Always Spring Restaurant

This place….UNREAL delicious. Absolute hidden gem with incredibly authentic food. Do not sleep on this place. Seriously one of the best restaurants I’ve been to…flavorful dishes, amazing selection, awesome place. Don’t expect a nice atmosphere…not fancy. But expect great food! We got the Japchae (My favorite!), kimchi pancake, fried rice, and the beef bulgogi (second favorite!). The meal came with banchan (appetizers…pickled foods, sweet potato, broccoli, kim chi). All were delicious You can end your night by picking up some fun snacks or goodies in the grocery store that the restaurant is in. Can’t wait to go back.

When I visit Portland, I make a point of dining at the so‑called must‑try restaurants, but most of them end up being disappointing. However, this place—located on the second floor of a Korean market—is very simple yet surprisingly delicious. Whenever I go to G Mart to pick up sale items, I usually stop here for a meal. The food here is much better than at Jeju, Hanok, or other Korean restaurants. Another advantage is that after finishing your meal, you can conveniently do your grocery shopping right downstairs. The prices are reasonable, and most of the menu items taste excellent. This is definitely a place I recommend.

So good you MUST EAT HERE!! Everything is delicious and perfectly balanced! The only negative was making choices since we couldn’t eat it all 😓

I've been to the grocery store a few times, but did not know there's a restaurant upstairs. We visited at 6pm last Sunday. It was raining outside but this place was packed with people. We were initially a party of 7, but then went down to 5. When we got there, we were 2 parties away on the waiting list. The employee kept skipping us since we didn't have a reservation, so I highly recommend to make a reservation, if you are a big group. One of us noticed the water tasted like chlorine. I took a sip and yes, it definitely was chlorine. We asked them if they had Soju. They said they no longer serve alcohol. The Banchan was good. I did not like their rice though. The kimchi pajeon(pancake) was the best pajeon I've ever had. Yukejang was good as well. It was probably because they were busy, but I wasn't impressed by the customer service.

We can’t wait to go back and try more. I almost didn’t even want to write this review because I want this place to remain a hidden gem but it’s too good not to spread the word. Hidden upstairs in a Korean grocery store, the food was authentic and the atmosphere too. We arrived at 8:10pm on a Friday and the lady made an exception for us as the kitchen closed at 8, although the restaurant stays open till 9. We recommend coming before then. We tried the bulgogi, the chicken bulgogi, and a kimchi pancake without the pork. Before the food came out, they brought us banchan which we devoured. It was a collection of kimchi, fish cakes, potatoes in sweet soy sauce, pickles radishes, pickles, and broccoli. The kimchi was so good that we asked for more. We couldn’t stop eating everything when it arrived—definitely come here super hungry. The chicken had a very smokey flavor to it, just a bit of a heads up. I wasn’t expecting that and although it was delicious, it’s not a taste I’m very used to. We can’t wait to come back and try more. Plus the grocery store had some fascinating items that we want to check out, too. Also, the sweetest older women were waiting on our tables and ran the house. They were very kind and diligent.

Hidden loft in the Gmart. Cozy old school vibes, array of banchan (side dishes) offered than the most new restaurants. A taste of nostalgic

A must stop visit if you are in the area. Great korean food at a great price. This restaurant is inside the market and up the stairs in the back. They go out of their way to get you a dish that you will love. May be one of the best dinners I have had in years. As a side note, the restaurant closes an hour before the market closes.

Wonderful food made with the right amount of love and fresh ingredients. We loved the Ban Chan (side dishes) as well as the Mandu, Bulgolgi and Ugeoji Galbi tang. It had a cute atmosphere upstairs and we can't wait to return to try other menu items.

Tucked away in a grocery store is this gem of a place. We wanted to eat something warm and hearty, and my husband recommended this place. Surprisingly being on Yelp so much I still hadn't heard of them before. Don't let appearances fool you because this was some seriously good Korean food. We came during lunch hours and there was quite a line already . we put our names down and since there were at least ten parties ahead of us , we assumed that it would take a while and so decided to buy some groceries downstairs and go have lunch some place else . To my surprise the 20 minutes it took for us to do the groceries ,our number moved forward and we were next in line. They seated us but it took them a while before they took our order. The staff is limited at this place so wait times are long as a result. The menu is elaborate and they also have pictures to give you a good idea of what to expect . We got the Bulgogi, The steamed dumplings and Ugeoji Galbi Tang. My favorite was the Bulgogi which had just the right amount of kick and the pork was so juicy and flavorful. The soup was alright, probably not something I would pick next time though. The sides that come with the meal are exceptionally good .Portion sizes are very generous and we had quite a bit of leftovers despite both of us overeating a lot. The staff here works super hard yet always answer with a smile when service is requested. There is a dedicated parking lot right out front but its not too big so prepare to park on the street across from the store. Overall a quality place that will deliver good bang for your buck.

This hidden gem is located inside of the G-Mart Korean grocery store. This spot is comparable to the L.A. Korean restaurants! It's a little bit pricey but SO worth it because the quality is impeccable. You're guaranteed fast service, large portions, and authentic Korean food that will HIT every single time -- trust my parents, they went 3x during their trip. The menu includes a wide variety of Korean dishes, from cold noodle soup, to spicy rice cakes and tofu soup, to dumplings, to rice dishes. The menu is in Korean (with descriptions in English) but you can refer to the large menu board with photos. There's something for everyone. See my recs below! FYI they're closed on Mondays! Recommended Shareables: 2. Kun Mandu (fried dumplings) 38. Galbi (sweet and savory Korean short ribs) 46. Dotorimuk Muchim (savory acorn jelly salad) Recommended Mains: 16. Soontofu Kimchi JJigae (boiling tofu soup)28. Namul Dolt Bibimbap (hot stone pot rice dish) 41. Gomtang (bone broth + clear noodle soup)

This place never ever lets you down! Every time I come, I worry the last time was going to be the best and this was going to be a letdown... IT JUST NEVER IS! The food is consistently awesome, the dining experience is incredibly simple, with a focus on real, home style Korean food. Dining room is simple and service is great and quick! Walk into G mart, to the back of the store, there is a set of unassuming stairs that you'd never think you should venture up in a grocery store and you end up at a simple dining room, with simple tables and chairs. JUST WAIT FOR THE FOOD!!!! This time we ordered Kimchi Stew with tofu and pork (kimchi Jjigae) and the sweet potato noodle with vegetable and beef (Jabchae). Everything was piping hot and delicious!!

Stumbled upon this place as we were looking for some authentic Korean food. This place is tucked upstairs inside a grocery store, so don't be like us and walk around the building once or twice before realizing that. We arrived close to the closing time, but the staff were super cheerful and encouraging to try multiple dishes instead of trying to rush our experience, which I truly appreciated. Giving plenty of suggestions, the staff treated us like family and made the experience all the better. The food was immaculate and one of the better Korean foods I've had in Portland! We may have ordered with our eyes and not our stomachs, but it was worth it! All the included ban Chan was delicious and I truly enjoyed this spot. Would recommend!

Solid Korean restaurant sitting on top of a Korean grocery store. No frills and straightforward Korean cooking - just like how my mom and dad like it :) We got the pajeon (seafood pancake) to share and I got the grilled mackerel. Pajeon was crispy and lots of seafood bits. Mackerel was cooked to near perfection but maybe a tad overdone. Seasoned just right though! I think I'll be coming here often because there's also the perk of getting my groceries done right after! Such a gem!!

Came around 4:30..It was super busy but we were welcomed with warm tea and smiles. The service was great for the number of staff working compared to the number of people seated. The food was hot and flavorful and fresh. Our favorite was the spicy chicken bulgogi. The presentation of the restaurant is very unassuming but the food is packed with enough goodness to be Michelin worthy. Thanks!!

I was so excited to try this place after seeing it hyped up on TikTok but I left very disappointed. Service was awful, came here for lunch with a friend & we were not greeted & unsure of what to do when we saw all the tables were full. The ladies saw us but didn't acknowledge us or tell us what to do. We saw a small notepad with names so we just put our name down & sat in the what we assumed was the waiting area which was 2 small chairs in the corner. Then a lady shouted at us to come with her. The table was not even ready, she scooted the tables apart then I kid you not threw the menus on the table in such a rude manner & left. We brushed it off & hoped the rude service meant the food would be good. I also noticed every table had tea but we never were offered tea our whole time dining there. Also when they brought out our food, the lady put her whole hand over our utensils to move it. We ordered the cold noodles, tteokkbokki, and soontofu jigae. The cold noodles were good but not our cup of tea. The jigae was good & the only thing we ended up enjoying a lot. The tteokbokki flavor was good but the rice cakes themselves were mushy & too soft. And to top it off when they brought us the check & we asked for to go boxes, the lady looked at our food & made wide eyes & a face. It was so rude, we were so appalled. We just wanted to get the heck out of there! Maybe we just ordered the wrong things & I would've loved to come back & try other things but after the service we received, I will never be coming back here. Some of the rudest service I've ever gotten in my life!

Between this and Nakwon best Korean places in Beaverton. In top of the grocery store always great food for a great value and you can get groceries before or after. Dining area is small so we prefer to just do take out as we have little kids the wait can be long

Best Korean food in the Portland area, though you wouldn't guess it by looking at it.

I had an excellent dining experience at Always Spring restaurant, located on the second floor of the grocery store. The ambiance is fantastic, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere perfect for any occasion. We made a reservation for a group of 8, and it worked out perfectly--no wait times, which was a huge plus. The service was top-notch. The staff were attentive, friendly, and efficient, making sure our large group was well taken care of throughout the meal. We ordered the chicken, pork, and beef bulgogi, and each dish was outstanding. The meats were tender, flavorful, and perfectly marinated. The savory barbecue flavors were complemented by the delightful side dishes, making every bite a treat. My favorite is the beef! Overall, I highly recommend this Korean restaurant for its great ambiance, superb service, and exceptional food. The unique location adds to its charm, and I'll definitely be returning!

This small restaurant is hidden on the 2nd floor of a Korean Grocery Store. We are a usual customer here, everything on the menu is good. I have also noticed that most of the customers are Korean, this tells me their food must be authentic.

Picked up a take out order and was pleasantly surprised with the fact that we still got banchan and 3 small containers of rice. All of the food was delicious but my favorite was the Galbi. Grilled mackerel was slightly salty, and wasn't super impressed with the jjin mandu. Would definitely go here again to try some other things. The soup was flavorful and soothing.

The food is good but the service is terrible - particularly this blonde lady. You are bothering her if you ask for ANYTHING. Your call if you want to put up with her attitude for food (you can get elsewhere too)

(4.90 owing to the lack of sustainable packaging, otherwise an easy 5; camera did not eat first, hopefully next time :o ) what a wonderful group of people -- in fact, i'm beginning to write this review while i wait for my food. for those of us who need dietary preferences -- gluten and vegan for me! -- we know the drill: looking at the menu of a new spot that looks promising, but is it even a possibility? i hopped on the phone and immediately was greeted and helped by someone who was so kind and patient. i wish i caught their name, but they spent a couple minutes brainstorming on the spot and giving me recommendations, and then -- as if that wasn't impressive enough, noting my name so they can keep an eye out when i place the takeout order. it's the little things truly. ok, but the food?? here's what we got: Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap 해물 돌솥 비빔밥 & Soontofu Jjigae 순두부찌개. the Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap was wonderful! always spring was kind enough to make it sans beef. the flavors were multidimensional and had a depth to them; the crisped rice from the stone pot the perfect complement. pickled vegetables added the perfect finishing touch to a bite! the Soontofu Jjigae was equally lovely. the tofu soft and melting with each bite, the flavor robust and yet not overpoweringly spicy, the kimchi adding with each bite. the sides were so fresh too! the cucumber was cool and crisp but not spicy, and each was well flavored and brought a new dimension to each dish. now, my only critique -- the packaging was so thoughtfully placed and taped up in a box; however, i'm dismayed that always spring uses styrofoam. if -- if -- the restaurant elects to use the burgeoning options of sustainable packaging i'd be ELATED. honestly, styrofoam? not very demure, not very mindful. thank you for a much needed, wonderful friday meal. i'm so grateful for the hospitality and definitely will be back :,-)

Cheap penny-pinchers. They massively overcharge compared to other Korean restaurants and will cut corners at every opportunity. My dumplings were not even sealed properly-- every single dumpling fell open upon picking them up. Wouldn't recommend them, as there are way too many other Korean restaurants in the area.

Tucked up in the ceiling of g-mart this tiny little spot succeeds in delivering quality food and great taste. The service is efficient and the ladies do their best to help us English only speakers. Have not had a bad dish, some quite unusual and exciting. Still many more to try. We need bigger stomachs to consume this yummy goodness.

I ordered their jjin mandu and Soontofu Jjigae with beef. The mandu were good but the wrappers didn't wrap all the filling tightly so the filling spilled out. It had some clear vermicelli noodles, chives and pork. The wrapper was good, but they had lots of filling so the filling came out. They used a thicker green to help steam the mandu. Good portion size. For the soontofu Jjigae, it was recommended by the server. I got it with beef and it came with a decent amount. The tofu was soft as well. They had some classic banchan's to eat with the meal which was good. Nothing special about them.

Always Spring is such a Korean food gem. Located at the top of Gmart, it's a cute little restaurant. Here you'll find classic Korean dishes. The service is so good, and the wait time is low. I got the Dolsot Bibimbap, and I have had the Kimchi Pajeon, and SoonDubu Jjigae here. All of them were fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are craving good Korean food.

Hole in the wall... correction - hole in the attic restaurant located upstairs inside the GMart grocery store. A full extensive menu of authentic Korean cuisine. Broth dishes hit the spot on a rainy day in Portland ~ not overly salted, comes out piping hot. Steamed Dumplings served immediately out of the kitchen so do not be too quick to bite into them before letting them cool or you will burn your mouth. Banchan is so-so, but you can ask for refills. Young solo man navigating well weaving in-between the crowded seating layout. Calm & courteous, nonstop in his feet. Applause.

I've gone here on countless occasions. My favorite dish especially in the summer is the naemeyon (Korean cold noodle). Service was fast. Sometimes this place can be really crowded at dinner times and can have a long wait.

A quaint hole in the wall joint on the upper floor of of a Korean grocery store. Of course I ended up spending money on unique Korean finds while I waited for my food. We ordered the Bibimbap, Beef Bulgogi, Rabokki, and Kimchi Pancake. The Bibimbap was great. We loved the sesame oil forward flavor and the sauce was spicy, but not TOO spicy. The beef bulgogi was our least favorite. Didn't have much flavor. It needed the banchan to pep it up. The Rabokki had a good balance of tomato and heat. And the rice cakes reheated well the next day which is RARE. The kimchi pancake was yummy. Wish it was crispier, but it's hard to achieve with the moisture of the kimchi. The dipping sauce was great. With how much we ordered, would have expected more banchan. Service was very friendly.

Spring is definitely one of my go-to spots for Korean food in the Beaverton area. Located above a small Korean grocery store, it may be hard to find for first-timers, but don't be confused when Google Maps navigates you to a grocery store! You're at the right place - just head towards the back and you'll see a staircase leading to the second floor where Spring is. The food tends to err on the spicier side, so if you're afraid of spice, consider asking for them to make your food "mild". I'd also definitely recommend dine-in for optimum freshness (of course this may seem self explanatory but I do think that their food definitely doesn't perform as well as take-out). The seasoning of the food and overall preparation has always been good quality. It tastes a little more heavily seasoned than "homestyle" Korean food but has never been overly greasy/oily. If you want to support a small, local business, definitely give Spring a try.

tucked away above a korean grocery store is this little "boon shik jum" style korean restaurant. considering the lack of options for good "standard korean fare" in portland, this place might be the best in the greater portland area. all of the food is pretty standard (of what i tried - ugeoji galbi tang, dumpling, yukgaejang, pajeon, naengmyeon, galbi) and it's pretty good. some things are better than others; eg, the naengmyeon is not my favorite here, but i've come to terms that i straight up won't get good naengmyeon in portland. but i'm rambling. this place is good, overall. price points are a little odd, some things feel crazy overpriced (see naengmyeon and any galbi/bulgogi type dish), and other feels right (see kalbi tang, soup type stuff). of course i will return, mostly out of need haha. ps. this place takes forever with rolling out the food. seems unreasonably long considering it's standard korean fare. i don't know.

I returned with a friend. I had told him that the food was good. Now he is another Always Spring fan and has said this is a restaurant to come back and revisit. We each had a great meal and the ladies who served us were very good, very kind and very patient. And they had good senses of humor. So if you want a really good meal in a pleasant atmosphere with great service, I'd say you should stop at Always Spring.

This is always a great place to get some good quality food. The food is always consistent, and the service is friendly. The place is small and does fill up quickly. With this visit, we ordered a variety of dishes to share. I really did enjoy the Gomtang, Naengmyeon, kimchi pancake, and Galbi Yukgaejang. Even though there were a lot of soups, each one had their own distinctive flavor and taste.

Consistency. We have been to Spring for about 15 years. We very spoiled here it's truly a perfect walk for us. They are very generous on Banchan. Little tiny plates of appetizers that touch the heart of every one. It's a Korean way of serving yet if you are new might not be used to anything can be free of charge in food business these days. Spicy squid and hot bowl bibimbub are always our favorites. It's a real Korean eatery, cook and serve by Korean, on the second floor of Korean grocery store. What else can you ask for!?! This family deserves good tips doing their job!

I don't know why it took me so long to write a review for this spot since I frequent here a lot and it's great every single time. I love the casualness of this place, the servers are mostly Korean aunties so they are warm and caring in their service. This time I got a classic, the Soontofu Jjigae. This dish is basically a warm hug in a bowl. It always comes out hot and bubbling and is at the level of spiciness to my liking. They also give lots of banchan (side dishes) to compliment the main dish. I highly recommend coming here and putting this spot in your rotation of restaurants to frequent.

Small Korean restaurant above G-mart serving up some delicious food! It's a casual sit down restaurant. They have large portions, and the food is absolutely delicious! Their side dishes are great too. They have huge pictures of the food options on the walls which helped since I wasn't sure what most of the dishes are. Parking lot is small but mostly easy to get in and out of. On my most recent visit, I tried the Bibim Naengmyeon, Galbi and Ojingeo Bokkeum (stir fried squid) and was very happy with all of it. Bibim naengmyeon was the perfect summer dish with cold noodles. Galbi was ordered in combo with the naengmyeon and it was served on a steaming hot plate and fresh. It was only a few pieces, but plenty to accompany the large serving of naengmyeon. Ojingeo Bokeeum - I think we could've ordered this one alone for 2 people and it would have been plenty! I have never had this before and was pleasantly surprised. Loved the texture of the squid! Those three things fed two hungry people for 2 meals! Can't wait to go back and try more!

Always Spring is the only Korean restaurant that my family visits consistently. We started coming here maybe 6-7 years ago and apparently it's not a hidden gem anymore ;) based on how busy it is. I can confirm along with the other reviews that you should be prepared to wait to get seated, and wait around 45 mins for your food to come out if you are going around the lunch hour over the weekend. But, the food is worth it! The food is so fresh, amazing quality, comes out hot (which is how it should be!) Try to come during off peak hours! Ps. They are closed on Mondays.

This place is great. It is located upstairs in a Korean grocery store and has a casual atmosphere. The food is very tasty and comes with lots of side dishes. Also very generous portions- I brought lots of leftovers home from my meal. Will definitely be back again

Okay, here is the start of my missing Yelps since my 6/13/22 SF Japantown incident. Slowly recovering/replacing all my lost/stolen stuff. Quality/Quantity - Something about supermarket/restaurants = freshness? Is it because they can buy the freshest ingredients daily by just walking over to the next department? Not unnecessary excessive buying? Sorry, I can not find the pictures of what we ordered. Atmosphere - It's a restaurant in a supermarket, do not expect much, except good service and fresh food. Open 6 days a week, closed Mondays. Service - Good. 10% off with online takeout ordering, see website. Price - Can't remember, so it must have been a good value. See menu for specific prices. Owner Comment - N/A.

Not sure if ownership changed but food seemed different but in a good way and banchan was definitely way better? My go to stop for essentials downstairs at the market and quick bite!!! Service is always hit or miss on bạnchan refills or sometimes even rice and this spot is always busy... So be prepared to wait during dinner hours!! Soups and stews are ok but huge menu. Keep in mind only my second visit so will update again once I've tried a few more items? Seems super popular and a lot of good reviews?

What a hidden gem on the second floor of a local Korean supermarket called GMart (right around the corner of the Cracker Barrel for reference) But like everyone else mentioned, it's only accessible by stairs after you walk into the actual supermarket. We had an infant in a stroller so my husband carried the stroller up the stairs. They have quite a few tables and you seat yourself. We were a group of 6 adults plus a stroller baby so we found a nice spot in the back which was great! Service is average but you do get the homey feel with the 2 Korean aunties serving tea and banchans (so many banchans!) There is a giant poster board with pictures which was super helpful and the menu we were given at the table had great description. Now the food - we ordered a lot of food (see pictures) and all came out timely and hot and yummy! For the price you pay (between $12-20/dish depending) you definitely get generous portions! We made a dent in what we ordered family style and still had quite some leftovers to take home! This restaurant is a great place to start as your introduction to Korean food or if you are just craving some home Korean cooking! Recommend a try!

Didn't really enjoy my food, which was disappointing as this little Korean restaurant is tucked away in the back of a quaint Korean grocery market called "G Mart". The prices were decent enough (under $20 for entrees) that I ordered two entrees and an appetizer. The dumplings were not well wrapped and would break when attempting to eat them, leaving most of the fillings on the plate. The chicken tasted a bit bland and over cooked and we could only eat a few bites between us. The dinner, which came out to around $40, was mostly left untouched. The only good part was the rice. Sadly, I would not recommend this place. It was just a short walk from our hotel which was nice, but I would not go back again. Reading some of the reviews it seems maybe ownership has changed recently which would make sense as I was surprised to see such high reviews after eating here. I would not think many people would enjoy this place and there weren't many people here when we ate midday.

I can't believe I just tried Always Spring when it's been around for so long! My friend decided to take me here one night and the thought of a restaurant inside of a grocery market didn't sit well with me. That feeling immediately changed after I tried the food. I guess we should never judge the book by it's cover. It's one of the best Korean food I've had in a while in town. Everything tasted delicious and portions are huge! We had so much leftover. We ordered seafood pancake which I was so surprised by the amount and variety of seafood in it! Galbi was half portion so it's decent for us. Last but definitely not least, the spicy squid!!!! It's super good! The squid was so soft and cooked to perfection, it was cooked with onions, green onions, and so much good stuff that the aroma and spicy level were on point! Oh did I mention their side dishes were also all very yummy?!

Probably the best and most "consistent"Korean restaurant around with a good variety of dishes. I've tried most of the Korean restaurants around and they are not as good as this spot. The food reminds me of mom's home cooked meals. My go to: Soft tofu soup, Kalbi Tang, Bibim Bap in stone pot, Bibim Nengmyun, Jjol Myun, Yukgaejang, and Nengmyun + Kalbi combo (I think this is seasonal but I would ask).

I've been coming to this restaurant since I was a kid so it has a special place in my heart. It's super cozy and homey since it's situated within a GMart. The prices are reasonable and the serving sizes are huge! One order of japchae was still more than enough for 4 people to share. The food is delicious too. The servers sometimes don't speak much English and can be a bit rude, but I like to give them the benefit of the doubt and I think they're just overworked. I will say my friend asked for tea and the server just grunted and never gave it to her. Overall it's still one of my favorite places to eat when I'm home!

Excellent Korean food in a suburban supermarket, hidden upstairs. We had the wonderful Banchan and Tea, and we ordered the Soontofu Jjigae, Japchae, and Bulgogi. We will be back!

I have been there many times, I stopped going because their ban chan not fresh. It's leftover from other peoples food. They are recycling other people's food.

Small restaurant location inside G-Mart on the second floor. This is my go-to Korean restaurant in west portland! I'm giving it 4/5 stars because the service here isn't consistent--there's one lady that's super sweet and the other not so much a Also the restaurant has a strong smell of bleach while I was there this time. i love this restaurant because the portions are huge and i always leave with leftovers. also because i'm always seated right away (i typically go on saturday lunch time) and the food comes out fast. Soontofu Jjigae (spicy tofu soup with seafood): 4/5 it was hot and spicy and definitely helped with my hangover! haha but there were barely any seafood. maybe 1 tiny shrimp and a few clams? Ojingeo Bokkeum (spicy stir fried squid): 5/5 squid was cooked to perfection, not over- or undercooked. quiet spicy, but the side dishes helped like potato salad and bean sprouts.

Great authentic Korean food made and operated by Koreans. There isn't a ton of seating, so there can be a bit of a wait if there aren't any tables available. It's not fast food, so don't come if you're in a hurry. Mandu: we accidentally ordered the fried version. I would definitely order the steamed version next time. Seafood Pajeon: very crispy, which is critical! Soondubu: delicious, although I don't know if I've had a bad version Black cod: This dish takes 30 minutes to prepare. The fish was moist and the tofu, daikon, and onions with the sauce made for a delicious dish to share. This was plenty of food for 4 people. We were too full to request more banchan. Hot tea is also included.

we dropped by Gmart to do groceries and always make time to drop by upstairs to eat! 10/10 recommend jjin mandu, steam dumplings with pork and vegetables, so soft and so tasty with their house made chili sauce. Galbi tang was very delicious per my partner and i got the spicy seafood leek/bracken/egg/glass noodle soup, i asked for extra spicy and extra bean sprouts so bomb! I had been fighting the weather and this hit the spot! Side dishes aka banchans are refillable and so good and great customer service but do note it's not a large place, so expect your order can take a bit of time to come out and the staffs great with refilling your hot tea or ice water. authentic Korean comfort food!!

I was recommended to try this place from a family friend. The restaurant is tucked upstairs inside a Korean grocery store, G-Mart. It is not ADA approve as you have to walk up/down some stairs. The space is small with about 10 tables fairly close to each other. I like how restaurant has a wall menu with photos for customers to review especially if you're unfamiliar with Korean food. The service was quick, though it took some time for the dishes to come out. I believe there was only 1 cook and I imagine the kitchen space is tiny. Fried mandu [dumplings] - was not what I was expecting. The texture of the wrapper is different compare to other fried dumplings I've had. It much was thicker and chewy. The meat stuffing was mediocre. Dolsot bibimbap [Korean clay pot] - average bibimbap. Unfortunately the egg was overly cooked to my liking on a bibimbap. I prefer a runny yolk. The amount of meat was unfortunate, there was barely any. Would I return? Perhaps if I'm in the area doing some grocery shopping. I would probably order something different next time.

Located upstairs in Gmart, small restaurant, gets busy fairly quick, especially during lunch. We were seated and placed our orders shortly thereafter. Then it took over 1 hour to be served our food. Not even the side dishes were served during that time. Other customers that showed up later than us received their food way before us. We tried to be patient, but finally asked where our food was, in case they forgot about our order. One of the female employees told us to be patient as we will receive our order shortly. Hmm.. didn't realize "shortly" meant 1.15hrs! We then waited another 20min, and finally told them that we had a flight to catch soon. Then they responded and said we should have mentioned that so they could have served us sooner. We waited for 1.5hrs... They didn't apologize for the wait and their lack of efficiency. The food was mediocre. My seafood soontofu soup tasted fishy and spicier than it looked. I want to help my fellow Koreans, but this was absurd. Definitely won't be coming back here.

this place is amazing! A true gem. When I pulled into the grocery store parking lot, my heart sank a little bit. I figured the food would still be good but worried about the ambiance. But the food and ambiance were incredible!! It was bustling, but we were seated right away. From the moment we sat down, we sensed the authenticity. Lot of people in groups or pairs engaged in lively conversation and munching away. The food was really exceptional. We ordered two beef soups...one order of 21. Yukgaejan and one order of 22. Galbi Yukgaejang. I preferred #21 for it's slightly deeper flavor and easy-to-eat meat. We finished our huge bowls and side dishes happily. Before we left, we identified four more dishes we want to try on our next visits! I can't hype this place up enough. YUM!

The food here is definitely the best Korean food I've ever had. The restaurant is inside of the Korean grocery store, G-Mart (yes G-Mart, not H-Mart :) ). Goods: The food is really good and affordable compared to other Korean spots. It's around 15-16 for a big serving of soup (the soups that I got also had noodles inside). I've never had the meat dishes here, but there is usually a table that orders them when I'm there. The portion for that is pretty hefty which makes more sense why the price is a little higher than the soups. The banchan tastes really refreshing to accommodate for the hot soup. Generally, I am a huge fan of more fermented kimchi, so I wasn't a big fan. If you're a fan of more fresh tasting kimchi rather than sour, you'll love it. (P.S. the banchan is free and don't be scared to ask for a little more if you devour it before your food comes out!) Bads: Not really too bad of a list, but just listing them to list em! The bathroom is not within the restaurant. I believe there are signs to go downstairs somewhere in the grocery store. (again, not a big deal for me, but just pointing it out) The Korean ladies who serve there are really nice, but seem to forget about you after dropping off food. Sometimes they come by and sometimes they don't, but not a big deal since it's a small place so it's easy to track them down! I've had this once a week for the past 2 weeks and I have loved it both times. If you come, I highly recommend gamjatang (spicy pork bone soup), galbi tang (short rib soup with glass noodles), or galbi yukgaejang (spicy short rib soup)!

Hidden upstairs at the Korean supermarket, we've visited this spot on numerous occasions. Overall the food is legit, service has always been a bit on the slower side, and prices aren't the cheapest for the setting. Why do we come back? Well the food is authentic and good. It's best to come with a small group to share multiple dishes, and remember you can ask them to refill your banchan!

My favorite Korean spot in the Portland area. Come here and know that you will have a great time.

If you want real authentic korean food then this is the place to go. Its a hole in the wall with a small location. Its on the 2nd floor of gmart asian grocery store. Just head to the back and up the stairs. You're not there for the customer service, they're too busy making delicious food. I highly recommend their cold noodles & kimchi pancakes.