Seoul Garden Restaurant

Reviews 4

CH

Christopher Atkinson

So ever since I first saw bibimbap on food/cooking shows, Ive been a man on a mission to find some and try it. My search led me here. We get to the place and it looks super plain on the outside. Not good, not bad. But then we get inside and the space is beautiful. The decor is minimal but nice and calming, there is a bar area with a TV, and there are cook-the-food-yourself tables dispersed in the front corner of the restaurant. It was very nice. Our hostess was our server and seemingly the only employee in the place. She took care of us. She was super nice and took time to answer our questions, although I seemed to confuse her with the specific questions I had. We both wanted the beef bibimbap, but there were two versions on the menu, so I asked her what the difference was, and there was no discernible answer, so we ordered once of each. We started off the meal with the vegetable spring rolls for an appetizer. They were frozen, and the filling was kind just a mush of mystery cabbage and such, but the flavoring and the seasoning of it was good, and the super crispy exterior combined with it made it pretty tasty overall and worth the $3.50, but I would still recommend going with a more unique appetizer here. Nothing special about the spring rolls. So we got our bibimbap and found the answers to our questions. My girlfriend got the number 11 bibimbap had vegetables in it, far less beef than the number 16, it had a fried egg on top, and the bowl was way hotter than mine was, leading to the actual crisping of the rice like bibimbap is known for and is supposed to have. My number 16 bibimbap had no vegetables, had way more beef, and has boring normal rice in it. My pictures will have a fried egg on both of them, though, because in our miscommunications, I ordered an extra-charge fried on mine accidentally. No biggie. Both dishes were super tasty, super filling, and were both worth their price, but if you want the more authentic dish, go for the number 11, definitely. The crispy rice adds a texture to the dish thats unlike most dishes in this world, honestly. So good. Mine was good, though. Just like beef fried rice. Very delicious beef. We were also given six different sides to share between us in our dishes. Sweet potatoes, pickles vegetables, picked dicon, kimchi, bean sprouts, and some tofu. Adding one of these sides to any bite of the bibmbap changed the flavor and made it seem like a new dish. It was fun, combining flavors like that. All the sides were delish. Check the photos. So then we got the green tea mochi ice cream for dessert. They were little green mochi balls with green tea ice cream inside, served on a plate with whipped cream sprayed around them. I feel like they were meant to be more of a hand-held treat. It was awkward to eat them with the provided spoons, but they were still good. Not super sweet. Green tea ice cream is such a good palate cleanser for the end of a meal, and the mochi just made it fun! Overall, we had no idea we were going to enjoy this place so much. I recommend coming here if anything I just said appeals to you. It was a good time, for not a lot of money.

A

A Private User

My first impression of the place was how neat and tidy it was. The wait staff where incredibly friendly, and promptly seated my friends and I. Sodas were ordered, and we looked over the menus. We had chosen to order from the kitchen rather than doing the BBQ. Seoul Garden has an array of Korean dishes, and it can be a little daunting for the uninitiated. The waitstaff are incredibly friendly, however, and will gladly make suggestions. This was not our first foray into Korean cuisine, but we still had a few questions to ask about certain things on the menu. For appetizers we got the pan fried tofu and pan fried dumplings. The tofu was deliciously seasoned, and came with a delicious dipping sauce. The dumplings were some of the best Ive had. If youve ever had gyoza, these are essentially the same thing, albeit with a far different taste. Theyre a bit on the earthy, spicy side thanks to the kimchi. For my entree, I got the squid stone pot bibim bap. The squid was absolutely perfect. It was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The bibim bap itself was spicy without being overbearing, and blended all of the flavorings together perfectly. One of my friends ordered the bulbogi (sort of like korean beef bbq) which was tender, flavorful and delicious. When you order Korean food, your entrees always come with complimentary side dishes to be shared by your entire table. These ranged from spicy to downright sweet, and were a real treat. The service we received was exceptional. After being given our appetizers, we were approached by one of the waitstaff who was carrying 3 beers. He apologized for the wait, and gave us the beers on the house. It hadnt seemed like we had been waiting for very long, but the gesture was definitely appreciated, and was just another special touch to a perfect evening.

A

A Private User

Korean food is a favorite vice of mine since the (defunct) Lees Bistro several years ago. So when I discovered this place, I figured Id give it a try, since I had visited Shens a few times (Colonial near Mills). The first thing I noticed, being a handicapped individual, is an oversized door. Dont be afraid to bring your handicapped friends or family, the front door is at least 1 1/2 the size of a normal entrance. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters fit without the least of a struggle. The environment didnt seem particularly cultural (or American). If youre looking for a Korean cultural visual and auditory experience, I dont even know where in the Orlando area you would find it. Perhaps on I-Drive at a much higher price. Im partial to pork Bulgogi (Daeji), so I always order that. As usual, I received the typical appetitizers (Kim Chi). As I ravaged through these, although the main course had arrived, my empty appetizers were fully replaced. The quality of the food was excellent. Very little comment can be made. The bulgogi was delightfully spicy, just as I like it. The rice was... rice. The dinner was concluded with a complimentary cup of tea (I suppose a custom) with two seeds or nuts, which was a nice finish. The only negative I can imagine is that there is a minor language barrier that can be easily navigated with keeping to basic English. As for cost, my dinner, including tip (and I am a very generous tipper) ran around $20. One of the more inexpensive Korean food options (by far!) in the Orlando area.

B

B Will

Maitlands hidden gem! Great service and authentically terrific food. Orlando is a melting pot of diversity so if one gets a chance to sample authentic cuisine - take it! Yesterday I did just that, and am I glad I did. I just wish Seoul Garden Restaurant & Grill was closer to my side of town. Was looking for an authentic Korean experience. Note: Authentic to me means no frills or fluff, just good wholesome food in a relaxed environment - as if youre eating at your moms house. This place didnt disappoint. The server was very warm and accommodating, and the food arrived promptly. I could taste the love, and quickly ordered another dish to have for lunch the next day. Upon leaving the chef came out to greet me, and thanked me for coming. Will definitely be going back. 5 Stars!