Friend's House Korean
4647 Convoy St, San Diego, CA
Crema's Take
“This Korean restaurant excels at creating memorable moments for guests, from singing birthday wishes in Korean to providing attentive service that keeps wait times minimal even on busy Friday nights. The outdoor seating and warm aesthetic make it an ideal spot for lingering over traditional dishes like tofu stew and bulgogi, while the generous banchan and reasonable pricing make it feel like gathering at a friend's house, which is exactly what the name promises. Whether you're bringing family or meeting friends, the combination of genuine hospitality and solid Korean comfort food creates an experience that keeps people coming back after years away.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
They sang to our daughter for her birthday in Korean. Made her birthday super special. Food was delicious. Service was exceptional. Will definitely be back.
Really happy that there was no wait time on a Friday night at 7:00 p.m.. place also had quite a nice aesthetic and we got a table under outdoor space. Food was actually pretty good and service was also decently fast. Kimchi pancake was extremely large and we certainly appreciate that! Definitely good value for money there. Flavor was also exceptional. It was soft and light and had that kimchi flavor but wasn't too overpoweringly strong either. It was fairly oily though so I had to press out some of that oil using paper towels. Spicy chicken entree item was really nice. Not too spicy and it also had some veggies in there which I appreciate. Sauce itself was delicious and I think the only downside is that there was not as many large pieces of chicken so it was hard to tell what was chicken and what was rice cakes. Friend and husband definitely enjoyed the beef bulgogi. I only tasted a little and it was definitely good. I was really excited about the Hot Stone Bibimbap, but it didn't deliver as much. Rice on the side was fairly crispy which was nice, but overall I think it was missing a little something. The Bibimbap sauce they gave on the side was a 10/10 though!
Good banchan. The tofu stew was alright and I while the bulgogi was not bad, I have definitely had better. It of course leaves you feeling quite gassy, but that is expected for a restaurant like this. Good food, I’d come back
Honestly, with keeping in mind price and portion size, this place is okay. My friend recommended this place as having good food. I wanted to try it out and honestly, I can only take away two good things from here: the service (kind of) and the candies they offer near the front. When I arrived (they said the order would be ready in 20 minutes), I looked at a nearby menu and was confused with the prices because it had looked as though they overcharged us. The woman in front was quick to explain and it all made sense. I don't mind how much I pay for food, as long as the taste justifies it (and as long as they don't scam the prices too much with online ordering). I took a little candy from the bowl they had and the woman in the front said I could take more if I want (I forgot to do so, but I thought that was sweet). Well, they almost gave me the wrong bag, and had I not checked before leaving, it would've just been that. Ambiance was chill in this place. Things were tidy but still looked semi busy. Getting home, my friend mentioned that the soup was a smaller portion than before. I can appreciate how they have different sides compared to other Korean spots, but they weren't necessarily better. The sausages in the rice cake dish were of the store brand kind you buy when you don't want to spend money on the good sausages. Really disappointing. The sauce was good but too watery. The soup was pretty good. Tasted just like one you'd make at home. All in all, I would not recommend this place. You can get the bang for your buck elsewhere.
After 5 years, I finally tried Korean food again at this restaurant. I ordered the short rib plate with dumplings, salad, and rice, while my husband went for the spicy chicken with rice and Korean beer. Of course, they served us plenty of banchan (side dishes) as appetizers! The place has a nice vibe with both indoor and outdoor seating. It wasn’t too busy, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Definitely worth it for our dinner—so happy to eat here again.
Crema Reviews
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