Love this place for Korean comfort food! They have the best steamed mandu and Kimbob. Some spicy soup and noodles is also great during the cold weather! You can also drink as much tea as you want since its self serve. I’ve been here so many times! My top 5 Koreans restaurants in Annandale and its next to toksojip!
Kyung K.
Tu valoración: 5 Chantilly, VA
My go to kim bap and dduk bok yi place. Price is right and quick service. Good for quick lunch or dinner
Rickson W.
Tu valoración: 1 Chicago, IL
This place is wack. Somebody wrote that this is one of those awesome hole in the wall places. It’s hole in the wall place alright with tiny portion of tasteless garbage food. I watched them making kimbop and dukboki. Trust me there’s no special ingredient or special way to make their food in the kitchen. Yes it’s cheaper but you get tiny portion. As a result it’s not really cheap You will end up spending more money if you are hungry. But what’s worse is their food. Kimbop here is a total joke. Go to H-mart and buy their kimbop and I assure you that it’s 10x better and more filling with real meat instead of some cheap garbage stuff they put in there. Many people seriously have some kind of infatuation with hole in the wall places even though food is horrible there.
Cat T.
Tu valoración: 4 Annandale, VA
Perfect for when you want a quick cheap meal. I found out about this place a while ago. My friend and I were hungry and looking for some food to eat. So, he took me to this whole in the wall place. At first, I was very skeptical… I was thinking, the food would be not so good considering the look of the place. Well let’s not judge a book by its cover because, they proved me wrong. The kimbap here is really good! I love getting the tuna kim bap. I’m a bit disappointed that they stopped selling some of the other kimbap they used to have like the hot dog one and I forgot what else, but they used to have more options. It’s a pretty decent size portion and tastes bomb. I also like to get the udon soup here, it’s not bad. I wouldn’t recommend getting the ramen, because it’s the one you could probably make in your own home, just adding hot water. The ddukboki was bae, for a reasonable price and the taste was good. I’m normally not a fan but if my friends are ordering it, I’ll sneak a few bites. I tried the katsu that my friend ordered, and it wasn’t that good. I mean considering the price, the portion is a good size, just the quality is below par. The sauce is eh, not the correct flavoring. I wouldn’t recommend it if you are used to authentic katsu. The dumplings are good too! Worth trying. Although the menu is small, the options on the menu are good enough. It’s a really small restaurant so if it gets busy, the space would be annoying. I suggest to-go if you’re in a rush, it might be more convenient. The parking is hella annoying. It is a tight space shared between Tous Les Jours, a nail salon? I believe, and then Bön Chon and To Sok Jip. I don’t mind coming here once in a while because the kimbap is worth it and it’s cheap and fresh. I love the complimentary tea they have is quite nice. It’s small but cozy and the service is good. They people that work here are really nice, they always greet me and offer suggestions.
Tina V.
Tu valoración: 4 Springfield, VA
Five stars. FIVESTARSSSSSSS! Just kidding, I give this a four. Good food for a good price! I always get the tuna kimbap every time I’m in the area. I’ve tried their dukbokki and I do not have a high tolerance for spicy food, but I would go through all that spiciness just for it to end up in my belly. The space is really small and it’s a little borderline ratchet, imagine grandma’s house for the holidays. The kitchen is very small and so are the spaces in between tables. It’s cozy and the food is pretty good so I don’t mind. The parking situation is kind of bad, they don’t have many parking spaces so you’ll either have to park on the Tour Les Jours, Bonchon, or Heidi’s parking spaces. The food is so cheap that I can spend $ 10, be full and healthy. It’s a hole in the wall kind of place.
Y C.
Tu valoración: 1 Centreville, VA
This is the first Korean restaurant that I had to throw away to the trash… I am not lying. Here is how I honestly felt: 1. Steamed Mandoo –Overpriced for nothing. I do not even feel like they were any better than what you can make at home by microwaving premade Mandoo. 2. Spicy noodle –I threw away everything. The noodles are like what you get from Lamyeon noodles and the whole sauce is not right. 3.Tonkatsu –When I called to order their Tonkatsu, I mainly looked at the picture on the menu. It is so deceiving that I almost called them for my money back. Nor worth your money, this was the most disgusting Katsu I have ever had in my life. Seriously. So greasy and tasteless. Also, the way they cut each individual pieces was so random. It tasted and looked disgusting. I am never going to order anything from here, I told my hubby that«I think I ate trash cuz I was too hungry» Yes, that’s right. I am so sorry, but this place is not the best cheap eats out there.
Johnny K.
Tu valoración: 5 Philadelphia, PA
Must try if you like Boonsik! Yulmoo-naengmyun and doobu-jungol are the best so far. I’m gonna try every single menu.
Ivy S.
Tu valoración: 3 Springfield, VA
Not very a clean kitchen and restroom. The foods overall are pretty good except for strong MSG flavors in soups.
Jin L.
Tu valoración: 4 Silver Spring, MD
Great for a quick kimbop, spicy kalgooksoo, odeng, and ddukboki when you are severely under-dressed and not necessarily too hungry but still want something in your stomach. The restaurant is extremely tiny but the food is quick and cheap. It is reminiscent of street pojang macha’s in Korea. Everything tastes as it should, no better no worse, and that’s what you should expect when eating at what is essentially Korean version of fast-food. Plus the overworked owner is always so polite.
Theresa K.
Tu valoración: 4 Springfield, VA
This hole in the wall is exactly that. Don’t expect any fru fru service or frills. It’s a tiny spot with only a handful of tables but if you want some good old mandoo and kimbap this place is the place to go. Granted, they don’t have a lot of variety but it’s just good tasting food. We ordered an order of odeng kimbap, mandoo, and bibim nengmyun. It’s stuffy inside so if you can just to-go the food that’s also an alternative option. The kimbap was fresh and tasty, the mandoo was hot, and the nengmyun was spicy and delicious. Definitely would go back to try the spicy kalgooksoo because… why not. I haven’t found a place that sells a decent bowl of spicy kgs so I am super excited!
Hannah H.
Tu valoración: 3 Alexandria, VA
The hubs and I came here for dinner to give this little restaurant another try. I remember coming here with a group of friends last time, and it was just quite underwhelming. Located in the parking lot near Tous Les Jours(across from To Sok Jip and Bön Chon), this little white bungalow serves up a limited menu of Korean food. The menu, a double-sided laminated piece that’s at every table, lists items such as mandoos(steamed dumplings), jjohl myun, kimbop, ramyun, ddukboki, and ggochi oh-deng soup. We ordered the 5-piece jjin mandoo(small steamed dumplings — I was sad that they got ride of the wang mandoos(which are the oversized steamed buns, as I remember those being pretty okay T___T These mandoos were more on the bland side, and dipping them in a soy sauce/vinegar/crushed red pepper mixture slightly made it better), jjohl myun(spicy noodles with sliced cucumber, sliced cabbage, sliced radish, and half of a hard-boiled egg; the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente, but the sauce was more on the sweeter side, and not as refreshing as I remember it being), donkatsu(thin, panko-breaded fried pork cutlet with a side of their homemade donkatsu sauce, sliced cabbage with a Thousand Island dressing, and a small mound of rice, topped with sesame seeds; the donkatsu was pretty okay, and even though it was thin, I liked that it was crispy and the sauce was quite delicious with it), and the Gahn Dwen Jang Bibimbop(a bowl with rice, lettuce, sliced cucumber, bean sprouts, and some pickled radish, with a side of a small stone bowl of a sizzling soy bean paste mixture; you let it sizzle a bit and then mix it in your bowl of the rice and veggies; the soy bean mixture, while tasting fresh, was more on the bland side, and I wish that the sizzling action made it better(but, it was more of a warmer-upper instead). There is complimentary hot and cold barley tea near the cashier as well, so you refill as much as you please. The staff here are very nice and sweet, and the kitchen is small, but you can see all the action going on there, as the staff prepares the food, made-to-order. You order first at the cashier, get served, and then pay up at the cashier once you’re done. While the place itself is very cute and hole-in-the-wall-ish, the food was still more on the mediocre side for me. +donkatsu with the housemade sauce +friendly staff: D +near Tous Les Jours, across from To Sok Jip/Bonchon
Diana C.
Tu valoración: 3 Reston, VA
Was hoping this place would be my Annandale equivalent to MyungGa Kimbap in Centreville, but alas it was not. It’s in a cute little corner, and bare bones, which is always an indicator(for me at least) that the food is going to be delicious. I ordered the kimbaps and mandus, quality and taste was ok. Just ok. I don’t know what the other reviewers are talking about it being a reminder of mom or Korea, because for the prices and taste it felt like robbery. I may go back another time and hope for better taste, but not holding my breath. Shame because the owner was really nice. Korean speaking skills are essential.
E K.
Tu valoración: 5 Washington, DC
One of my favorite Korean restaurants in the area. Love their homemade soybean paste and everything on the menu.
Paulina S.
Tu valoración: 5 Alexandria, VA
My favorite place to eat in Annandale. I love coming here for the food and atmosphere. And just to clarify, reading some reviews on here, you get your own water/tea. Pros: Tastes homemade and authentic Cheap prices Service is quick Very clean inside Kimbap tastes fresh Cons: You might have to ask about some of their items if you don’t understand Korean Looks small on the outside I have eaten at most places in Annandale but this restaurant makes me feel at home. I highly suggest this place.
D C.
Tu valoración: 4 Fredericksburg, VA
Solid 3.5 — Food taste, 4; atmosphere, MAYBE a 3; chatting with owner, 5. If you’ve been to Korea, think Pojang Majha(those red tents by the side of the road). This is simple Korean comfort food at a remarkable price in Annandale. We tried to drop in to a few bigger names in the Korean Cuisine Scene on a Saturday evening, but couldn’t wait 1 ½ hours, so we popped in here for a snack before dinner(don’t judge). We’re glad we did! Nice, simple, cheap. We ordered the Uri Kimbap to go, but when a server walked past with a plate of tteokboki, we had to sit down and try it. Kimbap was very good, but I’m a lightweight with spicy foods, and the rice cakes were much too spicy for me(but mama devoured them and said they were like she had back when she was in middle school). We’ll be back, for sure.
Alexis K.
Tu valoración: 4 Washington, DC
I’m disappointed that this place has so many negative reviews because it’s one of my go-to places in Annandale. I have lived in Annandale for pretty much my entire life, and to be honest there are few good Korean restaurants and many mediocre ones. As a Korean who eats Korean food on the regular, I feel like I have a pretty good feel for what ‘good’ Korean food is supposed to taste like. With all of that prefacing the actual review, let me actually start talking about the restaurant. Most people I’ve taken this restaurant to call it ‘The Hut’ because that’s what it looks like from the outside. Mandu Rang Kimbob Erang is a tiny, tiny restaurant located in the Giant shopping center. It’s not very easy to find, so for reference — this place is about 200 feet away from To Sok Jip. Mandu Rang Kimbob Erang is not a restaurant you should visit if you’re expecting ambiance. Like I said before, this restaurant is very small and can get kinda stuffy during the hot summer months. There are about 6 – 7 tables, so seating is limited too. It’s also self-service. There is a small counter where you can get your water, napkins, and chopsticks. Now for the food… the food here is very simple and very clean-tasting. The kimbap is tear-shaped, which is unique and makes it a little easier to stuff a whole pieces in your mouth. I recommend the woori kimbap(aka original or regular kimbap) and the tuna kimbap. Both have always been very good. Next, I recommend the donkatsu, which is fried pork cutlet. What makes this dish so good is the gravy. They top the cutlet with this inexplicably good gravy, which is made in-house according to the owner. The donkatsu comes with rice and a side of Korean style coleslaw. The gang dwenjang bibimbap is also very good. Instead of the traditional gochujang, this bibimbap comes with dwenjang, which is fermented soy bean paste. The dwenjang comes separately in a sizzling stonepot that you pour into the rice. If you order this, be sure to pour the dwenjang into the rice/veggies ASAP or else it’ll burn inside the pot! The mandu here is just so-so. The mandu, unlike most mandu, does not have any meat in its filling, which is why I think it tastes a little bland to me. My favorite thing to get here is the gamja soojaebi. Soojaebi is essentially hand-pulled noodle soup, and this restaurant does it soooooooooooo well. The soojaebi broth is very thick and rich, and the soojaebi itself has a unique color and texture due to the potatoes that are in the dough. This dish is perfect when the weather is cold and you’re looking for something to warm you up. The food here will leave you feeling satisfied, not overly stuffed. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something new to try in Annandale.
Kevin Jiseup K.
Tu valoración: 3 Washington, DC
Look. It looks like a dive on the outside. But trust me, it’s quite clean on the inside. If you don’t speak Korean, you probably should do a little Rosetta Stone or grab a Korean-speaking buddy before you come here because I’m pretty sure the owners don’t speak English. However, for my fellow Koreans out there who get a little nostalgic about their mama’s cooking and mandoos, this might be your place to come when that nostalgia becomes a little too hard to bear. The food is pretty cheap and tastes good. We got the ddukboki, kimbap, donkatsu, and mool & jjin mandoo. I would say stick to the mandoos. –1 for the donkatsu meat being the thickness of a piece of paper. Solid 3.5 stars.
Crystabel R.
Tu valoración: 4 Fairfax Station, VA
Best ddukboki I’ve had in the nova area. Other places go easy on the spicy to cater to the American palates I guess. I also always get the huge jin mandoos. Both dishes are both really filling and generous in portion
Elain X.
Tu valoración: 3 Honolulu, HI
This place is a hole in the wall type of restaurant. I went here after work a bit before school to kill time and get a quick bite. This place is very small, and the outside looks like a small house in a parking lot. I got the mundu and ramen(dumplings in ramen noodles) spicyyy but it tastes like it came out of the bags you buy at a grocery store-which isn’t always a bad thing… they had about 5 dumplings in my bowl made of vegtables. I got a side order of pork buns and it was ok. Being asian my mom makes really good pork buns but this one had no pork in it. Overall it wasn’t too bad but I’m not sure it would be my first place amoung other great korean places. On the plus side though, it is quick and easy.
Donald P.
Tu valoración: 2 Washington, DC
Not really a fan of this place, but we keep coming here because unfortunately it’s one of the few places that offers fast Korean food. $ 4 to $ 5 per roll of kimbop is ridiculous. Don’t be fooled by the fanned out display of tear shaped pieces. No matter how you fan it out, it’s still one roll!!! Anyway the food is way to expensive for what it is. Also this place is not really a dine-in place. It’s way too small, ventilation is grossly inadequate. Summer time this places feels like an oven. I don’t enjoy coming here.