Poong Mei
4720 Reed Rd, Upper Arlington, OH, 43220
Poong Mei Menu
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Address :
4720 Reed Rd
Upper Arlington, OH, 43220 - Phone (614) 273-9998
- Website https://poongmei.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Cherie R.
I believe this place has changed ownership/changed names since I first started going here. When I first started going here, I was a HUGE fan. Loved the noodles. And the steamed bread. And the dumplings. And it all was fairly priced. However, I believe it's changed. The prices have gone up, the quality is not quite as good, and it just doesn't wow me like it used to. I'm a little sad. I used to get the champong/jjampong/seafood noodle soup. And an order of dumplings. I ordered it recently with my husband - it's good, but is it 12 dollars good? Not sure, really. Dumplings are good as well, but it just doesn't have the wow factor it used to have.
(3)Nick D.
Poong Mei serves a variety of sushi. It took me a while to choose from many items on the menu. Finally, I ordered Sushi & sashimi boat. It looked very nice. When I tasted it, I knew that the fish was super fresh and the taste was so good. I've been to many restaurants in Columbus. This is one of the best sushi in town!
(5)Tammy P.
I had the michael roll & it was absolutely AMAZING!! Everything on their sushi is delicious & their steamed dumpling is the BEST i've ever had!! They have good quality food & their service is great. They have specials on certain days so I would DEFINITELY suggest going on the set days since they a wonderful deal!
(5)Fujiwara S.
Absolutely Sushi boat! Seafood fried rice, Zya zya myon was really good too.
(5)Tina F.
Awesome Lunch specials! Each weekday they have a $4.99 lunch special. Today was vegetable bibimbap and it was excellent. Lots of fresh veggies, rice and a fried egg on top. Yum! Plus all the side dishes were included too. If you ask for hot tea, they will also include that too for the same price! It's just not listed on the menu for some reason. . .
(5)Sarah C.
You can have the most authentic Koreanized Chinese, if it makes any sense to you :) Jjambong is good, Jjajangmen is also great! I miss eating here so much...!
(5)SiOhn L.
This is so nice place that I would defenetly spend my lunch and dinner at poongmei. They are using nice fresh and good quality fishes which is the most important to me and they taste so good too even just the sushi rice! Servers were doing pretty good job I had no complain about anything Guys should try the "PADAK", "WALNUT SHIRIMP", if you like spicy noodle soup with seafoods, "ZZAMPPONG" would go with you too. Oh, try the black bean paste sauce noodle on Monday it's only 5.99 for whole day
(5)Zeeshan S.
This is fantastic Korean-Chinese restaurant with a vastly extensive menu and a friendly dining atmosphere. They have a huge selection of menu items including Korean dishes, Korean soups, noodle dishes, seafood, sushi, Chinese entrees and much much more! The waiter we had was really helpful and friendly and even alerted us that our food might take a bit longer to prepare due to the heavy dinner rush. I ordered the jajangmyun which is a Korean noodle dish stir fried with black bean paste. I ordered mine with seafood, chicken, and vegetables and it was phenomenal! It was a spicy dish as noted by the menu but I loved the heat. It wasn't too spicy so it was very enjoyable. I also tried the seafood soup my friend ordered and it was also delicious and extremely fresh. Overall a great experience here and I will definitely be back!
(4)Roz K.
Service was terrible even when there were a lot of empty tables. When we ordered appetizer and dinners, my husbands dinner came out with 2 of the appetizers. The third appetizer and out with my daughters dinner. We waited an additional 40 minutes for the remaining 3 dinners. My tofu jigae was watered down. My son's pork kim chi jigae had two small pieces of pork. After a few bites, he couldn't taste anything since it was so flavorless. Don't waste a night out. If they could get they act together. The noodles can be tasty but nothing else about his place justifies coming here!
(1)Shuo F.
We went here to eat dinner for the first time and I'd have to say I'm very impressed! This restaurant has both Chinese and Korean food (Mostly Korean though). However they only gave us four side dishes whereas all other Korean restaurants we've been to always have us 8 dishes. The first thing I ordered was the steamed pork buns. The filling was pretty good, very much like what I've had in China, but the wrap was too wet and gooey. For the main dish I had the Pa-dak which is a fried chicken dish with a sweet and tangy sauce and topped with scallions. I am normally not a fan of scallions, but they really brought out the flavors of the dish. It's delicious and I definitely recommend it! My wife had the kimchi and Pork Soon Tofu Jiggae. They actually give three pieces of Kalbi with this dish. She also said the salad that comes with it is very good. She said the kimchi and pork option tasted like a mix between soon tofu jiggae and kimchi jiggae.
(4)Helen W.
There are certain ways of how I rate an ASIAN restaurant in Columbus. Based on the fact that I come from the NJ/NY, I am trying to be fair with the ratings I give. First, TEA- IS FREE. FINALLY! This is a big deal for someone who was brought up drinking hot beverages with my meals. And after being in Ohio for only 2 months, I now contemplate whether or not to order tea, since apparently it's the thing to charge at asian restaurants, so I base my authenticity a lot on this. heh. Second, Food- I went to order the Hwe Dup Bap lunch special, but it was not being offered I guess due to change in menu, and the sushi chef is on vacation until April. So I ordered the White Jampong, lunch special. It was a great deal! The bowl was filled with noodles, cabbage, and A LOT of mussels, shrimp, and squids. I usually do not order this dish at Korean restaurants, so I cannot compare it, but it was delicious. Not too oily nor drenched in MSG. Also got 4 plates of banchan. Third, Service- Not being offensive whatsoever, but Koreans don't tend to have the nicest reputations for service at restaurants, however I felt welcomed. They took good care of my tea refilling (haha back to the tea) and double checking with me the degree of spiciness for my dish. I did not feel outkasted when I stepped into the restaurant, so kudos here! Fourth, Atmosphere- The booth that I was sitting at had a tear in the seat, but the other side did not. It was dimly lit, but it seemed to be surrounded by windows, so on a sunny day it probably would have more natural lighting. I went during lunch time, so at first it wasn't too packed, but people started to pour in, but the restaurant is pretty big, so it did not get noisy. ALSO, there were other koreans eating at the restaurant...(another way I base my authenticity) haha. Overall it was a pleasant lunch. The menu did not have as big of a Korean selection, since it had the standardized american/chinese food too which did throw me off, but clearly it was Korean owned, so I knew to just order the Korean food. =] Hope this helps...someone who wants to eat their feelings out in sucky Ohio.
(4)Ty W.
Not only is the food delicious, the service is amazing! We had the sweetest server. The menu has so much to offer. Delicious sushi, get the Yellowtail, savory soup, try the hot and sour, and flavorful fried rice.
(5)Jenny K.
I have mixed feelings towards this place. The dishes are a hit-or-miss, but more misses than hits. I'm not a fan of their jja-jang-myun (black noodles), which I was most excited for. The sauce lacks flavor. I do like the neng-myun (cold noodles), yummy! The stew dishes and rice dishes are subpar, the appetizers are so so. Definitely one of the best Korean places in Columbus, but still not great.
(3)Michelle S.
Definitely an all time favorite; try their pa-dak, galbi, and stir fried jajangmyeon. Make sure to say stir fried because there's also another version of plain jajangmyeon. If you're coming with anlarge group, definitely get the boo dae jeongol! (Soup in a huge pot)
(5)Andrew L.
I usually come here for lunch, when the noodles are pretty cheap (about $8 to $9; I think they are otherwise $12 or so, which still isn't bad). I usually get the spicy seafood jampong in the red spicy broth (as opposed to the clear one), though some in my family like the egg drop noodles. The thick, spicy, red broth in the spicy seafood jampong is to die for. We often get baozi (stuffed steamed bun) or jiaozi (dumplings). These items are very tasty and good. I don't remember how many jiaozi you get, but you get about 4 medium-sized baozi (I think it used to be 5, though they may have been smaller). The spicy seafood jampong is fantastic. The amount of clams/vegetables you get varies, but sometimes you get a good amount. The broth is something else. It's so tasty, with flavors of chili spice and lobster or crayfish or something. And it has a great texture. Not sure how to describe it, but it almost has a sort of creaminess or grittiness akin to sesame soup, if you've ever had that. It's unique and absolutely delicious. It's always a big bowl that will leave you very full. It also comes with all the complimentary little side dishes that you often get at Korean places - kimchi, etc. Those are great too, and the servers will refill them when you ask. I am giving the price range a single dollar sign, because it is possible to come here at lunch and order a bowl of noodles and come out satisfied. But the $$ range is probably more common. But because you can go here without killing your wallet, and because the food is good, it gets 5 stars in my book. I did come here one time for Lunar new year with a friend from Shanghai, and we had the Korean-style spicy/sweet nian gao (sticky rice cake), among some other things. I remember it being very tasty. It was in the evening though, so a bit more pricey.
(5)Jillian W.
One of the best tasting Asian restaurants in Columbus. But WARNING, do NOT go in the winter. They do not have/chose to forego central heating and instead placed a few space heaters around the dining area. Everyone was wearing their heavy winter coats. And when we pointed it at our table, the waitress walked over a few minutes later and pointed it at another larger party! Had to cozy up to my stone bibimbap bowl for warmth. Kinda unacceptable but we did get a good laugh out of how ridiculous the situation was. I really really hope this was not a usual occurrence. Prices are also a little inflated. But again, the food is pretty awesome, so I guess 5 stars for that - 2 for freezing to death and the price.
(3)Mike P.
I've eaten here over 3 dozen times in the last couple years and their food is consistently good and the service is always very pleasant. They have a great mix of Chinese, Korean and Japanese food.
(4)JJ S.
Good Korean food! By far, one of the better Korean restaurants in Columbus! I ordered the spicy seafood soup. You get to pick the spiciness of the dish! I decided to order mild because I do like a little of spice but not too much that I cannot eat my food. The soup came out sizzling hot! You can literally see the steam coming from the clay bowl! My only complaint was that it was too hot because once the waitress put the bowl down, soup was splashing out. I had to shield myself with a napkin! I waited for the soup to cool down a little before I tried it. The soup was tasty and it had a spicy kick to it. There was plenty of seafood and tofu in it! The seafood was not overcooked. I will definitely come back here to try other dishes!!
(4)Holly C.
They're known for their Korean Chinese food (friend who used to work there said one of the chefs is Korean but born in China) and Korean food. They started offering sushi in the recent months, and it's very good! Their lunch specials are also worth it, but remember they are closed on Tuesdays though. I think they have delicious dumplings, zazang myun (black bean sauce noodles), spicy pork, and lots of other food on their large menu. I went on a Thursday for hwe dup bap (sashimi over rice and veggies). If you're familiar with bibimbap, it's similar except raw fish instead of grilled meat over rice/veggies. It came with three types of fish - salmon, tuna, and something else. I'm going to guess probably yellowtail? I'm not a huge fan of salmon so I didn't finish all of that, but the portions were surprising. I didn't think they would give me that much fish. I could also tell it's all very fresh because I couldn't detect any fishy taste, and normally I'm very sensitive to the taste of raw fish. Try it out because their service is also very friendly, much better than maybe a place next door to them. I see the parking lot quite full nowdays, and it's much busier than it used to be. I'm glad they're getting noticed more because it's really a great place.
(5)Rami M.
This is probably my favorite Asian restaurant in Columbus. They have a VERY extensive menu (including sushi)- so I have to go back often to try everything! The menu actually has three main parts: Korean, Chinese, and Chinese-Korean. A taste for any mood! I ordered the Seafood Jampong (spicy seafood soup)- it's normally spicy, but you can specify which spice level you want. This is where I made my fatal mistake. You can either get "no spice", "mild", "traditional", "extra hot", or "super hot". Believing that "traditional" meant "normal", I decided to order "extra hot". It was very hot! But it also was delicious, and the portion was huge. Next time, I'll order "traditional" or "mild". My friend ordered the Jajangmyun, which is a Korean noodle dish stir fried with black bean paste. It had a slight kick (but nothing compared to the soup), and was equally delicious. On a previous visit, I had the Bibimbop, and it was awesome. There are many unique offerings on the menu, and I can't wait to try more.
(4)Amelia S.
My review is solely on the sushi at Poong Mei. Their regular food items are mediocre; however I love love love Poong Mei's sushi more than anywhere else in Columbus. Akai Hana used to be my favorite sushi restaurant but after Poong Mei, Akai Hana has been beat! Poong Mei's sushi is always fresh and their presentation is superb. After eating Michael's sushi, I cannot eat sushi anywhere else ever! The quality is always fresh, Michael is always friendly, and I have never left the place unhappy with Michael's sushi. I have ordered Michael's sushi both dining in and to go and even when I get a large boat to go, they are able to pack the sushi efficiently that I am able to enjoy it at my home just as I would have at the restaurant. I love having dinner parties and constantly order large portions of Poong Mei's sushi and I always get asked where the sushi is from. As you can see from the posted pictures of others, the sushi looks amazing! I am currently bummed right now because Michael is out of town and I cannot have his sushi until April 1! Hurry up and come back, Michael! I miss you and your sushi!!
(5)Paul F.
It seemed strange to me to be pulling into this driveway and not going into Kaya. Instead I headed into Poong Mei and I was sort of surprised at the size of the crowd. Large, in other words. And I knew what I wanted to order, based on the Yelp reviews. It was Jjampong. A seafood stew that my waitress had to remind me twice that it was SPICY! Fortunately I've been getting my taste buds up to the task at Fortune Chinese so it wasn't all that hot to me. It was a good dish of noodles (linguine) and seafood and veggies and mussels and some other stuff. And about six side dishes. And the price was right; a little less than $12 including tax. A great meal for the money!
(4)Nicki S.
Steamed Pork Bun craving satisfied. Super friendly fast service. I'd like to come back and try their other plates. Side note- super clean restroom that smells good is always a good sign of a clean restaurant.
(5)Ashley A.
Great food and service! If you're looking for an authentic Korean food experience, check this place out. The menu is full of pan-Asian cuisine, but you'll find genuine Korean specialties as well.
(4)Carla D.
Just "meh". Not great but not horrible either. Salmon sashimi was really good. Potstickers didn't have a good depth of flavor and they were too greasy. Dol sot bi bim bap was lackluster. They could use a good interior designer to overhaul the dining room. All in all, a forgettable meal. I probably won't be back.
(2)SingChuan C.
The foods are great and delicious, but I have to say the services isn't good. I have to keep asking for waters from the servers, which is annoying (it wouldn't if the server automatically refilled my water). And also be clear on what you want when you order, like seafood, pork, or chicken. Because if you didn't mention what kind of protein you want they will just randomly choose one for you. I thought is standard for sever to confirm what kind of protein if the customers forget to clarify....... We order zazang mien, we wanted the seafoods, but they gave us the pork one
(3)Junsoo K.
There is a lot to enjoy at Poong Mei because clean place, variety and details, and care put into customer service and satisfaction. Poong Mei has a lot to offer. They have not only great Korean, Chinese food, but also great sushi. Michael who is the sushi chef would take care of the fish for EVERY Single DAY. I saw him bringing the whole tuna and salmon and he would cut the needles and scales and etc out. I mean he does want the customers to enjoy his dishes. Also Christina and Joe who are the owners would check up on people to take care of their customers. Korean Side Dish is not a lot like other Korean restaurants but they make their Side Dish fresh everyday. "Michael Roll" (about 16 dollars) is a big whole roll with tempura shrimp and crab stick inside and spicy tuna and salmpn on top of it. "Buckeye Roll" ( about 17 dollars) is another big roll with tuna and salmon inside the roll and fried outside (can choose to be fried or not) and spicy tuna on top of it. "Mae Sae Dak" (about 15 dollars) is a spicy chicken and shrimp. It is grilled on a hot pan with spicy sauce and vegetables. For anyone looking for a great food for a reasonable price, visit this establishment.
(5)Hung C.
I went in there about 50 minutes to close time. Before anything, the first thing the waitress said was, the kitchen closed in 5 minutes. Very disappointing~ We ordered seafood pancake, jeonpong and kalbi. Seafood pancake was alright. Kalbi was supposed to be grilled marinated short ribs. They probably just did it over the flattop and sauced it. Very disappointed again. Jampong was spicy but the noodles were cooked too long. It was almost mushy. I am disappointed this time on service and food. It is probably the time that I walked in. That should not be an excuse.
(2)Naiying C.
zazang myun...4 stars! Enough said.
(4)Brian F.
This wasn't my favorite place. I thought the tofu I got was super undercooked, and I felt a little sick after eating it. The restaurant was very accommodating for our large group, and most others were happy with their meals. I was not. Service and decor inside were solid.
(2)Ness S.
We found this restaurant relatively recently and have been quite happy with most of the food here. The side dishes served with the entrees here are not as good as I'd like them to be but they are not bad.( I'd prefer if they'd serve the typical fish side dish). The appetizers and the food here is very good. We have had a wide variety of their traditional soups (these are really meals, so not to be confused with a typical cup of soup in a Chinese restaurant), and my favorite is the fish with tofu soup. We have also eaten their bibimbap, the bulgogi, their chapchae, and their sushi, all delicious. They also have an extensive Chinese menu but we haven't tried any of the those dishes. This place is quite busy (always a good sign), but the servers are professional and friendly. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant. It is one of the better Korean places in town.
(4)Adrienne C.
My favorite spot for Korean food out of all the Columbus Korean restaurants (Diaspora, Japanese Oriental Restaurant, Kaya, Minga, Sansu, Silla) because: +polite, good-natured, efficient service (it seems like the owner is always there and helping out with things, such as waiting tables - i like this down-to-earth, team player approach!) +clean vibes +good presentation (ex: neat squares of egg banchan on a spotless white plate) +authentic-tasting soups (try the hot stone seafood soup!) +large portions +generous servings of vegetables/meats in their dishes We tried the seafood pancake ($7), steamed pork dumplings ($5), ma po tofu ($12), and the hot stone seafood soup ($15). everything was solid. i couldn't stop eating, which makes me happy......but also sad. ha note: the restaurant serves chinese, korean, and japanese food, but the owners are korean, so don't hesitate to order the korean food! the chinese food is chinese food with a korean twist (which is better in my humble, ethnocentric opinion) tip: order the complimentary barley tea! try to go during lunch hours to get one of their awesome lunch deals - basically half the price! but even when it's not lunch time, this place is a great value for the amount and the quality of food that you're served. Thank goodness there's at least 1 reliable Krestaurant in town! A girl gets tired of cooking sometimes.
(4)Pai-Wei L.
Very good pork kimchi soon tofu. However, I only rate it 3 stars because I see small pieces of egg shells in it. Hopefully their chefs can be more careful. Their pork buns are above average. Reasonable price.
(3)Patty B.
Poong Mei serves Korean-Chinese-Japanese food, but I've only ordered from the Korean menu when I've visited. I was first introduced to this place by a Korean friend,who declared this the best Korean restaurant in Columbus, and I am pretty sure she has tried them all. If you have Korean friends, I would suggest you go with them and let them order for you. They also seem to attract loyal customers of Chinese heritage as well -- usually a reliable indicator of a cuisine's authenticity. During one of my visits my friend ordered Boo Dae Jeongoi, which she says was adapted from a concoction that American troops created from the traditional Korean Kim Chee soup base. The soldiers would add their canned ham or spam or Vienna sausages or franks to the traditional spicy Korean soups. Koreans in turn "Koreanized" this Korean-American soup. The result is what we had at the restaurant that night, and it was absolutely delicious. I know the ingredients I have named sound awful when you think of them in combination; all I can say is try it, I think you'll like it! I would never have ordered this myself if I were reading the ingredients off the menu, but I am so glad that my friend ordered this. All of their other Korean dishes are excellent as well - Banchan dishes, noodle dishes, Kalbi beef, bulgogi. Service has been consistently attentive and efficient, without being disruptive -- regardless of whether I'm with Korean friends, American friends, by myself. There are probably other Korean restaurants in the area - in fact very close by - that have more ambience, but none none that can beat this one for delicious food and service. Oh, and their prices are very reasonable also... Especially for lunch. One final thing - their steamed pork buns are probably one of their best-kept secrets. I usually order some to go - they are the best in town IMO.
(5)Stephanie K.
This Chinese/Korean eatery has the best lunch deals! For $4.99 you get an entree of the day, hot barley tea, a variety of small korean side dishes, and Sujuungwa to cleanse your palate. The lunch specials are Mon-Fri only. The entrees are different daily and the entire menu changes monthly so check out their website. I had the katsu curry, which was a fried pork cutlet with curry sauce and rice. The portions were large and it also had a side of cabbage slaw with a ginger dressing. It's definitely a Japanese dish and not Chinese or Korean. The cutlet was extra crispy and awesome. The korean small side dishes are always fun. I got some pickled radishes, a seaweed salad, kimchee, and steamed egg with mine. Their Kimchee is especially tasty. The Sujuungwa is a Korean cinnamon ginger tea that is served cold. It was a perfect light way to end the meal. Seriously these lunch deals are an amazing deal. I did eat a pretty bland meal there once though when the special was a korean noodle soup dish that had bean noodles with a broth didn't have any flavor. So I suppose it can be hit or miss, but still worth trying.
(4)Moses S.
I came here last thursday with my wife and there were probably 3 other tables there at most. Seems like a place that doesn't really get business? But that doesn't deter us, as long as the food is good, i'm ok with empty restaurants! I got the seafood jjam pong, which is basically noodles in a spicy broth with seafood. Wife got the octopus dolsot bi bim bap, which was a hot stone bowl with rice, veggies, and octopus. Both of our dishes were actually spicy, so if you're a weakling when it comes to spicyness, tell them to tone it down. The meals themselves were pretty good, I'd say that my jjam pong was ok and the bi bim bap was also pretty good. The ban chan (or small plates of side dishes) were lacking, there was only kim chee (fermented spicy cabbage), gehran jjim (Egg casssarole?) some interesting noodle side (never seen it before) and pickled raddishes (typically served with ja jang myun). Typically korean restuarants give 8-10 side dishes that include pickled cucumbers, kkak ttu gee (kimchee, but with raddishes, not cabbage), tofu, bean sprouts, etc. Not a bad overall experience, but still not enough to make me want to come back as I continue the search for good all around Korean food.
(3)Luke T.
The food was sooooooooooooo gooooooood. It took all those 'o's really. I had a squid hot pot, O-jing-uh dol-sot. There was a ton of food, but I devoured all of it, unable to put down my chopsticks. The menu is kind of varied, but this is definitely a Korean restaurant. They carry OB, the only Korean beer I know of or have ever seen in the US, as well as some other Korean drinks, like the "wine specialty" I had - Makgeolli. The food really was the standout here. The service was average, but good enough. The restaurant itself is gigantic, and is a bit dated. A nice remodel would make a world of difference, but I don't think this is one of those places you come to for the ambiance. All the same, I see myself returning to try some more of the menu at this overlooked gem.
(4)Ashley U.
Best jjampong and jjajangmyeun in Columbus, hands down! Poong Mei specializes in Koreanized Chinese food, but they also have standard Americanized Chinese food, traditional Korean dishes like kalbi and bibimbap, and Japanese food and sushi. Since they are primarily a Korean restaurant, most of their dishes come with tasty banchan (side dishes) and the option of choosing boricha (barley tea) instead of water. Decor is a bit dated and I've never seen them very busy, but Poong Mei is definitely one of my most visited restaurants in Columbus. P.S. Their steamed dumplings are also very good!
(5)Sharon W.
I think they have changed owners again. The food doesn't taste the same as before. I always love the side dishes, but this time is a little disappointing. The seaweed side dish doesn't have any taste to it, when the waitress set it on the table, I've notice it's different because it has a scoop of hot sauce on the top, which is fine I just mix it my own. But even after i mixed it, it still taste very bland. They also gave us wrong sushi, which I don't mind either since I'm pretty open for adventure, and the sushi taste all right. My friend ordered a Kim chi and pork soon do boo, which there is barely any pork in it, he did taste a little bit of ground/minced pork...overall, the food taste all right, definitely not as good as before. I'll probably go to Silla next time for some authentic Korean food.
(3)Alexandra J.
Poong mei has the Best salmon sushi I've ever had ! Everything I've eaten there has been amazing and the service is great!
(5)Jessica O.
I'm a regular customer at Minga. So i want to try somewhere new and my friend and i choose Poong Mei. The food was delicious and the service was awesome. It was a very slow day and i want to try this dish called kalbi and i cant believe that it was really good and i ask my server how to pronounce that in the menu cause i have never heard of it. At the same time i saw a table of three asian customers (first they came and try to choose about three random tables to sit, like they own the restaurant and finally decided to sit close to the sushi bar) yelled at another server for asking if they needed anything else. I felt really bad for the server but she is just trying to do her job. Then i find out that the customer is Minga's owner and his friends. I have never seen such rude owners, and i will never go back to Mingas and eat again. They just lost themselves some good customers.
(4)Welling T.
The Stir Fried Zazang is LITERALLY THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Every time I come here, I always get it. They've never disappointed me! The squid and black bean sauce is ON POINT! It's the right amount of spice and it comes in a huge serving. I've come here multiple times now and I'll always come back! :)
(5)Jee K.
A great neighborhood Korean/Chinese food joint. I keep going back there for a great meal! The nicest staff ever - the owner is always greeting us with smile. Prices are good and the food is very fresh and beautifully presented. I love their new lunch special and Dosirak (bento) menu as well!
(5)Jina P.
As a Korean, I can say their Korean food is pretty decent in Columbus. None of the Korean restaurants in Columbus is SUPER DUPER amazing. However, I would say Poong Mei is definitely one of the pretty decent ones. Their staffs are always very friendly and their side dishes are amazing (they will refill without complaints, unlike some places...). I never had bad experience with them. They are never busy. I think that is why I am always keep on coming back to this place. It is good for big group as well.
(4)Diana C.
I will not recommend this place. I ordered a sweet and sour with beef and the dish was bad. They served beef that has been spoiled and made it very sour to cover the bad taste of the beef. They took back the dish and didn't charge me. However they refused to apologize or treat you the same way without the incidence. Restaurant can be sued over serving bad food. They'd better put it together. Thumbs down!!!!!! Do not spend money on overly priced bad food.
(1)Elijah K.
Yum
(5)Crystal O.
We went here for Valentine's day. It was close, we made a reservation but very obviously did not need it. The ambiance is about 15 yrs outdated, but kind of cute nonetheless (at least the entry area and the photos along the wall of patrons). We were told what the "Americans" like, so I'm pretty sure they get a strong customer base from Korean patrons. I didn't know what to order so I got the American thing (hey, when in doubt, trust your waitress, right?!) and had a "bimbimbap" bowl, which is an iron pot full of rice that was crisped where it touched the bowl, a fried egg, lots of yummy veggies, good hot sauce, and slices of nicely seasoned beef. I was amused by the presentation - just unique, to me. The beef was good though there wasn't a lot of it, and for $10 who can complain? You get a ton of starters for free with your meal, with stuff like seaweed, lemon jello-like substance (now I see why they were calling me American, I realize I didn't bother to actually find out what I was shoving my fork into...), and a few other things. Nothing was particularly fab to me, but it was a fun thing to try. Hubby thought it was ok -- he didn't venture beyond his usual General Tso's though, so if you are looking for a place with a very authentic Korean (plus a smattering of other Asian offerings) flavor, it's probably a good bet.
(3)Febre Z.
A new entity deserves a new start. So, for all you seasoned Henderson Rd. foodies, you'll know what there's always been something at this location; whether it's a Chinese place or a dumpling specialty place. The latest ownership change has taken this place from "Spring of China" to "Poong Mei" (it's totally different spelling from Pung Mei!!). In my past conversations with people wanting to try Korean cuisine, the hindrance has always been finding an "entry level introduction" to Korean food, without breaking the bank. Well, wait no more. Poong Mei recently started doing something that you don't normally see, especially with the level of quality that they put in. $4.99 lunch items! They make a menu every month with a lunch special item for each day of the week. AND NO THEY DON'T SKIMP ON THE BANCHAN just because it's $4.99! This is also one of those places where their prompt and courteous services will make you feel bad if you don't tip, well. When I said "entry level", it really only applies to the price of the lunch specials. Poong Mei's depth of dishes are only limited by 1) your curiosity and 2) whether you speak Korean or not. 'You don't have to do both. :) Maybe you can work your way up to the marinaded beef short ribs (Kalbi). This place can be very vegetarian friend too.
(5)Christine N.
The food here is good! For a table of 7, we ordered the string beans, house lo mein, hot pepper chicken, "stuffy" eggplant, ma po tofu, walnut shrimp and steamed dumplings. The eggplant was my favorite! I would go there just for that dish. The service was a little spotty. I was impressed that the waiter came back to replace the little side dishes (pickled radishes, egg cake, kimchi etc) without our asking but I had to ask twice for another glass of water, and my friend had to ask multiple times for rice. Also, for a party of 7, they seated us at a row of three rectangular tables for two rows of three and the 7th person sitting at the head of the table. Nobody fussed, but when we were leaving we saw round tables with lazy susans. I think sitting at a round table would have made sharing dishes easier, since we found ourselves passing plates back and forth across the tables. As for the decor...I doubt anyone goes here for the ambience. As someone at the table mentioned, the restaurant looks like a "repurposed Ponderosa" but I did hear that there was a bidet in the bathroom. And that it was flooded. I didn't think the restaurant was very pricey. Each person ended up paying around thirteen dollars each plus tip. It's obviously more expensive if you only go with two people. If you go in a larger group you can share/try more things! Scan the QR code on the flyer sitting on the table for a free soda!
(3)Alex K.
I was here before they changed owners, and it was desolate. The food was pretty good but we wondered how they survived with so little people. Usually we were the only ones there, or one other group. With the new owners, we see big groups of people eating, many times drinking, and all the food is pretty up there. The Jjambong (spicy seafood noodle soup) became tastier, but they seem to cook the noodles a little too long so they are soggy rather than chewy. They have Jjajang Myun (Black Bean sauce over noodle) too - but instead of getting regular Jjajang, get the Jengban Jjajang. The difference is it comes on a plate, and it's more expensive but you get more food. World of difference - it's really darn good! Once I tried it, we ordered it every time we came. Try it!
(4)Mae T.
I can't believe I didn't try this place sooner! I am a big fan of Korean food, my favorites being Japanese Oriental Restaurant (they specialize in Korean and Japanese!) and Restaurant Silla (mostly because of their weekend lunch specials). Had a bad experience at Kaya (which is next door) and just never bothered with Poong Mei. What a mistake! First off... they have these wonderful lunch specials that range from $6-$9, in addition to their $4.99 daily lunch special. You won't find a better deal, especially since what you get for their lunch specials would normally run you anywhere from $10-15. Second, the portions are huge and delicious. You can always tell when a ethnic restaurant is doing things right when you take a look around and realize that it is full with customers of that ethnicity which was definitely the case the day I went. We needed separate checks, which caused some confusion at the end of the meal, so I would advise letting them know upfront. However, the owners were able to correct the mistake without issue. Great experience I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Taylor K.
Ordered a party sushi platter from Poong Mei. Everyone at the the party was amazed the freshness of the sushi and the beautiful presentation !!
(5)Shea H.
Pretty pricey, unfortunately. There seems to be coupons available if you text a code to a number-- but that's for dine-in only (womp). I liked my Mala String Beans. My husband's sesame chicken was over-breaded and pretty lackluster, however. And they forgot my pot-stickers (double womp). I would not recommend this place.
(2)