Ho Soon Yi
8501 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA, 98499
Ho Soon Yi Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8501 S Tacoma Way
Lakewood, WA, 98499 - Phone (253) 584-4572
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Maddie M.
Great food and service! You can let the waiters know if you prefer brown *more like light purple rice with beans instead of white. We like to order 1-3 dishes when dining as a couple. They provide a good variety of banchan. We really like to order the spicy pork, kimchee tofu soup, spare ribs and fried mackerel. The beef bulgogi is okay. It's a very casual dining environment.
(5)Thuy T.
My friends and I were in the mood for some Korean last weekend, so we decided to give this place a try after seeing the Yelp reviews. It was around 11:30pm and we didn't want to drive to Federal Way, so we figured that this would be a good alternative. I got the tofu soup and short ribs, which were mediocre. The portion sizes were good, but the ribs were plain and lacked flavor. The soup was a bit watered down, but the flavoring was alright. They did not have the cucumber kimchi that they usually had that night and told me that I'd have better luck if I came back tomorrow. The service wasn't bad, the woman was very sweet and patient with us. But she was the only one running the restaurant at that time, so it did take a little while for her to fulfill all of our requests. I will probably just make the drive up north the next time I'm craving Korean good past 9pm, but this place isn't too bad. It's simply a place to get your quick fix of Korean in my book. Don't expect too much out of it.
(3)Bo H.
I'm new to Korean cuisine, so I don't know how HSY compares to other places, but I really enjoyed my meal here. The pork/kimchi pancake was large and filling- slightly crunchy exterior and spongy inside. My wife had just returned from a trip to Busan where she fell in love with bean curd soup- she said the version here had clams instead of small crabs but it was definitely what she wanted. I had the bulgogi because I'm a typical dude. The beef was a little tough, but delicious & slightly sweet. The service was friendly but I did have to ask for a refill on my water even though she saw me with an empty glass several times. I wanted a coke, but was never asked what I wanted to drink. I did enjoy the casual/relaxed atmosphere. Small, but bright dining room. Pop music barely audible above the conversations. Big TV showing a basketball game. We were never rushed and could've sat there all night. Next time I'll try the pork spare ribs- they looked fantastic.
(3)Devany M.
Half-Korean here. The yukgaejang (spicy beef stew) at Ho Soon Yi is INSANE. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I've tried yukgaejang at literally almost every Korean restaurant in Seattle, and nothing comes close, so I keep making the trek down here just to eat this dish. The kalbi, spicy pork bulgogi, and fish are also delicious. I wish I could give this restaurant 10 stars.
(5)Jessica S.
Food is really decent. Horrible service though very rude and they don't check on their customers at all. I never really had a problem until today but won't be coming back.
(2)Kody P.
Loveee this restaurant. I'm from an island in the West Pacific (Saipan, which is about 4 hrs southeast of Korea by plane) and there are a lot of Koreans, Korean stores, amaaaaazzzziiiing Korean restaurants, etc. I must say that Hoo Soon Yi comes close! I've been here a few times and only past midnight and I'm glad that they are open late. I usually order the kimchi pancake, kalbi (short ribs), and spicy bulgogi. They are all so yummy and of course all the amazing appetizers are a plus! I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're in the area.
(4)Thomas K.
Excellent Kal-bi (Korean BBQ short ribs) The family loves this place. Cold noodle soup is one of their favorites. Repeat customer for the forseeable future.
(4)Joy K.
One of the best Korean restaurants in town! This place reminded me of authentic Korean home food (amazing side dishes). Service was awesome too! I highly recommend the pork bulgogi; portions are very generous vs the price.
(5)Sarah E.
This is my absolute favorite Korean place in Washington. The food is authentic, delish, and served in HUGE portions! Some of my favorites are the Bulgogi, Bi Bim Bap, Soon Boo Doo, and the Kalbi beef. Everything I've had here so far is perfect and plentiful. I always have leftovers and the prices are pretty good! The banchan is always diverse and great, and you can get refills!! The owner is super friendly and hilarious. This is the best place in Lakewood for your Korean cravings!
(5)J S.
The food is good, however the service was terrible. After I got bad service back to back visits. I never went back.
(3)Linh V.
My son and I stopped here around midnight. I've been craving spicy soondubu (tofu soup) but the place I usually go to was closed. I ordered the kimchi tofu soup with pork. It was pretty tasty. I wasn't that excited about their banchan though. It was mediocre. The kkakdugi (radish kimchi) was a bit too fermented for my liking. I do like the fact that they'll refill the side dishes. Just wished it tasted better. I've been here before and had their bulgogi, kalbi & dwaejibulgogi which was very good. But I think I'll stick to my other spot for the soondubu. I will definitely return here for their other menu items though! The place was clean and the staff are friendly.
(4)San T.
I dropped by here for an early dinner on a Tuesday around 4:30pm. To my delight, they had a combo going on for cold noodles and their kalbi short ribs posted on the wall (written in Korean however). I had been craving cold noodles, but hadn't found a place on yelp in the area so settled on this place for good Korean food instead. Imagine my surprise when I discovered they had cold noodles after all. Unfortunately, my cold noodles were not very good. It looked like it was supposed to mul naengmyun, the non spicy kind, which usually doesn't have the red color. Ok, no biggie, I like spicy so it's fine with me it it is bibim naengmyun. However the flavor was completely off. The broth itself was a little sour, but not spicy, and didn't seem to have any kind of true cold noodles broth flavor. The little pot of green veggies tasted very similar to kimchi flavor but without the traditional kimchi cabbage. The cold noodle broths pretty much tasted like it had some of that in there so I'm thinking they might've just mixed some of the veggies from that into my bowl and this changing the taste. Broth aside, I was not very happy with the noodles either. They tasted hard, like the consistency you get when you refrigerate noodles. I felt like they must have just precooked them early in the day and tossed them in the fridge until it was time to use them. Definitely not a fan. The kalbi was ok.. Tasted like you typical Korean short ribs, maybe a cheap cut since they were a bit chewy and fatty. Complaints aside, it was a good sized amount of food for $18.95+tax. On an interesting note, they have me sikhye at the end of my meal, the Korean sweet rice drink. This is probably only the second Korean restaurant I've ever been to that gave me that drink. However, I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Yen E.
There's a bunch of Korean food down S Tacoma Way, but from looking at the outside building, you feel more incline to dimiss it because of its appearance. Once we stepped in, it was incredibly clean and the staff was very nice. My friend and I glanced over the menu and she chose bulgogi and I chose the mushroom and beef tofu stew. I have been craving for some tofu stew and was excited to read the reviews beforehand. I was expecting it to be spicy since it arrived at the table hot bubbly and extremely red. The stew was very mild and oh so good. My friend had ordered their bulgogi since she's not familiar with Korean cuisine and it's always one of the safest dish you can order. Not extremely sweet like some places, but I wish the onions were cooked just a tad more. Their ban chans are okay... you're usual pickled daikon, kimchi and whatnot. Their marinated potato was pretty good though. We also received this sweet and refreshing drink after our meal... Have no clue what it's called, but it's delicious! Wish I knew about this place earlier because a hot bubbling tofu stew would of been perfect on those cold rainy days.
(4)Malcolm R.
We come here a couple times a month. Which I guess makes us regulars - to a degree. The owner and staff are great and friendly. You can find something you like and I encourage people to experiment. As all the food is fresh, good tasting and all the dishes are made with care and a passion for quality. I've spoken with Korean people in the community and this place is a favorite for the local Korean expats too.
(5)Victoria H.
Love love love this place. I always get the spicy tofu and pork soup, but I also love their short ribs. The waitresses are fast and friendly.
(5)Michael H.
This establishment was your average Korean restaurant with its average service. The decore and building looks as if they bought an old restaurant that closed down. There were about 5 other Korean restaurants in the area that appeared to look no different, besides the price. We asked for a fork and they came out dirty. I don't know if they seen the look on my wife and My face, but they brought out plastic ware afterwards. Overall the experience was average!
(2)Alekkz H.
I have always liked Ho Soon Yi. There Dwaeji Bulgogi is my favorite! Especially when I combine it with the soondooboo. But the soondooboo by itself, I do not favor as much. Usually, I like their side dishes but this recent experience, their marinated potatoes... were super salty. I did however like their korean pancake~! Yumm! Although I had to pick out all the green onions, I liked the squid inside. The korean "jelly" mook was okay but from what I usually see, there is a soy sauce mix with green onions sprinkled. This time, it was just plain but I think the taste was just right! I enjoyed it. My friend and I ordered the egg soondooboo and nengmyun~ I absolutely loved the nengmyun sauce?soup? I don't know the liquid part! It was so refreshing. On the other hand, I love anything with fish eggs... but the soondooboo was so bitter.. with the eggs. I don't know if I will try that one again. Either way, I don't mind coming to Ho Soon Yi time to time.
(4)Markiss C.
love this place. best Korean food in town
(4)Nan Hee S.
had lunch here today per hubs request. he wanted the black cod and spicy tofu soup and i stuck with the ole standby dolsot bibimpop. their version was very good it had more veggies then other places! the black cod the was bomb waiting to be a gut bomb I'm sure its so rich n spicy but the flavor is like crack...the service was very good the waitresses seemed especially friendly today ( hadn't been there in a very long time) they even remembered my hubs and his previous serious illness and told him he looks much better hahhaaa so sweet! anyway no complaints except the sides seem a little heavy on salty tangy side rather then many complimentary flavors but no biggie they all still tasted good. we had a great lunch...especially good hot good tea!
(4)Keith K.
Went here with wife and our son.... I got the stone bim bim bab and it wax pretty good but have had better. Our son's daegi bulgoki (pork) was really good. He talked the place up pretty good and I'm opting to quietly 4 - star the place and not tell him. :-)
(4)Byung K.
Hoosoonyi and cho dang tofu soup are the two best Korean resturants in tacoma! Trust me I eat this shit all the time and I know my Korean food!
(5)David K.
My fav Korean restaurant in Tacoma! Food is awesome and love the side dishes here!
(5)Richard R.
Every time I am in Tacoma area, I make sure I am here at least once. I have brought friends and family hhere also and they loved it. Great atmosphere and service. The food is of course delicious. I have never been disappointed. If, you are reeally hungry, try the dish with fice different meats to cook at the table. Since, this is for two, I would recommend to bring a friend. Actuality, two might be better.
(5)Keith H.
My family and I come here all the time. The service is excellent and the food is fantastic! Best Korean restaurant Tacoma. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Sean S.
Came here for take-out. Ordered bulgogi and short ribs. Taste good and food was prepared quickly
(4)Jenny K.
Okay. I've realized that no Korean restaurant can even come close to Ho Soon Yi in WA state. Sure, I've had amazing Korean food from my mom's kitchen and in Koreatown in LA but nowhere else have I had such delicious DELICIOUS tofu soup. The barbecued meat dishes - ribs and pork - are good as well but the tofu soup is what really hits the spot. And the side dishes - Oh so yummy! I frequently get takeout from here even though I live about 1.5 hours roundtrip. It's almost always worth the extra time to get satisfying Korean food at a great cost.
(5)Joyce W.
Even though there was only one worker, (we went at 7pm), she was really sweet, gave us free rice drink, and oooo, the food. Yah, jinjja DAEBAK!!!! I was looking for a good Korean restaurant and after half an hour of looking, I almost gave up till my husband said to choose one. I chose well. Our new favorite place to go for amazing Korean food. The kimchi they serve (part of the banchan) is the best I've ever had (and I eat a LOT of Korean food, even make my own kimchi!) You will not be disappointed here, from one Asian to another regarding real Asian food - this is it.
(5)Heather M.
Overall, this place was great!! When we walked in, we were the only non-Asian patrons in the place, which is ALWAYS a good sign!! We were greeted quickly and sat at a table. Upon being given ample time to look over the menu, we ordered three dishes: bulgogi, calamari in a spicy sauce, and bibimbap. We also ordered a large soju to go with our meal. Soon after taking our order, our waitress brought out the famous banchan. I was disappointed that they didn't have the silver fish with the honey glaze and sesame seeds or any type of tofu. Everything served was pickled with the exception of the potato. Collectively, we all agreed that we enjoyed some of the banchans more than others, but we gladly tried them all. Our food came out as it was ready, which was a good thing since almost everything was sizzling when it hit our table. The calamari in spicy sauce was GOOD. It had a ton of fresh vegetables in it and the calamari was cooked perfectly. However, I believe the star of the show was the spicy sauce. It was sweet, savory, and packed a bit of heat. The bimbibap was tasty. The vegetables were good but the ground meat made the dish! Lastly, the bulgogi was delicious! It was perfectly marinated. My only complaint was that the plate the meat and onions were served on was not sizzling when it came to our table to the onions were pretty raw (side note, I HATE raw onions). However, the meat was the star of the show as it rocked!! The soju was really strong... for those who have never had it, it's like a sweet vodka. I didn't drink much since I was the DD, but my friends did and let me tell you, halfway through the drink they were both feeling pretty good! Our service was great! Our waitress was awesome. She was talkative, friendly, and VERY funny!! All in all, everyone in my party really liked this place and plan on coming back again in the near future.
(4)James K.
This is my go to place in Lakewood when I am craving Korean food. I've had almost everything on their menu and would say they are from good to excellent. The two dishes I consistently order are soon doo boo jiggae (soft tofu soup), dong tae ji ri (a non-spicy meuntang or fish soup), and spicy pork bbq. The fish soup and the spicy pork is one of the best anywhere. You'll want seconds of the banchan for they are yummy. The only thing about Ho Soon Yi is that it's not the nicest looking place so I would not take out clients there. It's definitely a place you would want to take your friends and family though. The staff are always attentive and the restaurant is clean.
(4)Kai G.
Review is only on the Tofu Soup. Very good deal here For 8 bucks+ tax etc you can a good sized tofu soup. Huge bowl of rice and a good selection of side dishes. I am not talking about cheap type opf side dishes but actually stuff I personally would eat. some type of small fish, potato and others. I love korean food and well esp tofu soup. If i lived in the area i am definitely coming back. At the end of the meal they also give a small cup of rice wine as 'desert' The service here is good, the lady even cracked the egg for me. never had that done at any other korean restaurant that i've been to.
(5)Nancy C.
Amazingly good Korean food. Hole in a wall atmosphere but it doesn't matter because the food makes up for it and back. It saddens me to know there's only one in Tacoma and Edmonds, both places which is a drive for us. I was first introduced to this place (been only back one other time *sad face) by my now hubby and it was delicious!! We got the tofu soup combo, short ribs and spicy pork (our usual, baseline food option). The side dishes alone were amazingly good, they were attentive on refilling and we had water at all times. I was blown away by the flavor of each dish. Flavors were well balanced, ratio of soup to tofu to meat in the soon dubu was on point. Spicy pork was marinated well and same goes for the short ribs, everything was tender as can be. The thought of it makes me eager to go back. It's a must try!!
(5)Natalie H.
You walk in and it already smells delicious. I got the Soon Dubu with Kim Chi and Beef, yum! Husband got the Flounder and it was also delicious! This place is great! We will definitely come here again!
(5)Rina B.
Great food! I have tried it twice after reading some yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. My mom is Korean and having grown up in Korea, I am really picky about Korean food--especially when it comes to reviews because it seems like most people write reviews about bibimbap (not that difficult to mess up) and bulgogi. That being said, my husband ordered kalbi the first time we went and while the portion wasn't huge, it was delicious. Their kimchi chigae and yukaejang were also very good.
(5)Faith Y.
The first Ho Soon Yi has a bajillion reviews and I'm going to give restaurant numbah II well-deserved praise. And I shall now proceed to count in Korean, phonetic words in asterisks. This is your language lesson for the day: 1. *Hana* In my semi-frequent visits, 95% of the clientale are Korean. Korean people eating at a Korean restaurant? ++++ ! 2. *Dool* The prices are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. Most of the soon-doo-boo (soft tofu soup) bowls shyly sport the number $7.95. I've bought plates of kalbi (marinated ribs), flaky fish, soon-doo-boo & more for 5 people and the bill was barely $65. 3. *Seht* Ban-chan = little modest side dishes that are complimentary with your meal. A well balanced array of pickled veggies, kimchi, potatoes, etc. The service here is so good that they'll happily re-fill any of them if you find yourself mowing through a dish or 2 before your main course arrives. 4. *Neht* I heart their soon doo boo! It arrives bubbling merrily away & don't you dare turn down the offer of a raw egg being cracked into it. (refer to uploaded picture). The egg sinks into the hot broth without a complaint. The tofu is soft, fluffy and there's tons of it. Plus there's bowls for the seafood crazy & for those simply wanting just mushrooms or beef. I dare say it's their specialty. 5. *Dah-suht* Last but not least, free dessert! Shikeh is a just sweet enough drink of rice and barley malt powder. Cold, refreshing and definitely kicks silly little mints to the curb. And there you have it ladies and gents. One of my top Korean restaurants that don't break the bank!
(5)Ha T.
They win - thanks to the tofu soup. It was different this time around. The broth was flavorful and the tofu was silky, even better than Cho Dang's. Forget the side dishes. Forget the kalbi. Go for the soup on a cold, blustery day.
(4)Kelly N.
I would give this place 4 stars because the food is good and the prices reasonable. However, every time i eat here, service is terrible. It seems there is only 1 server working and she always takes care of the koreans before other people, regardless of who came in first. And since im not korean, i always get my food after the koreans who came in after me. Oh and no one cleans the tables when other customers leave..
(3)Kenzie F.
The food was great! (Spicy pork and beef bulgogui) but the dinner prices however are not! It cost me 33.00 and some change just for a single order of Spicy Pork and beef Bulgogui. It came with the side dishes which weren't too great not to mention every other place I've been to lets you pick your side dishes. There was barely anyone in the place when I ordered my take-out (literally 2 people) and it still took forever to get my food. And I'm not too much of a picky eater but when I ask if it comes with white rice and you say yes but then when I open the box and theres peas mixed in with my rice now it just became something I'll have to spend time eating around, (Just not a fan of peas)
(3)Jen B.
This is still my favorite Korean place to eat on S. Tacoma way and I've eaten at a ton of places over the years. Unfortunately, most of the other places became Korean BBQ places or other shops. But I digress.... Yea, this place looks like a dive because it was probably a Taco Bell at one time and is now a Korean restaurant with a weird old decor but who really cares when you get the best food ever. Whether you eat the mackerel, soondubu or bibimbap you'll come back for more spicy goodness.
(5)Kim P.
LOVE,LOVE, LOVE this place!!!! :) I have been an avid Ho Soon Yi customer! My mother recommended the place after moving to Tacoma 7 years ago. With all the many different restaurants in this area, my mother's recommendation has been on point and I go here atleast once a month, sometimes more!!! It's a quant restaurant so timing is key, it can fill up pretty fast at times. The service is great but of course when they are packed it goes with the business. Now the FOOD..... Banchans are PLENTIFUL, I LOVE all the Soondubu chijae options, the Tofu is cooked just perfect along with whatever choice of main dish you pick! The Daeji Bulgogi is YUMMY, almost as good as my Uma's:) There Chim Chee Jung is pretty deelicious too!! To be honest I haven't had a bad dish from there yet and hope never too! $7.95 for a bowl of Soondubu, you can stuff yourself into a food coma with all the banchans!!!!! Cheap, deelicious eating:)
(5)Richard S.
An excellent Korean restaurant. We enjoyed the Bi Bim Bap (hot bowls, please) which came with a number of kim chee side dishes. We also enjoyed the appetizer pancakes with green onions (cooked to perfection). In the end we were surprised by a nice, sweet drink that was awfully refreshing on the hot summer day we visited. All three in my party left with smiles on our faces and nothing, but praise for our lunch.
(4)Dave C.
While the food has always been good, we've had two experiences here that will keep us from ever coming back. Experience 1: Last year my wife ordered Agujjim and about 5 minutes after it was delivered to the table the plate shattered in half. The server took it back to the kitchen and tossed the same food on a different plate and reserved it to us. The stuff that hit the table when the plate broke and all, not to mention any splinters that might have been stuck in there. The least they could have done was cook up a fresh dish for her. We quit eating there for a year after that, but on our return trip today we had experience number 2. My wife again ordered Agujjim (because it is quite tasty there) hoping for a better experience than the last. We had our order taken and after about 30 mins we hadn't even been served out pan chan or asked about drinks. we called the waitress over and asked her about our food. We were told 15 mins and my wife's would be ready, then she brought us some drinks and my entree, but not my wife's. 15 minutes later still nothing for her, so we canceled her order, finished mine and left....probably for the last time. Good food, but we've had some horrible experiences there and will not give them a third chance to disappoint us.
(2)Alison S.
Yum! I like the different types of kimchi, and they DO make a fish cake kimchi that is quite tasty. I came here with two friends; two of us had the soondobu and one had the bibimbap. We shared the pajeon. All of us left satisfied and with leftovers for lunch. All of our dishes were quite affordable, and for $15 we essentially got two meals each, a good deal! The owner(?) is a very sweet Korean lady who was more than hospitable and very friendly. Will return! :)
(4)Sam H.
There are a lot of Korean restaurants around this area. Some of them focus on tofu soups or BBQ, but Ho Soon Yi does it all pretty well. The soon dubu, the meat is tender and flavorful, and the banchan selection is adequate (could probably be a bit better). Atmosphere is nice, service is decent, and the prices are reasonable. I'll definitely be coming here again.
(4)Mikal W.
At least 2.5 stars, we just had a real bad experience I guess because there are so many good reviews. My Soon dubu smelled like CheongGukJang, now don't get me wrong I like CheongGukJang but not if I ordered soon dubu. I want my soon dubu to smell like soon dubu. Than ban chan was very lacking. Ban chan is one of my favorite things so it was a major bummer for me. I also think I have been spoiled with some recent soon dubu experiences. I doubt I will be back anytime soon since I found soon dubu heaven. I feel bad giving it a 2.5 but that is the experience I had. Another thing to note was, my rice was really mushy.
(2)Jae K.
The food was mediocre, but the service was OK. This place was filthy. The plastic dishes were so aged and dirty. Was pretty bad to just even look at. My doggy's bowls are cleaner. Makes me wonder what the kitchen would look like. Despite decent Yelp reviews, I was very disappointed. Pretty disgusting even thinking about it. Won't visit again.
(1)Jay S.
I fed four hungry women at Ho Soon Yi today for $40.00, including tip. Two of our party shared a large order of bulgogi and two of us got our own orders of bi bim bap. We all walked out very satisfied. I got the "cheaper" bi bim bap today - if you want it served sizzling in a stone bowl, it's $2 more. It was very good - not the best I've ever had, but satisfying and cheap. The pickles are good, a nice variety, although my favorite - spinach (we call it goma ae) - was missing today. Super casual, yummy and so darn inexpensive. If you are new to Korean food - this is the place in Tacoma to go & get acquainted!
(4)Judy M.
This review is only on the bibing nangmyun. The noodles were overcooked, the combo of vinegar or gochuchang and mustard wasn't right. I don't think this is their speciality, so I'll have to go back to try the soups.
(1)DAVID L.
Occasion: Lunch for 3 This is a very casual small restaurant that is clean. The bathrooms were decent (ie. no stench, etc.) It was highly occupied with Koreans. The Banchan (ie. side dishes) I would rate it as 2 stars. Excluding the dipping sauce, there were not many side dishes nor were there a lot of variety. Very forgettable in my opinion (ie. It's only been 30 minutes and I'm having a hard time even forgetting what they gave us, etc.) The three lunch entrees that were ordered were Seafood Tofu Soup, Goh-Deung-Uh-Goo-Yi (aka Pan-fried Mackerel) and Bhee-Bhim-Bob. The Seafood Tofu Soup had at least 8 clams and 2 shrimps. The broth was good (ie. not oily, etc.) The Goh-Deung-Uh-Goo-Yi was good. It was a little oily, but this could be contribute to the type of Mackerel and not necessarily attributed to the preparation. The Bhee-Bhim-Bob was good. It is your standard Bhee-Bhim-Bob. The Shikae we received at the end was good. I still can't figure out what else they mix with the sugar and water. The service was overall good. Our waitress forgot the extra napkins that we requested. Also, we were only given white rice and not offered Japgok (ie. mixed rice.)
(3)Tom Y.
It is overcast, cold and rainy most of the time in Tacoma so tofu soup would be awesome and it did not disappoint. Hot, yummy broth on a cold January night while in the area for work. This is pretty good stuff, it ain't LA or the SF Bay Area but pretty legit overall, the sides could be better and the hot pot had only two tiny shrimp in it. Overall this place is going on the places to eat while in the area list.
(4)Darren L.
The best Korean tofu soup! All side dishes are delicious!
(5)Ben S.
Really glad I found this place (thanks again, yelp!) for lunch. In and out in a decent amount of time. Ten bucks for lunch. Absolutely delicious food and very generous portions!
(4)Liz L.
Love it! Seafood pancake! So is the tofu soup!
(5)Angela C.
I came here because I was down in Tacoma for work and wanted some Korean food. I heard about how their portions were generous and being a big eater, I wanted to go and check it out. I had the Bulgogi for lunch, and it was okay. The bulgogi wasn't as sweet as it usually is and it was a bit more salty than what I was used to. The bahn chans were just okay. I usually love kimchi and the potato dishes, but I didn't love them at this place. With the other options in the area (considering there were about four korean restaurants in that block alone), I likely wouldn't come back here again. It was cheap though. I paid less than $10 for my lunch, including tip.
(3)Chad O.
First time here, had the pork marinated in spicy sauce. It was excellent.
(5)Carey K.
Good food for a reasonable price. I can't eat too spicy foods so I like the soon dubu chige mild :) and dol sot bi bim Bap is always yummy! And their spicy pork is very yummy and not too spicy.
(4)Q N.
Great service!!! Great food!!! This is my favorite place for a quick Korean bite!
(5)Neko G.
The service here is okay but not great. The hot pots are delicious and i def recommend getting it with the egg.
(4)M B.
The seafood pancake was pretty delicious as was the spicy marinated pork. Both we will definitely order again. BOTH of them were more than enough to share.
(4)Brittany B.
Hands down the best Korean food around. My personal favorite is the Doeji Bulgogi (Spicy Pork). The portions are huge and include banchan with the entree. Everything is fresh, hot, and delicious. They offer dine in or take out and the staff is friendly and will assist you with the menu (it's in Korean). It's a must try! Enjoy
(5)Rodney F.
Usually I get one of their soup orders because for the past like, three months, they've had some deal where getting an order of soup (with an egg cracked in it...) has been 4.95, and that comes with all of the side dishes, like kimchi (I would describe the other stuff, but I don't know what they are called at all, but they're good). The Bulgogi and Kalbi are good too but kind of more expensive, probably like, 14 dollars a plate, even though it's a lot. I wish they would bring water more often... I think the soup deal is over, but I am pretty sure that it's still only 7 dollars or something. I haven't had that much korean food in my life, but I think it's pretty good. Also: Across from Pho Than Bros!
(5)Darryl R.
Had to try this place near my hotel, because of the good Yelp reviews and the fact it was on our commute route from the hotel (it was snowing, so this was a major factor). Came with two female business colleagues after work, and absolutely loved it. The hostess was great in helping us non-Koreans order. The three of us split an order of the beef & mushroom spicy soft tofu soup - heavenly. I had the Dwaeji Bulgogi was superb and favorful. All the side dishes were awesome and plentiful. With a Korean beer, came to less than $20. I have had Korean food before and this was as good as I have had. I highly recommend if in the area.
(4)Dawn R.
Ate here for the first time today for lunch. I'd never really eaten Korean food before, so was perplexed by all of the dishes that the waitress kept setting on the table! I LOVED it! A little of this, a little of that, bite of rice, and the short ribs! So good! I will definitely go here again, and will take my daughter next time!
(4)ron e.
Well I don't normally write reviews on these places. This is a very nice and clean place. Food is very good and the prices are okay. We used to eat there about three times a month mostly on Wednesday's. The service is bad especially the waitress with the pony tail. We always try to avoid her if at possible. But last week was to much she just kind threw the menu down on the table walked away and then turned to see our reaction and then continued to what ever she was doing. We will never go back there as long as she works there. Maybe she just got up on the wrong side of the bed that day or her boy friend did not take care of her the evening before. I don't know. Jesh
(2)Cynthia R.
This place was great! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the banchan wasn't the greatest. I would give 4.5 stars if I could. The service was great. The waitress refilled my water and rice without being asked! I ordered the pork and kimchi soondubu. Was sooo good! It really hit the spot. I can't wait to go back! Loved the 80's music playing lol
(4)Amanda J.
I was looking for a bowl of some really amazing, healing-powers type soup on a rainy day last week, when Yelp led me to this place near where I work. I'd never had soondubu before, but the descriptions from other Yelpers really appealed to me, and I was not disappointed. This place was BUSY around lunchtime on a Monday, and I waited awhile before one of the two super-busy ladies running around had a moment to find me a seat. I also had to wait a little while for my tea and banchan after I was seated. But man - when I got my pork and kimchi soondubu with an egg cracked in it, it was worth any minor inconvenience in the world. It was spicy and tasty and hot and everything I could ever hope for from a bowl of soup. This may be my new standby over pho when it's blah outside or I'm coming down with a cold. Note to self for next time I go - I need to find out what purple rice is like! I saw other tables getting it instead of the white, and I was intrigued. I'll definitely be popping in here for lunch before any dreaded night-shifts at work.
(4)James P.
We were heading for Tacoma Szechuan and decided to try some Korean BBQ instead. We just happen to stop at Ho Soon Yi. Looked clean and the parking lot was full. My wife and my daughter ordered Bi Bim Bop. This is a rice, vegetable, little bit of meat, and egg sunny side up on top, dish. It comes in a big hot iron bowl, that is still cooking the food when it hits the table. The Bi Bim Bop was really good, much more than one person could eat. I ordered the BBQ dish. They bring to the table small bowls of rice, kimchi, pickled radishes, bean sprouts, and a couple of kimchi style foods that you can mix in with main dishes. It was all very good. We will certainly be going back.
(4)Oriana S.
Awesome Food!
(4)J K.
Hands down, the best Korean spot! The food is delicious every single time we go, the staff is friendly and prices are reasonable. Our favorites are the kimchi pancake, daeji bulgogi and any of the tofu soups but everything else we have tried is also very yummy! We love this place, don't waste your time at the other Korean places! :P
(5)James F.
My pick for best chigae in Tacoma. Banchan is plentiful and delicious. Everything else I've had hits the mark too. And like most other Korean food in Tacoma, the price is right. My mom's always right when it comes to Korean food, and this is one of the few places she'll go to. And Tacoma has some great Korean food. I'm struggling to find places up North with food as delicious.
(5)Enrique B.
This place is laaahhhhh-git. My mother is super picky about where she dines, and she gives two thumbs up to this Korean joint on South Korea/Tacoma Way. The banchan could be more varied, but the portions are healthy. I don't think I've ever heard English spoken in this particular restaurant, as its mostly Korean clientele. If that doesn't say authentic, I don't think you know what does. Casual dining for sure, since the bldg used to be a fried chicken joint or something.
(5)Marimo A.
You must try their soon du bu (spicy tofu soup). My favorite is the one has everything. Really good broth - you can taste fish and meat. I'm not sure if you're supposed to eat those small shrimp in there. Rice is nice and sticky. Ban chan is not so bad either. Don't forget to add an egg in your soup! They'll put one right in front of you.
(4)Jee H.
I'm Korean but I do not know how to make Korean food. I usually go home to Dad and Mom's place for authentic yummy Korean food but they don't live close-by. I was driving through Tacoma when I saw HoSoonYi. I used to visit the one in Edmonds and loved their soondubu so I figured I'd give this a try. I enjoy this location a lot more because the service is actually pretty good. They'll check to see if you need any additional side dishes (banchan) and they have the traditional items that I really enjoy. My husband is Caucasian (mostly Swedish) so he sticks with the dwe jee bulgogi (marinated bbq pork) and a seafood pancake (hae mul pajun). I stick with the soondubu and I get a different kind of rice other than white when available (jah ko bap). I enjoy the cracked egg in my soondubu and I immediately stir it so that it will cook in the very hot and spicy dubu (tofu) soup. I've taken my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (both not asian) and they have enjoyed it too. The portions are generous and the prices aren't too bad. It's very casual and seating is cozy. It's the next best thing to going home to Momma's for some jinja Korean food!
(5)George M.
Smokin good short ribs here! So I'm not super familiar with Korean food, but I asked the waitress what she recommended and she said the short ribs. So I got them. Amazing! My brother ordered some kind of spicy pork and let me try a piece and it was equally awesome! There were lots of Koreans in the place and the waitress was talking to them in Korean, so I'm assuming it's fairly authentic. But since I was raised here in the U.S. and only visited Korea once several years ago, I can't be 100% certain. But even if it's not, I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. Deliciousness.
(4)Jess D.
I'm way out of my depth writing a review here, since I've been twice and I'm not all that sure what I had to eat either time. I do know that the service is very friendly and fast, and the food (whatever it is) is delicious. I brought my fiance in for lunch because I had such an enjoyable time the first go-round. We ordered from the lunch menu (bulgogi for him, bimbimbap or whatever the h311 it's called for me) and enjoyed sampling all of the various kimchis and etc. that come with it. The first time I came, I let the adorable server guide me and ended up with a very excited bubbling pot of tofu soup with an egg cracked in it that was delicious. There's no way I could ever finish all of that food, and the bimbimbap is filling without being heavy, sort of a tasty giant bowl of salad. The price can't be beat! Two of us ate lunch for less than $15. It felt like a little trip around the world right here in Tacoma.
(5)K M.
My husband and I were new to Korean fare. I got the pancake thing (with shrimp), and shared bulgogi (sp?) because the waitress let us know it was good if you're wimpy about the spice level. She was very kind and helpful. We weren't in a hurry, just looking for dinner after a movie. The food was deliciously! I liked most of the side dishes(banchan) that come with. Very reasonably priced for tons of food. I prefer to pack my own doggie bags, though. Impeccably clean when we went (2/23/13), and I used to do hygiene audits of food facilities.
(4)Maria L.
If I'm not eating their pan fried mackerel, I'm thinking about eating their pan fried mackerel. Drool.
(4)Kyle K.
Though the business location can look shady to many people, most people who've eaten here knows it's one of Tacoma's gems in regards to Korean food. This is the place I go to whenever I need my soondubu (spicy tofu soup) or dwaeji bulgogi (spicy korean BBQ pork) fix. I always order my tofu soup extra spicy and I love how they carmelize their onions and set it under the pork so it is extra flavorful. The restaurant has limited options, but the place was never meant for that - it's a specialty restaurant. Service is can be inconsistent from attentive to absolutely no service at all (which has very much to do with your age and f how busy it is). But what else can you expect from a korean owned business?
(5)aLLaNi p.
We recently tried this place a month ago and it was so good, we've been back again... (and plan to continue)! The place is intimate (seats about 65) and the food is amazing. Portions are generous and side dishes get refilled regularly. I'm a fan of the short ribs and of course the Kim-chee. Service is always friendly and you will leave completely stuffed.
(4)Chanda I.
some people crave a bowl of clam chowder on a cozy day and some other people crave KOREAN TOFU!!! in seattle, korean tofu restaurants are sparse. but on this strip in lakewood, i found my new korean spots needed to be explored! atmosphere is very casual. you get your standard banchan with kimchee, bean sprouts, and such. and most importantly, it's cheap! tofu dishes are $7.95. it's hard to get a good meal for $7.95 these days. so i shared tofu soup, bibimbab (cold), seafood pancake (huge) with one person. then they gave us a little dessert cup/drink which tasted similar to our tea but with little jellies.
(4)Heidi E.
we eat here at least once a month this is the best place to go when you want a lovely healthy dinner for a reasonable price they do care and the little "extra's" matter here our standard lunch order is (and we always have plenty to take a box to have for dinner later as well) seafood pancake pigs feet platter a spicy tofu soup and at least one other dish everything is always fresh, hot, reasonable and on your table fast with polite service this is a wonderful place to eat when you want to gather with a few friends or family and have a lovely well prepared lunch or dinner
(4)Chuck L.
Tried this place for lunch...or I guess I should say dinner...arrived at 210 pm and learned that lunch ended at 200 pm and from that point on you pay dinner prices. 10 minutes apparently makes a big difference because the meal was twice as much at the dinner price. But...the food was excellent so no worries. We had the fried mackeral, the bbq kalbi short ribs, and spicy pork. All were awesome. Do not come expecting super friendly service or nice decor, just good, authentic, Korean comfort food.
(5)Gwen B.
Best Korean food I've had in Tacoma. Side dishes especially good. The seafood tofu soup--I started looking forward to my next bowl as soon as I finished my first. Service was good, though they kept apologizing for being so slow. Got a second round of side dishes with the meal as we'd wolfed down the first so quickly. Cute place--definitely casual but pleasant.
(4)Bill Q.
I love this place. I work in Issaquah, live near Green Lake. When work takes me south I always do my best to schedule my appointment so I can have lunch here. I was lucky enough to have been shown that the best lunch, dollar for dollar, was a korean lunch. I judge Korean places by the amount of pan chan they serve. I am a white guy, so when I ask for go chee chan, the skeptical eye changes to one of approval.
(5)Debra C.
Great food! The best Korean food in the area! I love their BBQ short rib, tofu soup #1 and Bim-Bim Bop (sp?). Very flavorful and fresh. The service is excellent -- the waitress always made sure our water glasses were full and showed us how to mix our Bim-bim Bop. I left my Coach sunglasses in the restaurant and I got it back the next day I went back =) Super-nice hostess!
(5)Katherine I.
Probably one of the best Korean places around. Hubby's 1/2 Korean, lived in Korea for a number of years (though born in US) and his mother makes predominantly Korean food at home. When we originally moved to the PNW, we moved to the Tacoma area. And felt like we struck gold in finding Ho Soon Yi. The menu is limited, but what they have is fantastic. The Mackerel is mouth wateringly delicious and practically melts in your mouth. The Bulgogi is off the hook, with just the right amount of sauce, sesame seeds and almost raw onions, served on a sizzling platter. Their soups are amazing, and there's almost nothing on their menu that we haven't tried. Our daughter really enjoys the Rice Juice they often serve at the end of a meal during the warmer months. The tea is brewed in typical Korean style. There's always a variety of Kim Chi always served (seasonal, mostly). It's a great little hole-in-the-wall and most dinner platters are enough to feed up to 4 people. But I recommend everyone order something new to try and then do a share-around!
(4)Janey L.
When I have my cravings for korean food this place always comes to mind. They have very reasonable prices and I love their spicy tofu soup! My husband always gets their spicy bbq pork (dwaeji bulkogi), their pan fried mackeral is reallly good too! You get plenty of side dishes and rice to accompany your meal and we've always gotten nice service there. We've tried other korean restaurants in the area and this place still is number 1 in my book ;)
(4)David U.
My favorite Korean restaurant in Tacoma for galbi and soondubu. Like many other cultures, there are places that have a "specialty": think steakhouse, ribshack, sushi place, Italian joint. I'm confident in saying Hosoonyi is a "soondubu-jip" (tofu soup house). Several different versions, including kimchee, beef, seafood, and various combinations. Fairly spicy for palates not accustomed to Korean fare, but just ask for a milder version. Very flavorful. Large volume of food in the traditional clay bowl - sometimes spilling over the top. Excellent! Will ask you if you'd like an egg dropped in, which I highly recommend. Scramble it or carefully eat around it as it hardens while you eat. Yum. Good-sized selection of fresh banchan (vegetable side dishes). Always comes with a bowl of white rice - servers may ask if you'd like another bowl and as with most Korean restaurants, there is no charge. But things change, so don't hold me to it. Always bring you a glass of sweet rice water as a palate-cleanser after the meal. This is not a galbi-jip but their galbi is excellent - just the right size for 2 people to split with a soondubu each, or maybe for yourself if you're in a meaty mood (or just meaty). Decor is typical for mom/pop Korean casual restaurant - homey, but practical. This ain't no California Pizza Kitchen. But the bathrooms are clean and fresh, the utensils are well-washed, and the waitstaff are polite, but sometimes hurried. And just as important, it's pretty affordable. All soondubu meals are $7.99 and the galbi plate is $14.99. As with all Korean places, there is no charge for banchan side dishes - they are standard with every meal and as such, you usually can't request certain ones. Of course, it never hurts to ask. As background, I'm Korean and lived in Chicago for most of my life. I'd say I know K-food pretty well. Go forth and eat! I think you'll like it.
(5)