Korean in Tampa Bay
Where are the best Korean restaurants in the Tampa Bay area?
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Has anyone tried Yoyo Sushi at 300 State St E, Ste 110, Oldsmar? I've seen their menu and they have a small selection of Korean specialties. They are somehow related to the salad bar Secret Garden in downtown Tampa.
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Secret Garden
505 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602Yoyo Sushi
300 State St E Ste 110, Oldsmar, FL 34677›3 Replies-
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re: askdrtodd
rhnault
Aug 13, 2010 06:47 AM
It is pretty much a regular salad bar with some california rolls and some type of sesame noodle concoction. You pay by the ounce. I worked in that building for 5 years and would go get the salad bar occasionally. Not mind blowing but a decent salad bar.
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There is a small Korean restaurant on Hillsborough Ave (by Hanley Rd) attached to the S-Mart 1 Korean market. I don't even know the name, hoever my wife (Korean), the little one, and I have eaten there several times for both lunch and dinner and have not been disappointed with the food. Authentic (I lived in S. Korea over 4 yrs-so I know what I'm talking about.), spicy, flavorful, tasty (running out of adjectives) Korean food. Lunch is the best time to go, service was quick, food as described above. Dinner...service isn't so quick. Food is still spectacular, but service suffers. I think some of their dishes are better than Sa-Ri-One, but others are not. Wife loves the seafood soon-du-bu jigae better here than Sa-Ri-One. I think the Bulgogi is better at Sa-Ri-One, but neither is better than hers. Both are saltier than I like, but that is me. I think both rest spicy pork is tasty.
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re: G8R Dan
askdrtodd
Jun 9, 2010 10:07 AM
I ate there with my wife the other day, went back again, agree with you pretty much spot on. It's good but not great, Shin Jung in Orlando is worlds better than both. Sa Ri One is right by my office so we go there every month or two, sometimes it shines but more often than not it's unimpressive. I was in Seoul/Daejeon/Busan for a couple weeks and ate like a madman, I haven't found anything that really hits home in Tampa yet.
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re: askdrtodd
Nothing compares to eating there. LOVED the fish/seafood market in Busan when I vacationed there for a week many years ago. Awesome that you were in S. Korea for a few weeks. My mother-in-law arrived last week for a few eeks this summer (not the best time to come, but she wanted to) and I have to push myself away from the table every night. Had homemade nang-myun last night. Eating leftover bulgogi, cucumber kimchi, puchingae, and gochujang bulgoki for lunch. She made a spicy fish soup with some mahi-mahi bones that I caught last weekend. All I can say is the broth was out of this world.
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re: andy huse
I apologize. Just to add fuel to the fire. She made ox tail soup for dinner tonight. Again, adjectives do no justice the depth of taste of the broth and the tenderness of the ox tail. It was a simple meal with only two types of kimchi for side dishes. Season with salt, pepper, and sesame seeds as you like. If you want, dip the kimchi in the broth and let the broth pick up a little spiciness of the kimchi. It adds another layer to the broth. Guess I can update you on what I eat tomorrow night. LOL! Just kidding. I'm very grateful my mother-in-law is here with us this summer. She is happy to be here (I think) even though the weather is not cooperating.
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re: cheddarcheese32
My husband and I ate dinner at Soul of Korea tonight and were very satisfied with the meal. The restaurant has no ambiance, seriously, zero: mismatched chairs and booths and sparse decorations. They did, however, provide excellent service and a very decent meal. We ordered the kimchi dumplings, grilled spicy marinated pork, and kimchi stew pot. Great heat on all of the dishes. Given that it was only my second Korean dining experience, I can't really judge it against other restaurants, but it was a tasty meal.
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Soul of Korea
7612 N 56th St, Tampa, FL 33617
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askdrtodd
Nov 9, 2009 09:17 AM
Ate at Ginza for lunch buffet today and was sorta disappointed, the food wasn't bad but there was hardly a selection, they had rice, miso soup, a chicken dish I didn't recognize, bul go gi, seafood pancakes, tempura sweet potato, a couple different kim chis, a seaweed salad, and a bunch of sushi that was all made with salmon/tuna/snapper/fake crab. It seemed dumbed down and americanized to me, but maybe I was just expecting too much. I think after eating at Jin Ho for the Indian Buffet last week I saw how great ethnic lunch buffets can be and was just underwhelmed with this one. Nothing was specifically bad, but absolutely nothing wowed me or made me want more.
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Ginza Restaurant
2215 Collier Pkwy, Land O Lakes, FL 34639›7 Replies-
re: askdrtodd
Mild Bill
Nov 9, 2009 10:10 AM
Right... That's all it is....
If you go in there for a casual lunch expecting that ----- Sushi & stuff for $12.00----- you can find happiness...
Everything tastes good and feels fresh---- although sometimes it's better stocked than others...
You get a tasty sushi fix, not a profound experience, and enjoy some other fun stuff...The combo of their juicy Bulgogi & that nutty sticky rice is really tasty...
The usually available sliced fish cake in the cold-bar is really good, as well as a few other items...
It's just a good lunch if you're in the area....
With lunch buffets, I usually go in expecting less than this---- and if it's better it's a bonus...
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re: askdrtodd
had dinner at Ginza last night, and it did not disappoint. For $17, the buffet of sushi (solid but not extraordinary), korean specialties (bulgogi and pork with fixins), and hibachi (raw ingredients include shrimp, steak, and stir fry veggies, etc., for grilling) is a great value, at least for this guy who can eat his share. I was happy as a clam. I went out of my way to try it and i'm glad i did.
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Ginza Restaurant
2215 Collier Pkwy, Land O Lakes, FL 34639
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askdrtodd
Nov 6, 2009 03:36 AM
I spent some time in South Korea, and haven't yet found any really good Korean food yet in the bay. The three restaurants I know of off the top of my head are:
Matoi - 602 N Dale Mabry - mediocre, more of a sushi joint.
Sa Ri One - Cypress near Dale Mabry - OK, not mind blowing or super-authentic
?? - On waters, west of the veterans, south side of the road - Ironically this was my favorite of the three, but I can't remember the name and google isn't helping me out.There's also one out by USF I believe, anyone eaten there?
Best Korean in FL that I've had is in Orlando, called Shin Jung. Sometimes hard to get in there because of all the Korean people waiting to eat, which is a good sign.
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re: askdrtodd
Mild Bill
Nov 6, 2009 06:20 AM
The real and original name of this Korean restaurant is Han Il Kwan, but when they moved from their old Cypress St. location to Waters Avenue they changed the name to Ginza... "Japanese Steakhouse" believe it or not...
I'm not sure what that's all about, but they are my 'go-to' Korean joint!They have a nice lunch-time Sushi, and hot & cold Korean, buffet for $12.00 or so, as well as a full Korean menu...
Nice folks and real good food...
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Ginza Japanese Steakhouse
8104 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33615 -
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re: laboheme
Sa Ri One and Rice on Hillsborough, while not as good or as authentic as what you got in S. Korea, are the best that I've found in Tampa Bay.
Thanks for the tip in Orlando (Shin Jung). I grew up in Hawaii and ate Korean food every week. I would definitely drive to Orlando to get my Korean comfort food.
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re: askdrtodd
i think there is quite few Korean Restaurants in Tampa other than the three mentioned. Goryo on Fowler closed. But there is two on Hillsborough one call Han Ga Jok and the other called Rice Restaurant and Lounge. Han Ga Jok is almost across the street from Rice. they have Karaoke i think. Rice is the one with the grill at table BBQ and the only one with a website. www.ricetampa.com. I went to a wedding there.
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re: askdrtodd
blitzchamp
Aug 17, 2010 12:51 PM
If you're in Bradenton/Sarasota area then a good Korean restaurant you can go to is Sam Oh Jung. They have a pretty decent (though small menu). I tried their Galbi and Dak Bulgogi and both were pretty good. The place is known is known as a sushi restaurant (kinda like Matoi Sushi in Tampa) so you could have that as well if you like. It might be your only option in that area so I thought I'd mention it.. I just wrote about it today at http://bit.ly/bI8oQo so if you want pictures and some more comments check that out. The service was pretty good as well.
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Sam Oh Jung Sushi
6032 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207
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