What better way to start these reviews with the absolute best Korean Restaurant here in Stockton, CA
Q Korean BBQ
After living here in Stockton for several years, I have always kept my eyes open for a delicious Korean Restaurant. Something authentic, not Americanized, or a place that just mimics (without much success usually) the food that I have fell in love with time and time again.
Two types of restaurants that I had not seen a good representation of, just out right wrong representation of, or not seen at all had been Hawaiian food and Korean food. There are a plethora amount of Japanese restaurants, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Mexican, and American, but those two I stated earlier were missing or badly represented (except for another Korean Restaurant on Miracle Mile, they're good too).
Unfortunately there is still no good Hawaiian food restaurant (real Hawaiian food, not the local lunch wagon style food that's sold in Hawaii). Hopefully I can take care of that soon...
The Price:
The price is very reasonable for the amount of food given. I believe it is right for the quality and freshness of the food that you purchase, the time and effort needed to prepare, prep, and marinate the kimchi, or 김치, and everything else that is necessary for building the quality selection of dishes offered.
The FOOD and MENU:
Just awesome, how else should I describe it? The menu has pictures, which is the best part for the visualizers, so it sells the food without having to really describe it. The menu has so much to offer, but it's not overwhelming at the same time. The menu is sectioned off, having the title in English, then Korean, and a brief description of the item with a picture (for most menu items). Pictures truly are worth a thousand words, and that's what really helps people make up their minds (even more so for when you come in on your lunch and need to make up your mind quickly).
After ordering, you are given several small dishes that will come right before your main dish. These side dishes are called banchan, or 반찬, and makes the food you're about to receive even more enjoyable. Some of these banchan that you will receive are japchae - glass-noodles with vegetables in a slightly sweet sauce, kimchi - picked cabbage marinated with chili peppers, kongnamul - bean sprouts with sesame seed oil, and gogumasun namul - boiled/seasoned sweet potato shoots. Again, these are just some of the several dishes that I had on several different occasions.
Now the actual dish, whatever it is that you have decided on between the variety of mouth watering dishes available, will most certainly not just fill you up, but satisfy your palette to pure contentedness. I have had the cold buckwheat noodles with vegetables, meat, and hot sauce - bibim naengmyeon, the kimchi stew - kimchi Jjigae, and their kalbi, or galbi - marinated beef ribs. Never have I been let down, and I've always had more than my fill, with extras to take home. Even more, when you run out of rice, that comes with your meal, or any of the banchan, or side dishes, just ask for a refill, they're more than happy to get you more!
The bottom line is the food is truly wonderful, and as I said earlier in this review, it reminds me of some of the great Korean restaurants I've been to in Hawaii and when I was living abroad in Japan.
The Service:
Being a server is no walk in the park, especially if you have to deal with a guest who's had a bad day, or worse, comes in a bit inebriated (I know from experience...both sides to be exact). So to be fair I try not to judge or write a review on a restaurant based on how the server treats me the first time I go, or even the second. Just as it's true that the guest may of had a bad day, so can a server. The job is not who a person is, they're not robots who have been programed to meet the need of every customer that walks through the doors with a smile and outstanding personality of hospitality. So I certainly take that into consideration.
With that said, the servers here have been doing their job. Attentive, with a smile on their face and an uplifting personality is what I have encountered every time I ate here. Now the servers have been good, but the owner just blew me out of the water with her enthusiasm and mother-like qualities that makes me think of home and the Korean friends and families that I've been around throughout my life. She treats each guest with the same level of desire to help and ensure them that she is there to guide them through every process, starting with going outside and pulling in customers, to helping with choosing a dish, and being sure to not let any banchan, or side dish, go empty.
Talk about wanting to build a clientele of repeat customers. Within the five days they have been open, I have eaten there three times. Already it has become a favorite spot of mine, and I don't mind the drive at all (and I don't like driving).
The Summary:
"Where's the Soju?"
I enjoy sake, ocha, macha, (etc. - my favorite Japanese, 일본어, drinks). I'm just waiting for Q Korean BBQ to get it in so I may enjoy my amazing food with a good drink.
Thanks for reading this review of Best Stockton Restaurants.
