Sorabol
5959 Shellmound St, Emeryville, CA, 94608
Sorabol Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Emeryville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Emeryville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Emeryville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5959 Shellmound St
Emeryville, CA, 94608 - Phone (510) 601-5959
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Alex G.
great chicken bowls, sometimes they don't really listen if you ask for something, but whatever, the food is always good. the best thing, only noodles and chicken, you don't even need the rice.
(5)sherly A.
this locations actually the worse sorabol i ever been to. somehow they gave me full of fatty beef, and when i asked for another beef, the lady behind the counter totally ignored me and kept going by sending my bowl to the cashier. with grouchy look i asked how much for extra mushroom, they asked me what size, and i was really wondering how many size they have for extra mushroom. i said the smallest size you have, then i received big container of mushroom supplies for 1 week. i was speechless and no energy to debate anymore. i am done with sorabol ! even the kimchi smell like acid... rgghhh... thanks god i didn't get food poisoning.
(2)Dan M.
Bulgogi wasn't too bad here. Little greasy, but to be expected in a food court. You get a ton of meat, then white rice and and vegetables. Huge portion for about $10 or so. Not the best Korean ever, but fine for lunch.
(3)anthony s.
I would never et here again! I normally come here every week and on day I ask for extra spoon of noodles as this time it was less than normal, then I ended up paying extra for that tiny amount of extra noodles, Really? So cheap! It's all about the principle and I wouldn't mind paying extra but for that tiny extra noodles and I was a loyal customer?? Too bad? Cheap owner! Ugh! One motet thing , the food is not fresh!! Look at all the reviews!!!
(1)Jazzwall S.
Just like some of the other reviews. It hurts the owners to actually give you decent sized portions. Multiple times they will scoop food onto the plate only to take a little back (and it wasn't much to begin with). While in the end such behavior doesn't effect the size of the portion by much, it just gives me the feeling they are there to save every penny and cut every corner. I still went there because the taste was decent. But last time when I decided to pay extra for some extra meat, the owner got into a lengthy argument about how it will cost a lot more and that I should get a normal combo. Extremely annoying! She wouldn't serve what I wanted. Never returning back.
(1)Marlon T.
Sorabol is located inside the Public Market, an international food court, in Emeryville. It is the Korean food option, and they serve pretty good food. They will offer you a sample of their chicken (it's funny because the Japanese and Afghani place that neighbor it also compete with chicken samples). The food is standard Korean food, japchae noodles, spicy chicken, beef options, spicy calamari, etc. If you order a 2 item combo you have to choose between veggie or kimchi. This is a bummer, since kimchi is usually offered for free at Korean places. The people are hit or miss, some are nicer than others. The food is sometimes a 3, sometimes a 4. Stop by, and see what you think. Expect Korean food meets high school cafeteria lines, and be prepared to pay extra for kimchi.
(3)john t.
As I business owner, I don' t like writing a very negative review but this place warrants it. I'm Vietnamese and am not totally a Korean foodie but this place sucks! I haven't been here in a very long time (at least 3 years) and do remember that their spicy chicken used to be pretty decent. Here is my description of my dish: -Chicken pieces were very small. -Chicken was extremely dry and hard. -Chicken was salty (ate all my rice with more than half of chicken left) -Spicy chicken was not spicy (I may give them the benefit of the doubt because nothing is ever spicy enough for me) -Rice was old and dry (one of my red flags for bad restaurants) -Very, very little kimchi on the side. -Total cost @ $10.13! If you are craving for Korean food and are nearby the Public Market, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. TOTALLY not worth it! Trust me!
(1)Augie S.
I have not eaten here but someone make a fraudulent charge on my bank card. I tried to call them multiple times but they would not talk to me about reversing the charge. Maybe it was the language barrier but I found them to be very unprofessional about it. I could only reach them two out of ten tries in one day! On the second time I reached them, they thought I was a solicitor and wouldn't deal with me.
(1)Dennis d.
is it me or is the quality of the meats here going down hill? i find myself struggling to chew the tough over cooked meats. from chicken to the beef, it's either too fatty and/or tuff. most of the dishes here are just over-sauced and drenched. when you ask for some kim chee they seem to be a little stingy. come on Sorabel, hook it up with some better quality meats that are not sitting on the grill or the steam pots for more than you need.
(2)Henry M.
To say I was disappointed was an understatment and I'm generally quite forgiving. Sorabol is located in a large food court with many international cuisines situated in small food stalls. After looking at all the other cuisine options with large portions (stalls next to Sorobol), I had similar expectations. Boy was I wrong. I ordered the "large" and more expensive combo platter and what I got was one measly shortrib (even the server tried to pull the meat a bit to make it look more substantial over the tiny scoop of rice. I assumed they would give me multiple ribs since the one I got couldnt possibly quality as a rib, but he didn't. Then he scooped some bbq chicken on the plate. It was one small scoop. At this point, I was rationalizing that they must be planning on giving me lots of vegatables or side dishes to make up for the lack of the main entree. To which the server then asked kimchi or vegatables. I chose the latter and he gave me two broccoli stems. Seriously? So, at that point, I was guessing that the entree must be amazing for them to give so little and charge so much. So when I finally sat down, I was still giving them the benefit of the doubt. I really wanted the food to taste amazing because I was hungry, but even in hunger, it tasted only mediocre and dry. I was still trying to rationize the small portions throughout my meal: could renting the stall be too high? (No, because their competitors give way more and charge less). Could price of meat increased substantially during the last week? (No, their neighbors were slathering on piles of food). So as patrons of the other stalls were gourging on food, I rationalized that I needed to go on a diet anyways... but felt ripped off by having to pay so much for it (it was almost twice as expensive). Unfortunately, I can't possibly justify going back to this stall with the wealth of so many other options. Oh a side note, I asked for the teriyaki sauce to be put on the side and the server said they don't do that. So I asked him to pour it in the corner of the plate... which he complied...
(1)Hubert A.
I don't usually write yell reviews but... They reuse the food here. The chicken they use for spicy bbq chicken is definitely a day old. It seems to me that they reuse the unsold food and cook them differently, like the spicy bbq. The spicy sauce coax the old meat and the juices soaks within to make it appear less dry. The prices are are also not justified due to the amount of food they give you.
(1)Art C.
This location is really inconsistent (Sorabol is a Korean chain). I've had 3-star food from them before, but more times than not you'll get something old and borderline inedible. I would stay away from this one. there are much better options at the Public Market.
(2)Elizabeth L.
This place is over priced and the portions are a lot smaller than they used to be. The short ribs are small and over cooked. We are never coming back here again.
(1)Akshay D.
Worst service and super expensive for the quantity they offer. Got veggie bowl with 5 options. It was little bit of rice and meager quantity of other veggies for $8.75. Also the servers are very rude, I was deciding on options and sge didnt help so I choose one. As soon as I was done , she rudely rushed to counter as if it was my mistake. Never going there again.
(1)Erin G.
What I ate: Vegetable rice bowl with spicy chicken Visit date: October 30, 2013 First time? Yes Rice bowl? Yes, please. Sorabol is good for a quick meal. You can even try a sample of the meats before you commit to a whole bowl. The vegetable bowl comes with rice or rice with japchae (glass noodles); I recommend the rice/japchae combination. You can pick up to five "vegetables" (in quotations because tofu and fish cake are also options) from their veggie bar, and add your choice of meat. It's a good sized meal and they don't skimp on meat or veggies. My bowl had mushrooms, seaweed salad, marinated shredded carrots, bean sprouts, kimchee, spicy chicken, rice, and japchae. All that was missing was a fried egg. The salty, spicy, and sweet flavors blended well together. It's a bit pricy for a rice bowl, but generally Korean marinated meats are expensive, so Sorabol is definitely a less expensive alternative to a Korean BBQ joint.
(3)Shirley M. J.
This location has the gall, the audacity charging 75 cents for Kimchee! I'm never coming here-they're skimpy on their serving portions!
(1)Paul M.
EEEEKKKK!!!! YELPER ALERT- AVOID LIKE THE BUBONIC PLAGUE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Among the Absolute Worst in this HORRID NIGHTMARE OF A SO-CALLED INTERNATIONAL MARKET! You have F'IN "GOTS" to be kidding me! It should be called "THE INTERNATIONAL LEFT-OVER CRAP-HOLE OF THE GALAXY"! (Please refer to Emeryville Market review) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Easily among the worst Pseudo- Korean food I have had anywhere! I threw MOST of the $15+ worth of "Food" away. I tried to eat here, threw it away, then the next door Afghan place, where I then threw away there horrid left over $10 lamb shank, & finally ate decently at the Burger place! The owner was RUDE & OBNOXIOUS....could be from the North of their country...Hmmmm!!! Home of "Screw U iLL" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Crap compared to the many Korean BBQ in Hawaii and elsewhere. - Way Overpriced. - Crappy tough overdone meat. - Crappy sides. - Extra crappy sides cost me yet another $5, complete with a GLARE from the OWNER! ------------------------------------- Please note that I had tried several places in this Market & found that only the Burger place place was good....very sad... The Thai place was also OK, but limited. Please NOTE: I was staying at the next door Hyatt and was desperate at times....and tried many a place at this crap hole left over market!
(1)Wendy H.
For $7-8 a bowl, you'd hope to get a little more food. And the food is just okay. Not super-flavorful. The kimchi tasted old and dry. We don't mind going here just because the tables and eating environment are very kid-friendly (read: you don't feel bad when your kid dances around the table and drops food on the floor). But, if this was its own restaurant, we probably wouldn't be drawn to it for its own food.
(2)Gene B.
The last time I had Sorabol was at San Francisco Westfield Centre. There's a possibility that they aren't related either. In any case, they both have the same name and business format. Sorabol is one of the vendors that has been at the Public Market Emeryville for years. You'll often find lines forming here during rush hours. You basically pick the items you want with your favorite staple like rice or noodles plus your preferred item. If you opt for ribs as an item you only get one piece. Ridiculous right? Also you get kim chee upon request only. Food is OK, but missing the fire and the quality as their equivalent competitors. I'd say they are probably top dog for Asian cuisine at the market, excluding Indian. I'll give them that much. However, it's nothing to make noise about.
(3)L. P.
I want everybody to know how skimpy they are with there food. And don't ask for kimchee because even though it's in little ready to go cups, they really do not want to give you any!! Beware of the girl who puts your food together because she gives you the evil eye as she places 3 tiny pieces of eggplant in your veggie bowl!! I remember way back when when the original Korean women who owned the place would pile on the Korean BBQ short ribs on your plate....now your lucky if you get 3 or 4 pieces! I do not recommend this place to anybody...the people are mean, the food comes up short....skip the place altogether!
(1)Michael L.
Okay food, service sucks... (give me food, just stop being rude) I know it's a food court, steam table, but they could at least smile or say hi,.. Bonus would be to not throw my water cup on its side on my try and point next door for water. I guess expecting service at a food court of restaurants serving food from a steam table is asking too much...
(2)Monica R.
Do not get the tofu stew ever. Completely overpriced and disgusting. The kimichee was horrible too. This was a waste of money. They should honestly not be serving food. You have better options at the food court.
(1)Lis L.
One of the few places we found near ikea with low carb options. Spicy chicken is pretty good. Spicy pork is really good according to my husband. BBQ chicken is good as well. Wish they had a salad to go with their menu.
(4)T T.
This place is starting to piss me off. Enough with the overcooked rice! I thought it was a one-time thing when I first started working in Emeryville two months ago. After coming here weekly, I realize it's ALWAYS overcooked. Or is it just leftovers thrown into rice cooker again? Portions on the veggie bowl are laughable and I'm tired of having to ask for more. Veggies are cheap and if I'm upgrading with meat they should be generous. Especially for $12. Same with the kimchee. Stop being so stingy or you're going to inspire me to make the trip to a real KBBQ in Oakland where I can get a table full of ban chan with unlimited refills for the same price as here. And without the crap attitude from your staff.
(2)Michael A.
Chicken was good but dam they use recycle paper togo box first time i ever see it i know u try to go green but on hot food really my togo box was all wet from the heat moise. Other place i saw was omg i got no comment . If u want to see it be my guess but i wouldnt want to come back here. Yeah over price nasty food.
(2)Wanugee N.
This used to be the hottest food vendor stall in the Emeryville Public Market. There used to be a line of people wanting to order their goodies of meats and rice. But that was 15 years ago, before Bay Street was built, and Borders was still here, and when they gave out free sample chicken to everyone who walked by, and after tasting the flavor, everyone stopped an ordered! Back then I would bring my favorite relative here for a quick, easy, and cheap dinner. The Korean ladies knew us, and through the years, would recognize FaveRel and give us extra heapings of Japchae, Kimchi and Chicken. and comment on FaveRel's growth. It was a nice place to come on a regular basis for quick, tasty, and cheap food. Not any more. We came here last weekend because we were hungry, in the area, and wanted something quick. There weren't any Koreans here at all, just Latinos cooking an serving. We had two identical orders (back in the old days we would order 1 and split it!) of the Chicken bowl/plate. They give you steamed rice, some broccoli pieces, a little bit of Japchae noodles, and pour some sugar-soy sauce on it, if you say yes. And 2 diet sodas. This was nearly $20! Wow, for that, I could get real Korean food in L.A.'s K-town with half a dozen fresh Banchan! Sadly, although they have remodeled the Public Market a couple of times since back in the glory years, and are doing it again to find another anchor tenant to replace Borders, Bay Street and its eateries has definitely hurt the food vendors here, many the same stalls as years ago, albeit some ownership has changed hands. And I am sure this place has changed hands, probably more than once. And it shows, in the food, and the service, and the prices. Next time I come here, I will go back to my other favorite, The Crispy Fry (Chinese). They used to have the best Mapo Dofu anywhere. BUt perhaps they have cut back, too, as the crowds have thinned. Would you believe I am the Duke of this place, with 5 check-ins?
(2)Victor G.
Sorabol offers mostly meat dishes over rice, not the entire korean menu. seems almost everyone is offering samples in the public market here. sorabol definitely is on the higher end pricewise. eats: 2 way combo(9.95) -stir-fry calamari ok sauteed, crunchy squid kind of tasteless -bbq beef: tasteless, no bbq taste. -japchae(noodle) very tasty, sesame oil flavoring banchan: -no side dishes -lots of food, just japchae tasted good 2.5 stars
(3)Melissa S.
It's not my Aunt's cooking but when I can't head up to her place this place is just as good. I love the pagogi and the spicy pork and japahae (glass noodles). Not many Korean places so if it's what you are craving then it's something quick and easy.
(3)Blake R.
This place isn't what it used to be. I asked for noodles only no rice and they gave me no additional noodles. (The one in SF doesn't do this) Only got 2 pieces of chicken at most. i was still hungry after.... This used to be the bast place to go inside the public market. maybe it was an off day...
(2)Elizabeth S.
Let this be a lesson as to why you don't have two non-English speaking Mexicans working the front counter of a Korean Restaurant. All I can say is WTF?!!! I walked up and tried to figure out how this restaurant, which is really no more than a counter since it's in the Emeryville Public Market, really worked. I saw some individual Banchan dishes off to the right side counter, and some already made korean BBQ dishes in front. I told the guy behind the counter that I wanted to try the Squid and have the Korean pickled vegetables too and he mumbed incoherently. I asked him to repeat what he said and he mumbled,....with attitude a second time, still not looking at me. I asked him if he was speaking English because I wasn't understanding a word he was saying. He snapped back in broken English and again I didn't understand him. Now I was wondering if I should walk away. I asked a third time how I should order if I wanted squid but I also wanted the side dishes. He said something about a veggie rice bowl. I didn't understand any other words he spoke. I asked if I could get a variety of the veggies...or how it worked since they had about 10 or 12 different types. He said I could pick out 5 different veggies. I asked if I could get squid or if I had to order that separately. He looked impatient and unwilling to explain anything more to me. I looked back at the menu and it still didn't make sense to me. I told him what I wanted and crossed my fingers, hoping I didn't get overcharged for wanted both a main dish and a variety of pickled veggies. The man put a huge amount of sticky rice in a smallish black plastic bowl. He took me to the side counter and told me to pick 5 picked veggies. As I named them off, he took the absolute smallest portion of each one that was humanely possible. I mean two pieces of kim chee, about 10 bean sprouts. It was absolutely ridiculous. He was unwilling to give more and there were no seconds on anything. He then carelessly piled a fairly generous amount of squid with it's spicy sauce right on top of my ban chan. It was a cluster-fu*&! What a mess. Now everything would taste the same. I sat down at a table with my three friends to eat my squid. I took a bite of squid and it was chewy and dry. I took a bite of the rice under a bunch of other stuff and it was mushy and sticky. I could barely eat the squid or the rice. My friend had also ordered from this restaurant and she was unhappy with her portion of kim chee. She asked for more and told the guy she would pay for extra. He refused to give her any more even if she paid. She had a tiny plastic container with about three pieces of spicey pickled cabbage (kim chee) stuffed into it. She was pissed off too. There are so many other good places that I'm never eating here again. In fact after this experience I told my friend I was taking her to my favorite Korean restaurant, Korean BBQ Plus. That's my restaurant of choice for Korean. I just hope this crap doesn't turn others off to Korean food. Oh well.
(1)Ash S.
This is not so much korean as is glorified 'pan-asian' food court food. Eating in public market you kind of know what you're in for but I'd just say if you really want korean food you'd be better off going into oakland. If you must the spicy pork is not bad. The noodles however taste like jelly.
(2)Charles V.
Definitely a pop and go type of place. The other reviewers helped me make my choices. I tried spicy chicken and spicy bbq pork. Both were good and were a mild kind of spicy. I like the chicken a little bit more, but either one would have been fine. Nothing to really make me sweat though. (I love spicy food...keep that in mind). I got two of the lunch platters just so I could try a bunch of stuff. Points for brown rice! It was good too haha. It did add on a $1 to the meal. Noodles had a jelly like consistency but not much taste lol. Since I was just looking for something quick to eat back at the hotel, this place was fine. It squashed my appetite. If I'm staying in a nearby hotel and looking for a quick lunch, I'd come back, but I would want to try some of the options in the market/food court. Points for the nice lady behind the counter. She offered me samples when she saw I couldn't make up my mind on what I wanted.
(3)Brandon H.
I thoroughly enjoyed the BBQ Chicken with rice and veggies for 9.65 not $10. Smh at CAtax. No thanks. Yes this is in a Public Market. Yes this is Korean food. Yes it's in Emeryville. None of which I have problems with. I don't know why this place doesn't have a better review. But for what I ate the BBQ was "marinated-tastalicious", the veggies I thought were fresh (because they were organically zestful), and the rice was decent yknow when it's not too soggy not too stale and can soak up the BBQ sauce and all that glory around it. Didn't hurt to eat with good company too. But I love the food market and this is one of those cafe spots I'd go to if you aren't sure what to get exactly coming into this food hub.
(4)Jase O.
Terrible, awful, horrible and that doesn't just describe the food.
(1)Sean H.
This is one of those places where I used to like coming, but the quality of food has gotten worse and worse over the years. Out of all the Sorabol's I've been to, this one's got to be the worst one. Their kimchee isn't even kimchee at all. Its cabbage with a smidge of vinegar and pepper on it. Jap Chae noodles (or the vermicelli) tastes like black pepper. It's ok to have a little black pepper taste, but not ok when the whole thing tastes like pepper. Spicy pork looks juicy and promising, but it tastes like spicy cardboard. BBQ Chicken has flavor but its sucked up by how dry it is. And the BBQ Beef has flavor too. Flavor of salt. Seriously, I don't even call this place Korean anymore. That's just an insult to all the real Korean restaurants out there. Out of all the great food choices in the Public Market, don't find yourself here.
(1)Yuliem D.
Has no idea there was one so close. This location does not disappoint! portions are just as generous as the ones from the city and it's a lot less crowded.
(5)Mike R.
Lots of food for the price. Not a bad choice when eating at this food court.
(3)Ria R.
Definitely a 4 star for me. The quality and quantity of food is 5 stars but it is a fast food fix in a food court ( a nicer food court than most) but still, a food court nonetheless. I always order spicy BBQ chicken, Basil chicken and steam rice with sauce. The kimchee is soooo crunchy yummy good I always get 2 and sometimes get glass noodles which are yummy as well. I have tried the potato pancakes which are really good but super cold since they have been sitting there for probably the better part of the day. The beef ribs are really good too if you can get them fresh cooked, because they tend to get pretty tough and chewy if they have been sitting there. Plain BBQ chicken is good, and tender. I eat here a lot, I'm a definite fan of Sorabel and it's immediate neighbor Pamir (Afghan food) when I'm in the mood for casual dining. It's somewhat of a comfort routine me and my immediate family have developed. We shop at Ikea, Bay Street and eat at either Pamir/Sorabel and then get me nails done next door at the Nail Shop Salon or meet up with more family and friends to see a Movie at the United Artist theater. The public Market (where Sorabel) is located, was always an awesome place to eat because of the massive Borders in the Market which was great to browse/study/hang out but since the Border's is closed now, I will have to find something else to amuse me during my trips to this food court. Luckily I can always count on my Korean fix at Sorabel.
(4)Andrea C.
EW. All these damn spots in the Public Market are so effing alluring. They tempted me in with the sample of chacken, and then I wanted the chacken, and once I got the chacken... NO. (I know it's chicken, but when I'm hungry all spelling rules go out the window). So basically, I got the BBQ chacken over white rice and here's what happened: The veggies were completely drenched in sauce and basically marinated to the point where they were soggy and didn't even taste like veggies anymore. The rice was alright, but also hard in spots and soggy in spots. Texture should be consistent, cmon now. The chicken was about 30% fat and seemed a bit hard, so it was overcooked and fatty, What the eff. On a brighter note, my bottled water was excellent. Nope, never again.
(1)lee g.
I have to be honest, I love Sorabel. I ate at the one in Rincon center 2-3x a week for 2 years. But this one is horrid. I have eaten there several times over the last 2 years, as I work in the building next door. Not once has the food tasted fresh or delicious. The meat is over cooked and dry. Once I really thought it tasted stale. How do you make meat taste stale? I always want it to be good and then try it again. I'm always sorely disappointed. This place is to be avoided. A good sauce can only cover up so many bad flavors.
(1)G G.
If only i can rate a zero star WTF this is crap. For starters the dinner staff speaks little to no English. All they do is say ok then ignore your request. I have never been so upset over a meal. Steer clear from their basil chicken, they should have name it the crusty three day old chicken-jerky. There us no basil about it. Tasted more like sweet and sour rubber. Wait until u hear about my BBQ ribs. It was f'ing raw. Not rare but freaking raw. I go up to ask for a cooked piece. Homeboy goes to exam my plate then slaps a piece of burnt charcoal on my plate... Argh... Someone grab me the manager..... This place use to be O-SO-GOOD... not sure what happened but thumbs down all the way...
(1)Laurence W.
Well, I'll just go ahead confess that I enjoy Sorabol. I order the BBQ chicken plate, which features about 19 more pounds of chicken than you actually need, some nice soft sticky rice, and some crunchy broccoli and carrot. The menu claims you also kim chi, but they've never actually offered it to me in the 20-odd years that the food court has been in existence. Fine by me. Still, the food is good, even by food court standards, and not just because it's cheap. As for the complaints that others have registered here? I don't get it: they're essentially just serving bbq'd chicken and rice. Yep, that's it. So all that moaning about it not being authentic Korean food, or that it's not up to they're grandmother's standards? Yeah, umm... it's a food court, and even in a food court, it's tough not to enjoy meat from the grill. Thumbs up from me.
(4)Mike S.
This place must of changed hands. The food is horrible now.
(1)Gibson T.
I popped into the international food court for a quick bite this afternoon, after a madcap shopping experience at the nearby IKEA. We decided to pass on the swedish meatballs, and get some REAL food nearby instead. After circling the joint a few times, I decided to give this busy Korean place a try. The service is FAST - it had to be 2 minutes from the time I told the guy what I wanted to the time I was walking away with tray in hand. Is that an empty table way back there? I opted for the spicy pork lunch platter - be forewarned... they give you A LOT of spicy pork! My plate was also buckling under the added weight of a more than ample serving of white rice, another heaping pile of glass noodles, and a few tender stems of broccoli thrown in for good measure. Well worth the $6.95 I paid for my lunch. Plenty of food for leftovers...(!) The food? The one word that comes to mind has to be ADDICTIVE! When I first sat down, I thought to myself- "there's just NO WAY I'm going to finish all this food!"... I dive in with fork and chopsticks. The smoky charred spicy pork is perfect - not too chewy and with a very tasty sweetish BBQ glaze. Alternated between the noodles and rice, I had to admit that it was as good if not better than regular brick-and-mortar sit down and order Korean restaurants. Have you ever noticed that mostly MEN eat lunch at the Emerybay public market? I glanced up from time to time, and I noticed nothing but men all around me! Are the ladies out of the loop? Long story short - the plate was picked clean by the time I was done. Not a single grain of rice, nor strand of glass noodle remained. I ate the whole damned thing! If you're looking for authentic Korean BBQ, and need it fast and cheap (like I like my men, btw), then please check out Sorabel Korean BBQ. You will not leave disappointed nor hungry! 3 outta 5 from me.
(3)Rebecca H.
Nice people, let me get extra veggies instead of rice, and the veggies were crisp. The spicy chicken, however, was overcooked, oily, sugary and salty. The noodles also were too greasy. It's one of the few meals where I gladly ate all my veggies! It's a lot of food, but if the food isn't good, it's not a good value for the money. This is the second time I've eaten here, and I don't need to return again for a third. If they made the food fresh to order, which wouldn't take very long, and focused on traditional flavors and less syrupy sauciness, I bet this place would be awesome.
(2)Dan T.
still tastes like it did 12 years ago! The spicy bbq chicken is the best!
(5)Chelsea C.
Enjoying a beautiful lunch break on a Summer day in Emeryville and decided why not try the Korean food in the Public Market. Walked up to the vendors smiling and was offered a sample of the BBQ Chicken which was a little fatty, but ok. Thought, why not give it a chance. I asked one of the vendors if they had a lunch special and she rolled her eyes at me and said that the two choices of meat for 9.95 was there lunch special. I should have left right then, but continued to be open minded. I ended up just going for the one meat selection of BBQ chicken which again tasted ok. The lady then asked if I would like rice and noodles and I asked if it came with it. She rudely responded yes again offering less than polite body language and facial expression. She ended up filling up the to-go container with hardly any noodles, 3/4 of the container with rice and just a pinch of chicken. I paid 9.65 for a plate of rice and a far less then pleasant customer experience. Will not go again. Left a sour taste in my mouth.
(1)James Y.
I've never had the opportunity to marry a girl, get divorced, and then marry her again only to rediscover why we got divorced the first time but I imagine that the whole experience would be a lot like my relationship with Sorabol. I give them a chance every couple of years, usually in a moment of weakness when I'm wandering around a foreign food court (my last visit before this week was two years ago in Century City). It always plays out the same way: the booth draws me in with the enticing scent of grilled meat and the food looks pretty good so I decide to give them another shot. Hey, maybe they fixed things, right? And that's how I end up with another plate of overcooked rice, clumped japchae, and salty, over-marinated meat. Just stay away. Sorabol's like that hot k-girl hiding a weaponized stiletto heel behind her back.
(1)Mickey L.
Inside Emeryville Public Market are many great little single-ethnic eats, and Sorabel is no exception. The Corean barbecue and Namool are delicious and amply-portioned for a hearty pick-me-up. Sorabel was an inexpensive and comforting lunch and/or dinner conveniently located near the hotel I was staying at. I am sure to return the next time I am in the Bay Area!
(4)Doctor G.
The Korean steam table food here looks great. Unfortunately or fortunately for me, I keep ordering the same thing over and over. I get the BBQ short ribs (Kal Bi) over the stir fired clear bean thread "cellophane" noodles. Jeepers, is that good! That'ts why I am giving Sorabol four stars - for essentially one dish. And cheap too.
(4)Terry T.
I love the food court feeling of the public market; it is a great place to people watch. And the best accompaniment to people watching is good food, so this is a great place to eat solo. I always have the Korean BBQ ribs, rice and kimchee. The food is not always consistent but it is usually good. Of course S. does not want to be left at home so he has lamb shanks from the Afghanistan location a few feet away.
(3)Tito Y.
Authentic Korean cuisine in Northern California didn't appear unitl 1979. Named after a city in Korea; Sorabol was the main capital during the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C. - 935 A.D.) Interestingly enough; the town of Sorabol also was an introduction point for vast Korean empire collections of ancient history and arts.. Music, fashion, architecture, religion, foods and entertainment had attributed much of its respected cultural Asian works representing centuries of perfection. Sometime coined as the city of "museum without walls" blocks and blocks of major artifacts could be listed as rare and irreplaceable out in the open for the general public to enjoy in everyday life.. Sorabol was created to eye open western culinary on options inside of popular food court businesses, such as fast foods. Understandably, it didn't take long for general populace to recognize one could, for a very few dollars, eat outstanding noodles, tofu, chicken and BBQ selection rather than your usual pizza or hamburger. The food choices are memorizing, considering that inside any food court, a restaurant is in constant competition of cheap eats. This fact alone makes one easily forget the meals never exceed eight to ten bucks. Considered as part of an invisible chain, Sorabol has established itself in several food court locations throughout California, Nevada. There are plans in the working to also expand into Washington State; plus the eastern seaboard states of Washinton D.C. and New York. To come to Sorabol you will be presented with award winning steak, chicken, tofu and rice choices in a contemporary quick-serve manner. Without changing much in regards to how its cooked, spicing, many Koreans will recognize it as the finest, freshest and authentic home cooking. Asian noodles, the star of all Korean dishes, can be offered in a form that allows extensive menu choices that caters to a broad range of clientele, certainly spanning well beyond the Asian customer. Traditional Korean Barbecue is prepared on a flat hot grill. Its volumes of tasty Kalbi (barbecued short ribs) and Dak Guyee (barbecued chicken) saute perfectly on grills. Delicious selections of popular broth or non broth noodles dishes all which reflect various Asian flavors accommodates that exact typical hungry shopping customer found in a food court. If I were part of the management staff of Sorabol, I would take note that more and more clients can offer the very most authentic menus, not worrying about westernizing menu selections like back in 1979. Egg, Spinach, Soba and Udon all with various ranges of spiciness represents a strong a symbol of long life. Noodles, "the center of life", are often served at major traditional and cultural celebrations as well as weddings and birthdays. At a food court it might just be you are about to people watch, deck out to a coffee shop or head back to work. You can find Sorabol located inside the Emeryville Market Place, catering to folks in all walks of life. But if you would rather option for that pizza or hamburger, just go to the next booth.
(4)Marck N.
Not the best, but it is a quick fix when I want Korean take out. The bbq chicken is good, though a little oily. Ask for no rice and pile on the vegetables, but skip the sauce. Don't know what the sauce does, but it does not enhance the flavor. Add shoyu instead.
(3)Patrick P.
Coming from a korean's perspective: This place is defintely not authentic korean at all. even for fast food korean food standards it's pretty bad. i defitnely will not go back to this spot in the food court.
(2)John L.
In a nutshell, Sorabol in the Emery Public Market offers significant amounts of tasty food at a decent price. Don't come here expecting super deep authentic Korean food, but do expect that the freshly grilled stuff (Chicken and Short ribs) will taste better than most other entrees. Lamb and beef are next down the choice category. As mentioned, you'll get a large portion here for not much money, so that's always a plus for next-to-broke guys like me. For lighter fare, get the bi bim bap. Keep in mind-- this is in a food court. It doesn't have seating of it's own, but it's got a lot of parking available for a quick in and o ut. Treat the cooks well, and they'll treat you well too. Best for casual lunches or dinner on the go. Bonus-- they're one of the few places in the market that will take an ATM or credit card without an additional fee.
(4)William K.
I should know better! What kind of stomach ailment will you get when eating food that sits in a luke warm tray all day long while it breeds new super bacteria? Can you say PETRI DISH? I ordered half Spicy Chicken and half BBQ Chicken with rice and vegetables. The food was greasy and lukewarm. There were coagulated pockets of chicken fat that I removed in order to eat my meal. Later that evening I got the worst stomach pains that lasted 24 hours. I usually have a cast iron stomach and can eat anything without a problem, so there must have been something wrong with the chicken. Do your self a favor and steer clear of this place, the food is mediocre and not worth the risk of getting sick like I did.
(1)Bee D.
Ok, this used to be my spot! Back when we were leaving 1999 behind and moving into 2000 and the world was afraid it would come to a screeching halt. My son used to run track all over the bay area, and we would usually have to pass the Public Market on our way home. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar, it's kinda like an international food court, minus the McDonalds & Burger King. Don't look for Sabarro's or Taco Bell. This is all indpendently owned an operated. So where do you take a van full of picky eaters? Here of course, they can all run off to their choice of eatery. My choice was always Sorabel. I would get the combination with Kalbee and BBQ Chicken. Well, they are under new ownership, and I'm disappointed! Oh sure, they added the veggie bar where you can get all those little dishes that usually come with your dinner at a typical restaurant. But I completely lost faith when I went last weekend and they didn't have any kimchee. You've got to be flippin kidding me! And then the owner/cashier said, we'll your the first person to ask today. I must have been the pied piper of Kim Chee, because 2 other people in line behind me asked, and also whined! It's like a Thai restaurant with no curry, the soul food restaurant that runs out of fried chicken, or the Italian restauran that runs out of Pasta. Improvise! There's a market located 50 yards away in the same building, buy some. I improvised and went to the "noodle" restaurant and paid for a small serving of Kim Chee. But gimme a break folks. Seriously, hello, welcome to McDonalds, we're out of the big mac today! Grrrrrr! They should have had a big sign posted at the front of the line. I was almost tempted to give my lunch back and keep stepping!
(3)Jolene M.
Best korean bbq short ribs ever!
(5)Erick A.
I just finished a veggie bowl (bi bim bap) with chicken and now I'm completely full and still have leftovers after spending just $7. I usually stick with the barbecue chicken and short ribs. The other meat offerings-- like spicy chicken and spicy pork-- sit in tubs of greasy gunk that appears to be the marinade they were probably soaking in overnight. Kinda shnasty. I haven't got the stinginess or lame attitudes that so many other reviews speak of. (I politely ask for more when I don't get enough. it works for me!) I used to eat at Sorabol at least once a week while I was in college and and though I'm done with school I still come here because: 1) I choose to save money and 2) I actually just got laid off so I can't afford to go to an expensive Korean restaurant. Ok, back to job hunting!
(4)Jenny R.
Love, love, love....easy, fairy cheap and consistent. I simply asked what they recommended and have not strayed. They will also offer you a sample of nearly anything. I get the chicken and the spicy pork. It comes with noodles, rice and lightly cooked veggies. Ask for some sauce and they will give no biggie. This is literally 2-3 meals for me easy! The chicken is so moist that it is literally like butter in my mouth!! YUMMO...If you are looking for something fancy this isn't it but for what it is I LOVE IT!!
(4)Dave K.
I got the chicken BBQ plate (their plate #1), which I chose because it was my first time here and I firmly believe you shouldn't stray far down the list on your first visit. If there is to be order in the universe, and if you're going to use numbers on your menu, I think places should pretty much rank their dishes in numerical order - beginning at #1. Getting off my soap box, the chicken was good, still tender. Not surprisingly because it was about 10am and I think I was their second customer for the day. The rice was kind of clumpy - way beyond sticky, but forming a mass where the individual grains were no longer apparent. The vermicelli was tasty, the sauce was too, and the token 2 slices of carrot and 2 pieces of broccoli were al dente; just how I like it. After all is said and done, for under $8, I got more food than I was able to eat in one sitting and for a lunch plate, that's precisely what I expect. Auf.
(3)Linda P.
Quick and good...can't complain.
(3)Lux K.
I agree totally with Bee, this place used to be the spot. I used to come here all the time when i stop by at the "cafeteria". But nowadays it has changed so much. It used to have the best korean bbq around. But now they just make it real fast and real bulky. They lost the love for the food and just want the money. I guess thats cool for the owner but not for a loyal customer like myself. 3 Stars for Sorabel aka the "korean joint"
(3)Donna F.
Usually when I go to Public Market, I either choose Sorabol or the mexican place. I've been to both locations (Westfield in SF and here) and between the two, this place is much better. I'm happy with the portions and the food is good. Never had a bad experience with any items. Love the noodles...great flavor and large portions for my money. Will definately be back when I'm in the area.
(4)Jason R.
Egg-less bibimbop....huh?
(2)Dave K.
Sorabol is a pus-filled boil on the right asscheek of Korean cuisine. This is one of those places that you loved as a college student because it was so cheap for a buttload of food, but after college you want to vomit at the though of this poor-quality "Korean" food. I'm ashamed to have liked this place. It is not representative of Korean cuisine. The kimchee is pathetic, it's like wet cabbage with orange food coloring. The portions have gotten smaller, the prices higher, and the meat less flavorful and more carcinogenic.
(2)Joc V.
Expecting to get authentic Korean food at Cafe Sorabol is like expecting Grandma to bust out with DontCha on the Magic Mic at the next next karaoke party. First, grandma is dead. Second, in grandma's prime, no matter how much you wished your girlfriend was hot like her, she would have never come close to my Lola. But I digress. Sorabol serves cheap heaping portions of Korean-like food. If you go in there expecting the real deal, you might as well vote Republican at the next election. Coz that's the kind of disappointment you're in for.
(2)Michael J.
The place didn't have as many offering as some Korean food places I have been to, but did offer large portions of meat at a great price. I was actually originally surprised how much meat I could load up on this for the price! But thats the extent of this place. Quantity not quality.
(3)Lisa L.
As a vegetarian, I can't comment on the meat options, but the veggie bowl never lets me down. I think of it as Comfort Food, my sweetie just thinks it is stinky. Oh well. That's his opinion. More for me!
(4)Kat S.
So unrepresentative of what Korean food is about. The women who tended the place are down right rude and mean too. If you really gotta try that place, just hope the server that day is not a woman! The cutting of the meat is thinner than your razor phone. The meat (kalbi) is so fatty that after it was burnt on the grill and heated for a long time on the warmer its like um...what meat... so rubbery and chewy. Yes, I used to go there when I didn't know any better, and thought it was all right. After many many many years of avoiding this joint, finally thought I should go back and give it another try, for nostalgic sake. Eh.... so regret that decision.... P.S. I can never forget how they wanted to charge $1 extra for an additional 1 piece of brocoli....
(1)William H.
I don't know what to say, wait, it's coming to me.... ughhhh. I've only recently been introduced to Korean food, and lets just say I like me some Korean food. But this place has a way of making me wonder about that statement. I've gone here on two occasions, once right after happy hour, and the other time for lunch. The first time the food was okay, but I think its safe to say I mildly enjoyed it simply because food taste better in a state of inebriation. Unwittingly succumbing to an office mates desires to "roll out" to public market, I decided to try out this place once again. Long story short, I wish I hadn't. I got the spicy pork plate which came with vermecelli noodles and some broccoli. I didn't even like the noodles! The pork was swimming in this greasy, ala heart attack and stroke sauce, and it gave me a headache. The broccoli was alright, it was the only thing I finished on the plate. Don't waste your time with this place. I'm giving it two stars simply because it satiated my drunken hunger.
(2)Danny L.
This place gets worse every year. And the management... They are extremely cheap and stingy as well as rude. For a while, when you order the galbi, they made sure they give you no more than 2 pieces. Now, they only give you 1 piece when you order a 2 item combo. What the hell?!... Are you serious? When I asked the grandma if she is serious about giving me only 1 strip of the galbi, she said extra strips are $2.00 each. What?! I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I have heard others complain about how cheap this place is with their meat but this is ridiculous. The quality of the food is mediocre. And the funny part is the fact that their rates are very high for an average lunch coming from a display case that has been sitting there all day long. $10 will get you a 2 item combo with 1 strip of galbi and a small scoop of whatever else you order.
(1)Chiquita y.
Yesterday I visited Sorabol, which used to be a fine and exotic Korean place on Grand Ave. in Oakland back in the 80's, but now inexplicably serves lunch out of steam tables at a food court in Emervyille CA. One annoying change in their menu is that they don't give the familiar Korean names for their dishes (no Bul Gogi or Dol Sot Bim Bap Bop). I gazed into their glass cases for a while before picking the grilled chicken out--the least greasy option. Damn Sorabol for hiding their side dishes (such as those tiny dried fish) in another case, with none of it posted on their menu. Didn't see those in time to order any sides with my meal. I don't know what sauce they used on the grilled chicken, and no idea as to a recipe for it. Some of the other Korean BBQ's in our local Koreatown offer chicken that you can grill yourself at the table.
(3)Kristina R.
I don't know why everyone slams this place - it is my favorite place in the food court. Yes, it isn't gourmet - but it is excellent spicy pork, steamed rice, and kimchee for a decent price in a pinch. I use to eat here regularly when I lived in the East Bay. Disclaimer: I haven't been there since 2007, so after reading other reviews that it is under new ownership I am remaining semi-neutral (otherwise 4 stars) and now I want to go back to give it another try.
(3)Jnzl D.
This place has to be hands down, the best place to eat in the market. All their stuff is sooo good and they give you HUGE portions. Personal favorites include the Bulgogi and the Chap Jae (clear noodles). When you walk in the door, this is the first delicious smell to fill your nostrils, so I highly recommend that you follow your nose to their section.
(4)Jenny K.
I ordered the BBQ beef rice plate. What I got was a mound of rice and a ton of dry gristle and onions topped with a couple pieces of broccoli. This place puts Korean food to shame. Correction. This place puts FOOD to shame.
(1)Lynnie P.
Don't know why I eat here. I think it's because one of the workers behind the counter likes to give me the sweet eye and then he drops extra meat on my plate. As far as the food goes, it's only ok. They give you way too much rice so you have to stop the guy before he goes back to scoop you that second or (heavens!) third scoop. If you can't go to a Korean restaurant for lunch, this is an ok substitute.
(3)noah f.
i've had better. the chicken has too much fat in it. like it's not cleaned properly. i should have gone with something else. thats what i get for not driving a few more minutes
(1)Dee D.
Went today for family gathering. After a long while, my little brother settled for Korean food at Sorabel. We chose the 2 item special for ~$9. Got the Spicy Chicken and the Calamari Stir Fry. Also came with white rice, a small portion of the clear stir fry vermicelli noodles (slightly spicy), a bit of kim chi, and steamed broccoli and carrots. Great size portion for price paid.
(3)Rob J.
spicy chicken, or the bbq chicken - enough food to save for a late night snack!
(3)Dan Y.
No it's not authentic and the people who wait on you are not extremely friendly and the meats are sometimes way overdone and not the best quality to begin with and the grill looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the day they opened for business and the kim chee does taste like somebody's grandma's wet laundry with some red pepper sprinkled on top. So why bother? You just have to know what to order, that's all. If you get a veggie bowl you will get a nice helping of rice, some clear noodles, and a choice of five items from the ban chan counter. Most of this stuff is good, at least as good as any other Korean restaurant I've been to. Then, if you need meat, go next door to the Afghan place and get some of their incredible bbq chicken. Finally, you go to the place across the way and get a mango tapioca drink. Easy.
(3)rusty s.
bad stuff. Got me sick while i was eating, about 10 mins into it. NOT kidding, i had a stomach ache so bad for 2 days - ate only about 1/5 or less of the meal, then in the trash it went. I wouldnt wish this food on my worst enemy. I've tried prison food before.....and Sorabol is worse than the cardboard they feed prisoners. had the bbq chicken plate, wasnt offered any panchan, didnt even get any kimchee.....I thought this place was supposed to be korean? the cooks sure didnt look it. burnt rubber chicken, rice so soggy it was in one gigantic clump. looks like they use the chicken to clean the grill. Just the smell of the box of food in my car on the way home smelled more like a korean restaurant dumpster. The last time i've been to this damn pubic market was over 7 years ago.....now i remember why. This place is so raunchy - i dont know why anyone eats here - county should start restaurant grading program like other counties.
(1)