YUP DDUK LA

This is the best Korean restaurant I’ve ever visited! 🇰🇷🍲 The food is genuinely spicy 🌶️, just as they promise. I tried the original spice, and it was perfectly spicy while maintaining a wonderful balance of flavors. 😋✨ I ordered their Yup O with extra fish cakes 🐟 instead of rice cakes, along with fried dumplings 🥟, cellophane noodles 🍜, and onion rings 🧅. Everything was absolutely delicious! The portions are huge 🍽️—I had leftovers, and when I reheated them the next day, they tasted even better! 🔥👌 I truly miss their food 🥹. If I lived nearby, I’d visit all the time to explore more of their menu. For anyone who loves authentic Korean food, I highly recommend this place! 🌟❤️

If you love spicy this is definitely the place to go. Huge portion sizes with extreme spice levels. Be very weary as their extra mild is still significantly spicier than hot Cheetos. One bowl can fill 2-4 people ---------- Extra Mild Yup O Grade: A- Even at extra mild this is not too far from my upper limits of spice tolerance. This place might have the most well cooked tteok (rice cake) I've had. Super bouncy and chewy without being sticky or overly chewy. My only "complaint" is I wish there was a bit more cheese on top

We came here because my partner and I were craving good tteokbokki and found this place after a few searches. I'm very happy with this place and will be coming back. :-) New favorite even! Food we got: - Yup O (has more fish cake): so good, the fish cake is cooked just right, the soft and chewy rice cakes. the spice will take you out, i have a low medium spice tolerance and my partner and I were sweating eating the extra mild. Beware!! 🌶️ At first, it was maybe a 3-4 spice level for me then as you keep eating, it builds to a 8-10 so take breaks! Pro tip: eat it with rice or rice balls, alleviates the spicy! Atmospheres & Service - Atmospheres: the place is extremely tiny, max 6 tables. We came for lunch and were seated right away. There may be a wait list if you're coming in at a busy hour. Minimal decore. - Service: very friendly and constantly checked in on us (wasn't sure if it was because we were so sweaty from the spice that they noticed lol) 10/10 Overall, I love this place's tteokbokki. I will be coming back but beware the spice! It builds quick so take breaks! 🌶️🌶️ Other than that, delicious!

My go-to spicy rice cake place. I always get the set B rice cake option with extra mild for the spicy level(because their mild is not mild at all hahaha). The bowl is huge, big enough for three people. I just love the chewiness of the rice cake and all the toppings that come along with it. Making rice balls is also fun! Super attentive staff too!

The service here was absolutely outstanding. Since the restaurant doesn’t have many tables, we had to wait about 20 minutes, but it was worth it. Once seated, our waiter kindly offered to refrigerate our friend’s birthday cake (like I mentioned, GREAT SERVICE!). After placing our order, the food arrived in just 10 minutes, and wow—the portion sizes were massive! The dishes were incredibly authentic and offered fantastic value for the price. As we were leaving, the waiter thoughtfully returned the cake we had almost forgotten. This place is a must-visit for both its incredible food and top-notch service!

**Rating: 4.5/5** YUP DDUK is a must-visit for lovers of spicy Korean cuisine. One of Their signature dish, a big bowl of delicious components: chewy rice cakes, tender fish cakes, and crunchy cabbage, all topped with a generous layer of gooey mozzarella cheese that adds a creamy counterbalance to the heat. is a fiery delight that will satisfy any heat seeker. The noodles are perfectly cooked, soaking up the rich, spicy sauce that's packed with flavor. Enhance your meal with add-ons like savory sausages, plump dumplings, and crispy fried spam, which provide even more texture and taste. Each element blends harmoniously, creating a deeply satisfying and memorable culinary experience. The restaurant's vibrant atmosphere and friendly service further enhance the dining experience, making YUP DDUK an excellent choice for those craving a bold and hearty meal.

I just went to get an order! It's my first time eating Korean food, I love it. I ordered under Rik's name but my name is Claudia. 😋

I love this place. There is nothing not to like except how small the restaurant is. It is very small and very popular so the wait can get long, especially during dinner hours and the lot can become packed with cars so parking is a nightmare. Beware of spice. My boyfriend and I shared an extra mild and for me it's good. There was sweetness with a little tang. there is no "no spicy" options so anyone who cannot tolerate an ounce of spice is out of luck. The options are endless for what you can add-in. My boyfriend loved their blood sausage, I love the texture but the irony flavor is not for me but he did claim to be the BEST sausage he probably has ever had in his life so I am sure it meant something. Service is top class. they accidentally placed the neighboring table order on ours for 2 seconds and then gave us free yogurt as an apology. No one was angry but we appreciated the drink!

Good price and nice selection of add-on sides! We got the mild Yup Dduk. Highly recommend to go light on the spice if you don't have high spice tolerance. The mild is even too spicy for me! I think I might have to try the extra mild next time. This is such a nice place to gather with friends after a night out.

Food was delicious, I would go again but order Togo unless you go the perfect time I got set c and it was more than enough for 2 .. possible that set is for 4 Original was the perfect spice .... I eat Thai chilli on the regular and the original was perfect .... I was tearing and nose was dripping in a good way! Price was $41 We went when the first batch of people enter so we waited maybe 20-30 mins We got in and others walked in perfect timing, cause they got sat in 5 mins, since the first batch were done around the same time Service was fast and kind Eat again just maybe Togo Place was small and worth it

This place will forever be my definition of hurts so bad but taste so good so can't stop eating lol Food: we got the set menu A with Yup O and mild. It was delicious with the perfect amount of spicy with a hint of sweet and it was a great afternoon snack/lunch. Beware, the mild is pretty spicy and not your typical mild lol. They also have a secret mala version that I'll be back to try Service: amazing service, super nice and checked up multiple times Ambience: it's a bit smaller and doesn't have that many tables. We waited around 15 mins on a Sunday afternoon but it didn't seem too busy after we were seated

The best tteokbokki I've ever had--hands down! I don't live locally, but every time I'm in SoCal, stopping here is a must. I've been here about three times now, and it's always consistently delicious! What sets this place apart are the perfectly soft rice cakes and the incredibly flavorful sauce. Be warned: the spice level is no joke! I usually handle mild to medium spice without a problem, but even their extra mild has me sweating. If you're not into spicy food, approach with caution. I also love how customizable the menu is. We always add ramen and fried seaweed rolls, which are fantastic. This time, we also tried the DIY rice balls, which you roll yourself (they provide gloves). While it's a fun concept, my husband and I both agreed it wasn't for us and probably wouldn't order it again. The restaurant itself is tiny, with room for about 14-16 people, so expect a wait unless you arrive early. We came at 4 PM on a Sunday and still waited 30-45 minutes. The portions are huge--more than enough for two big eaters like us. We were thrilled to take some leftovers on the plane and enjoy them at home later!

I ordered Set B with Yup O at a mild spicy level. The difference between Yup O and Yup Dduk is that O has more fish cakes, whereas Dduk has more rice cakes. I do not recommend this place to anyone who cannot handle spicy food. The rice and veggie fries helped a little with the spiciness. Although the food tasted pretty good, I'm not sure if it's worth having heartburn and going to the restroom 6 times or more. Service could be better. Long wait time. Waited for over 30 minutes (I had to check in periodically). I was disappointed that I didn't receive a text message when my food was ready, even though I left them my phone number as requested. Ambiance is limited due to small seating capacity. I had no choice but to order to go. Valet parking available.

I don't think anyone has ever leave bad reviews about this place because they are THAT GOOD! i love their big platter, their combo of dishes! tastes so good!! Just be aware of spicy level because my spice level is mild and that is already spicy for me!

Yup Dduk is a class spot for tteokbokki! Spicy savory sauce, chewy rice cakes, and sweet fish cakes. Pros are it's yummy, cons are it's such a huge portion so it's great if you can share it with people but if you cannot it's a lot of food and leftovers (and after so many days you can get tired of it lol). The last time I went I feel like the cheese was a bit too light, though of course you can add more for an up charge. If your spicy tolerance is okay/low-ish like mine then definitely recommend the very mild because even the mild is spicy. Solid place overall.

Food is good. It's a tiny place. The staff are great. Make sure u read the menu describing how they rate their spiciness. I ordered extra mild and it's equivalent to most places medium spiciness. I love spicy food fyi.

The food was amazing! Can't wait to go back. Service was quick and the food was fresh. The place was clean and the staff wiped off our table before we got seated.

I think about this place in my dreams. It was one of the best tteokbokki I have ever had in my life. First of all the portion was huge and I had leftover for days. I do wish I got one option spicier because I was scared of the Korean spice levels. But it was overall delicious The service was also amazing, the worker was so nice trying to get us seated as soon as possible and he even said we could get the bigger table if no big party showed up which they did but he felt bad and gave us our drinks for free. The servers here are amazing and super friendly. When I visit la I'm definitely coming back

If you can't handle spicy foods, I would not recommend this spot. Many people have complained that the mild is even too hot and spicy. But if you love spicy food, this spot is for you! Or if you can handle some heat, then I suggest ordering some banana milks or the yo cools with your order. Def not soda coz that just makes it burn more. Lol. I like a variety so I usually end up ordering the B set with the Yup Dduk. If you like more fish cake than the rice cakes, you can get the Yup O. I love their tuna mayo rice ball. It compliments the ddukboki so well IMO! Forgot to talk about the parking. Like many places in Ktown, its valet parking. And the parking lot is smalllllll. It's better to drop someone off and pick up the order circle the block and come back around. Coz the wait times here get crazy! I waited almost 1.5 hours to eat here. Smh. But the restaurant is small too with I think about 8 or 10 tables max. This location is in a small strip mall.

extra mild is still spicy, but overall 10/10. Small but cozy spot. No wait, servers were super helpful and on top of it. Ramen was a huge portion/ we split between 4 of us and still had a lot of food left. We ordered extra ramen, side of rice, and the spam fried rice. We went with no fish cakes, extra rice cake, and extra cheese. Would definitely come back!

Got some delivery from here! Mild was saucy and SPICYYYYYY, so be warned. The wide noodles and rice cakes were all cooked perfectly. They don't skimp on the sausage too. They gave so many! Portions were great and this was great for sharing. I recommend the rice balls, but not the chicken feeet. I thought they would be boneless... but they were not.

yupdduk takes tteokboki to a new level. you can pick whether you'd prefer more rice cakes or fish cakes in the main bowl, and then you can add a bunch of toppings. i absolutely love the fried spam!! the DIY rice balls are amazing, i especially love the tuna rice balls. it's fun to mix together and eat with the yupdduk. the bowls do take a long time to prepare, but the portions are huge and can easily serve 4 people. it's a fairly small restaurant, so i'd recommend going on weekdays or near opening times for a shorter wait.

I visited Yupdduk on a Sunday evening and experienced a 30-minute wait to get seated. Thankfully, they offer valet parking as well as street parking options, which made it convenient. The restaurant itself is quite small--I expected it to be bigger--but the cozy atmosphere didn't detract from the experience. The staff was very friendly and checked on us regularly. We ordered the yupdduk with added ramen, mozzarella cheese, veggie fries, and fried dumplings. We opted for extra mild, which turned out to be the perfect level of spice for us. However, I'm curious to see how spicy the other levels are! I enjoyed my food so much that I couldn't stop eating, even though I was really full. The pickled radish was a great addition to balance the spiciness. I can't wait to go back and try their bulgogi next time!

My daughter usually goes to the Irvine location since she lives out there, but she had a taste for this today, and I've never had it so here we were. First, the parking is valet only for a small strip mall parking lot. I parked across the street beause I don't want to valet my new car nor give him my key fob. This place is pretty small, about 8 tables at most. We sat to the side and got serviced right away. After we came in, more people came in, I think we brought in the crowd. And they got their foods before us, as ours was a huge bowl of the yup dduk. My daughter said their medium spice level was extra hot so we got the extra mild, but even that was spicy to us. This was a huge portion size even to share!! I wished they had a half size because even half, we couldn't finish it. We added the ramen noodles (extra $3) dumplings (extra $4) and the kim-mari (rice rolls; extra $4) snd mozarella cheese (extra $4), and ordered the tempeh (fish cake soup) soup to kill the heat. Everything tasted great and the service was great, as well, but the price for street food was pretty hefty at $71.32 (I doubled the tax for tip) including tip for lunch!! We end up packing it for my parents to try. My daughter did warn me of the spice level and the price, but I had wanted to try it out. I would come back if my daughter wanted it again, but I don't think I would come alone for this. Thanks Yup Dduk team for an excellent service today!!

I want to rate this place higher, but even the most mild spice was too spicy for me to enjoy and I honestly think it's a bit overpriced. They start by giving you something to coat your stomach before eating. Then you select your food. Everything was delicious and we were happy with all of our add-ons. I just wish there was an even more mild spice option available (just for reference I do eat a lot of spicy foods!) The restaurant was very small, but had enough spacing in between seats. We were there mid-week so it wasn't busy, but I imagine on the weekends there might be a line. The servers were very attentive and kind. They cleaned up after us immediately when we finished a plate or left a rapper.

Reviewing based on my most recent visit. We came here awhile ago and I don't remember what we ordered (pictured provided) but I knew I wanted to come back. They weren't lying when they say they' are the spiciest restaurant in ktown- be ware lol. We got the Yuo Duck- which includes fish cake and rice cake; you can choose more rice cake than fish cake. You must choose your Spice level, we ordered mild but their mild is a lot more MILD? My bf and I were sweating, the waiters saw his much pain we were in lol and gave us these mini yogurt drinks to help alleviate the kick . Everything was delicious, it's a very small restaurant. Definitely need to return soon

This place is tiny, but good! Of course you gotta try the tteokboki with tuna rice. That was good for 3 people! The services was great too!

I love Yup O with riceball!!!!! I'm so sad if I want to eat inside, we need to wait around 1 hour But the taste so good, I can wait

Limited seating and mainly good for bigger groups because the portions are HUGE! This was my first time here and it was super yummy. It's like a big bowl of whatever you wanna put in it! We did a custom one with ramen which was my fav, sausages, veggies, spicy rice cakes and more. It was so yummy and the mild is like medium to spicy. So be careful with spice levels. Service was fast and friendly!

I got this as delivery and was impressed with the portion size! It was a huge container of food. I did not feel like I missed out by not dining in. Enough for 2-3 people. I got it as very mild and it was the perfect spicy for me. It's still actually very spicy but I'm weak when it comes to handling spice. The sausage is sooo good! It's slightly sweet. Very delicious overall.

It was my first time trying this place, and it did not disappoint. I went with the mild spicy level, which was just right--not too spicy and really enjoyable. The fried veggies and onion rings were sooo good! The cook time was a bit long, but definitely worth the wait. The rice cakes were perfectly chewy, the sauce had a great balance of sweet and spicy, and they were generous with the cheese. The restaurant is pretty small, with only about six tables, so it can get crowded. We went on a weekday for dinner and only waited about 5 minutes.

I'm gonna just start off by saying GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! LIKE REALLY GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! The guy seemed genuinely nice and it felt really warm and welcomed. The food here is absolutely amazing as well, one dish of yup dduk comes with A HUGE amount of portions and even 4 people could eat it in order to finish it. The place is kinda small but hey who knows if this keeps going this way their business could still expand and get a bigger place than this. I love this place! 10 out of 10 recommended!!

This was a friends recommendation of spicy and challenge and big. This restaurant requires valet because parking is the biggest issue but it's cheaper than other parking. First timers warning: if you are not a spicy lover, I don't recommend the challenge. Even the waitress ask "are you sure" multiple times because others ignore the warning and regret it in the end. But we assure that if we cry, got no one to blame except ourselves. Be expect to wait in the meantime. Got some friend appetizers and handmade musabi where you are given rice and seaweed and the rice paper to make it. Very appealing. When the bowl was finally ready, it's huge. It can feed up to 4 people (depending on how much the party can eat). The spice level is intense but not to a one chip challenge level. Overall, it's very good and very satisfying. Highly recommend on trying to challenge your tastebuds

I love yup dduk! The first time I had it was in Korea, so I was scared if this would be the same but it was!! 1. Do not underestimate the spice. I always go extra mild and I'd say I'm pretty good with spice. Once i tried medium and i was fr crying 2. The interior is quite small as I think most people go for takeout 3. The toppings and sides are pretty authentic, I suggest trying the rice balls because it's simple but traditionally goes well with tteokboki! 4. The service was super great and everyone was so kind and hard working!

First timer here!! My friend recommended this place and was saying how it was his favorite place here. We got the Yupdduk, spice level was extra mild. For extra toppings, we ordered ramen noodles, udon noodles, extra fish cake, and boiled eggs. I was not expecting the serving size to be so big my goodness. We weren't able to finish it but we ate like 75% of it hahaha. It was good and the right amount of spiciness for me.

Service is very friendly! I like that they give you cold water and yellow radishes. Got some chicken feet, rice balls, and yupdduk with cellophane noodles which I think are like japchae noodles. I like that the yupdduk comes with fishcakes, sausages, cabbage, and a swirl of cheese on top! We got extra mild which is probably a bit less than regular spicy for some other places. Portion is super massive, so it's worth the price. Rice balls are good but honestly you could skip them unless you're using them to handle the spice if you're getting something spicier. I didn't eat the chicken feet because I got too full but I think my sister liked them. Really so happy that there is a parking lot for the little strip of businesses in the small plaza. Tables in the establishment are kinda small but well maintained and clean.

We ordered the Yup Dduk extra mild and added egg fried seaweed rolls, and rice balls on the side. Even though it was extra mild my boyfriend and I were lowkey dying from the spice, but if you like spice this is the place to be!! I would have preferred the tteokbokki to be a little bit sweeter. I do feel like the price is fair because it could feed about three people - we ended up paying about $50 including tip. Ambiance was chill and service was good. We got there at a good time (around 12 pm on Sunday) but as we were leaving the wait time was getting up to be an hour and a half because it's a pretty small space and there were large parties. Parking lot was small but lucky enough to to find a spot

The service was good and the inside is only large enough to comfortably sit around 4-6 parties, so during peak hours there is a bit of a wait. The portions are large so going with a group and sharing helps. My friends and I (3) were not even close to finishing the bowl. Even if you like spice, I would recommend going a level lower than you are planning to get because it is spicier than you might expect. I eat the regular buldak noodles often and when I got regular spice the first time I went, it almost took me out (ToT). The more you go, the easier it is to build up a tolerance and order spicier, but I recommend getting the rice balls to eat it with too!

Great but it used to come with ramen and some glass noodles and you can add additional for a charge. Nowadays you have to add on ramen or glass noodles or all you get is the dukk and the o-deng. I mean for 40ish dollars they could at least include some of the noodles otherwise you are just getting a stew :/ Friendly staff tho when I called in and asked about the Mala Dukk still have not tried it maybe I will at some point

Crazy portions and great food for a good price. This was the first stop my girlfriend when we made it Los Angeles this past weekend. When we arrived we put ourselves on the waitlist - it was predicted to be about a 1 hour wait or so but as we were a smaller group we were able to be seated within about 30-40 minutes. The interior is fairly small - it can seat about up to four groups of two and a few groups of 3+ Once seated, we were given a menu and ended up ordering the signature Yup Dduk without fishcakes (which the restaurant was able to do without any problems) and we added Mozzarella cheese, Seaweed Rolls, Veggie Fries, and the Cellophane noodles. Food arrived quickly and we dove in. Everything was cooked perfectly. The rice cakes and noodles were tender, soft and delicious. And the sauce was done so well. The toppings were also a delight - the Seaweed Roll and the Veggie Fries both far exceeded any expectations that I had. My only gripe was that we got the Regular spice level and to me it didn't feel that spicy at all (very delicious though) - next time around I may try the regular again or even give the challenge a go. All in all Yup Dduk is , in my opinion a must visit when in LA/ Koreatown. If you are willing to wait, you won't regret stopping by. 5/5

Very small dinning area and limited parking. Came during the afternoon and was seated right away. It does get full around the evening and the wait time can be around 20 mins so I suggest coming before 5pm for little to no wait time. We ordered the original yupdduck with a couple add ons and the DIY rice balls which was a fun experience. I recommend extra cheese if you are a cheese person like me. The cheese pulls were amazing! Great food and fast service.

Absolutely delicious tteokbokki - you can customize additions, such as fish cakes, sausage, cheese, etc. I'd highly recommend getting some rice balls on the side to fight the heat, since even the mild is pretty spicy! They have a small parking lot with valet parking available. This location is really small, with only around 4 tables, so the wait can be pretty long. On a weekday evening, we waited around an hour and a half, and the store seemed really overwhelmed with delivery orders as well.

What a great place to go to for sharing! You and your friends and family better love the idea of sharing if you come here. I always order the extra mild but today we felt like we could handle the mild and yeah we did but it got hotter more quickly. We tried soondae for the first time and it's was good. Wait times can get so long because they really only have about 7 tables to sit 2 each and then they combine tables for bigger parties when needed.

this place is one of my go-to places for tteokbokki. the rice cakes are always so bouncy and chewy, and the flavor is amazing! we added fried spam and ramen noodles (always add the ramen noodles!!) and got a side of the diy rice balls. the portions are HUGE and you can easily split the yupdduk between 3 people for a very affordable meal. aside from the great tasting food, the staff are very attentive! always checked in on us for water refills and almost immediately cleared our empty dishes as soon as we were done with them. I will never not recommend this place for someone looking for a great k-cuisine!

Ever since we came back to LA, everyone has talked about this restaurant. So we stopped by the location in KTown on 6th Street to give it a try! First of all, my partner and I are not big spice fans, and we had heard that this place offers pretty spicy food in general. With that being said, we got the extra mild B set, with mozzarella cheese added. Despite being extra mild, it was still fairly spicy but again, take that with a grain of salt since we are both non-spicy eaters. The flavor, however, is so good, and I'm glad we got the cheese because it helped with the spice, but also added additional flavor to the dish. We also really enjoyed the rice ball addition as part of the set. There's something about rice, seaweed, and a spicy stew/sauce that just makes sense and tastes so good. In a way, the rice also helped with the spiciness too. The restaurant is located in a small plaza with a few parking spots. I'm not certain, but I believe this lot is managed by a 3rd party valet service on some days, but it could be all days as this is fairly typical in KTown. There is also street parking nearby.

You know you want it... The large glass noodles are a must add The jook - rice porridge is surprisingly so good and helps with the spice more than the rice balls

Let me first start with the portion to price ratio. Set A (the most basic and cheapest one, $31) was extremely filling for my party of three. We ordered ramen and deep fried spam as extra sides, and they paired SO WELL with the rice cakes, fried veggie sticks, sausages, and fish cakes. The only thing to wary about is the spice level, which our server warned us about (shoutout to her for keeping it real with us)! We got extra mild, the lowest spice level, and still thought it had a good amount of heat. Our server compared mild, the next spice level up, to Buldak ramen. Regular, the next one up, was compared to the 2x spicy Buldak ramen. If you know, you know. Yup Dduk is located in a small plaza with valet parking for $3. It's a pretty small restaurant with only about 5-6 tables and two people in the FOH as servers. My friends and I came around 8pm on a Thursday evening and had to wait around 15 minutes for our table--it was worth every minute. I loved the cozy vibe and was able to talk to my friends without struggling to hear them over the music. The two servers were very attentive and one of them got us more water as soon as we ran out, without us having to ask for it. He made conversation and cracked a few jokes with us despite it being time to start closing. Overall a very comforting environment!

Great place to grab a bite with your friends when in K-Town. The location is quite small though with only a few tables and limited parking. Something to consider if you are craving rice cakes (ddukbokgi/tteokbokki). I came here with a group of 4 and we were able to fit perfectly by combining two tables. We split two bowls of rice cakes. In hindsight, one bowl would have been sufficient. The portion sizes here are really big! Also beware of the spiciness levels. I am pretty comfortable with spiciness and the mild was too spicy for me. If this is your first time here, I'd recommend to start with extra mild and then work your way up the spiciness ladder.

In my opinion, this place is overrated, though that's not to say the flavor isn't good. However, I'm picky when it comes to texture and when a place is supposed to specialize in something such as tteokbokki, I expect the rice cakes to be cooked to perfection. That just wasn't the case. The rice cake we got was overcooked and falling apart in the bowl! It was barely even chewy, which is the best part of rice cakes in my opinion, and was mushy instead. Not worth the long wait times. Also the spice levels here are no joke. Even mild has quite a kick!

Had Yup Dduk for the first time (I know I know where have I been all my life?) and I was pretty dang blown away. The restaurant itself is fairly small and tight but it makes sense because it's la, and service wasn't bad, but it's the food here that makes this place what it is! This is the type of place you go to for casual late night Korean snack or comfort food. Had the yup dduk (which is the main thing to get) and it was very savory but also spicy. Might not recommend for those with more sensitive stomachs! Make sure to include fried seaweed rolls! Parking can be tight, best to find street parking!

I've been wanting to come here for a couple years or so now. First time I'd heard of this place the line was out the door and long so my friends and I ended up at a different restaurant in the same plaza. Since then, every time I pass through town and research Yelp for yummy places to eat, this one seems to keep popping up. But then, I'm usually alone and it seemed like too much food for one. Boy was I right! We were a party of three this time. It was close to 8pm on a Tuesday night so the wait was maybe 15-20 minutes. After reviewing the menu, I realized this menu did not offer diet food. There were no fresh vegetables in their offerings. Sometimes, you just need an indulging meal. The space is quite small. Depending on the table configurations there were a maximum of 4-5 table sets possible. But this tinyness of the space added to the charm. People came in and out to grab takeout while all the tables were filled. It amused me that all the customers at the time of our visit were probably all under the age of 25, except us. And then I saw all their bowls of Tteokbokki on their tables. They weren't regular bowls, they were GIANT bowls full of sticky noodles covered in spicy gochujang style red sauces, covered in gooey cheese. We ordered Yup Dduk, Set C. In our order there was yam noodles (the kind Japchae is made of), fried onion rings and fried zucchini, fish cake, a couple small pieces of sausage and maybe some other things. Being an "older customer" my body can't necessarily handle such a carb loaded meal. But, my eyes and taste buds feasted on this dish! It was delish! I think this bowl could have fed 6 people! We had plenty of leftovers. On the side, the only vegetable to be considered was pickled radish. Does that count as "balance"? One of my favorite things about the meal was making seaweed covered rice balls. I'd never done this before. So much fun and delicious too. I'll be trying this at home! And when they advise "extra mild", I recommend you take their suggestion. No shame in extra mild. I can handle a decent amount of slickness. No joke! This was spicy! It definitely inched to my borderline.

Delicious way to get your tteokbokki fix! The portions here are huge, with plenty for 2. Be warned- the spice levels are no joke here! So I've stuck with extra mild to be safe, and even that still packs a punch. Everyone laughs, but I always make sure to order a yogurt drink in preparation haha. I usually add cheese and ramen to mine, but I love how they have many options here to customize your tteokbokki. I also really like pairing it with the seaweed rice balls on the side. The place is small so the wait can be longer during peak hours, but there is yelp waitlist available. Overall great food, great service, and a nice and clean interior. Parking though may be tough, as the plaza parking is valet only ($3) and fairly small. There are some metered street parking nearby as well.

* The food is so good * The mild is pretty spicy * Staff is nice * Parking kinda sucks * wait time during prime time can be anywhere from 1hr to 1 hr 40 mins in my experience since the inside is pretty small. If you have a big party you may not all fit I would call ahead to make sure.

I finally got to try Yup Dduk after hearing about it for so long and all the positive reviews that I had heard about it previously were on point. We chose set B which comes with Ddeokbokki (spicy rice cakes), Twigim (deep fried vegetables), and the rice balls. In each set, you can choose to either have the Yup O (which has more fish cakes) or the regular Yup Dduk (which has more rice cakes than fish cakes). They were so generous with the amount of food that they give that we had enough leftovers for the two of us afterwards. The spice levels are really legitimate here. I have a pretty high spice tolerance, but I was told that they really make the food spicy here. I had the mild level (which is the second level) and I still found the food to be pretty spicy. Would highly recommend Yup Dduk for anyone looking to have authentic Ddeokbokki or Korean street food here and so happy I finally got to try it!

There's almost always a wait unless you go right at opening but its worth the wait! The space is small but they get the food out quickly and its so delicious, staff is great at giving recommendations on what to order, food is delicious.

Great food and service. I didn't catch the male servers name but he was super nice and helpful!

Yup Dduk is the best place to share dukbokki with friends! We came here at 4:30pm on a Sunday and was surprised that there was a wait - but after 15 min nearly everyone left the restaurant so 5pm is the ideal time to visit LOL We ordered their standard with fried spam and ramen at mild spicy. Don't take their spice level for granted though - I love spicy food and eat it a lot but their mild was definitely more of a medium. For two people, this is definitely enough and more for another takeaway meal. I would highly suggest getting other things to help with the spice levels like banana milk and rice balls just to cut the meal - I didn't need it but my friend definitely did LOL If you add a lot of sides, the bill will rack up but I found out meal to be the perfect amount! May opt for more cheese next time! Parking: valet during the time we went at $3 which isn't too bad. Restaurant size: slightly smaller which is why there was a wait. Tables are also really close together so you'll smell the perfume of the person sitting next to you lol