. Each table has a tablet, but the staff asked if we wanted to see the paper menu, so that is an option too. I ordered the Gogi kal Guksoo, which reminds me faintly of niku udon noodles, which is one of my favorite dishes. I was also very curious of how the broth would taste like. The weather this time around is a mix; it could be chilly or it could momentarily become summer for a couple of hours, so the dishes were ordered reflected that. While I ordered a noodle in hot broth, one of my family members ordered the Naeng Myun, which is a noodle in cold broth, a great dish to have on a hot summer day. The dishes came at different times. The banchan arrives first in six different plates. My relative warned me that the kimchi was the spiciest, so I let my more spice-tolerant relative eat that. My other family member, who has the same spice tolerance level that I have diluted the kimchi's spice by mixing it into their tofu soup (ordered white/plain = no spice) so that they could adjust the spiciness with this kimchi. The tofu soup and the Naeng Myun arrived together and after a few minutes of waiting the Gogi Kal Guksoo came last. First time eating the Gogi Kal Guksoo, and it is an instant favorite for me. The broth, powerful and rich beef flavor, hits exactly the spot I wanted it to hit in my appetite dart board. The Guksoo noodles are not as thick and springy as udon noodles, but I would still consider these thicker than ramen noodles. I would definitely come back here to eat this as a my staple lunch.

Great Korean spot! The purple rice is amazing--absolutely do not miss it. The galbi was delicious and perfectly cooked. All the banchan dishes were yummy. The fried chicken wasn't bad, though I've had better elsewhere. Still, overall this place hits the spot with solid food, good service, and a warm vibe. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

What a lovely addition to the small collection of restaurants in el Cerrito! Visited on Labor Day with my family for dinner and it was super packed. We ended up waiting about 20 minutes for a table, but the yelp waitlist made that easy. You order via a tablet that's anchored at one end of the table. Not very convenient for larger groups since its harder for everyone to look through the menu :c I ordered the Mugunghwa cold noodles which came out pretty quickly. Comes with crushed ice chunks, but the ice was all frozen soup, so it never diluted the broth. The broth itself was really good, spicy, savory, a little sweet. Noodles were a liiiittle clumpy in some places, but overall good. The slices of beef were dry and didn't have much flavor. Side dishes were standard. Their kimchi is fresh and on the spicier side, but so yummy. Overall, a super solid place. The inside is clean and modern, and there are a lot of larger tables that can accommodate big groups. Their menu is so large, I'll definitely come back to try other items!

Spacious Korean restaurant that's the perfect combination of tasty, generous, and price worthy. Machine with drinks for $0.50 available at the front and parking structure on the side easily accessible from the main road. The restaurant offers combo meals for $35-45 where you pick an entree item and a kbbq option which includes bulgogi, mackerel, pork, etc. Do NOT be mistaken that just because you are getting a combo meal that portion sizes will be smaller because as you can see from the pictures, they were full serving portions. We left feeling stuffed and with two takeout boxes. The food all packed a very flavorful punch while being nicely balanced. I didn't feel that the cold noodles or premium galbi tang needed any additional salt or vinegar although they do provide that for you as an option. While everything was delicious, my favorite was definitely the galbi tang. The beef was very tender and the soup definitely soaked up all the beef flavor. My only warning would be that the abalone was still on its shell including the green organ so if you're concerned about that then maybe skip the abalone.

My BF and I love Galbijjim and used to eat it a lot when we were living in South Bay! When we saw that there was one near us, we were so excited to try it! They have a dedicated parking spot on the side of the building and street parking as well. The interior was bright and minimalist. We were seated immediately, which was awesome, and there's also a waitlist option through Yelp and a tablet when you come in. As soon as we were seated, water followed, and side dishes as well. There's an iPad on the wall where you can order, which was great. Galbijjim 10/10 - sweet and savory, the meat, veggies, and noodles were just the right amount. I wish the spiciness were customizable for people who cannot eat the standard Korean spicy food. We were a little hesitant to try the spicy option since my BF is still getting used to eating spicy. We also opted for the cheese, and it never disappoints! Steamed Pork Mandu 10/10 - great flavors and love the presentation of this one! It's better to eat them once they're served. Our server was very attentive and always on top of the water. I definitely recommend this restaurant to family and friends, and we're so happy that we have a go-to Galbijjim fix when we're craving some!

Very modern look, which stands out when most places here have an old times feel. We came here solely for the galbi-jjim to see how it'd fare against Daeho. Long story short we prefer Daeho more. We ordered the spicy version but it didn't seem spicy at all. I have a mediocre tolerance and the food didn't fazed me at all so yeah.. I still enjoyed the food though. I like how the glass noodles was already included. No option for additional meat or vegetables though.. just cheese. Side note, the soy garlic fried chicken was also good.

Came for dinner on Saturday night and the wait was not too long, you are also able to join via the Yelp app on your phone! We ordered the chive jeon, mild tofu soup, cheese don katsu, beef stone pot, and the galbi. All the food was delicious and came out quickly, our favorites was probably the galbi - the meat was tender and came with lettuce wraps, raw garlic, and pickled radish on the side which was a nice touch. The cheese don katsu was also a popular item! You order on a tablet at the table & can request water, the check, and your server. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice, very modern & clean. However, the tables and chairs are pretty tight. I kept hitting my elbow with my partner who sat next to me.

Came here for dinner and ordered the Seolleongtang, which was excellent. It had rich broth, tender meat, and was perfectly seasoned. The seafood pancake was probably the best I've had in the area. It was crispy on the outside, soft inside, and packed with flavor. The banchan were also fresh and well-prepared. The wait was pretty long, but they have a Yelp waitlist you can join ahead of time, which helped a lot. There's a parking lot in addition to street parking, so finding a spot wasn't an issue. The restaurant clean, modern, and comfortable without feeling too formal. It's a nice spot for both casual dinners and small gatherings. Overall, great Korean food, friendly service, and worth the wait. I'd definitely come back.

Finally got to try Mugunghwa and the food is absolutely amazing. Ordered the Seollongtang with assorted meat, Spicy Seollongtang, and Deulkkae Haejangguk. They have a screen at each table to order your food and drinks, but you can always order in person as well. 5/5 for the food! The banchan (side dishes) were tasty. The kimchi was spicy yet sweet, perfect to pair with the soup options. The spicy seollongtang was quite spicy, especially when paired with the spicy kimchi, prepare to sweat! The soup was flavorful and tasted great with the purple rice. Not sure why, but the seollongtang and spicy seollongtang came out around the same time, but the Deulkkae Haejangguk came out way later and we were more than halfway done with the other dishes. The restaurant was packed and it seemed a bit hectic for the staff, they probably needed additional workers for a full house. They missed an opportunity to add hot water and make nurungji for the customers with the leftover rice in the pot. 5 stars for the food!

My wife and I recall eating at this location 30 years ago when it was a Cantonese restaurant called Golden Dynasty. The restaurant made some unique dishes not found in many places because of the labor involved. Now it's a Korean restaurant with a sister restaurant in Oakland. We went on a weekday and liked that they had a large parking lot, a bright and modern interior, tasty food and excellent service from the Wait Staff. My go to measure for Korean restaurants lately has been the Mandu (Fried Dumplings) and Kalbitang (Beef Rib Noodle Soup). We were happy with both items as they came out hot, hot, hot...temperature wise! The Mandus (5) were filled with a juicy pork and vegetable filling while the Beef Rib Soup had plenty of meat for me to cut off the bone with scissors. I took home half and ate it the next day, noting that the restaurant must clarify the soup of fat as I had minimal fat residue when opening the refrigerated container. Healthy! My wife also had the Spicy Cold Noodles which she liked. Purple rice is also served with my Beef Rib Noodle Soup - comes out in a cool looking metal bowl situated on a wooden holder. Will we go back? Definitely!

Came here on a Sunday around 12:30pm with a group of four. No wait at this time. We were able to get seated with only a partial party arrival. There is a small designated parking lot. But it can be hit or miss whether or not there is a spot. At around 1:30pm as we were leaving there was a bit of a line. There is a tablet for the Yelp waitlist by the hostess stand. Very clean and minimalistic modern decor like many of the Korean restaurants in the Bay Area. Ordering can be done on the tablet at the table! I noticed for older patrons they offered a paper menu. We ordered the kalbi, seafood pancake, hang over soup, cold noodle soup, the thin sliced bossam, and an extra pot of purple rice. Total was around $136. The food came out very quickly. Our fourth member was arriving a little late. By the time she arrived the food orders we put in were rolling out. The food was fantastic! Even the banchan was good. I enjoyed the kimchi. It didn't have an overly fermented spicy or sour taste. The seafood jeon was the best I've had. The batter was very light. It didn't feel greasy. Lots of seafood loaded in there including shrimp and octopus. We did need to ask for bowls and spoons for sharing the soups. We also asked for scissors to cut up the cold noodles and the radish banchan. We were checked out a fair amount and each time they cleared away empty dishes. The standout dish for me was the thinly sliced bossam. The meat would melt in your mouth. They provided lettuce wraps, purple daikon, and the usual bossam condiments. It was a wonderful experience at Mugunghwa. I'd be happy to come back here.

We visited South Korea just a few weeks ago. Coming into this restaurant is as if we never left. The ambiance and feel is pretty on point. Their service was quick, efficient and friendly, especially with the help of ordering via tablets. We started with the soy garlic fried chicken. Pretty good, well flavored with medium crisp. The seafood pancake was definitely done well with delicious batter flavor and crisp. The main entree at our table was the Galbi Jjim with cheese. We got the non-spicy version because not everybody at our table went through the rite of passage and seared off their taste buds yet to handle the spice. The flavor was on point. I would have preferred wide glass noodle over thin, but that's just preference. The potato added some sandy texture which was odd. And the cheese...oh the cheese. It was super cheesy where we couldn't dig through the cheese too get the food. Probably good idea to get half cheese. Would we come back? Heck yea! This place offers some pretty good Korean food. Next time I'm here, Id love to try the spicy Galbi Jjim with half cheese (if possible).

They give unlimited starters and allow you to refill at any point. The dumpling tofu soup was on point! I liked how they didn't charge extra for this amazing purple rice/ heukmi bap or egg. I liked the beef bulgogi but most of the plate's volume came from the grilled onions beneath the meat. However, it was a great craving satisfying meal paired with the sides and the optional Lettuce wrap.

My new favorite Korean spot in NorCal! The bossam was amazing, the portions were not super fatty, I really like how they include radish with the ssam. Also, first time trying the Gogi bibim kal guksoo, the broth is so flavorful. It's like thick broth with skinny udon? We didn't leave a drop behind. The galbi Jim was the star of the show, it was the perfect amount of sweet and savory. Most other places will just be savory. The food just felt super healthy and clean, didn't get no acid reflux! Also, choose purple rice! And remember to stir it if you don't want the burnt rice on the bottom. Service was great too, super friendly and attentive.

The galbijjim is really good. Been to other chain restaurants in socal and this place is one of the top so far. My favorite of the 3 items we got is the bossam. It is really good. I would like for them to provide more lettuce initially though. We asked for more a second time but we still ran out of romaine lettuce for the wrap. This is my second favorite - the Deulkkae Kalguksu is really good as well. The broth is very flavorful. Ordering is via tablet at the table. I would recommend them having pictures for the menu items in the tablet. The pricing is average compared to other korean restaurants. I would say some appetizer items were a bit overpriced.

So good! We got the galbi jjim, bossam, and a Korean noodle soup (don't remember the name but it was delicious). The galbi jjim was super tender and packed with flavor. Easily one of the best I've had. The bossam was fresh and juicy, with all the right sides to make the perfect wrap. Service was friendly, food came out fast, and everything tasted homemade in the best way. Definitely coming back!

Food is good, price and ambience is good. I ordered the galbi tang and was able to split with my girlfriend. Minus 1 star is due to the server guy in glasses and gloves completely ignoring me and my multiple attempts to wave him down and call him for assistance, only to see his streak dashing past my table every time. I stopped trying after the 4th or 5th time. I get it you got tablets for ordering but you still need to help service customers as part of your job. Otherwise you don't need to be here. Coming from a server as well. Anyways don't let this stop you, just don't expect any help from the guy server with glasses. ‍ Update: Nevermind. We found a hair in the rice as soon as it came, which was a super long time and I had to hit the service request button on the tablet multiple times for them to come over and let me know "it takes a second." Silver lining was they didn't make me pay, even though I requested the check and offered to pay right away. Thanks. Won't be coming back.

#bossamsupremacy #newmugunghwafan Finally tried this place with my college friends! Lots of tables for groups and more tablet focused for ordering with minimal waiter interaction. Really clean. Bathrooms available. Only time the waiter comes is to refill water, banchan, and the check! Everyone got something different, but we mainly came to share the boiled pork shoulder wraps aka Bo-ssam! This and their seafood pancake literally had me going MMMM at every bite. Seafood pancake was crunchy and flavorful. Dipping sauce was a bit sweet as well. Their pork was so tender and well-seasoned. Pretty good amount and thin-medium cuts of it for a group of 3-4 to share at $38. I would say this was worth the price as it comes with lettuce, purple radish (refillable), garlic cloves, and dipping sauces. The pricing is a bit on the steeper side ranging from $20-$40. My friends raved about their cold noodles, but my Galbi Bibimbap was alright / good. Meat was yummy flavor wise, but a little bit tough. Good amount of toppings and ratio to rice though. It's nice to see the variety in their menu and there's something for everyone. They have my favorite creamy soup (seollongtang) and clear soup. There's dishes with rice and even combos. Giving this place 5 stars because I really did enjoy the food here and service was fast. Just not the place you'd go to everyday as it hurts the bank a bit, so I suggest going with a group!

Food was good. Walked in, seated immediately. Ordered food, 2/3 dishes came. I had to ask what happened to the 3rd dish. They said they will check on it. Came back and asked is the item for here or to go. Now, why would I want to order tofu soup to go? This got me a bit upset. Ambiance is nice, I will come back to try...

Mugunghwa was very clean and bright. The banchan (side dishes) were not the usual japchae, fishcake and bean sprouts like most Korean restaurants. The radish and carrot had way too much vinegar and kimchi was too sweet. The dumpling soft tofu only had 3 dumplings and very salty. We had to pour a lot of water in to dilute it. The brisket seoullungtang for $20 wasn't filled to the top, it was about 3/4 filled. Parking lot and street parking. The service was nice at least.

Not your typical Korean BBQ. They have a large variety of authentic dishes. We usually have to drive further to areas like Oakland for comparable restaurants, so very happy they opened in El Cerrito! Staff was nice and attentive too.

I was wondering what happened to Azit so I had to google and found on Reddit that they opened this new spot. I am so happy I found them because this is our new favorite Korean spot to eat at now. Huge menu. They have so many different items and special dishes to choose from. LOVE their chive pancake so much. Everything we ordered was so good. Can't wait to come back and eat here again.

Their food was amazing. It's not your typical Korean BBQ Spot. That's not all there is to Korean food. Their plates are delicious. Their service was also nice. Friendly staff.

Went to the soft opening last December 2024. Recommended by family to give it a try. Seating was readily available and the restaurant was not that crowded. Promptly waited on and waters were served. We ordered beef japchae, chicken bulgogi, beef bulgogi, chamisol, and gogi kalguksoo. Rice and accompaniments came with our entrees. Our orders were served promptly. Food was delicious, meats were nice and tender. Will definitely dine here again when in the area.

We decided to come here just to get in the habit of trying new things...and I'm glad we did! The 4/5 rating is definitely based on the food alone. The quality of the flavors / meat were delicious, along with the sides and sauces! It all worked really well together. Having KBBQ this way convinced us that we don't necessarily need to go to an AYCE BBQ. Though it was enough for us, the meat is minimal with a mountain of onions underneath. Ambiance is modern, busy, a little loud. As expected from a KBBQ restaurant though. Though, there is a side lot for parking which is quite convenient. Service was okay. I would give it a 2.5-3/5. Though it was busy, we rarely got checked in with. Service was solely provided with the iPad (though convenient, was also confusing), we asked for additional paper menus. It would have been nice to get briefed on the menu, (we ordered extra rice without knowing it was included - which in itself isn't a big deal, but it being our first time it would have been nice). Would come back to try other dishes!

Had a great meal at Mugunghwa! We were only two people so only got to try a couple things so I'll definitely be back! The seafood pancake was exceptional, huge, fresh, crispy and packed with goodies! The bibimbap was equally generous (we got the smaller size which was plenty for two), the rice on the bottom satisfyingly crunchy, and the toppings tasty. The only drawback was the bright fluorescent lighting, a little gentler ambiance would go a long way. Service was OK although it took a while to get our check. All in all - great food!

Mugunghwa opened in Aroma Home Kitchen's vacated space. Infrastructure similar with new decor. Small parking lot at side of building. Offerings (Modern Korean): combos, k-bbq, appetizers, rice dishes, clear/creamy soups, suyuk, noodles, soontofu, galbi Jjim, drinks, booze. Server helped me order on table kiosk. Saved me trouble of navigating thru long menu. Food came within 15 minutes. Bites: Don Katsu (20) Korean style Tonkatsu. -similar to Japanese version with addition of cheese inside cutlet. Tonkatsu sauce has added brown sugar, dry mustard, onion powder. *katsu and panko covering has melt in mouth quality. Every bite an adventure. -served with sliced radish, white rice, cabbage salad: dressing blend of mayo, sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar. -banchan: daikon kimchi, spicy leeks, cabbage kimchi, jalepenos & onions, daikon, scrambled tofu. Innovative, tastes freshly made. **experienced many new tastes. Not disappointed.

Mugunghwa took over the old space HK Home Kitchen formerly occupied and subsequently left vacant for several months. We were really bummed when one of our favorite local hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants closed. But after having frequented Mugunghwa multiple times now, greatly pleased that it has been replaced with an amazing Korean restaurant. Mugunghwa has done an amazing job transforming the former old, dingy, and dimly-lit restaurant to a clean, modern, brightly lit and welcoming environment. Ordering is now done through the tablet they have at each table, although they still have the paper menus available upon request if you prefer. The tablets are great in that we can see what each menu item is much more clearly now. However, the fixed placement makes it difficult when we're dining here with a group and people on the other end of the table cannot see what's being displayed on the tablet. Service here has always been consistently good. Staff are always kind and patient, despite constantly being busy taking orders, clearing tables, and serving food. And they do a good job of checking in periodically and refilling teapots throughout the meal. Parking is available in their own private lot. However due to their popularity, it is often full. Free street parking though is typically available out front on San Pablo. We've ordered too many dishes here throughout our multiple visits thus far to list out. But some of our highlights include: Seafood Jeon (pancake): Really good! Generous mix of different pieces of seafood mixed in a delicious egg and pancake batter. The jeon is also available in other varieties including: Green Onion, Chives, Shredded Potato, and Shredded Potato w/ Cheese. Naju Gomtang: Boiled beef and glass noodles serviced in a deliciously clear rich prime beef bone broth. You can choose the combo version of this, which we often do, with your choice of Korean BBQ meat on the side. The optional combo side dish is essentially an entire dish by itself, so keep that in mind when gauging portion size. Original Chicken Wings: Generously large and meaty sized chicken wings, battered just right to a nice, golden, perfectly crispy texture. The seasoning on this is perfect, and the well marinated meat is incredibly juicy and moist. If you haven't been to Mugunghwa, don't sleep on this place and come visit it asap! You won't regret it! They also have a Yelp waitlist available, which is great for the peak dining hours. Side note: they have what appears to be a pay-to-use water/tea station at the lobby area. There are no cups available in sight, and the instructions are mostly in Korean so we're a bit at a loss as to what is being offered and if anyone utilizes the machine.

Delicious authentic Korean food. Had their Premium Galbi Tang, figured I'd treat myself the first time here. Was not disappointed. Very flavorful broth, generous amounts of meat on the ribs and the seafood was a great touch. Had a great selection of Bonchon, especially loved their chive kimchi. Not something you find commonly. Attentive staff, spacious restaurant so you don't feel like you're crowding one another. Solid spot, would definitely recommend.

I have trying different things both dine in and doordash and there is plus and average things. Seollongtang: Beef bone Broth. (Dined in) Wish for maybe a little more noodle but solid broth on this side vs going all the way to oakland. Price is not bad, worth it. Bimbobap: (dine in) portion is generous and wider bowl for crispy rice goodness. Price is not bad, worth it. Korean fried chicken: (Ordered out) slightly priced than my go to at pyeong tofu in Berkeley. You get 8 wings here vs. 10 at pyeong. I do feel the chicken could enjoy a little salt on the chicken before being fried, but the yangnyeom sauce is solid. Additional plus, my chicken came with 6 bancha along with pickled radish for the chicken. Between this place and gangnam tofu, as both are in El cerrito, this place is better. Now compare it to Pyeong Tofu in Berkeley, they are slightly better just by a small inch. However, I do still need to try the galbi-jjim here.

My friends and I dined at Mugunghwa on a Thursday evening around 5:30 p.m. and the restaurant was not super crowded when we arrived. Closer to 6:30 p.m. when we finished our meal, the restaurant got quite busy and most tables were filled. Ordering is done via an iPad mounted to the table which enables you to order items as you go. Between my party of six, we tried the beef tartar, brisket seollongtang, a full order of fried chicken wings -- split between garlic and spicy, and a platter of bossam. The food here was absolutely fantastic. The garlic bossam is the best I've had in the Bay Area -- beating out places like Pyeong Chang Tofu House and Jong Ga House by a significant margin. I love how crispy the fried chicken was and was especially impressed that the crispiness stood up to the heavy saucing. I can't say I've ever tried beef tartar at a Korean restaurant before, but the dish here was delicious! I loved the creaminess the egg yolk provided and the bed of julienned apples the tartar sat on provided a nice refreshing crunch with every bite. I would not hesitate to come back here in a heart-beat. The food here is great and priced affordably for the Bay Area.

New Korean food place in the El Cerrito area. We ordered the Spicy seollongtang, deulkkae haejangguk, gamjatang, and sooyook. Do not order the spicy seollongtang unless you can handle spice. This one was a bit too spicy to really enjoy. Otherwise all the soups were very delicious. Gamjatang is a great dish to order with 4+ people and share. The banchan is all tasty too. You can order using the tablet system but honestly the paper menu is easier to read. Perfect restaurant if you want some hot soup! Will be back when it's soup weather.

Who knew the small suburban city of El Cerrito would be such a hotbed of Korean cuisine? With other newish restaurants dotting the main thoroughfare that is San Pablo Avenue this small town that is wedged between the much larger Richmond and Berkeley is getting its deserved rewards in the culinary world, thanks to this new Korean restaurant, which opened at the end of last year. Taking over where the old HK Home Kitchen was for a number of years, the team at Mugunghwa did a complete makeover of the interior, highlighted by their logo, which is a variety of the hibiscus and South Korea's national flower, on their back wall, which basically all they have in terms of decor, as everything has been modernized but remains very simple. When I joined a group of friends for a weeknight dinner recently, we were surprised how crowded it was, as the parking lot was full as was much of the street parking along San Pablo Avenue. They have a small iPad that is programmed to Yelp for customers to sign up for their space as we waited for our table along their narrow entranceway. Turns out, their team managed to clear out many diners that were there and our party of three sat down in the corner at a table for six people. Everything at Mugunghwa is modern and that includes their ordering process as it's all done by tablet at each table. The menu at Mugunghwa is separated into categories including Creamy Soups, Clear Soups, Tofu Soups, Suyuk, K-BBQ, Galbi Jjim, Korean Favorites and Sides. The three of us knew we were going to receive a lot of food no matter what we ordered and we're always a fan of Galbi, which were their Korean-style marinated and grilled beef short ribs, which for an additional two dollars could be served with Ssam which are food accompaniments in Korean cuisine where diners can wrap your main course in another, in this case leaves of romaine lettuce, bean sprouts and sliced radishes, in addition to our choice of steamed rice which we selected their Heukmi Bap, which is their signature purple rice which is served in a stone pot which then sticks to the sides. For our second entrée, we planned to share their Garlic Bossam, which was simmering pork with a variety of their secret seasonings until it's tender, thinly sliced, topped with their special garlic sauce, and served on a bed of sliced vegetables. Of course no Korean meal is complete without Banchan and at Mugunghwa they have all of your favorites from kimchi to tofu to sliced radishes. We especially loved their spinach banchan side, but unfortunately that could not be reordered again, as everything else was fair game and when creating your own wrapped meal, that means something. We loved our Galbi or K BBQ as the meat fell off the bone really well as everything was grilled and seasoned nicely. Was it the easiest meal to enjoy while wrapped in a lettuce leaf along with your rice, radishes, and kimchi? That's debatable as everything would be a challenge to feast on in a clean manner. We enjoyed their Garlic Bossam, which would also make for a nice lettuce-wrapped meal, but next time we'd probably order something different. What we would remind ourselves next time is to insist we receive more napkins as a meal at Mugunghwa is a hands-on meal where if you're not eating with your fingers, you're not doing it right! Our total bill was $86.39, which for the amount of food we received was a reasonably priced meal for three people to enjoy. I was so enamored with their nicely plated meals that I would soon return for a takeout meal for lunch to see how that was presented, and after ordering their Jeon, Korean savory green onion pancake coated in pan-fried in batter, and an eight-piece order of their plain boneless chicken wings, I was so impressed with the fact that a complimentary banchan accompanied this takeout meal as well. For Mugunghwa to take the time to make sure that my takeout meal was just as impressive as their sit-down meal proves that they know how to treat their customers right, and this is just the beginning of what they plan to bring to food lovers, as the rose of Sharon blooms brightly in El Cerrito!

Terry and I met here for lunch today. It was her choice and I was happy to return. Lori was under the weather and unable to join us. I knew what I wanted coming in, so I didn't have to look at the menu. I love their parking lot! It's so convenient! Terry was already there when I arrived, and was looking over the menu. She had a small pot of tea already, which was most welcome. Service was excellent, both attentive and proactive, which I will get to later in more detail. Terry decided on the dolsot bibimbop w/ beef, either galbi or bugogi. She will tell you in her review. I ordered the galbi tang again, w/ purple rice rather than white to add to the soup. We were brought 6 bowls of banchan to snack on while waiting for our meals. Terry and I both love kimchi, so we were all set. We also love the shredded white radish and when our server noticed tlater that the bowls of kimchi and the shredded radish were empty he asked if we wanted more of them, which we did, Terry's dolsot bibimbop was delivered first, then my galbi tang. We added the various sauces and banchan to our dishes. I added my rice in addition. When one of our servers observed me struggling to remove the meat from the bones w/ chopsticks he brought me a large pair of scissors, which was very much appreciated. The scissors were so useful. The soup was delicious, but after all the banchan I couldn't eat a lot of it and ended up taking more than half of it home. It will be tonight's dinner. Terry also took home leftovers. Mugunghwa has definitely become my favorite Korean restaurant, although I still love Bowl'd.

Okay, first time at this spot. Bottom line: delicious! The ordering was a bit weird because it was all via a touch pad that was anchored to the wall. It was really hard to see & figure out what was going on. We found out later that they had paper menus! Nope, never offered but we saw a guy from another table grab them for his family. There was a lot of food. Tables were a bit squished we were seated at a table of 6, there were 3 of us and the table probably held 4 comfortably.

This place is excellent all around. The parking lot could be tricky to find, but just look for a black building and turn into that lot. Service was friendly and welcoming. You order from a tablet on the table. They were quite thoughtful of one's needs, such has having a cute yet elegant set of utensils for children, as well as a cute coloring placemat. We had the cheese pork tonkotsu, which my daughter picked at. The steamed dumplings (pork) were pretty good. Next time I'll try kimchi or veggie filling. Reminded me of dumplings from namdaemun. We also had the galbi tang combo. There was a premium version with various types seafood. The combo had a choice of meat. The galbi (+$5) was good. The rose tteoboki was really good, especially when the cheese was torched on top! Just a kick for spice. A must try.

Best Galbi Jjim I've ever had! Got the one with the cheese and it definitely made the dish taste so much better!

I've visited this place twice, and it came highly recommended by a friend. Everything was fantastic, especially the fried chicken and tteokbokki. It was definitely worth it, and it's now my go-to spot for Korean fried chicken. Moreover, the restaurant has a lovely modern decor. The staff were incredibly nice and friendly, frequently checking in to see if we needed anything else.

I remember when this place was a Chinese restaurant though I've never visited, I'm so glad they remodeled. The decor is inviting & the gold bowls add that elegance to your dining experience. For a family of 6, our table was too small to accommodate for the banchan's & dishes. Service was pretty well attended to with a couple of check in's from the waitress. Each time they checked in with us we didn't need anything, but once she left us we did, so timing was a little off. It was busy on. Sat.evening so service was pretty good. Orders: Fried Chicken-a beautiful golden crisp with breading well distributed, the pieces of chicken were delightfully meaty. The only thing it lacked was being marinated instead of relying on the sauce.(Don't know if that is the norm or not). It is definitely worth re-ordering. Dolsot Bibimbop(Pork)-thin slices of pork like bacon that had a plenty of vegetables. Good seasoning in the pork & a slight crisp to the rice. Dolsot Bibimbop(Bulgogi)-my preferred type of Bibimbop & my go to. A definite re-order. Creamy Soup Seollongtang-(Not Pictured, sorry-Beef Knee & Assorted)-a satisfying & soothing soup for the winter that seems to cleanse the soul. It is quite a big bowl so 2 people could easily enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised by the noodles that settled to the bottom. Garlic Bossam-the most expensive dish we ordered but so good & no strong animal taste (gamey) aroma. I enjoyed the healthy aspect of the pork slices being broiled coupled with the lettuce that you wrap it in. Because I ordered the Garlic Bossam brace yourself with a mint afterwards. Next time I would just order the Bossam. What was a novelty at Mugunghwa was the drink dispenser that you pay .50cents for a very small cup of Kopiko(sugared coffee), or Red Bean drink(which I felt was more of a black sesame drink) or tea. I usually don't comment on the Bathrooms, but it was worth noting for being clean & hygienic, the only thing you do need to be is patient as there are only 2 bathrooms offered. Overall, a wonderful experience with great food, a clean ambiance with a casual flair.

Just left the restaurant. Came in to try to buy just the banchan as I wasn't interested in buying anything else today like I usually do and the lady server who talked to me was super rude. She walked right past me when I first came in. Then when she finally addressed me, she looked at me as if I was asking her for free food. Told me they don't sell it that way, which is fine. That wasn't the issue. It was how she told me. Rolled her eyes and was really rude to me. Another female server walked up and was nice/respectful. Normal. Told me she was sorry that that wasn't an option and said I would have to purchase an entree in order to get it as they don't sell it that way. I've eaten here multiple times before and never had service like that. Horrible customer service. Appreciate the other server who at least spoke to me nicely. Shame on the other lady. I don't usually leave reviews but that felt like it needed one. Not sure if that person is new or having a bad day but hope that isn't a regular thing here moving forward. Learn how to talk to customers without being nasty/rude. Usually always have a good experience here so I was very disappointed with the service. I understand if they couldn't sell it without a dish, but how she handled talking to me was super unprofessional.

This place is delicious! There's a small parking lot for customers which is nice on of busy San Pablo street. Got seated right away on a Saturday afternoon. Restaurant is clean and spacious. Order from the tablet attached to the table. The price is a little high but the flavors will not disappoint. Service was fast and very attentive to water refills and if all was ok, grabbing what we needed, extra napkins etc. can't believe this place has pure rice (one of my favorite sides rices)! The kimchi has a shrimp flair to it which makes it very nice to have an umami flavor, one you don't normally find in most Korean restaurants. The smashed tofu with sesame and chives was one of my favorite sides love how the lettuce and egg came at no cost as a side with the spicy combo kimchi soup (considering eggs at a high value right now). The spicy pork sits on top on onions as the heat from the fat cooks the onions, wonderful idea! The seafood pancake was slightly burnt but it was still good. The batter is slight thicker and heavier in my opinion but did not disappoint.

Saw this place was new and decided to try it. We got the bulgogi, fried chicken, bossam, and seollongtang. Everything was delicious, the bossam was super flavorful and paired well with the lettuce and the radish and other condiments. The seollongtang was creamy and hit the right spot and the chicken was fried really well. One downside though was that you only get like 8 lettuce leaves for about 1.5 lbs of pork belly. You also get a nice assortment of banchan with everything. Staff is nice and very helpful. Inside is very modern and clean. You order on the tablet at the table which makes things easy. They have their own parking lot but theres also street parking if it's busy because there's only about 10 spots. Overall, a great place to go if you want Korean food. Go try them out.

I ordered the Seolleongtang Combo and it was absolutely delicious--rich, hearty, and so comforting. The 반찬 (side dishes) were crazy good, so fresh and flavorful that I kept going back for more. On top of the food, I really love the vibe of the area. The taste and the atmosphere here make me feel like I'm back home in Korea. Such a gem--I'll definitely be returning! P.S Service is great too! I love how they always ask if we need more side dishes!