So Moon Nan Jib

The BBQ set came with a generous amount of meat, super fresh and flavorful. Grilling at the table was fun, and the side dishes were all delicious, especially the seafood pancake. Perfect spot for a casual night out with friends.

We ordered 'marinated combo B' and the pork neck soup. The soup was delicious. The meat was extremely tender. Maybe a bit spicier would be nice, but this is Korean food so I understand. The BBQ was tasty and definitely enough food for 3 adults and 3 elementary school age kids. Service was good. The staff kept coming over to cut the meat and keep everything moving. The side dishes were great and were continuously refilled.

I’ve been wanting to show my girlfriend what the Korean BBQ experience is all about. So Moon Nan Jib was a great choice. I often see reviews of the service, saying that there was a lack of kindness. We did not experience that whatsoever. The servers were very attentive, and never left us feeling stranded. We made a reservation for the same day. After walking in, we were seated right away. I recommend calling and setting a reservation as they do get pretty busy. The banchan (infamous Korean side dishes), were fresh and tasty. The kimchi was more on the light side of fermentation. Which is great for anyone who hasn’t experienced the taste before. We ordered the marinated Combo C that says it feeds 2 people. Let’s just say the 2 people must be starving to finish the whole thing. We tried our best to eat all of it, but ended up throwing in the towel. The staff was happy to give us boxes for leftovers to enjoy the following day. Overall, I enjoyed this place more than the all you can eat Korean BBQ around Federal Way. Obviously the price you pay will be higher here. But it results in a higher quality experience in my opinion. Will definitely be returning. Thank you So Moon Nan Jib!

The food is clean and delicious. Especially, I recommend naengmyeon. The noodles are chewy and the sauce is so spicy and sweet delicious. And the boss and the staff were so kind that I had a fun meal.👍👍👍💯💯💯💯💯🤩🤩🤩

Amazing Korean food! We ordered the grilled intestine, spicy pork, and short ribs — and every single dish was packed with flavor. The meats were perfectly cooked, super tender, and well-marinated. You can really taste the quality and care in each bite. Easily one of the best Korean meals we’ve had in a while. Will definitely be coming back!

We are military and have been stationed in South Korea for over 3years before, this by far has been the best Korean BBQ restaurant here in Washington that we have been too. One of our Korean Soldiers recommended us here and it was worth every penny. The sides tasted super fresh, the meat also tasted pretty fresh and not old. We loved every bit of it. The servers were great and constantly came over to our table to check on us. Shoot even the water tasted good, def didn’t have the that tap water taste. Overall my family and were extremely satisfied! 10/10!! We will be back!

Amazing Korean food! Beef rib soup was light, clean, and tasty. I underestimated the small bowl, but it was just the right amount! The dumplings had a generous amount of filling and I also loved the variety of side dishes which all tasted fresh.

What can I say, delicious. Amazing Korean food. I loved the Bon Chon dishes. I highly recommend the BBQ.

So yesterday I came in to get the spicy raw marinated crab. But the past time that I was here I had seen that they had dog treats and while I was there getting a spicy crab I grab some dog treats for my relatives dog and she absolutely is in love with them once she hears that bag open, she's running to you.

Quick korean food pitstop made near Seattle.... First time visit but was surprisingly impressed with korean food quality. Banchan, side dishes, were plentiful and offered nice variety (except there was no kimchi!). Had spicy noodle (bibim nengmyun) and Kalbee beef ribs. Both were delicious enough to return again to order the same combo.

The food here was really yummy! I've been meaning to try the Korean food in federal way for a while, and this spot is constantly listed as one of the most popular. When we came on a Sunday evening, it wasn't that busy and we were able to get seated immediately. We got the baby octopus and pork belly, which came on a giant sizzling plate with glass noodles inside too. Of course we also got the spread of banchan, all of which were great. I really liked their glazed potatoes! The pork belly slices were so perfectly cooked and had a nice sear while staying juicy, and the sauce that coated everything was delicious. The portion was also massive - definitely splitable amongst 3-4 people. I'd come back to try more! Service was quick and friendly too.

Absolutely delicious Korean food! You'll find both popular dishes and more traditional Korean comfort meals here, all done right. Their banchans are super tasty, authentic, and there's such a great variety--it really feels like a meal made with care. The seafood pancake is crispy, flavorful, and a must-try. I always go for one of their soft tofu stew combos (so satisfying!), and their gamjatang (pork bone soup) is rich, hearty, and hits the spot every time. If you're craving traditional Korean food or want to try something beyond the basics, I highly recommend this spot. Honestly, the quality here rivals--if not beats--some of the famous restaurants back in Korea!

My favorite thing on the menu is the family combo - perfect portions of bulgogi, spicy stir fry squid, spicy raw marinated crab, fried fish, steamed egg, and bean paste soup along with banchan.

We arrived at opening on a Sunday and noticed that they were starting to get busy around Noon. It look awhile for the banchan to come out. The potatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini were the stars. The fish cakes are usually my favorite, but theirs are a bit too sweet and floppy. My boyfriend ordered the bulgogi combo with the cold glass noodles. The bulgogi was mildly disappointing because the beef was a little tough. However, the glass noodles were epic! I was thrilled when my boyfriend ran out of steam and passed the bowl to me. I chose the spicy beef soup. When they say "spicy," they mean it! The heat was so intense that it was difficult to taste anything else. Service was friendly, the place was clean, and seating was comfortable. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 thanks to those cold glass noodles.

Ordered the bulgogi soup, the side dishes were delicious. The soup was very good too. My friend ordered the short rib soup, the spicy intestine soup and fried pork katsu. All the dishes were very good. Service was great, workers checked on us and refilled the side dishes

I came here with a friend on a Friday night and got seated quickly since it wasn't too busy. This area shares parking with other businesses such as Ajit and Cafe Spot, which is to say it's gonna be rough finding parking if you wanna go during the weekend since it fills fast and it's not that big. There's a lot of seating inside, and seems better situated for larger groups wanting to do KBBQ given the number of vents up in the ceiling above the tables. I ordered the deep-fried pork dumplings and the hot-stone bibimbap with my friend. Their banchan selection is pretty big and had things like fish cakes, kimchi, bean sprouts and potatoes. They even refilled some of them without us asking though not as frequently as some other places; this also included water refills. As for the bibimbap and dumplings, the bibimbap was piping hot and delicious, and the dumplings went well with or without the provided sauce. Food here was amazing, but probably because I didn't order KBBQ as was advertised by many other reviews before mine, I felt like I was missing out. I'll come back here with a larger group and see how it compares with other places.

We ordered ala carte barbeque- marinated LA ribs, pork belly and bulgogi with steamed egg, soybean soup and spicy cold noodles- everything was delicious and had plenty of side dishes. I would give it a few marks off of service because the initial lady that took our order and did some of the flipping of the meat for us seemed very harried and wanted to get away from us before we could ask for something lol. That said, food was great and we came away full and satisfied for the 4 of us.

This is the spot I keep coming back to--for the combo. If you're craving a well-prepared, home-style Korean meal, this place won't disappoint. I haven't tried their BBQ yet, so can't speak for that. But the combo with bulgogi or spicy pork, marinated crab, stir-fried squid, grilled flounder, steamed egg, doenjang-jjigae, and all the banchan? It's fantastic. Perfect for two or even three people, it's a generous spread that lets you enjoy a variety of flavors in one meal. Whenever I'm not sure what to get, this combo is always my go-to. Highly recommend for a comforting and satisfying Korean meal.

Such a solid Korean restaurant in Fed! It's an oldie but a goodie for sure! My friend & I shared the Beef Bulgogi + Tofu Soup combo & the Spicy Pork + Cold Noodle combo. It was plenty of food, plus all banchan! Everything was well seasoned and the banchan was bomb. It was pretty empty when we got there so service was very quick! So Moon Nan Jib will always be one of the best KBBQs in Fed!!

So Moon Nan Jib is one of my top Korean restaurants in the greater Seattle area. We ordered the chicken katsu and raw spicy marinated crab! You could never go wrong with the chicken katsu here. It's perfectly crisp, big and the side salad is chefs kiss. As for the raw spicy marinated crab, it was so flavorful and fresh. Side dishes are always so good here too! It was a busy night, but the servers did there best to accommodate us.

While waiting for a birthday party to start nearby, my friend and I stopped in So Moon Nan Jib. Walking in, first thought was it is very simple and an old traditional vibe. The host/waiter that sat us was very friendly and welcoming. We didn't want anything big because we were eating at the party. We first ordered Korean Raspberry Wine. Didn't know what to expect as some wines aren't as flavorful. But the wine was very good. Semi sweet and full flavor. Then ordered Deep Fried Dumplings and Hot Stone Bi-Bim-Bap. Both appetizers. We were surprised when they brought out four small dishes of cold steamed spinach, cold seaweed salad, cold steam chunk potatoes in a sauce, and fish cakes. Then brought out four more small dishes of cold Kim-chi, cold steamed zucchini with spicy sauce, cold sprout salad, and cold steam mushrooms. So much more than what we were expecting. And, Man! It was all so delicious. I really didn't my know what to expect with fish cakes, ended up being my favorite dish. The restaurant itself is about 3 1/2 stars. Only because the building is old. But the food is about a 4 1/2 to 5 stars. I recommend stopping in and giving it a try.

Decent Korean food but be prepared to pay lots of hidden fees. Wouldn't go back even if I'm in the area.

I ordered the bibimbap and galbitang, and both were delicious! The side dishes were fresh and complemented the meal perfectly. The customer service was friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. I would definitely come back!

Foods were excellent! We went there for a lunch. We had yukgaejang (spicy beef soup ) and bulgogi stew. It came with amazing banchan (small side dishes). We asked for more :) The servers were very friendly and we had a great time. During lunch, it was not noisy at all. They had a bunch of parking spots right in front of restaurants. We would definitely go there again. I highly recommend here if you want authentic Korean foods!

The food is delicious. I crave their porn neck soup. They have great service and the restaurant is very clean.

This homey Korean restaurant will hit the spot with the soups, but it's nothing to write home about. I had the potato and pork neck soup and a seafood pancake to share. Seafood pancake was a bit dense and not super crispy as it could have been. The potato and pork neck soup had a ton of meat, a few more watercress veggies and less oil would have been nice. Portions were large and the banchan (side dishes) were plentiful and varied.

So Moon Nan Jib is hands down one of my favorite KBBQ restaurants in Federal Way. Food: We ordered the fresh meat family KBBQ combo. The combo includes salad (which I love their dressing), soy bean soup, steamed eggs, rice, and a variety of meat. They also served 9 refillable side dishes. Customer service: This restaurant is often busy, so you might need to press the button on the table to request service. The lady also started the grill and grilled for us. Ambiance: The interior is a bit dated, but we go for the food, so it's not a big deal to us.

Great food , we had the bbq and the army stew. KBBQ was great, army stew the best we have had.

Absolutely delicious! Everyone there is so friendly and the food is amazing! Highly recommend the cold noodles as well as the army stew and raw marinated crab.

This is one of the best KBBQ spots in the Seattle area, and when I say Seattle area, I mean Federal Way, which boasts tons of Korean restaurants. Y'all know that's where to get the best Korean food in Seattle. My colleagues and I had a work event in Federal Way, so decided to take advantage of the night while we were all down south and get dinner at So Moon Nan Jib. We made reservations ahead of the time for the eight of us on a Monday night, but honestly, we wouldn't have an issue getting a table for our large group as a walk-in as the restaurant wasn't too busy. Yet there was a good amount of patrons dining in. We were the only non-Koreans, which should be a telling sign that we're at the right spot. For our large group, we ordered two BBQ combination sets, and chose combo A, which was solid. It had brisket, pork belly, beef chuck, which were all exceptional on the grill. The banchan selection was fire. I think there were like, eight different side dishes, which is the most I've seen at a KBBQ restaurant and they were all delicious. Of course, it's unlimited and not once did we have to ask for more banchan because the servers consistently checked our table and would refill any empty banchan dishes. Amazing service! Lots to love here, from the food to the friendly employees. They have a drink menu, with Korean beers and soju and in addition to the BBQ selection, they have a huge menu of classic Korean entrees. I definitely would eat here again as this is one of the best KBBQ restaurants around town. Located in a small business strip, it's located right off of Pacific Highway and is next to other Korean gems, including Myungin Dumplings. Get your BBQ on!

Very friendly staff and was seated right away! The food is so good and tasty and the portions were great! Very affordable and got everything I wanted. The menu has lots of options as well

We had the seafood pancake and pork bone soup (aka potato soup) and both were excellent. Good side dishes (banchan) and great service despite getting quite busy on a Saturday night! Simple decor, I liked the lampshades of traditional Korean paper...

This place was amazing! The waitresses here were so sweet and hardworking. They were my favorite part of the restaurant experience. Obviously, you're reading this for the food though and guess what? It was worth it. I ordered the 3-4 party combo non-marinated (because I'm a fatty) and the variety was awesome. The steamed egg was spot on and their soybean soup made me go "mmmmmmmm good soup"

Not returning. Gave it multiple good fair tries. This most recent visit, service was non existent. These servers are greatly and clearly overworked. You can see the stress and tension in their faces and hear the snap in their voices. Inattentive and borderline rude. I disliked that the check included 20% gratuity. Possibly that's the reason why they aren't making efforts. Food was mid. We ordered: Seafood pancakes - too doughy Denjang - hardly any tofu. Steamed egg - good Nengmyun - fine LA galbi - fine Unsure why such high Yelp rating. I expected excellent food bc service was poor but food was just acceptable. Moving on to another Korean restaurant!

Saturday evening, there was a bit of wait. We had 4 kids and 3 adults There was a little tucked in area with chairs to wait in. We didn't know if we should order the marinated or not marinated bbq meats. The server told us the marinated is good for us and the plain one food for kids and she can help us split half and half! The marinated one originally comes with spicy, but the half and half one didn't come with spicy in consideration for the kids The server was very kind and observant to our needs. Food was delicious and the dip sauced really completed the meat. There was also steamed egg appetizer! But no mashed potato salad.

Authentic Korean food. Price is fair, taste good and friendly staff. Many Korean food restaurants around in federal way, this is one of good one.

When we entered, we were greeted in Korean. Not sure what he said, but I'm guessing he said something to the effect of welcome. There were a lot of choices on the menu so it took us a bit of time to decide. The waitress was very nice and gave us time to make our decisions. We enjoyed the kimchi pancake and the beef kalbi ribs. Our ribs came with a cold noodle. The texture was extra chewy and had great flavor. We selected the beef spicy cold noodle and it was not too doict at all. We also ordered the seafood hot pot. There were the usual ingredients; shrimps, clams, muscle, fish. As we started serving ourselves, we saw something that looked like a brain. It turned out to be fish intestines and was delicious. My son didn't like the texture. The soup was very good. Also in the soup was a mushroom? They were hard to chewy through and had lots of liquid in them. Some other tables decided on bbq and the place smelled good.

This place is awsome What We got GamJaJungGol for 3 -last page of menu It was so good

A great KBBQ spot that takes reservations and knows how to cater to large groups. The food is delicious and parking lot is right outside. Try it all, everything is delicious! Not pictured is the Japchae (glass noodles) super delicious and also the tofu soup and steamed eggs. They even offer purple rice or white rice with your meal! Get the purple!

Food is definitely 5 stars, and the only reason that I'd come back. The interior is dated and needs to be modernized, booth seating is ripped and the overall vibe is just old. Service is lackluster at best. The star is the food and the only reason that you should come here. That's about all I have to say.

First time visiting this restaurant after hearing all the good reviews about it. But we decided to get non-KBBQ items in this visit. Arrived here on a Saturday evening, decent amount of people on the waitlist. Upon walking into the restaurant, though it is a KBBQ place, but you can barely smell the smokiness. We got seated about 30-40minutes later. When they served us with water, they did not ask what we wanted to drink. Instead, they brought us warm genmaicha tea (kind of roasted rice green tea) but served the other table that was seated after us with cold water (they look non-Asian). It's kinda offputting that your race gives you different special treatment right off the bat.. Ordered the seafood casserole because it is a cold day out and wanted someone warm and hearty. We get to choose if we wanted white or purple rice that comes with the casserole. The casserole is pretty big portion that serves 2-3 persons, but I think it could potentially feed 3-4 persons with averaged appetite. Seafood are pretty fresh, a good variety of them such as fish, mussels, squid, crab, shrimp, whole baby octopus, tofu and etc... and they even have cod-milt (fish's sperm sac) and styela-clava (sea squirt) in the casserole. Never before in my life have I had it.. we've tried it for you so you don't have to if this doesn't float your boat. They didn't taste fishy or gamey or anything like that. Once you pass that mental obstacle, they just taste like nothing... The kimchi soup is pretty decent and nice umami and kimchi flavor. Midly spicy, just enough kick to warm up your belly on cold days like this. They have about 8 different complimentary sides with the usual suspects (kimchi, fish cakes, cucumber and bean sprout), and they tasted pretty decent. Service is a little slow, and the servers aren't exactly the friendliest that you would expect from a local/american restaurant. They do have a call button on the table/wall if you need attention from your server. We had to walk up to the front to pay for out meal as well, which I don't really mind but we wondered for a second if we should walked up or wait for the check since our server didn't really tell us anything. Might be back next time to try their kbbq or something. Come for the food, but leave your expectations behind with their service.

Whether you're in the mood for self grilling KBBQ, or to order off the regular menu, this restaurant offers both. This is a very no frills type of Korean restaurant, and service was prompt. They offer a large variety of items on their menu, so whatever my craving is, it is most likely covered here. Everything on the menu honestly looked so good that I over ordered a little. I would definitely come back for the stir fried baby octopus and pork belly though. Some items are a bit pricey, but everything tasted great.

I'd like to begin by saying that this place is a Dine-in and eat but also a KBBQ restaurant. If considering to dine for KBBQ, please be mindful of party size as grills will sit 4 people comfortably, and maybe 6 max. If you find that your party is too large, fret naught as there is a large selection for cooked/prepared dishes. Personally, we were on a mission to try the Spicy Raw Marinated Crabs. It did not disappoint. The crab shell were brittle and overall the taste was delicious. The spice, was a kick that didn't make you cry or sniffle, but basically a tasty marinade/paste. Service was a little slow, but I can't be upset. The fact that 1-2 servers were working the main floor was impressive. The restaurant gave off a mom/pop shop vibe, the type you'd see in a k-drama, and you never felt ignored. Although busy, they always acknowledged you when you needed assistance and helped you the best they could.

Wait time on Saturday around 6:30p was about 40 mins. After we sat down, we got served barley tea. My partner and I ordered right away as we were quite hungry and got the seafood casserole (good for 2-3 ppl). The casserole is good with lots of seafood variety. There were 2 items we didn't know on the list which are steyala cava and cod-milt, and they were a nice "surprise". It comes with banchan and we got purple rice. Had a good amount leftover which we took home. Definitely would like to come back to try other items on the menu. Overall, service is pretty good and they clean tables a few mins after a party leaves. It's interesting tho that they don't ask we prefer water or tea. As mentioned my party and I got tea without asking, but I noticed a table that came after us just got cold water.

Authentic as i can get without traveling back to KR. Banchan is on point but they do make you pay for refills which is sad. Rare place where ajummas are chatty with you and cut your meat. While you're sharing your tea they got barley tea on the house. The ladies in the back cutting pretty good quality meats just don't ask what it is cause even they don't know.

My friends and I came to So Moon Nan Jib for lunch a few weekends ago for the first time. The restaurant was crowded when we arrived a little before noon. They only had two to three workers, one woman who I assume is the owner. Thankfully, we were able to get seated within 10 minutes after arriving. So Moon Nan Jib's menu is extensive and is six pages long - they have your standard bibimbap, galbi, and soft tofu dishes as well as some more unique dishes like homemade cold noodles, black goat meat soup, Korean sausage, monkfish, and potato and pork neck casserole. They also have lunch specials on the weekdays too and the option to barbecue your own meat (KBBQ) as well. I opted for the SPICY SOFT TOFU WITH DUMPLINGS (+$17.99), although they had a huge variety of other options for the same price including kimchi, kimchi and pork, kimchi and beef, mixed (seafood and beef), pork, beef, seafood, vegetable, mushroom, and beef intestine. My friends ordered the short rib and soft tofu combo, the steamed egg, the seafood pancake, the cold noodles, and the stir fried beef and soft tofu combo. We definitely ordered a lot more than we needed and ended up taking a lot home because the portions were HUGE. They also had a huge selection of complimentary banchan that consisted of sesame sprouts, kimchi, cucumber kimchi, marinated eggplant, honey soy potatoes, marinated choy, and some dish (I couldn't tell if it was radish or maybe acorn noodles) in a sweet mayonnaise sauce. All of the banchan was super tasty, but we would've preferred the kimchi a little sweeter and less sour. The SPICY SOFT TOFU WITH DUMPLINGS was superb! The portion was generous and the soup was boiling hot when it came out. The soup was very flavorful and relatively mild (maybe like a 2 star on the spice scale?) and had a lot of protein. The mandu were excellent. All entrees came with complimentary rice (choice of purple or white) which I enjoyed dipping into my soup. My friends all enjoyed their dishes as well, and everyone had lots of leftovers to take home. Service was decent, considering that there were only a few workers there. It took a little while to get their attention sometime due to the busy lunch hour, but they were overall very attentive and came by to refill our tea, water, and napkins. They were nice and hospitable. As far as atmosphere, they have several Jinro (Soju) neon lights hung up which made for a cool and casual atmosphere. The interior and bathrooms were clean too. Overall: 5/5 for food, 4.5/5 for service, 5/5 for atmosphere

My all-time favorite kbbq in Federal Way. Long wait times but when you get seated and get your food you'll know why. Will definitely review this place again and post photos but my go-to favs are the kalbi, soondubu, budaejjigae, and the chadeulbagi!

Casual Korean BBQ with a decent selection of sides (banchan). This location is currently understaffed. The initial service we received was fast and friendly but once everything was delivered they only checked back once, so requesting side refills required chasing someone down ...and even then they often forgot. We (party of 7) were given one bowl of each side to share, so I'd recommend asking for extra if you have a hungry group. The meat quality is decent and the server initially helps get your bbq started. In all, I think this is a budget friendly Korean BBQ option but be aware that service may be slow.

I was craving spicy cold noodles on a hot day and usually go to another spot in fedway that specializes in it. But decided to look for some place new and was surprised that so moon nan Jin made it, since I usually come here for kbbq. I was so shocked when I took the first bite and it's hands down the best spicy cold noodles I've had. Let me tell you I have never felt so satisfied then when I came here with a craving, got exactly what I wanted but at a much higher quality than I expected. Add some steamed mandu, banchan, an ice cold terra and a bottle of soju and you got a perfect meal.

AMAZING. my parents have been looking for bibimbap and a trusted korean friend recommended this to us! I took them and my mom LOVED it. she said it was 10/10 and you know how critical asian parents can be they also came with side dishes that we did get refilled once and the side dishes had everything I love: fish cakes and potato, and then had everything my mom loves which is the green veggie thing that she was gonna go buy at hmart later lol. they were so happy with the lunch, I was grateful this restaurant exists . service is of course hard to grab people but it's fine food was great

Most recent visit was...disappointing. Banchans this time were seriously lackluster. Kimchi was pretty one note, lacking depth and complexity of flavors. Maybe it was a pretty fresh batch? Spinach banchan was meh. The kkakdugi (radish kimchi) was also just...meh. Whoever was in charge of seasoning the banchan this time was having an off day. The bibimbap was great, just a tad less delicious than what I remember. Sundubu chiggae was also good, but again, just not as good as the last time I came. I sincerely hope this was just an off night because my first visit here was IMPRESSIVE!

Stopped by because we were in the area. A very nice and cozy spot that's clearly quite poplar! I love naengmyeon so I had to get it and it was pretty tasty! The broth was cool and refreshing and balances out the rest of the dishes very nicely. I also enjoyed the army stew as well. Everything tasted about as I expected and I love noodles so I personally think you can't really go wrong. The service was also nice and quick. I like that there is a button on the table to call a worker if you ever need anything. Also I love all the side dishes they give you -- I know this is normal for korean restaurants but I feel like they gave more side dishes than other places I've been. The food was decent. Everything was pretty good but nothing was spectacular. I also thought some of the ban chan tasted weird or bland compared to other banchan I've had.

4.5 stars for food, 3 stars for service, 3.5 stars for ambiance. First of, this place offers the best variety of banchans (side dishes) out of 5+ Korean restaurants I've been to in Federal Way (and yes, banchan is my favorite part of a Korean meal!) We also got Spicy Squid + udon lunch special. For $15.99, it's a great value - portion is big, and squid is plump (not chewy) and delicious. Army stew $16.99 was not bad, came with bacon, sausage, spam, cheese, ramen noodle, rice cake...lots of stuff inside.

Food was authentic and just right in spicy level. Service was haphazard I think mainly due to a small kitchen that couldn't produce all the items we ordered at once so our food came out very disjointed in timing. Had the bbq all grilled a good 10 min before we got rice and banchan and another 10 min before we got our non bbq items. They automatically add 20% gratuities for party of 5+

I've been going to this restaurant for almost seven years and the truth is this: 9 out of 10 times, it's a little pricy but the food tastes like home: not always phenomenal, but sometimes phenomenal, and it's familiar and tasty and comforting. 1 out of 10 times, maybe the chef woke up on the wrong side of the bed, because the soup is a little flat or way spicier than it's supposed to be. Whatever it is, something's off. I keep coming here anyway. It's your standard hole-in-the-wall with no-frills Korean food for when you need to hunker down and eat something warm before facing the rest of the day. The soondubu (soft tofu soup), the kalbi, and the naengmyun (cold noodles) are my go-tos, and you get the most bang for your buck if you come here for the lunch specials or for dinner with a group of 3-4. Federal Way's Korean restaurant scene has fluctuated quite a bit with changing ownership of established joints, but over the years, So Moon Nan Jib has remained. If you're looking for specialized dishes like mandoo (Korean dumplings), hangover soup, or sullungtang, there are better places that do that in Fed, but generally speaking, this is a solid bet.

Good food, good side dishes, cold beer. Service is prompt when they are not busy but it gets busy.

Far from Seattle, but where Korean food is as good as it gets, without having to go all the way to Los Angeles Koreatown. I went here as a group of 4 on Saturday dinner and it was starting to get busy - there is an in person waitlist and we were seated within 10 minutes of arrival. We shared the marinated combo B, an order of a la carte unmarinated beef brisket, and spicy cold noodle (beef). For the combo, it comes with rice so we opted for purple rice, as well as tofu soup and steamed egg. The meat for the marinated combo includes marinated beef rib, lightly marinated boneless beef rib cube, lightly marinated pork neck, marinated sliced beef, spicy marinated sliced pork, and marinated chicken, arranged in a large platter. Banchan here is above average - featuring the usual favorites like bean sprouts, kimchi, seaweed, and fish cakes, as well as more unique ones like sweet and spicy hot dog. Dipping sauce has the sesame oil salt and fermented bean paste. A small issue is that they are a bit stingy as we asked for refills and they brushed it off saying they ran out of the side dishes but we saw new tables have them and also when we asked 30 minutes later, they gave it to us. Meat quality is definitely up there, and a combo is technically enough for the 4 of us. I really liked the unmarinated beef brisket, and I wished they have a combo that consists of unmarinated and marinated options. The spicy cold noodle is very chewy and satisfying, though they skimp a bit on the beef. There is partial service, as sometimes the waitress cooks the meat for us, but it leads to limbo because the meat is cooked to our liking already but the waitress is nowhere to be seen. If we waited, the meat would have been completely burnt. When she comes to put meat on the grill, it was very rushed and a lot of meat fell on the table. After the meal, you just go to the front and pay. This place overall is as close to LA Korean food as possible here based on the places I have eaten in Seattle, though there were some mishaps that did not make this as good of a dining experience as I hoped.