Somaek Korean

The restaurant exceeded my expectations. I will be honest, as a Korean diner, I did not expect much going in, knowing the restaurant is run by a white chef. That assumption was on me. He proved me wrong, and every dish was excellent. They were generous enough to provide bibim noodles on the house, which I truly appreciated. The dishes were thoughtful and well executed, and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking to try authentic Korean food.

Somaek is truly a gem. The food is absolutely incredible—every dish tasted like a comforting, home-cooked meal made with so much care. The intimate setting made our experience feel so cozy and special! The staff were a highlight on their own. Keri, our hostess, was so warm and welcoming from the moment we walked in. She was so authentically kind to us and checked in on us throughout the night to make sure we had nothing less than the best experience. Cesar, Lucio, and Haley who were our bartenders were so fun, easy to talk to, and genuinely excited to share how they craft their unique drinks. The cocktails not only tasted amazing but also had the most impressive presentation. We ordered the haemul pajeon (green onion pancake), bossam (steamed pork belly wraps), kimchi jjigae, bulgogi, and bibim guksu—each dish was made to perfection and we can’t wait to go back to order these again and try everything else on the menu. This restaurant is truly one of a kind and has quickly become one of our favorite places to eat in Boston. Can’t recommend Somaek enough!!

Had the most incredible experience at Somaek tonight! The food was to die for, and the service was just as amazing. Shout-out to Judy and Dennis for being so kind and attentive the whole night. We just loved chatting with everyone who brought a plate to the table. You can tell that this team really cares about making your experience at the restaurant a memorable one. This is what every dining experience should be like! I'm so happy we chose Somaek to celebrate the launch of my friend's new business. They made the night so special, one I won't soon forget. Already plotting the next visit 🙂

Everything was excellent! I had been wanting to come here for a long time to dine in, I came in by myself as a walk in and was so happy they were able to accommodate me. Even solo, each and every one of the staff came by to check on me. My server, Joedy (hoping I got that right) was so informative and patient as I asked her many questions about the Korean focused menu. I’m familiar with the cuisine but there were quite a few exciting options that were new to me! For drinks I tried their soju/beer cocktail (their namesake)! The seasonal flavor literally tastes like fall. The food was fresh and flavorful. I had the grilled mackerel (perfectly crisp), the sashimi wraps, and the braised beef banchan. Additionally, the complimentary banchan was so good I ate a whole two rounds. It got a little busy midway through my visit but service remained exceptional, I will definitely be back for the food and vibes. Thank you all so much! (Sashimi isn’t pictured because I ate it all before I could think of taking one)

The true brilliance of Somaek lies beyond its creative menu and intimate atmosphere. It’s the effervescent staff that truly sets it apart in the Boston restaurant scene. As a vegan, dining out can sometimes feel limiting. My options shrink, and I risk being "that picky guest." But at Somaek, the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating or enthusiastic about helping me find the right dishes. I enjoyed the Beoseot Mandu, Japchae, and Bibim Guksu, and they even made sure I had vegan kimchi with my banchan. I was seated at the bar, where Hailey made the night a blast. She’s effortlessly cool and made me feel right at home. To top it all off, Chef Jamie surprised us with a vegan Tteokbokki dish, saying it was something his mother-in-law would make for him. It was so good I wonder if he has a single brother-in-law? 🤔 Anyways... if you go, don’t forget to check out Temple Records bar. I was celebrating my friend’s 21st, and when I mentioned our plans, the Somaek team personally walked us back, made sure we had seats ready, and even brought us a sweet snack to enjoy while we were there.

Amazing experience, food, service and environment. They provided a marked menu for gluten free and potential cross contamination! Waiter knew the foods and was helpful. Food itself was all delicious and the Somaek was good as well. I came on my Birthday but would come here again casually. Highly recommend to come.

This restaurant was on our list that we keep of restaurants that we want to visit anywhere in the world. We were not disappointed! Juody was our server and she was outstanding. We got the impression that she truly cared about us and wanted us to have the best dining experience ever. She explained the menu and made suggestions as to what we should get, as we were a party of three. Please see the photos that we posted for all our food dishes. We also got to meet Lisa Farmer, the General Manager, as my guests wanted sake and she brought out a sake menu from one of their sister restaurants. She explained the different options and we were very pleased. Their attention to detail was top notch. A+++