Soban Korean Eatery

First time here. This place has gotten some good press lately, and people have been buzzing about it. We stopped in a little after noon on a Saturday. There were several other small groups eating inside. Food: For lunch, I got the bulgogi, along with purple rice, mandu (dumplings), and mashed sweet potato salad. My wife got the honey garlic chicken, japchae, and sesame slaw. There were some really good parts and some that were disappointing and underwhelming. For starters, the hot (temperature) entrées weren’t really hot. I would say everything was warm. It looked like they were keeping things fresh by only having a small amount in the warming trays, and maybe we got the last of it before another batch was made. Both of the main entrées had great flavor. The bulgogi was very tender, and the marinade flavors were delicious. The honey garlic chicken was also very good, but again suffered from only being warm. The mashed sweet potato salad was a nice surprise and was chilled nicely. The mandu (dumplings) were a bit bland and really needed a bit of soy sauce to add interest. Service: All of the folks who took care of us were very pleasant. They did a great job welcoming us as soon as we entered. We were unsure about some of the items, and they explained them clearly and gave us time to decide. You can order from a list of standard combinations or customize with a starch, protein, and sides. Easy peasy. Genuine smiles, and we felt appreciated. Atmosphere: The place is located in a small strip mall, with lots of natural light coming in through the large front windows. There are several tables and high-tops in the front, with additional tables toward the rear. It’s easy to figure out where to go to order. The paper menus and menu board are easy to read, and there are placards that describe what you’re looking at. If I came back, I would definitely get the bulgogi again and would just hope that it and the other items were served at a better temperature.

In a very simple yet refreshing setting, transport yourself to an eatery as you would find in Korea. You are welcome with a traditional hello in Korean to an great flavourful food. Price and portions are great. Like walking into a Korean Drama restaurant right in Wisconsin.

Their bulgogi is fresh and good!!!! All the banchan seems so gooooood too! Especially japchae, oi kimchi,the sesame salad. The rice is perfectly cooked. 10/10! I wish I lived close to this place😭 The employees are kind and helpful! Very welcoming place❤️

We just chanced on this restaurant when we dined nearby and got curious with its bright clean interior decor. We ordered the rice bowls and enjoyed it though i can taste the sugar in the dishes. The staff were cheerful, loud and friendly, but they almost got our orders wrong had i not repeat it twice or thrice with the cashier. The tofu soup could have been really good but too spicy for our palate. The place was tastefully designed and clean.

This place was pretty good. It was the first time we ever had Korean. The kids loved the glass noodles. One of the dishes had some pieces of fatty meat that didnt really seem edible, and had to be put aside, maybe thats normal, but it did make it more difficult to eat in the lettuce wrap. We would definitely go back again though

Absolutely amazing experience! The Mrs and I were in the area and decided to stop in for some food. We were blow away by the quality and portion size of the food. For a bigger guy like myself I couldn't even finish how much they gave us. Staff were so friendly and kind! All in all I recommend that yall stop inside.

I was excited to have a korean restaurant close by our house. We visited for dinner. The place was clean and modern. We got a warm welcoming from everyone who was working and was the same for everyone who walked through the door. You order at the start of the assembly line, similar to a chipotle. The menu is simple and well laid out. You pick your rice type or veggies, you pick your protein, and then you pick two sides. I got the bulgogi and my girlfriend got the chi-bob. There is one pepper next to the chi-bob, but it still wasn't too spicy for someone who isn't big on spicy food. A bit more on the sweeter side than spicy. The chicken was good and the sides were good. I got the soon-tofu soup, which was lacking some veggies for my preference, but the flavor was good. My disappointment came from the bulgogi. It was overcooked and bland. Given the layout and the concept of the restaurant, I understand that speed is key, which is probably what led them to pre-cook the meat and keep it warm instead of cooking it to order, but sauteing pre marinated meat does not take long. The meat also had minimal signs of searing, which often indicates that they might have cooked too much in the batch at once which tends to result in steaming the meat, rather than searing. Bulgogi indeed has different styles depending on region and family, but given the fact that this goes right next to the rice, it's difficult to believe that this was intended. More importantly, the flavor just wasn't there. I was surprised by this, since the sides and chicken had good seasoning. On a side note, it would be nice to have the braised tofu as an option in the sides as well. 두부조림 has always been one of my favorite side dishes as a kid. In the end, i might have just gotten a bad batch of bulgogi. My comments on the beef are not meant to be a hindrance to anyone who wants to visit, but rather a suggestion in hopes to seeing the establishment succeed. Since i did enjoy everything else, I am more than willing to visit again and try other things as I want this place to succeed.