Mike L.
Yelp
Compared to some of the other eateries I've been to recently in Sacramento, I was most excited and hopeful for Seoul St. In no small part because of my love for Korean food, but also because it looked the most promising. The photos? Delicious looking. The look of the place? Right up my alley. Which, all told, only made our meal here that much more disappointing. With so many interesting dishes on their menu, I was looking forward to this being one of our new regular spots, too!
While the look of Seoul St gives off a somewhat trendy vibe, the ambiance is actually super chill. There were a couple of birthday parties, a few families grabbing a late dinner, several groups of friends out on the town, and a bunch of couples out on dates while we were here, yet the restaurant never got all that loud. The aforementioned menu is what really got me excited, though. It's not super deep compared to most other Korean joints, but it still had a lot to offer, including a variety of starters, BBQ skillets, dosirak boxes (like bento boxes), sides, and a half dozen house specialties, like Korean fried chicken, kimchi fried rice, and galbi jjim. Not only that, they've also got a slate of cocktails, a deep list of beers, a variety of wines and sakes, and even happy hour specials. Like I said - one good looking menu!
-- BTS MULE - Soju, Yuzu Juice, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale...$11
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=JB-a2ruIIHnXp2kkkGVMsA)
I would've got this, if my gf hadn't ordered it first (I love mules). Between the soju, juice, syrup, and ginger ale, this was on the sweet side, but I liked how well the soju, yuzu, lime, and ginger flavors blended together.
-- KOREAN PALLOMA - Tequila, Grapefruit Soju, Lime Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Agave, Lemon & Lime Soda...$12
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=mCRE5sN0WekmKW_zpDqXTQ)
I was torn on this one. The way it's described on the menu fits my usual type of cocktail and this started out great. However, about halfway through, I couldn't taste anything but the tequila, so it felt like I was drinking a diluted shot.
-- CALAMARI - Hand Battered, Fried Calamari Rings and Tentacles Tossed in House Cajun Spice and Served with Spicy Aioli...$14
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=MBK7SVXAf9sBCoaahakCSA)
This was very...ehh. Although the aioli wasn't too shabby, the batter on the calamari was far too thin (it was more brittle than crispy) and fell off easily. I also wish the Cajun spice was more evenly distributed, as some pieces barely had any.
-- CRISPY TOFU SKILLET - Crispy Tofu Glazed with Garlic Soy, Green Onions, and Sesame Seeds...$18.95
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=Qm_PSke9N-lO1oTb2kE7jQ)
Not great, but not bad either. The tofu had a nice texture to it (felt crispy, but didn't feel heavily battered) and I liked that it was still soft on the inside. That said, as the meal went on, the glaze made the tofu get a little soggy and very sweet.
-- BANCHAN - Included with the Crispy Tofu Skillet
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=jw2kxgMgOqYNgg43l6HPtg)
I don't typically review banchan, but you could opt to buy this as its own thing. Plus, the pink, pickled daikon was so good, it deserved a call out (crisp with a nice pickled flavor). I also liked the broccoli a lot too, but I wish it had less sauce slathered on it.
-- GALBI JJIM - Beef Short Ribs Braised in a Rich, Spicy Broth with Carrots and Potatoes Topped with Mozzarella Cheese...$21.95
(https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/seoul-st-midtown-sacramento-3?select=RsUtEjHBvdgTonEGoUSMEQ)
Not as good as my favorite (Daeho in SF/the Bay), but still pretty solid. The portion isn't huge, but I was okay with that, as it let us try more things. While I wish it was cheesier, the ribs were flavorful and meaty (though, one piece was a little fatty) and the vegetables were perfectly tender.
Despite how uneven the food was, one thing that was consistently terrific was the service. In particular, our server was awesome - super friendly guy who was more than happy to answer our questions. Which also makes writing this that much tougher, to be honest. Given how good everything looks in the photos and how folks seem to love Seoul St, it's quite possible we just didn't order the right things. Neither the Calamari nor the Tofu Skillet seem to be very popular, especially compared to the Wings and the LA Galbi, so I wonder if our experience would've been different if we had tried those. I guess I'll just have to come back to find out, but until then, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down feels about right for now.