Authentic Korean restaurant with the usual traditional dishes and the cook-it-yourself BBQ grill. I came here with my Korean friend, and she gave it the Korean stamp of approval (as in it's not bastardized food, watered-down to suit "American" tastes). I've gotten their soondubu (tastes as good as I've had in LA), galbi tang (as advertised and better). Of course, like any good Korean restaurant, they bombard you with side dishes after you've ordered. The side dishes have as much love put into them as the main courses, and are seasoned well. You know how some Korean restaurants don't give these essential side dishes their all? Not true here. Wrapping up the dinner is a free included dessert: a sweet, cold soup. Very cinnamony and topped off with pine nuts. I don't know what it's called, but I've had it before, and Nagwon does it the best. So far, the best Korean food I've found in Philly. I've heard there's better in North Philly, but until I venture out there, Nagwon is my Korean joint. As for transportation, it's probably best to get here with a car. Using SEPTA takes too long, and there's a fair bit of walking involved if you try it (at least using the routes I used).
(5)
James C.
My family used to always come here for the neng myun (cold buck wheat noodles) and bbq, but the quality has changed. They don't make the broth but used prepackaged ones that arent that good. The prices are kinda more pricier than other Korean places. Service is okay and the food is just average, there are better Korean places than here.
(2)
Bob M.
Two stars because the food was good. Not great, good. The service there was horrible though. I had ordered hot tea which never came. Luckily I wasn't charged for it. After we got our food there was no other contact with the server. I tried to get her attention to get the check several times over the course of a half hour, to no avail. Finally after 45 minutes of trying to get the check I just walked up to her and got my wallet out. Then she got the hint. No "how was your meal" anything like that. Oh,and we were the only two patrons in the place the whole time. Never going back again!
(2)
David L.
Above average food and now offers all u can eat bbq for dinner. Service is a little slow (typical of most korean restaurants).
(4)
Mimi L.
First time at this restaurant. It's ok. The food could be better. We had a large group and ordered many different dishes. All were just ok. The rice cakes were alittle on the sweet side and very small portion for the cost. The food here was just not to my standards. The kids enjoyed the dumplings and seafood noodle dish. The interior look could use some updating but hey its a old restaurant.
(3)
Chris M.
Went here on a weeknight and was craving BBQ, bad! Had to go some place close to home so read some reviews on Yelp and thought we would give it a try. Place was empty except for one table of Korean girls chatting it up and we were sat immediately. I knew what I wanted and tried to order but the server insisted that I point to the items I wanted to BBQ, no biggie. When the food came out after the banchan, the server warmed up a little. I asked for sesame oil for one of the dishes and she seemed to respond to us a bit more seriously after that. Her English was not very good, but then again, my Korean is horrid, so the night went along as smoothly as it could. We ended up ordering seconds of meat and left feeling quite full. four stars for the following positive things: parking, ease of ordering from the menu, soju available. minus a star for the following: ventilation wasn't over each table, so the room became a little stuffy, I felt the portion sizes could have been larger, one server for Korean service for the whole restaurant wasn't enough. Once another table came in, it became very hard to order anything else. Overall, I would go here again but I wouldn't rush back, going to keep trying places close to home and if you have recommendations, send them my way. Jenikintown all you can eat is my fav so far!
(4)
Jennifer M.
My family loves this place! Feels comfortable. Nice staff! Good food. Go often.
(4)
Chuck H.
I just tried this Korean restaurant this past weekend. The food was good, menu included traditional Korean dishes and Korean BBQ. Servings weren't as big as I expected them to be. The restaurant wasn't that busy for a Saturday dinner (maybe 1/3 occupied). Service was good and polite. To barbeque on the table you will need to order at least 2 orders from the BBQ menu. Servers and phone receptionist not very fluent in English. I've gone to better places in the Los Angeles area around Korea town as well as in Orange county.
(3)
Albert D.
Nice little place with a lot of Asian people eating here, so I guess that's saying something. This place uses charcoal to cook dishes of meat that they bring out to you. Their marinated BBQ pork is really good, albeit costly (you get enough meat for 1.5 people= $19.00). The bibimbap (rice/meat/vegetables in a stone dish) is always a winner. Anything that comes in a stone bowl deserves 10 stars. Their kimchi stew goes well with the BBQ pork because it's salty and tangy (the pork is sweet), and it's not too costly, being around $9. I like it, but it ended up being a bit more costly than i would have liked. Otherwise, good, down-to-earth Korean food.
(4)
M K.
After reading the reviews here I decided to give this place a shot. Either my standards for good Korean food are unreasonably high or people in this city have never had good Korean food if this place is getting 4 and 5 stars. Naturally, I'm a little biased since I'm first generation and grew up with my whole family around me making this stuff, but unless we were extremely unlucky on our visit here, we can surely do better. Just because the owners or cooks are Korean doesn't necessarily mean that they make *good* Korean food. Does every single American know how to make good American food? (For that matter, I found our hostess/waitress curt and uninterested in us, not only because she never really checked on us, but barely even spoke to us when taking our order, even though I was speaking to her in Korean.) I had the doengjang cheegae, which was so salty I could only have about a 1/4 of it. The doenjang was pretty salty to begin with, but then they loaded the broth with more soy sauce, mushrooms, and other salty flavors so that you tasted nothing else. My companion had the dolsot bibimbap, which came with like five little pieces of meat and otherwise had no real flavor to speak of. As far as the side dishes go, granted that half the time these are bought pre-packaged anyway (so you might as well just go down the street to H-mart to get them), half were good and the other half were pretty meh and all seemed to be missing one or two key ingredients. The anchovies, seaweed, egg, and cabbage kimchee were good; the bean sprouts were pretty flavorless (a touch of sesame oil but otherwise watery), the cucumber kimchee was bland (not underdone since the cucumbers weren't too crunchy but it's likely they were missing the shrimp powder in their seasoning when they fermented it), and the potatoes were basically just covered in (surprise) soy sauce. The tea that came with the meal was basically the same genmai cha (green tea with brown rice that, by the way, is a Japanese tea and not Korean) you can get anywhere; we weren't offered the shikye (sweet rice drink) at the end of the meal as someone else claimed they got (which also is not only pretty standard but easily obtainable in cans at H-mart). So either we just got unlucky and happened to order two of their weaker dishes, but my overall impression was that in general their dishes were each missing something important to make them actually good. If I had to make an analogy, this place would be sort of like what Olive Garden would be to really good Italian food.
(2)
David P.
A nice option for those venturing out for Korean in West Philly. The Bulgogi (said to be a native's measuring stick of Korean cuisine) is nice - a little spicy, a little sweet, tender, and smoky. Kalbi is particularly fine here as well, with large meaty portions. Banchan selection here is above-average, as are the choices of soup. The Boyang tang (black goat stew) is an inexpensive and rich soup with tender chunks of goat, greens, spices, and layers of flavor. It is sinus-clearing in a refreshing way, but not the same as a boiling crock of kimchi jigae.
(4)
isabelle m.
So good! The barbeque is my fav -- beef, onions, mushrooms and garlic barbecued at the table. The secret is in the wood charcoal chips, installed piping hot right there on the spot, giving you the best flavor ever for your Q. Other favs, koreaan seafood pancake, and the spicy squid thingy. Limited english, sweet cooking couple. you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Eddie C.
This is a staple restaurant for Koreans living in the West side of Philly and beyond. Being that this is a BBQ restaurant do not come in looking for a bargain. Depending on the size of your party - look to pay anywhere from $35-$100. To cook tableside you'll need to order for 2 - otherwise they just cook it in the kitchen. As far as the meat selection is concerned I go for the Spicy Pork (Mae-eun Dwe-jee Galbi)or the Pork Bellies (Sam Gyub Sal). Soups are alright with Fish Roe Soup (Al-Chigae) and Cow Knee Soup(Do Ga Nee Tang) being on my top list. For foreigners I would go for their Dol-sot bibim-bap (Cast iron bowl with rice and assorted veggies/meat). I think it's the best in town. If you're looking for a cheap Korean meal just head over to H-Mart over by 69th Street Station and go upstairs to the food court. Again - this is the best Korean spot outside of NE Philly/Cheltenham. Everything in the city is garbage as they cater more to western taste buds. The only issue you may run into is the service - it's a bit slow. Not all staff speak fluent English, so do be aware of this fact.
(3)
Michael M.
Best BiBimBap near the Main Line. Authentic food, great assortment of kimchee. There's a bit of a communication challenge, but the food is worth it. The biggest problem with Nagwon is parking. Their lot is the size of a postage stamp. We cheat and park next door.
(4)
D T.
This is a family owned throughoutly traditional Korean BBQ buffet. They use fresh coals under cast iron grill...no gas heat. Delicious marinated meat and fresh home made vegetables. We were so happy to take a chance on this restaurant. It's a hidden gem. Fresh refrigerated meat selection of 10 different meats and about 12 different sides and pickles. Full bbq is $30/person and so worth it. We took some pics at dinner. Some complain it's more expensive than other places around Philly, but a lot of Korean families eat here, it's never completely empty, at least not at dinner. The quality is very good. They have other things as well, besides barbecue, traditional Korean dishes. Give it a try you won't be sorry... Enjoy! Set back on Route 3 look for the green signs.
(4)
Nick L.
Pretty good korean food here but do not go here for koran bbq. Its not worth it. I would ckme here for certain korean dishes but i would not come here if you want freshly cut meat for korean bbq.
(3)
Bob C.
I'm not sure that I EVER overpaid this much for a meal in ANY country of ANY ethnicity. Maybe they started out good, don't know. This has Got to be their last ditch money grab before closing....should have known....followed some good older reviews, but the place was and remained empty while I was there. I bought 42.00 worth of takeout. Flavor OK. Quality nothing more than average . 27.00 for a tin of "rib meat off the bone" and some veggies. Note to self.. marinate 6-8 oz. Of beef....cook...add 1.50 of chopped veggies.... bill yourself 42.00....with white rice
(1)
Jimmy P.
I wanted to like this place and I hate to write bad reviews especially in a mom and pop place like this. It just wasn't good. Disclaimer that this isn't for the BBQ. This review is simply for the dolsot bimibap - a very simple and classic dish of any korean restaurant. The rice was dry, slightly overcooked. I had a miso soup with my bimibap and eventually had to dip the rice in the soup to finish my dinner. The beef was barely existent. It was almost like ground beef. Had to literally search for it to taste it. Kimchi sadly was bland. I'm no kimchi expert but the color was pale and lacking the red spicy coloring and lacking the punch. Overall I didn't have a good dinner, not a good bimibap specifically. Try elsewhere. -- keep eatin'
(2)
M C.
Never a bad meal here. Always great friendly service even with a slight language barrier. Great soups and stir fry dishes as well as traditional BBQ. I recommend the stir fried octopus (my personal favorite).
(5)
L N.
worth a try! small place but definitely has good quality of meat and worth $30/person. Loveeeee!!!! better than philly buffet in upper darby!
(4)
Tiffany J.
Awesome Bimbimbap and nice wait staff. The food was flavorful and had just enough spice.
(4)
Rachel S.
A solid 2 stars! Stumbled upon this place while driving around. Food was absolutely awesome, service very very good, decor was ok. My date and I shared a seafood and scallion pancake, bulgogi and short rib BBQ. Every dish was bursting with flavor and we were more than satisfied. I'll be back!
(2)
Luong M.
I am just here for the mackerel and some soju for tonight, it doesnt look that tasty but it is actually different in a good way, the fish tastes more fried and squidy.. not bad at all with a lot of lemon drenched over it.
(4)
Kimmy N.
The guy who owns this place is quite nice. but not the wife. The meat quality is awful. I can tell by looking at the kalbi dries right away after being grilled. not many options on the side dishes either. and whats worst is the lady never looks satisfied with 20% gratuity for just sitting there!
(1)
Joanna C.
I was initially hesitant to go in as the giant "KOREAN BUFFET" sign gave me pause. I didn't want a buffet, but my desire for kimchi propelled me on. Thankfully, they don't offer buffets at lunch time (or at least not at lunch time on weekdays - not sure of the weekends). They have really good lunch specials - I had soondubu jigae (soft tofu spicy stew) that was I think only $7.99 - and it came with a whole host of banchans!! The service was really friendly and attentive, which made sense since I was the only person here eating at 2pm on a Tuesday. I promised the server that I will be back if ever in the area again!
(5)
Lisa P.
I have NEVER in my life ate the worst bulgogi that was made so wrong! The bulgogi was prices at $20.99, so I thought it would be a decent dish. It came out to be a few pieces of meat drenched in a watery puddle of mess. I understand that some lower end restaurant would probably make this quality of food but........ priced at $20.99. I will never return for my life!! Please don't come here. Also, there is only one person working there so the service is slow. Overall, I will NOT return!!!!!!!!!! To be correct, I am giving this place 0 stars!!!
(1)
Jennifer W.
We've been driving by this place for years and finally decided to give it a try on the way home from the flower show. Most entrees are $13 and above which is an absurdly high price point considering the decor (circa 1980) and the quality. The service was very good but that's about it. The ventilation is not adequate for a place that features mini BBQ pits at the table. It was so smokey at one point that my eyes were burning and when I got home, sure enough, I smelled like Korean BBQ that had been BBQing too long. I know this is a BBQ place, but I was really surprised to find that there wasn't a single salad option on the menu. My son ordered chicken terrakyi - at $13 you'd expect a lean breast of chicken with veggies. But no, it was chicken pieces cooked in a terrakyi sauce - perhaps straight out of a jar? I ordered something that came out the equivalent of shrimp fried rice. For $11, it was sorely lacking in taste, and a generous splash of soy sauce did little to liven it up. Unless you're seeking BBQ (minimum $40 for two people), I suggest that you skip this place and head directly to Cafe Pho at Terminal Square where virtually every entree is less than $9 and the food is uniformly very good. I am absolutely floored that they are able to charge these high prices and stay in business.
(2)
Glynnis O.
This place has fantastic kalbee, and the side dishes are amazing. I usually come home smelling like a clove of garlic for a week, and I love it. The waitresses here speak very little English, and often come over to cook your kalbee for you, like a mother chiding her young child for doing something the wrong way. It's funny, and you can tell they're thinking 'YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG let me do it for you, Westerner!" Instead of insulting, it's very endearing. My friend is Korean, and we like to bring her with us for better communication (and usually better service!)
(4)
Miwako S.
If you would like authentic Korean food, this is the place to go. We went there with our Korean friends. They ordered a couple of dishes for us to try and we had barbecue buffet. All the appetizers in the buffet were excellent. Barbecue meat was so nice and tender. I would definitely go back and explore other Korean dishes.
(5)
Ben F.
Been here several times since my last review and it's always awesome. I had to tell a funny story about our most recent trip. My friends and I were feeling pretty adventurous and wanted to get something different for one of our dishes so we ordered Stingray. When I pointed it out to the waitress she made like a sour face and shook her head no. I asked why and her response was "Korean... yes. American... no like". All of us kind of looked at each other and said in our own variation "well we can't back down since we are being challenged". It felt like a moment from Always Sunny. For the records, Stingray was nothing I can rave about.
(5)
Yiwen S.
for korean food, there's a general rule that holds true: that the fluency of the servers/owners' english and the authenticity of the food is inversely correlated. and lemme tell you, the ladies who work here have HORRIBLE english. it's funny because one lady will try to take our order, and when she doesn't understand something, she'll call over another lady whose english is even worse. so naturally, the food is delicious. the focus here is really on more traditional korean food: stews, casseroles, and the ever-reliable korean bbq. however, there's also the usual favorites including an assortment of noodles, rice dishes, appetizers and soondubu(!). i would say their typical spice level is somewhere around medium, but you can certainly ask for more spicy. service is spectacular, despite the limited english comprehension. however, the ladies who work here sometimes like serving and cooking (in the case of kbbq) your food for you. i'm not a fan of that because i've been raised with a bit more westernized influence in my culture, but i understand that this is a sign of courtesy and respect in the traditional korean culture. so just be prepared for some over-the-top service along these lines when you come. one catch: if you order meat to bbq, order at least two plates of meat, or else they won't let you grill the meat at your own table (instead, they cook it in the kitchen and bring it out for you). and that's really no fun at all. not THE ABSOLUTE BEST korean food i've ever had. but the best i've had in philly so far. much more accessible than north philly for those poor souls without a car (me me!)
(5)
Steven B.
The wife loves Korean food. Soooooo I've been here a few times. It just doesn't make it for me. The cost/quanity/quality numbers Just don't add up. I've also found the service to be nothing special and sometimes poor. The food is OK but not, in some cases, for the price.
(2)
Florentina L.
I found this place when I was on the bus going to the mall and me and my bf decided to give it a try. We didn't try the BBQ because we want to try their other dish out first. We didn't regret not getting the BBQ either! Their utensils were very old and looks dirty so we have to ask for the plastic forks and spoons:( And the foods(squid and teriyaki chicken) that we ordered were ok. What I try to say about this place is that it is over-priced and not worth your hard-earned money! P.S. Be careful, the people here can't really speaks English so you have to be very patient with them!
(3)
Woo K.
I used to come here often when I was younger (with my family), so for old times sakes I went with a few friends. Maybe it was just a bad day, but the quality of food was very poor. Being from South Korea, perhaps I'm being too harsh but there's not one thing I enjoyed about my meal here. The reason it gets two stars instead of one is because the staff there was nice. There aren't many good Korean restaurants in the Philadelphia area, but I didn't expect the food to be of such poor quality. Not recommended.
(2)
CATHERINE M.
I don't know about you, but sometimes taste buds just get bored. They want you to walk into a Korean restaurant. I love the complimentary mystery bowls of taste treats -kimchee, cucumbers,zucchini, egg and seaweed etc. And once excited,they want you to order Bo Sam- boiled pork with fresh oyster and spicy radish that you roll up in a steamed cabbage leaf . Another treat was Boyang Jungol- black goat and vegetables which included an interesting mix of arugula and sesame greens. Who knew sesame had greens? It would be an invigorating walk, if you didn't have a car but it would be a sassy choice before an event at The Tower Theater.
(4)
C K.
This place is okay. We ordered 5 dishes, 1 seafood pancake panjeon, 1 japchae, 3 orders of bbq (galbi, spicy pork, and spicy chicken). The food was all really good! The side dishes were a bit on the weak side though compared to other korean restaurants. One problem I had was that our server would cook the raw along with the cooked meat on the grill, which was kind of unsanitary.... The place is also alot more expensive than other korean bbq places in north philly.
(3)
Sarah B.
As an Angeleno who's been spoiled all her life with the splendor of Koreatown restaurants and homemade Korean food, I was pleasantly surprised with Nagwon. There are plenty of great features about this place right off the bat: friendly, attentive and quick service; a private lot; peaceful atmosphere; lots of ban chan (side dishes); fair prices; and accepts credit cards. Most surprising was the food itself. To be honest I wasn't expecting much because I haven't heard too many positive things about Kfood in Philly, but all three dishes (deng-jang chigae, kimchi pahjun and seasoned gogi) were extremely flavorful, authentic and tasted homemade. The complimentary dessert, shikae (sweet rice drink), washed everything down and satiated my usual hankering for sugar after a good meal. They serve soju, sake, a couple wines and beer; I only wish their beer selection was bigger because they only had Heiniken and Coors. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Benjamin R.
I love Nagwon Garden...very good quality meats and their sam gye tang (Chicken & Ginseng soup) is pretty good as long as you add in a good deal of salt (which they provide). I love the galbi and the selection of banchan. In addition to BBQ Nagwon has a good selection of other Korean dishes. Definately worth a visit if you are in the Philadelphia or Mainline Areas.
(4)
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Address :7650 W Chester Pike
Upper Darby, PA, 19082
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Michael C.
Authentic Korean restaurant with the usual traditional dishes and the cook-it-yourself BBQ grill. I came here with my Korean friend, and she gave it the Korean stamp of approval (as in it's not bastardized food, watered-down to suit "American" tastes). I've gotten their soondubu (tastes as good as I've had in LA), galbi tang (as advertised and better). Of course, like any good Korean restaurant, they bombard you with side dishes after you've ordered. The side dishes have as much love put into them as the main courses, and are seasoned well. You know how some Korean restaurants don't give these essential side dishes their all? Not true here. Wrapping up the dinner is a free included dessert: a sweet, cold soup. Very cinnamony and topped off with pine nuts. I don't know what it's called, but I've had it before, and Nagwon does it the best. So far, the best Korean food I've found in Philly. I've heard there's better in North Philly, but until I venture out there, Nagwon is my Korean joint. As for transportation, it's probably best to get here with a car. Using SEPTA takes too long, and there's a fair bit of walking involved if you try it (at least using the routes I used).
(5)James C.
My family used to always come here for the neng myun (cold buck wheat noodles) and bbq, but the quality has changed. They don't make the broth but used prepackaged ones that arent that good. The prices are kinda more pricier than other Korean places. Service is okay and the food is just average, there are better Korean places than here.
(2)Bob M.
Two stars because the food was good. Not great, good. The service there was horrible though. I had ordered hot tea which never came. Luckily I wasn't charged for it. After we got our food there was no other contact with the server. I tried to get her attention to get the check several times over the course of a half hour, to no avail. Finally after 45 minutes of trying to get the check I just walked up to her and got my wallet out. Then she got the hint. No "how was your meal" anything like that. Oh,and we were the only two patrons in the place the whole time. Never going back again!
(2)David L.
Above average food and now offers all u can eat bbq for dinner. Service is a little slow (typical of most korean restaurants).
(4)Mimi L.
First time at this restaurant. It's ok. The food could be better. We had a large group and ordered many different dishes. All were just ok. The rice cakes were alittle on the sweet side and very small portion for the cost. The food here was just not to my standards. The kids enjoyed the dumplings and seafood noodle dish. The interior look could use some updating but hey its a old restaurant.
(3)Chris M.
Went here on a weeknight and was craving BBQ, bad! Had to go some place close to home so read some reviews on Yelp and thought we would give it a try. Place was empty except for one table of Korean girls chatting it up and we were sat immediately. I knew what I wanted and tried to order but the server insisted that I point to the items I wanted to BBQ, no biggie. When the food came out after the banchan, the server warmed up a little. I asked for sesame oil for one of the dishes and she seemed to respond to us a bit more seriously after that. Her English was not very good, but then again, my Korean is horrid, so the night went along as smoothly as it could. We ended up ordering seconds of meat and left feeling quite full. four stars for the following positive things: parking, ease of ordering from the menu, soju available. minus a star for the following: ventilation wasn't over each table, so the room became a little stuffy, I felt the portion sizes could have been larger, one server for Korean service for the whole restaurant wasn't enough. Once another table came in, it became very hard to order anything else. Overall, I would go here again but I wouldn't rush back, going to keep trying places close to home and if you have recommendations, send them my way. Jenikintown all you can eat is my fav so far!
(4)Jennifer M.
My family loves this place! Feels comfortable. Nice staff! Good food. Go often.
(4)Chuck H.
I just tried this Korean restaurant this past weekend. The food was good, menu included traditional Korean dishes and Korean BBQ. Servings weren't as big as I expected them to be. The restaurant wasn't that busy for a Saturday dinner (maybe 1/3 occupied). Service was good and polite. To barbeque on the table you will need to order at least 2 orders from the BBQ menu. Servers and phone receptionist not very fluent in English. I've gone to better places in the Los Angeles area around Korea town as well as in Orange county.
(3)Albert D.
Nice little place with a lot of Asian people eating here, so I guess that's saying something. This place uses charcoal to cook dishes of meat that they bring out to you. Their marinated BBQ pork is really good, albeit costly (you get enough meat for 1.5 people= $19.00). The bibimbap (rice/meat/vegetables in a stone dish) is always a winner. Anything that comes in a stone bowl deserves 10 stars. Their kimchi stew goes well with the BBQ pork because it's salty and tangy (the pork is sweet), and it's not too costly, being around $9. I like it, but it ended up being a bit more costly than i would have liked. Otherwise, good, down-to-earth Korean food.
(4)M K.
After reading the reviews here I decided to give this place a shot. Either my standards for good Korean food are unreasonably high or people in this city have never had good Korean food if this place is getting 4 and 5 stars. Naturally, I'm a little biased since I'm first generation and grew up with my whole family around me making this stuff, but unless we were extremely unlucky on our visit here, we can surely do better. Just because the owners or cooks are Korean doesn't necessarily mean that they make *good* Korean food. Does every single American know how to make good American food? (For that matter, I found our hostess/waitress curt and uninterested in us, not only because she never really checked on us, but barely even spoke to us when taking our order, even though I was speaking to her in Korean.) I had the doengjang cheegae, which was so salty I could only have about a 1/4 of it. The doenjang was pretty salty to begin with, but then they loaded the broth with more soy sauce, mushrooms, and other salty flavors so that you tasted nothing else. My companion had the dolsot bibimbap, which came with like five little pieces of meat and otherwise had no real flavor to speak of. As far as the side dishes go, granted that half the time these are bought pre-packaged anyway (so you might as well just go down the street to H-mart to get them), half were good and the other half were pretty meh and all seemed to be missing one or two key ingredients. The anchovies, seaweed, egg, and cabbage kimchee were good; the bean sprouts were pretty flavorless (a touch of sesame oil but otherwise watery), the cucumber kimchee was bland (not underdone since the cucumbers weren't too crunchy but it's likely they were missing the shrimp powder in their seasoning when they fermented it), and the potatoes were basically just covered in (surprise) soy sauce. The tea that came with the meal was basically the same genmai cha (green tea with brown rice that, by the way, is a Japanese tea and not Korean) you can get anywhere; we weren't offered the shikye (sweet rice drink) at the end of the meal as someone else claimed they got (which also is not only pretty standard but easily obtainable in cans at H-mart). So either we just got unlucky and happened to order two of their weaker dishes, but my overall impression was that in general their dishes were each missing something important to make them actually good. If I had to make an analogy, this place would be sort of like what Olive Garden would be to really good Italian food.
(2)David P.
A nice option for those venturing out for Korean in West Philly. The Bulgogi (said to be a native's measuring stick of Korean cuisine) is nice - a little spicy, a little sweet, tender, and smoky. Kalbi is particularly fine here as well, with large meaty portions. Banchan selection here is above-average, as are the choices of soup. The Boyang tang (black goat stew) is an inexpensive and rich soup with tender chunks of goat, greens, spices, and layers of flavor. It is sinus-clearing in a refreshing way, but not the same as a boiling crock of kimchi jigae.
(4)isabelle m.
So good! The barbeque is my fav -- beef, onions, mushrooms and garlic barbecued at the table. The secret is in the wood charcoal chips, installed piping hot right there on the spot, giving you the best flavor ever for your Q. Other favs, koreaan seafood pancake, and the spicy squid thingy. Limited english, sweet cooking couple. you won't be disappointed.
(5)Eddie C.
This is a staple restaurant for Koreans living in the West side of Philly and beyond. Being that this is a BBQ restaurant do not come in looking for a bargain. Depending on the size of your party - look to pay anywhere from $35-$100. To cook tableside you'll need to order for 2 - otherwise they just cook it in the kitchen. As far as the meat selection is concerned I go for the Spicy Pork (Mae-eun Dwe-jee Galbi)or the Pork Bellies (Sam Gyub Sal). Soups are alright with Fish Roe Soup (Al-Chigae) and Cow Knee Soup(Do Ga Nee Tang) being on my top list. For foreigners I would go for their Dol-sot bibim-bap (Cast iron bowl with rice and assorted veggies/meat). I think it's the best in town. If you're looking for a cheap Korean meal just head over to H-Mart over by 69th Street Station and go upstairs to the food court. Again - this is the best Korean spot outside of NE Philly/Cheltenham. Everything in the city is garbage as they cater more to western taste buds. The only issue you may run into is the service - it's a bit slow. Not all staff speak fluent English, so do be aware of this fact.
(3)Michael M.
Best BiBimBap near the Main Line. Authentic food, great assortment of kimchee. There's a bit of a communication challenge, but the food is worth it. The biggest problem with Nagwon is parking. Their lot is the size of a postage stamp. We cheat and park next door.
(4)D T.
This is a family owned throughoutly traditional Korean BBQ buffet. They use fresh coals under cast iron grill...no gas heat. Delicious marinated meat and fresh home made vegetables. We were so happy to take a chance on this restaurant. It's a hidden gem. Fresh refrigerated meat selection of 10 different meats and about 12 different sides and pickles. Full bbq is $30/person and so worth it. We took some pics at dinner. Some complain it's more expensive than other places around Philly, but a lot of Korean families eat here, it's never completely empty, at least not at dinner. The quality is very good. They have other things as well, besides barbecue, traditional Korean dishes. Give it a try you won't be sorry... Enjoy! Set back on Route 3 look for the green signs.
(4)Nick L.
Pretty good korean food here but do not go here for koran bbq. Its not worth it. I would ckme here for certain korean dishes but i would not come here if you want freshly cut meat for korean bbq.
(3)Bob C.
I'm not sure that I EVER overpaid this much for a meal in ANY country of ANY ethnicity. Maybe they started out good, don't know. This has Got to be their last ditch money grab before closing....should have known....followed some good older reviews, but the place was and remained empty while I was there. I bought 42.00 worth of takeout. Flavor OK. Quality nothing more than average . 27.00 for a tin of "rib meat off the bone" and some veggies. Note to self.. marinate 6-8 oz. Of beef....cook...add 1.50 of chopped veggies.... bill yourself 42.00....with white rice
(1)Jimmy P.
I wanted to like this place and I hate to write bad reviews especially in a mom and pop place like this. It just wasn't good. Disclaimer that this isn't for the BBQ. This review is simply for the dolsot bimibap - a very simple and classic dish of any korean restaurant. The rice was dry, slightly overcooked. I had a miso soup with my bimibap and eventually had to dip the rice in the soup to finish my dinner. The beef was barely existent. It was almost like ground beef. Had to literally search for it to taste it. Kimchi sadly was bland. I'm no kimchi expert but the color was pale and lacking the red spicy coloring and lacking the punch. Overall I didn't have a good dinner, not a good bimibap specifically. Try elsewhere. -- keep eatin'
(2)M C.
Never a bad meal here. Always great friendly service even with a slight language barrier. Great soups and stir fry dishes as well as traditional BBQ. I recommend the stir fried octopus (my personal favorite).
(5)L N.
worth a try! small place but definitely has good quality of meat and worth $30/person. Loveeeee!!!! better than philly buffet in upper darby!
(4)Tiffany J.
Awesome Bimbimbap and nice wait staff. The food was flavorful and had just enough spice.
(4)Rachel S.
A solid 2 stars! Stumbled upon this place while driving around. Food was absolutely awesome, service very very good, decor was ok. My date and I shared a seafood and scallion pancake, bulgogi and short rib BBQ. Every dish was bursting with flavor and we were more than satisfied. I'll be back!
(2)Luong M.
I am just here for the mackerel and some soju for tonight, it doesnt look that tasty but it is actually different in a good way, the fish tastes more fried and squidy.. not bad at all with a lot of lemon drenched over it.
(4)Kimmy N.
The guy who owns this place is quite nice. but not the wife. The meat quality is awful. I can tell by looking at the kalbi dries right away after being grilled. not many options on the side dishes either. and whats worst is the lady never looks satisfied with 20% gratuity for just sitting there!
(1)Joanna C.
I was initially hesitant to go in as the giant "KOREAN BUFFET" sign gave me pause. I didn't want a buffet, but my desire for kimchi propelled me on. Thankfully, they don't offer buffets at lunch time (or at least not at lunch time on weekdays - not sure of the weekends). They have really good lunch specials - I had soondubu jigae (soft tofu spicy stew) that was I think only $7.99 - and it came with a whole host of banchans!! The service was really friendly and attentive, which made sense since I was the only person here eating at 2pm on a Tuesday. I promised the server that I will be back if ever in the area again!
(5)Lisa P.
I have NEVER in my life ate the worst bulgogi that was made so wrong! The bulgogi was prices at $20.99, so I thought it would be a decent dish. It came out to be a few pieces of meat drenched in a watery puddle of mess. I understand that some lower end restaurant would probably make this quality of food but........ priced at $20.99. I will never return for my life!! Please don't come here. Also, there is only one person working there so the service is slow. Overall, I will NOT return!!!!!!!!!! To be correct, I am giving this place 0 stars!!!
(1)Jennifer W.
We've been driving by this place for years and finally decided to give it a try on the way home from the flower show. Most entrees are $13 and above which is an absurdly high price point considering the decor (circa 1980) and the quality. The service was very good but that's about it. The ventilation is not adequate for a place that features mini BBQ pits at the table. It was so smokey at one point that my eyes were burning and when I got home, sure enough, I smelled like Korean BBQ that had been BBQing too long. I know this is a BBQ place, but I was really surprised to find that there wasn't a single salad option on the menu. My son ordered chicken terrakyi - at $13 you'd expect a lean breast of chicken with veggies. But no, it was chicken pieces cooked in a terrakyi sauce - perhaps straight out of a jar? I ordered something that came out the equivalent of shrimp fried rice. For $11, it was sorely lacking in taste, and a generous splash of soy sauce did little to liven it up. Unless you're seeking BBQ (minimum $40 for two people), I suggest that you skip this place and head directly to Cafe Pho at Terminal Square where virtually every entree is less than $9 and the food is uniformly very good. I am absolutely floored that they are able to charge these high prices and stay in business.
(2)Glynnis O.
This place has fantastic kalbee, and the side dishes are amazing. I usually come home smelling like a clove of garlic for a week, and I love it. The waitresses here speak very little English, and often come over to cook your kalbee for you, like a mother chiding her young child for doing something the wrong way. It's funny, and you can tell they're thinking 'YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG let me do it for you, Westerner!" Instead of insulting, it's very endearing. My friend is Korean, and we like to bring her with us for better communication (and usually better service!)
(4)Miwako S.
If you would like authentic Korean food, this is the place to go. We went there with our Korean friends. They ordered a couple of dishes for us to try and we had barbecue buffet. All the appetizers in the buffet were excellent. Barbecue meat was so nice and tender. I would definitely go back and explore other Korean dishes.
(5)Ben F.
Been here several times since my last review and it's always awesome. I had to tell a funny story about our most recent trip. My friends and I were feeling pretty adventurous and wanted to get something different for one of our dishes so we ordered Stingray. When I pointed it out to the waitress she made like a sour face and shook her head no. I asked why and her response was "Korean... yes. American... no like". All of us kind of looked at each other and said in our own variation "well we can't back down since we are being challenged". It felt like a moment from Always Sunny. For the records, Stingray was nothing I can rave about.
(5)Yiwen S.
for korean food, there's a general rule that holds true: that the fluency of the servers/owners' english and the authenticity of the food is inversely correlated. and lemme tell you, the ladies who work here have HORRIBLE english. it's funny because one lady will try to take our order, and when she doesn't understand something, she'll call over another lady whose english is even worse. so naturally, the food is delicious. the focus here is really on more traditional korean food: stews, casseroles, and the ever-reliable korean bbq. however, there's also the usual favorites including an assortment of noodles, rice dishes, appetizers and soondubu(!). i would say their typical spice level is somewhere around medium, but you can certainly ask for more spicy. service is spectacular, despite the limited english comprehension. however, the ladies who work here sometimes like serving and cooking (in the case of kbbq) your food for you. i'm not a fan of that because i've been raised with a bit more westernized influence in my culture, but i understand that this is a sign of courtesy and respect in the traditional korean culture. so just be prepared for some over-the-top service along these lines when you come. one catch: if you order meat to bbq, order at least two plates of meat, or else they won't let you grill the meat at your own table (instead, they cook it in the kitchen and bring it out for you). and that's really no fun at all. not THE ABSOLUTE BEST korean food i've ever had. but the best i've had in philly so far. much more accessible than north philly for those poor souls without a car (me me!)
(5)Steven B.
The wife loves Korean food. Soooooo I've been here a few times. It just doesn't make it for me. The cost/quanity/quality numbers Just don't add up. I've also found the service to be nothing special and sometimes poor. The food is OK but not, in some cases, for the price.
(2)Florentina L.
I found this place when I was on the bus going to the mall and me and my bf decided to give it a try. We didn't try the BBQ because we want to try their other dish out first. We didn't regret not getting the BBQ either! Their utensils were very old and looks dirty so we have to ask for the plastic forks and spoons:( And the foods(squid and teriyaki chicken) that we ordered were ok. What I try to say about this place is that it is over-priced and not worth your hard-earned money! P.S. Be careful, the people here can't really speaks English so you have to be very patient with them!
(3)Woo K.
I used to come here often when I was younger (with my family), so for old times sakes I went with a few friends. Maybe it was just a bad day, but the quality of food was very poor. Being from South Korea, perhaps I'm being too harsh but there's not one thing I enjoyed about my meal here. The reason it gets two stars instead of one is because the staff there was nice. There aren't many good Korean restaurants in the Philadelphia area, but I didn't expect the food to be of such poor quality. Not recommended.
(2)CATHERINE M.
I don't know about you, but sometimes taste buds just get bored. They want you to walk into a Korean restaurant. I love the complimentary mystery bowls of taste treats -kimchee, cucumbers,zucchini, egg and seaweed etc. And once excited,they want you to order Bo Sam- boiled pork with fresh oyster and spicy radish that you roll up in a steamed cabbage leaf . Another treat was Boyang Jungol- black goat and vegetables which included an interesting mix of arugula and sesame greens. Who knew sesame had greens? It would be an invigorating walk, if you didn't have a car but it would be a sassy choice before an event at The Tower Theater.
(4)C K.
This place is okay. We ordered 5 dishes, 1 seafood pancake panjeon, 1 japchae, 3 orders of bbq (galbi, spicy pork, and spicy chicken). The food was all really good! The side dishes were a bit on the weak side though compared to other korean restaurants. One problem I had was that our server would cook the raw along with the cooked meat on the grill, which was kind of unsanitary.... The place is also alot more expensive than other korean bbq places in north philly.
(3)Sarah B.
As an Angeleno who's been spoiled all her life with the splendor of Koreatown restaurants and homemade Korean food, I was pleasantly surprised with Nagwon. There are plenty of great features about this place right off the bat: friendly, attentive and quick service; a private lot; peaceful atmosphere; lots of ban chan (side dishes); fair prices; and accepts credit cards. Most surprising was the food itself. To be honest I wasn't expecting much because I haven't heard too many positive things about Kfood in Philly, but all three dishes (deng-jang chigae, kimchi pahjun and seasoned gogi) were extremely flavorful, authentic and tasted homemade. The complimentary dessert, shikae (sweet rice drink), washed everything down and satiated my usual hankering for sugar after a good meal. They serve soju, sake, a couple wines and beer; I only wish their beer selection was bigger because they only had Heiniken and Coors. I would definitely go back.
(4)Benjamin R.
I love Nagwon Garden...very good quality meats and their sam gye tang (Chicken & Ginseng soup) is pretty good as long as you add in a good deal of salt (which they provide). I love the galbi and the selection of banchan. In addition to BBQ Nagwon has a good selection of other Korean dishes. Definately worth a visit if you are in the Philadelphia or Mainline Areas.
(4)