4. Restaurants

Urban Seoul

2750 Alton Pkwy,Ste 131, Irvine, CA, 92606
  • (949) 553-0188
  • Store is closed

Urban Seoul Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Irvine for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 3745 Alton Pkwy )

Visit below restaurant in Irvine for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 3745 Alton Pkwy )

  • Angie T.

    Ordered Waygu Loco Moco Skillet, Extremely salty. Rice cooked to a porriage consistancy. Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice Skillet...tasted like chilis fried rice...Salty, a pool of oil at the bottom of the skillet. Urban Pork Buns were great, Maybe because it had only 4 components to it. Buns, pork belly, kimchi, aioli. Whew. I'm just glad at least we got 1 out of 3 that were good. Hope they'll improve in the future.

    (3)

  • Stevey R.

    Two stars for "verbal" service and creative foods. My girlfriend slipped and fell in this restaurant because there was a massive water spill without a notice or a sign. We were charged non-happy-hour prices during happy hour. There was also an inconvenient mishap when we were paying, the employee "needed" to recharge us and void the last payment or something like that. I would still come back here but the odds of that are slim. The food is decent, but just overwhelming.

    (2)

  • Jamie L.

    Came in around 1:30 for my hr lunch break. Took me 10 mins to get there and i got sat down right away and they took my order and i swear my food came out in less than five. Not only were they polite and nice but they were speedy. I like i like. So i ordered the cogi bibimbap which was delicious i didn't think all those items in there went with kbbq. My meal came out to be $9.18. A little bit pricier than I'd like to pay but atleast yummy i ate half and it made me full. I took the rest to go. I didn't walk into the bathroom so i don't know itd cleanliness but for everyone else it's clean.

    (4)

  • Ngoc T.

    I go here at least a few times a month and the gogi bibimbap is my all time favorite. Their red sauce is sooo good. Had the watermelon pineapple drink and it was the best.

    (4)

  • Cris S.

    The servers are awesome! Good prices and the food is amazing! 4 friends and I spent $58 and were super full. Everything on the menu is pretty darn fantastic!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    It's worth trying. Came here on taco tuesday and had 4 different tacos. They were ok. Also tried the fries and drumsticks. I thought it was good but I was not floored by anything. Things seemed a little pricey too. They are more Urban than Seoul, more fusion than Korean. They dont even have any classic korean beers like OB or Hite. Worth trying but not great. Taco tuesday has 1.75 tacos and half off soju.

    (3)

  • JR L.

    A nice fusion spot in Diamond Jamboree. Chill atmosphere with open seating and a small bar area. Not too many alcohol choices, but surely satisfies a costumer looking for a nice bite. Has great music playing too I've had the spicy pork belly tacos (comes in 3) and I really enjoyed them. Had a lot of meat and veggies. Definitely my favorite item. This time I got the Urban 3B (bibimbap). Presentation was great and simple. Veggies and spicy pork with their 3B sauce. It wasn't amazeballs, but definitely satisfying. Food wasn't heavy and kept me content. Good spot.

    (4)

  • Steven C.

    Nothing bad, but nothing special. Loaded fries were great, same with the pork belly tacos and elote. The rest, honestly did not stand out. We had the fried rice, chicken drumlettes, burger, cheese steak and the torta. There was flavoring, but just no flavor if that makes any sense. I appreciate the attempts of mixing Korean and Mexican dishes. But there were things lacking. It just tasted like a hodge podge of seasonings. If you decide to mix 2 distinct and bold types of cuisines, you can't tone down the intensity. I've gone to another Korean/Mexican fusion place in Costa Mesa and they did not skimp on the flavors. Can't really go wrong with this place, but don't expect it to wow you.

    (3)

  • Chris S.

    Terrific. Surrounded by 20 or so restaurants in the mall, tucked in a corner, Urban Seoul rocks. My wife had the arepas (delicious), my teenage son the stir fried udon ("awesome"), and I had the kimchi pancake quesadilla. All excellent. Great service, hip OC atmosphere. Go!

    (5)

  • Tina C.

    Interesting fusion of Korean and Mexican flavors. The food is not bad but not amazing that I want to run back anytime soon. The fried chicken drumettes were a little too sweet. The stir fried udon was bland and had too much sauce. The Bibimbap was mostly veggies but the flavor was pretty good.

    (3)

  • Jerid P.

    The Gogi sliders were pretty good. I gotta try more of their food to see if the restaurant as a whole is worth going to.

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    easy to get seated if your party is 2 or less. tacos are the only things to get on a tuesday. my personal favorites are the kimchee chorizo fried rice, pork belly tacos, kimchee quesadilla, and loaded fries in that order. never a bad thing to have stella on tap and decent beats for ambiance. a great meld of korean and mexican foods

    (4)

  • Ida O.

    it was freakin delicious! would go here again!!!!

    (5)

  • Mim M.

    cool hipster environment and interesting take on mexican-korean food. i was very interested in trying the kimchi quesadillas and it was okay. i think i wouldve preferred the plates to have a more authentic korean taste.

    (4)

  • Travis N.

    I gotta say... every time I come here I just love it more and more! Everyone is super nice here and they're a lot more organized now! Chorizo Fried Rice (5/5): My absolute favorite dish here at Urban Seoul. I would literally come to this place just for this dish. It is epic. Crispy cubes of chorizo, tangy red onions, a sunny side up egg, delicious fried rice.... asdfgh my mouth is watering just thinking about it. You have to do yourself a favor and try it. And it's pretty big for $8~$9. Kimchi Pancake Quesadilla (5/5): Second favorite dish here at Urban Seoul. When I read the description on the menu, i didn't think it would be anything special, so I was super surprised. The quesadilla is perfectly crispy, flavorful, and doesn't fall apart and get mushy like many other kimchi quesadillas. There is plenty of cheese and meat inside, and the house sauce they give you to dip the quesadilla in pairs really well with the dish! Gogi taco (4/5): Very similar to Kogi Truck tacos. The meat is very flavorful and the dish looks extremely colorful! The presentation is great (yes even for being served in a cardboard box) and definitely a solid entree. Chicken Katsu Torta (4/5): If you like Chicken Katsu, you will like this dish. It's essentially a chicken katsu burger, with delicious cole slaw and a slightly tangy sauce inside. I love chicken katsu, so this was awesome for me. Side Note: I ordered the chorizo fried rice, kimchi pancake quesadillas, and gogi tacos when i initally sat down, but once the last dish came out, I decided to put in an order for the chicken katsu torta. My gf and I weren't quite done with the last dish, the chorizo fried rice yet, but probably 10 minutes later I asked the waitress just to make sure that my order for the chicken katsu torta was placed, and, lo and behold, they comped me 15% on the torta for making me wait (which came out a minute later). I didn't even think that I had been waiting long for the torta to begin with! I was just making sure the order went through since I walked up to the bar to ask for the order instead of flagging down a waiter. GREAT service and really a great customer service experience overall, every time I've come!

    (5)

  • Mikey I.

    Really enjoyed my Saturday lunch at Urban Seoul. Good food with some nice flavors. 2nd time visiting so I decided to share a few dishes with my food mate. The Short Rib Arepas were the best of the three dishes. Cooked to perfection, Short Ribs were very tasty. Kimchee Pancake quesadillas were good but could have packed more spice for my taste. The last item was Kalbi Burger, what a fine mix of pork and beef cooked right on the money. All the food is served as soon as it is cooked so it is piping hot. Decent service and good attitude by the staff. Will be back...

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    Urban Seoul is my favorite place to eat at diamond jamboree. Their food options are deliciously creative and unique, due to the explosive tastes of the korean mexican fusion. The idea itself is genius. The Gogi sliders and elote are my favorite items from here. Service is also always on point, nice and attentive but not pushy at all. Crowd is usually young and laid back. Great place to check out if you're in the area!

    (5)

  • Marissa G.

    Hip industrial/artist interior and really personable employees. Sitting at the counter is pretty fun since you can watch them cook. My friend and I shared the pork belly tacos and the arepas with pork and gogi. Both were really tasty. The sauces they had on the tacos and the arepas really locked in the flavor. The pork belly seemed to be deep fried or something - it was pretty crunch. The arepas were also fried with melted cotija cheese or something on top. The minute the plates were delivered to us, my friend and I agreed that Urban Seoul would make excellent drunk food. It was pretty dang good without anything to drink, but it was too greasy to be a place I regularly go. Once I finished the tacos, I noticed a small pool of grease that had collected on their serving platter. Good thing I saw that after I finished, because the tacos were delicious and I wouldn't have wanted my appetite killed.

    (4)

  • Jim C.

    Great place Great food. The sliders are outstanding. One of the best I have had. Good price and service. I will go often

    (4)

  • Nancy C.

    Great place with innovative recipes and friendly service- the feeling of a neighborhood Pub with really good food- all made with fresh ingredients :-) we will be back soon!

    (4)

  • Jun Y.

    The tacos are great. The "tortilla" they use is perfect. The loaded fries is a little off. The cheese whiz they put on it gives it a slightly strange taste. The only complaint I have is that it took a long time for the food to come out. In addition, our food came out at different times, so by the time my friend finished his hamburger, my tacos came out. Kinda strange. The service people are very friendly and accommodating.

    (4)

  • Mike L.

    So I went here during lunch time on a weekday so it was pretty busy. Not a whole lot of seating in this place so we had to wait a little bit, but that was to be expected given the time of day. So the skinny... Food: The food was pretty tasty, I wouldn't say it's anything new that I haven't experienced before, BUT it tasted good and the portions were very filling. Staff: The hostess was very nice, and definitely made sure my party (of 3) was seated as quickly as possible, she didn't forget about us. Our server gave good recommendations given this was our first time there. I would have liked my water to have been refreshed a little more often since I was eating some spicy stuff but that's a small detail. Overall I liked this place, the menu is pretty lean but straight forward with enough variety to satisfy my appetite. The atmosphere is pretty much the standard small Asian eatery affair and the staff are very friendly and accommodating.

    (4)

  • Harrison M.

    Simple, casual, and affordable. I didn't come in expecting traditional Korean fare, so the fusion made perfect sense. They have a solid beer selection and a flat screen viewable from almost every angle in the small but attractive restaurant.

    (5)

  • Bryan G.

    Awesome food, awesome service, awesome atmosphere. The food is outstanding great taste fresh and made to order. This is my 4 time here and every time it's amazing.

    (5)

  • Carol L.

    It's not often that my coworkers get to hear me rave about the food at a restaurant. But today they were privy to that spectacle thanks to Urban Seoul. For once, they got to hear me say something other than "eh it was okay"! Five of us got there around 12:40. They were pretty packed, but we got to sit down at the bar after waiting about 10 minutes. The servers were extremely nice and kept updating us to let us know when it'd be okay for us to sit down. Sitting at the counter was quite a treat. It was really interesting to see how much care the main chef put into making each and every single dish. There was a new guy getting trained. We heard the chef explaining to the new guy how important it was to squirt the hot sauce in a straight line across tacos so that there'd be sauce in every bite. That's how much they care about their food. I hope this level of attention and detail will persist as the restaurant gets busier. Also, the chef heard us debate on whether to get the loaded fries (and probably saw us drooling over the order he was making) that he gave us our own loaded fries, ON THE HOUSE! That was pretty awesome. I really enjoyed the urban 3b (aka their bibimbap). They poach an egg right then and there for every order. The gojuchang sauce it comes with a little bit sweeter than the one I'm used to, but it works. The fried onion pieces they throw on top really make the dish. It adds extra texture and sweetness to it. I liked the bibimbap better than the pork belly tacos. The tacos were a bit lacking in flavor. I got to see them making the short rib arepas. They looked really good. I want to try them next time. Also my coworker got the short rib sandwich, and that looked like it was delicious and filling! This will be a nice addition for food places in Irvine since there aren't a lot of good options around.

    (5)

  • Brandon S.

    This place is Amazing and the food is absolutely delicious! Its a twist on traditional Korean dishes that definitely hit the mark. The food came out hot and every person in our group of 6 was "Mmm-ing" and nodding in delight as we tried to savor every bite. I can only give a 1st hand review of the Arepa with gogi and the Gogi sliders, but everyone ordered something different and we all left happy. If there is a downside, it would have to be that the menu is not very big and the hours are a bit strange. Other than that, Urban Seoul is a legit 4 star gem.

    (4)

  • Julie P.

    Totally reminds of food trucks but I wasn't as impressed with the flavors. I had gogi tacos and I think it was kimchi fries (not sure if we had the choice to pick our meat). We had a large group of about 9 and my tacos didn't come out until everyone was done eating but they did end up being on the house. I really didn't taste too much of the beef since it was covered in lettuce/cabbage... and same with the fries. I had expected a little more since I thought K-fusion originated in SoCal and having had it in Dallas on food trucks, where the meat was moist and the special sauce was spicy and tangy, was a little disappointed. I really wanted to taste more than colorful cabbage - if you're ever in Dallas try out Ssahm (food truck) or KorBQ (brick and mortar), now those are flavorful!

    (3)

  • Greg M.

    This place is delicious was here few weeks ago tried the pork belly, chicken and tofu tacos amazing. I also had to try their elote, must definitely return and try everything on their menu.

    (5)

  • Faith Y.

    Food is fantastic!! Love the loaded fries and the garlic edamame!

    (5)

  • Kevin M.

    I have been really excited to check this place out as i have been hearing good things about the food from friends. It always looks well filled so im glad i finally was able to come try it. I went for taco tuesday and i was able to be seated right away! Tried one of every taco that was on the menu and the employees were very helpful at explaining each one. I really enjoyed sitting at the counter as i could see how they put the food together. Great Place to eat. The food was amazing and i really enjoyed the atmosphere. Recommended!

    (4)

  • Ed C.

    I LOVE URBAN SEOUL! It's FABULOUS and well worth it. Last week, while killing time to avoid traffic back to Long Beach, I decided to treat myself to a fun dinner. I searched Yelp for a decent place to eat and without reading the reviews, I took a chance and went to Urban Seoul. It's a small place with counter seating where you can watch the lightning fast, but controlled pace of the cooks. Opposite the counter, there are small tables against the wall so if you're thinking of a larger group, you'll have to call to see if they can accommodate you. The menu is simple with only about 20 dishes in a tapas-style format. It's a latino-korean mash-up of deliciousness with offerings like Chorizo Kimchi fried rice, stuffed street tacos (gogi, pork belly, spicy pork, etc), and short-rib arepas. The east-west fusion of flavors work so well. They also have several traditional korean based dishes, but modernized for the newer generation needing twists and turns in their food, such as crispy spicy rice cakes, unrecognizable japchae filled crunch seaweed rolls, and amped up bibim bap bowls. I was lucky enough to walk into the place during happy hour. Several drinks and dishes were discounted for the money conscious individual. Since it was taco tuesday, of course I had to partake in a few (three types). All of them were filled with succulent meats, crunchy cabbage, and a spiced up creamy dressing. Also I decided to splurge and try the chorizo kimchi fried rice, crispy spicy rice cakes and japchae crunchy rolls. Each had their own unique bursts of flavor. I loved the crispy rice cakes for it's crunchy shell and chewy interior (think marble sized fried balls, topped with fresh green onions, sliced fish cake, quail eggs...all sitting in a spicy sauce). If you're ever in the Irvine area or are in need of an excursion, check out Urban Seoul. But be ready for a wait. Unless you get in on an off time or hit a pocket, you may have to visit the bakery and cafe next door, but I'm sure that won't be too difficult to do.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    I love this place like its a second home. Every time I am in Irvine I eat here at least 2 times that week. The food is terrific, little plates that you can share with friends so you can try many different items on the menu. Almost like a Spanish Tapas style. Just as good as the food is the staff. They are warm and friendly, greeting you as you arrive as if you were old friends. Reminds me of Norm at Cheers type reception. When you enter and eat at the restaurant you feel more like you are at someone's home where the hosts are simply serving you great tasting food in a casual atmosphere This place is a great location for the young, hip crowd meeting after a long day at work. The foodies will love the flavors and combinations of the different menu items. Its a great place just to hang out eating, talking and socializing. Would be a nice place for a first date too. I hope others in the area will stop by and try this place as I know it will be one that you return many times over. great job all!!!!

    (5)

  • Anthony L.

    pork belly tacos, crunchy pork pieces kgahl-bee sliders mmmm and kimchee n cheese quesodilla, another fav will be back again for sure been craving something korean and fusion for some time interesting happy hour and taco tuesday deals as well

    (4)

  • Connie C.

    Went to check out the new restaurant in the Diamond Jamboree plaza for dinner. This place is small but has all the Korean fusion food truck items. The short rib arepas were amazing. It comes with a green sauce that is tasty by itself and it complements the meat and cheese pretty well. Definitely recommend it. I also tried the Kalbi burgers. Simple and delicious. Lastly, I sampled the chorizo kimchi fried rice. It was good fried rice but I didn't feel like the chorizo added much value to create a unique fusion taste. In terms of service, it was pretty good because there weren't a lot of people, but it did take some effort to get some of the menus. Since it is a new place, I believe the service will get better. The staff was attentive once the order was placed.

    (4)

  • Khanh N.

    I love love this place! Everything here is very tasty and very flavorful. Happy hour is mon-Friday from 5-7 PM. Their bibimbap is one of my favorite dish there, I get it with purple rice and spicy pork AHHH just describing this dish makes me hungry for some, it's so good! My other favorites are the chicken wings and the elote, those are usually on the HH menu so it's cheap. Urban Seoul is also a great place to go for taco Tuesday as well!!! pork belly and spicy pork tacos for only 1.50$ each. Last time I went here for taco Tuesday during HH, I walked out drunk with my belly feeling very happy lol. If I can I would seriously go eat here everyday. So if you're ever around DJ plaza, you should give this place a try! It won't be a disappointment for sure.

    (5)

  • M. S.

    Great food. Super chill environment. Fast service. Great workers. Small tapas style plating and short menu for quick choosing. I recommend the pork belly tacos and jep charmari? Which is a deep fried glass noodle in seaweed paper . Best to go during the week, because parking sucks.

    (5)

  • Michelle Y.

    over priced food, in my opinion. The overall idea and concept is super cool, but the food wasn't the most amazing thing ever. The people were nice and the setting was cool, but the food could be better.

    (2)

  • Stephanie R.

    The food here is so original and GOOD! I've been there twice so far and plan to go back regularly, hoping to try a different dish everytime. So far my favorites have been the Kalbi sliders, the chorizo fried rise (I forgot its actual name) and HIGHLY RECOMMEND the seaweed fried wrap(forgot that name too) Very energetic, urban environment. Few seats but never felt like I was rushed to eat, in fact they tell you to take as long as you want to hangout. But what keeps bringing me back is the different tastes and perfect portions.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    The Kim chi pancake quesadilla is amazing!!

    (5)

  • Janet L.

    Taco Tuesday is a great deal!

    (4)

  • Scotty P.

    So they like to put crispy fried onions on EVERYTHING here! As much as I like fried onions, there is such thing as a little too much. Galbi sliders weren't bad but a little too sweet. Tacos were just ok. The kimchi fried rice was just an awful mushy mess and yes, more fried onions. Kicker? There's not even any kimchi or kimchi taste in the rice. This dish is pitiful. We didn't even bother getting a box for it.

    (3)

  • Priscilla P.

    this place didn't quite hit a home run with me. definitely not a place for the calorie-conscious. i like that there is a brick and mortar selling items you can typically only find being sold on a food truck and we know how annoying it is to chase them down. i liked the pork belly tacos but wasn't too impressed by the loaded fries or kimchi pancake quesadilla. both items were really heavy but practically everything on the menu is heavy. the pork on the loaded fries was too salty and the sauce from the pork overpowered the other flavors. I would have enjoyed it with more of the pickled onions and cheese sauce. the kimchi pancake would have tasted better if it was crisp and i thought the sauce that came with it was too heavy for it. a salsa or something acidic that could cut through the heaviness would have been a better alternative. i think i'd come back for the tacos and might want to try the sliders next time but would pass on the other items.

    (3)

  • Emily L.

    Service is amazing, food is made fresh and comes out quickly, and the happy hour is amazing! All I have to say is, if you come here and don't get the Pork Belly tacos then.... No one should trust you. That's almost a sin. Haha definitely try the pork belly tacos! You won't regret it, promise!

    (5)

  • Daniel Z.

    Urban Seoul was exactly what I wanted it to be. A mix of flavors to bring out Mexican and Korean fusion. Everything me and my gf ordered was delicious. We ordered chorizo kimchi fried rice, bulgogi tacos, pork belly tacos and for dessert we had nearly perfect churros. Everything was all good but my favorite by far were the pork belly tacos. They were filled with flavor that got my taste buds excited. The rice could have more flavor but no complaints about this place. 4 stars for sure. Prices are set at a fair price which makes me want to come back again. If you are looking for something unique to eat then come to this spot in Irvine.

    (4)

  • Grace P.

    I went for the second time today, since the first time I went, the food was good and service was okay. I saw that they had cheaper tacos on Tuesdays. So I went this afternoon and tried to order to-go. However, they said they don't do the taco Tuesdays deal to-go. They had no mention of this on the sign. So I ended up just getting the expensive tacos. The most ridiculous part was that I waited 30 minutes for my food to be ready. I saw many people who ordered after me get the same food first. When I asked they just apologized and said it would take 10 more minutes. However, it turned out it had been ready, but they just forgot about it and the food had just been sitting there for a long time. I just ended up wasting a lot of time there. When I complained, they just sent us off, telling us the utensils should be in the bag, which was a lie. The only reason I didn't give 1 star is because the food was pretty good.

    (2)

  • Sharyn B.

    I probably got the wrong item on the menu, but since I was really craving beef bibimbap, I ordered the "fusion" version of it here at Urban Seoul. Honestly, nothing really fusion about it struck out to me. It just wasn't as flavorful as an authentic Korean bibimbap, so I have to say it just tasted a bit standard. I was led a bit astray from the raving reviews here. Sorry, Urban Seoul..maybe next time.

    (3)

  • Collin W.

    This place was busy on "Taco Tuesday" for lunch, but I was able to get a spot at the bar and service quickly. The servers were friendly, both behind the counter and walking around. I was given some recommendations, and since it was Taco Tuesday, had 2 pork belly, 1 spicy pork, and 1 gogi taco. They were prepared quickly and were all awesome. I think I liked the pork belly best, but to be honest, they all had me licking my fingers. As I was at the bar I got to see many other goodies leaving the kitchen and they all looked great. Open kitchens are hard, as your typical kitchen is noisy, chaotic, and messy. This one is amazing - well organized, lots of communication, and putting out food at a frantic pace but still with attention to details. I will be back!

    (5)

  • Nikki P.

    The food here is delicious. I've tried the chicken katsu burger and the kimchi chorizo fried rice. Next time I'm definitely ordering the kimchi pancake quesadilla and chicken curry puffs! Dinner with a bottle of soju and I'm one very buzzed, full, and satisfied customer. Can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Alex D.

    I'm only giving it two stars because it wasn't horrendous - but this place is definitely not of value. I wish this place didn't replace the original buffalo wings restaurant, which was a much better joint, in my honest opinion. So why is this place worthy of only two stars? I came with a friend to stop in for lunch just to see what the buzz was all about given that it had a 4 star ranking on Yelp. But it was an immediate buzz kill after we quickly finished our skimped, and mediocre food. The portions were small and the service took a very long time considering that it wasn't packed during the lunch hour ... and worse of all, the bill came out to more than $20. We ordered: - Pork belly tacos ... $7 for skimpy tacos? This reminds me of Taco Asylum over at the Camp in Costa Mesa/Santa Ana. - Spicy Lollipop chicken (think hot wings) ... Didn't eat this one, but my buddy was saying it was skimpyand tasted really bland - Loaded fries (think nacho-cheese fries with jalapenos and a bit of kimchi/spice) ... This was overall unsatisfactory. If you ever frequented Original Buffalo Wings, their Chili Cheese Chips just put these to shame, no contest. Don't be fooled by its hipster appeal...The food might be decorated nicely, but once you taste what's inside you'll know you've been hustled. My very honest opinion? This place will go out of business soon...I'm sure it costs a lot of money to lease at DJ, and there's just too much better competition around for this place to be a real contender. Sorry for such negativity =P, but try it out, and let me know how it stacks up to your expectations.

    (2)

  • Scott L.

    The loaded fries were amazing, seasoned criss cut fries with cheese sauce and very flavorful pork. Definitely recommend them!

    (5)

  • Leslie L.

    Went to the Jamboree Plaza with my co-workers for my casual birthday lunch ... we had no idea what we wanted to eat but we knew the plaza had a bunch of choices. As we walked in the parking lot and scanned the restaurant names, I quickly entered several on my smartphone. Based on the ratings, Urban Seoul had 4 stars which meant --- that's where lunch would be at. When we approached the restaurant, they had their 1 page menu posted & I immediately saw Pork Belly Tacos ... Yup! this was going to be the place for me. =) When we walked in, we were greeted by the friendly staff. Definite plus. We asked for recommendations & were given a few of the more popular dishes. Throughout the meal, the staff was smiling, friendly & attentive. We finally ordered several items on the menu recommended by the staff and shared it family style so that we could try as much as possible. 1) Pork Belly Tacos: This was my absolute fave!!! The pork belly pieces were quickly deep-fried to give it a slight crunchiness; the kim-chee & sauce just made this dish absolutely delish --- But what made it perfect was a great price point. It was a fair price and totally worth it! 2) Gogi Sliders: These little sliders were very tasty & well-balanced. The buns were slightly toasted, the bulgogi meat was well-seasoned & the cheese surprisingly added a nice touch. 3) Bibimbap Bowl with Spicy Tuna: We opted for the healthier & more original purple rice. It was presented beautifully and again well-balanced with the right amount of shredded, fresh veggies & spicy tuna. It was refreshing and filling at the same time. 4) Corn: 2 halves of corn on a stick covered with chili powder & "stuff". Kind of like the ones you get off a street vendor cart. If you're a corn on the cob person, you'll be smiling from ear to ear and licking your chops like I was. 5) Spicy rice cake: Definitely need to share this dish & treat it like a side of fries. They slightly deep fry the rice cake to give it a wonderful crispy texture on the outside and a soft, chewy texture on the inside. It's mixed with a spicy sauce that's pretty good but since I can't eat too spicy, I ate the ones covered with less sauce so I could eat more. All in all, this was an awesome dining experience with inventive, tasty, well-balanced, and quality dishes at a reasonable price. Urban Seoul will definitely be one of my favorite lunch spots. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Val S.

    Extremely friendly staff and great food. Their pork sliders are amazing!

    (4)

  • Mariah S.

    Food was good but expensive.

    (4)

  • Jane E.

    Stopped by while getting some goodies at the bakery next door. Ended up taking home a bibim bowl, popcorn chicken, & some yummy kalbi burger sliders. The popcorn chicken was okay but everything else was utterly delicious. On top of that, their service was top notch for a Korean establishment. The girl helping me out took the time to explain the menu and made sure I got "hooked up" with all the sauces to take with. Good service + good food is what you'll find here :)

    (4)

  • Hector S.

    The bibimbap bowl with purple rice was delicious. Pair it up with some pork belly tacos and you won't be disappointed

    (4)

  • George N.

    Coming here during happy hour was awesome! The prices are really decent especially for the amount of food you get with each tapa style plate. The pork belly tacos were awesome! Perfectly crispy and delicious. The elote was delicious and only 2 dollars during happy hour. The loaded fries are truly loaded and tastes good as well. The only thing is the restaurant is a little small and harder for larger groups to be able to sit together. Also the tables for two are really tiny and it's hard to keep all your food on one table. Other than that it has a real urban Seoul atmosphere and is a cool place to lounge out. The service is really good too. Highly recommended if you're on the fence about where to go.

    (4)

  • Vez K.

    I'm honestly very torn in my rating of Urban Seoul. The place has a lot of potential, but the food really missed the mark for me and my husband. I'd probably rate the food 2 stars, but have given the restaurant 3 stars for its potential. (If you want good American-Korean fusion food, go to Hashigo Korean Kitchen in Costa Mesa instead. It's a LOT tastier.) We got there around 6 pm on Monday night and had about maybe a 10 - 15 min wait for a table. Instead, we decided to just sit at the bar. The place is pretty small - probably it can sit about 20 - 30 people maximum (that's just my guess). We were very excited and decided fairly quickly what we wanted based on some Yelp reviews and interesting choices. The service was pretty good, the food looked good, but the food just didn't taste that good (unfortunately) - especially for the price. I knew to expect food truck style food, but honestly, I really had high hopes for the taste. But it was all very bland, oily, a little skimpy, and pretty pricey for what you get. I'll rate everything in the order that we received them. 1. Banana milk - My husband ordered this because it sounded interesting. Basically, it tastes like banana taffy in a little drink carton that comes with a straw. If you like banana taffy, you'd like this. It does taste more like candy than a milkshake like we thought. 2. Gogi tacos - You get 2 very small street-sized tacos with crisp pork belly (fat), lettuce, and lots of sesame seeds. Well, at least those are the tastes and textures I remember. Mostly, I tasted sesame. There wasn't much flavor to the pork belly, and I don't remember tasting any other sauce. I'd highly recommend they add some sort of flavorful Korean sauce to these tacos other than sesame. The textures were good, but the taste was bland overall. 3. Short rib arepas - We really wish we didn't order this because it was extremely oily and actually made my husband and me feel very queasy afterward. The short rib meat (which wasn't very much) was put in between what tasted to me like a buttermilk biscuit that was deep fried. My hands were oily and we used all our napkins just to wipe our hands and mouths off after eating one of these each (we even had to ask for more napkins). I had to blot the oil off of the biscuit just so that I could get myself to even finish it. My husband said that he rarely doesn't want to finish his food and feel like he has to force it down like he did this. To improve this, don't deep fry the biscuits and put lots more flavorful short rib meat in the bun. 4. Loaded fries - Honestly, these fries tasted like 3 separate things put together in a way that didn't really go well together. The fries were topped with nacho cheese and some bulgogi meat. It was like eating them all separately, since there didn't really seem to be anything that brought the flavors together. The little meat there was on there was pretty bland. Again, I'd like more flavor and more meat. And maybe do something other than nacho cheese, because it tasted, well...cheesy (as in not classy). If you're putting nacho cheese on it, I'd expect something other than what you would get in a movie theater or at an amusement park. I was expecting some extra flavoring or a unique spin or recipe using the cheese. I don't know. I think you guys should check out the Lime Truck's carnitas fries and to see what I'm talking about when I say these fries are missing flavor. The Lime Truck's carnitas fries are really good, meaty, and flavorful. 5. Chicken curry puffs - My husband liked these, though I thought it had too little chicken and curry and was mostly pastry. The sauce that came with it was a little weird, in my opinion, because it tasted too much like I was mixing curry chicken with apple pie. Warning - these were extremely hot and burned my mouth! Overall, we left feeling pretty disappointed and dissatisfied. I was looking forward to the food here since I LOVE Korean food and unique fusions of it. This place really has a lot of potential. The food looks good, but I think there needs to be a little more experimenting to get the tastes right. Since we seriously felt pretty queasy afterward, I honestly don't think I'd go back unless the food was changed quite a bit and the price was reduced or the flavor was made to match the prices. I actually had to go over to Lollicup to wash down the oiliness from the food and satisfy my craving for flavor. As for service, it seemed okay. Our server was helpful and friendly, but sitting right in front of the cooking staff did make me notice that some of them appeared to be inexperienced in preparing food. I understand there is a learning curve at new restaurants, but it didn't seem like the person who looked like the owner took much of a lead in the food preparation or the wait-staff. To sum it all up - Give us more meat and more flavor!

    (3)

  • Ann J.

    First off- YAY this is in IRVINE. In the world of chain restaurants, this is a oh so nice find. The details make me want to come back- the service was spectacular (we went for an early lunch to avoid Diamond Jamboree madness) and they serve *filtered* water, not tap water. Loved the chicken katsu sandwich. Loved the fresh warm $1 churro. I wish the loaded fries were less cheesy or soggy, b/c the crispy parts were really yummy. The tacos were good too.

    (4)

  • Tiffany W.

    They have happy hour every single day until 7:00pm so don't miss it! Came here with my brother and the food was good but if you don't like fried food, I don't recommend this place because everything is pretty much fried, including the rice cake. We tried the loaded french fries, pork belly tacos, drumettes, and the rice cake. I would give Food 3.5 stars but giving the place 4 stars for friendly service, ambience, happy hour deals, and creativity. Would like to go back to try other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Bernice V.

    Hands down, this is the best lunch spot in the diamond jamboree complex. It gets busy fast during lunch. But I love everything on their menu. Especially their bibimbap. It doesn't hurt that they have Stella on tap either. Love the size of their servings. One order is large enough to curb hunger pangs and delectable enough to satisfy your cravings for the savory.

    (5)

  • Lizzie C.

    Came here for lunch on a rainy day. It's in the diamond jamboree plaza so beware of parking. The place is really small. Has a bar area to sit and watch them make the food. Pretty busy and I heard this place is pretty new. I had the bibimbop and the loaded fries. Loved it. The bibimbop has more of a crunchy texture than regular ones. They had alot of crunchy veggies and i think some fried won ton strips too with yummy purple rice. Loaded fries were super fatty which is perfect for meee! Lots of awesomeness. I will come back!

    (4)

  • Amy N.

    Done and done! Pork belly tacos, gogi tacos, kimchi pancake quesadilla, something in a corn cake bun... Everything delicious and filling! Treated really well, quick service, my water constantly bring refilled, not too much attention but always there when we needed them. Definitely coming back and bringing our friends. Cool hang out to eat and spend time out without breaking the bank.

    (5)

  • Patrick W.

    loved the pork belly tacos. crisp, a little sweet. incredible.

    (5)

  • Barbara G.

    I want to know who is giving this place a 5 star review. They must have been paid to do it. We eat out a lot and I don't even know where to start. The place is small. It has about five tables along one wall. Metal, uncomfortable, cold and not inviting. The place smelled greasy and the WATER tasted greasy. I don't really care about the size if the food is good. We ordered two things. Pork Belly Tacos and the Short Rib arepas. They give you two very small tacos, which had good flavor, but tiny. The Short rib thing was two small round sandwiches that were so fatty that we couldn't even eat it. The meat was microscopic. Someone came by and asked how it was and we told him it was full of fat and terrible. The bun which was soft and not good, just soaked up all the grease and fell apart. The waitress who was very nice, asked how things were and we told her the same thing. The only thing either could say was " Oh". Not even an " I'm sorry". Never offered to get us something else. Never offered to take it off the bill. We paid the bill and were still starving so we went to In and Out. That is a real first for us. Never in my life have we had to do that. To sum it up, small portions, uncomfortable surroundings, Bad food. They won't be around long. Would give it zero stars if I could. At 1 pm it was empty.

    (1)

  • Janice D.

    Given that it was their re opening Friday 3/1/13 I was really excited to eat here because I LOVE and am a big fan of Seoul Sausage in Santa Monica! However the long await was quite disheartening. 1st off the water had a seaweed taste to it. Not sure why so we ended up ordering a pitcher of Shock Top on tap just to avoid the awful taste of water. 2nd I was uber excited about the chicken lollipop due to the savory looking pictures from the soft opening. The chicken lollipop lacked marinade flavors. The only thing you can taste it the sweet chili sauce on the outside. Taste like the ones u can buy in a bottle for egg rolls. Once u bite into the chicken drum it was bleh inside, very bland! I needed Sriracha just to flavor the unflavored inside of the chicken. The sliders was nothing special and the Bulgogi fries was lacking flavors u normally get with Bulgogi. Pork belly tacos were nothing to remember by. We kept trying to find something in the menu that would save this place so we can come back. Sadly to say I would rather eat from the Kogi trucks. I gave it a try and hope they vamp up their flavors in order to survive Diamond Jamboree area. I hate to complain but the service was not on point. They need to work on their customer service as far as following up on how the food was. Regardless of the experience, the bill came up to about $65 for the 4 of us and we still managed to leave an 18% tip. We wish Urban Seoul good luck!

    (2)

  • J L.

    I had such high hopes for this place - bookmarked and everything. Food was decent, but service was TERRIBLE! It took an HOUR for two out of the three dishes (appetizers to be correct) to come out. I flagged the waiter (who honestly seemed to be trying his best with) to check on the last order. By this time, I lost my appetite and cancelled the order. In addition to the frustration, there was a couple who came in after us, but somehow got their food first and left before I got to flag down the waiter! I understand that this is a new business so a few kinks need to be ironed out, but at least acknowledge the lack of service. Professionalism and organization were subpar at best. If you have the patience, try this place, maybe you'll have better luck!

    (1)

  • Alex W.

    First off, I only review burgers. Urban Seoul is by no means a burger joint. But they do sell sliders which qualifies them for a yelp review! Met up with some friends on a Monday night. I had no idea where in the shopping plaza this place was. I know that parking is sometimes a nightmare at Diamond Jamboree so I parked in the parking structure. As I walked from the structure across the parking lot, I saw many many parking spots. Whoops...guess Monday nights aren't too bad. haha. I like the way the place is set up. Very contemporary. The place was pretty full. There wasn't a wait, but plenty of patrons for a Monday night. I like the variety of Asian bottled drinks. I ordered one of my favorites...Itoen Oi Ocha green tea. I'm glad I shared the meal with 4 other hungry guys so that we were able to try almost everything. The tapas portions and even the paper serving trays reminded me of food truck food. The staff looked very young, but probably because I'm an old fart. It was a treat to see some of my old youth kids Karis and Emmilee working. I cannot believe they are not in junior high anymore. Why must kids grow up?!? =/ On to the food. Like I just mentioned, we ordered almost everything and everything I ate was good. The predominant taste that most of the dishes had in common was sweet with a little spice. After a while, the dishes started to blend together and didn't stand out as much. While everything was good, the dish that stood out the most was the pork belly tacos. Don't miss out on them. The sliders were good, but slightly lacking in flavor. I liked how they grilled the buns. The buns looked and tasted like higher quality than King's Hawaiian rolls like the Burnt Truck uses. I think a dollop of gochujang would bring it up a full notch. I also wish the server would have explained the sauces better. There was a light green sauce which I thought was the tastiest. There was what appeared to be some kind of salsa. There was a lighter sauce that came out with other dishes. I didn't know which was which and what dishes to put what sauce on. Fortunately, they were all good so it didn't really matter. Bottom line, great place to get some food truck style food. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing my friends and family. One last note...the seats start to hurt your butt if you sit for too long. But I guess that's a good thing in the restaurant world so you don't have customers sitting and socializing for too long. WHAT WE ORDERED: Kalbi sliders: 3/5 Gogi sliders: 3/5 Pork Belly Tacos: 5/5 Kimchi pancake quesadillas: 3/5 Chicken curry puffs: 3/5 Chicken Lollipops: 4/5 Loaded fries: 4/5 Spicy rice cake: 4/5 Spicy pork torta: 3/5 not on the menu Nothing Bundt Cakes: 5/5 (thanks for sharing Gibbons clan!) =) STAFF: Friendly WAIT TIME: None on a Monday night PORTION: Small (good for sharing) BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Reasonable WOULD I RETURN: Yes!

    (4)

  • Thy Linh N.

    FRIED PORK BELLY TACOS. That's all you need to know. I would come back just for these!! And don't forget to go on Tuesday during their Happy Hour!!

    (4)

  • Nina D.

    Don't come to this place expecting KBBQ or traditional bibimbap. It's FUSION food and that's what they do well. Their tacos are great...especially for 1.50 a taco on Tuesday! Try the pork belly and spicy pork! The bibimbap was a nice mixture of flavors and textures. I had the gogi with purple rice. It gets downright crowded at lunch but the turnover is quick and the service is amazing.

    (4)

  • L W.

    Great service- fun and yummy food! We have tried the tacos on Taco Tuesday- a must! More recently we had the gogi sliders, elote (street corn) and loaded fries- all yummy! My only request is that they bring back some of the yummies from past posts (short rib dishes and tater tots).

    (5)

  • Alex J.

    So Ya Boy came hurr lookin ta get his Korean on. And ta b 100% (like I alwayz iz), this place was good, but not great. Good food and beer, but on da real, it aint nothin Ya Boy I never had before. OH WAIT! I'l give dis place a 4-STAR REVIEW jus cus they got dat quesadilla thang dat makes more dan my mouth tingle! ;]

    (4)

  • Joseph L.

    Excellent fushion korean food with a great vibe. Would recommend for some good grub. Service is also great.

    (4)

  • Greg T.

    Creative street food flavors, fresh ingredients & reasonably priced...hard to beat. Pork Belly rice bowl was great. And, I have a lot of food allergies and they were super accomodating, chef came over to discuss and adjust the dishes, including sauces, so I could eat them. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Jim C.

    Service was great, but the food was too oily/greasy/food-trucky. We had loaded fries, arepas and kim chee fried rice and the flavors were all great but we left feeling sick from all the rich foods. The price points were on the hide side, especially for the tacos and arepas.

    (2)

  • Loc T.

    It's Korean Fusion Tapas with good beer and a giant TV for sports. Great atmosphere. Original art on the walls and the kitchen is open which means you can sit at the bar and interact with the chef. Kinda like a sushi bar but with tapas style. Very reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Stephen B.

    Finally, the OC has a one stop shop for great Korean fusion food, with a modern kick! Came in today for the grand opening and I wasn't disappointed! All the food places in this area seem to taste the same, yet Urban Seoul changes the game with their great service, original dishes, and cool vibe. Be sure to try the Short Rib Arepas, the Pork Belly tacos, and if you love chicken finger-lickin good style, then go for the Chicken Lollipops. Would be a great place to come to watch a Lakers game with a friend, or a casual gathering with friends. Will be back soon!

    (5)

  • April D.

    I can't even say what's the best thing on the menu because everything I get here is amazing. Mouthwatering!

    (5)

  • Eric V.

    WOW! This place is excellent for a night out with friends! I've been here twice now and sort of sampled evrything. It reminds me ALOT of a food truck in restaurant form. Unique foods such as: Pork Belly Tacos- my FAVORITE thing here 5$ for 2 tacos. The sauce is amazing as well as the quality of the pork itself. Kalbi Burger - this wasn't as good as i thought it would be - just a smaller version of what you might find at In n Out. Chicken Lollipops - This is a very good snack! It has a nice sweet sauce(not like barbeque, more of an asian taste) to it, its easy to eat, and very fresh. Bi Bim Bap - This is also delicious. Its super flavorful and comes with all sorts of meats and vegatables, which are individually delicious as well as when put together in this dish. Kim chi fried rice - Probably one of my favorite dishes, as well as one of my favorite fried rice dishes. It stays super hot throughout your meal, and comes with bits of pork belly and chorizo. I'd have to say that the meat is what makes it so delicious. The pork belly and chorizo just make your mouth water. (insert name of food here) - these are those little seaweed rolls with clear noodles in them. It is suppperrrrr delicious, especially the sauce! Pancake Quesadilla - These werent all that great..

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    Walked in at around 930. Empty. Ordered the pork belly tacos (recommended by the waitress) to-go. 3 street tacos for $6, thought I vowed never to buy "street" tacos again after Lola Gaspar. Should have known better... Not bad, not great, three stars. Not sure why they've decided 10pm was a good closing time when every store around them is open far later.

    (3)

  • Jenny V.

    I came during lunch and they had ran out of sliders and burgers which should have been a red flag. Wanted to give the place a try. Staff were attentive and you can tell they were tired of impatient and hungry customers. Waited 40 minutes for two tiny tacos each the size of a folded medium drink lid. It was not worth $7 plus the ridiculously long wait and I left feeling very disappointed. Don't be fooled like I was by the picture on here.

    (1)

  • Danny M.

    Love this place. Food is awesome. People are amazing. Beers are tasty. Great fusion spot for sure. If you're expecting classical, you might be disappointed, but if you have a bit of an open mind you're bound to find something you love.

    (5)

  • Jamie T.

    Well worth braving traffic on Jamboree and parking. My husband and I split the pork belly tacos, kimchee fried rice and sliders. I loved all of it, although I have to say the fried rice was my favorite. We had our little one with us, he was relatively well behaved this trip but the restaurant was loud enough that his sudden exclamations from time to time didn't bother anyone but not so loud that it was uncomfortable. Little one dug the sweet potato fries. Service was friendly and prompt. Loved it!

    (5)

  • Eric H.

    Very good food, attractively presented, plus friendly servers, and best of all - four people, four lunches, forty dollars. So, a good value too. Next time i'll go on Taco Tuesday, when the big & juicy tacos are $1.50 each, a great value.

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    Me and my wife totally fell in love with this place. Some people from our church mentioned this restaurant so finally decided to go. The service was great and the atmosphere was friendly. We were served right away. We tried the Gogi tacos and the fries. It was beautifully presented, just amazing. The food was awesome as well! We only tried two things but they were sooooo good! We definitely plan on coming back next week.

    (5)

  • Amy K.

    A great little Korean fusion tapas place has finally opened in Irvine! The menu has a good mix of Latin inspired Korean dishes such as the short rib arepas and pork belly tacos as well as inspired Korean dishes such as the spicy rice cakes. The short rib arepas were probably my favorite. The combo of the short ribs with pickled red onions with the green sauce was heavenly. And the spicy rice cakes were a new take on ddukbokki. The rice cake balls, yes, rice cakes shaped like spheres, were crispy and had the delicious spicy sauce poured over it. A great combo of texture and flavors. Oh, and if you ever wanted to try any Asian non-alcoholic drink, they have a great selection ranging from Milkis to canned coffee and teas. The service was friendly and quick and the space, though not very big was inviting, especially with the open kitchen and bar seating so you can watch your food being made. Each dish was on average $6, so not too expensive.

    (5)

  • Cind Y.

    Portions are small, especially the pork belly tacos, which are about two bites each. The servers awkwardly stand around and ask you from time to time if you think the food is good.

    (2)

  • Geeyoung L.

    The food was decent, not the best food I've tried but it was not bad. I had the Urban 3B with Kogi and I liked how there was such an array of vegetables. It was a unique place, but I'm not sure if it's somewhere I'd come again.

    (3)

  • Mandy B.

    Tried this place today for lunch and had the Gogi sliders - they were amazing! i will be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Daniel U.

    The food was just too sweet (gogi sliders) and the quesadillas were too cheesy. All in all, the price was fair but the food wasn't that great.

    (2)

  • Gaddi Father G.

    I like this place and the whole concept of Korean Fusion / Tapas style meals. The flavors of their meals are all pretty good! We tried the Chorizo Kim-Chi Fried Rice, Short Rib Arepas, and Pork Belly Tacos. My only problem with this place is they need to learn about the concept called grease management. If you are going to mix a lot of meat that secretes a lot of fat or this case grease then it must be cooked in stages and not all at once. Simply putting it all one pan and infusing all the flavors is not desirable when all the grease ends up on the plate or this case coagulated in your heart! Lastly, not having a soda fountain and limiting my selection to organic drinks isn't cool!

    (3)

  • Joel R.

    Get here at 5pm on weekdays to avoid crowds. Items you must order: Kalbi Burger (extremely juicy with sweet tasting meat and bread) & Pork Belly Tacos (crunchy things in it make it taste good plus the tortilla taco is not soggy when you get it from the kitchen). The fries with pork, cheese, jalapenos, and onions is pretty tasty too. Overall great grub food!

    (4)

  • Roland M.

    1.50 taco tuesday and half off soju. can't go wrong. plus its right across the street from my house. the pork belly tacos are my my fav!!!! will def be back next tues! 8)

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    The gogi taco is delicious. Also enjoyed their version of a korean 'burger'. Uncomfortable chairs but worth it for the good food.

    (4)

  • David B.

    Great little place. The food is fusion with Korean influences. The service was great and the food was unique. I will be back for some more soon

    (5)

  • Diana L.

    This place is a Korean/Mexican fusion. Te way the food is served reminds me of food truck style as it comes on paper plates. And, the food itself is similar to kogi with some different twist. During this visit, I tried the kimchi quesadilla and rice cake. The rice cake is totally different from a typical korean restaurant- they fried the rice cake first before drizzling in the spicy hot sauce on it, which was a interesting.

    (4)

  • Luke G.

    Oh man, such a good restaurant if you have the love for Korean/Mexican dishes! The manager Charis is a really sweet gal and is very dedicated to the others that were there. And a suggestion, my favorite dish is the pork belly tacos! So good :)

    (5)

  • Alex Y.

    Don't know who gave it under a 4 star but bumping the rating up because this place is wayyyyyy better than the 3.5 that is listed right now. Get the pork belly taco! And the loaded fries. Make sure you ask about their sauces.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Really tasty fusion food ~ the flavours and ideas all work really well together. Quick, super friendly service. Fun, casual vibe. Not great beer/wine selection, but lovely people and delicious food. The Triple B (bibimbap) bowl is the way to go of you want something light(ish), and the sticky rice cakes are great.

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    Excellent food and service! I ordered the bibimbap, the spicy pork tacos and the kimchi quesadillas to share with one other person. We had food left over. All were so tasty with distinct, unique flavors and very fresh ingredients. The server was very attentive and gave us tips on what to order. The food was made to order and came out quickly. Definitely one of the best small plates places in Irvine.

    (5)

  • Sheri C.

    Went to lunch with a coworker today. We got there at almost noon, and only had to wait about 3 minutes for a table. If anyone hangs out at Diamond Jamboree you know that the shopping center is packed all the time, so getting a table so quickly was awesome. We wanted to try everything on the menu, but decided to order 4 dishes and then take any leftovers back to the office with us. We ordered: kimchi fried rice. This was my far my favorite of the day. It had just the right amount of everything and a fried egg on top. Chicken lollipops. They had a great flavor but like any chicken wing not easy to eat. Pork Belly tacos. Perfectly crispy and filled full of yummy veggies. The short rib arepas. I did not have them but my companion said that they were tasty but a little greasy. The prices are awesome and I will definitely be back soon especially for the kimchi fried rice.

    (4)

  • G T.

    The gogi sliders and kal bi arepas are great! We also tried the pork tacos and chicken lollipops which are ok. I give them a lot of credit for creativity and deserve a visit. This place would fit better at the camp but DJ needs some variety. I think because it is fusion, it isn't as popular with the highly ethnic crowd that visits DJ. Great, more space for me to visit as I please without a WAIT, yeah! It's about the only place without one since they are new but wait til the momentum gets going and you'll be sorry if you don't try them NOW!

    (4)

  • Y. H. R.

    I went here a couple times before, so I'll write about my most recent visit. I'm a fan of their spicy tuna bibimpbap (urban 3-b). I also tried the gogi urban 3-b from my boyfriend's plate, but I prefer the spicy tuna. It makes it more refreshing and light. I usually choose to stay away from bibimbaps in general because as a Korean, this is nothing new. However, I like how the one at Urban Seoul puts in new types of veggies that are not seen in a traditional bibimbap. It also adds a crunch which makes it better to eat. I don't really like their spicy sauce though because it is too watery and I have to use practically half of the bottle to make it even a little spicy. I also chose white rice over purple, but the kitchen accidentally gave me purple. I notified the server, and he put in a order for a new bibimbap with the correct rice right away while apologizing continuously. He was also attentive throughout our meal. Overall, it was a good experience and I think I'll be back to try other dishes from here.

    (4)

  • Richard A.

    Had the gogi tacos, 3b bibimbap, and kimchi chorizo fried rice. Gogi tacos set themselves apart from Kogi with a unique duality of flavor. The 3b was our favorite with the chojang sauce--even with the pork, it was light and made me want to keep eating more. The chorizo fried rice had great flavor but unfortunately got a bit heavy as is the case with many chorizo dishes. Maybe the chorizo fried rice can be lightened somehow? Overall good first experience.

    (4)

  • Kimberly N.

    You can't beat the happy hour prices here. Delicious. I recommend the chicken lollipops. =D I just wish parking was a little easier.

    (5)

  • C P.

    Soooooooooooo FREAKING Goooood!!!! Pork Belly Tacos and Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice FTW!!!!

    (5)

  • Bryan S.

    Sliders were amazing! Arrepas were a superb. I can't wait to go back. Server was sincere and professional. Can't think of a bad thing to say. I will be back and bringing friends. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu.

    (5)

  • Trish V.

    Yummy! Read the reviews and had to give it a try. Went with a friend. I had the pork belly tacos which were delicious. Friend had the bibimbap and she loved it. We shared the corn on a stick which was good too. Prices were reasonable and the service very friendly and helpful. I look forward to going back!

    (5)

  • Tiana K.

    great people, great food !!!!

    (5)

  • Keith K.

    Really wanted to like this place but it was a dissapointment. I love both Korean and Mexican food so what better than a fusion of those two cuisines???? Unfortunately Urban Seoul didn't quite pull it off. Kimchi pancake quesadilla was lacking taste and texture. Chorizo fried rice was too sticky to be a fried rice. Saving grace were tacos. They were okay. Having tried KoMex in Vegas may have raised my exepectations but Urban Seould just didn't do it for me.

    (2)

  • Tango T.

    1) Kimchi pancake quesadilla- really good with the delicious house sauce. Quesadilla wasn't overpowered with kimchi smell or taste. 2) Chorizo fried rice- not too dry but slightly bland. 3) Staff- very friendly and nice. Always checked in on us. 4) Rec'd a four star because they forgot our order of rice BUT it was comped. 5) Parking- at 6:15pm, there was plenty... past 6:30, it's a pain. Same thing with seating at the restaurant. At 6:15, it was 1/4 full... by 7pm, there was a line at the door.

    (4)

  • troy v.

    korean tapas!!! i was really confused with this place. something about the lighting, the service, some of the items on the menu just didnt really go. just get something with pork belly in it and you should be fine.

    (3)

  • A F.

    Stopped in for lunch today. It's taco tues so they had tacos for $1.50ea. We ordered all 4 of the tacos they had on the menu and chorizo fried rice. The pork belly tacos were pretty good. They didn't have as much crispiness as I had expected but it was still flavorful. I tried the beef and thought it was ok. I was too full to eat the chicken and spicy one. The fried rice had good flavor but it tasted more like kim chi fried than chorizo fried rice. The portion for the rice was huge. Service is a little slow but the place was packed when we sat down. Can't wait to come back and try their other dishes!

    (4)

  • Diana K.

    Outstanding pork belly tacos! The smell when you walk in is heavenly. Love the atmosphere - sit at bar and watch them cook. Food quality and price is five stars,

    (5)

  • Esther K.

    tasty and good service. definitely have some favorites like the spicy rice cakes, pork belly tacos, and the sliders too. actually everything taste pretty darn good!!!

    (4)

  • Maureen K.

    Not your typical korean food, it's better! Really enjoyed the flavorful food. Went during happy hour and was able to try a variety of foods. Very friendly staff and very accomodating to my young kids.

    (5)

  • Loretta H.

    Tried Urban Seoul for the first time and there were so many great choices on the menu it was hard to decide! We went for the kimchi fried rice with egg and it was flavorful and fantastic. We also had the beef sliders and a variety of tacos...all were excellent. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching all the different dishes being prepared. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

    (4)

  • Teresa P.

    We have been there 3 times and have not been disappointed, the very best dish we cannot get enough of is the Kimchee fried rice that has bits of crispy pork belly and a wonderful sunny side up egg on top. I can't stop thinking about eating this dish. We have also tried the smothered waffle fries which was delightful and different twist on chili fries...asian style. We had the pork belly tacos and loved them, the ingredients are perfectly balanced. Also tried the mondu which was just ok...would not waste my calories on them again though....the dok buk i was good, different but good...very filling dish. Service is attentive, only drawback is how small the space is...can be difficult to find a seat during busy times.

    (5)

  • Jay M.

    Originally this place was okay for cheap lunch but it is now getting worse. Salty and wet gogi tacos and sliders were a terrible experience. I felt that the owner is not interested in quality control and their young servers don't really know how to serve.

    (1)

  • Paul K.

    If you are into Korean/Mexican fusion catering truck style cuisine, this is for you. I had the pancake chicken quesadilla, and it was really good. Use the green sauce on it, with a cilantro zing to set the whole thing off. Service was quick and friendly.. There are seats at the bar, and a couple of bench seating arrangements along with twoesome tables. It's relatively small, so you will be cozy with your neighbors if it's busy. The parking lot is awful, a real engineering masterpiece. You have to enter from eastbound Alton Pkwy, and it's a "one way in - one way out" type of deal. No access from Jamboree? Silly.. anyhow, good food.. cheers

    (4)

  • Myrna C.

    We came here during our lunch hour since it was one of the few restaurants at Diamond Jamboree that we had yet to try out. I was really excited about the whole Korean/Asian fusion idea that I was really tempted to try everything out on the menu. Instead, I ended up with the Kimchi Fried Rice. I loved the crispy pork belly in the dish, but everything else was a bit average. The rice was a little mushy and not spicy enough. I also tried some of the fries (I forgot the specific name)...wasn't bad but wasn't amazing either. When I asked to order a portion of the kimchi fried rice to-go to take back for someone, they had packed it up at the same time as all our other food arrived. I would have expected it to be done closer towards the end so the food wouldn't get even mushier than it was. In addition, it took them 20 minutes just to get our bill back to us after collecting our credit cards, maybe even more but that particular wait felt like forever since we were all anxious about getting back to work. The people were nice, and the guy even came running after us after we left something there, but overall, it was just okay. Would probably be some time before I go back...

    (3)

  • Jay A.

    Waste no time, just go. The best taste in the OC. One of my favorite locals places....enjoy...! ask KC for the "SHOGUN" best combo ever!

    (5)

  • Brittany O.

    5-7 happy hour everyday. $3 appetizers and $4 daily specials and discounted beer i think. I had the gogi and chicken lettuce wraps for appetizers and they were awesome! I recommend them. And i had the urban 3b with gogi.. had never had one before so i dont have much to compare it to but it was good and the veggies in it were fresh and it came with some sweet/spicy sause to put on it. Portions were a very good size. I will definitely come back and order the pork belly tacos cuz those looked amazing. Only compliant is that they need a LED sign for the place cuz its hard to find in the dark.

    (4)

  • Hank D.

    I'ma 5 star it yo. Bibimbap was great! Inventive, colorful, fusion Korean food that is remnant of the quality and bold creativeness of food truck entrepreneurs, but there's a place to sit! I'm w/it. It trumps most, if not all in this $7-$9 price bracket. Mexican cokes for $1.75. Caring staff who ask how you're doing. Good luck w/parking. You might have to relive the Mt. Sac days of following people to their cars to get a spot. When they look over their shoulder and hiss at your 2001 Accord en route to their BMWs, smile + wave at them to connect and have an understanding that you are winning.

    (5)

  • Ruth G.

    Nice upbeat atmosphere, service was good, had the gogi tacos, street corn on the cob (elote), and gogi torta. Will go back for the other dishes!

    (4)

  • Jackie N.

    Ehhh.... Tiny little place trying to fit a bunch of people in here and everything was pretty overpriced. Street corn: deliciously expensive Loaded fries: they were seriously loaded. You can eat this by itself and be full off of it for days. It was good. Tacos: pork belly taco was definitely the best Kim Chi fried rice: i only could eat a few bites of it. Other than that, it got boring pretty quickly. Service: nothing special. Maybe I'll give this place another go.

    (3)

  • James L.

    First time and experience was good. We sat at the bar and it took a long time for them to get some service. We had the pork belly taco. BEAST! The Gogi which was okay. (which all tacos came in 3's) The loaded fries which was heavy haha good though. I wish Urban Seoul would give the option of sample taco platter but you had to choose 1 and eat 3 of them. Food was good, I would go back to try other items. Service was okay, could be quicker and a tad bit better but they were nice.

    (4)

  • Charles G.

    A must when your in Irvine!! Loved the stacked fries. The pork belly tacos are amazing and the Mexican elote is delicious..Five stars only because that's all that's allowed but it's10 star menu..

    (5)

  • Ellen M.

    This place is okay. They made us wait a while before taking our order. The food is okay. Service is okay. If you like that one food truck KOGI, then you're not going to like this place. Why? Because KOGI set the bar really high..

    (2)

  • Nellie T.

    Discovered this as we were walking through Diamond Jamboree. Best find ever. I was a bit skeptical when I saw that it was a korean mexican fusion place...but you know what? They nailed it. The bimbimbap with spicy pork was amazing! Huge portions for such a great price. Definitely going to come back again and sample the other dishes. Love this!

    (5)

  • Vy T.

    I'm suprised I haven't written a review for this place. I tried them when they first opened about a year ago. I really enjoy their bibimbap, loaded fries and tacos. They have taco tuesday as well as HH for some deals. The food is korean fusion at its best, so come give them a try!!

    (5)

  • Fabian C.

    This place is pretty amazing. I got the mouth watery gogi tacos. I also got the loaded fries. I recommend you eat with a partner and get a taste of everything. The loaded fries have a good proportion of meat, fries, and cheese, all well done, that makes it delicious. I also got a taste of the pork belly tacos. A bit crunchy, but still good. The elote was very good as well. A bit pricey, but worth it. Everything I tasted totaled out to be $31.75. Go! Go!

    (5)

  • Morgan E.

    I've been here once before and really enjoyed it. However, today was a really bad day. The people inside were aloof and didn't care or acknowledge that people were waiting outside. The chased us out of the restaurant saying we couldn't sit inside until they were ready. It was already 5 to 10 minutes past the opening time which is usually not a big deal. But, because they were so rude and indifferent, we decided to go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Jessie R.

    This is a great Korean fusion restaurant. I have ordered many different things when I come here. I definitely recommend the elote - mexican street corn. So tasty! The pork belly tacos and the wings are always great choices too! They even have Mexican Coke which always goes well with tacos. :) The service can be a little slow when they are busy but the atmosphere is fun. Give this place a try!

    (4)

  • Karen J.

    I've been here several times. I always plan to try something new, but the pork belly tacos always call to me. They are delicious and the fusion of flavors is spot on. Have also had a few of their appetizers on the happy hour menu. The chicken wings are my favorite item on the happy hour menu.

    (4)

  • Nicole J.

    Came here for the first time with my friend during happy hour and it was delicious! We really enjoyed our meal and the service was good. I came back a couple more times after that first time and the food and service continued to stay positive. My only complaint is how tight and crowded it gets later on in the day. I felt like shoulder to shoulder with the guy next to me the one time we had no choice but to sit at the bar. I'm in love with the elotes .. I literally think about them at least once a month randomly when I get hungry haha The tacos, to me, were just okay

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    What we ordered 3 watermelon mink special drinks 1 drumstick basket 1 order spicy pork tacos 1 Kim chi pancake 1 soy bean basket 1 sticky pork Torta 1 jab cha basket Price 56.00 great value. Everything tasted great, and portions where perfect-large size. Only problem my tacos came almost cold still good, but not expecting since the rest of my groups food came hot to the table. In the end I would still come back.

    (3)

  • Angela T.

    Urban Seoul is yumminess in a bowl - a bibimbap bowl, that is! The kogi bibimbap bowl is full of rice (white or purple), meat, a poached egg, and various veggies and garnishes. Mix it all up and just dig in for a tasty meal. I even had the leftovers for lunch the next day, and the bibimbap was still good. We also tried an array of other dishes - street corn, kalbi burger, gogi tacos, loaded fries, and chicken drumettes. Everything has heat to it and is full of flavor. This is a great (and very small) place to grab a beer and grub on some delicious and spicy food. I will definitely come again.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    Diamond Jamboree is starting to build up a nice list of legitimately good eateries. Asian Fusion cuisine, specifically Korean-Mexican, has been exhausted within the last few years. I think that fad has completely passed. What makes Urban Seoul special is the fact that we don't have to chase after a food truck. Urban Seoul divvies up their menu into 3 categories: Bibim bowls, Urban, and Seoul. Are you looking to eat some sort of rice bowl? Then stick to the Bibim Bowls category. Are you looking for the Asian-infused dishes? Then stick to the Urban category. If you're looking up for straight up Korean dishes, then the Seoul category is your best bet. Spicy Rice Cake -- AKA duk boki. I was taken aback at first when I saw a bunch of little white balls. When you think duk boki, you think of the long, thin rolled noodle cakes. Urban Seoul changes it up by making them into little balls, almost like gnocchi. The rice cakes were cooked to perfection with just a hint of that signature noodle gooeyness. It also includes a bunch of fish cakes, onions, cabbage, and a quail egg. Love the sweet and spicy flavor although it probably could've used a bit more gochujang. Urban Seoul is a great little spot for one of those relaxing nights out. Take a few of your friends, sip on some soju, and swoon over a bunch of Korean-Mexican dishes.

    (4)

  • Wayne C.

    The food was good. This is definitely a "hipster" hang out. Service was attentive and prompt. We went there for lunch and I understand that this place has a line for typical lunch hours. We had the fortune of going in after the lunch crowd had already dissipated. Now, I have had Korean/Mexican fusion before, tried it during the whole lunch truck craze. Though taste wise, I didn't quite see what all the hype was then. The food was good, I would definitely go back, I would like to try their take on the burger, a "Gogiburger", as well as some of their soft tacos. I had the Chorizo Fried rice. I would have preferred it a little dryer, the kimchi and veggies definitely add a lot of moisture to the rice at the bottom of the bowl. But the fried chorizo was crisp and flavorful. All in a all a good dish if a bit salty, but then again, I always have preferred a very light hand when it comes to salt. I will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes on their menu. For now I will stick with the three stars as I reserve 4 and 5 stars for when I feel the food is just rock your world good.

    (3)

  • Catherine M.

    I love Koji! I'm glad to see a restaurant with the same mexican korean fusion. My recommendation is the pork belly tacos, Chapchae in dumplings, and their kimchi fried rice. I came here for a late lunch with super hungry friends. Their service isn't very good. We had to keep flagging the waiter to come take our orders. There are a lot of workers just standing around.

    (4)

  • Gizelle M.

    Here I am again eating fusion food. I have to admit Korean-Mexican might be my favorite as of yet. This place is quite small, with bar seating available. Most of the tables were filled at 8 pm on a weekday. Service was a little slowly, but the servers were nice and polite. I like the simple menu. It really does make it a lot easier for me to decide, though I did want to try most of the things on the menu, I just decided on the bibimbap. The bibimbap, which I think looks too pretty to eat, is good for 2 people to share. I enjoyed the sweet gogi meat, and fresh veggies, fried onions and pickled garlic. I ordered it with purple rice because I was curious. The waiter explained that it was a mix of barley and white rice. It tasted healthy, that's for sure, like the consistency of brown rice. The special for that day that was not even on the specials menu board were 6 chicken wings for $4. The wings were just alright, still a pretty good deal. The garlic butter flavor was crispy and buttery, with juicy meat, but I could barely taste any garlic. The lemon pepper kind did not taste lemony at all because the seasoning had gone all the way down to the bottom of the plate. It was not marinated, just regular wings with seasoning. Our waiter, Daniel, was truthful, and none of the food I ordered was spicy. I am in Korean-Mexican place. Of course, I had to ask =) I believe there was some kind of Sriracha condiment on the table. I would like to return to try their pork belly tacos and kalbi burger. Perhaps even the chorizo kimchi fried rice, IF they can make it not spicy. =) Overall, 3.5 stars!

    (3)

  • Kim C.

    Came here on a whim while driving through Irvine one day. Luckily, we came right during happy hour (5-7pm everyday), chaaa-ching!! There were about 5+ small dishes for $2-3 dollars and reduced price drinks/soju. The gogi quesdillas were sooo good. I loved how they had crispy cheese on the outside. The drumsticks were fairly small, but came with a delicious tangy coating. Lastly, the elote was the best dish ordered. Actually, the best elote I've tasted thus far!! Perfectly balance of salty, sweet, and spicy. Overall, my meal cost under $10. This was my roommate's first time trying Korean (well Korean fusion) food for first time and she loved her gogi quesdillas and bibimbap too! If you live in the area, I would recommend this place for happy hour!

    (4)

  • khristine p.

    I go here all the time. the food is delicious! Kimchi fried rice and pork belly tacos are a must. I usually get those two dishes along with golgi quesadilla. It's not entirely healthy but it's so good to eat on cheat day! I go at least 3x a month! Service is what makes us come back on top of that. :)

    (5)

  • Nathan M.

    First time here and had some amazing Korean Tacos haha. Best to on tacos tuesdays for them.

    (4)

  • Caryn C.

    Everything was super tasty!

    (4)

  • Winnie T.

    Great food! I ordered the elote, garlic edamame, sliders, and bibimbap! . My stomach is very happy that I ended up choosing this place.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    Second time here and loved the food and especially loved the service! Flávio was a great chef and we really enjoyed our service. The chicken wings and churros are delicious! Also got to try the fresa water they were offering that day and was so good! Prices are very reasonable & heard their happy hour is good! Will def come back.

    (5)

  • Lily T.

    I was pretty excited to try Urban Seoul because I love fusion cuisine. It is a small restaurant in the oh-so-chaotic Diamond Jamboree Plaza. We came in about 30 minutes before closing, but they were able to squeeze us in a table and take our order before the kitchen closed. Feeling pressured, I naturally ordered almost everything on the menu. I don't know if it was just me. but everything kind of tasted the same to me .. -Loaded french fries: Waffle cut fries topped with jalepenos and a bunch of other stuff on top. This was the first thing to come out and we devoured it. After that, everything had the same flavor to me. -Elotes (corn)- You'll like this if you like mexican corn. I still think I would prefer it from the cart though. -Bibimbap- I got this with the purple rice...which I think is just brown rice? Okay, but probably one of my favorite dishes that I tried. I am starting to think it might be because there was a slight change in flavor. -Arepas: See loaded french fries. -Gogi tacos (3)- See loaded french fries. -Pork Belly tacos (3)- See loaded french fries. Meh, would probably like this place better for Happy Hour for cheap eats.

    (3)

  • Chloe L.

    First time here! I had pork belly taco, sweet corn, and 3b bibimbob. Vegetables inside 3b bibimbob were really fresh and i liked that hey have purple rice :) all food i ordered were great as i expected! Absolutely i will try other food soon :)

    (5)

  • Mana N.

    I came here for Taco Tuesday with 5 of my friends and turns out there was disagreement as to how good this place was. My boyfriend was not a fan at all while myself and my brother loved it. Since this is my review heres why I will definitely be coming back to Urban Seoul. 1. The Food. During taco tuesday while you may face the wrath of the 405 at 3pm in people form waiting for a table, I'd say the experience was worth it. We got seated at the bar which I really liked because you could see all the chefs making everything as the orders came in. Everything was super fresh and it seemed like they paid a lot of attention to details. I ordered the chicken tacos and the gogi tacos and tried some of the watermelon lemonade. I thought the chicken taco was pretty good but the gogi taco was by far my favorite. The meat was super flavorful, sweet, tender and just delicious. The tacos were a perfect bite and for 1.50 a piece it was a pretty sweet deal. The watermelon lemonade was interesting because it was pretty thick and gritty, it wasn't a smooth lemonade, but the flavor was good. 2. The Service. Here is where the star gets docked. The server messed up the order for 3 of us and when we told them the errors the lady across the bar in charge of organizing the orders gave us a lot of attitude. Honestly I liked the tacos so much that I didn't care. If you're in the mood for a unique taco tuesday then definitely check out Urban Seoul :)

    (4)

  • Amanda K.

    Pleasantly surprised! Mexican-Korean fusion has become a rather over-played flavor and I was skeptical since it was in Diamond Jamboree. I came during my lunch break so it was pretty crowded but we got sat and served in good time. Appearance wise, the restaurant is SO LA lol! Industrial accents and the server was wearing a fedora hahah The reason I thought it was so good was the KALBI burger! Being the fatty I am, my heart sank a little when I was greeted by two rather small buns. But when I bit into it, the flavor was so good! The perfect balance between sweet, tangy, salty (I hate it when Kalbi is overly sweet D:) The buns were soft and the meat was wonderfully tender (as Kalbi should be) and I actually could barely finish my second one. My coworkers also ordered the loaded fries which were a bit too heavy for me but it was good. *Alcohol is a bit expensive ($19 for a pitcher) so if you want to drink, I suggest going to happy hour. **I appreciate that there is no card minimum for cards and they were very nice about splitting the bill (As long as it's not like 6-7 card or something)

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    Came in to get lunch before the movie on President's Day with two of my closest friends. There was no wait, and the servers were VERY friendly and SUPER fast. They made sure that there's no garlic in the stuff that I have ordered (I'm allergic), and even made a couple suggestions as to what we should order. The Bibimbap was a little bland, but seemed very healthy. I think some salt would have fixed it, but by the time I figured that out, I was already full. The sandwich (we're not sure which one she ordered in the end, because they were out of a lot of things) that my friend ordered had garlic in it, so I didn't have a chance to try it myself, but her and my other friend both loved it. I liked the dumplings, but I was the only one who did.

    (4)

  • Eva I.

    I love asian fusion food and korean + mexican is definitely one of my favorite combo. Came in on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the loaded fries, pork belly tacos and gogi bimbimbap. The loaded fries were made with criss cut fries- the best form of fries imo. Topped with cheese, pickled onions and cilantro. Very savory. A bit overwhelming with the same taste after a while. But I really like that the fries came out freshly fried. The pork belly tacos were piled on with lots of pork belly. They had a nice bite since the pork belly were cut into little cubes and crispy on the outside. The tacos were not over drenched in sauce but still had great flavors. The flavors actually masked the not so favorable tasting corn tortilla for me which is a plus. The gogi bimbimbap comes with a choice of purple or white rice, poached egg and an assortment of shredded vegetables. Usual flavor for bimbimbap. Not much excitement. I enjoyed the food here but tbh, the flavors for all three dishes were very similar and pretty standard for korean mexican fusion food. I won't mind coming back for happy hour. Service is friendly!

    (3)

  • Mike M.

    Urban Seoul is located in the world's most crowded parking lot. I thought, since we got there at 11:45, that I could find parking in this Asian restaurant Mecca of a strip mall. Yeah, well....no such luck. After finally locating a spot, my group was seated after about a 15 minute wait. The place is just packed at lunch with a mostly Asian clientele which does add to the ambiance and authenticity of the food. A very eclectic menu featuring all sorts of tastes, flavor combinations, colors and textures. I started with their version of a quesadilla and followed that with a spicy tuna bibimpab with purple rice. Truly unique flavors and tastes and I was really impressed with the presentation. They brought out the food at oddly different times since a couple of us ordered the same dish and they came 10 minutes apart. Overall a good but not perfect experience.

    (4)

  • Luis C.

    Went here for lunch and really enjoyed the entire dinning experience. We shared the chorizo kimchi friend rice, pancake quesadillas, & pork belly tacos. Amazing! We also had the pineapple mint drink, it was excellent. As the Terminator would say"I'll be back".

    (5)

  • Sophia C.

    If you're expecting anything like Kogi or Dos Chinos, this is not the place. This is the place to go to when you want relatively cheap, mediocre food with an okay happy hour within the limited offerings of Irvine. Positives: Clean with decent service. Seemingly fresh ingredients. Negatives: Food that always leaves a small pool of oil or liquid at the bottom of the plate. Tacos ($1.75 on Tuesdays): The aioli does not do any favors in tying the components of a taco together. While pork belly is often recommended here, my last order of it came out terribly dry and unpleasant. 3D bibimbap is a step up from tacos with some nice purple rice. Unfortunately, the sauces are no better, and still leaves much to be desired.

    (2)

  • Heidi Y.

    I have to admit that I was not a big fan of this place when it first opened. The portions were small, and it was pricey for what seemed like food truck food. Fast forward a year, I decided to revisit this place and was pleasantly surprised at the changes. The menu has been tweaked. the portions were larger, and overall, things were running smoother. The food itself is a bit on the heavy side. There's lots of flavor in many of the dishes, but you don't feel too healthy afterwards. I recommend coming on Tuesdays for TACO TUESDAYS. a variety of tacos to choose from, for $1.75 each! Skip the loaded fries. Get the sliders. Bibimbap with purple rice is on the lighter side and had a fresh flavor. Not served in the sizzling stone bowl though if that's what you're expecting. Their drink of the day always sounds unique and refreshing, but I have yet to try it - maybe next time! Overall, this isnt on the top of my list of go-to restaurants, but its ok for a casual lunch with a friend...if you can find parking in diamond jamboree.

    (4)

  • Linh H.

    Frantically came running into this place looking for a Short Rib Taco after the Kogi truck cancelled their Orange County stop one night. I wasn't disappointed! Although the parking in Diamond Jamboree is disgusting as always, I found my experience at Urban Seoul to be just amazing. The urban decor made me feel like I was walking into an LA korean restaurant, the waiters and cooks were super friendly and chill, and the food didn't disappoint. The bf tried the pork belly tacos which were really fresh, tasty, and not as greasy as the food trucks. I had the lettuce cups with chicken, some honey mustard/cabbage, and thought it was really good for being low-carb. They also had beer on tap which is awesome if you're into that and wanna enjoy it with your food.

    (4)

  • Roy L.

    Food truck meets Asian fusion in a storefront. Delicious! Urban Seoul's bread and butter (no pun intended) is its ability to translate the food truck experience into a dine-in experience. The modern restaurant offers great food at affordable food truck prices. Disclaimer: The food is super unhealthy, but tastes, oh-so-heavenly. Dishes we tried: 1. The Loaded Fries: simply to-die for; waffle-cut fries with cheese and pickled-something, makes for a delicious dish. 2. Pork Belly Tacos: get cohesive dish with many tastes and textures in every bite; would definitely recommend. 3. Gogi Sliders: mehhhh; basically a small slider with sweeter sauce. 4. Elote: basically grilled corn topped with spicy goodness; you can't go wrong with that. If you come during rush hours (Saturday/Sunday), expect a long-ass wait. There are maybe 7 tables inside and maybe 6 "bar" seats. In terms of service, the waitstaff is on-point and very friendly. Big kudos. Pros: Great food Cons: Located in Diamond Jamboree so parking is... *shudders in fear* ugh.

    (4)

  • Claire C.

    good food with a Korean American blend. I like the restaurant but it gets a little noisy in there sometimes.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    If Yelp allowed ZERO, I would go with that - but unfortunately 1 star will have to do. I don't even know where to start. Let's just say that our dining experience at this restaurant ended with a parking lot altercation with OUR WAITRESS who FOLLOWED US OUT TO THE PARKING LOT to scream at my boyfriend and I letting us know that she thinks our "ATTITUDE SUCKS" and that she hopes we "RUIN OTHER PEOPLE'S DAY". Yes, this happened. Anyone who has dined at any restaurant ever knows that this is NOT OK. I am so beyond angry I don't even know what else to do but to let others know that if you want to pay $20 for a high anxiety lunch where your waitress: A) Makes you feel like an idiot for not knowing what something is on the menu (newsflash: not everyone is well versed in Asian cuisine) B) slams your waters, forks and napkins down C) slams down the bill D) stares over your shoulder as you sign it and THEN E) chases AFTER YOU in the parking lot waiving your cash tip back in your FACE asking you what your "problem is" Then yes, PLEASE EAT AT URBAN SEOUL! If this is your idea of a good time, I dare you go sit in the section of the waitress that serves lunch on Mondays. She'll be a complete joy, I promise you. If they don't figure this situation out, they'll be pissing off customers left and right. I'm surprised they have such a high rating with staff members like this. I am still in SUCH DISBELIEF that this happened and needed to vent via YELP to make sure others (and the management know) about this situation. Until I hear something back from my call to the FOH manager today, my email to the info@urban-seoul.com or this YELP review I will continue to spend my time telling everyone I know about the situation, making sure NO ONE has as awkward and terrible lunch as I did today. Sad part is...the taco was good, but I just want to throw it up with how terrible the entire experience was. P.S. THIS ENTIRE SITUATION WAS OVER $1...$1.43 CENTS TO BE EXACT. SO SAD SOMEONE WOULD CAUSE THIS MUCH COMMOTION OVER $1.43

    (1)

  • Daisy F.

    Ate here a couple of times and all experiences were pretty great. I love ordering the tacos, and my all time favorite from the place is the chorizo fried rice. The place is pretty small, however you can actually take a group of friends to dine here because they offer a section where u can seat big groups on a bench-like table area. So about that chorizo fried rice.... So many flavors! The chorizo adds so much texture to the dish, which adds a nice contrast of crispiness to the rice. Also a must try is their loaded fries! My mouth is watering just typing this, haha.

    (4)

  • MooMoo C.

    This is an honest opinion. I love the concept, but their food is just missing that flavor for me to want to come back again. Things taste bland and boring after second bite. We got Spicy rice cake (dry and flavor less, some are actually not cooked). Pork belly tacos (mouth full of grease). This might be a good place for beer snack food but not recommended for an actual meal.

    (2)

  • Thi Minh N.

    Went here twice; once when it first opened and then just recently! Both times the food was great! Ordered the popular dishes and were both satisfied with both.

    (4)

  • Shana F.

    Very tasty and fast! Great for lunch during the work week or after work dinner/happy hour to avoid the OC traffic *be aware of the odd hours of opening (I mean, it's not a sushi restaurant, but I get it)*: Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm 4/5 Stars: Great fast casual Kor-Mex fusion for an affordable price --------------- Review: I came in around 1 PM, it wasn't overly crowded. Being Korean myself, I'm not intimidated by trying new "Asian" places. But for those who may be, this place is great for everyone as the employees are younger and fluent in English. I ordered the "urban 3b" (bibimbap) with spicy tuna, which included: romaine lettuce, red cabbage, radish, carrots, fried shallots, daikon sprouts, and egg over purple rice. It was VERY good, but nothing extraordinary. I actually had to have my order to go, and was pleasantly surprised that the bibimbap sauce serving they included was more than enough to saturate the entire contents of the to-go bowl. The portion they served was more than enough for 2 meals--I'm a big eater and couldn't even finish the whole thing. I'm also very appreciative that the to-go bowl was wide enough so that the contents weren't condensed; I didn't have to transfer anything to another bowl. For $8.95, I think it was a good deal and a much more preferable option compared to the conventional fast-food. My boyfriend ordered the "chicken katsu sandwich" and "loaded fries". He must've really enjoyed it, because before I knew it, everything was gone. I managed to get a couple bites in of the fries--which were very heavy--but very good! I don't think I'll ever order those for myself, unless maybe it's that special time of the month... The fries are true to their name, loaded with crisscut fries, spicy pork (which actually tasted sweet), cheese, a mystery sauce, green onions, jalapeños, pickled red onions and some cilantro. I'm not sure if they may have added sweet potato, since there was this sweet aspect to the fries, but it was good nonetheless. They may want to leave the fries a tad less saturated with sauce as they became soggy very quickly, but some people prefer more or less irregardless. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a decent fast casual Kor-Mex fusion. I'll definitely be back to try their tacos! I saw they have great happy hour options and serve alcohol (beer and soju?), which I noted it may be on the pricier side. Also, A+ for serving Milkis!

    (4)

  • Heather O.

    SO good. Kind of a small place, but I sat at the bar with a couple friends and it was perfect. Everything we had was really good, I'd absolutely go back =)

    (5)

  • Michelle T.

    Delicious food. I've always liked Korean and Mexican food. Mix them together, and you get Urban Seoul! Everything I ordered was delish and reasonably priced. I also like how their menu is just on one page. No need to flip through pages and pages of a menu and be indecisive. I will definitely come back here again to try the other items offered on their menu. The only downside is that this place is a bit small.

    (4)

  • Jenny Y.

    I like real korean food. Didn't like it at all. Bibim bop tasted very sweet and hot pepper paste tasted fake. Ingredients for bibim bop is totally wrong. Will not go again.

    (2)

  • James Z.

    I read about Urban Seoul awhile ago and added that to my list of "must-try restaurants" next time I found myself in central Orange County. A good friend lives in the area and we decided to meet there for dinner. Until I set my GPS, I didn't realize I was driving to the center of Asian Irvine. I looked it up and saw it was near 85 Degrees, Guppy's, and H-Mart - or Diamond Jamboree - and remembered how nightmarish the parking situation is there. I sucked it up and we kept the plans. By sheer miracle, I was able to find a parking spot within several minutes (there's also a parking structure to the side). Urban Seoul was poppin'; outside tables were full and the inside was near full. We sat towards the back which was a pretty good view for watching what was happening around us. You'll notice a big kitchen, high tables, stools, and tables. The music is current and *cough* they played my song du jour: Iggy Azalea's "Fancy." Now, the food... We had the gogi quesadillas to start. These were absolutely brilliant. The crust was nicely brown and crunchy and soft at the same time. The scallion garnish balanced out the flavors and provided that necessary freshness to an otherwise heavy starter. I loved the fried pork belly tacos. Key word: FRIED. So basically, it's almost guaranteed to be pleasurable. For each basket, there are three sizable tacos. The spicy pork bibimbap was delicious, but nothing particularly spectacular compared to others I've had. I will say, however, that the poached egg (rather than the standard fried egg) was a nice surprise. The chorizo fried rice delivered some fusion food realness... and delivered big! The chorizo really stood out, but did not dominate. Their elote was also pretty good. I enjoyed those familiar flavors, and it helps that there was a lot of color --- makes eating corn even more enjoyable. The service was pretty good. Folks were friendly and checked up on us at all the right times. This is a solid place to try if you haven't already.

    (4)

  • Sung K.

    Had many of their dishes and forgot what I had as I am writing this review after I utilize their service. But overall the food is good here. I can't recall what dish but I would say 80% of them r a good choices

    (4)

  • Michelle K.

    Stopped in before our weekly workout session for a light dinner and my whole take on everything was "meh" it was ok. Ordered a few dishes and they weren't all that memorable. I might give it another try but not anytime soon. Service is mediocre. She charged me for a cider but never brought it to me.

    (3)

  • Paul T.

    DARN IT! My decision on where to eat at Diamond Jamboree is further complicated by yet another good restaurant in this plaza!! It's taken me awhile to finally eat at Urban Seoul simply because there are so many other good options at Diamond Jamboree. Based upon my first visit to Urban Seoul, I'm already looking forward to coming back. The Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice was amazing! There were chunks of crispy pork belly as well as chorizo. The portion size was humungous and should be shared by several people. Even heated up as leftovers the next day, this fried rice tasted just as yummy. At only $8.50, this is the real deal! We also got the Korean Pancake Quesadilla which was strangely addictive. It was not a cheesy type of quesadilla but so light and crispy. The chicken wings were slightly sweet but not overly so. These drumettes are also offered during daily happy hour from 5-7pm for only $3. You can easily make a satisfying meal with a few happy hour items and a beer for $10! The service was also casually pleasant. We arrived at about 8:15pm on a Sunday and they close at 9pm. Even at 8:55pm they were willing to seat some newcomers with a smile. We finished our meal at 9:20pm but we never felt rushed by the server to leave even though they were closed. It is a little bit smoky in here because the exhaust system could be stronger so don't wear your mink coat here or it'll be smelling like Korean bbq afterward. If you have a guide dog, it'll enjoy licking itself for the following week. Personally, I like to smell like cooked meats and feel it should be made into a bottled scent so this does not bother me at all. I wouldn't want to smell like Kim Chi though. Nor Kim Jong-il for that matter.

    (4)

  • Hong K.

    Probably one of the best Korean Fusion

    (5)

  • Kent D.

    Great food truck inspired eats minus the food truck! No long lines here folks and awkward hours waiting in unnamed parking lots either. The next big food truck isn't even inside a food truck, it's all happening in Irvine's premiere Asian Mall Diamond Jamboree plaza! Yup My friends I stopped in for the all week happy hour running from 5-7pm. There was ample seating at the bar when we arrived, so we parked it and started ordering directly from the chefs behind the counter. In no time flat, we had happy hour beers in hand and hot grub off the grill ready for us to nosh on! The HH menu is fairly substantial and reasonably priced with a handful of the restaurant's bite sized favorites and a short list of beers and wines for a few bucks. Of course, I had to have the buttery & garlicky edamame to start & we pretty much ordered everything off the HH menu and few additional items off the standard menu, as well. Namely, the famous pork belly tacos and I wanted to try out their bimbimbap, too. Corn Elote - perfectly grilled fresh corn cobs on a stick with creamy mayo dusted with paprika and Cotija cheese. Bomb! Tasty carnival inspired eats that had me savoring for another crunchy flavored filled bite Bibimbap was good but it definitely felt more like a salad with rice. I also wish I got those signature burnt crunchies that develop at the bottom of the clay pot. I didn't get any of that in this dish. However, flavors were bold and there was a lot of great textures going on in my bowl. The Mandu was a ok as well as the chicken drummettes. Nothing to write home about though. The quesadillas and pork belly tacos were fantastic! They reminded me of why I started chasing food trucks in the first place. Good stuff and a must try here! Overall, the service was dependable, friendly and they had a great selection for HH. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood. Happy Eats!

    (4)

  • Stella Y.

    After walking around the plaza a couple times with a long deliberation and constant yelping, we settled on Urban Seoul and it was a fantastic choice! Everything looked so colorful and delicious, but I knew I had to settle. Everything we got was a fan favorite. Corn: so sweet, juicy, and loaded with buttery goodness. Squeeze in the lime and you have an amzing combination of sweet, salty, sour, and a hint of spice. Bibimbap: colorful and different than traditional bibimbap, the poached egg, purple cabbage, slightly fried carrots and cucumber with the sauce and rice created a mouthful that you never want to put down your spoon. The meat was very juicy, tender, and flavorful as well. Pork belly tacos: the pork was perfectly flavorful, fried, tender, and fatty. Top it off with pickled lettuce and you got yourself an ideal taco. Definitely recommended... Not to share! Haha. Great choice of restaurant. Even yelping it couldn't convince us to go. You just need to try it out for yourself!

    (5)

  • Stephanie Y.

    This place was exactly what I was expecting -- food truck style food with a place to sit. We got the loaded fries, pork belly tacos, and the golgi sliders to share amongst the two of us. Since we weren't that hungry, the tacos and golgi sliders probably would've been enough. However, my addiction to fries overcame any logical thinking and thank goodness for that. The fries came out first and that itself could have been my entree. It was loaded with pork, green onions, red onions, jalapeno, and cheese. We didn't even notice the cheese until we got to the bottom fries. The cheese was a little overwhelming at the end and made my beloved criss cut fries soggy. Less cheese next time and more green/red onions. But the dish was everything I imagined.. ugh I love fries. I got the pork belly tacos, while my bf ordered the golgi sliders. The tacos came in a set of 3 and were extremely tiny, even for me! I ate one taco (with only one tortilla --it comes with two) and wanted to give the rest to my bf. It was whatever. Could not taste the pork belly and I felt like I ate a tiny taco full of sauce. The golgi sliders were much better. For one, there was a good amount of meat, which I think the fries and taco were lacking. The buns went well with it too. Next time I'm craving some (not-so-healthy) Korean food truck styled food, I'll be coming here (especially for those loaded fries). Everything is decently priced as well. As for day to day more frequent meals, I'll probably try my best to stay away.

    (3)

  • Quoc N.

    I was really excited to give this place a try with all the positive reviews and delicious pictures. However, I have to say it didn't live up to the hype. Maybe the hype was too much for me and I had unreal expectations but the excitement died off pretty quickly. We ordered four items from the menu: pork belly tacos, loaded fries, chicken wings and the kim chi pancake quesadilla. Best item was the tacos because it had my crispy pieces of awesomeness, otherwise known as pork belly. The chicken wings were also very good - sweet and sour but still had enough crunch to it. I wasn't impressed with the other two items. Now if they had used tater tots in the loaded fries...game over. I'd be in heaven. The staff were very friendly and nice. One saw that I broke my fork in my excitement to eat and brought me a new one right away. That's customer service. I will come back to try again just because of her.

    (3)

  • Marta M.

    Urban 3b was amazing. I love the concept of this place but I love the execution even more. Yummy

    (4)

  • Hannah P.

    I got: -Elote: okay thought it would be spicier -Spicy pork tacos: good, they are very full tacos. It'll get messy -spicy rice cake: a different interpretation of it. It was interesting but very sweet. -Chorizo kimchi fried rice: I wouldn't get again -Bulgogi sliders: pretty good, soft buns. The only thing I really didn't care for was the Chorizo kimchi fried rice. I expected chorizo to be the main part of the dish, but it's really not. It's deep fried bits of pork belly so crisp that it has no flavor but more of a texture thing. The kimchi fried rice was very crispy and a bit overdone to my taste. So this place as others mentioned, is food truck food brought to the table. I understand that's the concept, but it doesn't mean I want to eat like I'm at food truck. I personally didn't care for the lack of plates, silverware, and comfortable chairs. Because quite a few of the foods are messy and you have no plate to eat over (only a small cardboard food tray) it gets pretty messy on your table/counter. The space is pretty limited, it looks like it can only seat 25 people. Looking at the chairs it looked so uncomfortable that we chose to sit at the bar. The food was just okay, service was pretty good. Everyone was very nice and offered a variety of sauces for us to try out that were all good. Personally I would go back to another Korean-Mexican restaurant I visit just because of a more comfortable dining experience.

    (3)

  • Coree T.

    I came here for taco tuesday and it was pretty amazing. I highly recommend the pork belly! I thought I'd like the kalbi tacos more but I think they were a little too sweet for me. You definitely have to try this place for taco tuesday. It's such a great deal :)

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    I love fusion food especially Korean/Mexican Fusion. I've been to this location about three times now and the food does not disappoint me. Service was good and they have a decent size selection for a small restaurant. So far I have tried the tacos, elote, and the sliders. They were all good and had lots of flavor. The only downside I would say is that I would prefer the elote to be on a cob and there wasn't much for the price they charge. Don't get meveromg, I still like it that they grilled it on a skillet which tasted different than when it was on a grilled on a cob. But overall, I would come back again when I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Got the bulgogi sliders with the pork belly tacos and it was pretty good! Just a tad bit sweet on my end, but overall I would definitely go back. For now, I would say this and Cha Cha Chili delivers one of the best Korean Fusion food !! The only reason why I am giving it 4 stars is because of the hours... I came here around 2:30PM (due to a late lunch break) and it was closed.. :/

    (4)

  • Emily Z.

    I used to always come here for their tacos during taco tuesdays for lunch, but recently the price of tacos increased to $1.75 per taco. On top of that, the pork belly in the tacos were kind of chewy instead of the deep fried crunchiness that I loved. I used to come here all the time just to get 10 pork belly tacos during lunch, but sadly, not anymore.

    (3)

  • James L.

    If you're ever in Irvine off of Jamboree road, this is a must stop. Small, fusion (Korean and Mexican), hip, affordable, quick--Urban Seoul is more of what you expect to find in DTLA instead of in a crowded Asian Mart Strip Mall in the perfect Sim City symmetry of Irvine. We walked into the restaurant randomly since we knew nothing about the area and were to hungry to really linger and be selective. We saw the sign for Urban Seoul and thought Har Har Har, Urban Soul, Urban Seoul, ah the puns. It goes right up there with Road to Seoul or Seoul Gardens, the latter of which is in every city in America. You'd think it was franchised but it's not, just like China King Buffet isn't. Anyway, Yelpers, sorry for digressing. THIS place rocks! Spicy pork belly sliders, chorizo fried kimchi, bimbimpap with a Latin flair, spicy rice balls (savory sauce though the texture is hit or miss) Kalbi sliders, bulgogi quesadillas, loaded fries that are part poutine, part nachos and the really hard choice between a Pacifico or a Stella. With seating at vintage grainy wooden communal tables or high top tables and Gen Z waiters and waitresses giving recommendations for the carnivores, herbivores, vegan-vores, paleovores, omnivores--there is something for all vores. But one thing. This place is in Irvine. IRVINE! It should be called Suburban Seoul. I know, I know--not as catchy. But there an awful lot of Korean Soccer Moms who eat there

    (5)

  • Sarah A.

    This place makes me so frustrated. The food is delicious. The urban 3b bowl is the best. The sauce is mouth watering. I coax my coworkers into coming here bc the food is great but the staff really needs to take a lesson in customer service. It's getting to the point that even good food isn't going to cut the snooty, don't give a crap attitude each person has. I don't like to perpetuate stereotypes, but damn the girls got some hella attitude! At least the boys know how to smile. 1) you close for lunch at 2. Don't tell me at 1:40 that you won't serve me. 2) why do you offer purple rice if you always run out? I will never understand how a restaurant will run out of a menu item that literally costs pennies to make. Seems like my days are numbered here bc it's too frustrating for me to willingly hand over my money to.

    (2)

  • Connie Bang-Co A.

    Great Korean tapas with great service and good food. Love their Elote, Galbi tacos & sliders. The Elote is perfectly grilled with plenty of 'toppings', and corn is sweet too. Their tacos plate comes with 3 tacos filled with generous amount of meat & fillings. Same with their sliders. Generous portions here. Good food for anytime of the day.

    (5)

  • Tina C.

    "Meh, I've experienced better." Sat in the bar area and got burnt from flying oil covered food that landed on my arm. Waitress saw and didn't do a thing. Immediately got a blister from it while I iced the pain away with my water. :( So this is a warning to everyone to not sit at the bar! Unless you're looking for some "hot action" needless to say, sort of lost my appetite! Food was not terrible though. Party of 3 ordered tofu bimbimbap, gogi sliders, loaded fries, and kalbi sliders. 3B was good. Tofu lightly fried and crispy. They do it their way with a poached egg! Gogi sliders was okay. The meat was a little dry, no juice. The buns were yummy. Loaded fries were tasty but the cheese was not. It was like nacho cheese that you get from the movie theaters. After a couple, it's enough. Ambiance: Pretty loud and tight space.

    (2)

  • Kathlyn D.

    I've been wanting to try this place out and I finally got to when I was in the area. This place is so cute inside. It's a bit small but I believe they have outside seating. When I looked at the menu everything seemed fairly priced. Sad that I missed their happy hour from 5pm-7pm, they also offer cheap plates during their happy hour. I ended up getting the spicy pork bibimbap with purple rice and a small plate of spicy rice cake. The bibimbap was good, but I felt like it was lacking something. I'm a hot sauce type of person and it probably would have been better if I added some hot sauce but I didn't ask for any. ): If you come in and have trouble with choosing white rice or purple rice, they both taste the same to me and there isn't any difference between both of them. The spicy rice cakes were good and some point but after having about 4 the flavor became too overwhelming and sweet for me. I ended up having to wipe some of the sauce just so I can eat it. Me and my boyfriend shared both dishes and we were both full out of it, our bill came out to $13+ which I was very happy about for 2 people !!! Customer service was good, very attentive servers. We ended up getting a server that was new, it was her first day on the job when we came to eat. We asked her questions on what was better and what was the difference between white and purple rice. She answered it the best way she could which was good for a new server. One thing she was a little off in, I thought it was funny was when we asked for water and then she said she'd get them. About 10 seconds later she asks us, do you guys want water? I thought it was funny that she forgot but overall she gave us good service. I would definitely come back here to try other dishes when I am in the irvine area.

    (4)

  • Mark B.

    Why this place makes eating at a strip-mall a good idea: - Maybe the best Korean/Mexican fusion food I've ever tasted (sorry Koji truck) - I could just eat a huge bowl of their garlic edamame (but that would be a huge missed opportunity) - Pork belly tacos were perfection - Elote was fresh, perfectly spiced and delicious - Great fresh juice drinks - Service was extremely friendly and professional - Great happy hour specials Why this strip-mall eatery is not for you: - Most of the restaurant is taken up with a fairly hard to sit-at shared table - That's all I've got for this list

    (5)

  • Vittoria L.

    6/5 - Yes, it's that good. I've been a huge fan of Kogi and the idea of Korean/Mexican fusion foods for a long time, but I think this won my heart. Great food, and amazing service! On top of that, they have a happy hour every day from 5-7pm that can't be beat. A group of us from college decided to have a reunion dinner here in this fine establishment. Since everything sounded amazing, we all ordered different items - Loaded fries - Addicting, filling, and it's the perfect sharing item. Crispy waffle cut fries smoldered with cheese sauce, pickled jalapenos, scallions, pickled onions, and scrumptious korean spicy pork. This was gone within a few seconds!! Best loaded fries I've ever had. Pork belly tacos - Fried pork belly topped with a mound of pickled veggies, crisp cabbage, and drizzled with aioli sauce. Mmm this is their most popular item for a reason! Love the combination of crispiness + spiciness. Chorizo kimchi fried rice - If you want something really filling and tasty, this is your best bet. Fried rice, pickled red onions, crumbled Mexican chorizo, delicious nuggets of pork belly, kimchi, garlic, and topped with a sunny side up egg. Mix that bad boy together, and you have perfection. Honestly, the most flavorful fried rice I've ever had, and I would definitely just come back for this. Dukbokki (Spicy Rice Cake) - Round crispy rice cake, fish cake, onions, boiled quail egg, green onions, and their own spicy sauce. Chicken katsu torta - crispy chicken katsu, lettuce, tomato, with a special sauce. Not as flavorful as the above items, but still pretty good. Also had a few bottles of soju to top it all off! Service was very welcoming and friendly. Our waitress, Stacy, was very outgoing, kind, and funny. Thank you for making our experience so fun! Just a few words of advice - parking is very difficult to find, so just try the parking lot to save yourself from the trouble. Also, seating inside is very limited - we had a group of 8 people, so we had to share with a couple next to us. I'll be back.... this time, for happy hour!!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey s.

    Good vibe. Pork belly and the sliders were great. Everyone that worked here had a good attitude and handled the busy lunch crowd well. Sitting at the bar and watching them cook was the best part.

    (4)

  • An H.

    Food exploration with friends pointed us to this place and it was not a disappointment. I got the loaded fries and pork belly tacos while my friends both got the bibimap. Crisp contrast in flavors that worked well together for the pork belly tacos. I would have kept ordering more of these tacos if I could. The fries tasted like nachos, so I wasn't disappointed in the flavor. My friends both liked the bibimap. However, the only gripe that there was not enough rice in their meal and it felt like they were eating a salad. On Tuesdays, tacos are only 1.75 from what I saw on the sign and half off of soju all day.

    (4)

  • Saunders C.

    Been here more than 5 times and decided to do a review. The place can get busy but most times I have been here, service has been pretty good and not as busy. I always get the urban 3b go go and it is da bomb with their special sauce (kind of sweet, hint of spicy). Keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Lisa A.

    Yum! We shared several items, all were amazing! Here's the breakdown: Gogi sliders: my favorite! Love the different layers of flavors. From the gogi meat, to the spicy Korean cucumbers, to the rolls, these were amazing! Kimchi quesadilla: delicious, lots of filling, lots of kimchi, full of flavor Urban cheese steak: (special for the day) made with rib eye steak, peppers/onions, and cheese, very flavorful and a huge portion! Mandu: crispy, meaty, potstickers. Loved these! Gogi tacos: delicious! Spicy beef tacos, lots of flavor and textures. Loaded fries: mmmmmm so good! Love me some crispy crisscut fries with lots of toppings. Ladies were super amazing with getting our food, extra water, recommendations on dishes, and just being awesome! No service issues, the ladies here rocked! Definitely check this place out!

    (4)

  • Jonah L.

    I had the Galbi sliders combo, as far as taste I could not be happier. It's two small sliders surrounded by basket fries. The marinade was to perfection, you could not ask for a better burger. As far as portion size, it was a bit disappointing. If you are going to give me these delicious sliders, I want more than a handful of burger meat and some fried potatoes! After I finished the two sliders in less than a minute, I was left with fries and ketchup. A bit aggravating since, the meal started off grand and ended with far less flare. I was one of the fortunate ones to be able walk right in for lunch without a long wait like most people have had. I think if I did, it would have taken away a star. You come in and think "this place is really small, tight, kinda too close for comfort." Actually I could hear the conversations to my left and right they were sitting too close to me. I hope that they can expand the size of their establishment in the future. I didn't like the seating, they were short stools and for someone that likes to sit back and enjoy their meal, a seat without a back rest is no comfort. I wouldn't mind coming back, but I expect a tad bit more from all the hype. The concept is perfect, the motif, the paintings on the walls are wonderful, just a bit more could really make this place even more!

    (3)

  • Jen B.

    Love this place s flavor combinations, colors and textures. I started with their version of a quesadilla and followed that with a spicy tuna bibimpab with purple rice. Truly unique flavors and tastes and I was really impressed with the presentation. They brought out the food at oddly different times since a couple of us ordered the same dish a

    (5)

  • Emi C.

    Talk about Korean fusion at its finest. I swear Mexican and Korean. It truly is urban hahaha OK-- o(^v^o) #1 Food: Ordered pork belly tacos, jap chae, and bimbimbap. Funny because everything looked like normal except the jab chae (im not saying it looked weird) I was expecting loose noodles haha but nope, it was in a seaweed roll wrapped and fried. Soooo different. Brownie points! #2 Menu: Omgeee cool -- elote! (corb on cob, Mexican street style) on their menu. I mean i get these in downtown or in Mexican/spanish influenced areas selling them on the street---Crae. #3 Service: Totally attentive servers. Not to mention attractive hahaha ;D #4 Debby downer: Unisex restroom :L Thats right, I downed it a star because of this :p However; I fell in love with their uber-cool sink :D

    (4)

  • Will L.

    I normally don't like the Mexican Korean fusion food but this place grew on me and now I'm a regular!! Especially for Taco Tuesday's like today! You can get tacos with chicken, gogi (beef), pork belly, spicy pork, and tofu for $1.75/each. Personally pork belly is my favorite. Also, the service is excellent. Very cool people working here.

    (5)

  • Rou M.

    Bibimbap was really good and refreshing. I found the pork belly tacos too greasy... Elote (corn with pepper, goat cheese, mayo etc)was delicious. Good came fast but service was sparse as one poor waiter was servicing the whole place. Will return again for that Bibimbap! (FYI it's not a hot stone one)

    (4)

  • Soojin H.

    Amazing! Chic place with finger licking delicious fusion Korean food. The Loaded Fries were cheesy with bulgogi and other flavorful toppings. We tried the pork belly, gogi, and spicy pork tacos - they were all good but the pork belly was the best. The chicken drummettes were sweet and crunchy and plated with the necessary pickled horse radish as it's usually served in Korean restaurants. Menu is creative. Definitely returning to try the other delectable creations!

    (5)

  • Naomi R.

    So I may be Latina, but I know good Korean food when I taste it. And I love Korean fusion, especially Seoulmate in Long Beach....but this place wasn't amazing. Prices are fair, but I felt like I constantly had to wave down the waiters to get refills and to even take our order. Got the asian pear flavored sake, the spicy rice cakes, fried udon, and the gogi sliders. The sake was strong, so props for that. The spicy rice cakes weren't like the traditional korean spicy rice cakes...they were crispy balls of rice in not-so-spicy hot sauce. The fried udon was okay. The gogi sliders were average...too much cheese, not enough meat, and the brioche bun wasn't hot when it came out. I'm sorry Urban Seoul, I didn't dig you.

    (2)

  • Walter M.

    After an unofficial soft opening, a soft opening, a last minute close for slight remodel and a grand opening they are finally open for business. I hear they had a grand opening, but I waited patiently after the soft opening for it just to re-open. Bang, wait no bimbimBAP. No, Bang is the sensation I had when you try their supremely well marinated meats. Kogi beef hits you, literally. So colorful, so finely shredded veggies over perfect rice. The egg is so classic I end up saving all the meat to the end to just have these rich bites. I found it a little fatty and I would like more, but an excellent, must try. Oh heavenly swine, you give unto us velvety belly, the magic combination of fat and meat. This is really where the fusion comes into play. They offer taco's and sliders (no hot dogs). The meat alone gives great flavor and they garnish well with bright, freshly shredded accoutrements. I wish the sauce they used on the tacos was more bold and more fusion maybe a smokey kim chi infused salsa and chili lime vinaigrette. Chicken lolipop's are excellent little nuggets, perfect on the go snacking. It's not filling. I get that they are going for street food, but I wish they had a sauce bar like food trucks and fair stands have. Golden, crispy, delish. Could use the same bang I get from their kogi. Spicy Tuna is better with the white rice, but better for you with the purple rice. Freshly cubed, but again with the bimbimbap, to me not enough meat. I can get more fish, equal amounts of fresh vegetables and rice for less at Hawaiian/Japanese places. I like the to go bags, and overall container decision. I like the kim chi pots and the open cooler, wish they had more beer on tap, wish the TV's were easier to see, wish they had more space and I'm not 100% sure what those grates are above the bar. Order ahead, Diamond Jamboree can be horrendous parking and is super busy, why waste additional time waiting. Not online menu yet, but get one when you come in to eat. Service is pretty good. They could iron out a few kinds, but their meats are so good and well-presented/made it's easy to focus on the strengths. The chairs at the big table are adjustable to height.

    (4)

  • Anna H.

    Inadequate service and insufficient service during a friday night. Massive delay in deliverance. 30 mins or more. Laughing and talking in the back kitchen. Taking a long time. waiters reassured our order, but they were taking longer than expected. The one perk was that they gave us complimentary sweet potato fries. But I think it was just another reason for our order to be delayed even more. As a group, we were very disappointed. I want to point out that I am normally patient and understanding, but the time they took here was ridiculous.

    (2)

  • Phuong L.

    When Korean food married Mexican food, they gave birth to Urban Seoul. The food is okay. I would give this a four star, BUT man, people who work in the kitchen need to put their gloves on! My friends and I was sitting at the bar and we saw the whole thing. There were three guys in the kitchen and only ONE had his gloves on. I don't get it! I saw my Golgi sliders just slid right off one the chef's hands and he freaking touched everything (not food related item!) EW!! The food doesn't taste so good after I saw that :( The elote/ corn was okay, not authentic enough for my taste, the chili is not spicy at all. I didn't feel the kick. 3 stars The drumette/ chicken wings was good. I give this dish 4 stars. The garlic edamame was okay. 3.5 stars. The waitress was really nice. She looked like Lorde (the singer) :)

    (3)

  • Grace S.

    I'm giving this place 4 stars (I used to give it 5 stars) because they recently increased the prices of their happy hour menu and they took my favorite food item off: THE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS (and there's no way I'm paying $8 for them when I used to pay $3). This used to be my go-to place because of their happy hour menu, but now with the price increases and the change of menu, Urban Seoul has been taken off my go-to list, sadly. The food is good and creative, but it is expensive.

    (3)

  • Kenny N.

    I've only been here once so I cannot state for a fact that this happens every time, however, the one time we did come here, the food took 23 minutes to get out to us. There was only one chef and a lot of Togo orders so it slowed everything down. We had to get the food Togo since we had little time. The food, once we finally got it, was pretty good. I had the loaded fries and the misses had the katsu sandwich. I think the loaded fries were better, but both were pretty good.

    (3)

  • Branden C.

    Went for valentine's day dinner, and it wasn't very packed because everyone else was at their fancy dinners. They have happy hour everyday from 5-7pm; select items are a couple dollars off their regular priced menus and a couple drinks. Their Gogi quesadilla was pretty good, a little more sweeter than I expected to be. We ordered the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice, Gogi Tacos, Bibimbap (Spicy Tuna), and Loaded Fries. The Kimchi Fried Rice was decent, the dish had more of a kimchi flavor than chorizo. The chorizo was pretty dry and did not have a lot of flavor. The Gogi tacos were messy to eat and the meat also tasted pretty dry, but the tacos overall tasted good. The Bibimbap was made with lots of fresh ingredients, probably the 2nd best dish we ordered. Wish the sauce was more spicier. It definitely tasted better overnight. The best dish we had was the Loaded Fries. The fries were super crispy waffle fries, topped with spicy pork, cheese, pickled onions, and jalapenos, overall it was delicious. The fries itself was delicious, topped with everything else made it even better. Their daily drink, Tropical Fresca, was delicious. It was a little bit too sweet but it was enjoyable. My only recommendation for this place is probably the loaded fries and the bibimbap. nothing too special happening here. I'll have to give this place a another try and see what I think about it then.

    (4)

  • Mai W.

    Came for the arepas...it was ok. Luckily for me it was taco Tuesday so I loaded up on the tacos-golbi, spicy pork & pork belly. All delicious. Also ordered loaded fries. Too much that I didn't finish. Definitely will come back for my new favorite taco Tuesday spot.

    (5)

  • Daniel K.

    First, I'd definitely hit up the happy hour, 5-7p every day. I think that makes it worth the trip, grab a beer with some tacos and you're set to go. Their pork belly tacos are pretty solid, with crisp pork belly, topped with greens and extras that kinda overwhelm the meat, wish they had less of all that frill. Loaded fries were just that, loaded with great flavors, spicy kick, and not just your skinny french fries, but manly criss-cut waffle fries. And elote?! Get outta here, love these guys, pair em with a nice cold beer. Mm mmm. As for the kimchi quesadilla, just thought these were OK, strangely enough, kinda bland :P It's a small place in the Diamond Jamboree Plaza, so probably not the best for large groups. I kept on trying to compare them to Alibi room where they serve Kogi truck tacos, but they're just too different!

    (4)

  • BGrace G.

    Like going here after going to the wonderful Korean spa in the vicinity - nothing like finishing up a day of sweating and and soaking with some delicious varied Korean fusion.

    (4)

  • Julie C.

    Just ordered a fried rice Kim chi bowl to go and told the guy on the phone no onions please. Went to pick up and the guy that rang me up also confirmed no onions. I paid the $13.99 and left. Came home and open the bag and my order had onions. What a disappointment. You would think paying $14 for a bowl that I would at least be able to get it right. Fail.

    (1)

  • J J.

    We went there for lunchtime and my oh my was it crowded. Not night club crowded, but just the right type of crowded you expect to see and want to see, knowing that their food is good. We were a party of 6 and Taco Tuesdays they have $1.75 any taco special. That special is ALL DAY! And they have Happy Hour from 5-7. Our combined order was one of each taco and the special burger of the day, which was their gogi burger. Everything was delicious! The right amount of sauce and veggies per taco was perfect. The only thing I disliked was their wait time. Since each order is made fresh, we had to wait quite a long time. But I wouldn't mind coming here again because their pork belly taco was absolutely divine!

    (4)

  • Meghan F.

    amazing fried rice

    (5)

  • Alli W.

    I finally was able to come here on a Taco Tuesday! After surviving the crazy 40 minute wait our table got seated and it was cuuuhhhrazy inside. I can see why though. The pork belly tacos were BOMB.COM!! the taco itself was on the smaller side, but they were stuffed to the max. The taco Tuesday deal is definitely worth it at $1.75 a pop as opposed to 7-something for three. Besides the limited amount of seating, I haven't had a bad meal here and the service is always on point. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Phillip V.

    I've been coming here for taco Tuesday during happy hour for a little over a year, now. Love the tacos and the staff is really nice, sad to see some of them come and go. My only gripe is that the elote isn't on the cob anymore, and that the corn tends to be burnt so it ruins the flavor a bit. Have tried everything on the menu and it's safe to say that each item is worth trying at least once. My favorite are the Pork Belly tacos and the Tofu tacos. The drumettes (glazed chicken wings) are a good item to get along with the tacos.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    I went for Taco Tuesday with a group of friends - I definitely recommend it! - PORK BELLY TACOS ($1.50): I recommend these! Mostly bites of crispy pork, some juicy pork fat. The pork belly wasn't what I imagined - less fat than pork, which was fine, but if you're looking for big bites of chewy/semi-crispy fat, you won't find it here. The heaviness of the pork was perfectly balanced with the lettuce and the great spicy sauce drizzled on it. If you're not a fan of anything with a kick - you're not going to like it. While I wouldn't suggest going sauce-less, maybe try asking them if you can have sour cream sauce drizzled on it? (They use some sort of sour cream sauce for their Gogi Quesadillas.) - GARLIC EDAMAME Not very salty, but great garlicky flavor - GOGI TACOS ($1.50): For fans of sweet meat, you'll enjoy these; juicy, sweet soft meat balanced with the spicy sauce and strips of crisp lettuce. - GOGI QUESADILLAS They use small tortillas (the same they use for their tacos) to make these satisfying, cheesy bites. Not an elaborate creation: it's a mouthful of cheese balanced with subtle flavor of sweet meat. On the side, you get a sour cream sauce that just seals the deal. Upon my first bite, I feel like I turned into a smiling anime character. BE AWARE: - $2 DRAFT BUD LIGHT (YES, PLEASE, & THANK YOU) - During happy hour, this place gets packed. If you're coming as a group, I suggest arriving at 5pm (when it starts) or else, it's possible you will need to wait. - I've heard the Kimchi Fried Rice (that also has pork belly!!!) is really good - For me, the non-happy-hour items are a bit too steep in price for me

    (4)

  • Laura L.

    Seriously, anything pork belly here is delish! I love their pork belly tacos, especially on Tuesday taco night--only $1.50/ea! I get them without tortillas because the tortillas take up room that the tasty pork belly could reside in instead, lol. 50% off soju on Tuesdays is a great deal, too, plus it mixes super well with white peach Calpico! $1 churros really finish off your meal for a good deal and while service isn't always the fastest, the food is always tasty and hot, and the servers are nice. During off hours, the servers will make easy conversation with you and you can really see and enjoy how friendly they are, though. We try to come in every other Tuesday or so since we hit up an FRS car meet at Diamond Jamboree every Tuesday, but we'll eat there other days at their regular prices, too. Their pork belly is crazy good (braised, then fried, omg)--gogi's a fairly close second, though. :)

    (4)

  • Oli M.

    Amazing food!! Kimchi pancake (looks like quesadilla) was my hands down favorite. I tried the small plates quesadilla with beef and they were delicious with a sweet twist. I didn't like the pork torta so I'll never get that again. Husband said pork tacos were good. Friend said arepas were very tasty. Other friend didn't care for his watermelon mint drink but I didn't try it myself. Staff is friendly. Gets quite busy most nights and lunch times. Great fusion of Korean and Latin food. I'm ready to go back.

    (5)

  • Chau P.

    Just when I thought the whole Korean Mexican fusion thing was played out (respect to Kogi truck for bringing it to the masses), this place took it to another level. To the likes of chorizo kim chi garlic fried rice with pork belly, imagination meets flawless execution. It was a real treat and made me forget how long I waited in line.

    (5)

  • Dennis H.

    Mildly disappointed was the best way to describe my experience. I had high hopes and high expectations since I like the Korean tapas fusion idea (having tried the Kogi truck once). Lets start off w/the positive, hip decor, nice service... Fav items: - Chorizo Fried Rice was delicious. Could be a little spicier but I love the mix of bacon, pork belly, sweet pickles, chopped onions, and the fried egg on top. - Gogi Tacos, bite size and stuffed with a lot of spicy Korean veggies Not so good: - Short Rib Arepas. Maybe I got a bad batch since it was more like Fried Lard Arepas. I have had good authentic Arepas in downtown Santa Ana and this was nothing close to what an Arepas is. I think it was fried for too long. The Arepa was grispy and soaked in oil...the paper underneath was drenched through - nasty. As I mentioned, nice service, they gave me a refund on this since it was inedible. - Gogi Sliders, was so so as well, way too much fat in my cuts. I am just assuming it was a bad batch. Average: - Kalbi Burgers, about average. I can't complain but it was just a typical burger. I will probably comeback since I do want to try the kimchi quesadilla, bimbimbap, and loaded fries. Plus I do love the Chorizo Fried Rice.

    (3)

  • Genevieve W.

    This place is awesome. Great food & ambiance. Plus it's one of the lower key places at the spectrum. Great place for kids too, I wouldn't have guessed it, but they definitely had items on the menu that my picky eaters would grind.

    (4)

  • monique p.

    1 star for food, 4 stars for service... Had the pork belly tacos, loaded criss cut fries, and Kim chi fried rice. :/

    (3)

  • Brenda K.

    Love that the Spectrum is stepping it up with some new places that are not your classic chains. I love Korean food and Mexican Food so this intrigued me. Lots of options will have to come back to try others. Had the chorizo fried rice...so tasty, great portion for the price. Had leftovers which tasted just as great the next day for lunch!!

    (4)

  • Fiona X.

    Great small place for go for a quick lunch. Food arrived fast, and everywhere else was a wait but not here, which was good. We were in a hurry and our orders basically came out at the same time very quickly. The Gogi tacos were very good! but im sure the other meat choices should be pretty good as well. I had the chorizo kimchi fried rice, it was above average, but not sooo amazing because there weren't that many kimchi. I would love it if they put more pieces of kimchi in there. And the rice is very sticky and the tastes pretty good. But this is a very heavy dish...you will be full for the rest of the day ( or at least i did) Tacos had good portions of meat and veggies. I think the sauce is what made them so good. But overall, a good experience, might go back and try other things on their menu. BTW service was great! they were asking to refill waters and taking trash from your table. :)

    (4)

  • Jeremy M.

    Urban Seoul is amazing!! The food is consistently delicious and the service is friendly. Sit at the bar and you get to watch them make all the food! :)

    (5)

  • Allen D.

    Food was great and the servers were super nice. The street corn was delicious!! Definitely recommend this place for everyone.

    (5)

  • Shannon L.

    Food truck food in a sit-down setting. All the food is served in disposable dinnerware and utensils too. Loaded fries claimed to have criss cut fries on the menu but came out with skinny fries. Because of that, you have to eat these with a fork but I think criss cut fries would have held the toppings nicely. There was plenty of nacho cheese but barely any meat (spicy pork). The meat that was there was tasty. Arepas with gogi (beef) were totally worth the money. You get tons of meat but the flatbread or "biscuits" was really really heavy. That's normal for arepas so I would share this with someone since you get two big pieces. I liked the pickled onions (great balance of sugar and vinegar) and the side of thick green sauce (cilantro?). Between the pork belly tacos and spicy pork tacos, you should definitely get the pork belly. The pieces were perfectly crispy which is a little different from how people normally make pork belly tacos; I've seen it mostly braised. As for the bibimbap, you should probably get this with meat to get more flavor overall. I tried the spicy tuna and it just didn't provide enough flavor. Even adding extra red sauce didn't help because the sauce was strangely watery. Unfortunately, I was not blown away but if you're looking to have some Korean fusion food, then this could be your place. The food tastes fresh and made with quality.

    (3)

  • E A.

    Great food. Great prices, specially during happy hour. Mexican food with a twist of korean flavor. Excellent soup of the day. Pozole has the traditional home made flavor which is a must if you are to sell that type of food. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back.

    (4)

  • Michelle N.

    The service here is great, but the food here is just weird! The mixture of Korean and Mexican food just doesn't work for me. I tried the tacos and the kimchi fried rice.

    (3)

  • Jen L.

    Tried this place once and love it! Parking lot here sucks because it's at Diamond Jamboree plaza so if you come here during peak hours get ready to fight for parking. The restaurant is a little small and has high top bar counters to sit at. Kind of an urban, trendy feel hence the name. The waitstaff is super friendly and helpful. I had the Koji tacos and loved it! So much flavor, funk (the good kind) and tasty beef! My husband had the pork belly tacos which he couldn't stop raving about. They serve beer here too! I would def come here again! Great place to bring a casual date or come with a couple friends.

    (4)

  • Wes R.

    OMG this place is consistently good. Everything Ive tried so far. The spicy Pork bowel with the purple rice. And the Gobi Beef sliders, Great flavors. Fun, busy, and rustic. The staff is great they get your food out fast. Good portions and value. If you are near Alton and Jamboree you have to try it. They do close at two and then reopen for dinner though.

    (4)

  • Amarpreet V.

    This was the first time I tried the Korean/Mexican fusion and it just wasn't for me. My bf and I ordered the drumettes, udon noodles, pork belly tacos and quesadillas. The mixed flavours for the tacos didn't sit well with us, the stir fry was decent. Do not eat here on a day where you want to be healthy because the dishes are heavily oiled. The prices for the dishes were reasonable especially the happy hour menu. Don't think we will be returning.

    (2)

  • Patrick F.

    I am a huge huge huge fan of this place. A little confession: I'm not much of an OC person. I try and avoid it like most people try and avoid the flu. Sorry Irvinites (is that what you call it), the OC has just never been that good to me! But this place and some of the food in the accompanying plaza could sway me to think about coming here a bit more. The food here is simply amazing! The pork belly tacos were great, as was the kimchi fried rice (get some hot sauce to dump all over this thing) but what I really loved was the loaded fries, and I'm not usually a fan of going crazy with my fries. But the flavors make it work, and with some beer- heaven! Service was good, portions were more than fair, and the price was right. Urban Seoul, I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    I am going to take my girlfriend on a very tiring and physically strenuous date, hiking, and such, and we aren't going to take any snacks--no trail mix and no power bars--in order to get extra hungry. Then after thoroughly starving ourselves all day, we will come to Urban Seoul for a magnificent feast! The staff is awesome and friendly. I felt like I was getting special treatment because the chefs would give me extra pork belly (which is tasty as it gets!). Going to restaurants with your friend who knows the chefs helps too :) The food is absolutely amazing! Everything is perfect. Nothing is too sweet, too hot, too overpowering, or too filling. It's the perfect fusion restaurant because each dish is a perfectly balanced ratio of deliciously awesome to awesomely delicious. Try it!

    (5)

  • Kristen K.

    TACO TUESDAYS! super worth it. I can't get enough of their pork belly! The only complaint about this place is that it's super small so the line can get pretty long.

    (5)

  • Hannah B.

    Recently ordered take out. Their chicken Tacos were scrumptious!

    (4)

  • Babz M.

    So basically we tried the loaded fries, pork belly tacos, the elote, and bibimbap. Hands down the bibimbap was awesome so fresh and crispy love that spicy tuna. The worst things were the elote it just wasn't impressive or very tasty and the pork belly tacos where such a disappointment because they were deep fried (I was expecting chewy grilled pork). Also when I expressed my disappointment to the waitress she didn't really care. Oh and loaded fries were super oily and yeah not my favorite. Guess I expected their food to be more of the fresh side then oily deep friend side lol. But try the bibimbap it's to die for!!! Oh it is a cool place to eat and lots of good looking people lol!

    (3)

  • Bonbon Z.

    Sorta-Kinda LOVE this place. They have me coming back for the Drink of the Day, and their delish gogi tacos. Must go to! Taco Tuesday is all day, but dine-in only.

    (4)

  • Natalie Y.

    This place is totally awesome! Delicious food and a nice casual atmosphere. I tried a new dish tonight that I loved. Urban 3b (bimbimbap, our way) with gogi and purple rice. Yummy!!!

    (5)

  • Sam S.

    Pretty much tried everything for the first time on the special taco Tuesday. Left with a big belly. Wasn't feeling the kogi as much as I usually do at other places. Everything had a good kick of spice including the Elote (corn) I think it was. All in all great service and bang for the buck good food minus the long ass wait on a Tuesday.

    (4)

  • Adrienne C.

    I love love love this place! kogi bibimbap - absolute favorite! love all the vegetables they put inside of it. you can also choose purple or white rice Their fries are amazing as well! This is a very casual place and a cool spot to bring a friend or two to hang out. The restaurant isn't that big, so it may be difficult to bring big groups. Bar and table seating. Under the bar, there are hooks to hang your bags! love it. Service is great too! I love the cooks.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    Absolutely love the "urban 3b" (bibimbap) with purple rice and gogi!! As a first timer, I was surprised at how big the bowl was when it came.. it was definitely a challenge for me to finish, so I took home leftovers. The bibimbap was flavorful, and I'm definitely going back to try the "urban 3b" with spicy pork :) Good service, good portions, and good taste!!

    (4)

  • Diana S.

    Came here for my brothers birthday back in November with my cousins. We each order to share. From what I remember we got bibimbap, loaded fries, pork belly taco, rice cake, gogi sliders, kogi tacos, corn, and i dont quiet remember if we got kimchi fried rice or not. OH, and I can't forget their churros. SO SO SO SO GOOD. Anyways, the food here is delicious. I had a bite of everything and it was perfectly seasoned. The places is very small and hard to find parking (considering this is a business plaza but its more like a restaurant plaza) . The food here is more like street food. You get small portions of everything for a pretty high price but overall, I was not disappointed.

    (5)

  • Shanen C.

    Great place!! We love to come here for lunch or dinner. The kimchi fried rice is great or the tacos. Also, don't forget about Taco Tuesday and $1.50 tacos. Also, the loaded fries! Only complaint is they close earlier than everything else inside Diamond Jamboree.

    (5)

  • Jodeye H.

    Bummed.. This was our second time here.. First was pretty good, that was why we came back to eat at a table, not the bar. The food clearly sat in the back for a long time before tabling it. Bottom buns of our burgers were soggy, meat fell apart due to it being over cooked. Fries were still phenomenal- will give them a third chance before giving up.. Third times a charm, right??

    (4)

  • Hong H.

    Pretty good. Best time to come if you're craving tacos is TUESDAY of course haha. Spicy Pork Taco taste the best to me, pork belly comes second, gogi, chicken, haven't tried the tofu yet. Elote (street mexican style corn) one ear of corn cut/broken into two. As close as it gets to being authentic, beats hunting down for the grocery shop people. Can't wait to try the rest of their menu later on, Will update when I do. If you're a beer drinker get Hoegaarden, its really good!

    (4)

  • Tan D.

    This was the first time for me. Did Not leave me with good impression. I came during lunch so it was a bit busy. What strikes me is that all three server were running around busy, but they could have at least acknowledge us with a "hello, I'll be right there." Instead we just stood there waiting. Finally we were greeted and taken to the bar. We ordered and wait. This when I get annoyed. Its true this is not a fine dinning and I cannot expect too much from it, but what I saw was just wrong. Behind the bar is where they prepare the plate. The head guy uses his finger to lift up a piece vegetable or something in a bowl to check if it's missing anything. Seems normal that a chef can touch your food, but what comes up next will make you think. As the orders come in he takes the receipts for the order to line them up. So he licks his finger and separates them and lined them up. Then as someone is leaving one of the other cook says good bye to his friend and fist bump him with is gloves on. Then went back to cooking. A bit unclean IMHO. now on to the food I got two tacos. Gogi and spicy pork. They were excellent, but both taste the same. I couldn't tell what is what. -3- Street corn. Very very good. Highly Recommended -5- 3+5=8/2=4 - 3 for cleanliness = 1 star

    (1)

  • John T.

    Food here is very unique and delicious! My party ordered the loaded fries, kimchi fried rice, chicken wings, tacos, and the water melon mint drink. All the dishes we ordered tasted extremely good, especially the pork belly pieces. The loaded fries were amazing, I don't think I've ever had fries that good anywhere else. Kimchi fried rice and the tacos both had their signature pork belly bits and they added awesome flavor to both dishes. The watermelon mint drink was a special drink too, I enjoyed the taste of it. The only thing I didn't like about this visit was the service and attitude of our waitress at the bar table. She not only didn't remember to put cheese only on one of the three tacos, she also had this bad attitude like she was on her period when responding to our requests. Her service killed our experience; my review would have been 5 stars otherwise.

    (4)

  • James Y.

    Yum. This is a good asian fusion spot. All of the food that we ordered were really good. We had the tacos, sliders, bibimbap, and the loaded fries. They also have several beers on tap. The place was pretty crowded during lunch. We were able to snag a seat at the bar area. Great vibe and the staff was on point when we need to order something. They also have tacos Tuesdays and happy hour everyday from 5-7pm. All the food was very tasty. It's located in a plaza that's fairly busy so parking can be a little tricky at times. Planning to check out their happy hour on my next visit.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Great menu, great beer on tap, wonderful flavors. I have two gripes, the first is they close at 2pm until they reopen at 5pm for dinner and happy hour. Understandable, but in America, this is odd. Second gripe: the sweet buns for the sandwiches are too sweet. Would have preferred a non sweetened bread for the sandwich I had. Gripes aside, this place is delicious and worth the value. Try the house fries with jalapeno and the secret sauce!

    (4)

  • Linh P.

    Tried this place while catching up with an old girlfriend, I enjoyed our conversation more than I did so the food. She ordered the quesadilla & I, the bimbibap which tasted good, but not enough for me to want to drive back to eat it again.

    (3)

  • Sara C.

    have been wanting to try this place but everytime i come to this plaza, i end up dining at my usual spots. i came out here to have lunch with the BF on a weekday and finally decided to give it a try. i've seen reviews, read the hype and was afraid that it was going to be just that....a hype. after circling the lot for a good 10 minutes looking for a parking spot, we walked up the restaurant feeling a little nervous that there would be a wait. We looked inside and the small little restaurant was packed. every single seat was occupied.....until my BF noticed two open seats at the end of the bar. we quickly snatched it up. sure, the server had to turn the computer monitor side ways so that we had more room to work with, but that didnt bother us much. the layout is pretty cool, like i said, its small. you have two person tables and one long table along the wall and about 15 seats at the bar. i personally like sitting at the bar because you get to watch the cooks prepare the food. the menu is simple, it's one page, food on one side and drinks and dessert on the other. this is very much like Mex-asian food (aka kogi style). Its mexican inspired korean food. i ordered the Gogi Bimbibap ($7.95) with purple rice. You have the option of having either the white or purple rice. BF had the loaded criss cut fries and beef tacos. my bimbibap was FABULOUS! i couldnt believe how tasty it was and the portion was big enough that I actually didnt finish it. i also tried the BF's food, the tacos were tasty but i didnt really care for the fries. the staff is very friendly and service is prompt. this is a really good place to try something new and different. they also have awesome happy hour with $2 beer and $3 wine and food specials, so i will definitely have to come back for that!

    (4)

  • Jeanette S.

    Urban Seoul is one of many restaurants occupying a marketplace where other well-known restaurants such as 85 degrees, Bon Epi Bakery & Guppy House also reside. Doesn't matter because Urban Seoul is also another force to be reckoned with. Their asian fusion menu is simple and not too extensive, but amazing nevertheless. My hubby and I were fortunate to dine here during happy hour. HH is everyday from 5-7pm! If you dine here during HH, your buck can seriously stretch a long way. Even when it's not HH, the prices here are at a bargain. Everything is $10 and under. I decided to give this place a try because I wanted to try something new other than my go to Mil Jugos restaurant in Santa Ana (I was totally craving the asado arepa) and noticed that their menu also offered a braised short rib arepa. When I got there and tried to place my order, the chef told me that they will no longer serve the braised short rib arepas until they find a better meat vendor :(. I was disappointed because this is the reason why I came here, but everything else we ordered was awesome. My fav was the gogi sliders ($6.50), garlic edamame, elote, bi bim bap & drumettes. If you order the bi bim bap, you will be surprised on how large their portion is. It's loaded with a ton of yummy veggies. Hopefully they bring back the arepas sooner than later, but I can tell you that the rest of their menu is super yummy! Highly recommend that you try this place out, especially during HH. HH Menu: $3 Gogi Quesadilla $3 Mandu $3 Garlic Edamame $3 Drumettes $2 Elote

    (4)

  • Trisha V.

    My friend and I needed somewhere to eat that was tasty, quick, and nearby before we went off to watch a movie. So Urban Seoul was the perfect option, since it wasn't particularly that busy last night. The ambiance is nice, pretty casual. There's a bar where you can watch the chefs cook or watch what's on TV. Last night, people gathered to watch a football game. But on that note, I highly advise against bringing someone here for a first date. True, you can sit in close proximity to each other, but you'll also be sitting in close proximity to other people. Urban Seoul is intimate, but not necessarily private. And it's a little on the loud side. The couple right next to my friend and I were obviously struggling to talk over the sound of football and other parties in the restaurant - I had a feeling that it was a failing first date. For food, we ordered the pork belly tacos, kalbi burgers, and stir fried udon. The stir fried udon was nothing remarkable - would definitely skip out on this if you only plan to come here once, but it is a decently-sized portion. I could probably make this at home, and that's something I don't want to think when I'm at a restaurant. Pork belly tacos were pretty bomb. You get three per order. I expected the pork belly to be braised and tender, but they prepared it so that it was crispy. It was a nice contrast against the soft tortilla, and the flavor of the meat was not overpowered by the sauces or anything else in taco - it was a good balance of flavors. Loved the spicy sauce, which gave it a really nice kick. Definitely get this! The kalbi burgers was most disappointing for me, particularly because it was so highly recommended. The kalbi was marinaded in a sweet, and very typical sauce. However, all I could taste was the sweetness when it really needed some umami. They had soft kimchi in the burger, but I wouldn't have been able to taste it if I didn't see it first. The bun itself was too sweet in taste and too soft to hold up the juiciness of the burger. After maybe three bites of the kalbi burger, I got bored. All I could taste was the sweetness and there was nothing to interesting about it. Even the flavor of the kalbi started disappearing. The burger is in serious need of a umami upgrade, and texture wise, it's something I would feel safe giving to my grandma to eat, and she has almost no teeth. If the bun was perhaps not as sweet and toasted on the inside and out, the kimchi had more crunch, and the kalbi patty was marinaded in a slightly more savory sauce, I would be more pleased with the kalbi burger. But as it was, I was sort of put off by the whole burger. Do I sound like an elitist now? Probably, but I've had better Korean food and better burgers, so Urban Seoul needs to step up its game. However, Urban Seoul has its redeeming qualities - sort of. Service is quick and food comes out fast. Don't expect the employees to be super attentive though - they spent much of their time watching the football game instead, which is understandable. I will come back to try Urban Seoul again, however, just because I want to try their best dishes and update with a more thorough review. Right now, I'm left unimpressed by pretty much everything but the pork belly tacos. That being said, I still think it's one of the better restaurants in Diamond Jamboree.

    (3)

  • Kiet L.

    Food was all right, nothing that made it stand out from any other places to go eat at. But my review will be base on the service that I experienced; when my co-workers and I came here for lunch today. Our waiter messed up our order by giving us the wrong items. Then telling us that we could have the item since he didn't know where it went and that we won't be charged. But ending up charging us anyways. Also, giving us wrong quantities that we ordered.

    (3)

  • Kim V.

    After surveying the parking lot, the bf and I decided to try this joint out. Hip hip hooray for it being Happy Hour when we arrived. We didn't waste any time and ordered: Pork Belly Tacos - recommended by the server. They were alright, nothing special. Drumettes - these were tasty to me, but the bf thought they were a bit too salty. Mandu - we should have passed on the potstickers. The bf loved the dipping sauce though and said he'd get them just for that! (ha) Gogi Quesadillas - these were delicious. Like, wow and drool and yay that we got 2 of these, so we didn't have to share. Churro - for $1, not bad! If you are coming in with an appetite, my suggestion is to try to sit at the longer table rather than the round ones. They are small. We had to pack all our treats on the table and we didn't have a lot of room. Yes, we could have taken our time and ordered a few things at a time, but this gal was hungry! They have good drink specials as well. $2 per beer for a few different beers. Overall, for a fusion joint, it's A-ok in my book. You should come and try it out!

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    From all the previous reviews, I think my expectations were a little too high.. Food is ok and I think it is a bit over priced since its "hipster"/"new thing". Their pork belly tacos were the best dish I tried. Other dishes were whatevers. Their bibimbap are DRENCHED in oil. It was disgusting. Also, good luck parking in this plaza during lunch/dinner time.

    (3)

  • Christian W.

    Had the pork belly tacos and the bulgogi arepas. The tacos were really good....would love to have those again! Arepas were good...could have used a little more spice..overall good lunch choice

    (4)

  • Suzanne T.

    I recommended this restaurant to many but the quality of the food and service has gone down hill. It seems no one is managing the place anymore. We were sitting at the counter watching burned food come out time after time. We had two servers who kept asking us the same questions over and over. Asked for a water refill and our waiter was sweeping under tables and putting out menus on empty tables instead of getting the water. Gave it to us to go on our way out. What a shame. I used to love this place.

    (2)

  • Ronny L.

    I thought I was over Korean tacos and that the korean taco industry had been on the decline but boy was I wrong. Got the Gogi tacos here. 3 for about 8 bucks. They were amazing. Also got the Loaded fries, which have spicy pork, jalepenos, cheese, sauce and other amazing toppings on top of crispy waffle cut fries. These two dishes were enough for two average hungry people to share. They have seating at the bar where you can watch whatever game they have on. (approx 8-10 seats). They also have 4-5 tables.

    (5)

  • Mylene J.

    KOGI SLIDERS + BIBIMBAP + Housemade agua frescas = DONE and DONE! Only downside is the horrible parking you will have to endure. But, it's worth it once you get in.

    (5)

  • Josie K.

    this place is BOMB im kinda obsessed with their chorizo fried rice. yea yea its oily but I DONT CARE! its so good! i'd recommend coming here during happy hr so you can try more things from their menu! ive tried almost everything on the menu and havent been disappointed. I would probably skip the short rib sopas however since it was so difficult and awkward to eat. Oh and the chicken wings were kinda dry. but other than that, i would definiltely recommend their elote (mexican corn), tacos, chorizo fried rice, bimbibap, and those sliders! the service here is always attentive and friendly and i love the open kitchen!

    (4)

  • Ken L.

    A fusion of Korean and Mexican food. Located in the "Diamond Jamboree" plaza, it is a small place but that was what made the service good. They do have Taco Tuesday deals, still a bit on the high end price wise but tastes delicious either way. I also loved the sauce of the tacos that seemed like their "secret sauce." My group of four did a family style meal of multiple items and for approximately $50, we were so full.

    (4)

  • Christine K.

    Must go on**Taco Tuesdays!** $1.50 for each delicious taco & 50% off soju. Ordered: 1. Chicken, pork belly, spicy pork, and kogi tacos ($1.50 each) - all flavorful and delicious~ probably will get the spicy pork next time 2. Corn on the cob ($3) - grilled, topped with paprika, cheese, butter...yum!! 3. Bibimbab with purple rice & chicken - flavorful~healthy and fresh - didn't like the hot sauce it came with...too watery Total only about $25 including one bottle of soju Really good here. didn't disappoint~

    (5)

  • Suzanne K.

    Best pork belly tacos I've ever tasted! My friend was kind enough to let me try her sliders, and I'm definitely ordering them the next time

    (4)

  • Yubo K.

    We went to this place as a result of the Kickin' Crab not open till 12pm. It turned out to be a great experience. We were warmly greeted. They looked a little short of hands but the server came very fast when I raised hand. The food was much much better than I expected - I have to admit that I had doubts When I first entered the place and didn't see any Korean.

    (4)

  • Elise V.

    The best friend and I were in the area trying to figure out where to eat, so she suggested Urban Seoul, a Korean/Mexican fusion place, to try out. It's located in the always crowded Diamond Jamboree plaza, towards Bon Epi and Kicking Crab. The store is pretty simple and clean. We didn't have to wait for seats either. We sat at the big picnic table. Our server was super nice and attentive. She gave us her favorites and other recommendations. On one side of the menu, it's more of the Americanized items, whereas the other is more traditional. Katie and I were pretty hungry so we got a little bit of everything. We got loaded fires, chicken drumettes, pork belly tacos, kogi sliders, and these spicy rice cake things. My favs were the chicken drumettes and the pork belly tacos. The rice things had a weird texture, so I didn't really like it, but Katie loved them. The loaded fries were pretty delicious - so much of it for the price. The kogi sliders were okay compared to the pork belly tacos. The items were sort of like things you'd find on a food truck. The prices were in the same range as food on a food truck as well. Good nonetheless. Try it out if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Zero F.

    Wow...just wow. . What can I say, I have had everything on the menu and have yet to find a bad dish. What's better than the food?!?!?!?! The service! !! Doesn't matter were you sit it's great all around atmosphere. I prefer to sit at the counter bc i like watching the guys work their craft, Always talkative with a smile on their faces can't beat this place I am officially a lifer..and to the Jennifer woman below. I was there next to you when you ate..you were a B! $@# 1 the entire time. the menu isn't rocket science don't trash talk when you were the one that was rude..I notice from previous reviews you wait to get something out of the restraunts that you write bad reviews for..hmmm seems like a thing with you.

    (5)

  • fakeRICH f.

    Bummer experience. Came at 1:30 for lunch. Got sat down on the high top in the corner and literally sat for 16 minutes without someone asking us a drink order. A table of two girls got sat right behind us and the server immediately took their order. After the server took a phone order he finally got to us and took our order (20 minutes after sitting down). As soon as the server walked away other tables that sat after us were already getting their drink orders with our table still being empty. Granted, we did come in the prime of lunch time and their service here is usually really good. But I can't help but feel very disappointed. As I write this, the table behind us that sat down 15 minutes after us are now finishing their tacos and our table is still empty. Now before you think I just go into yelp to complain, I expressed my concern to our water in an attempt to fix the situation and nothing was done. In fact, I tried flagging down another waiter to tell him and I got the "hold on" finger as he walked by!!!!!!! The majority of the time I come here this place is great but today really left me disappointed.

    (2)

  • Katie L.

    I LOVE Urban Seoul. My girlfriend and I come on Tuesdays for the Taco Tuesday special. Also cuz it's our bible study night and it's on the way. We love the tacos, heck, we love all the food here. So far, all the various stuff on the menu we've tried, we really like. You really can't go wrong with the tacos. But if you want something other than tacos, try the bowls, it's delicious. Get here early, wait is long, especially on Tuesdays when all the college kids are here, they order like a gazillion tacos and never end up leaving. I just want to eat and get out as soon as possible. Two Thumbs UP!!!

    (5)

  • Jessica C.

    Come here for the happy hour prices and cool urban interior/atmosphere. With less than $10 on most dishes and $4-5 on happy hour plates for interesting fusion foods, I might drop by again if I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Josh G.

    Gogi tacos are the bomb!

    (4)

  • Fernando C.

    From the Arepas to the Watermelon mint drink everything here has been delicious. Come during happy hour it will make your meal worth it and it's not limited as most happy hours with a nice variety.

    (5)

  • Poonam P.

    Korean and Mexican - brilliant! Never did I imagine the favors mixing so well. I had the burger which was amazing. It's half beef, half pork which made it super flavorful and melt in your mouth. Its kinda sweet so if you like a bit of heat, try it with the hot sauce. Also tried the chicken tacos - they were good too. One complaint is they don't let you mix and match the tacos.

    (4)

  • Michelle V.

    The first time I tried this place, I loved it so much that I kept making excuses to take someone to come back! It's not your typical "Korean Fusion", they definitely put more thought into what they are producing. Here are my suggestions from best to worst: Watermelon Mint Lemonade - Extremely fresh, i can't go to this place and not order one. Bibimbap Bowl - great amount of veggies, meats, and seasoning. Don't skim on the sauce they give you. It's amazing. Loaded Fries - Nothing will make you regret this. Arepas- I like the beef more than the pork but both very tasty Tacos - Way better than the Kogi truck's tacos! Sliders- Very bold in taste Chicken Wings- tastes good but if it were more crunchy, it would be better. Elote - (corn) tasty but nothing amazing about it. Tastes like your street cart corn, it's one whole corn broken in half and stuck on a stick. You won't be missing much. Stir Fried Udon- tastes like Chinese food. Could've done without it.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Amazing flavour. The dish was amazing in all aspects, service is crisp and precise. Dishes fly out but not at the expensive of the taste. Friendly willing to help staff. Been here many times with all exceptional results.

    (5)

  • Sandy N.

    I've been here twice in the last few months. I can say at this point, I've eaten half the items on the menu. My favorite so far is the kimchi pancake quesadilla, it sweet, its sour and savory, it hits a lot of great notes. The urban 3b bowl with spicy tuna was my second favorite, the portion is huge and the ingredients taste so fresh and so good that I can put the fork down! The gogi and pork belly tacos are nothing new, but they are done right and taste great! All items come in a cardboard tray that makes it easy to dice into portions and share with friends. Things I could pass on... the loaded fries get soggy (in a mushy, weird way) with all the greasy toppings that soak into them. The restaurants beer doesn't seem to get cold enough, so you'll have to ask them to put it in the freezer prior to bringing it out. Overall, if you want a couple beers and a couple of menu items for $20 or less, this is your spot. Just be prepared to fight hard for parking.

    (4)

  • Christina D.

    This place is very underwhelming. The vibe is laid back and cool, but the whole paper plates/bowls thing is a little too laid back for me, especially since everything is a little overpriced. I came here with a friend, and the table was a little too tight. We got chicken curry puffs, fried rice, and pork belly tacos. The curry puffs were actually really good, without the apple/mustard sauce concoction-- it was too sweet to be harmonious with the savory puffs. The pork belly tacos were expensive, tiny, and bland. And there were only two. My stomach made a sad face. The rice was actually very good and had a ton of flavor. Overall, I like the concept of having a chill spot to enjoy some modern Korean street food, but not for these prices. Plus, like every other place in Diamond Jamboree, parking is AWFUL, making it even less worth it to come here.

    (3)

  • Fia R.

    Across the main retail and eating facilities at Diamond Jamboree Plaza is where Urban Seoul puts some ardor in their Asian fusion cuisine. Some of Urban Seoul's foods are indeed served the Urban way (i.e. tapas-style) which is perfect for Jayne L and me to try 3 different items to figure out if at least one would be the must-order of this endlessly bustling plaza. The Short Rib Arepas ($6.75) were the 1st platter to arrive: just-right tender beef with a nice amount of queso fresco, pickled red onions and green sauce on a subtly crispy corn biscuit to nibble like a slider. The flavor factor was just alright to me, and I advise to those craving for this beef to look out for excessive grease. To kill our curiosity on the traditional selects (i.e. the Seoul food), and as the 2nd to show up, we tried their way of Bibimbap ($7.95), which was Kogi with veggies, poached egg, and purple rice. This plentiful "sample" was reacted as three letters, starting with either "E" or "M," that we wished to spend part of our money towards a full-on, traditional HITW. Plus, we were hoping that there would be a cupful of the carb, instead of a miniscule amount to complement the softer ingredients. The last--and best one of the 3--was complete with on-spot yummy spicy pork, delectably melted cheese, scallions, jalapenos, pickled red onions and cilantro as ridiculously generous toppings for the criss cut fried starchies. In other words, the tolerably spicy Loaded Fries ($6.95) was no-joke loaded with addictive, savory deliciousness--especially thanks to that spicy veggie. I thought the green sauce that came on the side was unnecessary (which meant, hey, a little lesser calories in some way), perhaps unless if you can't manage those jalapenos. Overall, it was a pleasing lunch with satisfying and approachable service, noting that our food came out more quickly than I expected. I thought Urban Seoul was a not-so-shabby little feat out of many other eats at DJP, but if I must come back here (despite the parking situation) that'll certainly be for the one with the insanely piled colors topping off those potatoes to appease the hungry soul.

    (3)

  • Ian W.

    Rude, and pretentious, I would call the ambiance Jerkster. Street tacos with an attitude, I won't be going back here unless I want to be treated like an idiot.

    (1)

  • Cat Q.

    Kogi style in a bar. Service is friendly, attentive, but very slow. ---Incomplete and limited drink list. ---Gogi slider: Rib eye was tasty, but it was cold and chewy, the bun was cold and soggy. It was a boring bite. ---Pork belly tacos: Crispy pork belly is actually fried pork lard cubes/pork cracklins. It was hard and cold. The sauce that goes with the taco is tasty, but overly salted. It's very messy to eat this taco, everything drops after the first bite. --+Chicken drumettes: The drumettes were over fried. It's hard on the outside, but it's tender inside. The sweet spicy sauce is excellent and the pickled daikon brings out the flavor of the sweet spicy taste. It was the best dish of the night. ---Chorizo kimchi fried rice: Chorizo is nowhere to find, they were probably diced into 0.04 inch together with the other ingredient. I didn't like the texture of the pickled shallot, fried onion, sunny side up egg and fried lard cubes. there is too much stuff with different texture in one bowl. It tasted messy and it's textured messy. The whole bowl smells great, but it tasted bland. There is nothing else that we want to try on their boring menu, so we won't come back.

    (1)

  • Phil T.

    I'll be honest, this place made my foodie senses tingle and not in a good way. I forget how I found out about this place but I was very interested in eating at a Korean fusion place. My only experience with K fusion has been the kogi truck. Their menu is pretty small. not many options to choose from, which is fine. After looking it over I decided to try the Spicy Pork Torta. I couldn't believe it took 20 mins from the time I placed my order until I received my sandwich. I dont know what the hold up was. I was sitting at the counter and had full view of the kitchen. The owner/boss lady was standing in front of me pretty much the whole time. I was sitting there staring off into space when I guess she realized it was taking a really long time for my sandwich. She apologized but didn't do anything to speed up my order. The sandwich finally arrived and it was a decent sized sandwich. it was served with a side of what I believe was a jalapeno dressing, which I poured on to the sandwich. The sandwich was not bad but it really had nothing to do with korean food. I dont know what the fusion part of the sandwich was. Maybe the pickled jalapenos or pickled red onions were the Korean part of the sandwich??? I dont know. Maybe this item isn't fusion at all but just standard Mexican fare? I was and still am totally confused by this place. Maybe I ordered the wrong item? I was hoping to try something different and unique and that's not what I got. I liked the sandwich but I was expecting more of a fusion type food. I say try this place yourself and see what you think. I am on the fence. I would probably try it again just out of curiosity to see what the other menu items are like. OK, I just learned from a korean friend that spicy pork is popular with korean people. I guess that was the korean part of the fusion sandwich. Who knew??

    (3)

  • Omi Y.

    Loved the pork belly tacos!!! Comes with 3! Also got the fries that was too cheesy... Kimchee pancake was also very cheesy.. I feel very full with cheese right now haha.. This place def has heavy food that will make you feel like you are really really stuffed...

    (3)

  • jonathan s.

    Better than I thought. Its my impression that they are trying pretty hard to be Kogi or at least come close to the flavor profiles and tastes. I don't mind though. Everything we had was pretty good. Kalbi burger was probably the favorite. Didn't mind the bulgogi sliders but I would not order again. Thick cut waffle fries were messy, crispy, and served in a big portion. Chicken Kastu sandwich was gigantic. I wish they would do the egg over easy. Rice cake things were odd and like nothing I have ever had. Served with a korean hot sauce all over them. Neutral on these. Everything was really fairly priced. Will be back to get some cheap food + some beer.

    (4)

  • Julie V.

    I just wanted to share my experience . I ordered the chorizo kimchi fried rice. I was enjoying my food and then I found a bandage in my food! I was horrified and I asked the waiter to confirm and he just quickly took it to the back. I noticed that all the staff went to the back. A waitress came out and stated they don't know what it was and that they will comp my fried rice, just the fried rice. They quickly got our check and pretty much rushed us out. I am sincerely disappointed in their manner and I didn't even tried to make a big deal even though I just ate food that was cooked with a used bandage. Just thinking about it now makes me want to throw up.

    (1)

  • Ari N.

    This place is THE major happening digs for my Asian-fusion Mexican cravings. Scroll down for the food reviews, but stay tuned for the Urban Seoul experience breakdown. We walk up into the shop like, man, are we craving a perfect blend of Asian-Mexican fusion soul food, or what? Pop on in, and the hostesses greet us in the perfect tradition of politeness. Dorothy and Margaret are all "Welcome!" whilst Lauren calls past the uber-grateful hostesses and as is all "Sit wherever you like! It's open seating." Props for their attentive ways and polite smiles. We normally hop up on the bar setting because we like seeing the food made, plus the chairs are more comfortable. One of the friendly master chefs, Brian, is the first to greet us, sayin' all polite things like "Hi." What a gentlemen! Straight from the book of Fred Astair. Also props to the straight-up gentlemen mannerisms from his kitchen posse, KC and Brad. They're great company to have and simply to relate to whilst eating those gangsta Mexican-Asian tacos. We've also met Jeffrey, another chef on a different shift, and he's the man. On his break he once gave me a fist bump. Once. It was legit. Margaret is always extra-attentive. You will have empty trays grazing in your table surface area for 2 minutes at the most before she or either of the waitresses swoop in like the jive ninjas they be and are all: "I can get that for you if you like?" What excellent service! The bill was reasonable, plus it was Taco Tuesday ($1.50 per taco), an excellent deal for a way chillin' meal. Upon taking our leave, there were mentions of an up-and-coming horchata bar in the future. Stay tuned, because this uber chil Asian-fusion tacos hotstop is about to get poppin. THE FOOD: (Out of a five star rating) -Pork Belly Tacos: **** The absolute BOMB diggity dish to get when you roll up. These are some straight up excellent tacos. (Vegetarians can sub with Tofu and it's still legit. Not even the infamous Kogi franchise can pull a decent substitute order like that.) -Loaded Fry: **** Meat? On Criss-Cut fries? With Cheese??? Why didn't my college-educated-finals-strung-out-munchie-mind think of this before?? In the wise words of the "Doge" meme: "Much good. Very nice." -Churros: **** It's a churro, what more could you ask for? If you ask nicely, they will cut it in half for you to share with your boo, or if you want to trick yourself into thinking you have two pieces instead of one. -Elote: ***** My sweet corn cravings were met, set, and smothered in delicious mayonnaise and chili powder. I wasn't really diggin the amount of cilantro, but I suppose one can always ask for less if one was more aware. -Gogi Quesdilla: ***** Nom nom nom.

    (5)

  • Diana W.

    I ordered the pork belly tacos and the corn elote! They were both delicious! The slaw on the tacos was nice and tangy and it was such a nice balance for the fatty pork belly! And there were two taco skins for each taco, which made the tacos easier to hold. I do wish each taco was larger though, as the skin only seemed to be about 4 inches in diameter .. Price was 3 small tacos for $6.xx .. When I ate the elote today, it was my first time eating elote and it was so surprisingly good! I loved how evenly coated the corn was. Sweet and sour with a sort of stinky richness from the cotija cheese .. Loved it! The $3 order came with two corns, and each were about 4 inches long. I found the prices to be pretty steep, but the food was sooo good! I will definitely be back on a Tuesday during happy hour so I can order the tacos for $1.50 each and the elote for $2.9 I also really want to try the sliders and maybe a rice order and maybe the gogi(?) quesadilla since it is also on the happy hour menu .. I can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Johnny P.

    This review is mainly for their Loaded Fries. Came here for a quick lunch and luckily no one was there! The whole place to myself! Being a Urban Seoul rookie, I opted to try the Loaded Fries. Freshly made...it was a tower of gluttony pleasure! And enough to feed 2 or share. Seasoned criss cut fries topped with all the sinful fixin's! Cheese, jalapeños' bulgolgi, scallions, sour cream etc... Your appetite will love you, but your arteries will hate you. Coming back for more, highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Derek I.

    4.5. Clean tasting, well seasoned spin on Korean food. Their bibimbap bowl contains fresh cut veggies and your choice of meat. I would rather it be served in a hot stone pot to allow the rice to char, and that the poached egg was runny, but aside from that it was a refreshing lunch. My wife ordered the pork belly tacos (same meat I had in my bowl, even though I asked for the spicy pork...but it was good so who cares) and she loved them. We also had elote and the watermon tea, which were great. The only downside to this is the terrible parking situation in this complex - it's like playing risk every time.

    (4)

  • Suzy J.

    I hope management reads this as I've been a very loyal customer but my most recent experience was dismal. We went over the weekend and the service was excruciatingly bad. The 3 "waiters" looked like children, all huddled up by the fan and cash register and even from the table I could hear them talking about getting drunk and partying. They messed up our order and it took 3 attempts to get refills on our beers and finally one of us had to walk up to them to get more. Still love the food and concept. But they need to change up either not having so many servers sitting there or get more mature people to work here, who don't look like they're 12 yrs old.- they are killing your reputation and ambiance there.

    (1)

  • Dan L.

    This place is gold mine! Creative Korean tacos and fresh fish! We hit taco Tuesday and the deals were great! Service was very attentive and the atmosphere was good. Had the spicy tuna bibimbap and tacos! Pork belly taco was the best!

    (5)

  • Michel G.

    I love this place! The food is delicious and the prices are insane; especially during happy hour! I always feel so welcomed, Saraya is my favorite server! She is always so nice, and offering new things to try! The best thing there is the tacos, pork belly is my fave! And the quesadillas! They always have a yummy drink of the day. This place has become my favorite place, my brother and I can't get enough.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Got the urban 3B with kogi and purple rice. It was amazing! Tons of food (you get your money's worth with this dish), but you don't feel gross or too full after eating it. I even got mine with less rice and it was still too much! Ask for a sriracha bottle if you like things spicy! It looked really good with tofu too. I tried my friend's chorizo kimchee fried rice, and I think I need to get that next time! Staff was all super nice and helpful (we asked a ton of questions!.) The seating is semi-family style, and this place is popular!! I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Seraph L.

    I'm extremely disappointed with this place. I really did have high hopes for this place, but after my first and only visit to this place, I am sorry to say that I will never come back. I walked in with a party of 5 and as the place was pretty empty, we were seated promptly. Menus were put down in front of us, and we asked for water, which the employees promptly brought to us. Once we all had decided on what we wanted, an employee came to take our order. So far, so good. However, this is where the good things end. First, the service: I noticed that there seemed to be a small gathering of employees lounging around a bit of the bar closest to the television and the drink refrigerator. A person or two would break away to bring an order to a table, and then he or she would go back to the little gathering, and they would socialize until they were needed again. Never once did I see a single employee approach the tables to ask how the customers were doing. Flagging down an employee to bring us something, or even to ask questions, was just utterly impossible, as they were all gathered at their little spot at the bar and weren't even paying attention to the store. It took us forever to get our check, and once we got our check, it took them forever to get it back to us so we could sign the receipt and leave. Second, the food: I must say that I love grease. I'm all for ignoring all the bad things that grease can do to you and just enjoying the taste of greasy food. However, the food here is WAY too greasy. I got the short rib arepas because they were highly recommended by both reviews on Yelp and by the waiter that had taken our order. I picked up my food and the first thing I saw on the bottom of my food was this large puddle of grease. It's like all that grease that gathers if you let a bucket of KFC sit for too long, but take that amount and multiply it by 10, and that is how much grease was sitting under my food. I was completely grossed out, but I dabbed at my food with my napkin, hoping to absorb most from the food. The arepa was fried so much that the only taste I could detect was the taste of something burned, and it was also extremely difficult to chew down on because it had been fried so deeply. With every bite, more grease seeped out and added to the puddle that was already on the bottom of my tray. I couldn't really eat much else afterwards after taking in all that grease and oil. Third, the price: The portions that you get are so meager. It's like you're getting food truck food - tiny portions, super expensive - except for the fact that it's not a truck but a restaurant serving food truck food. Bad food, bad service, high prices - there isn't a worse combination. I will never be coming back.

    (1)

  • Jonathan N.

    Why have I not come here sooner?! Whenever I go to Diamond Jamboree, the places I go to are Lollicup, Tokyo Table, or Guppies. No one in my social circle really pays much heed to the stores just on the other side of the plaza and it's a shame they don't. Urban Seoul is amazing, let me rant and rave about this "hidden" gem. Came here before hitting up Downtown Disney for some sustenance and to satiate our cravings for Korean food. I had the pork belly tacos and they were so good! A nice crunch, spot on sauce, I was so sad that I agreed to give one to my friend to try some of theirs. I can't wait to come back on a Tuesday for their taco special, I'm going to go HAM on these. The Urban 3B, Urban Seoul's take on bibimbap, has a large portion and was it satisfying to have. For the price too? Oh lordie, take my wallet! And the kimchi fried rice... oh god. Good service, good food, what more can you ask for?

    (5)

  • Jordan W.

    Came here with some friends on a Thursday night. I highly recommend the pork belly tacos and the gogi tacos. The tacos were super flavorful and the pork belly had a nice crispy touch to it. I heard on Taco Tuesday's, each taco is only $1.50, definitely worth it. I can't wait to come back to try the gogi sliders!

    (4)

  • Hannah E.

    While I understand the criticism around the food here being too greasy, grease can be good in the right context, and I think this is the right context. My shortrib arepas were extremely flavorful - a surprising burst of umami, and they were a textural delight on the tongue. The crunchy and oily cornbread - thick enough to be bread, crunchy enough to almost be mistaken for a rice cake - gave way to a mouthful of fatty, melty meat and lightly yielding spears of onion. The accompanying jalapeño aioli was not spicy enough for my tastes, but still pretty green and effective. So no, the oil on the fried cornbread plus the fat on the meat plus the egg yolk in the aioli doesn't make for the healthiest of meals, but it's delicious anyway. Get a smoothie afterwards and you'll be fine (note: do not do as I did and get a blueberry lavender macaron at H-mart). A suggestion for the kitchen on this dish: pickle the red onions a little more aggressively, and you'll create the illusion of more freshness. Or you could just add another vegetable, but the arepas are tough enough to get into your mouth as it is. I think an easier way to solve the problem would be to offer healthy side dishes and drinks. The drink selection's pretty much just Korean soda and there aren't any appetizers. I think a few plates of edamame (yes, I know that's Japanese but authenticity is not the idea here) or kimchi or beansprouts or whatever could dull the effect of all that oil. Banchan: draw inspiration from it.

    (4)

  • V N.

    This place has nothing unique that I haven't seen at other Korean fusion/street food places BUT everything they have is excellently made. So far have ordered the chicken and pork belly K tacos, galbi sliders, and the rice cakes. The rice cakes are addictive. I could eat them every day. Every one of the dishes we ordered was tasty. Fresh ingredients, good flavors and perfect for the price. Service was courteous and prompt. May not be anything too special but I can tell I'll be frequenting this place in the future!

    (5)

  • Paola A.

    Just went there today for lunch because I was meeting some old friends there who raved about this place. When I first arrived, no one greeted me. The place was small. Not too many seats were available and we went around 1pm to beat the lunch rush. Once my friends arrived, the food was really good as they described. Unfortunately the service was extremely bad! So bad that when we asked for Sirachi sauce, the waitress said she was going to get it and NEVER came back with it. My friend finally got up and got it herself from some other table. Also, when I asked for a drink, the waitress said she was going to go get it and never did. Instead I watched her stand by the register while she snarled at everyone who came in, as if she was annoyed that there was yet another person she had to serve. The service was so bad, I begged my friends not to leave a tip. Food was great...Service was HORRIBLE and for that reason, I will never go back.

    (2)

  • Andy N.

    Came here last night in the ever so crowded Diamond Jamboree plaza. I was seated quickly after taking 20minutes to find parking. The server was very friendly and pretty attentive. The decor was nice and simple. The menu was easy to order from. I enjoyed some of the dishes here. It's a Korean fusion type of menu. I would've imagined this type of food being more on a food truck than in a plaza. They even serve your food in paper trays. Yes the food is greasy but I think by it being in the tray it makes it look a lot worst than it actually is. I say kill the paper trays and bring it out on real dishes. Now on to the food Short rib arepas - My sister didn't like it but I loved it. The bread was like a business with the vinegar onions and chunks of tender short rib. It also came with a green sauce to give it a kick. I enjoyed it Pork tacos - the crispy pork tacos came with 2 tacos. It was nice and crispy on the pork like lechon. The sauce was a nice touch and this was probably my favorite of the evening. Loaded fries- Waffle fries with jalepenos,cheese , sour cream and other crazy things on this. It was very good and filling. Lots of flavor and a lot more enjoyable than tortilla nachos. Kimchee quesadilla - Lots and lots of flavor with the tortilla,cheese, kimchee, and dipping sauce. If you love cheese and kimchee then you'll dig this. Bibimbap - We got this traditional korean dish with purple rice. It was okay. Something about it wasn't too pleasing. I think it's the fact that it didn't come in the stone pot. It was okay. I wanted my rice more crispier. Chicken drumettes - Fried chicken drum sticks. These were okay. A little too over sauced. The meat was also undercooked inside. Chicken Katsu sandwich - A sandwich with chicken katsu curry. Everyone at the table liked this one. It's like a chicken sandwich from mcdonalds with more flavor. I really enjoyed the food here. I will be back for the Spicy Rice cake and Chicken lollipops.

    (4)

  • Angel Q.

    I had only been here once and it was good. I liked the signature sliders... forgot what it is called. Is it called the Kolgi sliders? They did mess up the order, but willing to fix it up real quick. The dumplings are overpriced though; they tasted like the ones I bought from the store and heat up at home. It had the same flavor! 8 bucks for a few little pieces is totally a rip off though. I did enjoy eating here and food wasn't bad. Just have to pick the right food and you are good to go.

    (4)

  • Tesia Y.

    Is it so wrong to crave food that doesn't have an identity crisis? To be honest, I'm over the 'fusion' thing. Most of the time, it just leaves me confused.. almost as confused as the asian ladies in the parking lot of Diamond Jamboree taking 20 minutes to back out of their parking space. After trying most of the menu, I'll say that although I don't hate the 'upgraded' versions, I tire quickly of the flavor and almost always find myself wishing I'd gotten the traditional versions. Why ruin a good thing, right? The best things on the menu are probably the gogi tacos and kimchi quesadilla. I swear I did a happy dance after eating those tacos! Everything else was a no-go for me.

    (3)

  • Marvin Jay P.

    Pork belly tacos. boom.

    (4)

  • A G.

    Super delicious, fast service. Will definitely return. We had the pot stickers, stir fry udon and the 3b bibimbap and all of it was great. The wine menu consisted of one brand and three options but thankfully they had some great beer on tap to enjoy.

    (4)

  • Sid A.

    Great food, well priced, good portions. Almost like a food truck restaurant in terms of size and taste of food. Lots of fun but a bit too long in wait, then again everything in the plaza has a long wait. The bibimbab was very good and their specials are excellent.

    (4)

  • Michael D.

    Great food and service. Definitely try to make it before 7 pm which is what time happy hour ends. Most of the popular appetizers are $3 and under. Took my girl last night for dinner and to watch the rockets game. Sat at the bar which is a better experience for me because you can see how your foods being prepared. They run a pretty clean and efficient kitchen. The owner was very attentive and friendly. Really speaks volume to how he runs his kitchen and restaurant. Highly recommend the pork belly tacos. It's one of the most popular dishes there. We also ordered the garlic edamame, elote corn, chicken wings and beef quesadilla which are all tasty side choices. Been here a few times and tried just about everything. You really won't go wrong with anything on there menu. They all have their own unique taste. Price is reasonable and service is fast. Definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Julie N.

    2 stars for being different and out of the ordinary. Besides that, this place really doesn't have much else going for them. Food is overly salty and greasy. I feel like I bathe my mouth in lard every time I come here. Not a great feeling and not worth the calories.

    (2)

  • Boadacious G.

    Had the spicy pork and gogi arepas. They both were very good but I liked the pork better bc it had more flavor. Also tried the pork belly tacos , those came fully loaded and were very tasty. The street corn was a 3 star. The flavorings was very good but the quality of the corn was not juicy. The kernels were rather small . Ambience was casual, not really a good place for group dining. Mostly small tables big enough for two people and seats at the bar. There is one long table for larger groups only. Overall loved the food here, will definitely come again

    (5)

  • Rei-Na J.

    When I first heard about this place, I got überdüper excited and went to check it out the same day. My first time there, I ordered the pork belly tacos ....what.the.oh.em.gee. I enjoyed every bit of it, especially the crisp of the pork skin... The next time, I ordered a bibimbap bowl (side note...when I order it, I feel like singing Selena's song), stir-fried udon, loaded fries and gogi sliders (and a few more pork belly tacos). I can't even tell you how great everything tasted. Ok, I will tell u.... tasted wonderfully delicious. The soft boiled egg on top of the bibimbap is a nice touch. For suresy, I will be back. You should check it out if u out haven't already......

    (4)

  • Sandy S.

    The bibimbap was delicious! I've also had the bulgogi sliders and the ddukbokki (Sorry I can't spell). All were really tasty for decent prices. It's somewhere I'd definitely go to in order to try all their options...

    (4)

  • Dru C.

    *Thumbs up* Make no mistake, this is drunken, late night, grease-laden food that begs to be accompanied with several beers. The chicken "lollipops" aren't really true lollipops with the bone exposed -- just good 'ol chicken wings and drumsticks. But that glaze and sauce they put on it was mighty tasty. *Thumbs down* The Korean-Mexican fusion trend was innovative several years back, but not so much anymore. Now there are copycats everywhere. The gogi tacos tasted just like Kogi, but Kogi gives you more meat and 5x more flavorful. The short rib arepas had some good flavors from the meat and that spicy green sauce, but the flat and round cornmeal/dough patty was extremely greasy. After a few bites, I just couldn't frickin' finish it off anymore.

    (3)

  • Chris P.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants! I've tried most of their dishes, but the one I go back to (every time!) without fail, is the kimchi chorizo fried rice. The spice of the kimchi, the grease of the chorizo, the crunch of the pork belly, the richness of the yolk from the perfectly fried egg.... i can't wait to go back again! I've been to this restaurant 7 or 8 times now and the quality has been consistent and the service has been great.

    (5)

  • Larry L.

    They are offering tres leches cake wich is really good, happy hour is a great deal on irvine... Quesadillas with ribeye steak, pork belly tacos are great too, flavors and good service is great

    (5)

  • Bec K.

    I love the fusion. Gone both times during happy hour and would go even if it wasn't. The Elote, Gogi Quesadilla, and Garlic Edamame are a must and a meal in itself. But perhaps you've only picked one (I hope it was the Elote), well then there's room for tacos or a kimchi pancake quesadilla! And for drinks, consider having their watermelon mint lemonade or horchata! Service is attentive, quick, and most of all, friendly.

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    Was terribly disappointed by this place given all the rave reviews and promising looking eats.... Came here for lunch on Saturday and got a few items to share with the hubster (arepas, sliders and Chorizo fried rice). With the exception of the fried rice (which was pretty good), everything else was incredibly oily, greasy, over seasoned/marinated and flat out gross. I didn't want to even pick up the Arepas since there was a puddle of grease on the bottom of the basket. The Galbi meat had a lot of fat/icky bits and was way too sweet. I was not a big and very underwhelmed by this place. NEXT!

    (2)

  • Dennis D.

    I love this place and I can't believe it took me so long to try it out! I have basically tried every restaurant in the Diamond Jamboree plaza and this is definitely going to be one of my regular places to go to. They have Happy Hour everyday from 5-7 p.m. so be sure to take advantage of that if you can. They have appetizers like drummettes, elote, manda, garlic edamame, and much more (even alcoholic drinks!). For even more deals, go on Tuesdays because their tacos are only $1.75 instead of 3 for $8 (which makes each about $2.33). The tacos are pretty small, but they make up for it in terms of taste. The elote was AMAZING and you have to try it out. The herbs, spices, and cheese make it really good and I don't even eat corn that much (mainly because it gets stuck in my teeth :/). Try this place at least once!

    (4)

  • Melodie Y.

    I got to say the food is pretty darn good. The service isn't great at all. Luckily, my friend and I were sitting at the bar and one of the cooks was super nice. He gave us our menus and even a free order of the loaded fries! Honestly, if it weren't for him, I would probably give this place a 3. Food is quite unique and I would definitely come again.

    (4)

  • Natalie H.

    It just opened. I hope the restaurant owner really try to improve the recipes. The food look very pretty. Corn was too cheesy. Bimbimbap is missing something; maybe more sauce and make it a bit saltier? Loaded fries was good. Fried chicken: my friend said she had better, so maybe add an option for different sauce? Taco: I think Kogi truck had it more solid; so maybe adding kimchi in it will help? I love they give us lots of vegetables. Service was good. I really wish the owner continue to improve.

    (3)

  • Rachel B.

    I have been to this restaurant four times and tonight is my fifth visit. Every time I eat here (happy hour or not) I am very pleased with the quality of the food and the service. My boyfriend and I enjoy eating at the bar area just to watch the chefs cook the food. I specifically want to give a shout out to Ali, Bryan, and Carlo for giving us excellent service and for being friendly and talking to us from time to time. Most of our orders and selections are based on their suggestions and it never disappoints. I'm surprised that I'm writing a review just now because I consider myself a regular now, but I highly recommend this place to people who are willing to try fusion foods and want that urban feel while eating. My favorite happy hour foods are: drummettes (because of the sweet and sour flavor), gogi quesadillas (the happy hour plate LOOKS small, but it is filling), and elotes (the addicting paprika is just SO BOMB - even better than the street food elotes). I have seen the Mandu dish (6 pieces of potstickers) from afar and I have yet to stuff the delicious goodness in my belly. As far as main dishes, I highly recommend the bibimbap (they give a good amount of meat and the ratio of meat to rice is perfect), burgers (don't take it to go, it is so much better for dine-in), and loaded fries (the jalapeños were enough to reel me in). I'll be back soon Urban Seoul. Your chefs are keepers.

    (5)

  • Kesha P.

    I was skeptical at first but this place turned out to be really good! I've tried the kimchi fried rice and the udon. Both great!!

    (4)

  • Cody R.

    been here couple times only to get delicious food with beer... their happy hours are awesome.... its a simple place with small bar and 5 2*seating and 2-3 4* seating tables... there are two 2* outdoor, but not so exciting... gogi tacos and taquitos are the best!!!

    (4)

  • Randy L.

    I was really excited about trying this place after reading all the reviews. The concept is really cool. However, I feel like something went awry between concept and execution. Everything seemed to lack flavor and, no pun intended, soul. And everything was really, really greasy. I'm bummed but the whole experience made me crave some old-school, authentic Korean food.

    (2)

  • Lisa N.

    i had high hopes for this, but it just did not impress :( the setup of the place is pretty tiny and there's not that many tables ..but that's forgivable. the food was, A-OK at best and nothing memorable. i came here with 2 friends and between us 3, we ordered: loaded fries: i don't know what everyone is talking about with waffle fries... ours was definitely not waffle fries. just regular, soggy, skinny fries. i had to dig around to find the pieces of meat with it. pork belly tacos: the best item we had..we ordered 2 orders of this (comes with 3 tacos). pork belly was crisp, flavorful, and tasty. the spicy sauce they use on it was finger lickin good. pretty generous with the filling. short rib arepas: this was okay, but nothing to write home about. the arepa (corn flatbread) was crisp and soft, meat was well seasoned and good. over all good, but nothing i'd want to come back for. chicken drummettes: meh. this was 6 wings covered in a slightly sweet, mostly bland sauce, though it was moist inside, it lacked crispy skin. each plate was about $6-8 and for 5 plates, our bill came out to ~$40. sounds not so bad, but then you realize it's for several small plates that don't fill you up...and if you're anything like me, you'd think, "well dang... i paid $15 for this, but for a few bucks more i could've had a filing shabu meal or kbbq..." service was fine, but the food really just didn't wow me. i was much more excited for the dos chinos truck i plotted on getting later that night. it's worth trying at least once, but try to go during happy hour, which is every day from 5-7pm. NOTE, Mon-Sat they close after lunch and don't open again til 5pm.

    (3)

  • Heather T.

    Wow Catherine q must have drank some haterade while she was here. I think this place is pretty great. We had the pork belly tacos and the chorizo fried rice. I thought everything in the fried rice complimented each other. From the crunchy pork belly to the sour pickles to the spice in the chorizo, it all came together. The pork belly is deep fried so they are like little cracklings which I like but I can see why some may not like it. The con of this place is the seating ... It's like stool seating and too cramped, not somewhere I want to sit in for a long time. I brought my baby too so it was even more cramped and the table too small to accommodate a baby zone and food. But then again this is not a kid friendly place. And I don't mind a limited menu as long as they make everything on that menu well which so far I think they do". You can tell each dish is well thought out, kudos!

    (4)

  • Coco L.

    Deliciousness all around! The pork belly tacos and grilled corn were so good! The happy hour deals are really worth it... It's kind of embarassing but I ordered so much food for our table, they had to borrow one of the other tables for us to use. This location is tiny but has the awesome HH deals from 5-7 while the Spectrum location is a lot more spacious but only has HH from 4-6 or something ridiculous like that.

    (4)

  • Carlo M.

    This place is good , TACO Tuesday is where it's at . I'll definitely come back to this place.

    (5)

  • Amy T.

    Cheap happy hour! Service is really friendly. The boyfriend and I went here for taco tuesday. We got the pork belly tacos, which are so delicious!! We also really enjoyed the quesadilla and elote. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Sheree Y.

    I finally got to try this place. Honestly, it was just okay. It's located in the busiest plaza in Irvine with Guppy, 85 degrees, Tofu House, etc, yet it was the least busiest restaurant. I went on a Friday night, and it was dead! Parking was hard to find, but I'm sure it was because everyone else was eating elsewhere. Anyway, to the important part. The best dish I got was the pork belly tacos....BEST ever. It's a must. I also got the gogi sliders, which were too salty. The tatter tots were ok, a bit too much for me. And finally, I got the Korean rice cakes, which i thought were ddukbugi (mind my spelling), but they weren't! They were this white sticky fried on the outside cake or something. I'm not even sure how to explain it, but I didn't like it because I was expecting the REAL spicy Korean rice cakes! Nonetheless, service was excellent and they serve milkis!!! One of my favorite Korean drinks! :)

    (3)

  • Rodolfo D.

    Reluctantly ventured in with a few coworkers for lunch and was very satisfied. Parking in that location is usually a nightmare so conjuring up the courage to visit that location is always a task, but I must say, this time it definitely paid off. Ordered 2 gogi tacos, 1 pork belly taco, and an order of wings. Wings could have been a little less sweet but everything else was great.

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    The only attractive quality of Urban Seoul is the pork belly tacos. Those are simply delicious. The food truck-style fusion menu features mediocrely-flavored sliders, tacos, quesadillas, and mostly-traditional bibim bowls. I'll stick to Kogi.

    (3)

  • Jonathan M.

    Let me begin with saying that if you have never tried Urban Seoul then beware, it will become and ADDICTION!! The food is that good!! I have been coming here since the launch and after almost 10 months I still haven't tired of the quality and taste of their food. Not only is the food great but the staff and management are some of the nicest most sincere people around. If you see Harrison around please buy him a beer or give him a shot, he absolutely loves it. (Sorry Harrison but I had to do it) The cooks are great as well, Brad is one of the nicest guys I have met and he constantly is ensuring that every guest has the best food. The two Brians are also cool cats and truly are super fun to hang out with. I won't get started on the serving staff, those girls are to sweetest bunch of serves I have ever seen, always so nice and so helpful. I highly recommend the Loaded Fries (For a little more goodness ask for extra cheese and pork belly) The Pork Belly Tacos are amazing too and a solid choice on Taco Tuesday For some next level culinary goodness ask for the Gogi Sliders and the Arepas with Gogi. Truly staples of Urban Seoul and some of the favorites for all the first timers. If you are a first timer and come out on Tuesday ask if "Jon" is there and I would love to give you your first round of Sake. (You must be of age) Cheers

    (5)

  • Vicky N.

    TOP NOTCH SERVICE!! Now onto the food .. -Short Rib Arepas with the green sauce ..so addicting! -Spicy Rice Cake was pretty good, but not the highlight of the night. -Chicken Lollipops gets 5 shining stars!!!! :) I couldn't get enough of this one lol -Chorizo Fried Rice was good! -Complimentary Gogi Tacos & Rice Cake w/ Honey. Yumm! Sweet workers. Prices were great!! I'd come back!

    (4)

  • Yvonne W.

    I really liked this place. On a Sunday lunch hours its almost implossible to find a restaurant without a wait in this irvine plaza. I decided to try out this place... I loved the deep fried pork belly and the bibimbap was extremely delicious. This place is clean, eco-friendly and priced just right. We ordered the gogi slider as well and that was my least favorite out of the 3 dishes we ordered... that tasted like a cheeseburger with asian sweetener. But I still liked it. It was tasty and suited my pallet. This place has awesome customer service .... we had a little accident but they cleaned it up for us right away. I would definitely come back again for lunch or when craving food truck Korean food !!

    (5)

  • Kevin Y.

    TACO TUESDAY- half off tacos (1.50 per) Get the pork belly tacos. Soju is also half off on Tuesdays, so its about $5 a bottle Can be a bit of a wait so get there early Small place so its packed and loud

    (5)

  • Paul Y.

    When you first walk into Urban Seoul, you get caught up in the decor. It is shiek, trendy, and yeah its urban. The workers are all upbeat with their backwards snapbacks and trendy uniforms. The overall ambiance is very trendy and fun. Urban Seoul is like the jewel of Diamond Jamboree. It's the perfect place for some LA fusion Korean food. The Pork Belly tacos are fantastic. Well seasoned, not over powering, pure culinary genius. The loaded fries, alittle overwhelming but I can never go without it. My personal favorite is the 3b Spicy Tuna bowl. This amazing concauction combining spicy tuna and the famous korean bibimpap just melts the tastebuds. And guess what?! The foodgasm doesn't just stop at their entrees. Equipped with a thirst-quenching watermelon mint lemonade, Urban Seoul nails the perfect combo of spicy food with a coooling drink. Then to dessert. They have churros. Nothing special about this churro, except that it RIVALS those of DISNEY LAND! They are deliciously crunchy and a perfect sweetness. This place's location is perfect. Come here often and never have I ever been dissapointed. Keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Khoa T.

    Came here after exercising with the intention of gaining back the calories we burned off...and that we did. Between the 2 of us, we shared the pork belly tacos, the bibimbap, the loaded fries, and the kimchi pancake quesadilla, all of which hit the spot and nearly immediately sent us into food coma heaven. Everything was so delicious and not too salty or too sweet as some Asian fusion places can be--the flavors all blended together just right. It was also a welcome change of pace from the typical tofu houses and AYCE kbbq places (although I'll still welcome those dishes into my belly). For the people eating normal portions I'd recommend the pork belly tacos and splitting the loaded fries, but for the truly hungry, I'd recommend the 4 plate meal for 2 hehe. Needless to say there's still everything else I have to try on the menu, so I'll be back soon! Five stars for service and food.

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    My first impression of Urban Seoul is that it offers good food and even better service. Although the space is quite small, it is well utilized in an urban diner setup with industrial light fixtures and furniture. During our first visit, our water cups were always filled and our waitress gave us extra napkins right when we needed them without being asked. Unfortunately, they ran out of a few menu items (as many new restaurants do), so we had to reorder twice. Normally, I would be a little annoyed, but they made up for it by apologizing and being very nice. They even comped 30% of our bill! The little things matter. We ended up trying the bibimbap with chicken&purple rice, pork belly tacos, and pork torta, all of which were good; the pork belly tacos being the best. All in all, Urban Seoul is off to a good start.

    (4)

  • David R.

    Ingenious flavor infused creations that will rock your pallet. Comparing Urban Seoul to some lunch truck is an utter insult. Take your time and chew your food instead of inhaling it and claiming it was just okay or nothing special...YOU are missing the point or in this case the EXPERIENCE. (Pixar's Ratatouille) Not to be critical of some critics here but...Okay I'm going to be critical. Like FINE wine you have to let it breathe, you have to swirl it in your glass, you have to swish it around in your mouth and allow the flavors and aroma hit all your taste buds and pallet...So too are the food offerings here at Urban Seoul. Would you cook your Dry Aged Steak well-done? Would you bring 2 buck chuck to a restaurant with a $25 corkage fee? Would you call a black truffle simply a mushroom? Okay so Urban Seoul is not a 3 Star Michelin Extraordinaire establishment but a cool, hip, casual fusion restaurant that you'll feel right at home in shorts and a t-shirt. At first I was thinking I better not get my hopes up too high because I will be utterly disappointed. I've had lunch truck fusion tacos before so I was expecting similar offerings. NOT! The Pork Belly tacos had this incredible sauce and cheese that when I first bit into seemed just okay, then I chewed and allowed the flavors to blend. It went from good to wait for it...wait for it...RIGHTEOUS! I can't tell you how to eat your food but if you allow the flavors to work themselves around in your mouth and chew slowly you will be in for a grand experience. The loaded fries and chicken curry puffs really caught me off guard as well. I was totally expecting something different and felt shocked when I tasted the food. This stuff is really good and I'm not just saying that, it's fantastic. Dukboki is truly a unique street food offering from Seoul Korea. It's hot, it's spicy, it's filled with fish cakes and thick rice cakes, eggs, and seasonings. The Dukboki here is deep fried first then infused with sweet marinated caramelized onions with traditional Korean hot red bean paste, rice cakes, fish cakes, and tiny hard boiled eggs. WOW! Kudos to this creation, it was so nice I ordered it twice! The service here is impeccable as the Manager and Staff are friendly and attentive. I ate at the counter and the cook/chefs were talking about the food and the different flavors. Slap my face and serve me another Gogi Slider, I could eat these things forever! The decor is totally funky modern and has that old school diner/pub casual feel...I like it. The flavors were completely unique and blended exceptionally well. The service was very attentive and friendly. I'm thinking I found a gem among the millions of casual dinning joints. The pricing is spot on and affordable but not your dollar menu price. Everything was $5-15, drinks ranged from Asian style sodas to beers on tap to Korean Makkoli (sweet rice wine). Do yourself and your taste buds a favor and check this place out!!!

    (5)

  • Rebecca D.

    Pork belly tacos. They were amazing. The pork belly was perfectly crispy and the sauce just added to the explosion of flavors. We also ordered the kimchi fried rice, which was also great but very filling! The loaded fries were too much for my taste and got soggy too fast, but we had a coupon for these so I won't complain too much. The staff was very friendly and helpful with our orders since it was our first time. It's a great Korean fusion restaurant so I'll definitely be back for the tacos!

    (4)

  • Lori K.

    I'm just going to go ahead and say it. This place is exactly what the Diamond Jamboree Plaza needed. A place a hipster can grab a beer and some Korean inspired gastropub food. Considering the inspired menu and the decor which I thought was perfect I love the name they chose for this business! We decided to try this place during the dinner rush on a weeknight. There was a short wait, but not for use since we were a party of 2 & accepted counter seating. My rule is if you're a party of 2 and there's an open kitchen/counter, you ALWAYS sit at the counter (unless of course you get grossed out by every little thing that may or may not be a health code violation in which case sit at a table or eat at home). Sitting at the counter afforded us the opportunity to not only watch the NBA playoffs, but to also observe the 3 guys who were cooking like madmen when the place was packed (things eventually slowed down & they got to breathe). The rest of the staff was hosting, busing, serving, bar-tending, cooking, & prepping marvelously. They were super attentive & always checking to see if anyone wanted more beer or needed anything. The tacos, arepas and sliders come in a pair so they are perfect for sharing.The Kalbi slider was my favorite of all the things we tried. My fiance said the Gogi tacos were his favorite. The short rib arepas were very different from other cold arepas I've had, but guess what? Hot looks good on arepas! The short ribs however were too greasy for me. The bottom of my arepa was soaked through with grease. Luckily the top piece of the arepa & the green sauce accompanying it were perfect!. My fiance gobbled up his short rib arepa and seemed to be enjoying it! The loaded fries were another favorite of mine and made me wish I had ordered a cold beer. I thought the gogi slider and tacos were just OK, but my fiance said he liked those a lot! I'm sure we'll be back to try the bibimbap, the kimchi pancake quesadilla, the chicken wings, the chicken curry puffs and more kalbi sliders for MEEEEEEEE!

    (4)

  • Ali N.

    I love this place! The bulgogi tacos are the bomb!!! The sliders also are worth ordering. There is noting on the menu that I have tried and not likes!

    (5)

  • April P.

    Bad location- no parking!! Limited amount of seats during rush hour, but the food here is good. It's basically a Korean tapas restaurant. They have happy hour with great deals. The ddukbokgi is really good..you may want to ask for more sauce on the side. The pork belly tacos and the bibimbap were ok. The kitchen is open, which causes this place to heat up real quick...the AC is not enough.

    (4)

  • Matthew C.

    Very solid Kogi-style modern Korean food. Very nice staff.

    (4)

  • Megin O.

    Ordered: Pork belly tacos 3B spicy pork w/ purple rice edamame YUM! Ok, maybe deep fried pork belly isn't my thing? I like it and all but it was too crispy for me. So I'll go for spicy pork next time. I see they have a Taco Tuesday so hopefully I'll get over there tonight... mmm. My bf had the bibimbap and he enjoyed it. I thought it was good but I wasn't in the mood for a full on rice bowl. The EDAMAME, though! Holy. Real good. Lots of garlic and tasty. The waitress was friendly and informative. You can sit at the bar and watch the chefs cook... kind cool. Nice addition the Diamond Jamboree area.

    (4)

  • Cara K.

    I ordered the pork belly sliders, elote corn, and a chicken yakitori udon. Sliders were decent, corn was burnt, yakitori udon was over-saucy and salty. I may have come at the wrong day, wrong hour, wrong everything but even with all those minute excuses, I don't think I'd want to give this place a second chance. Service was horrendous. My friend and I sat at the bar and the waiter literally never came back after he took our order. Like seriously? I couldn't even tell who was managing this place. The kitchen, which was right in front of me, couldn't have been more chaotic. I think they had gotten orders mixed up with other tables because all I could hear was "sorry about that" "sorry for the wait" "thanks for waiting" etc. One of the waiters told the girl working the orders in the kitchen that table # ___ didn't get a specific item. The girl said "well they didn't order it and besides, we don't have any left." The waiter proceeds to tell the table while the girl starts to badmouth the customer saying "why are they complaining if they didn't even order it, etc" I'm like...REALLY?? Right in front of me, you're gonna badmouth a fellow customer? Not impressed. Not coming back.

    (2)

  • Elvin C.

    Yay a great addition to Diamond Jamboree! Urban Seoul is the bomb. They're a small cozy little eatery that slightly resembles a modern diner. There's a big TV for everyone to watch the Lakers or whoever. The food is made right in front of you if you sit at the counter, which is pretty tight. FOOD Loaded Fries: Pretty good, but I wish they would bring back the Tater Tots option since I never tried it, and I freaking love me some tots. 4/5 Kalbi Burger: They're basically In N Out Burger Sliders with a Korean touch. 4/5 Urban 3B w/ Spicy Tuna: It's large for the price, $9 I think. It'll fill you up as it's packed with veggies and a sweet sauce to mix everything in. You get the option of Purple Rice or White Rice. 4/5 Kimchi Quesadilla: Good also! 4/5 SERVICE The servers are kind, friendly, and really give the place a nice environment to eat in. They give the place a really fun and young vibe. As good a service you could ask for. ATMOSPHERE It's perfect, at least to me. A good place to watch the game while enjoying good food that are made for sampling and sharing (at least that's what I like to do). COMING BACK FOR SHO'.

    (4)

  • Eileen T.

    Came by with my boyfriend on a Tuesday night for their $1.50 tacos. The restaurant is set like a bar serving appetizers. We ordered pork belly tacos, a kalbi burger (comes w/ two sliders), and an elote (corn). The pork belly tacos were crunchy and flavorful. However, it seemed to me like they put TOO much stuff on the tacos that it was overpowering the pork. LESS IS MORE! I really liked the kalbi sliders. Again, rich in flavor and the meat was really juicy. Their corn was really good! Similar to a mexican style corn, but korean style.

    (4)

  • Stella K.

    The atmosphere and the service is wonderful. I had the chorizo fried rice and I would definitely get it again. The pickled onion and crunchy fatty pieces of meat played really well together. Dat egg man... Made it even better. I also had the udon but I felt like it was nothing really special. There were no flavors of "fusion" that this place is known for. I felt that I was eating a Mongolian noodle dish. Perhaps I was just really blown away by the fried rice and everything else would be a disappointment.

    (3)

  • Louis F.

    I gotta tell you, I am not sure how anyone could give this place fewer than 5 stars. Ok, MAYBE I could see 4 stars, but anything less than that, just not sure what you are thinking. I am from LA, was in Orange County for a day, and popped in for dinner. It was so good I went back the next day for lunch. Some thoughts: - While the service isn't stellar, all of the staff members are extremely nice. They are also knowledgeable about the menu and are quick to offer recommendations. They also all believe in the concept and have a true passion for the food they are serving. That's a rare quality, and it really rubbed off on me as a patron. - The food is out of this world. Being from LA, Korean Fusion is the new pizza...it's everywhere. Whether it be the Kogi truck or any of several restaurants popping up like weeds. Urban Seoul is better than all of them, and it's not even close. This is one of the best meals I've had in California since moving there 8 years ago, and I'm not exaggerating. Inventive, creative, delicious, inspired...it's just superb. - I had the cheesesteak which was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life. The loaded fries are excellent but I think a little bit over-recommended by the staff and a little overrated on this website. Just my opinion...I'd easily recommend the cheesesteak over them personally. The pork belly tacos are absolutely fantastic. Spicy pork tacos are good but not as good as the pork bellys. Next time would like to try the bibimbap and fried rice, as well as the arepas or sliders. - While the happy hour and taco tuesdays truly are great deals, saying this place is overpriced normally is a farce. Sure, it's more than than McDonalds or a random taco joint, but this is just so much more. I feasted including a diet coke and spent $17, with more leftovers than I could even eat the next day. You're not getting this quality for this price anywhere. This is truly a remarkable find, and there is no doubt in my mind this concept will continue to grow. I hope they are able to maintain such high quality as they expand into new locations. Bravo.

    (5)

  • Lili K.

    Came here for Taco Tuesdays, and not on purpose! Don't you love it when that happens?! I got two pork belly tacos for $1.50 each, and some Mexican-style corn. That in itself was a full meal for me! My friend got the bibimbap which looked delicious as well!

    (4)

  • Lauren P.

    Found my new favorite taco Tuesday spot. Best pork belly tacos ever!! Only $1.75 for tacos on Tuesdays and $5 soju. It gets pretty packed on Tuesday nights and the restaurant isn't that big. I think they have happy hour every day from 5-7pm too. Just try the tacos... so gooood. Only downside is that the wait on Tuesday nights can be pretty tough. Small place so if you come with a big party around 6pm... Be prepared to wait.

    (3)

  • Kimmie N.

    This place occupies the same niche as the Kogi truck, which I'm all about! Think of it as a Korean tapas place. I was pretty happy after my first visit but intend to revisit to get at more of their menu! My friends and I came here for Happy Hour, half off their beer/wine and appetizers. The group I was with arrived about ~15 minutes before HH ended, and we had someone in our party arrive late, but the servers let us order off the menu anyways. Besides that service was pretty great, everyone was attentive and passed by often to check on us to see if we needed more food or our plates cleared. I ordered kogi quesadillas and chicken "drumettes" off the HH menu, for $3 each the portions are good (4 mini quesadillas and 4 drumsticks? decent). I was full afterwards. They are a little greasy, but hey I didn't come here to be health-conscious. I did sample some of my friends' bibimbap (chorizo was a strange but unique twist, as I eat normal bibimbap quite often), loaded fries (come on... you can't go wrong with loaded fries), and tacos. I didn't take up any of the drink specials, but I bet this food goes down well with a couple shots of soju. Next time I guess... I think this place could be great for big groups and stuff, but the seating area itself is pretty small. Atmosphere is nice for chatting with friends, it's not too loud or busy but still has that ~trendy~ thing going for it. Decor is cute. Can I take the halogen lamps home with me?

    (4)

  • Samantha M.

    So I tried this place out yesterday with my boyfriend and his mom. I ordered the chorizo kimchi fried rice, and they ordered the chicken katsu sandwich and the gogi sliders. The gogi sliders were to die for, and the chicken katsu sandwich was pretty well equally delicious. But...I realized after one bite that I had made a huge mistake in what I had ordered. It looked nothing like what I had expected, even taking into account that this restaurant specializes in Mexican/Korean fusion meals. When they say "fried" rice, they're not kidding. The bowl was filled with what looked like rice mush coated in Mexican seasonings, pink onions, strangely greasy potato chunks (which I later realized were the chorizo and the pork belly), fried onions, two pieces of bland cabbage, lemon wedges, and one small black hair. I had to force myself to eat at least half of it, hair not included, to justify paying for the meal. Overall, I feel like I still need to experiment with other entrees to get a clear picture of how I feel about this restaurant. Maybe what I ordered was the only flop on the menu. I can say that the gogi sliders and chicken katsu were tasty enough to be a redeeming factor in my horrific experience with the chorizo kimchi rice. But, all in all I feel neutral about this restaurant.

    (3)

  • Tays T.

    Came by the other evening for Tacos and soju. On Tuesdays, tacos are $1.50 each and soju is 50% off! Service was friendly by the waitress. The tacos were delicious! I ordered one of each and the pork belly taco was my favorite.

    (4)

  • Kathy E.

    When I came here, I got the gogi sliders, the loaded fries, and the elote. When we got there, we were seated right away and the server was really attentive towards us. For me, the gogi sliders and the loaded fries were okay. I felt like the sauces in the gogi sliders and the loaded fries were a little tart for my taste. I love french fries but the loaded french fries just didn't mix quite well for me. It was okay, but I probably wont be back knowing that there are delicious galbi tacos just two restaurants away.

    (2)

  • Emily Y.

    My siblings and I decided to try out this fusion korean restaurant, because we havent been there since it opened, and we wanted to try something new! To start off with parking, this restaurant is located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza, so it is always PACKED. Trouble finding parking is expected when coming here, but we luckily found parking right away :) We were immediately seated at the bar, because we didn't feel the need to wait for a table. The place itself is very small and have limited seating, but you get your food so quick for the most part, so I didnt find it an issue. We ordered kimchi pancake quesadilla, gogi tacos, and the galbi sliders, and of the 3, the gogi tacos were definitely my favorite! I've had gogi tacos before, but these were definitely unique compared to the others! It's a must try :) In my opinion, the kimchi pancake quesadilla was a good idea, but it was lacking a wow factor. Galbi sliders looked good, but because I don't eat pork, i'm unable to review it on taste. According to my brother, it tasted good! The staff was super friendly, and as we were eating at the bar, they conversed with us, which made me feel welcome there and very comfortable. Overall, it was a very good experience! I can't wait to come again :)

    (4)

  • Karch C.

    Price for food:3/5 Food Quality: 5/5 Staff and Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Overall:4/5(the prices were raised on my last visit and that's the only reason i don't give it a 5/5) This place is probably as close as it gets to having Kogi truck stop being a truck and actually be a restaurant where people can sit down and enjoy the food. Urban Seoul is a small restaurant located in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center by the Jamboree Alton intersection in Irvine. Despite being a small spot with very limited seating, the place can't hold more than 30 dine-in customers or so, the food is amazing. By amazing think Kogi Truck with a bigger menu. Korean ingredients fused with Mexican staple foods -tacos, quesadillas,- makes for a great meal. Anyway enough with some background, lets get to the good stuff. My standard order anytime I go to Urban Seoul is 5 gogi tacos and a gogi quesadilla, occasionally i'll get the chirizo fried rice-only if i miss happy hour/taco tuesday- since its got a nice kick to it -hey if you dont find it spicy its probably because im a lightweight when it comes to spice- but it doesn't feel like your mouth will explode like a volcano. Anyway on to the Gogi, my gosh, possibly the best gogi I've tasted so far. Full of flavor, full of juice when you bite into it, full of joy when i see it prepared and ready to go. Call it bias but i call it awesomeness. Couple things to note about the place is that they do happy hour every day from 5-7 pm, where they have a special menu in place-quesadillas and sliders for $3- and taco Tuesday where every taco order is $1.50. But this deal is dine-in only so you better bring your friends that are asking for some to go tacos to go with you on your trip over. Its definitely worth making the trip over during those times as the regular price for those items is pretty steep, especially since the portions are similar to the portions a food truck might give. The wait staff is really nice and attentive. Also if you sit at the bar don't hesitate to ask the chiefs for a glass of water -or even at times the bill- if the wait staff is busy with other customers-usually there's 2 people working the floor-. And i'll end off the review with this last statement. The bathroom sink is worth taking a look at... i mean its a pretty awesome sink and you'd be missing out if you didn't use it on your trip over. Enjoy! :D

    (4)

  • Chen W.

    So good! The kimchi fried rice is bomb. And the appetizers (corn and rice puffs) are amazing. The guys there are so nice and chill too. They accidentally made some extra fries so they gave them to me and my bf. We were so stuffed and we had leftovers for lunch the next day (still good after a microwave).

    (5)

  • Minsey L.

    I love Korean/Mexican fusion because those are my two favorite cuisines. I was super excited for this place to open up, but it always seemed closed when I tried to go. Finally, they are open for good! I have to say I was slightly disappointed though... The first time I came here I had the short rib arepas, loaded fries, and gogi tacos (they were out of pork belly). The best thing was the arepas. It was a little on the salty and greasy side, but it was pretty good. The loaded fries were smothered in nacho cheese, which I hate. And the gogi tacos were not that great. I liked the sauce they use at kogi better than here so I thought it was missing some flavor. The second time, I got japchae mari, pork belly tacos, and kimchi pancake quesadillas. The japchae mari was really interesting. It's japchae wrapped in seaweed and battered, fried, and smothered in ddukpoki sauce. It was pretty tasty but I think they could go a little easy on the sauce. It's literally soaking in it. The pork belly tacos were also very good. The meat choice makes a big difference here. Pork belly has a nice crispy texture that made it a lot better this time around. The kimchi quesadillas were ok, but disappointing. I make kimchi pancakes all the time and expected something similar. But their pancakes are basically tortillas with the slightest hint of kimchi. So I thought the title was misleading. I think this place truly sits at 3.5. It's pretty good, but not amazing and didn't live up to the hype. I'll bump them up just because now I can get fusion food without having to follow a food truck. I hate food trucks. It's a little on the expensive side considering the portioning. Expect to order about 2-3 plates per person when coming here.

    (4)

  • Lily G.

    Had the pork belly tacos, but was very disappointed. The meat was over cooked/dry and the tortillas were cold. They have horrible customer service. I came in on a Wednesday night and it wasn't that busy but the employees did not seem to acknowledge me for at least 10 min. I would not recommend this place. Thumbs down

    (2)

  • Patrick W.

    I love this place! The only thing that I would complain about are the prices, but eh, I've paid way more for food that wasn't nearly half as good as this place. I've never dined in here so I can't say much about the service. For carry out, just be sure you order ahead over the phone because they don't have a seating area for to-go orders, unless you wanna be THAT GUY awkwardly waiting in the middle of everyone lmao. For first timers I would recommend the loaded fries with gogi meat instead of spicy pork, the pork belly tacos, and any of the sliders.

    (4)

  • Troy H.

    Came here for the soft-opening. Delicious. Not a huge menu, but a focused, well driven menu. Limited to "tapas" style dining, but meant for sharing. Chicken "lollipops" amazing! Urban Seoul will stand out as there is nothing else like it in the OC! They do need some panchan or other types of things on the menu. Definitely will be back...

    (4)

  • Stanley C.

    Wanted to try a new place in Irvine w/ our friends so we choose this spot after hearing about through the grapevine. Upon entering, it's a small location, maybe fit about 30-40 people, open kitchen, tv, beer on tap. We ordered the following: Kimchi Quesadilla Pork Belly Tacos - this is always a must have...very tasty Short Rib Arepas - I like the spicy cilantro sauce a lot...maybe they could try putting it on a hawaiian bread roll...wonder if the spicy and sweet combination would be better. Kalbi sliders - friend said it reminded her of having an IN N Out hamburger Dukbogi - They gave it to us on the house because they forgot I requested no cheese on my taco...that was really nice of them I would say 4.5 stars because their service is pretty top notch! I'd come back here with friends again to hang out, eat korean fusion food, and enjoy the company. it's a great place to chill and hang out with friends.

    (4)

  • Kristen G.

    First time / Came with boyfriend Parking-Free Parking lot & Parking garage Atmosphere-Rustic & cozy Alcohol - Beer & wine Pricing-Cheap Deals-Happy Hour Everyday from 5-7 pm? Customer Service-Amazing!I'm pretty sure every server helped us and were very fast. Tried: Gogi Quesadilla - So fresh and delicious! Kolbi Sliders w/ criss cut fries - The sliders melt in your mouth.The meat has so much flavor and I love the soft bun.Criss cut fries were crunchy and to die for. Chicken Katsu Sandwich w/ egg - Not my favorite but still a good thing to try.

    (4)

  • Danny N.

    Disappointed that they don't have the arepas anymore! The loaded fries is a must get if you eat here, but wish they had more meat in there. It was mainly fries! The kimchi quesedilla was dry and lacked the kimchi flavor. The service was fine though. Bring back the arepas!!!

    (3)

  • Charles Y.

    Is it korean or is it mexican, How about Korexican? Urban Seoul is definitely a kitchen that crosses borders. With a tapas style dining, make sure you dine with a group to experience all their offerings. Many of the items on the soft opening menu was a bit greasy and sweat for my taste. Hopefully they'll consider adding savory menu items and beer (in progress) to help balance the palate. Aside from the usual suspects, I'd consider the following items the Seoul of their menu: -Short Rib Arepas -Chicken Lollipops -Spicy Rice Cake (bites size dukbokki that are gently fried and served with a tweaked version of the traditional spicy sauce, very interesting) I'm looking forward to going back and pairing the food with beer. Don't judge me yelpers, I promise I'm not an alcoholic!

    (4)

  • Anthony P.

    I've been here on two separate occasions. Love the loaded fries and fried rice! The rice was a good size portion that I could barely finish. The rice was perfectly made with flavorful meat and toppings. The fries were perfect except I wish they were a bit crispier. Other than that, they were savory and left me wanting more. They had great service and were always quick to help. The waitress was amazingly kind and quick to serve and refill our drinks. We received our bill in a timely manner and even tipped well for the excellent service! Definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Tu L.

    They have really good elote, and during happy hour it's $2.

    (4)

  • Alice C.

    Korean style tapas! Pork belly tacos were delish as well as the chicken lollipops. Met the owner Ronnie and he's great! Place is operationally set up like a food truck but fixed location. :)

    (4)

  • Blake S.

    Very disappointed. Took a good friend here and raved to her about how great the food was but i was let down in a major way. It wasn't even crowded this afternoon yet they forgot my order and when it came over 30 minutes after the rest of the food, it was neither hot nor the correct order. The staff didn't even acknowledge their condolences for this mistake! The service has never been 5 star worthy but this time really set me off. Even though the food is normally awesome, I don't think i'll be returning.

    (2)

  • John C.

    Ate here on Wednesday 7/30 for dinner. Got the kimchi fried rice and ate at the bar. Went to sleep feeling a little weird that night but woke up with the worse stomach ache and food poisoning on Thursday. Needless to say I'm never going back. Unsanitary food is definitely a big no no.

    (1)

  • Tina H.

    Slow service, waiters are inexperienced. Workers should wear a more distinctive shirt to show they work here instead of looking like random ass strangers smiling and creeping on each table. Food and drinks were expensive Takes so long to get food, there's no communication between waiter and chefs, over and over we were told that ours was coming out next... after 30 minutes of waiting, it obviously wasnt "next". They did comp us some sweet potato fries so that was nice.

    (2)

  • Jerry W.

    Greatest place to eat , delicious and healthy. somethings have to be experienced and this is one of them. Watermelon drink was fresh cold and tasty. The bowl with tofu and fresh veggies was delish!

    (5)

  • Kevin Y.

    Kinda overrated place. Korean fusion menu got no attractive tastes. Just named foods as Korean however the tastes are not even close to the Koreans.

    (3)

  • Pj G.

    My favorite gastro place ever, the pork belly tacos are fantastic. They change up the menu a lot and have special drinks constantly. This place is a must try if you are into gastro and deliciously bomb fusion style foods

    (5)

  • Thuy N.

    I love their bibimbap with gogi (comes out to $10.26 with tax). Their service is ehhhh spotty and a bit slow at times which is the downfall but they're typically busy, but still, sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get the check. The female waitresses are better than the guys (yeah! you go girls!)...I usually eat at the counter. Don't go on Tuesdays, it's a madhouse. Good food though!

    (4)

  • Amanda N.

    This place is DELICIOUS. I've never had Kogi, but I have had other Asian fusion places. I have to say that Urban Seoul is the best out of all of them. Their Taco Tuesday ($1.50 for a taco) and their happy hour is great! I've had their pork belly and gogi tacos, and I've also had their gogi quesadilla. All are delicious!

    (5)

  • Kae Y.

    This location is roomier and has an outdoor patio. The food is expensive and the service mediocre. I wouldn't rush to come back. Closed after 2pm, what the?! They reopen for dinner service. I ordered the kimchi fried rice to go and it was delish despite the prices.

    (2)

  • Anh N.

    fast: food truck food without the parking lot, this is a nice casual restaurant with interesting options if hit and miss pros: sliders, pork belly tacos, service cons: bibim bap, torta Why hate on the bibim bap? We prefer ours to be in a stone pot and the one Urban serves is probably just fine but doesn't suit our tastes at all. The torta was also very disappointing on flavor. But the sliders were a wonderfully balanced asian flavored burger, pork tacos were nice. The crispy meat texture inside the tortilla. They also had 50% off sojus at the time, which worked out well for us. We like the vibe and the choices. The prices are about what you pay at the food truck but at least you have a comfy place to sit here. I'd come back.

    (3)

  • Nick C.

    For the area of Irvine, this is a small and hip spot. Very casual laid back atmosphere, and the food is always good. The menu is forever changing, which keeps things interesting. It's inexpensive, small, tapas style plates - unless you order everything on their menu like me!

    (5)

  • Steven M.

    Bomb Korean fusion food!! I never thought u can make kimchi pancake into a quesadilla!! Lol make sure to try their fries and Kalbi slider and kimchi pancake quesadilla!!

    (5)

  • Pomme L.

    Not bad, I like the tacos, loco moco, the fries with a bunch of meat and cheese on top of it and the bim bim bap. I didn't like the katsu sandwich. It seemed interesting at first, but wasn't what I expected. Also the music was too loud, it hard for the wait staff to hear me calling them. Service was good when the staff notice me. They serve good craft beer; I had the Trumer Pilsner and the Firestone 805.

    (4)

  • Venus H.

    What can I say --- GREAT! We came here on a taco Tuesday and the taco was great! The food here is a bit different from the traditional Korean restaurant but it will definitely make you feel surprise and special! If it's too crowded, just order the food to-go.

    (5)

  • Christine C.

    I've been hearing a lot of good things about this place so my bf and I went. I don't think I'm ever coming back. It seems like korean food hipster version. Everything tasted okay. Not something I would come back for. Disappointed....

    (3)

  • Katy K.

    Finally came to see what all the hype was about. Def legit hype. Got here in type for their everyday 5-7pm happy hour and was able to try all the menu items...don't judge me. The staff was super friendly and we got seated right away but it was def packed and it's a small space so beware before you bring all ur homies to happy hour. The quesadillas and elote were hands down my favorite items! I was skeptical of elote at a Korean place, but I was pleasantly surprised! The corn was perfectly cooked and sweet! I will def come back as I saw bibimbap on the menu but was too full to try. Oh and the happy hour was an amazing deal too, got two drinks, one of each happy hour item and it all came out to $24!

    (4)

  • Dominique M.

    I have been here three times and never wrote a review? Naughty me... This visit wasn't as great as the first time I came, but I still like the place a lot. So this rating is for this particular visit. Well, I don't quite remember what I ordered the first time I went, oh wait, the Loaded Fries (which were great!) and some other things, and came here last Tuesday for Taco Tuesday with the boyfriend and bestie. Forget that... I came here tonight with my boyfriend and I remember exactly what I got. Too bad there isn't Taco Monday, but we tried something new. I tried their Kimchi Pancake Quesadilla, and it wasn't as great as I thought it would be. I was hoping to taste much more kimchi, but I mostly tasted chicken and cheese. The kimchi sour cream was a nice touch, but by itself the cream didn't taste much like kimchi either, it had the usual tanginess and something else I can't really describe, maybe a little vegginess, but I'm not sure. Oh, and what is the pancake part, because I don't think I tasted that either. All in all, it's not the most interesting tasting thing on the menu (it has an interesting name though) and I probably wouldn't order it again, considering there are other great menu items. My boyfriend had the Spicy Pork Torta and I had a little itty bite and it was very flavorful, but didn't try enough to judge it. I also ordered a $2, free refill, Horchata. Why not. Even though it comes out of a dispenser, Horchata is good (but I've been spoiled with homemade authentic Horchata). The waitress was kinda slow, surprisingly, since it was a slow night, but nonetheless they were nice and when I asked for a refill before leaving, she gave it to me in a to go cup (aw how nice, how did she know!?). I will be coming back, because it's a fun, trendy environment, and had good food.

    (3)

  • James S.

    Good food, poor service. Maybe it's because it was lunchtime, but the service was sub-par. The food, however, was very good. I recommend the spicy rice cake.

    (3)

  • Frank J.

    Everything here is good. I've had just about everything on the menu and I haven't been disappointed yet. Tacos and chorizo fried rice are my favorites out of the bunch. Sit at the bar if you can. The cooks are right in front of preparing food and are don't seem to mind making conversation about your lunch. Seating around lunch time can get nuts. I try to get there right when they open and usually I don't have a problem, but by noon there is a substantial line.

    (5)

  • Khine S.

    It has the best bbq in town!!! I had the best time after I drank with my friend！It opens 24 hours and you can just come here to have a midnight food!!!! ^^

    (5)

  • Chelsea R.

    Urban Seoul is a great go-to place for lunch with an incredible Taco Tuesday ($2 tacos). I love everything about Urban Seoul. Everyone who works there are overly accommodating and friendly. I have never ordered something off the menu that I don't like. My favorites include the 3B bowl with gogi, their tacos, sliders and loaded fries. I am hungry just writing this review.

    (5)

  • W M.

    Busy place but the waiters work fast, order was placed and quickly served. It tastes good but the place is small with little tables and a stool where you cannot sit back and relax. You must elbow fight with your neighbor and scream to hear anyone

    (3)

  • Brett S.

    Seriously, how does this place not have a line out the door every minute they are open? The service is amazing, the food fantastic, and the atmosphere cool and relaxed. The Chorizo fried rice is a must. Also, 3B bowl is HUGE and packed with flavor. The sliders are a surprise, flavor ride! Had the loaded fries and quesadilla - also solid (yes, three of us ate like a family of 5). Go here now...

    (5)

  • Alex P.

    As many others have said, the pork belly tacos are a must. Excellent idea and very tasty. The place is small with good device. I came on a Wednesday night and seating was not an issue.

    (4)

  • Wilde B.

    Korean fusion truck food meets small bar and it was killer! The food was just blazing with flavor and heat and texture. Our server was great...she was very friendly and helped us choose items to share. My fave was the kogi tacos followed by the bibimbap with spicy pork. We also ordered the loaded fries (too much for me), the chicken wings and chap jae spring rolls. Everything was fresh, beautifully colourful with a flavor punch. Will definitely return the next time I'm in the OC! Nicely done!

    (4)

  • Darrel Q.

    From an avid Korean food eater. It's kind of hard to get Korean fusion wrong. All of the food they serve here is comfort food. I ordered the bulgogi fries, bibimbap, and the kimchi quesadilla. I split all of the food which were of reasonable portion with my two friends. We were stuffed. The fries were a step above decent. Good, simple, and tasty. The bibimbap was full of flavor. As you would expect from bibimbap. This one included pork belly or samgyeopsal which was a great addition. Instead of regular rice they had kimchi fried rice which just added to the already awesome flavors. The kimchi quesadillas were great. Albeit an indulgence to say the least. Felt l had to work out after that. The atmosphere is great. But very small and busy and it tends to feel a bit crowded. The service could have been faster but it was busy when I was there so I'll let it slide. If I'm ever visiting UC Irvine again I'll be back for sure. They give you free stickers after your meal!

    (4)

  • Mrs M.

    One of the best places for korean Mexican fusion cuisine. Friendly staff and servers. My favorite is their tacos, gogi quesadillas and kimchi fried rice! Their happy hour starts from 5-7... We got there around 4:40 and there was already a line outside.,, so plan on getting there early! Pork belly tacos is only $1.50 during HH... Not bad at all!

    (4)

  • Janice Y.

    This is a fun restaurant with imaginative food and a hip atmosphere. If only the parking lot was easier to access... I have had the Kim Chee chorizo fried rice, pork belly tacos, Gogi sliders, curry puffs, kalbi tacos, chicken drumettes and bibimbap. I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I have tried and can't wait to go back for more... Now to steel myself to face that parking lot again.

    (4)

  • X B.

    tasty place... lots of flavors pork belly tacos (3) - deep fried DRIED pieces of pork belly gogi tacos - YUM spicy rice cake - YUM pieces are larger than boba sizes loaded french fries - YUM with pieces of gogi on it elote/corn - tasty, be sure to squeeze the lemon on it

    (3)

  • Amy V.

    - kalbi burger - its my favorite one - gogi slider - did not like this so much but it was my sister's favorite - pork belly tacos - it was ok - short rib arepas - kind of sweet - loaded fries - sister also liked this one. i thought it was too filling over

    (4)

  • Kristina S.

    The service is good but it isn't as clean add I like for am eating place. The workers were all friendly and I enjoyed the food. But it is different and probably isn't for everyone. It is a fusion of Korean and Mexican. So be prepared for something not quite traditional. Overall though I enjoyed it and would go again.

    (4)

  • Swapna M.

    Small place. Friendly, but very inattentive staff. Sat at the bar right in front of them and we still had to ask for several things (beer refill, check) Ordered the pork belly tacos and the gogi tacos. Both were pretty good. Pork belly meat is cubed and pretty crunchy. The gogi were my favorite. The meat is more flavorful. I'm a sauce person, so I asked for extra orange sauce. Super yummy. I would go back to this place if I was in the area... nothing mind blowing. I personally, think the Kogi truck is better.

    (3)

  • Madeleine L.

    I have wanting to try this place ever since I heard about the pork belly tacos! I'm a pork belly everythangg person so you can imagine my excitement. I tried pork belly tacos, chicken drumette, and spicy pork torta. Pork belly tacos were not bad; nothing beats pork belly fried just right so that fat part gets crunchy n juicy. However, I was expecting a sweeter taste, maybe because I like my pork belly either bland bbq style or marinated thickly. The taste didn't linger.. Chicken drumette was fried very juicy and thr serving was fulfilling! 6.25 for 6 wings, I was surprised. The sweet slightly spicy sauce reminded me of Love Letter chicken&pizza's sauce except lighter in taste. But it was the good kind of light, good with a beer and a thursday night. The spicy pork torta was a bit greasy with no distinct taste though. What threw my tastebuds off was thr cottage cheese that they put on pork belly tacos and torta..it somehow didnt make good combination. But next time I'll just ask for no cheese. SERVICE was great and friendly. I'll definitely come back to try other foods on the menu! Great affordable hang out, talk about life foood!

    (4)

  • Rizza V.

    It was surprisingly not busy the one time I went despite it being a Saturday night. I had the kimchi quesadilla and it was beautiful lol. The service was quick and I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. I'll definitely be back to try the other things on their menu especially since I loooove fusion foods!

    (4)

  • Derek H.

    Came here to try their arepas and pork belly tacos and definitely was not disappointed. This might be one of the only places within DJ that is not too overpriced and worth going to! The food here is extremely flavorful and they have a really unique menu that features a wide variety of options. Everything here also looks amazing and really looks like something that you can get out of a food truck. The pork belly tacos really stood out and I loved the spicyness of the tacos as well as the subtle pork belly taste of the tacos themselves. mmmmmmm... Come here to get food truck tastes without having to search for the truck!

    (4)

  • Kenny K.

    I loved this place my doc took me here.. we ordered a bunch of stuff Kalbi Burger, Pork Belly Tacos, Short Rib Arepas, Urban 3B(bibimbap) and loaded fries, friendly staff.. Sitting along the bar top you get to see everything and the staff isnt afraid to talk to you like a sushi bar.. JUST AWESOME

    (5)

  • Anne N.

    The Gogi slider is bomb diggity delicious! The loaded fries is so good! The meat is tasty and love the extra jalapenos in it. The pork belly tacos wasn't too bad either, but it was a bit dry. The staffs are really nice and friendly. Superb on customer service! They serve nlimited refills on their horchata drink, which was awesome. I really enjoy eating at this hip place! Will be back again.

    (5)

  • Benj N.

    It was unusual and good. We got the elota (street corn), tacos with pork belly, and the kogi sliders. We also got the kids meal with is kogi and rice with some carrot strings. The three of us enjoyed our dinner very much. The food was filling and was very tasty. The corn was a little dry and could use some more mayo and butter. The street tacos were yummy. The sliders were really good as well but a little messy. I kind of wish it stayed in the buns a little better. They were good but some siracha made it great. Thanks!

    (4)

  • Rain C.

    Went here again. The kimchee quesadilla and pork belly chimichanga are all that are worth eating. I'm pretty small, and it still took me $20 to get full. Also, their bi bim bap is not bi bim bap. It's a salad. They should call it "Bi bim bap-inspired salad"

    (2)

  • Zuly P.

    awesome pork belly tacos and the Elote is amazing! Recommend both. I will continue to be a regular !

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    I had the chorizo fried rice. I'm not exactly sure what was so Korean fusion about it? Was there kalbi in it that I didn't know about? Was the nacho cheese or jalapeno's suppose to make it fusion? The rice?!?!? Tatter tots? What the heck did I just eat? O_O What a weird combination of flavors from all around the world. *Shrugs. A-OK ........ come with an open mind, and you may leave happy. Come thinking all these 4/5+ star reviews are legit, well you may be disappointed. Not into overpowering flavors that mask items -- stay away! It's new, it's Irvine, and it may just be a fad.

    (3)

  • Lea M.

    Delish! Love the way they fuse Korean & Mexican dishes. Tacos are half off on Tuesdays (or is it Wednesdays?) Be warned: parking is horrible during lunch & dinner on weekends; dinner in Fridays.

    (5)

  • D H.

    Super yumm but a lil pricey. Small seating area gets cramped fast but awesome food! Elote and gogi tacos r my faves!

    (4)

  • Andrea C.

    Good food and service. Price matches quality of food, especially for Taco Tuesday! If there's a long que outside, it's worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Rhett S.

    Urban Seoul is the panacea to the mundane "where shall we eat tonight" indecisive questions we all ask ourselves everyday. To boot, Urban Seoul has a very attractive "daily" 5-7pm happy hour and is arguably the best restaurant in the plaza. Urban Seoul takes Kogi to the next level. The flavors are more complex, more filling, and more variety. Plus it's damn cheap for what you get. The service can be spotty and you might be inclined to grab your own beers from their fridge as the waiters/waitress take their sweet time, but all is made up for in their food. + $2 Pacifico (during Happy Hour) + pork belly tacos - pork belly is fried with a great texture almost thick bacon and topped with mound of pickled veggies and crisp cabbage. A ton of flavor that will be dripping down your arm. + gogi quisadella - sweet bulgogi, tortilla, and cheese. yes please! + gogi tacos - very similar to the pork belly tacos except a little sweeter. Nonetheless great. + spicy pork torta - wow! a lot of flavors and different textures in this sandwich. Pulled pork, jalapenos, cabbage, and guac. I real crowd pleaser. + Churro - Simple yet delicious. Better than Disney Land! I really like Urban Seoul, and yes... I will be back. and yes again... I accept high fives when you see me!

    (4)

  • Daniel K.

    My first time here and I have got to say that the servers, chefs, and food are all fantastic. The ambience is hectic yet comforting at the same time. Maybe it was because the chefs were discussing possible new dishes and the fact that they have that much pride in their menu items makes their food taste that much better. I had the 3 bulgogi tacos and I love that they made it spicy!! Go try it for yourself! They have a great happy hour and serves alcohol like soju and beer.

    (4)

  • Denny T.

    Food 5 stars Service 1 star The service at this place during lunch really kills the experience here. I used to come quite often and put up with the lack luster service but today pissed me off and I find myself wanting to make sure other people and the management know that their arbitrary policies can piss people off. There is a "store policy" in place here that says you can't get any of their pricing specials (like taco Tuesday) if you're not dining in. That's their right, I suppose, but this inane policy creates a huge issue if you'd rather enjoy your food at work or at home. I found myself having lunch alone today because I wanted to grab something quick and eat back at my office. I showed up and asked if I could get an order of tacos for take away and they said I had to dine in for them. Well that's stupid, but there were 6 open seats and no one on the waiting list so I said sure. I stood there for about ten minutes watching the waitress that got my name for the waitin list bring the bill to some customers and drinks for others but no one bussing the tables. I get it, they're busy, so I waited. After another 5 minutes or so and she brings a party of 6 to the counter to occupy the open seats. This annoyed me a bit because there was no one else on the waiting list but, once again, whatever. At this point there's a huge line out the door because the staff are swamped and no one has gotten seated in about 30 minutes despite there being empty seats. So much for a quick lunch. When I'm finally seated, I'm one person at a table for 4, yeah, suddenly I'm that asshole. All because they won't let me take away. I'll be coming back because the food is good. Hopefully the experience next time will be better.

    (1)

  • T N.

    New kid on the block for Diamond Jamboree plaza. Not the typical Asian experience, and that's a huge compliment! We had the bimbimbop, short rib arepas, and kogi tacos. I was pleasantly surprised with the great flavor from each of the tapas size dishes. Size, except food truck sized food, with food truck prices. If you're a haughty service snob, who needs to be fawned over or have your ego stroked, this is not the place for you. Not at all pretentious, just a chill urban atmosphere. The server staff is cool, competent, and definitely a friendly bunch. If I had to sum up the place in several words: tasty hipster tapas. I'd definitely come back for a snack.

    (3)

  • Oscar R.

    Food was great. Great flavors. Had the spicy pork tacos and chicken katsu sandwich. Services was great. Even brought some ice cream and strawberries on the house. We'll be back.

    (5)

  • Megan L.

    I would describe this place that serves American food with a Korean twist. I got the burger ($7.25) and it came out in two mini buns like slaters. The burgers were delicious and would highly recommend. I also got the fries and drumettes. The fries were really crispy and had a lot of toppings. Despite being delicious, it was slightly spicy so I couldn't fully enjoy it. If you like some kick to your fries, I would recommend this dish. It was priced at $7.50 which is a bit expensive for fries IMO. The amount was a good helping, but I don't think fries should ever be more than $5, no matter how amazing they are. The drumettes were good too. There was nicely fried and came with a sweet and spicy sauce. Because I cannot eat spicy food, I was not able to try the sauce. The decor of the restaurant was definitely urban. It had a rustic feel. The bathroom is nicely decorated with a cool sink. When I first came into this place, I felt like I was at a burger joint instead of a Korean restaurant. As a result, I was slightly confused for a few minutes. The service was mediocre. It was neither superb or bad. This place serves good food but because of its limited selection, I am not sure if I will be going back often. Regardless, it would still be a place I would recommend my friends if they were craving American food with a Korean twist.

    (4)

  • Linette L.

    The gogi tacos and loaded fries were really good, but the service was a bit slow. We waited a really long time just to get our cups of water. However, the staff was really nice. I can see that they are continuosly doing something and on their toes, so I feel the problem may be that they are understaffed.

    (4)

  • Kerry L.

    So good. But I love Korean food. Would have liked to try all the restaurants in this area. Fun place to go. It is a small place, we went late at Friday night and we had no problem being seated. People are great.

    (5)

  • Howie L.

    Just went here with my family for dinner; great food and service. The place is tiny but it's pretty cool. The bathroom was a step-back-and-go-'what' moment -- the bathroom is pretty simple but the thing that makes you go 'heh...that's cool' is the sink; it looks like it was part of a pirate ship -- chains holding it up, big plank of wood as the base and the sink itself is a frosted aqua-colored bowl, also the faucet and soap dispenser don't match the sink because they're dark bronze and in the theme of a water-pump. Other than the cool, random sink, this place is a must try. The food is excellent; reminds me of what you would get from a Kogi truck but on another level. The service is great and friendly; especially the guys behind the counter. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • J B.

    Pork Belly Tacos are bomb! Watermelon mint lemonade unique and tasty and large! My new go to spot at Diamond Jamboree! Man I wanna go right now

    (5)

  • STEPHANY L.

    food was too sugary and salty

    (3)

  • Foodie F.

    Food was very delicious and flavorful! Get the pork belly tacos, Gogi tacos, fries, soju, and churros!!! Went on taco Tuesday and got a lot of food for a really great price. $1.50 tacos and $3 appetizers

    (5)

  • SJ P.

    You have to come here during Taco Tuesday!! It's a steal deal for the delicious fusion tacos. The bibimbap is also a must-try. I love the purple rice, and the crunchy cabbage and carrots are a nice balance. Everytime I go to the Diamond Jamboree plaza, I stay on the main side where 85C and Capital Seafood are. I'm glad to have finally ventured the other side.

    (5)

  • Amanda M.

    This place could not get any better! What got me there was their tacos, what keeps me staying is their 3B. I get the gogi 3B with purple rice every time I go (which is about once a week). I love sitting up at the bar and talking to the cooks, they are always friendly even when they are slammed and stressed out. I think I have finally tried everything on the menu and there is nothing that I would advise against!! Mandu, 3B, sliders, and burger. The burger comes with two slider size burgers... its like if the cooks at in-n-out put love into their burgers... and better ingredients.

    (5)

  • Eric H.

    I really liked this'd place the first time I came so I brought my family back. This place's service is sooooo slow. Came in, 3 other people were seated after us, all had their order taken. Had to work to flag a server down. Currently only about 10 people here in the restaurant out of 30 seats and it's been 30 mins and we still don't have or food. Bam.. now turns out waiter didn't put the order in, and when food does finally come in waves, it's burnt, or parts of the order are missing. Like I said last time I enjoyed it.

    (2)

  • Jose M.

    Everybody is all about Asian Fusion nowadays. If you haven't tried this place, you are missing out. Although the line can be very long at times, it is well worth the wait. Our first time here we ordered the stir fry udon and the urban bibimbap (rice dish) with spicy pork. The flavors on both dishes were explosive! All the ingredients marry together and it was like a New Years Eve in your mouth! Then we tried the street style corn on the cob, that was simply delicious and I would have probably ordered more but my shorts we're getting tighter. Anyway, if you're around Irvine, do not miss this place. The service was also superb, very friendly and attentive even when they are too busy.

    (5)

  • Lori C.

    Small cozy hang out restaurant but really good food. They have good HH deals on small plates and drinks. One of the best Korean Fusion places that I've tried. The gogi bibimbap was delicious.

    (5)

  • Veronica V.

    came here the other day and our waiter informed us that the kitchen will be closing in 15 min. we came in a large group and we're all first timers, so like normal people, WE ORDERED EVERYTHING (x2). sliders, tacos, quesadilla, dumplings, fried rice, loaded fries, corn and a few pitchers of beers. the pork belly tacos were amazing! I would come back again just for these, a bit on the pricey side, but what do you expect? it's irvine and this aint no taco truck. everything else we ordered was mediocre, and super greasy. it wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. we stayed a bit pass closing time, but they didn't try to haste us, which is always a plus for me. I will def be back for the pork belly tacos!

    (4)

  • Jenn L.

    They have amazing pub-style, Asian-fusion food here! My favorite was their street style corn. Super tasty. Brings me back memories of when I used to buy those when I was little.

    (5)

  • Angel C.

    To be fair, let me clarify that this review is just for the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice. But it was really so bad that I'm hesitant to come back. The pork belly was fried and sooo fatty. And not in a good way. Combined with all the crunchy stuff on top, the greasiness was just too overwhelming. I didn't think that the pickled red onions went well with the fried rice either. The flavor was just off and seeing all the grease on the bottom of the bowl... yah, kimchi fried rice is just really oily, but this bowl had a pool of oil that I could literally scoop up with a spoon. It kind of feels like this place is trying really hard to be like Chego. The paper plates and bowls, the food options, even the menu itself looks similar. Just not quite up to par in my opinion.

    (2)

  • Daniel M.

    Amazing fusion of Mexican and Korean food!! The pork belly tacos and Gogi quesadillas are a must have! The staff is very friendly and the patrons give the place a hipsteresque vibe. The watermelon-mint lemonade is super fresh. Happy hour is from 5 to 7. I strongly recommend this place if in the area.

    (5)

  • Susie S.

    Gogi tacos are super yummy. Bibimbap is good too. Kimchi fried rice was light on the kimchi, but daughter liked it-I like to have kimchi in every bite. Service was great. I would definitely go back for some tacos. My son got plain fries and said they were the best fries he has ever had.

    (4)

  • Naheed A.

    Stopped in on a Sunday evening around 6. Discovered they have an awesome HH menu everyday from 5-7 I believe. Ordered the chorizo kimchi fried rice and gogi tacos. Both dishes were flavorful and well presented. Enjoyed the kimchi fried rice the most as the chorizo was super crispy and the rice itself was just the perfect amount of sticky! Friendly, helpful and attentive wait staff along with awesome, modern decor. Love the simple/small menu as well. They have $1.50 mix and match taco Tuesday which I can't wait to try!

    (4)

  • Fred S.

    Ok this is my first time here. Service was good I was checked on by three different servers all very friendly and seemed happy to be there. I ordered the Pork Belly Tacos because I like to be healthy. They were super delicious. Crunchy with lots of flavor. My friend had the Chorizo fried rice she also likes to be healthy. I had a taste and it was totally good. 4 stars cause the drink options sucked. No diet coke no regular ice tea. They had green tea out of a bottle. I had this and asked for sweetener which they did not have. Kind of weird. So food great! Service great! Drinks not! Atmosphere good not great. Parking was horrible. Seating minimal. So it was all worth it because food was very tasty. I guess next time I'll bring my own drink.

    (4)

  • Paul S.

    Wow!!!! Place is bomb... Great service delicious food. Chicken katsu torta I definitely recommend and the pork belly tacos.. Right next to my job so I will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Chad I.

    Just finished my second dinner here in 3 days and my experience was wonderful both times! Sat at the bar and was able to watch all the amazing food being prepared for us! Tried so many things, pork belly tacos bomb, gogi Bibimbap bomb, fries bomb, elote amazing, and our specially made pork belly arepas were phenomenal! Highly recommend this place to anyone who loves good food at a fair price!

    (5)

  • Marie S.

    The food here is super decadent! We had the sliders that were soooo tasty and the beef was juicy and tender. The fries have all kinds of stuff on them and so delicious but are a heart attack on a plate! And the pork belly tacos were so filling and big!. All of this food could have fed 4-5 people easily!

    (5)

  • Matt V.

    They have some unique food like the japchae mari which was pretty good and the tacos and fries were ok. Overall the food portions were really small for the price and the food was just ok.

    (2)

  • Tammy K.

    love this place! I really enjoyed bibimbob (hope i spelt it right) it tasted a bit different than the traditional korean food, it was more like mexican & korean all mixed.. :) their customer service was great, interior was very unique. they had all kinds of alcohol drinks, korean sodas, japanese beers, wines and so on. strongly recommend !

    (5)

  • Joe M.

    This is not a fancy place. It has benches or a counter to sit. It is pleasant but not separate tables like a sit down restaurant. The food variety was good. For this type of food, you had a good selection. They did not have food outside their Korean fusion. I enjoyed the food but thought it was more if a sit down when we went. The plaza it is in has many other choices of Asian food too.

    (4)

  • Miranda B.

    I only gave 4 starts because the service is not great (didn't get utensils not napkins). However their food gets 5 stars!!!. It was my first time going there today and I loved everything I had. Pork belly tacos, Kogi, spicy pork tacos and arepas. I'm mexican so this Asian-Latino fusion is delish. It's like having the best of both worlds on one plate. I've tried the Kogi truck in the past and was not impressed but this place really impressed me. Can't wait to eat here again!!!

    (4)

  • Alex N.

    Dang.. This place definitely lives up to the hype. On Tuesdays, there's a special deal all day for $1.75. All of them are good, but the pork belly tacos could definitely be eaten over and over again. I've been to this place many times just for the tacos; they're the best Korean infused tacos I've had. Don't forget to try the loaded fries (they're good too). This place is definitely priced appropriately for the tacos. Don't mind the wait if there is one. This place is definitely worth waiting for!

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    We decided to stop by the 85 bakery in Irvine on our way back to San Diego from Anaheim, and came across this little gem in the same plaza. Great Korean fusion food, at fair prices, and quick service! We loved our pork belly and gogi tacos. The loaded fries were amazing! Definitely something to share between 2 people. We'll definitely go again if we're ever in the area.

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    Came here with my cousin and we both thought it was delicious. We ordered the chorizo kimchi fried rice, pork belly tacos, and the loaded fries. Everything was super good, but my favorite was the pork belly tacos. This place isn't a huge place, so make sure to get there early.

    (5)

  • John H.

    Food: I was skeptical at first, but I was really happy that it worked and this Americanization of Korean food actually worked. I tried the korean tacos (gogi and pork belly), waffle fries w/ toppings and the bibimbap. The tacos were on point and definitely worth a visit to try, especially on Taco Tuesdays. The bibimbap was also good and was very close to the real thing, just a little less busy than a typical bibimbap bowl. The waffle fries with the spicy pork and cheese topping was the star of the evening, however. You really wouldn't think of paring cheese with korean meat entrees, but "my goodness," I still dream of them now. Service: Perfect. Recommendations when needed, gave us space to enjoy each other's company, and check to see if everything was okay. I'm glad there's a place for non-Koreans to ease themselves into a cuisine that is always in the shadows of their more prevalent Chinese and Japanese cousins.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    Great for happy hour since the price is cheaper. Food is descent. I mostly just liked the watermelon mint drink -it's quite refreshing. Pork belly tacos were on the dry side and their loaded fries just tasted like a bunch of mismatched stuff tossed together.

    (3)

  • Dave L.

    This place is unique. They serve a variety of fun, snack like dishes with a multicultural flare. You think from the name it would be a traditional Korean restaurant, but that's not the case. They have the most delicious pork belly tacos in the world. Crunchy, full of flavor, juicy, and can't get enough of tacos. They cater to the young, college student or professional type who have a unique and up to date taste of Korean food. It's reasonably priced with a one page menu, something I just love.

    (4)

  • Alexis I.

    Totally go for the corn and the spicy pork tacos! Warning the spicy pork tacos are super spicy! We went on a Saturday night, so I would expect it to be busy, but we waited for our drinks, our meals, our check. In fact had to go up to the bar to get our beers ourself! Also they were out of 3 beers they had on tap. nonetheless I will definitely go back and would recommend it to friends, just don't plan on anything afterwards!

    (4)

  • Kati H.

    I've been here a few times and it's always really good! I love the gogi tacos

    (5)

  • Marc T.

    I forgot why Janette and I came here, but it just sounded interesting. Who doesn't love Korean Fusion food? Little did I know that it would be this good. Bulgogi Sliders - These were good! The beef was juicy, and the sweetness from the marinade was not overpowering. The slider buns absorbed the juices nicely, and reminded me of a good pan de leche roll, with a nice toast on it. The aioli was solid, and the flavors blended well. Chorizo Kimchee Fried Rice - Mind = Blown. This was probably the perfect korean mexican fried rice. Hell, this was probably one of the best fried rice dishes period!. Chorizo, fried onions, green onions, pickled onions, fried egg over easy, carnitas (which were more small chopped deep fried pork belly), and kimechee rice. Who would have thought this amalgamation would work. It created this porky goodness, and each bite made me hungrier with each bite. The spices from the chorizo created a nice heat, while the kimchee flavor added a nice peppery/sesame flavor. The crunchy texture from the pork belly carnitas, batter fried onions, and the gooeyness from the yolks was so good. My eyes seriously rolled back eating this. But the key here is the lime and pickled onions. It cuts the fat and oiliness down by enough to make you not feel bad for eating something so flavor intensive. it also opens your palate initially, and cleanses you when you finish. Writing this review makes me want the rice bad. This won my night. Seriously, get the Chorizo Kimchee Fried Rice. Oh my god. Oh, and the service was pretty fast too. Man that fried rice though!

    (5)

  • Karissa S.

    I have tried several different things off their menu and so far I have loved absolutely everything! My favorite is the Pork Belly Tacos and the Fries! They have a taco tuesday special for $1.50 per taco! They also have Happy Hour specials for $3 menu items! That's about as good as it gets! I wish I lived close by because I WOULD SERIOUSLY EAT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY! And to top it off, the place is clean and their service is great!

    (5)

  • Jen T.

    We ended up at this place on a saturday night after going to Tanaka farms for some pumpkins. We were starving and knew that this plaza had a lot of restaurants. However, my fiance is vegetarian so we were worried there wouldn't be anything. But the chefs here were very understanding and were able to make her different dishes without meat. It was also happy hour! SCORE! We ordered pretty much everything from the happy hour menu including their elote, their quesadillas, the garlic edamames. I also ordered the gogi bimbap and that was delicious as well. Everything was great and fresh! The wait staff was very nice and cool about making some modifications to the orders. I would definitely come back here to eat. Their elote must be the best thing I had last night if I really had to pick one thing. But I can't, so I loved it all!

    (4)

  • Rahoul P.

    We ordered kimchi fried rice, quesadillas, bulgogi tacos, and spicy pork torta, and 1 horchata. The horchata came in a plastic cup like those cups on top of medicine bottles. So small. It was like 3 bucks and like halfway full of ice. I took my time on the horchata thinking I have to make it last the whole meal. So when I finished after couple sips I asked for water. The nice gentleman looked confused and was like the horchata is refillable. I almost started crying and gave him a hug. About the food. The waiter said it would be enough for two people, that it would be rough to finish. I was like big deal bruh I'll eat it all. And I did eat all that but it WAS rough. I could barely walk out cuz my stomach was at least 5 inches bigger. The tacos were really spicy and had some crumbled cheese. The cheese was not to my liking but the sauce on it was good. The pork torta was really good too. It wasn't much of a torta with the like huge buns but more of a sub. I almost forgot about the quesadillas because that's exactly what they were...forgettable. It's just cheese and meat no big deal. The star of the dinner was the kimchi fried rice. Probably the best I've ever had. Not too spicy though. Staff was friendly and the kitchen is open so you can see what everyone is doing. I'd go back just for the fried rice.

    (4)

  • G R.

    I have driven by this place at lunch, but the plaza it's in is so crowded at lunchtime. I am sorry I have been missing out. Today, the guys in my office brought me a 3B Chicken Bowl and I am in love. It's just right and has such great flavors. I will be back for sure. I do wish they had an online menu so we could call in an order to go.

    (5)

  • Tricia M.

    Ordered four dishes for two people.... DESTROYED IT ALL. Urban seoul is true comfort food for me. I was expecting the portions to be smaller, but they were decent-sized meals. One dish per person is more than enough, but how would I be able to try everything then?? I highly recommend the bibimbap, which had black rice in it, which is sooo good. We also got the pork belly tacos (yum) and the loaded fries (yummers). The kimchi pancake quesadilla was just okay in my opinion; I honestly don't even remember the kimchi.. it was very cheesy. The server and cooks were all great, and no one gave a judging stare for licking all of our plates spotless. Thanks Urban for a delicious lunch. This place def is better than the other options in Diamond Jamboree!

    (5)

  • Iris C.

    I LOVE this place! I love any type of Korean food and if it has a twist on it, I love it that much more!!! We ordered the ddukbokki (spicy rice cakes) and I seriously died and went to heaven on that first bite.. I loved that they were slightly crispy on the outside unlike the traditional Korean rice cakes. They were really flavorful and really filling so if you want to get anything I would highly recommend this. They were $7.50 and a pretty big/shareable portion We also ordered the loaded fries ($6.95) which was also AMAZING! The crisscross fries are like the ones at Chick-Fil-A except topped with spicy PORK, cheese, green onions and I can't remember what else! I think I would've been content had I stopped ordering at this point... because the next two items I probably could've done without. We ordered the kimchi pancake quesadillas ($7.50) and they were good but not essential to my meal. Note that at this point I'm already filled to the brim with ddukbokki and fries so honestly, shoveling these down my throat was a push. They aren't exactly crispy like kimchi pancakes are supposed to be so I was a little thrown off but still very unique. Lastly, we ordered the chicken drummettes ($6.25) based upon other Yelp reviews, but I think that was kind of a mistake. I only say this because they aren't exactly special in comparison to other Korean chicken places. You have BBQ chicken right next door, so why get it here? Plus their drumsticks are teeny! Anyways, definitely try this place out, but come with friends so everyone can have a little of everything :) and I'm pretty sure they offer coupons since we had a 15% off one so keep your eyes peeled for those!

    (4)

  • Arya A.

    The food was interesting and new. Best thing about the place was a special mango mixed juice they have. Food was a bit greasy and salty. But overall good service and good food.

    (4)

  • Trang H.

    Yes please and then some. We completely agree with what Urban Seoul is cooking. The food is refreshing, full of flavor and leaves you wanting more. We've stopped by a few times since we discovered this place and plan to continue more trips here. It's the best Korean fusion we've had so far. The pork belly tacos are dangerously good. We could have kept ordering them all night. That short rib arepas is outstanding. The filling was so full of goodness that my fiance stole the last half of mine. The bibimbap is very refreshing with so many different flavors complimenting each other. And the chicken drumettes had a crispy sweet outside. At other places these would have been a stand out on the menu but the other dishes were just so good. The service is very welcoming and personable, one of the line cooks even apologized to us for dropping one of our chicken drumettes. They had cooked us a few more to make up for it. It had caught us off guard because we wouldn't have known that they gypped us or not, so it was really nice to see that kind of service. We're very happy to have Urban Seoul close to us. Now if only we could figure out how to not drive our car into diamond jamboree's demolition derby of a parking lot :)

    (4)

  • Josh L.

    My fiancee and I had lunch here and went a little crazy with the ordering as we wanted as much as possible. What we ordered in the order of our favorite to least. 1. Kalbi Burger - Very unique flavor. Tender. Good combination of salty and sweet 2. Chorizo kimchi fried rice - I love the combination of the acidity of the kimchi and the spiciness of the chorizo. One issue: it's very, very greasy. 3. Pork Belly Tacos - This was just ok for us. The pork belly didn't have a lot of flavor. It was tender, but was kind of bland. 4. Loaded fries - Nothing special. Tasted like a late night college guy snack when you take random things from your fridge and microwave it.

    (4)

  • Naheed M.

    I really liked this place! The bibimbap had a great mix of different flavors, the loaded fries were huge and definitely fits the definition of comfort food, and the stir fried udon was pretty good too. Service is EXCELLENT and the vibe of the place is fun. I definitely want to come back here!

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    *My fav's so far: Kogi Sliders and Bibimbap *But these others were really good too: Pork belly tacos, kalbi burger, corn, Chicken Katsu sandwich *Service is great!!! *Cute, casual place *Reasonable prices

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    it's a food truck menu with a place to sit. Latin style Korean food, i like the idea and i enjoy it at the food trucks so why not try this place out. The food was good and reasonably priced. The gogi taco we ordered was slightly dry but not anything that wasn't worth finishing. The staff is super friendly as well, it could be because they had time to chit chat with us since the restaurant just opened and it wasn't crowded, but maybe that's just how they always are. We won't know until we go back for happy hour, Everyday 5-7. It supposedly gets busy so hopefully their service and food continue in the right direction.

    (4)

  • Alice M.

    Food awesome as always....today is a little off for them. Opened 30 min late and restaurant set up was not ready. Printer for orders down. Kitchen backed up. Felt bad for the kitchen! Front person slightly unorganized. Maybe she needs to come to work earlier!? 1 star deduction.

    (3)

  • Jennifer T.

    FOOD: the tacos were my favorite ! way better the to kogi truck SERVICE: quick and very friendly PRICE: 3 tacos for $7.50, not too bad. definitely go for happy hour!

    (5)

  • Ryan N.

    Ummmm...a twist of Korean and Mexican food combination. Had Pork Belly tacos and pork belly Korean fried rice(Dddd-licious!).Save $ and go during Happy hours! OMG...Got to have BEERS /W THESE FOOD!(I do not endorse DUI btw).

    (4)

  • Lena S.

    Okay... I'm just gonna say it: this place is AMAZING! I was in Irvine for two weeks helping my mom and out of that time, we came and ate here 5 times! Yeah... it's THAT good! You definitely have to try the pork belly tacos and the loaded fries, people! It will blow your mind just how much flavor you can package into cute little corn tortilla bundles or spoon lovingly atop crispy waffle fries! Go there for happy hour. For three of us (which included a bottomless pit -- uh--- I mean teenage boy), we all left satisfied for under $20. Seriously... I feel like we robbed the place! The staff is amazingly friendly - we were always greated with an amused but enthusiastic "welcome back" from the people behind the counter. I guess seeing us 3 times a week will get you the "Norm!" welcome from "Cheers!" On a side note, my mom and I kinda found it funny that there were hip white boys back there cranking out bomb Korean food! - Way to go guys! You gotta try this place! Phenominal Korean fusion. If you have always wanted to try Korean, but didn't know what to get, this place will ease you into it like an old man easing into a warm bath. (A gross analogy for food, but hey, it works). If you are a Korean food guru, you STILL gotta try how this place takes flavors you love and puts their own cool, fresh spin on it! This is my new fave place in Irvine!

    (5)

  • Daniel N.

    Came here with a friend during happy hour on a Friday and was pleasantly surprised. We ordered the mandu, quesadillas, drumettes, and sliders. Everything was good but I was a little disappointed by the sliders. The sauce was very heavy and the meat was not that flavorful. The same can't be said about the drumettes though. It tastes like a better and crispier version of BWW's asian zing. For happy hour, I was more than satisfied.

    (4)

  • Koreanita X.

    Left full but unsatisfied... Just too trendy and greasy for me. The menu looked good but the meat was low quality and fatty. Bibimbap was tasty but too oily. Jap chae rolls were not what I expected and tasteless and fried in old oil. Fried chicken was too sweet and fatty, and not that crispy. Elote too buttery. The best part of the meal was probably the horchata.

    (3)

  • Lissa L.

    So so good, LOVE the Korean-Mexican fusion! The portions are small but the flavor is big!!

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    Sooo good! Gogi tacos are super flavorful! The elote is a delicious treat as well...I love corn, especially Mexican style with the mayo, cheese, cilantro, lime and chili... The chicken drumettes sweet, spicy, and crispy. They have taco Tuesday and you need to go.

    (4)

  • Madonna J.

    Urban Seoul is great for the soul! Lol..seriously though 3b is sliders fries everything is so delicious! Also they had. A lot of different drinks to choose from to go with your meal. Customer service is always outstanding!

    (5)

  • Wesley D.

    I came here with a friend and was immediately greeted when we came in. She sat us down at the bar, and answered any questions we had with the menu. The service was great. One of the guys working behind the counter engaged us in a conversation about comic con. As for the food, I think the KBBQ tacos are much higher quality than the ones found in Gogi by UTC. The meat is much better quality, and I just feel that they put more effort into the dish, albeit gogi is faster. The prices aren't bad for the food you get either. Definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Amanda T.

    Came here on a Monday night not expecting it to be too crazy, but Diamond Jamboree was BUMPIN'. Like others have mentioned, parking can get a little cray here...but my boyfriend and I were able to get a spot after a few minutes of waiting so no big deal. Love the trendy, modern feel of this little Asian fusion place - and the music is on. point. Passion Pit, Two Door Cinema Club and old school Blink182 - loved it. But the best part of this experience was definitely the food, which came out in less than 10 minutes, by the way. We ordered the loaded fries, kimchi pancake quesadillas and urban 3b. 2-3 plates is the perfect amount for 2 people. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd recommend the urban 3b - it was delicious. Service was also on point - our waiter came to refill our water glasses even before I realized they even needed refilling. I really have no complaints - had a great experience at Urban Seoul. I know there are a lot of options when you're at Diamond Jamboree, but this place is definitely worth a try.

    (5)

  • Johnny B.

    Amazing again. Wonderful explosions of unique flavors and the prices are very reasonable. The spicy pork 3b is so good I have a hard time trying new things.... I tried the watermelon lemonade after reading a review but it was not for me- too thick for a beverage for me. I am basically hitting this place weekly now. I better start trying some new menu items. Keep you posted... Love this place!

    (5)

  • Lindsay W.

    I'll be back next time I'm in OC! The loaded fries, pork belly tacos, and gogi bim bim bop was worth the drive. We tried their special watermelon mint drink, yum!!! Sitting at the bar is the best because they give you free samples, you get to admire all the good, while breathing in the yummy flavors off the grill.

    (5)

  • Tina O.

    I ordered almost everything from the menu. Everything was delicious and different but I do feel like the meat in the tacos could have been more flavorful. It's worth trying. I don't think I'll be coming back unless I'm in the area. It's a great place. Service was amazing and the staff was nice but they do need to add flavor to the meet for me to drive out of my way to come here again.

    (4)

  • Timothy L.

    One star for service, can't even rate the food because I never received it. I came here during dinner time and after 30min of waiting never got our food, we asked our server and he said it will be right out. Shortly after, we saw the table next to us get the exact same dishes we ordered and they came after us! After waiting another 15min nothing still. The cooks and waiters were doing Soju shots all night and were noticeably inebriated.

    (1)

  • Amanda L.

    Yum! Fulfilled my foodie cravings! Awesome fusion food joint! When we went: Friday night at 8:45pm Wait: surprisingly no wait considering how very small this place is Service:fair Food: did not disappoint! Yum yum to korean fusion food. Delicious. Portions: good size for the price $: not shabby What we got: the pork belly tacos, Golgi sliders, chicken curry puffs, and the the elote- $25 and all were a big thumbs up =] We will be returning!

    (5)

  • Linda N.

    Omg, better than Kogi, hands down! stop wasting your time chasing a food truck and come here! My boyfriend and I come here at least once a week on Wednesday or Thursday night. DONT COME ON FRIDAYS! They are a tiny place, so there will be a long wait. Its just a long bar with a few tables, thats it. Staff is friendly and efficient. They have happy hour from 5-7! So two dollar Pacificos with your yummy tacos. Parking is crappy- an Orange County tradition, so be prepared to fight for a close spot. There is a lot further away though.

    (5)

  • Alexandra T.

    Great service and an interesting menu! Personally the weight of the food (it was delightfully greasy) didn't jive with my stomach but it did taste good, We had the spicy pork tacos - I didn't really like them personally. But the other smaller dishes like the corn and dumplings were great. The fried rice was yummy but very greasy so maybe share that instead of tackling on your own, the drinks were great. I'd probably go back and order something lighter, or stick to an app and drink.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    Ok the only reason I give it 4 stars because it is to small of capacity for people to sit. Placed was loud and packed. Finger food was delicious!! Prices are reasonable and they have happy hour as well.

    (4)

  • Sara M.

    Great food with so much flavor!!! Fresh ingredients and great service. They had a watermelon mint tea that was to die for.

    (4)

  • Elena L.

    I saw the yelp review so I came in with no expectations. Good thing I didn't have any otherwise I would've walked out extremely disappointed. I tried their sliders, kimchi quesadillas, pork belly tacos, and Gogi tacos. They were all average. The portions were on the smaller side - like tapas. The sliders were too sweet for my taste, the kimchi quesadillas were good but more on the greasier side, gogi tacos tasted similar to gogi truck, and the pork belly tacos were a little tastier than the gogi tacos, but still, it was not worth the hype as the other yelp-ers reviewed it. Service, however, was good. Would I come here again? Most likely not.

    (2)

  • Nari L.

    Wow, this place is amazing! I was seriously impressed with everything except the chicken wings. Those were subpar. Kinda like kkanpoongki but not quite there. Other than that, everything else was delicious and to die for! I would definitely come back. We ordered the pork belly tacos, chorizo kimchi fried rice and ogi sliders which were all amazing! I sometimes dream about their food... I need to come back soon but I live so far from this place!

    (5)

  • Maluna O.

    I work in irvine and was so sick of going to the food court on main/mac arthur, there's only so much I can handle of tokio grill, carls jr., and subway next to my work. So I am one ecstatic person knowing there's a whole asian food haven waiting for me!!! my goodness I can't believe I didn't try going here sooner, I was thwarted by knowing i probably would have to deal with bad drivers, no parking, and long waits. I went during the weekday during lunch time and it was crowded, but you could still find parking without having to drive up and down 5 times. The lanes are wide so no horror stories like being at the parking lot of the asian mall, or OCC, or 24 hour fitness... I looked around and had to decide on which restaurant to try. After our neighbors at work were bbqing up a storm, I was craving for some bbq!! so Urban Seoul it was!!! I was sooo hoping it was korean food since I've never been there. Looked at the menu and was a lil dissapointed that it had some weird korean -mexican fusion going on....looked around the complex again, then thought, what the heck, there's another 4 days of the week to try the rest of the restaurant. The place is small and crowded, so I asked for my food to go. These 1 hour lunch times suck corporate!!! I asked one of the girls what she recommended, and she mentioned about 1/3 of the menu.... Then I thought I'd go with something I'm familiar with, the bimbimpap with beef. and sure, i'll try it with some purple rice!!! Went to work, showed off my awesome looking bowl, and the guys complained the meat was so tiny and cut up...whatever picky meat eaters..back off! then I mixed my bowl up, was skeptical if i should put all the red sweet sauce they gave me all over it, but what the heck...so i slather the red sauce all over it and dig in.... mmmmmmmmmmm sooo friggin good!!! I haven't had bimbimpap in over 10 years!!! and wow this stuff is sweet. i work with a korean guy..so he told me it's full of sugar....no wonder its so sweet!!! not good...i'll have to limit this stuff. I will be back to try everything else!!! prices seem ok, under $10

    (4)

  • Julie J.

    So freakin good. I wasn't sure how great the fusion would be and I didn't really know what to expect but it was awesome. I had the pork belly tacos which were amazing and they gave us a free order of the quesadillas for being first timers. They were also amazing. The servers were really friendly and I would definitely recommend trying this place!!

    (5)

  • Andrea E.

    Great food. Ordered the Bim Bim Bap with Gogi and it was delicious and a large portion. Also tried they Gogi quesadilla appetizer during happy hour (great deal) and it was so good! The service was nothing to brag about, but the waiter did apologize since they were short staffed, which I appreciated and definitely gave him credit for that. I would recommend.

    (4)

  • Jannica M.

    Only my first time here but I am blown away. Everything we tried was delish and unique! And we ordered a few dishes...spicy rice cakes, gogi quesadillas, chorizo kimchi fried rice, and pork belly tacos. Friendly employees even with us getting there 30 minutes before they closed. Prices weren't bad either. This is a definite keeper!!!

    (5)

  • Joe D.

    LOVE this place. I try to go here every Tuesday for taco Tuesday, and would go several more times a week if Diamond Jamboree parking wasn't so terrible. Arrive early to avoid the lunch crowd!

    (5)

  • Lena B.

    bibimbap (titled as urban 3b) from urban seoul is probably the best thing i have eaten in 2013 so far. first off, i am not a huge fan of fusion korean food. kogi and other various food trucks have done a great job in marrying korean food with other ethnic cuisines, but I no longer seek them out because i always end up missing "authentic" flavors. my encounter with urban seoul was a pure accident which turned out to be a bliss. since then, i've returned to the restaurant 3 times, and each time, my experience was always delightful with service and food. i've tried many items on the menu, and while not everything is perfect, there are a couple of dishes that i dream about. *bibimbap - as i mentioned earlier, this is my favorite dish. it comes with a heaping amount of fresh veggies, fried shallots and a poached egg, and is much more flavorful and healthier than the traditional bibimbap. my only and minor gripe is that the gochujang sauce (probably a mixture with vinegar and sesame oil) is watered down which makes the rice a bit mushy. *chicken lollipops - this is really good. although I don't like chicken, i ordered this for the hubby who was not full with spicy pork torta. the dish comes with 6-7 pieces of drumsticks, topped with sweet and savory pickled daikon. while the chicken pieces are tiny, they are packed with spicy and sweet flavors. *chorizo fried rice - this is a twist on kimchi fried rice. the chorizo was a little dry, and the dish was a bit on the bland side overall (there was no heat coming from kimchi). i think my version of kimchi fried rice is better...just saying. *sliders - both the kalbi and gogi are good. they are much bigger and better quality than burnt truck ones *kimchi pancake quesadilla - this looks and feels like a quesadilla, made with thin kimchi pancake instead of tortilla with cheese and some meat inside. conceptually, it sounded weird, but it was better than expected. *spicy rice cake - aka dukbokki. while i find this dish to be a bit on the salty side instead of spicy, I enjoyed it a lot, especially the quail eggs. unlike the traditional dukbokki, the small rice balls are fried which renders crispiness. *spicy pork torta - i had a bite of it. this is no different than korean-mexican fusion food from any other trucks. the space is limited, but with open kitchen and bar seating, it feels airy and modern. the staff are incredibly helpful and courteous. the restaurant shouldn't deviate too much from the current menu and concept since the dishes are already inventive and flavorful without compromising the essence of korean food, but one thing they can do to improve is change to real plates and utensils from the paper and plastic ones. not only does this aim for being "green", it would make the food look and taste more sophisticated to differentiate from those fusion trucks.

    (4)

  • Annie P.

    Came here on a whim, decided to try something new in irvine... One of my best decisions for the week! The service was great! The servers and cooks talked to us, let us know what was popular, joked with us. Food was really good, something very different. I got the katsu sandwich and boyfriend got bibimbap. Both were delicious! Then we got wings with house special sauce because it was wing Wednesday... YUM! Oh oh but wait.. They also have $1 CHURROS. she said it was better than Disneyland and I was skeptical... She was right though! Definitely give this place a try! Great food, deals, vibe, and service!

    (5)

  • Tay T.

    Went here for their happy hour which is everyday from 5-7pm. Decided to try everything on their HH menu just to get a taste of the place. - Corn - a whole cob in two pieces done the Mexican cart style. Pretty good. $2 - Gogi quesadilla - 4 little pieces. Probably my favorite out of all the HH items. $3 - Garlic endamame - a good portion to share. At first it was good then got a little bitter at the end. Not sure why. $3 - Drumettes - 4 pieces to an order. Um, my least favorite dish, didn't bother to finish it. $3 - Potstickers - 4 or 5 pieces, forgot. It was pretty good, but they could improve on the dipping sauce. $3 - $1 churros - It was alright, I wouldn't order it again. - $2 Pacificos. Overall, what I would order again is the corn and the quesadilla. I may come back to try their tacos though, which we were too full to try this time around. Prices are cheap and cute little place for HH.

    (3)

  • Jimmy C.

    Unbelievably GOOD! Whether you're looking for a light snack or a complete meal, you'll definitely find it here. Some very innovative concepts found on the menu that blend Asian and Mexican flavors. Some of my favorites: Chicken wings - a wonderful sauce that isn't overly spicy and compliments the wing. The pork belly tacos - AMAZING! Flavorful, tasty and satisfying. Three to an order...I wouldn't recommend sharing because you're going to get into a fight as to who gets the third one, Kimchee quesadilla - very innovative and tasty. Not spicy and the perfect blend of cheese and pork belly. Chorizo Kimchee Fried Rice - their best dish, IMO. A wonderful blend of pork belly, pickled onions, rice topped with a fried egg....that's a bowlful of tastiness! I inevitably order this every time I'm there. The biggest two drawbacks to the place are that 1) it is small so you may end up having to wait during peak lunch/dinner hours and 2) it's located in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center so parking can be a nightmare. Assuming you can navigate those two issues, it will be a well made trip!

    (5)

  • Grace K.

    I like that they have opened up a Korean/Mexican fusion restaurant in Irvine. I don't have to go to food truck spots anymore to get my gogi tacos!! BTW which i did get the Gogi tacos here. One order comes with 2 tacos at the price of $5-6 dollars...they were pretty small but packed with flavor and surprisingly filled me up. The gogi was drenched with some krn bbq sauce as well with an orange cream sauce with shredded lettuce. It had a tangy kick to it. I'd come back just for the tacos. I also tried the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice for $7-8 dollars. It is enough for two people to share however I was a bit disappointed...there was barely any kimchi and chorizo. The rice was very mushy/ soft, I'm not sure if it was suppose to be that kind of texture but I wasn't a fan of this dish.

    (4)

  • Amy S.

    Maybe I had high expectations after reading all the 4/5 star reviews but the food was mediocre. I would much prefer kogi truck. It is a dollar sign but for a reason- the portion of the food is pretty small. Everyone on yelp was raving about the pork belly tacos and the loaded fries so my friends and I went to try it out. Sadly, it didn't fill us up and we were talking about going somewhere else to eat afterwards. I'm not saying the food was BAD- it's just not as amazing as everyone made it sound to be. The service was great though! The servers were friendly but I felt like it was a bit overpriced for what you get. Also, the water is warm. It would be better if they put ice in the pitcher.

    (3)

  • Nathan C.

    Definitely don't come here if you're in a time crunch. 11:55 entered the restaurant looked really cool, counter style restaurant 12:08 finally acknowledged by the server (had to get our own menus) ~12:10 insist on placing our order 12:35 waitress (who was nice, just was swamped) acknowledges she forgot to input our order and was going to give us 50% off [nice of her, mistakes happen nbd] ((All we had ordered was the torta sandwhich which my friend said was good, my Kimchi quesedilla was 4.5/10, and the loaded fries were standard food truck fare)) 12:50 i ask the other waitress to please comp our meal because we'd been waiting for almost an hour and hadn't even gotten our fries or been offered anything to munch on while we waited. ~12:55 we finally get our food. Very nice people, obviously just ironing out the kinks to the business (they are touting a "grand opening" sign) and we were give (2) 50% off coupons for our next visit but honestly the food was so uninspiring i don't think we'll ever use them too many other good places to eat in Diamond Jamboree to go here again.

    (1)

  • Noah A.

    Amazing! Delicious food, beautiful presentation, friendly service at an incredible price! This is a great restaurant.

    (5)

  • Wayne C.

    The year of the snake brings me a year of poor service to almost all restaurant establishments I have been to. Urban Seoul continues the streak I so desperately want to break. Nestled in the confines of Diamond Jamboree, this alone makes me shiver and rethink my dining options. After reading reviews, I decide to venture into Diamond Jamboree and carefully dodge the cars in the parking lot. Foodwise, two of the three dishes we got were good. Couldn't rate the third dish since we cancelled it. No, we did not cancel the order because we were full. We had already lost our appetite for being in the restaurant for an hour. I felt like a kid at a party that was not invited. Everyone else was being taken care of besides me. People were working on their second beer while I was waiting for water. Employees were chumming it with others while I was waiting to get food. "Everyone who experiences Urban Seoul helps to define US" is a quote taken from their website. I define Urban Seoul as good food overshadowed by poor service. I will be giving Urban Seoul a second chance as most new restaurants deserve it. I hope the restaurant has a better future than the restaurant that used to occupy the space.

    (2)

  • Chloe T.

    I came here for dinner for my friend's birthday. It was crowded that night and since we had a kind of big group, we had to wait a while for a table (the waitress forgot that we were waiting and gave our table away to another group who came in later, hence minus one star). When we were seated, one of the chef came us a korean pancake quesadillas on the house (four stars). I love the texture. My girlfriend and I ordered and shared the dukboki (three stars -- it was a nice concept to deep fried the rice cake but I think the dish needs more sauce), pork belly tacos (five stars, I love the fatty and crispy pork belly), kalbi sliders (five stars, I love kalbi). I love that this place is very laid back and small. The portion is big and the price is very reasonable. I would definitely come back to try other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Don L.

    Their pork belly tacos and double b bowl are off the chain. Get it poppin like Mary!!

    (5)

  • Tracey T.

    Anyone who knows me knows about my love for Asian fusion, and I had also heard great things about it from my friends, so I had to try this place! I had the kimchi pancake quesadillas, my friend had the pork belly tacos, and we shared the loaded fries. I can't believe I didn't try this place earlier! All the food we ordered were delicious! The pork belly tacos were especially a highlight; Urban Seoul has one of the best I've ever had. The only thing that was negative was how small the tortilla was in proportion to the things inside the taco. On the other hand, the kimchi pancake quesadilla was nicely proportioned (as a quesadilla should be, hahaha) and beautifully flavored. Despite the small-looking portions, my friend and I were so full after eating our own food that we could only finish half of the loaded fries. I ended up taking it to-go and eating it at home. Somehow, it managed to keep its flavor and delectability after several hours. In conclusion, GO TO THIS PLACE IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME SEOUL FOOD. It's freaking amazing. I'll definitely be back....once I shave off some weight and I can eat whatever I want again. (Also, hope you enjoyed my pun.)

    (5)

  • jean y.

    My friends and I went here for dinner. We ordered the loaded fries, kalbi burgers, kimchi quesidilla, spicy crispy rice cake and pork belly tacos! They were all delicious and filled us (3 ppl) up! The owner, workers & chef were all friendly. Love the atmosphere of the place as well. It is a small place so not good for like huge parties.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    Hip Korean fusion restaurant. Get the kimchi fried rice or pork belly tacos. Personally I liked the fried rice with bulgogi rather than pork belly. First time I had Urban Seoul, the food was amazing. Second time was okay, a little on the saltier side though.

    (4)

  • Valerie L.

    I came here twice in one week, it was THAT GOOD !! i basically tried almost everything on the menu... but i highly recommend the short rib arepas, the kimichi fried rice, pork belly tacos (good but too small). The food here is like tapas portion so it is a good way to try 2-3 dishes without feeling too full. Everything cost around 6-8 dollars, so it is really inexpensive for good quality food. The service is good and staff were friendly as well. I will definitely be back here for lunch, dinner, munchies, and drunchies (;

    (5)

  • Rashel P.

    Customer service was great. It has that food truck type of vibe. The restaurant is small, food is served in paper baskets, and the staff seem like college students that probably became friends during school and had this brilliant idea of opening up this fusion eatery. My boyfriend and I went on a week night around dinner time so it was pretty busy. The plaza it is located in has several handfuls of little asian restaurants so the parking lot was obnoxiously crowded. It was like going to the mall on Black Friday and trying to find parking for an hour. We ordered several dishes just because I love variety haha. The pork belly tacos were yummy. We also got the Kimchi fried rice and a couple others, can't remember the names of it though. We were very pleased and appreciated the creativity. The only reason, we didn't give it a five star is the whole menu seemed to be a "GUILT" rounded selection.

    (4)

  • Dan N.

    3.5 stars It's like food truck food and prices in a 4-wall setting. If you come here, either you or someone in your group need to order the loaded tots. The waffle fries are fried beautifully and combined with the toppings, it's a drunken frat party in your mouth. Pork Belly: slightly hyped up. They're good, not great. Pictures make them seem saucier than they really are which I think would have made it better. Was told by one of the workers that it's what they're known for...does this mean their other tacos fair worse? I'm going to try their other stuff next time to see. I hope their PBT isn't the best thing on their menu, besides the tots. Rice Cakes: they're deep fried or something. I wish I knew because I did not enjoy them as they were served. I like the soft chewy kind. Bummer because the sauce on it was yummy. Great balance of sweet and spicy.

    (3)

  • Jessica N.

    I love asian fusion foods and Urban Seoul is near the top of my list when it comes to this type of food. It's delicious and hearty. Also gives you the bang for your buck. The best part is that they have taco tuesdays! For 1.50 you can get pork belly tacos and other types of taco. The pork belly is definitely my favorite. It's crunchy and flavorful. The loaded fries are bangin'! Spicy pork with some jalepenos, white cheese, nacho cheese, green onions, and red onions on top of perfectly crisp criss cross fries. It definitely had a korean flavor to it. It wasn't to overwhelming though. The place itself is small but sitting at the bar is fun. You get to watch your food being made. They have one tv in the place. Also they have a selection of drinks such as bears, cidre, and soju. I really like what this place has to offer. Also the service is always excellent and they make the extra effort to make sure you're enjoying yourself.

    (4)

  • Francis C.

    Got the loaded fries and Gogi bimbimbap with purple rice . The fries were bomb , filled with cheese and other goodies . Bibimbap was good too, really tasty with a good amount of food. Place was kind of small but looked clean and neat. Overall a good experience

    (4)

  • Christina C.

    If you have the stomach for it, order everything you possibly can. We came in during happy hour (5-7) and were able to order a few appetizers because they were priced extremely well. We ordered: - Kalbi burger sliders (comes with fries!) -urban 3b (bibimbap) -elote -gogi quesadillas -gogi tacos -pina colada -watermelon mint I had high expectations for their food and they definitely lived up to my expectations. You'll just have to try it for yourself. I'm taking one star off, because their service could be a bit better. We had to wait around 5-10 minutes for the utensils we asked for. The only reason we got it is because we asked somebody else. The waiters just weren't as attentive as we'd hoped. The tables are really small, too. I guess they expect people not to order as much but I saw that a lot of people ordered more than just their one entree.

    (4)

  • Selwynn S.

    The service was good. The place was busy yet our server was able to clean a table that had just emptied out and got us seated within five minutes. The server was friendly and helped us choose which of the dishes to try. We selected the bibimbap bowl with gogi and the fried udon noodles with chicken. Both bowls were delicious. The gogi was cooked well with the right amount of seasoning and flavoring. The fresh vegetables were prepared well and were the perfect sized cut and shape. The purple rice was quite nice and not too dry or wet. All of the ingredients were well balanced and conveyed freshness. The chili sauce was tasty, it had just enough heat and a sweetness that accented the dish. Also the price was very reasonable for the amount of food we received.

    (4)

  • Shark F.

    I hate giving bad reviews. I went with group of 5. We all ordered something different. The pork belly tacos were the only item that received thumbs up. Everything else either had no flavor, too sweat of flavor or over cooked. I'm not saying don't try it. I'm saying go in prepared. I'd recommend bringing some spices and maybe a some sort of sauce. , this way when you find yourself flavor challenged you can activate your backup plan. Update: the pork taco eater said the meat was good but it was covered in too much sweat sauce.

    (1)

  • Andrew C.

    This is an alright place to come for Taco Tuesdays, especially after work when all I want is something greasy and a beer. (This review is only about Taco Tuesday). I got there at 5pm when they opened back up for dinner, and there were already people lining up to get in. Pros: ++ Elote ($2) was my favorite thing about this meal. Corn, cheese, mayo, cayenne pepper. Win. The corn isn't on the cob, so that was pretty convenient. + Spicy pork was my favorite taco. It was basically pork covered in buffalo sauce. The lettuce on top was nice since it gave the taco a little freshness and the sauce was good too. + Pork belly was not bad. It was crispy and not too salty. + Pacifico beer was cheap ($2.50) for Happy Hour (5-7pm everyday). + Service was really great, they always asked me how I was doing. They also handed me napkins without me even asking when I was making a mess (the tacos are hard to eat). Cons: - Gogi taco tasted a little bland to me. - For the price ($1.75/taco) you don't really get that much. For me, four tacos would get me satisfied, but not full. Overall like most Korean/Mexican fusion restaurants, Urban Seoul gives you a lot of flavor with your food. However, the portions they give you are not that great especially with other Taco Tuesday options out there. I'd come back if I wasn't too hungry, or was really craving something flavorful.

    (3)

  • Yi Xian R.

    This used to be one my favorite Taco Tuesday places but recently, prices went up and quality of food went down. Now, tacos are $1.75 each which isn't that great of the deal. The best thing about Taco Tuesdays is the deal you're getting, right?! I heard that it used to be $1.25. The first time I came here, the tacos were bomb, especially the pork belly one. Maybe I came here on a bad day, but this time, the pork belly tasted old to me. It seem overcooked so it's hard. And it was crunchy, but not that pleasant. I felt like I was eat old, refried lean meat. Definitely not what crunchy pork belly is. I probably won't come here again for Taco Tuesdays unless prices go down. The other tacos don't really appeal to me, so I only come here for the pork belly ones. I rather go somewhere else with a better deal! I do enjoy the drumlettes during happy hour (5-7pm) a lot. They're sweet and sour and pretty yummy.

    (3)

  • Shauday S.

    i went to this place with my coworkers for lunch, intrigued by the fusion choices. i got the Chicken Stir Fried Udon. Very good! Very fresh. The only true cons to this place is that it is a small boutique style restaurant so seating is limited and so was their staff for a high traffic time like lunch in a corporate area next to a residential area. But nonetheless i was completely satisfied with my food and i will go back again hungry for more. :)

    (4)

  • Erin R.

    Don't use this review for their food. It is entirely for their service. We didn't even get seated. My boyfriend and I walked into urban Seoul. I would say maybe two tables were occupied. I asked the waiter to be seated. And he just looked and me and pointed another server. He didn't say anything just pointing with his finger and head. And somehow I need to understand that I have to talk to the other server for a table? The other server who was at the bar noticed us, but never asked to be seated or to get us the menu. We just walked out.

    (1)

  • James L.

    Yum ^ 5th power I had such an enjoyable dining experience here. I think everything I ate that night I would order again and that is a rarity for me. I sampled the: - pork belly tacos - the chicken katsu torta - the bibimbap with beef - the loaded french fries - the kimchi quesadilla - the kimchi fried rice Loved it all. If I HAD to choose, I probably would get the fries and either the tacos or the bibimbap again. The torta was great, but I don't know if I can commit my whole meal to something so carby (is that even a word? in this instance, I split it with someone else). They have Shock Top on tap, woot. There isn't too much seating in here so I probably would avoid coming here with anymore than 4 people. I wish it was a bit more lively in there, kinda had a dead atmosphere. In any case, the food made up for that so I am excited to come back to try their sliders/burger next time around!

    (5)

  • Evan N.

    So I hate to be "that guy" that writes a negative review on a place that is loved by so many. In all, I can definitely see why people like this place. Ambiance is nice and staff is knowledgeable and very friendly. It's my personal opinion but I really do not understand why people rave about this food. This is the second time I've been here and both times have been with co-workers. This last time we went we ordered nearly everything on the menu and did an a la carte type of lunch. There is not one dish where I was blown away. I mean the food is not horrible or anything but after a few bites of each dish I was pretty over it. The food just simply doesn't have a vibrant taste. Again, I know my views are in the minority but I recommend saving a little money and walking over to Wahoos for some better food :)

    (2)

  • Joanne L.

    I like this restaurant alot! Food arrived quickly after we ordered. I had the Loaded Fries and bulgogi and pork belly tacos! Sooo flavorful and yummmy! This really really hit the spot. Servers were also very friendly, so we had a good time. I would definitely recommend this place to people who want to try a new fusion of deliciousness! It is a bit on the pricey end but I think it's totally worth trying. Korean mexican food...omygash I can eat this all the time!

    (5)

  • Willy W.

    pretty good combination (or fusion) between Korean, American and Mexican dishes. You can score a "normal" version of bimbim bop or get a Korean inspired slider and tacos. We ordered the bimbim bop as well as a cheese-steak. The former had good flavor, but I found the spicy red sauce to be too watery than usual. The sandwich was just decent. But it's nice to find food truck type of food in a consistently there store at reasonable prices. They do have happy hour specials as well. Parking is a PITA in this busy plaza, but be patient eventually someone will eventually leave~

    (3)

  • Andrew L.

    Pros and Cons Pros 1. Really tasty Korean Food 2. Modern decor Cons 1. The Value is not very good. Pricey for the amount of food you get 2. Small Portions I enjoy coming to Urban Seoul because their food is really good. I enjoy the Urban 3b which is their bibimbap and their Kimchi Fried Rice. however, their prices are a bit high for the amount of food you get. $8 or $9 for the Urban3b which contains mostly rice and lettuce and little meat (or tofu).

    (3)

  • Tina M.

    Stopped in at 730 and it looked like it was going to be a long wait since we saw a few people waiting around outside. We decided to still stop in and see how long the wait was going to be....no wait! The restaurant was pretty full and there was only one table left so we got lucky in grabbing that last table. We got the bibimbap and pork belly tacos. I really enjoyed the bibimbap...it was topped with a lot of ingredients, tasted fresh and had lots of flavor. The pork belly tacos were a good size, had a good amount of veggies and pork belly and had a hint of spice from the sauce. The atmosphere is very casual and laid back and the food reminds me of stuff you would get from a food truck or fancy bar food. I enjoyed my meal and wouldn't mind returning for future dinners.

    (4)

  • Truong T.

    FINALLY!!! I have been fiending to try this place for a long time. It just never worked out during my lunch hour and I was left wondering what could have been each and every day. So tonight I said why the fudge not. I was in the area and gave this place a go. First off, parking is usually bad around the area but tonight was quite a breeze. As soon as I entered the joint, I noticed how different it was from what I had picture (in a good way). Its not a restaurant as I had expected and there was a bar area which was unexpected. Again, not a bad thing. Originally my friend and I were just gonna order to go and eat at home but then we figured why not when we saw the bar area and how spacious it actually was. I told the waitress who took our order that I had been wanting to try the corn for quite some time. Being extremely nice, she insisted that this is the place if you want this type of corn. When I finally bit into it, indeed she was right and I am sold!!! I also wanted to try their pork belly tacos as I heard that it was highly recommended. Sold again, delicious. Now for the customer service. The friendliest of friendly people all around. I don't know how you guys do it, but these people are the best group of waitress and cooks to have ever prepared me food. I am very very impressed. I wish I had a little more cash to tip you guys extra but I will be back and their will be other opportunities. Note: I will be back for sure to try the sliders and the chicken lollipop looking thing. Final Grade: A++++++++++++++++++++++++

    (5)

  • Cindy L.

    Mmm I love fusion food and I especially love Mexican + Korean fusion! Taco Tuesdays: $1.50 all tacos, Happy Hour is 5-7 everyday: select appetizers are $2-3 Loaded Fries are a must! Piled with jalapeños, onions, spicy pork, cheese and best of all they use WAFFLE FRIES. Can you say delicious? Pork Belly Taco: When I heard pork belly ... fatty meat came to my mind. But it turned out to be more of a crunchy texture. Not a fan of the crunchiness but some people like it! Elote: !!!! It's so hard to find elotes in Irvine. Actually, it's impossible. While Urban Seoul's isn't authentic ... it does the job to satisfy! Coated with mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro, chili and squeeze some lime juice. BOMB. Gogi Quesadilla: Comes with 4 small pieces and decent for the HH price. But I wish it was cheesier! I'm happy that Irvine has a restaurant for this type of food so I don't have to wait until food trucks are in the area to satisfy my cravings :)

    (4)

  • Jeff L.

    Food: 4/5 Service: 2/5

    (3)

  • Harrison X.

    So tasty! I love the fusion foods especially the pork belly chichamanga! Would recommend for sure.

    (5)

  • Mary L.

    I decided to come here after a long day of work craving for some fusion food. I have been craving for some tacos and went on yelp and found Urban Seoul. As I walked in with my boyfriend, we were greeted and decided to sit up at the bar. The environment was very casual and lax which I enjoy after a long day at work. I looked at yelp pictures (thanks yelpers) and decided to go with the chorizo kimchi fried rice and elote (thinking it was going to be on the cob). My boyfriend got the gogi taco and loaded fries. And we decided to share our food! Chorizo kimchi fried rice was alright. I did not enjoy the fried rice as much as I would like to enjoy it. I thought the crunchy onions on top made it difficult for me to eat.I tasted the chorizo but not the kimchi (and I love kimchi). I, however, loved the elote. I thought it was going to be on the cob but it was individual corn nibs on the plate making it easier for me to eat. My boyfriend gogi taco was bomb. When I go back next time, I will probably get the taco. It was an explosion of flavor. And the portion was a good size. The loaded fries was not to my liking as well. It was too much cheese which made the dish very salty. I would have enjoyed the loaded fries if the sauce was something other than cheese. Overall, I would come back to Urban Seoul and eat them tacos and elotes in a truck load.

    (4)

  • April L.

    I'd wanted to check out the Elote Skillet, but kept managing to miss their open hours, since they close from 2:30 to 5:00 and I like to go to the Diamond Jamboree Plaza during off hours because the parking can be crazy there (especially with the one entrance/exit!). Finally made it before 2 and discovered their menu was different from the one posted here. No Elote skillet, but an Elote Small Plate. OK. So I also ordered another small plate, the Galbi Quesadilla. And their drink of the day, which was a Passion Fruit Tea, I think. Tea was nice and refreshing and a nice big plastic glass. The Elote was a bit of a disappointment. The corn was very dried and hard. I picked through it and ate most of it, though. The quesadillas were OK, but nothing special. I picked through those as well. The churros looked good so I ordered some of those. They were good. I ate all of them, anyway. Not sure if I'll be back. Menu sounded good, as did the reviews, but I wasn't impressed. Might be OK to hang out briefly with friends who just want a drink and a snack, though. It was mostly a little bar and small tables, so it is good for that.

    (3)

  • Rose N.

    Came here on a Tuesday and it was extremely busy. Then again, if you're familiar with this plaza, it's ALWAYS busy. Tried each one of their taco since it was taco Tuesday. The chicken, spicy pork, and golgi were good. I would skip the tofu and pork belly, it was okay. I also got the elote and it was delicioussssss! A bit pricey at $4, but it's only $2 during happy hour. Can't wait to come back to try their loaded fries and stir fry udon.

    (4)

  • Anders B.

    One word: yum... Perfect mix of good ingredients and tasty food. See you soon! Try the different tacos. Do. It. Now!

    (5)

  • Anh L.

    Taco Tuesday Go Early There will be a line There's a break between lunch and dinner 2:30 - 5 I believe Small ass hell place with limited seating Tacos are 1.75 pretty tasty but maybe a little heavy on the suaces. Waitress was really cute I don't know if i would pay 4 bucks for corn at the normal price though, considering its 10 for a dollar at ralphs. Happy hour price (2$) isn't too bad.

    (4)

  • Venissa R.

    I've heard so much gab about Asian fusion food, the hubbs and I just had to experience it for ourselves. Finally, mustered up some courage to find one for my very first time. Traveled over to diamond jamboree, and found this Urban Seoul. Worth the 6 times of circling the parking lot, found a spot and walked inside to pure delight. Staff was friendly and informative with the menu. Dining area was well lit, a bit small, but the host invited us to sit front at the bar, which was comfortable. While we watched the magic happen behind the counter, the aromas from the kitchen were decadent. From salty to spicy, the scents were welcoming to a comfort of home style cooking. I love Korean food, and to see it hybrid with both american and Mexican dishes was amazing! The creativity and marriage of flavors, delivery and taste was impressive. It all was tasty and scrumptious! We went with the Kalbi burger sliders, Pork belly tacos and Elote. Woooooohoooo!! A+ for yummy!! We will be back again for more. Perks: Good portions. Decent prices, and beer is available. Atmosphere is trendy and casual. Open to 11pm on Friday & Sat for that late night splurge. OverALL: Seoul loving good! super fusion fun! Worth a try for something different.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Wow!! This place doesn't disappoint! My friends and I came in late, almost 10pm Saturday night. We sat at the counter and each had an amazing meal! I tried their stir fried udon (like nothing I've had before). It had so much flavor! I also added in a bit of sriracha which made it out of this world! One of my friends ordered the Urban 3b with kogi (another mouth watering dish)! And last but not least, my other friend ordered the kimchi pancake quesadillas....YUM!! The chefs and waitress were very friendly and the food we tried was nothing short of creatively brilliant! I will be coming back here again and again!

    (5)

  • Stephanie J.

    Yum! I'm so excited we finally tried this place. We had the drink of the day (mango pineapple lemonade), elote, gogi quesadillas, and the chicken katsu sandwich. All were completely amazing. Their menu looks terrific, and we can't wait to try everything else. The interior is cute and the service is quick and attentive. The parking in this super busy plaza kind of sucks, so bring your patience.

    (5)

  • Anna-Marie T.

    I've been here two times in five days so I think it's safe to say that I really like this place. Both times I was here I ordered the spicy tuna bipimbap. It is SO good. The purple rice, veggies and spicy tuna all mixed with a runny egg and their sauce makes the perfect meal. The portions are enough to get you full but not feel heavy and gross. I will try other menu items later after I'm over my bipimbap kick. The service here is also great. Both time my order was taken almost right away and the wait time for the food was very short. I really recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Travis W.

    Got this off my bookmark list and so glad I did. My girl and I went for dinner and even though there was a small wait they sat us right away as we only had a party of two. Right out the gate they have happy hour 7 days a week. I love places that do this. Place was pretty busy as it was a Saturday night and service was a little slow but they only had like two servers working. They had so much to chose from I couldn't decide. Tough choices I tell yah!! I decided I wanted to try the wings. Wings were fantastic, they were nice and crispy and had a great sauce on them. My girl went with the beef sliders and I grabbed the short rib arepas. Both were awesome but I think my girl had food envy on the arepas. So freaking good and unlike I anything I have had before. They had a nice cilantro sauce on the side that paired very well. Over all I was super happy with this place and cant wait to go back again. Cheap beers and cheap GOOD food you really cant go wrong. I also want to check out the Taco Tuesday. Sad thing is I work right down the street from here and have only been one time. Shame on me! I will be back for a cold one and some grub. CHEERS!!!

    (4)

  • Brian N.

    i had the loaded fries, elote, pork belly pizza (on their special), chicken katsu torta, and gogi bibimbap. the pork belly pizza tasted really weird (looked like a half-cooked lunchable pizza), and the small pork pieces of pork belly were dried out. the chicken katsu torta was too sweet, and the bread tasted stale. the gogi bibimbap was whatever. i've 10x better bibimbap at an actual korean restaurant. the only things that i liked were the elote and loaded fries, but honestly, if they got those wrong they don't deserve to be open. i think the problem with these fusion restaurants is that they don't anything really well, and hope buzz words like "fried egg", "pork belly", and etc., is good enough to make the food taste good. well, consider me a sucker because i fell for it, but lesson learned! definitely won't come back here again.

    (2)

  • Nicole Q.

    Friday night. My cousin's girlfriend called and asked to make a reservation. The girl said yes and took her name down. We get there and tell them we made a reservstion. The guy tells us, "We don't take reservations. You can just wait outside though and I'll try to squeeze you in." Um, okay? Saving grace was that my mom complimented the bibimbap. Everything else? Mediocre. Burnt buns. Overload on kimchi. Too much oil in the chorizo kimchi fried rice; I felt like my arteries were getting clogged from eating all that oil. Service by far is THE WORST. They overlook you and they look as if they don't want to be there. My dad tried, fervently, to flag someone down for just water, to take our order, the bill... how can you ignore a customer for 20 minutes without giving them water? How can you neglect them when they're waving both arms at you to get your attention for the bill? This place is definitely overhyped. Needless to say, I won't be returning here.

    (1)

  • Richard M.

    I did the happy hour Taco Tuesday recently. It's $1.75 for tacos, and $2 for a bottle of Pacifico beer. The tacos are offered in chicken, gogi (beef), and pork belly. The gogi was my favorite for its flavor, but the pork belly was delicious too. It tasted like a bacon taco almost, and had a slight crunch. I tried the loaded fries which you must try, and someone at my table had the elotes. I did not, but they looked very good, and my friend ate them fast. The garlic edamame was a table favorite and didn't last long. We had the tres leches cake and churros for dessert. I never had tres leches cake before, and didn't really like it. It's just soggy cake. The churros were very hot, and may have been freshly made.

    (4)

  • Bree K.

    yummy, the short rib taco A+

    (5)

  • Archie D.

    Where do I begin? My top priority for a restaurant is the quality and taste of the food. However, when service is so horrible that it ruins the experience... that's another story. I came here for the first (and last) time about a month ago with a group of 8. We waited for about an hour for their Taco Tuesday special, which wasn't a big deal. The restaurant itself is kind of hipstery, and really small. If you're going to go here, I would say don't bother going with a group larger than four, otherwise you'll have to split your group up (or sit at the bar like we did). As for the food itself, I was not impressed. Pretty decent, but not amazing. Very average. A solid two stars, maybe three on the food itself. The main issue was the girl who was in charge of handing out food - I don't remember her name (I really should have asked), but she was beyond rude. The guy who took our order was extremely nice and was quite helpful, but the kitchen staff messed up 4 out of 8 of our orders. They also forgot to bring me the beer I ordered (didn't bring water or anything either), but left that on the bill. So, as they are trying to fix our order, the barback or runner or whatever she was mouthed under her breath "these fucking people" literally right in front of me, confirmed that is what she said with the person sitting next to me. I asked her if she was okay, and she kept up her pompous attitude as if everyone was beneath her. I cancelled the remainder of my food, told them to take off the beer from my order, and went to eat somewhere else. Urban Seoul, your food is okay, but nothing to be desired. Your service is horrendous and the main reason why you lost this customer.

    (1)

  • Phillip L.

    I been here so much, I think it's time to leave a review now. To sum it all up, if you're looking for Korean fusion, this is probably the best place in the area. Burgers are awesome, fried rice is good, and the tacos are really good too. I come here mainly for the burgers and tacos. The place is somewhat small so a wait list is normal. It's even crazier on Tuesdays for taco Tuesday. Parking is always packed. Good thing they have a parking garage. The service is average. Don't expect fine dining or amazing service. You get what you get, and that's enough for me when I'm out on a casual eat. I also like how they have special menu items that change every so often whether it's appetizers or drinks. Also, for all you adults out there, they do have happy hour and adult beverages. Bottoms up! It's not a full bar or anything, but at least they got something right?! But yeah, if you're in the area looking for some Korean tacos or Korean burgers or anything Korean fusion period...this place is for you! Cheers!

    (4)

  • Jenny Y.

    Food is tasty here and service is great. This place is actually worth driving around this busy plaza looking for parking. Haha. We ordered the gogi sliders, beef tacos, sweet potato fries, and the spicy rice cake (Ddukbokgi)... everything was tasty and unique in it's own way, especially the tacos. The staff and chef were very helpful and kind. You can tell they put every inch of effort into making their customers leaving happy and satisfied. Food was perfectly balanced. Not too heavy, not too sweet/spicy, and the portions were just right. Would definitely come back here! :)

    (5)

  • Lyn C.

    Really great little spot for a meal. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. We got a few dishes to share, the food was absolutely delicious! Korean with a modern twist, in a good way :) Pork belly tacos Chorizo kim chi fried rice Corn The menu is limited but the items available are pretty good. I really like the decor inside, but do wish it was bigger inside. Check it out, it's great!

    (4)

  • Paula N.

    Throughly impressed by this Korean joint! Located in the ever-so-busy Diamond Jamboree, it may be a headache to access. I mean, come on, when is this plaza never jammed packed? In any case, Urban Seoul is a Korean fusion spot, offering appetizers such as the elote (YUM!) and loaded fries. I had to admit, the prices are the cheapest, however, there is a pretty generous happy hour, which happens to be EVERY day, 5-7pm. My happy hour picks? The gogi quesedillas ($3) and the elote ($2). Don't be fooled, the elote may look small, but it definitely is a hearty serving. The pork belly tacos are to die for! Don't forget to try 'em =P Will be back again, perhaps on a Tuesday for the $1.75 taco Tuesday special.

    (5)

  • Kay A.

    Love this place but it's too small so service is quite slow and inattentive. I love the flavors of Asian fusion dishes. My only complaint is that it is a LITTLE bit greasy but hey it's fatty food so I suppose that should be expected!! I love the watermelon drink. It's so refreshing! And the cup is pretty damn big! Big enough to share...if you want...Fries are amazing! Perfectly seasoned crunchy waffle fries. Please don't change this Urban Seoul! The fries at 2.0 aren't nearly as good and that made me sad!! The pork belly tacos and gogi sliders are both delicious. We also tried the chicken bibimbap which was good with the purple rice. Definitely a good spot for some unique eats.

    (4)

  • Jenny T.

    Awesome place, awesome food, awesome people! Had a great first experience here. I recommend the pork belly tacos and fries! Yum

    (5)

  • Alex N.

    Pretty good, but nothing special. - Awesome: Galbi Sliders, ambiance was awesome if you sit near the kitchen area. - Good: Chorizo Fried Rice - Alright: Drummets - Meh: Sweet Potato Fries A place that we would be down for happy hour every so often (5pm-7pm), but not a frequent visit!

    (3)

  • Brittany L.

    I've had this place bookmarked for a while and finally got a chance to try it tonight. It's located in the Diamond Jamboree Plaza on the other side (with the pho place and kickin' crab). For a Friday night around 6:30pm it wasn't crowded at all and the happy hour was just ending (every day from 5-7PM). PARKING: It's DJ...hard to find parking so I just parked in the structure and walked over. ATMOSPHERE: It's kinda small, reminded me of the umami burger in los feliz, metal type chairs, low-ish lighting, wooden type walls...maybe like a beer pub or something. It's open seating and only one long table so at first we sat at a table for two then moved to the counter to watch the people cook etc. FOOD: We got three dishes, which were plenty for the two of us. Kimchi quesadilla - it's a red kimchi pancake (although, I didn't taste much kimchi) and then a regular quesadilla with cheese and chicken inside. It was goood, the pancake part was crispy on the edges but chewy otherwise and perfect. It came out piping hot and toasty. Pork Belly Tacos - my boyfriend liked these a lot, the pork belly is cut into smaller pieces and seemed to be deep fried because the outside was crunchy. It had a special sauce drizzled on it and for someone that can't handle spicy it was a tad spicy with my mouth feeling the heat. Kimchi fried rice - when we first got it I thought it was bi bim bop because all the rice was on the bottom and the top had the egg, chorizo (yum!) and fried onions. My boyfriend mixed everything and it was sooo good. A little more on the spicy side (again, for a weakling like me) but the chorizo added a nice salty flavor with the crunchy french onion and other ingredients. It's a pretty big bowl too. The wait staff were very attentive and friendly, sitting at the counter was fun to watch them cook and interact with the cooks. Overall, definitely worth coming to if you're a fan of the kogi/mexican/korean fusion food. Each dish is about $7 and although they seem like "tapas" it fills you up quickly.

    (4)

  • Nhu T.

    THE GOOD: The pork belly taco was brackin! I was introduced to this place by my friend and we went during happy hours and the food came reasonably fast. 2. THE BAD: My friend ordered a golgi taco and they came back with a tofu taco. Even though they eventually gave him the right taco they still charged him for the tofu one. Beware. Other than that, the food was delicious!

    (3)

  • Jason D.

    I think I had a bad experience. Their dumplings are deep fried, which is a way to save time, and mine were still cold in the middle when served. I got the slider as it was recommended. The beef was too chewy and bland and over proportioned. On the sandwich there were two minuscule pickled cucumbers and a bunch of cold but burnt melted prepackaged shredded cheese. Everything tastes like they were using the same oil to fry everything. The service was abysmal. Three people that came in after me got their food first, because mine was sitting on the counter. This place is completely understaffed. A lot of yuppies eating "the dankest fusion" is a recipe for mediocrity and overpricing. Beers on the menu are no longer available. I guess they were out.

    (2)

  • Kevin H.

    This place was hands down amazing. For the service, and for the food. They had the best stir fried udon that me and my friends come in for, and their service is superior! I love the atmosphere of this place. Thanks to the cooks and servers who offered me churros, loved them and definitely going to come back!

    (5)

  • Julie N.

    I am a very loyal fan of Komodo but gotta say, Urban Seoul has a spot in my foodie heart. By far - my favorite item is definitely the pork belly tacos. Crisp is the fight sections, tender in the near, flavorful - the slaw and sauce combined make this a dynamite item. The best part - if you're in this area, stop by on a Tuesday for Taco Tuesdays! I believe one taco is just a whopping $1.50 They are already regularly priced at around $8 but you can't beat that Tuesday deal. I also recommend the bibimbap with the beef and purple rice. My favorite go to spot before and after heading to Laguna.

    (5)

  • Stacey C.

    I really wanted to like this place but what a sad disappointment. Cons: -Flimsy plastic utensils. For a sit down/ waitress place I expected real utensils! - Not much kimchi in the kimchi fried rice and it was grrrreasy! - Gochujang for bibimbap was watered down. Bad bad bad. It might be good for happy hour or maybe I just ordered not yummy things. Oh well.

    (2)

  • Jen T.

    It got so delicious!!! The gogi sliders where amazing! I'm a fan of korean/mexican/american food,the fusion of all three is truly a blessing. I wasn't feeling it the first time I was here ,but after a few more trips I really like the chorizo fired rice, tacos, and the gogi sliders.Granted, it's not something you should be gorging on on a daily basis. It's not really that cheap,similar to food truck style food but with an indoor setting,$ 6-8 range. Service is okay , for such a small place I expect them to be faster and more attentive.

    (5)

  • Kristen Q.

    Pork belly tacos were delicious:) I definitely would return for Taco Tuesday. The bibimbap was alright; I prefer my bibimbap served in a stone bowl piping hot. Maybe it would have tasted better if we ordered in? We had the bulgogi version and I thought the meat slices were rather almost bunchy and chewy and not sliced as thinly and not as nicely marinated as I would prefer. Service is alright. Interior has a cool hipster vibe. Love that they have a happy hour!

    (4)

  • JD R.

    So good, we're going there again tonight! The wings are fantastic. The service is extremely friendly and the prices are pretty good, especially in an area that is known for being a little overpriced.

    (5)

  • Alicia H.

    This restaurant will definitely appeal to your taste buds if youve never had authentic korean food before. I'm not saying this restaurant isn't good its just very Americanized. Perhaps the menu is designed that way to attract more people. I've had the bibimbap, gogi tacos, japchae with seaweed rapped around and the chorizo dish. They were all okay. I feel like the prices are a little high for the quality of the food and the restaurant itself is a bit small. The tables and chairs are small and the chairs are very uncomfortable. There is a bar to sit and eat so that adds for extra space. The servers there are usually nice and because this restaurant is located at the Diamond, there is supposed to be ample parking but its usually very busy. I have nothing spectacular to rave about this place but its decent.

    (3)

  • Vi T.

    Overall: Seriously, how did I not know about this place until now? If you have not been here - you need to check it out ASAP. This is a very cool modern place that has yummy Asian fusion food. Everything that I have tried on the menu so far has been delicious and reasonably priced! Food: Disclaimer: There's this red sauce that they have on the table as one of the condiments. It is SO delicious. You must add this to most of your items! It is sweet, a little tangy and a little spicy. + Corn $3: If you love cheese, spices and corn than this is definitely the thing you MUST order. The corn is tender, and the seasoning they put on top is out of this world amazing. You get 2 corns for $3, and I ended up loving it so much that I did a second order of the corn. I definitely recommend this item. + Dukbokki (Spicy Rice Cake): If anyone has had spicy rice cake before, you know that they usually come in long sticks of rice cake, which can get boring after a while of eating it in one meal. However here at Urban Seoul - they actually made the rice cakes into small round shapes. They are more FUN and easier to eat. It's also delicious to dip it into the sauce that comes with. I definitely recommend! + Pork Tacos: This was also very flavorful. The pork was tender and the shredded veggies in the taco made it delicious too. I ate this with the red sauce and it was AMAZING :) + Bibimbap: I'm not usually a big fan of bibimbap, but this one was good. We were just too full by the time we got this meal so I didn't get to each much of it. Its definitely better with the red sauce they have on the table. Service: The service here was very quick and nice. They brought out my order in a timely manner. Environment: Located in Diamond Jamboree plaza in Irvine - this is the perfect location. It does get crowded on the weekends so I recommend eating early. However, the restaurant itself is very modern and very clean.

    (5)

  • Miyoung K.

    Does anyone else notice the irony in this business' name? Irvine must be the most suburban suburb in suburbia... Far, far, far less urban than the actual urban Seoul. Total misnomer. Should be named Suburban Seoul. :p Very small... Uncomfortable seating... Weird, bad lighting... average Korean fusion food... sub par service. Pretty mediocre, but yes, maybe great when held to the suburban standards where options are scarce. Maybe my general disdain for Diamond Jamboree may have contributed to this less than stellar review. Heh.

    (2)

  • Angeline K.

    Not bad! I heard this place gets packed around dinnertime but I went during around lunchtime and there was no wait. The fries are crazy heavy and the burgers were too salty for me. However, the pork belly tacos are the bomb dot com! So so good. So was the street corn. Definitely going to order those again! Service was fine. The reason for the a docked star? There was a HAIR in our fries. Ew. Really grossed me out. But my love for the pork belly tacos kind of outweighed that. It does make me wonder if I ate hair in those too though...

    (4)

  • Vincent N.

    Taco Tuesday and Happy Hour!! Taco Tuesday $1.75 tacos and 1/2 off soju all day and happy hour everyday from 5-7 (good deals on appetizers and drinks!) Came here on a Tuesday night at 8:30 and it was pretty busy, wait was about 20 mins, but it was worth it. Waitresses were very attentive and nice, and I can see they were working really hard dealing with the crowd. Ordered elotes and one of every taco since it was our first time here (Golgi, spicy pork, chicken, pork belly, and tofu). Tacos are small street size so probably have to order 4-5 to get full. All delicious! So many flavors bursting in your mouth. I would skip the tofu though it was basically fried tofu in a taco. The pork belly is not cooked like the pork belly you would get at a KBBQ restaurant, it's actually breaded but it still tastes pretty good. Spicy pork, Golgi, and chicken were top notch. MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR THE GREEN HOUSE SAUCE! Elote is a must! It was delicious! Perfect mix of chile, mayo, and Cheese. Gets stuck in your teeth but it's a must try! Or peel it with a knife, which is what my GF did. It can get a little pricey without happy hour or taco Tuesday and the drinks we ordered (horchata and pina colada) was sub par, definitely not worth it. Overall great tasting food!

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    Can't wait to go back to try more things off the menu. I had a craving for fried rice and got the chorizo fried rice to go. So super good. It had so many layers of flavor and ingredients. But the pickled onions really made the dish. I can't even name all the ingredients in it but it's so yummy. The place is small but the staff seemed nice. Can't wait to come try the fries and all the other stuff!

    (5)

  • Josephine P.

    Happy hour. Happy hour. Happy hour. I would only come here for happy hour.

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    Great casual place, especially for happy hours! It reminds me of the kogi truck but even better, and at the same spot all week. The chicken wings are awesome and the tacos are very tasty. It's best to do family style so you can try a bit of everything!

    (5)

  • Tiffany Y.

    A HAPPY HOUR that the 8-5 working people can actually make! Things I've tried: - Gogi Tacos - yummy... love that hot sauce and aioli - Pork Belly Tacos - a little too fatty, so I prefer the Gogi ones! - Chicken Curry Puffs - delicious, and goes great with the apple yogurt sauce - Chicken Drummettes - sweet and savory chicken lollipops, small but bursting with flavor! - Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice - flavorful and delicious! The pickled red onion balances out the fattiness of the pork belly bites! Overall, I really love that the service and food have been superb every time I dine here. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Hiep N.

    I was surprised at how good Urban Seoul was. The employees were very friendly and outgoing. The twist on typical Korean dishes are well executed. I highly recommend the stir fry udon and bibimbap.

    (5)

  • Kayla N.

    Delightful experience. Ordered the pork belly tacos for myself and my friend ordered the 3b bibimbap. We also shared an order of fries. Usually not a fan of tacos but this taco took the cake. It wasnt bland and it had that soft texture and lemony taste I like. The pork was a bit too chewy but it was very tasty. This dish is on the heavy side. Although three pieces may seem like a small portion, it can easily fill you up. Took a couple of bites from my friends dish and it was also very tasty. She ordered her bibimbap with golgi and purple rice. The purple rice had a soft texture to it. A little sticky and not dry like brown rice. Being tasty and healthy gives it two thumbs up. Fries were also good but it seemed a bit too greasy for me. It's the sauce that changes everything. Heavenly and almost tasted like animal fries from in n out. Loved the environment. Felt like a very classy fast food restauraunt. I didn't like how the tables were so small and cramped close together. It felt like we were also eating with strangers which was a bit uncomfortable. The service on the other hand was really friendly. They worked quickly and efficiently and checked on our needs every now and then. Had an amazing experience overall. Probably won't come back anytime soon though unless I want to gain a few pounds. Food was definitely delecious but it was also very greasy. As I am currently trying to lose wieght, a meal here made me feel 5 pounds heavier.

    (4)

  • Priscilla T.

    A great fusion place! Out of the countless evenings I've been here, I'm always really satisfied with the restaurant as a whole. Warning: the service is a bit on the slow side (especially when you order to-go) but the food is so good that I don't mind the wait! Also, seating is a bit cramped and there isn't really any place to put your bag, other than perhaps behind you on your chair or in your lap.. As for food, I really recommend the pork belly tacos (don't forget taco Tuesdays, $1.50 for any taco!), which come with a set of 3 tacos per order. The pork belly is so crisp and juicy and goes perfectly with the rest of the ingredients, especially the Mexican cheese.. Yum! Another thing I recommend is their bibimbap with tofu. If you've ever had an original Korean bibimbap, you'll definitely see the fusion concept in this dish here. One part that I really love about this dish is the crispy onion strings.. So unique and I love the crunch it gives. Lastly, definitely take advantage of the happy hour from 5-7 PM everyday. When I first came, I used this offer to try the different appetizers, not so much the drinks, they had. I've come to the conclusion that the elote and mandu are the best, in my opinion. Also, happy hour is also a great way to get a deal on some of the alcohol on their list. It's definitely a great place to chill with friends or just treat yourself for the night! Just good luck with parking at diamond jamboree..

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    LOADED FRIES ARE BOMB. There are pickled red onions for some crunch & a slight slight sourness, jalapenos to add some sweetness. Then there's the juicy pork pieces with some melted cheddar & mozarella (either that or parmesan, but most likely i think mozarella; correct me if I'm wrong :O) all topped on waffle fries with some chopped green onions. It is spicy on the medium level, based on my tolerance, but nevertheless is a must try! Kalbi sliders were awesome, too! You get 2 sliders per order, and each slider has a the meat itself with some shredded lettuce & a slice of tomato with some ketchup on the bottom of the meat patty. Tender & juicy ^_^.

    (5)

  • Marissa S.

    Reversed food truck concept. You know how they brought the restaurant to us in trucks? Well, Urban Seoul is a food truck in a restaurant! HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT: -food truck food, in other words, greasy -they use paper plates just like in a truck -if you think food trucks can get pricey, it's pricier here considering they have a bigger overhead cost -bar seating, one long table with benches (can be communal), and a couple small round tables that can seat about 4 people each -a flat screen TV by the bar -great beer options (draft and bottled). They have Hoegaarden! Score! -food is really quick and service is decent -located in Diamond Jamboree plaza so parking is a pain HERE'S WHAT I TRIED: -Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice---beautiful plating and all but looks can certainly be deceiving! The rice bowl consists of pickled red onions, garlic, crispy pork belly, chorizo, kimchi, and a sunny side up egg. Did I say chorizo? Yes, because that's what the menu states. Uhm, where was it?! I didn't see it nor did I taste it on the dish! And beware of the grease on this. It's literally, OVERKILL. $7.95 yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… -Chicken Drumettes---fried chicken wings with sweet and spicy sauce. I ordered this for my daughter so I asked for the sauce to be on the side. Sauce was just okay. I've had better. Skip it if you will. My daughter found some chicken hair still on the skin. Gross! $6.25 yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… -Japchae Mari---A Must!! It's Korean glass noodles wrapped in seaweed, battered, and fried, then doused with kimchi all over it. Wonderful fusion of flavors. Loved it! Something I would probably come back for. $5.50 yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… -Shortrib Sopes---braised short ribs, beans, pickled red onions, queso fresco, tomatoes, lettuce, radish, sour cream, and cilantro on fried sopes. Sopes is like a tortilla but thicker and also made of fried corn flour. It was definitely packed with flavors. I enjoyed this dish but expect to make a mess. It's a challenge fitting a bite into your mouth. $7.25 yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… Overall, food is okay and concept is nice. As for service, we had a little mishap with the beer. It wasn't as cold as how we wanted it to be so we brought it up with our server. I guess the guy on the bar behind our table was the owner and overheard us. He made sure to put a bottle in the freezer and replaced what we had on our table when it was ready. Service as it should be! I wouldn't be rushing back here anytime soon but it's worth a try!

    (3)

  • Mark N.

    I went there for lunch and had the kalbi burger (sliders). It was very good but on the juicy side (as I was warned). The kimche in the burger was an accent and did not overwhelm the experience. The staff was very polite. This is definitely a place that leans towards the hipster end of the spectrum but in a very innocuous way.

    (4)

  • Grace C.

    It's okay. The combinations don't really work for me. I've tried so many times to like Korean/Mexican fusion but it's really hard. It's a good place for large group and they have small plates. Very social atmosphere. The food is a little forgetable.

    (3)

  • Ella Z.

    This place is located at DJ, so good luck finding parking. I just want to say that food is 4 stars!! My friend and I came in being ignored by the waiter. He seats us with a cold face making us feeling awkward. Overall, the service was just awkward. The female waitress was nice though. One thing I really didn't like about this place which I can't blame because it's small, is all the seatings are so close to each other. You can literally hear what the person next to you is saying. The food was good! My friend and I ordered the spicy pork torta, loaded fries, and elote (corn). I enjoyed each entree. They all tastes delicious with their own blasts of flavors. I think the elote was on a cob before but now they use the frozen corn I think. :( I can see they care a bit about their presentation because they add pop of colors of ingredients to the meals that may not be necessary. It's still good though! Overall, I enjoyed the food!

    (3)

  • JoAnn D.

    3.5 stars! Located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza. What do you get when you mix a Korean chef w/ a Hispanic & Venezuelan chef? URBAN SEOUL BABY! Casual. Bar and shared bench seating. Not KID FRIENDLY since seating area is small and not very spacious for high chairs or loud kids. We opted to order the food to go. MSG rating: 1/5 **********HERE IS THE GIST********************* TACOS: (3) Pork belly, kimchee, queso fresco , lettuce, pickled onions. This was my favorite. Flavors were bold and and had a nice spicy KICK to it. Pork belly was fatty and oooooo so GOOD. SHORT RIB AREPAS: NICE TRY Urban Seoul. It's just NOT as good as authentic Venezuelan Arepas. Arepas bread was a bit too hard and it had a hint of cheese crunch on it. A bit too salty. PLUS SIDE is that the short ribs were VERY tender and well marinated. I loved the pickled onions, which complemented the dish very well. Overall....not bad. KIM CHEE FRIED RICE w/ fried egg on top: WOW, this dish is FULL of flavors. Too much perhaps. Rice is seasoned w/ lot of ingredients. Imagine a paella or spanish rice along w/ fried onions, pickled onions, a dripping fried egg, CHORIZO and PORK BELLY pieces. Man O MAN. It's good, but a heart burn waiting to happen for sure. MY HUBBY REALLY LIKED IT. Again...worth the try. Total was about $23! Parking: packed of course. Lot is shared with TONS of other restaurants. Best bet is to park in the structure and walk over.

    (4)

  • Margaret J.

    YUM! pork belly tacos and the loaded fries are a MUST! Came another time and they had a special that was the loaded fries but with gravy I think? Very good, if they still have it I suggest getting it. Small restaurant but worth the wait! And you can always get takeout!

    (5)

  • Keonie O.

    Verbal customer service is lacking .. I think our waitress was more concerned about being condescending and turning her table than giving us adequate service... Nonetheless food was appetizing but nothing impressive. Maybe next time our server should focus more on how we like the food rather than clearing out plates off the table when there is still food on them .

    (3)

  • Ingrid V.

    Mmmm.. I've never had Korexican food before! (Korean / Mexican). This unique fusion eatery boasts unique items such as Kimchi Quesadillas, Chicken Katsu Tortas and Gogi Taco's. It's been a while since I've experienced such bold and innovative food. Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… The hubs and I sampled a few items and all were delicious! Gogi Sliders: yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… Tender patties, savory sauce and soft buns! Wonderful marinated gogi flavor. Only drawback was that it was super greasy, and soaked up by the bun. yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… Chicken Curry Puffs: yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… It's like having a bowlful of your favorite curry rice dish in a delicious pocket. Super light and flaky, this was definitely our favorite item! Chicken Katsu Torta: yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… Sooooooo good! The collision of sweet & tangy katsu sauce with guacamole made such a magical flavor! The chicken was tender and juicy. This dish is a total winner! Pork Belly Taco's: yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… Phenomenal flavors! The cotija cheese with an hot Asian zing perfectly complemented the pork. Just... it was a bit tooooooooooo spicy for me. The service was friendly and helpful! I explained that it was our first visit to our server, and she was quick to make recommendations and suggestions. One area of improvement: We recommended them to a couple we met in line at 85* after dinner, knowing that they closed at 10PM. It was about 9:45 when they walked up, only to find that the eatery had already closed. Very delicious concept! I recommend checking it out.... but don't do it during prime-time dinner rush. It's at the Diamond Jamboree plaza, and finding parking there could be a road-rage inspiring ordeal.

    (4)

  • Kimmy T.

    I only had the crispy pork belly tacos and they were so good. The pork was perfectly crispy and the taco toppings were great. I want to try the other items on the menu now.

    (4)

  • Win K.

    One of the really good tapa places in Irvine. Come for the Happy Hour appetizers, which is what I did with a group of friends. Pretty excellent. The flavors are a fusion of Korean-style foods and tacos. There's a bit of everything, all very flavorful. The service is friendly and the food range from good to excellent. I loved tacos--I think I had the pork belly ones among others. Everything else have their own unique-enough flavor. The interior is pretty small, rather stylistically decorated with urban art. A group of 2-4 is probably a good number to bring. This place is located at Diamond Jamboree, so it can get pretty crowded--there may be a bit of a line to enter. Nice, urban vibe.

    (4)

  • Julee S.

    Korean Fusion food is a nice trend lately and this place is very similar to Belly Bombz. I ordered the Spicy Pork Bibimbap and it wasn't bad, but wasn't something I would crave either. I would have preferred there to be more rice in my bowl as I felt like I was munching on veggies more so the whole time, not that its a bad thing, but I don't think its a preference for many people. Service was on par, but I was confused on who the workers were because there's no uniformity going on there.. But I liked the environment of the place. The only minus is the ventilation from the kitchen isn't so great and the entire restaurant was pretty smokey and I walked out smelling like well, smoke. It felt like I had just been to a korean bbq restaurant which I really detest. Overall: Price- Cheap around $8-$13 Service- On point Food- It's something nice to try for newbies.

    (3)

  • Denise K.

    If you're a fan of asian/latin fusion like the kogi truck and what not, you will love Urban Seoul! The menu is pretty simple and fits on one page, similar options as to what you'd find from a food truck. I had a lot of options that I wanted to try, but I wasn't that hungry this time and decided to get some tacos since it was Taco Tuesday!! Taco Tuesday offers their tacos at $1.50 each and 50% off soju! Heck yes, I ordered two pork belly tacos and one gogi taco. The pork belly meat was crunchy, flavorful, and extremely juicy! Your choice of meat definitely makes a difference. The gogi meat was also very juicy and full of flavor but had a completely different taste and was a little sweeter. The tacos were delicious and very filling! They come with lots of cabbage and a delicious creamy dressing that has a little spice in it. I ended up eating only two of my tacos and then taking the other to go. This is a great addition to diamond jamboree! I'm sure I'll visit many more times because I still want to try the arepas and loaded fries. Great service and awesome food! HH is everyday from 5-7! You can get some cheap snacks, beer, or wine. Heck yes! Who doesn't enjoy good tacos and an ice cold beer?!

    (4)

  • Jackie P.

    First time I came here, I would have given 5 stars, but the second time wasn't so great. 1st time, I got the chorizo Kim chi fried rice and my boyfriend got the gogi slider with elite and drumettes b/c 5-7 happy hour! My bowl was okay, but I asked for hot sauce and cilantro lime sauce. BRUH. That shit made it so much more flavorful. It was bomb! My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed the slider. Everything was on point with service and whatnot. It was a little slow for only a couple people in the restaurant. The 2nd time however, the wait was annoying as shit (expected for 1.75 taco tuesdays). Like dude.. the host kept yelling "LAST CALL FOR JANE PARTY OF 2" 5 fucking times. Like bruh I know you really want Jane, but she dipped a lonnggg time ago. He said wait would be 20 min, but we waited an hour for a party of 4. We got in ordered our shit, everything tastes bomb and whatnot. The service was eh because we had to repeatedly ask for napkins and water. Here's why I got mad. I fucking waited 45 minutes for the check. 45 mother fucking minutes to LEAVE. Like no fucking wonder there was no one going out or in! Fucking ridiculous.. while we were waiting for the check, we saw the workers take shots with the customers.. like ok idgaf about "rules" and "illegal" shit but dude... I'm just trying to leave and your ass is over there taking shots.. annoying! I would come back, but probably the Irvine spectrum location, this one is too small.

    (4)

  • Joyce Y.

    came here for a quick lunch. overall, had a great experience. the waiters were so friendly and efficient, oh and super fast!! we wanted to have everything wrapped in to-go containers so we could make our movie. they wrapped everything up for us, however, the food was so fast that we ate half of it there and still made it to the movie in time! whoa! pork belly tacos - comes in a set of 3 and is STUFFED. get ready to get messy. it is overflowing. i loved the slaw on top, but wasn't a big fan of the pork belly. would try again with a different meat base. loaded fries - om nom nom - get these!! elote - again, GET THIS! it is like a fancier/safer version of the kind you get on the street. yum! japchae mari - total pass. tiny little things. japchae noodles (no seasoning or veggies/mushrooms) wrapped in a piece of seaweed and deep fried. no thank you. kimchi fried rice - i liked it. viet loved it. would order again. overall, 1 major miss in an order of 5. would return! :)

    (4)

  • Adrienne V.

    $2 Elote during happy hour? I'm there. This small joint is quite the modern twist on korean food. A little too heavy for my liking, but that's just because I don't really prefer fried things/grease like the average young american. The servers are really friendly, it isn't intimidating to ask them questions about the menu to help figure out what would be best for you. I got the bibimbap (don't know if I did that properly) and it was okay. My boyfriend seemed to thoroughly enjoy his loaded fries and cheesesteak, but as I noted earlier, it is heavy on the grease that he couldn't finish any of it. Prices run about $7-12, which is fairly decent. It wasn't crowded when we arrived, or well... there seemed to be plenty of spots open for parties of 2! Would I come back? Yes, because I get my elote fix! But not for anything else ):

    (4)

  • Christy K.

    Finally convinced myself to give this place a try, despite the fact that Diamond Jamboree is nearly impossible to park in during lunch hours. We arrived around 12:45 on a weekday afternoon and were promptly seated. The tables are a bit small, but the restaurant itself is quite small, so I suppose these tables make the best use of the space. I ordered 3 pork belly tacos and the mint watermelon lemonade. For $3.50, the lemonade was huge! It tasted very fresh and was unlike any other lemonade I've had before. The tacos were delicious, yet very heavy- they induced a 2 hour food coma after. My friend ordered the kogi sliders and said they were good, yet could have easily been made at home.

    (4)

  • Sara Y.

    I was a bit disappointed, got my hopes up for this place after reading Yelp reviews! The atmosphere is definitely a bar-type setting. However, it is not comfortable. The tables are close together and the stools/chairs are uncomfortable. I really wanted booth seating! My date felt really awkward as well! The crowd seems to be older mid 30s+. They have 2 tvs and bar seating. Food: Spicy Rice Cakes-too salty and oily. Did not like the rice cake balls, really longed for the original version. Unfortunately, it didn't satisfy my craving. Short Rib Arepas-Short rib was really tender and delicious. However, it was quite heavy and needed something other than bread to balance it out. Pork Belly Tacos-I was really craving this but was disappointed when I saw minced pieces of deep fried pork belly and not a big slab of it! It didn't taste like the pork belly I know and love. Chicken Curry Puffs-This was a hot pocket of curry! Pretty good! I wish the food was more fresh and healthier. My date has a bad impression of Korean food! He felt Korean food is too salty, heavy, and oily which it isn't! I hope they will add some more greens and veggies in their food and avoid deep frying everything! I would come back to watch a game and have a beer. I might be open to eating there again if they add healthier options to their menu.

    (3)

  • Cathy S.

    Saw this place in the Let's eat: Our 2013 Register restaurant awards ocregister.com/articles/… East-west mashup? I was intrigued. Upon entering this brick and mortar restaurant with a food truck feel I immediately noticed there weren't any condiments on the tables or bar. No spice? I happened to encourage one of my spice loving friends Patty. She can take the heat more than I can! I ordered the special stir fry udon yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… - The udon was overcooked and was a disappointment. However, the sauce, veggies and sunny side up egg were a welcome sight in a beautiful ramen bowl (yes, I always have ramen on the brain) - 2 stars. Patty chose the chorizo kimchi fried rice yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… - Now, this is what i'm talkin' about! Flavorful and garnished beautifully with the pickled red onions and with the sunny side up egg and served in the same bowl as the stir fry udon, it was as close to perfection as one dish can come. The heat was the only thing missing in my book. - 4.5 stars. The decor was quite nice with a industrial feel yelp.com/biz_photos/urba… love the lighting as well. I was a tad uncomfortable sitting in the stool I chose. Patty was however in a chair and felt no discomfort. Stir fry udon and chorizo kimchi fried rice - 3.25 stars Decor - nice industrial feel - 4 stars, sans condiments 3.625 stars rounded up to 4. I will be back with hubby to try out a few other items on their menu, perhaps during their Happy Hour! Heck, if it is after work, it is always Happy Hour isn't it?

    (4)

  • Lauren L.

    Each time I hear the words "ASIAN FUSION" I get slight chills from the thought of having to eat at a PF Chang's or Pei Wei type of establishment. However, this place is not any of those. It is slightly superior. This place, rather, is a trendy food truck, minus the nomadic tendencies. I commend Urban Seoul on this aspect - its capability to turn the food truck experience into an actual dine-in type of restaurant. No need to hunt down those (sometimes) dreadful food-on-wheels! For under $20, my friend and I ordered the pork belly tacos and the urban style bibimbap.With somewhat high expectations, to my surprise, this place was not half bad! I can't really vouch for the tacos, but the bibimbap was quite tasty and surprisingly a huge portion of food! I was intrigued by the "hip" spin Urban Seoul took on such a classic.

    (3)

  • Anita L.

    I've been here many times now (keep forgetting to write a review) and I am always surprised how much I enjoy coming here every single time. I think by now I've had almost everything on the menu, so here goes: Chicken wings -- love love LOVE these Rice cake (or their version of ddukboggi) -- balls of fluffy rice cakes topped with fish cake and a really great sauce. My son loves the galbi sliders and the quesadilla. The bibimbap is also pretty good although it's not traditional. They let you choose this type of rice (not white) which is really good. The flavors are good but not cloying and overly salty or overly sweet like Kogi Truck's food. Good stuff!

    (4)

  • Jenny M.

    Urban Seoul oh how I love you. If I could eat here every day and still keep my girlish figure I would!!! -What I ate: Gogi Bibimbap- amazeballs -What the hubs ate: Gogi Arepas- amazeballs...kinda greasy but definitely not wasted calories. It was totally worth it! -We shared: corn-spicy style. Equally as amazeballs. Hubs had a beer and I had their watermelon drink which I've been daydreaming of since. I freaking love this place and can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Anna K.

    Came here Saturday evening (right before happy hour ended! 5-7 PM every day) and only had to wait a few minutes before getting seated right next to a large Chinese family with their babies and grandbabies. Not the most intimate or quiet space but with our party of three not too bad. Place was coated in steam like those outdoor tented restaurants in K-dramas. Spicy rice cake ($4) - Cut up into small balls. Could use a bit more sauce and spice. The crispier pieces were good, but there was no fish cake to pair the softer ones to. Meh. Nice try though. Spicy pork tacos ($7 for three) - Just wasn't impressed at all. Didn't feel like finishing mine honestly when I had corn to demolish. Not very spicy nor was there much filling. Tacos aren't full-sized! Would be okay if they were a dollar a piece. Still too expensive on Taco Tuesday ($1.75/each) to merit ordering. Chorizo kimchi fried rice ($8) - The comrades went ham on this. I was too busy with my corn. Corn lyfe. I tried a few bites and it was pretty solid. Only drawback: it's a bit oily. 2 orders of elote (happy hour $2 each) for me... and only me. What do I say..... THE BEST out of what we ordered. It didn't warrant munching on for my bf whose distaste for things stuck between his teeth surpasses his love for corn. But maybe I just love corn too much. Maybe I just have larger gaps. No braces lyfe. Drumsticks - Came out blazin' hot with a nice coating of sauce. Meat fell off the bone real good. Not worth the regular menu price of $8 though. Get it during happy hour - $3. Orange bang - Comrade got this. I tried it. Never going there again. But he rike. Free refills to-go. Overall, solid fusion food. Wish I had tried the sliders and arepas, but maybe next time. Never cheating on the Genkiyaki ninja taco again. You haveth me now.

    (4)

  • LC P.

    The food is great here. Great Korean-fusion dishes. I love the small plates/tapas style that allows you to share and try a lot more dishes than if each person were to order their own entree. I loved the elote corn and gogi sliders. And definitely order the lemonade. Cute little place in the Diamond Jamboree plaza. Parking gets crazy sometimes, especially on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Bob V.

    Good fun food !!! Awesome customer service. The only CONS is this restaurant is so so small. Would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Sunny T.

    Really, this place is either a hit or miss. I can see why people like this place and also at the same time I see why they don't. I like the concept and the flavor profile they have introduced with their fusion dishes. Also this is a small (tiny) dive bar kinda place - don't be expecting to have a dining experience here! Have fun with the menu, drink beers and don't worry about the 1000000 extra calories you're consuming. My take on this place - a fun place to have drinks and interesting bar food. If this place is too small for ya, go to their bigger location at the Spectrum.

    (3)

  • Iris L.

    Korean food + tacos = something to die for. It's pretty similar to those gogi taco trucks but it's better. I went here a few weeks ago and what can I say? The service was great. The waiters kept on joking around with me and I felt like I was their friend. The atmosphere was crackin and it seemed as though everyone was enjoying their Tuesday lunch. The servers were very attentive and definitely all deserve a raise + more tips! As for the food, it was really heavenly. I got the bulgogi and pork belly tacos! My favorite is definitely the pork belly. It was loaded with vegetables and just great. Appetizers were half off during happy hour so that was nice. We got the loaded fries, the corn, and also the wings and they were pretty good! The fries were on the heavy side though but definitely very filling! Definitely a place I would come back and enjoy a meal with a friend with. I crave as we speak.

    (4)

  • Hann A.

    mexicanized Korean food..... Greasy & Messy !! If you're tryna loose weight.. skip this place. I've tried.. -arepas -loaded fries -spicy pork tortas Arepas the best one out of those three.

    (3)

  • Tuong Q.

    Looks like they have new owners. Raised the prices, portions got a lot smaller and food was more greasy. I had the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice like I always do, the price went from $7.95 to $12.95! A $5 jump and the portion was cut in half! If I'm paying more but they kept the portion the same, I wouldn't be too picky about it but really?? The pork belly tacos also went up a little over a dollar each! Never coming back to this place again!

    (1)

  • Lalida S.

    I wasn't sure what to originally think of this place when my coworkers and I came here for lunch on a whim one time. In my opinion, fusion is either done really well or horribly wrong. Upon coming in at lunch around 11:30 we were seated immediately. One of my coworkers ordered a more traditional bowl while my other coworker and I ordered the Kalbi burger/sliders. Please note that the seating arrangement here is a little tight and strange, mainly because the restaurant is a little small. There's a few very small tables that seat individuals and groups of 2. Otherwise, there's the bar and a very long table that would require you to share with another group if you're in a small party. The kalbi burgers were delicious; very moist and delectable and done very well. The criss cut fries were also awesome. Our servers were also very attentive and were always ready to ask if we needed anything else or filled up our water cups. If you're in the mood for fusion, I'd definitely come here. Be sure to also check out their Happy Hour as well.

    (4)

  • Nancy N.

    Went here for Taco Tuesday but it ended at 9pm. But it was Happy Hour so we got that instead. I got the bbq pork belly sliders and it was really good. The pork belly was cut into small cubes and it was cooked really well it was crispy but also chewy. The sauce was just the right level of spice and creaminess. It was a bit pricey however for slider. I'll try again another day to try the tacos for sure though.

    (4)

  • Phuong K.

    New yummy place that just opened up at Diamond Jamboree. I came here expecting it to be a long wait and super packed like everything else in that Plaza, but surprisingly it was not too busy and service was super attentive and we got our yummy food pretty fast. I came here with my friend on a Saturday night for some late night food,. We got a few different items to share. We got: -Arepas: MY FAVORITE. so good. I loved that green sauce that came with it. -Pork Belly Tacos: I love pork belly and these were very tasty. so sad that it was kind of small and i finished it in like 2 bites though -Bulgogi Sliders: So good and flavorful. One of my favorite dishes from here! -Chorizo Fried rice: I liked this dish a lot but I thought it was a little but under seasoned so I asked for an extra side of that green sauce from the Arepas and poured it on here and then it was perfect! I will definitely be back. I really like the laid back vibe here and plus they serve beer! I still want to try the other items on the menu. I ate so much I had major food coma after this...

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    Fusion that works. Love their take on the bibimbap (3b). The depth of flavor are in layers and very delish. Also tried their loaded fries (food porn) and braised pork belly bun. All were amazing and hit all of the senses.. Crunchy, sweet, savory, spicy. Their fries are criss cut (like carls jr) nacho cheese, jalapeño, chilli and other stuff that i do not or cannot even make out. Will be back to try the rest for sure

    (4)

  • Danny H.

    TERRIBLE service!!! Called in and was told 25min n have been waiting in shop over 45min... Why is this place so under staffed?

    (1)

  • Christina C.

    It's good for meeting up with friends and having a snack because of the friendly atmosphere and wannabe downtown LA vibe. It's decently made fusion Korean Mexican taco truck type food. Dishes are tasty but over flavored. If that's what you're looking for -- beer food or the munchies type food, this is where to get it.

    (3)

  • Marci A.

    I wish there was an URBAN SEOUL in LONG BEACH!!! made the trip from lb to irvine on a foodie date with my dude. Staff is super nice and made great suggestions. FOOD!!!: I ordered the yogi quesadilla and order of plain criss cut fries. The quesadilla was soo delicious! they used little corn tortillas and put cheese to grill on the outside which gives it an awesome light crunch. the mix of textures was awesome. The gogi beef is perfection. My boyf ordered the gogi tacos!! those were so freakin delicious! the kimchi and sauces were divine! I was sad when I only got one bite! my dude ate them up quick! quesadilla, fries, tacos, and a soda = $18 such an awesome deal and we went to 85* for dessert after! can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Lan L.

    The flavors of this place are very similar, but not as good, as the Kogi Truck. It's extremely fusion... I ordered the pork belly tacos and shared the loaded fries with my 2 friends. The tacos were unique and interesting but were SO SMALL x_x We were still hungry so decided to share an order of the chorizo fried rice. We still weren't completely full after all this food, but didn't feel like ordering anything else. I would definitely be back if they lowered their prices for such small portions, or give more food per order!!

    (3)

  • Trappy Y.

    Sitting at the bar here drinking an ice cold IPA, there are few words to express the quality, flavor, and exceptional service you get at Urban Seoul. Outstanding, scrumptious, and peerless come to mind easily. This place has the feel of a small taco stand where you can chat with the ever-busy chefs and enjoy a unique fusion of Korean and Mexican food that really is just...delicious. Often the chefs will toss new entree or desert ideas at you in the form of little taster plates because, well, they love and appreciate you? They want you to be happy? Who knows? It all goes in my face, irrespective of their reasoning. Whatever you do, don't come on Tuesdays when the tacos are $1.75! That's my day! MY DAY! In fact, just avoid this place altogether if you hate delicious fusion food and excellent service. I know you don't cause you're reading reviews so I guess I'll see you there! If I had one complaint it would be to use fresh jalapeños, instead of pickled.

    (5)

  • Majell D.

    Very small restaurant. Not a lot of seats but service was pretty good. Try the bibambap. I requested it with tofu but they have meat choices as well.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    Second trip to Urban Seoul gets 5 Stars. I ordered the chorizo, kimchi & rice skillet which they were out of on our first visit. OMG was it delicious! I just love the complexity of flavors & all of the unique menu items. Service was great & we enjoy sitting outside on the patio. I highly recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Christine N.

    Why is Korean food so addicting?! I came here for dinner with a friend today. Somehow, we stumbled in right during happy hour. Score! I got the bibimbap with spicy pork and purple rice. When it came out, I was amazed at how big the bowl was! I wasn't super hungry so it was going to be a challenge. They also gave me a bottle of the red sauce to add according to my taste. The bowl was packed full of veggies, spicy pork, and a poached egg in the middle. I was so excited to slice that egg in half and have the yolk run all over the place. However, I was left disappointed because the egg was overcooked. There was no runny yolk to be had. My meal was good, but I felt it was lacking something. After about 10 minutes of eating, I got kind of bored with it. The spicy pork was good, definitely had a kick to it. I also got to try my friend's chicken wings. The wings were really good! Slightly crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The glaze was super tasty. Service was lacking. When we came in, there was only one server doing everything, from seating customers to taking orders to bringing out food to cleaning tables. We had to wait quite awhile for her to come take our order. Later, more servers arrived, but it still took awhile for our check to come out. Place was tiny, good for groups of 2 or 3, but no more. Prices were decent. Overall, I thought everything was just okay. If I'm in the area, I might drop in again. Otherwise, it's not worth the drive for me.

    (3)

  • Mary N.

    This place is a gem! The atmosphere here is casual and is a great place to meet up with a friend. The tables only seat 2 people so there isn't a lot of space. It's also located in the diamond jamboree plaza so that means NO parking spaces at night. You have to wait for people to leave. After window shopping all day at South Coast, we were starving! We ordered pork belly tacos, Kimchi pancake quesadillas and bibimbap 3b with tuna. I enjoyed everything! However, the pork belly meat came out in crispy strips and I totally didn't expect that. It wasn't bad but there was a lot of crunch with the veggies already so i would have enjoyed just a soft juicy piece of meat. That's just my preference though. The flavors were good. The kimchi chicken pancake was so filling! I was almost full after eating just tacos and that. It's a good twist by using Korean pancake batter. I think I am going to try making that myself! Even though I was unbuttoning my pants, the bibimbap was worth the food coma at the end. It's a fusion of Japanese and Korean. I thought of Japanese with the raw tuna & cold veggies and Korean with rice and everything mixed up. It was so refreshing, filling and delicious. I could eat that all day errrday! The girls there were really nice and the service was good. Finally fusion done right! I am definitely coming back for HAPPY HOUR!

    (5)

  • Carlene P.

    Creative, fascinating dishes. Pleasantly interesting little place. I'm vegan, so finding something I will eat isnt always easy. I had the tofu bibimbap and just had them hold the egg. It was a very attractive dish and even more so when I stirred it up to reveal the purple rice. Thats right; I said purple rice. This lively and colorful dish came with this sassy sauce that was on the spicy side, so I added just a bit and then a bit more and once my taste buds could take it, I just poured the rest in there and wow, taste bud party! I'm typically a water drinker, but my colleagues talked me into trying the pineapple mint fresca, which was incredibly refreshing. This place is small, and very busy at lunch, but I found the staff to be genuinely friendly and efficient.

    (5)

  • Aaron Y.

    I kept forgetting about this place, but it came to mind when we were deciding where to eat. Super crowded plaza, of course, but Urban Seoul is like a stationary food truck. The food style is definitely of the food truck type, but a good food truck! Korean fusion. We got the Short Rib Arepas, which were suuuuuper good! A bit sweet and tangy, and tender. The kimchi pancake quesadillas were just ok. Chicken inside with kimchi and cheese with a kimchi sour cream for dipping. The chorizo kimchi fried rice was also very good. The fried egg, all the crispy goodness, the chorizo, and flavor from the kimchi.....so much goodness going on! They put pickled onions on most items and it adds a bit more flavor and a good texture. They're super friendly here and there's a good amount of seats. Sitting at the bar allows you to peak into the cooking area, which I enjoy. Get the Arepas and fried rice for sure. The prices are maybe slightly more than a food truck, but only by a buck or so. Happy eating!

    (4)

  • Mia B.

    I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. I almost don't want to write a great review about Urban Seoul in fear that they may get too popular (or crowded) and will have to raise prices to keep up with demand, but I figure it would be a complete disservice to the public if I keep this amazing place a secret. I think it truly is the best kept secret of Irvine.. AMAZING korean fusion food! Especially the pork belly and spicy pork belly tacos!! Combine that with Taco Tuesday prices at $1.75 per taco and this place truly proves to be the best value and most delicious around...Not to mention the super friendly servers and cooks.. The hostess/servers are always attentive (not tough since it's a small space but still, give credit where credit is due!) and the cooks are always friendly, even when multitasking as they cook our food and make friendly conversation. Just go and thank me later!!

    (5)

  • Lena D.

    After hearing so many good reviews about this place, I was extremely disappointed with the experience. I came here on a Sunday night with my dad. We came at about 6:30 and were seated immediately. The place is tiny and looks very "hipster." The tables minus the booths didn't really have proper seating; there was a tiny chair with a back on one side of the table, and a stool on the other side. I sat on the stool so that my dad could at least have some support for his back. The service was okay. The food took quite a while to come out after we ordered. I would say we waited for about 20 minutes before our food came out. For this kind of street/truck food, I expected it to come out much faster. That was a bit disappointing. However, I think the most disappointing aspect was indeed the food. We ordered pork belly tacos, gogi sliders, and kimchi fried rice. I thought the pork belly and gogi were both overdone. The pork belly crispy, and the gogi dry and overdone. Overall, I thought the food was decent, but by no means delicious. I think this place tries to focus on using many different types of flavors and textures instead of the overall taste of the food. If you like food that has many textures and flavors, this place is for you. Otherwise, if you prefer something that just is really delicious overall, I would suggest to maybe pass this place. I don't think I would come back to this place by choice. Maybe on Taco Tuesday if somebody asked me to go with them.

    (2)

  • Steve K.

    SOLID Experience. Efficient, friendly AND the food is outstanding. Parking is challenging....give some time just for that. ***** (5 Stars)- Amazing, zero flaws, a must go! (Not given often) **** (4 Stars)- Memorable, strongly feel you should visit *** (3 Stars)- Above average, worth a visit ** (2 Stars)- Average, some pro's and some con's * (1 Star)- Opinion is do not go, below average

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    This place has the best customer service!! Seriously. My friends and I unintentionally gave the waiter, Casey, a hard time.. we were asking question after question, asked to split the bill, just so many requests... But he was patient with us, and when they forgot to bring a to go box for one of us, he apologized and gifted my friend a free drink. Urban Seoul and Casey seriously just made our experience so smooth and nice. Onto the food, I ordered the Kimchi Cheese Quesadilla. It has chicken chunks in it, and kimchi, and cheese..basically it's really good :) It comes with a nice sauce on the side. My friends ordered the tacos and the bibimbap, which were just as delicious! I hope that people stop by Urban Seoul and eat the delicious food and support everybody that works here.

    (5)

  • Connie M.

    So I just went to Urban Seoul for dinner. I have to say...I wasn't impressed. The place was pretty packed...but we were seated right away. I'd have to say there isn't a huge amount of seating. Anyway there are 2 people working the eating area while there are 2 other people in the kitchen. About the food...the menu is split into 2 types "urban" korean food and more korean style food. I got the gogi sliders and loaded fries while my friend ordered the chicken katsu sandwich. Apparently the prices for pitchers of beer are great...(we didn't order any but other tables did). We didn't wait THAT long but let me just say the service was not the best...i think they're still figuring out everything. Anyway when we got our food...I have to say...I wasn't that impressed. The sliders were a bit too sweet for me...(the meat was too sweet...i loved the sweet buns) and the loaded fries...something about them...I didn't quite enjoy. The Katsu sandwich was also a little weird for me. All the food was not quite to my taste...but everyone else in the place seemed to LOVE the food. If I go again...I'm more inclined to try the tacos... Final thoughts: food was okay. Nothing to rave about. Will I go again? Maybe.

    (3)

  • Joyce L.

    Been dying to come here ever since I saw the taco Tuesday posts of this place! Staff was super friendly and nice. Unfortunately I came in after the happy hour time span but I decided to order something that would be more filling since I didn't come in during dinner time. We ordered the Gogi quesadillas as appetizers and it was AMAZING! So flavorful! For our main courses, I went with the Gogi bipambap ( couldn't make up my mind so I just went with something simple) and my friend got the kimchi chorizo fried rice. Both of these options are off the seoul side of the menu! With the Gogi bipambap, I was a little disappointed with how bland it tasted but their special sauce that they gave us helped a lot! I think next time I will go in and order some of the out of ordinary!

    (3)

  • Shannon G.

    I have been here a few times. The food is amazing. You can taste each and every flavor individually. The service is great, even on their Taco Tuesdays (Which I should say they get PACKED so I recommend going any other day ) The head cook Andre is knowledgeable on all the ingredients, and does very well answering all your questions. The lead server Aaron is very friendly and always willing to make your visit the best that he can. Great atmosphere, only down side is parking can be a bit difficult. MUST TRY the Gogi . Regardless of how you want it. Its AMAZING.

    (5)

  • Amos Y.

    Wow! What can i say negative about this place. We ordered the sliders (which were technically burgers), the chicken wings, and the waffle fries. All of it was amazingly awesome! Service was fast and friendly. I've been talking non-stop to my friends about this place. Make sure you get the fries, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Dianna T.

    This place is amazing. It's like every palace that I wish to walk into during a lunch rush...minus the wait, of course. This is the type of place that it's just not big enough to be picky about where you sit. Seriously, come in, sit your a$$ down, and enjoy the food. I came here for lunch with my coworker, sat at the bar, and engaged with the guys behind the counter. We saw them making everything & it all looked delicious!! The drinks - we got the watermelon mint as our drinks...the balance was off between the watermelon and mint. Oh well, I'm sure I came on the wrong day. It was still delicious. *shrugs shoulder* The food - good God almighty. For us 2 girls, we ordered the kimchi fried rice, combo of the tacos, and the loaded fries. Yes, all of that. Don't judge. The fried rice - you have to love kimchi to understand this. It's delicious, hearty and if you plan in coming alone, don't order anything else. No really, unless you want to be like us and bring home leftovers! Fries - amazing. Give me some more pork belly on there and I would be in heaven. Tacos - OMG!!! Spicy pork? Ummm hell yes, please! If you don't like spicy, you can get it unspicy...because it's really spicy. I'm from Texas so that was amazing to me! It was all soooo good!!! The pork belly taco was good too, but we literally just had it in the other dishes, so spicy pork tacos for the win! I hear the sliders are super good too. Next time. The food, the people that work there; it's all amazing. They were friendly, talked to my coworker and I and made us feel safe with trying whatever food we wanted to & without judgment. It was awesome and probably one of my favorite lunches since I've moved to California. No, really...this southern girl appreciates hospitality, and I'm glad I got it.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Not a huge fan of Asian fusion but Urban Seoul has won me over. What we ordered: -Pork belly tacos: huge, flavorful and everything inside the taco worked harmoniously -Loaded fries: combination was a bit weird but tasty -Chicken curry puffs: taste exactly how it sounds -Chicken drumettes: your typical spicy korean style fried chicken Only recommendation I would make for Urban Seoul is to keep their soju in an enclosed fridge. An open fridge will never get it cold as it should be.

    (4)

  • Allison C.

    Fusion food can be kitschy and terrible, or it can be kitschy and yummy! Urban Seoul, you are kitschy and yummy! VIBE: Part of what keeps Urban Seoul yummy is its adventurous menu: you have your Urban options (American, Mexican, etc. inspired), your Seoul options (Korean inspired), and your daily specials (example: the fresh churros that were there when I went a few weeks ago!). Adventure comes with risk though, and not every item will be a tasty home run. It is tapas-style, so bring a group of people and order a few dishes to share. FOOD: Most recently, my friends and I had the following... Spicy tuna bibimbap: very generous portion, definitely add the hot sauce, so-so in flavor; Loaded fries: we went for the alternative sweet potato option; heavy, salty, meaty; typically addictive SoCal dish; Tofu tacos: mm, add that aioli to 'em. 3 each; Elotes: yum yum yum. Kinda pricy obviously since you can get 'em good at a street cart, but done well here; Gogi arepas: interesting take on the arepa, using corn biscuits. Gave it a nice sweet balance. AMBIENCE: There's table and bar seating available. When you sit at bar, you're watching the cooks and staring at whatever sports game is playing on the TV. Really chill service. Felt like I was paling around with my friends. And oh yea! Happy hour items available!

    (4)

  • Audrey G.

    A cute restaurant with an interesting take on Korean food and friendly service! We tried a couple of different dishes, and I enjoyed their bibimbap the most. (Probably also because it's still pretty close to traditional bibimbap) However, I didn't try their burger or tacos, as I was more in the mood for rice dishes. Another item we tried was their version of jap chae, which was rolled in a seaweed wrapper and fried. Delicious! (Although the portion was pretty small, which is reflected in the price) The kimchi fried rice, on the other hand, was quite a let down. The chorizo that was included was wayyy too greasy and fried. Not what I was expecting at all. Overall the dish was just way to oily for my taste (and probably most people's). Overall, I had a great experience, and would come back to try the tacos if I'm ever in the area again!

    (4)

  • Jo C.

    I tried the pork belly & gogi tacos! Must try both! The gogi is sweeter but i love how crunchy the pork belly was! Must try!! Im very pleased with my first visit here! Also i didnt have to wait long to get seated!

    (4)

  • Logan N.

    This place feels trendy but I was disappointed with the food. If you're looking for authentic Korean/Asian food, this place is not it. Tried the Urban 3B and although it looked pretty (purple rice with colorful veggies), it didn't leave me wanting more. I went with my brother and he seemed to like it. The place is worth a try.

    (3)

  • Anon y.

    I've been here several times since they opened up this location. Each time I go there my experience gets worse. Today's experience: Got there and stood around waiting to be greeted. About 3 minutes go by, nothing. I step away and 2 guys come walking through trying to self-seat so then someone gives them a seat. WTF? I'm just standing there still waiting to be seated. Eventually seated, we order and have some water. There's something other than water on the bottom of the cup. Whatever, that doesn't really gross me out but some people would. The guy next to me was served his order. I look around and they didn't give him any napkins or utensils. Then it reminded me of my last experience here. He had to ask for it twice until he was given some napkins and utensils. Then we watched our order come up. It's just sitting there on the bench for someone to bring it to us. But didn't seem there was enough staff. One girl was talking to someone that looked like he was applying for the job. Just chit chatting while our food is getting cold. 5 minutes later we were able to flag someone down that our food was just sitting there. We didn't have our napkins and utensils yet either... we had to ask for that. It definitely appeared they were understaffed. Food quality is about the same, but service is definitely worse. Maybe it's because they're expanding?

    (2)

  • Martha S.

    Food was pretty tasty We shared the urban 3b and spicy pork tacos. Food itself deserves 4 stars but I'm knocking it down 2 stars due to poor service... Our server (Teri) didn't bother to check back on our table after serving our plates, not even once did she check on us. We had to ask for a drink by walking over to her, where she was talking by the bar area... to get the check? Well we had to ask another server which was a super nice and friendly lady, complete opposite to the vibe Teri gave.... all and all I would totally give this place another try bc the food deserves it but steer clear from Teri. No bueno!

    (2)

  • Jeff K.

    Bravo urban seoul. Bravo. Well done old chap. I was invited for the soft opening of this place, and I must say I was blown away with everything. The service was impeccable, the food was on point and the whole ambiance was excellent. On top of that, they are going to get their alcohol license, and will soon be selling beer and wine. How awesome is that?!?! Beer and fusion Korean food go so well together!!!! Like wine and cheese, the two were made for each other. I was a little disappointed I didn't get to try the loaded fries, since we came late... but everything else we got was great. The kalbi tacos, lollipop chicken, the different types of sliders... all delicious. The tacos and the sliders stood out as the best things in my opinions. The sliders were juicy and full of flavor. (most times when I get sliders they are dry and lacking, but not here!). I don't know what type of flour/corn they use for their tacos, but I remember last night it stood out... weird, I know... DON'T JUDGE ME! Lol. We also got milkis to wash our dinner down. They have melon, strawberry and the original flavor... along with other various drinks. The main chef is tight. He's really friendly and lovable. no homo. :D He was mentioning that he hopes the jewelry store next door closes down, so they could knock down the walls and have more room. Cuz that's the only downfall about this place. The only con about this place is limited seating and the horrible parking lot at diamond jamboree. (I wish they built like an underground parking lot over here at DJ... there is honestly not enough space for when kicking crab opens up too.. =/) However, that will not stop me from coming back! I will have to try out the other items on the menu. 5/5 recommended! ^____^

    (5)

  • Pico L.

    What TERRIBLE service!!! I had a take out lunch today. As I was walking out with my order, a server ran into me hard and the container was shaken quite forcefully. I stopped myself to check if the food was ok. At which time, a server that was watching this whole incident asks "is everything alright". When I explained, he simply said "ok" and walked away. What is wrong with restaurant(s) these days? Don't they have some decency to show their customers that they care. I guess this place DOES NOT!

    (1)

  • Hoppie N.

    THIS PLACE IS AMAZING AND THE PRICING IS NOT EXPENSIVE! IT'S VERY DECENTLY PRICED AND THE PORTIONS ARE REASONABLE TOO! ESPECIALLY THAT BIBIMBAP. DAMNNN. IT'S HUGE! MY FRIEND COULDN'T EVEN FINISH IT! Food Recap: ---Spicy Pork Tacos were definitely a hit! It was 3 tacos for about $7 and the sauces that came with it complimented the entire taco very well. I also added some Tapatio for an extra spicy kick but honestly it doesn't need any. It's already great as is. ---The Watermelon Mint Limeade is a must-order (only $3.50). Wow. Super refreshing and huuuuuuuge! I'll definitely order it again! It reminds me of the Strawberry Basil Lemonade from Mick's Karma Bar (Burger Joint in Irvine) but instead is with Mint leaves and Watermelon and much more refreshing (because watermelon itself is just so refreshing already!). ---The Bibimbap was beautiful (Around $7)! And tasted delicious according to my friend as well! According to her, she said it even looked better than the bibimbap she's had in Korea. Daaamn. Good Job Urban Seoul! There were also two options for the rice: white rice or purple rice. My friend got the purple rice ( looks like the typical Korean rice that is purple-y colored and chewy) and loved it. CHECK OUT MY FOOD BLOG ^__^ : eatwithhop.com/2014/04/f…

    (5)

  • Danielle J.

    Finally made it in last night after hearing buzz for a while. As people have commented, the fusion is not a new idea BUT the idea of a "food truck feel" in an eatery is. I loved it. The place itself is small and cozy. I sat at the bar which allowed for frequent conversation with staff. The server was very attentive and helpful. Management was top notch and "present." My friend and I ordered the short rib arepas, loaded fries, and kimchi pancake quesadilla. I loved all of our choices and look forward to trying the other items on the menu next time! The prices are reasonable, as a food truck would be. The beers were well priced. Go try it out!

    (4)

  • Steve L.

    I am the bibampap monster and I give this place my stamp of approval. I had the kogi bibampap with a mix of the white and "purple" rice. The ingredients were fresh and rice was fine. I think it could have used a bit more sesame oil, but I was pleased overall. Another drawback is that there is no dul-sut option. I didn't try the side dishes but my friends were happy. They also have a few beers on taps as well.

    (4)

  • Ngan T.

    Three stars for the food, but definitely four for the staff. My friend and I sat at the bar and our server was attentive and very helpful when we asked her about items on the menus. Refilled our water plenty of times and always asked us if there was anything else we needed. The guys cooking behind the bar were fun to talk to and were very nice about showing us what each menu item looked like and explaining what went inside. They also made sure to ask which was our favorites and what to improve. Over all a very welcoming experience! As for the food, I ordered their top three things (according to yelp and according to our server): short ribs arepas, pork belly tacos, and the chicken lollipop. Short Ribs Arepas: the seasoning for the short ribs were on point and everything was great, the only thing I didn't like was the arepa --which is the whole point right? This dish was basically marinated short ribs and pickled onions in between two arepa (corn dough bun things). The arepas in my opinion, were a little too thick and doughy, after the first bite I took off the top bun and just ate it as an open sandwich. Definitely a good choice because I was able to taste more of the short ribs flavoring. Otherwise all I could taste was the doughy texture of the arepas. Pork Belly Tacos: these were alright but I wish they were bigger in size. Fried pork belly with a little bit of lettuce, onions, cheese and an orange sauce. The flavor wasn't all that memorable and their house special hot sauce could be a lot spicier. For Korean spice, it wasn't nearly spicy enough. Chicken Lollipops: these were also just alrighhhhht. Tasted like regular chicken wings you'd find at any other Korean establishments. Nothing mind blowing. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either. It was worth a try, but I don't think I'll be back anytime soon ... maybe if they add short rib tacos to the menu! YUM Everything was less than $10, but everything came in food truck size as well.

    (3)

  • Heather N.

    Urban Seoul is located in Diamond Jamboree, near Kickin' Crab. I ordered the gogi tacos which comes with 3 marinated beef (slightly sweet), cabbage, lettuce, cheese, and sauce/seasoning for $7. Unfortunately, you can't mix and match the type of meat you can get. Overall, a good place to get yummy fusion food!

    (4)

  • Isabella B.

    LOVED IT! Slightly pricey, but I loved everything I tried here! Pros -Corn (elote) by far my favorite! So flavorful! We ordered like 6 of them!!! -Gogi Tacos mmmm yummy :P (ordered without the hot sauce) -Sweet potato fries crisp and tasty -Chicken drumsticks Cons -Not a huge fan of the seating situation, small tables and uncomfortable chairs :\ We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Franklin Y.

    If you're looking for something different, Urban Seoul has captured a brilliant combination of Korean and Mexican/American food. Pork Belly Tacos: I'm pretty sure these are one of the best tacos I've ever had. It just has a wonderful balance of ingredients that has you asking for more. Short Rib Arepas: WOW, This is probably the thing I would suggest trying! It's totally different from what you would normally eat. To make it simple, it's Short Ribs inside a corn biscuit with some pickled red onions and sauce. I'm super glad my friend told me to try it. I am coming back for this. Chicken Curry Puffs: It's essentially a Curry Croquette, but this comes with an Apple Yogurt that completes the palette to this fine Tapas dish. The curry is warm and soothing, while the bread is soft yet firm. Kimchi Pancake Quesadilla: Most of my party agreed that this was not that great. Not sure if it was the lack of Spiciness, lack of Kimchi, Edges being more burnt than crisp, but this thing just had something to be desired. Japchae Mari: Glass noodles inside a fried seaweed sort of wrapping topped off with some spicy sauce. I really enjoyed this. Definitely creative and full of flavors. You got the breaded outside, with the slightly sweet noodles, and then the spicy sauce that completes it. I really appreciated the service as well! Despite being new to the atmosphere, the waitresses did their best to provide quick, friendly, and efficient service to everyone! Also glad that the owner went around checking up on people! Really enjoyed this place! Coming back soon and bringing friends!

    (5)

  • J V.

    The food is amazing and the service is great. It is such a nice experience getting to see the open kitchen. You can tell the cooks are working hard and still have the time to talk to you and provide service. I loved the new style corn they are doing. It is different from the traditional Mexican style street corn because it is off the Cobb. It has a great Korean fusion into it which adds a cheesier element to it. This is a must try! The other thing I would highly recommend is the chorizo fried rice. You can never go wrong with that. I am actually having a dinner party and spoke to the General Manager about the possibilities of catering. He was so helpful and friendly. I may do this!

    (5)

  • Amne N.

    Wowza. This borderless restaurant was one of my first to try in Irvine since relocating from Seattle and I was blown away! The restaurant itself is a little on the small side, but don't let this mislead you on the wide assortment of amazing creative Korean Asian-fusion food they serve here. I was lucky enough to hit Happy Hour. Decent prices on food and serving size didn't disappoint. Plus glasses of wine are $4 during HH. Now how can you pass that up? I highly recommend their rendition of Kimchi fried rice and Bibim bap. Their modern twist on the Bibim bap was out of this FREAKING WORLD AMAZING. Elite Tip: Must TRY Kalbi sliders, Korean BBQ Tacos, Gogi Quesdilla

    (5)

  • Rob P.

    Very interesting concept, but doesn't quite knock it out of the park. I liked all the food I had, but I really wanted to love it. THE ORDER Loaded Fries - 3 out of 5 - These are really good but I think there may be an item or two too many. I was really wishing that I had a little more nacho cheese as it kind of got absorbed into the other items which also kind go soaked down into the fries creating a bit of a soggy mess. Flavor was good, but after a couple mins it kind of turns into mush. Kimchi Fried Rice - 4 out of 5 - I read some mixed things on this item and while I enjoyed it the most, I can kinda see why. Kind of like the loaded nachos, there is probably an item or two too many here as well. Also, kimchi isn't the prominent flavor of the fried rice, so it kind of throws off the eater off the bat. If it was called a Pan Asian Fried Rice or something like that, it may be more successful. Flavor-wise it's great. The pork belly ads a nice crunch. The egg added a nice richness. Sadly kimchi and the chorizo get a little lost. Chicken Drumettes - 2 out of 5 - The outer sauce was good but I think ours were a little overcooked as the wings were a little on the tough and rubbery side. OVERALL Very interesting experience. I wouldn't mind hitting the place again but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to hit it up.

    (3)

  • Theresa D.

    I love that there's variety on the menu, but yet they still stick close to their Asian fusion theme. I came here with 10 other people and we tried the following items: *Stir fried udon - very flavorful, a little salty for some of my friends, but perfectly seasoned for me. I wasn't a fan of the udon texture, but I have been spoiled with fresh udon at other places. *Kalbi burger/sliders - so many flavors loaded into these little suckers, including a touch of Thousand Island. The sauce was a little sour for my taste, but my friends loved it! One order comes with 2 sliders with a soft, moist, and flavorful pork patty, not your typical beef hamburger patty. *Urban 3b with bulgogi - I was a little disappointed with this one. You have the choice of white or purple/brown rice and choice of meat. Options are always nice, right? This dish tasted more like a salad to me with all of the vegetarian ingredients. The sauce is not as thick as your usual bibimbap sauce, which may be the reason that it wasn't as flavorful. I also didn't like that it was served cold. I was missing the usual stone pot that usually comes with this dish. *Pork belly tacos - my favorite of everything we tried! The pork belly was just perfection in terms of taste and crunchy texture. The ingredients complemented the tortilla and pork belly perfectly, with the delicious special sauce drizzled on top. *Loaded fries - my second favorite. I love fries and potatoes in general. The crisscut fries were the perfect texture with American cheese, green onions, meat, and special sauce, all mixed together. Again, everything complemented each other so well. *Kim chi fried rice - just like most kim chi fried rice, deliciously drenched in that kim chi sauce, spicy and flavorful! There are a few tables and bar seating for about 10. I would not have come here if the wait for dim sum at Capital Seafood wasn't so long, but was pleasantly surprised by all of the deliciousness.

    (4)

  • Abby I.

    I absolutely love this place! I usually come here on Taco Tuesdays when I indulge in the pork belly, yogi, and spicy pork tacos, and a side of the loaded nachos to share. Only downside to this place is the considerable amount of grease that goes into each dish. There is usually a wait during the lunch rush and any time on Tuesdays due to Taco Tuesdays but I would say the food is worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Craig L.

    In a plaza filled with eateries, any new restaurant would be hard-pressed to thrive among such stiff competition. In fact, many have failed. Urban Seoul will succeed. Why? Korean Tapas is a niche that had yet to be filled. They execute spectacularly with a range of unique dishes in an unconventional setting. The restaurant is set up more like an old soda fountain or New York deli, complete with a bar and long communal tables. The Galbi sliders and pork belly tacos are two of my favorites and while I haven't sampled the whole menu, I will over time, as there's definitely a great vibe here. Judging by the robust patron turnover, the place is popular, but they know how to get customers in and out without compromising customer service. Friendly staff, a great menu selection and very reasonable prices make this place a standout among its competition. I'll be back...often.

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    I heart Korean fusion food. I came here on a Tuesday for lunch at around 12:30pm and to my surprise, it wasn't too crowded. Oh, how excited I was when I found out they had Taco Tuesday. PORK BELLY TACOS: Total mouthgasm. I don't know what you're thinking if you go to Urban Seoul and NOT ORDER the Pork Belly Tacos. CHORIZO FRIED RICE: Honestly, when my friend ordered this saying it was "SO GOOD THE LAST TIME I TRIED IT!", I was like, "WTF? Why are you ordering fried rice when we can get so many other fusion dishes?" But being the passive me, I nodded along with her decision. I was expecting a typical fried rice but MAN, this fried rice tasted like no other fried rice I've ever tried! And that chorizo KILLED IT (in a good way). LOADED FRIES: I was really excited about getting this dish because WHO WOULDN'T BE when there's a plate full of seasoned waffle fries topped with melted cheese, bulgogi, sweet onions, and cilantro.... but I was left disappointed. Yea, it was good but dang, those overly salted waffle fries KILLED IT (this time, sadly, in a bad way). Maybe it was just over salted that one time I went...?

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    Tried the bibimbap here, and it was delicious! The price point was perfect ($7.50), and the portion was pretty big. It's chock full of fresh veggies, and you get your choice of meat. I got the Kogi, and it was perfectly marinated with a balance of sweet and salty... and they were pretty generous with the amount too! Even though this isn't your traditional bibimbap, it was the best bibimbap I've ever had! The colors were beautiful, and the textures were on point. There was sliced radishes, carrots, and cucumbers to give it that pop of red, orange, and green, some sprouts, and tempura flakes to give it a crunch. You also get your choice of white or purple rice to go along with it. Yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Loved the hipster ambiance, but was disappointed that they charge $2 for CANNED soda.

    (4)

  • Priscilla N.

    My second time here was a much better experience than my first. I came at night at around 10 pm. We got seated right away and the staff were much nicer than before. Overall it was an extremely fun experience for me. We even got to joke around a bit with the waitress and shared a few laughs. I ordered the stir fried noodles as usual except I asked for less vegetables and extra noodles. They gave me a generous amount of the noodles which was my favorite part of the meal. I was very satisfied! ^_^

    (5)

  • Mai L.

    The place is great.. Great service. We got a table right away even though from outside, it looked like it was very crowded with a wait. Everything we had was good. We went on a Tuesday which was taco Tuesday and tried one of each of their tacos. Each and everyone of the tacos had its own taste and was just delicious. The fries were packed with flavor !! Highly recommend this place and I'll definitely go on a Tuesday for the best deal!

    (5)

  • Amy W.

    I was looking for a place that I've never been to for lunch and came across Urban Seoul on yelp. The reviews were mixed however the Urban 3b bibimbap with spicy tuna and pork belly tacos seemed to have good reviews so we decided to order both with a side of garlic edamame. Pork belly is not something I would usually order and sounded gross but I tried one of my friend's tacos and to my surprise the pork belly was deep fried and quite edible. I was impressed by the colorful presentation and picked up different flavors with each bite, a little touch of spice, not too hot and overbearing. My order of the Urban 3b with spicy tuna and purple rice was amazing! The presentation was colorful and portions were huge and the Chili paste dressing given on the side allows you to gauge the spiciness you want. I'm not sure what kind of rice I ate but it reminded me of red bean sweet rice with purple coloring and went well with the spicy tuna. Overall I was very pleased with all the dishes that I sampled and will definitely return again.

    (5)

  • Tony W.

    I didn't know there was this small joint in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center. This is a great place to try some Korean Mexican fusion food. Happy Hour runs everyday from 5-7pm so it's a great place to go on the weekends since not many restaurants run Happy Hour on the weekends. Sit at the counter if it's just you and your date. You get to see the 2 chefs make all the different foods. I didn't try their loaded fries but it sure looks damn good - waffle fries with tons of toppings. The pork belly tacos were great (you get 3 of them per order) and the gogi quesadillas were my favorite. The wings were ok (you get 4 wings) and I like the touch of dicon radish. They have Shock Top on draft which is a big + :)

    (5)

  • Alice C.

    my coworkers informed me that their taco tuesday special went from $1.25/taco to $1.75/taco. how was the food? meh. for some reason everything looked better than it tasted. every dish is nicely presented with plethora of garnishes but the end result was bland. i didn't find the spicy pork in my loaded fries nor the golgi in my tacos flavorful. how was the service? meh. the waitress was pretty absentminded. she had wrote down how much to charge per card and ended up messing up the amount even after noting it down. i probably won't be visiting again. no mas taco tuesday for me at urban seoul.

    (2)

  • Sandy L.

    Omg. The food here is so amazingly good. Everything I ordered was fresh, full of flavor, and plated nicely. Portions were well sized. I left really happy since it was my 1st time dining in. This is a small place that gets really crowded during lunch time. There's more seating at the bar than the tables. I got their special drink of the day and it was massive! I could only finish half of it. I would come back.

    (5)

  • Mega G.

    The food in this place reminds me of an Asian food truck--basically Asian fusion. A good place if you're feeling like something a little different. We tried the Loaded Fries and Pork Belly Tacos, and both were decent. While the pork in the Pork Belly Tacos weren't the best I've ever tasted, they probably would make it to my top ten....meaning I probably wouldn't need to get them again to get my pork tacos fix. Once was enough, but good enough job. The Loaded Fries were good. I was surprised to find they are WAFFLE fries, not long, thin fries.....but it worked out. I thought I would feel pretty "loaded" or full afterwards---how you usually feel after eating fusion fries of any type, but it went down light. Portion size is adequate. Mildly spicy really. The meat is pretty soft. I agree with a previous reviewer that it can get HOT and stuffy inside. And this is a small space. Because the kitchen is so close to the food, AND they lack an air conditioner, I wouldn't eat here again in the daytime. Dine here when it's cool at night. You get used to it, but it can get a bit uncomfy, especially if you sit in the bar area. Hopefully they get an air conditioner soon. Servers are very friendly! We will return to try the other entrees someday!

    (3)

  • Steven C.

    Some might call the concept tired & boring since Kogi has been on the scene for a while & the whole Korean Mexican fusion cuisine has spread across LA for the past five years, yet Urban Seoul does it right and keeps it fresh. Instead of sticking to just Korean tacos & burritos, the owner's here have taken the concept a bit further, offering cheesey loaded fries, chorizo fried rice, tortas, arepas, etc. I thought the chorizo kimchi fried rice was very unique, the pork belly tacos were also really good and a different take on the usual Korean tacos, and the loaded fries with criss cut fries were way cheesy. The usual stuff like kimchi quesadilla and chicken wings were okay, so stick with the harder to find menu offerings. Service was good. Be sure to come by during Tuesdays, their taco Tuesdays plus happy hour make it a hard deal to beat.

    (4)

  • Jaehak Y.

    Eh. The place is OK but nothing phenomenal. The ambience is, like the name implies, urban. It's sleek and it looks hip. But it's hot as hell. The open grill is nice to see and all, but when it's a Southern California summer day, an open grill + open door = hot. It looks like it'd be nice enough any other season. As for the food, I had the pork belly tacos, loaded fries, and gogi sliders. Not a fan of the pork belly tacos, though it seems to be a crowd favorite. Personally, I though the tortilla was too dry and the meat was too burnt and flavorless. For the loaded fries, they may want to unload a little bit. The sauce and the cheese is just overpowering. And the meat was in small chunks and hardly noticeable. The fries were the only saving grace. This dish could honestly be way better if they just learned to balance their food. Finally, the gogi sliders. This one was the redemption. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The fried onions provided a nice crunch to the sliders. The spicy cucumber provided a very nice and mild kick to the dish. This is what fusion food should be. I could clearly see the elements of each cuisine mixing together in a great way. Additionally, I did like the service. I don't really care for places that bug you repeatedly with a "How are you guys doing?" They let you order and let you call them when you need them. Otherwise you're left alone, in true Korean fashion. But I do have a gripe with the price. This is food truck food y'all. It's not all that much more refined from that. If the quality was somehow leagues beyond a food truck experience, the price would be justified. But it's not. The way I see it, you're paying a premium for the experience rather than the quality of food. Sometimes it can be worth it. For a casual lunch experience though? Probably not. All in all, fairly average place. I could see myself going every now and then but it's nothing that blows my mind away.

    (3)

  • Calvin C.

    This place wasn't bad. The food we got was pretty tasty but nothing WOW! We tried the short rib arepas, pork belly tacos and their version of a nacho fries. I'll definitely pass on the fries next time, just tasted like super rich cheesy mushy potatoes rather than fries. The arepas and tacos were yummy but they are TINY! And for the price you'd for sure expect a little more. The food came out painfully slow too, even when there's was only one other table of customers dining at the time. The food really isn't bad, I actually enjoyed it. It's just too overpriced and too slow and not really a restaurant environment even. If you're looking to grab a beer and chill while you wait for a small tapa size bite to eat, then this place may be for you.

    (3)

  • Tiffany L.

    I went here for the first time today, and I honestly wish I could've gone sooner! I ordered the chicken katsu sandwich (number 6), and it was so delicious. The service is also lovely, as employees are friendly and welcoming.

    (4)

  • Marissa J.

    Tried this place for the first time today and I only have good things to say about it. We ordered the Urban 3D with Kilgore, three spicy pork tacos and the udon. Great fusion flavors! I will be back soon!!!

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    Meh, not bad, but not great either. Ordered the Kalbi burger, Gogi tacos and the 3 B bowl. Everything was a little on the sweet and salty side. Burger came out a bit soggy and mushy. Tacos were good in concept, but excessively creamy. No complaints about the bowl, but my wife found it a bit one-dimensional with the sauce overwhelming the bowl with its sweetness. Service was friendly and accommodating however. Parking at Diamond Jamboree is always annoying.

    (3)

  • Catherine V.

    Food here was average but service was deplorable! Had the Gogi burger, Bibimbap, arepas with spicy pork and udon. It was our first time trying this place out so the 4 of us decided to order 4 different things to taste plus an appetizer. My son ordered a stir-fried udon and the menu described it as having grilled chicken and vegetables. I has a strand of udon to try and dug around his bowl to see what was in it, puzzled I did not see any chicken. I asked him if it came with any and he replied it only had vegetables. When one of the kitchen counter guys came around with water for our table I asked him if this dish was supposed to have any chicken and he replied yes. I informed him that ours did not have any. He mumbled something about getting another one made up for us. Later another waitress came by to see how everything was. I repeated our issue and she just looked at me and said "how strange!" I looked at her quizzically and repeated "How strange?" In disbelief. She didn't apologize, didn't attempt to make another, didn't attempt to say she would take it off the bill or make any amends whatsoever. By then we were ready to leave and asked for the check. The host fellow brought it out and we saw nothing got deducted or even discounted. Gave our card and as he came by to pick it up I mentioned what poor customer service I had experienced. Not one but 2 staff members were made aware of the issue and nothing was done about it. The host apologized and asked if we would like another order made up for us. We replied it was too late by now. We were just too flabbergasted by the bad customer service this restaurant has. Definitely not worth coming back to!

    (1)

  • Ali W.

    Went for the first time tonight.... Awesome, just awesome. Excellent food- tofu tacos were ridiculously good. Service was friendly. Ambiance social and welcoming. Looking forward to visiting shading!

    (5)

  • Kristian W.

    Had the kalbi burgers and pork belly tacos, and both were delicious! The pork belly tacos were crispy and the burgers were super juicy. I prefer the tacos over the burgers because the burgers were a little too sweet for me. But I guess that's just the kalbi sauce. I also heard they have awesome deals on taco Tuesdays!

    (4)

  • Robert T.

    I have tried to come to this place the last two weeks since I read the first Yelp review but they were temporarily closed after the soft launch. Being sick of same food Irvine has to offer, this place is a refreshing change for me. To sum it up short, think of food truck style dishes knocked up a few notches in quality and flavoring. I am definitely coming back to try more dishes. Both the pork belly taco and golgi sliders had right balance of sauce, lettuce, and meat.

    (4)

  • Soohyun K.

    I really enjoyed the food here. Got the arepas, chicken drummete, loaded fries, and kimchee chorizo fried rice. Would have given four stars, but I found a nasty old rubber band in my arepas. They were nice and apologetic about it, but still charged full price for it. I guess they didn't think having a dirty rubber band in your food was that bad? Anyway, would have liked them, but that incident makes me hesitant to go back there.

    (3)

  • Darren E.

    This was a pretty cool place to have lunch. I had to talk my friends into going because they thought it was Korean food. I had the Kim Chee Quesodilla and love it. I would go back here no problem.

    (4)

  • Eric E.

    This place is great! Service, amazing! Food, delicious! A fantastic concept that is most definitely a home run..... My roommate and I live at the Avalon apts. across the street so we decided to check it out. I believe it was either the owner, or at the very least, a manager, who took the time to talk to us and explain the menu as well as ask us for suggestions. Definitely going back..... Actually, I'm going to walk there now!

    (5)

  • Hiro O.

    When you first walk into this restaurant you don't know what to expect. I came here with my friend because he told me they had really good tacos here and not to mention it was Taco Tuesday. We took a seat at the counter and were greeted by the friendly staff. We ordered four of the pork belly tacos. When they came out, they looked delicious, with plenty of greens and just the right amount of sauce. When I took my first bite, I couldn't help but close my eyes and smile because these were literally the best tacos I've had in my life thus far. Now granted, I'm only 22, but these were simply amazing. I also had their loaded fries which were delicious as well! Their churros are also the best churros I've had and are only $1! I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Anthony M.

    The food was delicious, but the portions weren't as big as I'd hoped for the price. However, a visit here requires that you order the Loaded Fries. It was amazing.

    (4)

  • Kathy H.

    First time trying this place out. We had the gogi sliders and bibimbap/urban 3B tofu. The gogi sliders were a bit too sweet for my taste but then again it might be good for ppl who like food on the sweeter side. The bibimbap was very good, very colorful with a variety of veggies including pickled garlic...yum. We also tried the street corn and it was very tasty...they added pepper flakes that gave it a lil kick of flavor. It's a small place so it may get crowded. We sat at the bar and didn't have to wait. Also, they have Happy Hour 5-7 pm with $3 food menu and $2 beers. I will definitely come back to try the other items on the menu.

    (4)

  • Lance S.

    Had lunch at Urban Seoul today for the 1st time. Shared the pork belly tacos and Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice with a buddy. Full of wonderful flavors! We both were impressed and will be back. Plan to bring my wife sometime soon. Staff is very attentive and super friendly.

    (4)

  • Greg B.

    This spot is great....if you can find parking. It is small but service is very fast. The food has a lot of flavor. We ordered the Pork Belly Tacos which were excellent, and the Chix Katsu Sandwich. The Chicken Katsu Sandwich tasted great, but it was very heavy. We also ordered the Garlic Edename which were LOADED with garlic and I loved it. Highly recomend.

    (5)

  • John D.

    Kimchi Quesadilla? Yuck right? I hate everything about kimchi the smell the process of making it THE SMELL the taste and the smell. Well this dish just redefined The laws! Great dish! Open kitchen. Wow I would be shitting bricks! So It's understandable for some of the complaints about slow service! I'm not going to worry about that right now. Enjoy the food and watch your shit being made

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    The food here is amazing! Best Korean fusion around! I came here one night on a whim with a friend and was very impressed by the food. Great service, fun atmosphere, awesome menu. You won't be disappointed! Definitely try the loaded fries and any of the tacos!

    (5)

  • Tiffany L.

    Meh, wasn't too impressed with some of the food. After seeing all the amazing reviews on here, I finally decided to try it out this week. My friend and I ordered three things: the mini kalbi burgers, the pork belly tacos, and the rice cakes. The spicy rice cakes were not spicy in the least bit and it just wasn't very satisfying. There wasn't even sauce, so towards the end I was pretty much just eating fried rice cakes that were tasteless. The pork belly tacos, however, were REALLY good. If it's one thing that I would come back for, it would be the tacos because I'm still craving them right now even though I just went in yesterday! The pork belly is really crispy and it complements the taco really well. The restaurant itself is pretty small, which makes it look a little crowded even when there aren't many people inside. Most of the tables served only 2 people, which makes me think that this wouldn't be the best place to come with a large group. Overall, interesting place that serves cool asian fusion food which is worth the try.

    (3)

  • Katrina A.

    Tried almost everything on the menu and by far my favorite is the Urban 3B spicy pork and pork belly tacos! What I love is they offer a kids meal - marinated beef over rice, which was pretty tasty according to my kids. I'm not a fan of the Japchae Mari. It was a bit bland compared to all the other tapas we ordered. Parking is insane at this location. Be sure to arrive early to get a parking spot just to "wait" again for a table. The Urban 3B spicy pork and pork belly tacos were worth the wait alone! I can't wait to go back! I gave only 4 stars due to the parking at this location.

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    what's great: - loaded fries! - pork belly tacos - bibim bab - gogi tacos - sweet/spicy chicken wings! - sliders - service =) what's ok: - short rib arepas the bulgogi and its marinade is pretty authentic and tasty. it shows up in the gogi tacos, loaded fries, sliders and bibim bab. a little on the salty side but tasty. pretty much everything is a bombs bursting in mouth, flavor explosion. you pretty much get sweet, salty, tangy, spicy, crunchy, and unctuous, in every bite of everything on the menu. i think the only thing we didn't order was the fried rice bc we were just too full. the short rib, although cooked well, tasted a little too "meaty", according to everyone in our party. i think if they cooked it w/ some garlic and added a bit more black pepper, it would mellow out that gaminess beef can sometimes have. but the pickled red onions and that cilantro sauce were great accompaniments. the arepas were also a little on the greasy side, too. also, the price is a little on the upper spectrum, but i know running a restaurant can't be cheap in this plaza. last but not least, the service we received was excellent. would love to come back again, soon!

    (5)

  • Owen I.

    I had high expectations from all the great yelp reviews. Finally got to go there and although did not blow my feed bag off, it was pretty good. We had the pork belly tacos, gogi arepas, and loaded fries. The tacos were really good, the combination of components was a winner. The loaded fried were ok, and the gogi arepas were a little disappointing. The staff was great and the place simple and smaller than I expected. The menu was smaller than I expected too, not offering many of the things (pictures) I saw from other yelpers. But overall it was worth 3.5-4 stars, so I'd say I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Melanie C.

    Fresh and great tasting food with attentive service. Once I stepped inside I was immediately greeted by one of the staff. I asked for the To-Go menu and he explained it's basically the same as the dine-in. I needed something in a hurry to go so my family and I could head back to LA. Everything described sounded delicious, now was the question "what would I like the most?" The "Urban 3b" (bibimbap with grilled chicken) is what I ended up choosing. The chopped vegetables all tasted so fresh, it was if they had their very own farmers market in the back. The grilled chicken could of had better pieces of white meat in it however in all the meal was excellent tasting. The poached egg was perfectly cooked, the crispy onions had a nice crunch, not soggy at all and the sauce had a nice kick to it that completed the dish. A couple of things I think would benefit the place is improving the outdoor seating area, the tables are small and round making it difficult to fit more than two people comfortably and the chairs aren't too sturdy either. I'd also like to see more creative dishes like the bibimbap on the menu, it was a nice change from other asian cuisine I've had in the past. The customer service was extremely helpful and kind. I appreciated their promptness and attention to detail. I'm looking forward to another visit to Urban Seoul, those tacos they offer looked pretty amazing last time I checked.

    (4)

  • My L.

    Went to urban Seoul for the first time based on fellow Yelpers and was totally disappointed. The menu was not the what they advertised. they offered a brunch menu that was limited. I tried the chicken and red velvet batter with waffles. It was super sweet and waffles were overcooked. Next time they should list what they are offering instead of springing on new ideas that was a fail. I saw other customers walk in and surprised just like we were with the change in menu.

    (2)

  • Kimberly H.

    I dig the concept, the ambience, and the beer selection. It is casual which was way different than I thought it would be, judging it by the website. It has a big bar area, one or two large tables, and 4-6 two seaters. Almost food truck like. My husband got little devil ale smith (yum) and I got the drink of the day, guava pineapple (ok but very big portion!). We had pork belly tacos and gogi bibimbap. The pork was more like carnitas. When I thought of pork belly tacos, I thought something more like sisig, like cubes of fat w/ some meat. My husband's imagination may have been more on point - he thought a very thick big fat slice of bacon with a crispy top almost like lechon kalawi but longer and maybe not as thick. But I guess if you're going for Korean, it actually should be those bacon-looking pieces u get at the bbq joints. The bibimbap was good. It was mostly cabbage and other veggies. It seemed healthy. However, I like the traditional dolsot bibimbap better. Service was nice. I had to get out of there bc my baby gets hot easily and the place isn't that well ventilated bc the kitchen is right there, which I like - but not when it's over 80 degrees outside.

    (3)

  • Kathlena H.

    Ah, yes. One of my absolute favorite places in the area to eat. As this place is located pretty near my work, I have been here countless times on a lunch break to partake in a mid-day feast! Seriously, the pork belly chimichanga is my go-to, everything from the presentation to the flavor is just superb! I know what you're thinking... "Pork belly? Say whaaa?" Yes, I felt that way too once upon a time. But this was before I actually tasted a bite. Once you do, you'll be hooked. The taco Tuesday's are really great here. Amazing specials and prices. I tried all three types of tacos..And once again, I would recommend the pork belly taco. Don't ask me why, it just tastes the freakin best! Don't expect a super fancy place. The decor is cute, but you will be eating with plastic forks. No there don't seem to be any knives, so show your skills off by cutting that burrito/chimi with a plastic fork! The flavors are truly unique with a Mexican-Korean fusion. Your tastebuds will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    TACO TUESDAY! AHHHHH Okay so I admit...I did not like Urban Seoul the 2 times I tried it and I honestly thought I would never go back, but I was craving tacos last week and my husband and I decided to give Urban Seoul another chance. SO GLAD WE DID! The tacos are on point!!!!! Omgoodness. Okay so before we ordered the other food and I honestly was hot happy....maybe I'm just a traditional Korean who likes traditional Korean food. But this time we ordered the tacos and the tacos are SO GOOD! Each taco is $2 and I ordered the pork belly, tofu & spicy pork. All were good....but the PORK BELLY.....SO GOOD! Blocks of pork deep fried smothered with amazing goodness....mmmm Would I come back? Hell yes! But probably only for taco tuesday...

    (4)

  • joe r.

    Love me some Asian fusion cuisine. I tried the pork belly tacos and the loaded fries. Both were pretty good and had a nice spiciness to it. It gets pretty crowded for lunch and it was really warm in there. Some good Seoul food right here.

    (4)

  • Latisha P.

    Came for lunch and it gets pretty busy so try and come earlier! FOOD Loaded Fries (4 stars): Pork is flavorful, lots of cheese and toppings. You feel like a fatty eating it but it's good! Spicy pork tacos (4 stars): They wouldn't do a combo of pork and chicken tacos for me, sadness )= I went with spicy pork and it was really flavorful. They are on small tortillas so they break easily, but the flavor made up for the mess. Just be ready for your hands to have food dripping all over them.

    (4)

  • Ashley S.

    Really wanted to love this place. Came at 10:30 on a Saturday night. Ordered pork belly tacos which were old/dry. Definitely not fresh. They don't do the Mexican corn on the cob any more. They told us "we cut it off the con for you" but it's actually just Cannes corn!!! SO disappointed. Loaded fries were really heavy and our server was super nice. We sat outside and didn't have a problem. No alcohol outside FYI. Didn't finish the tacos or corn. Overall, corn was the worst. Don't recommend it at all. This was a toss up between kickin crab. Kinda wish we went there. Even though there was food left over we didn't take it.

    (3)

  • Jennifer K.

    The concept seemed great- modern Korean fusion. However, doesn't live up to the hype. Ordered the japchae mari, chicken katsu sandwich, and loaded fries- definitely enough for 2 people to share (portion size was filling). - Japchae mari: Simple. Sauce flavor was just OK..would've been better with traditional ddukbokki sauce. Not bad! - Chicken Katsu Sandwich: Tasty! Flavors of the coleslaw and red onion were on point. A bit overpowering maybe and a bit too fatty, but still a good option. - Loaded Fries: Too much. Too many flavors going on that honestly don't mesh well together. It was like they just threw the pork, cheese, queso fresco, jalapenos, etc on knowing it would look appetizing on a menu but without actually seeing what it would taste like first. My friend and I couldn't get through it. I like the idea (I mean, i LOVE waffle fries) but they should redo some of the ingredients. An alright lunch spot but not mindblowing.

    (3)

  • Annie W.

    Great little place for Taco Tuesday, except they increased the price to $2 a taco. Try to go during happy hour 5-7pm, so you can get double the deals! But go early to avoid the line, since the restaurant is REALLY SMALL. Service: Friendly staff always making sure their customers are satisfied with the food. Sometimes if you sit at the bar, they'll mess up on an order (like make the wrong tacos) and give it to you! Food: - Definitely try their tacos. YUM. My favorite is the spicy pork, then gogi. Their pork belly is a hit or miss for me. Past two times, it was either way too crunchy or way too dry. - elote used to be on a cob, but now they're just kettles. A bit dry and hard! Now they have a Late Night Happy Hour 9pm until close! I will definitely be back to try them...Bbq pork belly slider, curry fries, spicy gogi Nacho fondue.

    (4)

  • Hyun Jung L.

    Server: Sean Time: Thursday dinner Pork belly tacos are DELICIOUS! There is this reddish orange sauce that gives a fresh cilantro like taste to it. The Kalbi burger was good also. You can tell the store makes the patty because it is not just normal beef patty from hamburger place. It had the same reddish orange sauce on it. The yogi loaded fries... OMG. It is bomb, but gets too rich and nasty after you're halfway done. I prefer my fries to be crispy but the meat sauce and the cheese just made it saucy and soggy. Kimchi pancake quesadilla... hmmm... it wasn't that good for me. I prefer the original kimchi pancake and maybe to make it cheesy, sprinkle the cheese on top. Service loses a star. Servers were all nice but not great at checking up on customers and refilling water. They are kind of just running around everywhere.

    (4)

  • Stacy S.

    Okay here's the deal... it's Mexican/Korean fusion type of food. The food is awesome! We had the elote (corn) which was incredible, as well as the gyoza and tacos. Prices are super reasonable if you come for happy hour, as we did. I'm giving this 4 stars, as I was turned off by the fact that they opened about 10 min late, and the workers inside were all on their cell phones as we were all waiting outside ... texting, tweeting, facebooking... who knows what. Perhaps they were waiting for something or someone, but then they should've told us if that was the case. In the meantime, there was a line forming, and it was no bueno. As soon as we got seated, they were slow like molasses... to take our order and then deliver it. They even delivered the wrong beer to us. It's a fairly small restaurant so try to get there early and check their website for their hours. The food is their saving grace.

    (4)

  • Alice Y.

    Very mediocre place - I expected a little more from a fusion restaurant. I ordered the chorizo fried rice and tried my friend's mandu and elote. The chorizo and pork in my fried rice was way over cooked and hard to chew. My dish was also way too salty and the fried onion pieces were a weird addition. It was also quite pricey for what I got in my dish (chorizo, green onions, pork belly, egg). The inside of the restaurant is extremely small (about 3/4 tables + bar?), but they had fantastic service. If I were to go back, I would try out the recommended pork belly tacos and loaded fries.

    (3)

  • Reshad A.

    Came for lunch with co-workers after yelping and noticing they have over 900+ reviews.. I got the uydon chicken noodles plate (I might be miss spelling it). Since it was my first time, I didn't really know what to get. I do wish I tried something different because I am not a big fun of how the noodle was more soup like than anything. King of like pho, which I don't like very much.. Either way, I will be sure to come again on my lunch break sometimes in the near future to try their tacos and also the cheese steak sandwich.. I would recommend this place as it is a popular joint and the mixture of Mexican, Asian, and American gives it a unique blend for food lovers like myself.

    (4)

  • Melina N.

    Came during lunch hour with a couple friends to grab a unique bite and sit outside. I've dined here before and got the Gogi quesadilla which was really yummy. This time I got the chicken bibimbap, which was honestly kind of tasteless. I had to go inside and ask for any sauce they had just to flavor it up. I got the "purple rice" instead of white rice, as apparently it is a healthier alternative. My friends got the sweet potato fries which were COATED in salt, and came with a creamy sauce that also didn't have much flavor, so I ended up dipping them in sriracha. The server was nice, but kind of forgot about us towards the end. Maybe because we were sitting outside? Anyways, both my friends got the Gogi Sliders to eat. I tried one and it was AMAZING. I will go back to Urban Seoul just to indulge in that scrumptious slider!!

    (4)

  • Henry K.

    Overpriced and not even that good. I'd rather eat actual Korean food than a weird hybrid that isn't really a hybrid. The Gogi sliders are alright so I usually get those. The tacos are decent as well. The main problem, like I said is the price. High price, smaller portions. There are some dishes where the portions are big or normal, but the taste is just meh. You should come here at least once though, to try all the different things they have. You may like it. For me, i've come more than enough.

    (3)

  • Jonathan K.

    Pretty much a Korean-fusion. Came here with a friend and got the pork belly tacos. It was good, but not amazing. And I'm not master chef or expert on food, but I can say I know my Mexican food. Like 50% of my reviews are at Mexican joints. LOL. I also had the loaded fries. Pretty much every taste bud lights up when you eat it. But it's too crazy. I got confused of the taste.

    (3)

  • Patricia L.

    Taco Tuesday is AWESOME!!!! I had the pork belly and spicy pork tacos and they were amazing!! Definitely going back for more!!

    (5)

  • Denny C.

    Yum! I came here with a friend this past weekend for lunch and enjoyed my meal. We came around 12:30 on a Saturday and had to deal with the unfortunate mess that is the Diamond Jamboree parking lot. We made it out relatively unscathed since the parking in the structure was relatively plentiful. There was only bar seating when we got there, so that's what we had to go for. We ordered the gogi sliders (each order comes with two) and an order of the loaded fries. And indeed, were the fries loaded - spicy pork, green onions, American cheese, pickled red onions and cilantro - this stuff isn't for the faint at heart. It's a rather heavy dish, so be prepared. You might also hate yourself a little bit afterward. What I really liked about them is that they stayed crispy despite being so loaded. It's also worth how much they charge you since the ingredients are plentiful and the portion is decently large. I liked the gogi silder too! The bread might have been the best part. It'd clearly been toasted, but the inside was warm and soft, just as if it came out fresh of the oven. Of course, the filling of the slider was delicious, too, but what really struck me was the quality of the morning bun. I should also add that although it's $8 for two, it's a decent sized slider, and it's not something that's just bite sized. The rest of the menu looked good, too. We had a hard time deciding! Service: Decent. Even though they were busy, we were helped whenever we needed it, and the food came out pretty fast. Bottom line: I wish this place had been around when I was living in Orange County!

    (4)

  • Roshen W.

    One of my favorite restaurants. I liked everything I've tried on their menu, except for the quesadillas. They were too salty..

    (5)

  • Emmarowbelle T.

    My bf and I shared the pork belly tacos, loaded fries, and the chicken katsu sandwich. Everything was bomb af. We got here right when it opened, and the place filled up within 30 mins. I'd come here again no doubt. Oh and the watermelon peach fresca is dank too. Service was fast.

    (5)

  • Ruzanne S.

    Their take on infusion couldn't be more perfect and subtle at the same time. Their gogi was nicely marinated and the pork belly, which my boyfriend got, was good so well I couldn't even be bothered by the fat. We came on a Tuesday so tacos were only $2, which were well worth it. I also had their mango peach agua frescas. It was refreshing. The service was a bit strange, I had to ask for my tacos because I think they forgot. Our original server never really came back to check ok us until we flagged him down. This really is a hole in the wall so be prepared to wait for a table if you come around noon/lunch time. Despite the minor negatives I can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Arezou A.

    Refreshing to find somewhere in the plaza that isn't overcrowded. This parking lot is a PAIN and a half people. There are too many places to go here and not enough parking. Be prepared! I have definitely missed this place the dozens of times I have been in the area looking at the other places around. Finally got a chance to try it out. Very small, seat yourself, eat food, and get out. Nothing fancy, kind of refreshing. Wait staff is nice and they're quick. We ordered the chicken katsu sandwich the kimchi pancakes. I approve of the Korean twist on these two items. (I also just love kimchi...so they had me at kimchi). Would like to come back and try some of the other items with some more friends!

    (4)

  • Winnie L.

    I've been here twice! Both times were for Taco Tuesday. Obviously there is a wait on Tuesday because the place isn't too big and everyone comes on tuesdays. It's guess it's worth it though! My first time, I got three tacos (2 chicken, 1 bulgogi). It was pretty delicious and it's all because of the sauce drizzle on top. It's a very very flavorful taco so the taste of the tacos all kinda tasted the same. Still delicious and worth it though! My second visit, I got the bibimbap with grilled chicken & the purple rice. The veggies were very fresh! However, the grilled chicken was very oily and had a lot of fat. I like chicken with more meat, not fat! The bibimbap was still good but I would've preferred less oily chicken and more actual meat. I really like the poached egg in the middle though! The red sauce was also good! It does get crazy and loud in this place but because it does get very busy. It's in a plaza with a bunch of other restaurants.

    (3)

  • Katrina S.

    I came here with high hopes but I was sadly disappointed. The atmosphere is cool and I like the decor but the food wasn't that great. The waitress we had was really nice though. I tried the golgi tacos, chorizo kimchi fried rice, and kimchi pancake quesadilla. The quesadilla was my least favorite. It was oily and I didn't taste as much kimchi flavor as I would have liked. The fried rice was just ok. It had a strong flavor but not of kimchi or chorizo. I couldn't really put my finger on it. The golgi tacos were good. I liked the sauce because it added a nice kick and the meat was slightly sweet so it provided a nice balance. I would order the tacos again, but not the other items. They sell alcohol which is always a plus to me. They have a few beers and I I think I saw soju too.

    (3)

  • Phoebe L.

    I went there today with a friend at 12 noon. Not bad to get a parking on a Saturday or get a table there. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It took a while for is to make our order. Since it's our first time, we had no idea what to take. The staff was very patient to share with us his recommendations. We ordered the pork belly tacos and the Urban 3B (bibimbap) with grilled chicken. The tacos were really goood! The deep fried pork belly was very chrispy with various ingredients and sauce. I really like it. My friend's bibimbap was good too with purple rice underneath different kinds of veggies and sauce. It's as colorful and attractive as the traditional bibimbap. Bith portions are quite large for us but we managed to finish them all!

    (4)

  • Darlene K.

    Came here to give it another try and still disappointed! This time I got Gogi quesadillas and elote, the elote is no longer served on the cob. It's now just like canned corn and all the stuff they add onto the corn that makes it an elote. The gogi quesadilla looked delicious but was way too greasy that even my brother didn't want to eat any more of it! I had to leave 2 pieces behind unfortunately, for the same reason, too greasy. We had the loaded fries again and these are hard to mess up so they were decent! I still stand by what I said previously and hopefully this is the last time I visit this place :P

    (2)

  • Jacky L.

    This review goes out to the server Blaise who took care of our table last night. As we were seated and got our waters he accidentally spilled water all over me and offered to put my meal on the house. It was just water and I honestly could care less but I really appreciated the generousity from Blaise as I work as a server too and know how that server life is. Shit happens and you just deal with it and Blaise took care of the situation very calm and professionally so props to you man! The food was great! I'd say portions are on the smaller side but everything here tasted gourmet and the atmosphere and vibe was definitely more fancy then your typical Korean establishment. I had the spicy pork bibimbap because I am probably the biggest bibimbap lover on this planet. I literally eat this thing at home, at work, and when I am out and still never get tired of this amazing dish. The best part of the bibimbap was towards the end where all the juice from the spicy pork was mixed with the assorted veggies and purple rice at the bottom of the bowl yum! Next time id like to try out the pork tacos, chimichanga and the loaded fries.

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    I love Urban Seoul. I enjoy sitting at the bar always whenever I come here. I get the Tacos which is super super cheap during their happy hour time which I believe is 5 to 7?. The downside is finding parking. It is such a struggle. Once you do, it is not that bad to be seated. It used to have a huge line but that has died down ever since they opened up that second Urban Seoul in the Spectrum. I have tried just about everything on the menu and they all tasted really good to me. My favorite will forever be the pork belly tacos. I can't get enough of it. Service here is really cool and chill too. When sitting at the bar area you get to watch them cook while catching what ever sporting game is on. It reminds me of getting wings only its getting tacos instead.

    (4)

  • Trang L.

    I have been waiting to come back to this spot for a whole year AND I FINALLY DID, ON A TUESDAY TOO! (which is happy hour.) I love Urban Seoul because its Asian fusion is particularly unique to its restaraunt. I've yet to visit other Asian fusion restaurants that have a similar taste to it. Urban Seoul is located at Diamond Bar, Irvine's center of great variety of food. The wait at Urban Seoul can take a while because there isn't a huge amount of seating, but its well worth the wait. The hype about their pork belly tacos are real! The meat is tender but very sweet. I also tried the Gogi Quesadillas which were delicious. The meat inside was like bulgogi, but also in a quesadilla! Their bibimbap is delicious (get the purple rice) and can definitely be shared between two people. I've had bibimbap at other Korean places since, but this still remains my favorite bibimbap. I will be coming here again when I have a craving for Asian Fusion food!

    (4)

  • Angela H.

    A must try if you love Asian fusion and eat similar foods such as TLT. The stacked waffle fries are AMAZING and their take on the bibimbap is also fresh and satisfying as the meat is so perfectly marinated. My one complaint of this place is the quality of the tacos on taco Tuesday where the meat used for the tacos were extremely fatty -- signaling that they may have used undesired meats to fulfill their taco requests. I would order the tacos on other nights or simply go with tofu or chicken instead of the fattier red meats on Tuesday.

    (4)

  • Michele S.

    Not impressed .... I had the spicy pork tacos and the loaded fries. There was waaaaaaay too much sauce on the spicy pork (that was also on the fries). All I could taste was that gochujang sauce .... and nothing else.

    (2)

  • Jett P.

    Friendly, family like, service with a core group of employees. Interesting food. I usually eat the tacos, a little spicy, and just enough food. It's a little pricey, but not too bad. Careful though, they close between 2 & 5.

    (3)

  • Linda A.

    I came here to checkout the hype around this place. It was a Tuesday afternoon and they were packed! Server were friendly but they were so busy that they didn't wipe my sticky table. Overall I think the food is just okay. I ordered the kalbi sliders and they were too sweet for me.

    (3)

  • Kathy S.

    This place is on point! I didn't enjoy the food selection here very much when it first opened. However, when I went back recently I'm convinced that there's a reason for Urban Seoul 2.0! The food here is so tasty! Gogi with anything is a win! My favorite here has to be Urban 3B bibimbap! I first tried it was tofu, but it turned out to be fried tofu (so much for trying to choose the healthier option). Don't get me wrong, the bibimbap was still very tasty! I went back tonight and ordered grilled chicken bibimbap-and it was delish!! Everything in this bowl went well together! Try it! Also, order their Drink of the Day! You won't be disappointed, especially with a huge 64oz cup of juice and little ice! Yum! Service: all the servers are really cool and friendly! A+ for service! Cleanliness: fair. The floor was slippery and the bathroom could use some cleaning. A 2.5 stars for this department. Overall: a solid 4 stars. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Marissa L.

    Urban Seoul food is yummy and I was hoping to make it my pit stop for drives that take me between Los Angeles And San Diego. The happy hour is decent and I have enjoyed everything I have ordered here. If you're looking for Roy Choi-inspired Kogi Truck food, this is the place. Enjoyed the elote, gogi sliders, chicken sandwich, bi bim bao bowl, and chorizo kimchee fried rice. Lots of seats at the bar but only one table for a big group, so you'd best come in pairs. The last time I went to the restaurant I kind of had a weird experience. The door was open but the sign read closed, so I asked if they were still open. I was told yes and they took my order. A few minutes later I heard the manager hurriedly whispering to staff and quickly after that the door to the restaurant was shut and the sign was put back to closed. I looked around the restaurant and realized it was missing a host and any waitstaff. There were three people running the whole place trying to make all the food and serve all the people! I guess it was a total off day, but I really hope the restaurant gets the support and staff it needs to run smoothly.

    (3)

  • Nina B.

    We went there for lunch and everything we ordered was very tasty. We had the beef bone soup, their bulgoki lunch and another soup with rice cake. The service was attentive and I would definitely go there again :-)

    (4)

  • Mich M.

    Excellent food and very attentive service. We tried the kimchi quesadilla and loaded fries, both of which had lots of flavor. You definitely won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    Their staff was extremely friendly and customer service was ON POINT. You guys are awesome. I ordered the bibimbap with spicy pork and it was out of this world!!! The purple rice had some great texture and it was full of flavor. The poached egg on top was just perfectly cooked! I'm always really pleased when someone cooks poached eggs correctly. My only complaint is the seating. It was really cramped and the chairs themselves were really uncomfortable. I have a bad back and sitting on hard surfaces isn't good. Delicious meal, but terrible furniture.

    (4)

  • Eric O.

    Wow. This place is freaking unbelievable and has become a staple for me at lunch. Located less than 5 minutes from my office, I have become a regular here on Monday afternoons. Heck, I have an Urban Seoul sticker on the back of my work ID badge. Yep, free advertising and I'm ok with it. Have you ever watched Guy Fieri on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives? You know when he is describing the flavor to the viewers at home and says things like, "That's money!" or when he talks about a "flavor explosion" in his mouth? That's pretty much the best way I can describe the food at Urban Seoul. I've been to a lot of fusion restaurants, but this one really does food justice. Loaded fries with spicy pork? Sounds good. Kimchi chorizo fried rice? Sign me up. Pork belly chimichanga? Now you're talking!! Pork belly tacos?!?! YES PLEASE! If you're eating the fries, ask for their Kimchi Thousand Island dipping sauce or their Kimchi Aioli. Both are delicious. Do your tastebuds a favor and give this place a try. I don't make many guarantees in life, but I will promise you this place will leave you wanting more.

    (5)

  • Jenn K.

    Being Korean, I think the connotation is that I shouldn't like this place. But in reality I really like this place! The food, in my opinion is better than Kogi and it's a great place when I'm craving Korean food in the OC. I really like the kimchi fried rice and the quesadillas. The only reason why they don't get five stars is because their dinner chef and lunch chef seem to be different because the lunch food is never as good as dinner.

    (4)

  • David T.

    Awesome little korean fusion restaurant. Very fast service which is ideal if you have a flight to catch at John Wayne / Santa Ana and don't want to eat boring food in the airport.

    (4)

  • Andie Hojun L.

    This place is a fun hole in the wall and stands out in the midst of all the competition in that Asian restaurant haven of a plaza. Fun dishes to try. Their bibimbahp dishes are good. I got a noodle dish and I don't remember what it's called now, which means it wasn't very memorable lol. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Irvine just for this place, but it's a great place for the locals! It's a bit small though so you might have a hard time finding seating. Go in smaller groups.

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    Walked into this place for a late night dinner. I expected more based on the good reviews. The food was ok to me, so did the service. My complain was to the cooks. Please, wear gloves! After touching the besom then touch the food? I saw this worker dropped a bowl inside the melting cheese that in the warmer, yet, he picked it up with his bare hand! His fingers and hands were inside the cheese that they serve to the customers! Disgusting!

    (2)

  • swang l.

    When the influx of fusion restaurants started to hit Orange County a few years ago, I have to admit that I was pretty resistant to it. I mean, who wants to mess with good ol' home style cooking? Well, some places have started doing it right, and Urban Seoul is definitely one of those places. I have had this place book marked for awhile and we finally ventured down to Irvine. It's located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza over by the Kickin' Crab and away from the main building. It's a small place, with maybe 10-20 bar seats and 10ish small two tops. We got there at about 9:30PM and had no wait, I hear it gets pretty crowded though. Parking can really suck here too on a weekend evening. Diamond Jamboree is a pretty popular place with lots of restaurants. We ordered the pork belly tacos and the spicy tuna bibimbap. The pork belly tacos were overflowing with delicious toppings. The diced pieces of pork belly were fatty and crispy and paired well with the kimchi, lettuce, cheese, and sauce that it was topped with. There's so much stuff on the taco that I could barely pick it up to take a bite. I'm not complaining though. I forget what the sauce was, but it was orange and had a tang to it. It was good! The spicy tuna bibimbap was delicious as well. A little different from the traditional bibimbap you get at other Korean places, but I have to specifically mention the chili mixing sauce for the dish. It was home made, and although had a much thinner consistency than regular chili sauce, it was jam packed with flavor. It was the right amount of chili, spicy, and vinegary. Pour that stuff on top of the fresh veggies, poached egg, rice and spicy tuna and you've got a recipe for success. We will definitely be back. There's so much stuff we need to try. There was a pork belly chimichanga that was calling my name on the specials board.

    (4)

  • Ebelin Ebs R.

    A very unique restaurant with very unique flavors that leave your taste buds craving for more! The entire staff is very social and Gladly to assure you with everything! Taco Tuesday is a day you can't miss out on! Amazing pork belly tacos! And some of the best craft beer!

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    I've been here multiple times now and have tried a majority of their menu. They do a very interesting take on a Korean Mexican fusion and most of their dishes are delicious. Food Recommendations: 1. Gogi Slider - These were delicious and definitely one of my favorites! The portion size was just right. 2. Loaded Fries - It gets a little heavy near the end but the pork and toppings go together really well. The jalapenos are perfect for a small kick. Not sure if it was just that day I went, but the taquitos and tacos were not as good as the other items on their menu. I might give it another shot one day, but for now I'm sticking with what I know is good. Service: The overall service every time I've been here has been great! The waiters are attentive and very helpful. Never had an issue where we felt rushed or had to wait too long. Tips: The parking in the area does get pretty bad around lunch and dinner. Also, the restaurant itself is pretty small but they do a good job of utilizing the space well. There might be a bit of a wait if you go during their peak hours but haven't had any issues with long waits on all my visits.

    (5)

  • Cheyne T.

    I used to love Urban Seoul and come with my bf every tuesday for their taco tuesday. Recently I noticed that the quality and service has gone down alot. We always order three tacos each, and the past two visits they brought out my order first, and then my bf's 10-15min later, which makes my food cold by that time. I don't understand the reason for this because I don't come to eat by myself. Both orders should be out at the same time. Today this occured, they messed up my order, and on top of that they spilled taco juice on my bf's pants when they picked up our baskets to clear the table. Also, we both noticed they changed their tortilla size to be a lot smaller. I'm sure people who don't eat there often can't tell, but since we come every week it was obvious. Pretty lame :/

    (3)

  • Michelle D.

    We were excited to try after reading a few reviews but flavor and food quality overall was disappointing. If you're looking for a quick ez, cheap happy hour or a quick "I'm by yourself" this maybe the place. But if you're looking for dinner, for a sit down dinner to catch w a friend or a date, not really. Tables are small, chairs uncomfortable. I get the whole "urban" feel but let's consider comfort. I almost feel like I have to be a hipster to really enjoy the nuances and rawness of this place. Loved the garlic edamame but one dish can't save the meal. Had the chicken lettuce wraps, kimchee fried rice and beef sliders, their "signature" dishes but couldn't quite make my taste buds do backflips. I get the fusion part but If you're going to to a "kimchee" fried rice, make kimchee the star or at least a robust flavor. Bland and uninteresting.

    (2)

  • Carolyne T.

    Taco tuesdays is like a weekly holiday for me. So, with Urban Seoul being nearby to work, I celebrate taco tuesday every week (when I'm able to convince my co-workers to go with me). I go to this place so often that everybody is surprised when I DON'T get it. Tacos used to be $1.50, then $1.75, and now they raised the price again to $2 per taco. If they raise the price again, I'm not even sure if it'll be worth it anymore. For 3 tacos at regular price, it ranges from $8.50 - $8.95. The tacos they carry are: tofu, chicken, gogi, spicy pork, and pork belly. My favorites are the spicy pork and gogi. Today in particular, they seemed a bit frazzled.. my churros that I ordered didn't come out until like 20 minutes later and they came out overcooked / burnt. Sent it back. Pretty disappointed.

    (3)

  • Thuy P.

    I've been here a couple of times. Hour hour menu is great. I always get the Gogi Sliders, Pork Belly Tacos and Gogi Quesadillas. Spicy pork loaded fries, hot wings and the gogi gravy fries are good items to order and share.

    (4)

  • Mahesh S.

    I dont usually eat this kind of food. too greasy, too salty, too saucy, but it has its purpose. lot of people love food like this! I might have if i had enough to drink, but its summer, and i am watching my calories. it felt like a menu of a food truck, but being in socal, that is a good thing. the corn we got was super delicious. if i go next time, thats all i am getting. the corn!

    (4)

  • Brandon C.

    I got Seoul, but I'm not a Soldier I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man Got what I got here for the bae And I'll make it better for her when I pay So honey don't you fret Cause you ain't seen nothing yet I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man Listen I was brought up on tacos from the street I learned how to love all types of Asian meat I was educated to have more than basic Wok When I start eating here I just can't stop I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm a Seoul Man I'm actually not Korean (for those inquiring as to my ethnicity, I'm "Asian Fusion"), but if I'm eating a meal (not sweets) at Diamond Jamboree, then I'm inclined to go to a restaurant like Urban Seoul. Their offerings provide a departure from traditional Korean fare. It definitely reminds me of food truck grub, albeit in the setting of a narrow restaurant that's prone to easily get crowded. The left side of the menu ("urban food") is more desirable to me than the right side ("seoul food"), but I'm open to try things. So far, the main items I'd order again are their tacos (pork belly) and the loaded fries. The tacos are appropriately spicy for my taste buds. They don't come close to filling me up, but it's tapas style, so it goes with the territory. The fries are criss-cut (the flatter/rounder ones) and include spicy pork, cheese sauce, green onions, jalapenos, queso fresco, picked red onions, and cilantro. If you're looking to indulge on something unhealthy on a cheat day, then this is your plate! Their fruit drinks are extremely popular as well - I had a pineapple mango and from looking around, everyone else did too. Considering I weigh almost double what many that dine here do, it isn't easy for me to walk away completely satisfied from having small plates. I want to try some more items or perhaps Urban Seoul 2.0 at The Spectrum to see if I can become a "phan" that necessitates 4 stars. Oh, and it'd be cool if we don't have to wait a really long time to get our bill next time :)

    (3)

  • Jessica Y.

    Very chill environment to grab a drink with friends and enjoy their take on Korean traditional food such as the Bibimbap. You have the option of your choice in protein and either white or purple rice. I had the tuna, purple rice, fresh sorted vegetables, and poached egg. Superb in taste! Just delicious~ We also had the trio tacos with chicken. Also very yummy! On the Happy hour menu: had the soju cocktail for $~4. Super weak but still refreshing. Overall experience: 2 thumbs up! Will be back

    (5)

  • Shelby L.

    Friendly staff and good customer service. Very delicious food!!! First, when my husband showed me this restaurant from yelp and asked me to go with him, I refused. From the pictures I saw, their food didn't attract me at all. Tonight I was so hungry and most of the restaurants are closed, we have no place to go, so we ended up eating here. We ordered fried udon, kalbi burger and the drink of the day, guava and pineapple. When I first saw the price of the drink, I thought it was too pricey. After I got my drink, I realized it is totally worth it. The drink is so good and is not too sweet. It is also too large that I couldn't finish it and it couldn't fit into my car's cup holder!! Fried udon is good. Even though the portion is a little bit small, this is the best fried udon that I have tried. The burger, omg, it is soooooo gooood!!!!! The price might seems pricey, but it is totally worth it!!! Must try!!! I will come back for sure!!! And I want to try their taco Tuesday!

    (4)

  • Bruce C.

    Fusing together different types of cuisines is pretty played out. Most places have a very difficult time executing it. Urban Seoul is no exception. This place is nothing remotely close to a culinary conquest. Instead, it delivers an experience that almost mirrors what I encountered at The Kroft in Anaheim (Review: yelp.com/biz/the-kroft-a… ). Much like how gastropubs serve refined bar food, Urban Seoul (and The Kroft) attempt to take drunk food to the next level... with both failing. Urban Seoul attempts to fuse Mexican and Korean food together. Something Kogi Trucks made popular in SoCal almost a decade ago. The biggest difference being that it was a hit then, it's old news now. There's nothing on Urban Seoul's menu that screams original because it's all been done over and over by tons of different restaurants for the past 10 years. Pork belly tacos? Been there. Kalbi burger? Done that. Loaded (Korean inspired) Fries? Old news. Kimchi Fried Rice? Come on, so 2005. The worst part? Their menu items are super overpriced. Get ready to pay $3/taco, $8 for glorified nacho cheese fries, $10 for kimchi fried rice and $8 for a quesadilla. ELOTE ~ 2.5 stars: This is very similar to Mexican corn on a cob except that it's cut corn. The grilled corn is dressed with mayo, cotija, korean chili flakes, paprika, cilantro and lime. There's nothing great about this dish. The only thing I tasted was mayo and lime. LOADED FRIES ~ 2 stars: Criss-cut fries, spicy pork, cheese sauce, green onions, jalepenos, queso fresco, pickled red onioons and cilantro. Sounds good, right? Not really. This thing was SO rich. The pickled red onions didn't do anything to cut through it. If you like soggy fries with a healthy serving of richness, get this. SPICY PORK & GOGI AREPAS ~ 2.5 stars: The grease from the spicy pork and gogi turned the corn biscuits to mush. The meat was also very bland. But they provide a sauce on the side which didn't do anything once added. I have to point out how terrible the service is. Servers are slow. Kitchen is slow. They didn't give us menus after they seated us - I had to grab them myself. Maybe the fries and corn biscuits (arepas) wouldn't have been soggy if they sped things up a bit. It took our server almost 5 minutes to bring us Sriracha. The service was so bad that we purposely left a $2 tip on a $38 tab (yep, we just dropped $40 and used the change as tip). Did we feel bad? Yes, we felt terrible eating their food. Urban Seoul tries to get cute, they thing they're being creative, while overcharging their customers for very subpar food and service. Their food didn't have Korean nor Mexican flavors. Seriously. Each dish was either greasy and bland or greasy and rich. With a ton of grease, and food that doesn't come close to representing Korean and/or Mexican cuisine, they should change their name to Urban Grease.

    (2)

  • Bryan B.

    Pork belly tacos and spicy tuna bibimbap are delicious, the service is on point, and the prices are fair. The pork belly tacos have a really nice crush to it and it's loaded with sauces and vegetables to offset the richness of the pork. The spicy tuna bibimbap is basically a Korean salad in a bowl with the poached egg on top. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients with every bite. This location is in the Jamboree plaza so parking can be a pain because all the restaurants in the plaza are pretty top notch and draw a huge crowd. Wait can be insane but write your name down and sit tight. I like to order to-go to speed up the process since most of the food is portable.

    (5)

  • Tiffany H.

    Go during happy hour (5-7pm) on taco tuesday! It was my first time there and I sat at the bar. I love that the place is super casual, but really ~hip~ LOL. My friend and I were immediately greeted by the staff and offered a sample of their drink of the day! Staff was really friendly and fun to talk to as well. It felt like a really intimate food experience since we sat at the bar and the kitchen was right there. I ended up getting the loaded fries and 2 pork belly tacos and 1 gogi taco. The loaded fries were so bomb. There was a perfect amount of everything. Now the tacos..... For $1.75 each (on taco tuesday), they're so worth it. There's so much meat and flavor for both the pork belly and gogi tacos. I liked that the pork belly was kinda crisp. I usually drench everything I eat in some kind of hot sauce, but I didn't feel like the tacos needed anything added to them. Basically, each bite of everything I got was a burst of amazing flavor. I'm excited to come back and try more stuff on their regular menu and happy hour menu!

    (5)

  • Eri K.

    I have been to Urban Seoul 2.0, but I guess this location is not affiliated with them?? I'm not quite sure on that information, but we overheard the chef saying that. Urban Seoul is located in Diamond Jamboree alongside Coffebar Byul. Parking is plentiful, but when it gets busy.. it's a hunt for parking. The food was mediocre. I've been to other Korean/Asian fusion restaurants and there was just something missing from this place that I can't really point my finger to. I really wished that I had a better experience. We had: kimchi pancake quesadilla, kalbi burger, and the gogi fries with gravy. The kalbi burger tasted as if I went to a friend's house for a bbq.. it didn't seem like there was anything special that made me want to eat it more. The pancake quesadilla was different, but I think I wanted it to be crispier on the outside. The sauce it came with was like mayonnaise with no other flavor that it just became bland for me.

    (3)

  • Dominic E.

    I love coming here because the food is always so fresh and so delicious. My favorite thing to order is the Bibimbap ( Spicy Tuna, pork belly, and I want to try the Salmon Sashimi). I love the Spicy Rice Cakes small plate they are perfectly hot and sweet and are usually fried perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I've only had one issue here. This week I tried to call in an order and I got put on hold...for 15 minutes. Then I decided to hangup and call back but the line was still busy, I suspect from the previous call. So I never got to try the Salmon Sashimi Bibimbap.

    (4)

  • Daisy M.

    Love this place!!! I'm here once a week!!! 3b pork belly my fav! Also, the Goji Fries, bomb.com !! Every one here is super nice and attentive. Great service over all, highly recommend.

    (5)

  • James L.

    i never tire of the food here; it's innovative and delicious and definitely hits the spot. a tad on the heavy side in terms of flavor and type of food they serve. I usually come in for taco tuesdays, but otherwise i order the urban 3b and whatever aguas frescas they have on hand. i've tried pretty much the entire menu by now but those are my go-to's. staff is friendly and attentive but pretty much always busy running from one errand to the next; it's completely understandable and patience is key. highly recommend their in-house diablo sauce if they have it on hand, and also their cilantro-lime sauce is fantastic as well.

    (5)

  • Jamie N.

    Located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza that's packed with eateries ranging from Japanese, Thai, seafood, Vietnamese and more, Urban Seoul sheds some light on Korean fusion. With the popularity of their first location, they opened a second, Urban Seoul 2.0, at Irvine Spectrum minutes away from their original. So what about the food? It has to be pretty good if they have multiple locations, right? YES. It IS amazing and on this visit, I think we bit off a good chunk of the menu. Monday lunches haven't been the same since. Started with a thirst quencher, their agua fresca of the day - Mango Hibiscus Pineapple Mint Fresca. Absolutely refreshing and a very large serving! Love the muddled mint. They gone did it right already. FOOD. Probably one of my best experiences here. Elote // Grilled corn, mayo, cotija cheese, Korean chili flakes, paprika, cilantro, lime Loaded Fries // Criss-cut fries, spicy pork, cheese sauce, green onions, jalapenos, queso fresco, pickled red onions, cilantro Holiday Tamale (limited time) // Fried tamale, cotija cheese, green salsa, pork belly, pickled red onions, cilantro Chicken Drumettes // Crispy fried chicken, sweet spicy sauce, pickled daikon, green onions Kimchi Fried Rice //Chorizo, pork belly, pickled red onions, garlic, rice, sunny side up egg 3B (Bibimbap) // Pork belly, shredded romaine lettuce, red cabbage, poached egg Can you imagine I had to go back to work after this? I mean, I didn't eat all of this by myself, but the tamale & chicken wings were pretty filling. The original Urban Seoul places more emphasis on "Seoul" food with a fun twist. On the other hand, Urban Seoul 2.0, which has an extended menu for their "Urban" half, features sandwiches and premium meats (rib eye & wagyu). Sounds interesting, right? Let me know if you've been and I would love to hear any suggestions on places similar to this :)

    (4)

  • Lynn O.

    Pleasantly surprised with the combination of flavors: we tried the pork belly tacos, well garnished but the pork was a bit overcooked for my liking, the stir fried udon was flavorful along w/ the urban 3b. I also liked how generous they are w/ the veggies and easy on the noodles & rice. The Elote was good, but could use a little extra lime or seasoning. The staff was incredibly nice considering I was w/ a vocal baby!

    (5)

  • Jenn C.

    Me and my boyfriend are from out of town and we love going out of town to try unique joints. We were on Yelp and came across this joint. We came on a Monday and it was a full house. We ordered the Gogi and Pork Belly tacos, street corn, and loaded fries. Wow! Everything we ordered was full of flavor and was very filling! Definitely would come back and recommend anyone who loves Korean + Mexican foods to go!

    (5)

  • L T.

    Great Korean fusion spot in the heart of Irvine. My cousins said they go here all the time for lunch if they're in town. So we decided to grab lunch here and I was not disappointed. The food here is really good. They do fusion really well. The gogi is their take on the traditional korean bulgolgi marinated meat. I think it tastes a little less sweet and a little more earthy. Kind of like the cumin taste you get in a carne asada steak. I tried the bibimbap (they call it the Urban 3B). It was amazing. It doesn't come in a hot pot like I usually enjoy it but it still blew me away. The flavor was so so rich. It was sweet, tangy, and salty all in one bite but nothing was too overpowering. I would recommending getting it. I always like to stick with the same dish so I have something to compare it to. I also had a bite of their tacos and they were jus as good as the bibimbap.

    (4)

  • Ed L.

    Dear Mom, Don't worry about me. I've been eating well lately. Not just cheeseburgers either. The other day I had Korean...sort of. I had bulgoki. But it was in the form of sliders(which were as big as regular burgers). The buns were soft, and the Korean kimchi cucumbers inside really made these sliders one of the best fusion dishes ever. Better than the galbi sliders which were just galbi marinated burgers without the kimchi cucumbers. It didn't really work, kind of like the time when I was a teen, and you were really mad at me and called me a geh-sekki, which means son of a B--. That was a little awkward. Dad kept snickering. So these guys also turned a kimchi pancake(pa-jun) into a quesadilla! It was so good. Kinda greasy, but I exercised it off with a brisk walk while swinging my arms around in wide circles the way you and your friends do. It was taco Tuesday, so each taco was only $1.75! Don't worry, my wife only let me eat one taco. It was the pork belly, and it was great. Oh, and she finally started wearing the white gloves and ginormous sun visor you got for her when she drives. She wanted me to thank you. She has best quality heart. The next time we went, we tried the bibimbap which was amazing! Lots of fresh sliced radish, sprouts, and other veggies which made this bowl healthy and delicious. The chorizo kimchi fried rice was really good too. It was good alternating between the bowls because the fried rice was a little greasy. Love, Your best quality son.

    (5)

  • Nathaniel F.

    Cool place to get Korean fusion. I eat Very Low Carb, so it's hard to eat here, but the offerings are tasty. Spicy tuna and the bulgogi tacos were both delicious. Planning to go back on one of my "cheat" days.

    (4)

  • Keiko B.

    Great atmosphere walking in for the first time. Chef Andre greeted me and let me try their daily made juice of the day, watermelon/mint. It was the most heavenly refreshing drink on a hot day I could ask for. I was curious and asked about the "Kimchi Mac n Cheese". Sounded pretty unappealing and I was not sure how Andre possibly thought it'd make a good combo, but also wanted to be adventurous and see if he was actually a mad genius. While waiting for my meal at the bar I was entertained by a very fast moving, entertaining cooking show! Shortly after my Kimchi Mac arrived looking beautifully appealing I took a skeptical bite... Let me tell you, I won't EVER doubt Andre's unexpected mad culinary creations again. The whole experience simply surpassed all expectations. GO HERE! And sit at the bar where they cook. You'll be hooked

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    First, this is a hole in the wall. If you have a big group, you might have to wait awhile. There is this nice bench seating in the front of the restaurant that can fit at least 8 people. We were two people so we ate at the bar. we had the: Pork belly tacos. Delicious! absolute favorite Loaded fries: would recommend again Urban bibimibap: was ok. It just wasn't as delicious as the other two. Will definitely be back again in the future.

    (4)

  • James N.

    I hate having to give Urban Seoul a 1 star review... but the service yesterday was shitastic. Our party of 3 ordered three entrees (bibimbap, stir-fry noodles, and pork belly chimichangas) and two appetizers (sliders & gogi quesadillas). Everything came out within a 10 minutes, except for the chimichangas. The last time I ordered the chimichangas, they came out last - so I anticipated a longer wait... I did not expect the staff to completely forget about the order. When I asked about the order, the server/manager(?) said the order never went in and that he'd check (as if I lied about ordering an entree for myself..?). Rather than putting the order in right away - he went back to check ticket orders. After he realizing the order was never placed, he finally punched it into the computer. No apology, no comp, nada. He completely avoided us. The kicker? The kitchen manager(?) sent out a free dessert to the table next to us - just for being there. Free dessert to recoup forgetting someone's order? NAHH. Free dessert to flirt with some girls? Hell yeah! Urban Seoul: all about getting girls and losing customers. Oh, and after an additional 15 minutes, I never got my chimichangas. Instead of being full, I'm just fed up.

    (1)

  • Erin T.

    I come here every Tuesday for taco tuesday ($1.75 per taco) - I always get the same thing, one gogi, one pork belly. The only reason I docked this place one star is because their pork belly is really inconsistent. Some days it's really good, and other days it's over fried so it's really dry. Their pork belly pizza is also really good! cheese, flatbread, bbq sauce, pork belly and cilantro. Kimchi quesadillas...also really good. Our lunchtime ritual: everyone gets 2 tacos and we order one item to share. For 3 people we usually end up paying about $7-8 after taxes and tip. i honestly haven't had anything here I didn't like. It gets' pretty crowded around lunch time so I would recommend going later in the afternoon if you can swing it. Service is usually pretty great and I always leave happy!

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Different twist on Korean Mexican fusion. So delicious corn, tacos, loaded fries, and beer. Will come back here again!

    (4)

  • Jacelyn C.

    The happy hour is great. Urban Seoul has a variety of dishes. It's chill, casual environment. I usually enjoy my time there. Sliders, fries, wings are awesome

    (4)

  • Ursula G.

    A favorite of mine in the Diamond Jamboree Plaza. I LOVE the food in this plaza, but Urban Seoul is the only "cool" or "hip" eatery that offers more than just good food. Modern, and cute - starting with their name - a trendy place like this usually charges an arm and leg for a miniature taco, served to you by a rude hipster worker. Not here - not only is the flavor of each dish delicious and explosive, but it is all seriously beyond affordable. They have some dishes that cost more than others, but they ALWAYS have some sort of special. I believe they have happy hour every day, taco tuesday and a board of daily or weekly specials. (which for example had $4 bulgogi taquitos last time I was here, which were more than enough for one person to eat as a meal). Even their drinks are a good value - priced the normal $3.75 (for pina colada lemonade or watermelon lemonade (with fresh ingredients) I expected a small cup, but received a HUGE cup, maybe 32oz. Most importantly the taste is just so good! Everything I've tried from the pork belly tacos (wow ), the loaded fries (so big! best to share), the bibimbap bowl with beef (one of my favorites, perfect for a full meal, and you will probably have left overs), their corn, quesadillas etc. Some things are a bit greasy - but hello - you are eating Korean/Mexican street food fusion, if you don't want grease go eat a salad. I will also add that they do a good job of balancing the greasy items with extremely crisp lettuce, and queso fresco, which isn't common to find in fusion places. Also, since it is a tapas style of eating place, you can order some less greasy items to share, so help balance your meal out.

    (5)

  • Kapo P.

    This place isnt bad, but kinda pricey. Worth it for Taco Tuesday, i suppose... but i still cant get out of there w/o spending at least $15.

    (3)

  • Dani R.

    Having grown up in Koreatown and coming from a Mexican family, this place perfectly blends and elevates signature flavors from both cuisines. The tofu tacos, kalbi burger, corn, loaded fries, pork torta, and drink of the day are all on point. You can't go wrong with this place!

    (5)

  • Christina K.

    I likey. My first time here, I brought my friend on Taco Tuesday and we ordered several tacos. I had the tofu tacos, which I thought were legit. I'd definitely eat them again. Brought my mom last week before I caught my plane, and we shared the three tofu tacos and got the elote. She RAAAVED about the elote (my mom looooves corn) and I was very content with my tofu taco - they're flavorful, not very heavy, and have a legit protein (none of that, let's put some bell peppers in here and call it a taco business). Expect a wait at night.

    (4)

  • Morison W.

    I'll have to drop this place a star after trying their pork belly tacos. The pork belly was a bit hard, so it wasn't really that good. Sauce was alright though, but overall, meh. The bibimbap had really weird flavorings too. The quesadillas were good though. I liked how it was a bit crunchy on the outside. And the dressing they provided with it went pretty well with it. Service was still great. My friend gave the waiter a hard time testing him on the ingredients of food, and he was really patient about it.

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    There nothing complain but the amazing food at Urban Seoul. Took my clients visiting from Texas. Love the freshness and amazing food. So much he want to move to California....can't blame him! Thanks for everything guys! :)

    (5)

  • Alex W.

    I was excited to try out this Fusion place and was pleasantly surprised at the deliciousness of the meal I ate here. I got the gogi sliders and fries. The meat was tender and well marinated --it melted in my mouth with each bite. The fries were lightly salted and complimented the burger well. Overall, the meal was a great combination of flavor and texture.

    (4)

  • Shelley Z.

    I am OUTRAGED. I am FURIOUS. I am APPALLED. I felt SO COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY BETRAYED by the oh-so promising menu and the glowing 4-star average this place adorned. My high expectations were grounded by the following: - Loaded (with grease but lacking in flavor) fries - Pork belly (that were too hard and not tasty enough) tacos - Kimchi chorizo (but I couldn't taste the kimchi; all I tasted was grease; the pork belly was still too hard and tasteless) fried rice - Spicy (not really, and not perfectly al dente) rice cakes DOUBLE YOU TEE EFF? (Might have over-exaggerated my emotions a bit. Just a bit. Did it to match how overrated this establishment was, obvi.)

    (2)

  • Krystal T.

    If you love Korean/Mexican fusion, Urban Seoul is a great place to try! They have delicious food, good service and great craft beer on tap.

    (4)

  • Patrick N.

    Have to try elote (corn) for appetizer next time. Gogi sliders and the pork belly tacos were both okay. I'm not that much of a spice person and Urban seoul really seems to emphasize Korean spice in their food. I wish the beef on the gogi slider was more apparent in taste (maybe juicer with more marinate?) and the pork belly tacos just didn't click with me. Portions were big though. The people here were friendly and helpful. I was in a rush and they were able to accommodate for me.

    (4)

  • Wil S.

    It is all about the pork belly tacos and loaded fries. You gotta get them early or else they'll be sold out and you end up getting other great dishes that I can remember! Everything is fresh and the staff is super cool. I'll be back again soon

    (5)

  • Romuel Dave C.

    I can't believe I haven't written review of this joint, and i've been coming here since they inception at DJ. Long story short? Kogi truck in a brick and mortar. It's korean fusion food... and they do a decent job. Haven't had anything on their menu that I would say "it's not worth trying at least once" so go ahead and go crazy. But there isn't really anything I can say that stands out and is worth ordering above all else. Chamisul on deck... what more can you ask for?

    (3)

  • Laura W.

    The edamame with the garlic dressing is good. The beers are also tasty. The absolute highlight, though, is the pork belly chimichanga. Time to take it off the specials menu and put it on the permanent menu!!!

    (5)

  • Mika D.

    Went back for quick lunch today with my friend Hap after piking him up at Newport Gateway and he wanted to grab the spicy loaded fries. It became a ritual of ordering the Little Devil, one of the belgian pale ales, featured on the brew board upon the entrance. We sat in one of the bar tables and ordered food. I had the bowl of chicken udon stir fry and he was happy enough to have his loaded fries. Somehow I wished they had more options on their menu like their Irvine Spectrum location.

    (3)

  • Jenny H.

    Disappointing ... First I went in thinking about the last time I've gone.. Which was pretty good.. This time .. ZzzZz First they argue with me saying I ordered something I didn't.. I told the dude we didn't order that and he tells me that I did.. Like seriously dude.. You're gonna stand there telling me I made a mistake? .. Second they give us uncooked chicken and then tells us it's cooked.. You know that feel when you chew uncooked chicken .. Gross Never again!!

    (1)

  • Esther S.

    Love the tacos (although spicy) and the bibimbap! Crunchy fusion taste. Really good twist on the regular bibimbap. Parking is kind of a nightmare in this plaza.

    (4)

  • Heshan W.

    I finally came to try this great concept of fusion food: Korean and Mexican food! I tried two of their dishes: 1. Arepas with spicy pork. Nice fusion of Mexican/Latin American arepa with Korean marinated pork. Loved the spicy flavors and corn based grill corn cake sandwich the meat was stuffed into. 2. Urban 3b (bibimbap): A Korean style salad with grilled chicken. I really loved the spicy korean sauce that was paired with this dish. This is the one I recommend everyone try if its your first or even 2nd time at Urban Seoul! Its really solid appetizer or even a light meal to have for lunch, which I did! Hope to come back to try more of their dishes! Fusion food done right for sure! :D

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    This place has really gone down in terms of service. I've been coming here for two years now and always loved it, but disappointed the last two times I came here. Last Tuesday I arrived at Urban Seoul around 6:25 for happy hour and waited around until 7:01 when I finally got seated. I spoke to the waiter right away, saying that I wanted to order elote from the happy hour menu, but wouldn't let me because it was a minute past. Very disappointed, but happy I saved $3. The waiters are also not as friendly and interactive with customers anymore. Maybe because they're different waiters each time I go, but they kind of just go with the flow now.

    (2)

  • Schel H.

    So I think my expectations were much higher than they could live up to here. After having to been Red Hot Kitchen in San Berdu, they are still the measuring stick and while they were unique with quesadillas w/bulgogi and other stuff... it just wasnt nearly what I had hoped for. However they did have pretty good Happy Hour specials on bad beer and tasty tacos. I wish that the quesadillas were also on special. The bulgogi tacos and quesadillas were extremely flavorful IMHO. However the other stuff that was loaded onto the tacos wasnt as good to me. It was fairly cheap to eat here. This is a great thing, especially if you are there for HH. I have always thought that korean mexican fusion was a great combo since the first time I tried it. The Bulgogi and Galbi were purrrfect to go with the other Mexican flavors. With a little bit of cilantro a tortilla and some onions, awesome for street tacos. Or with a little bit of queso and cabbage, you have another great combo. I bet their burritos are good too, but i didnt have any of those. My favorite thing was the Bulgogi quesadilla though. It wasnt even close. It was decadent and flavorful. The restaurant was set up somewhat uniquely for So Cal. They had a diner bar and shared community tables for seating. I like this approach as it is makes for a much more open crowd. However, there are times when that is not the best option and thus you are not as happy if you have some personal things to discuss while eating. But you just may make a new best friend or meet a new significant other (if your single only i hope) from something like this. Overall it was good and a good time, but I can think of a few other korean mexican fusion places that I would prefer to go to over this one. For OC though, I dont know of a better korean mexican fusion storefront...

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Incredibly interesting flavors. Despite being no where near me I would definitely make the trip back out to Irvine just to try it again. Chorizo kimchi fried rice was amazing.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth T.

    Came in for a late lunch on Saturday because I've heard many great things about Urban Seoul on Yelp and was pleasantly surprised. This wasn't originally here when I went to school at UCI, but I do remember Diamond Jamboree holding some of my favorite late night food memories when I used to be a frequent customer a few years ago. I've heard/read about Urban Seoul from friends and online, and it seemed like a pretty cool new place to try, featuring trendy new spins on Korean classics, such as bulgogi, udon, and spicy rice cakes. The environment was definitely very trendy and "hispter," with an open kitchen just behind the bar. It's brightly lit, clean, and the large glass windows do a great job of giving it an even more "open kitchen" feel. As for food, I got the loaded fries, stir-fried udon, and gogi quesadillas to share. All three items came piping hot and freshly prepared. Though the portions weren't too big, the amount of flavors, cheeses, and seasoning definitely made it a very filling meal. The servers were really attentive, refilling our waters without us asking, coming over a few times to check up on how we liked the food. Overall, Urban Seoul deserves it solid four stars because it does offer quite delicious Korean/Mexican fusion foods, though the prices are a little higher than what other similar places have to offer, but all in all, it was a great first experience, so thank you Urban Seoul!

    (4)

  • Pete S.

    Came here for Happy Hour. They have $3 and $4 specials. $3 Garlic Edamame, Elote, Chicken or Gogi Lettuce Wraps $4 Sliders, Gogi Quesadillas They have $4 craft beers including 805 and Lagunitas IPA. That was a nice touch and good price. That's pretty much the whole menu. Happy Hour here is very limited. They no longer have the wings specials beginning this January that most Yelpers raved about. I was very disappointed. The Elotes were quite good and seasoned well. But eating shucked elotes on a plate proved difficult for me. I also had the Gogi quesadillas that was really thin and not much filling. I tasted more cheese than meat on it. Sorry, I would totally pass on that. Service here was good. If you see the big guy over the counter, it seems like he knows everything and will make sure everything goes well for ya. I would totally just come in and have a pint or two when I'm in the Diamond Plaza though. That is, if I can find parking here.

    (3)

  • liz o.

    Went for their new Sunday brunch. Had Khalua pork omelette and pork hash, both great portions and very tasty.

    (5)

  • Charles K.

    This place is one of a few places that pulled off making a fusion food! Try their pork belly tacos! They are great! Also, I would recommend trying their elote. It's creamy and bit heavy but not to the point you get a food coma. I would recommend going at 5 because they have a happy hour from 5-7 and it gets crowds when you try to go around 6.

    (4)

  • Amy T.

    Super hip modern korean food restaurant. I came with a group of 8 and we loved the ambiance of the restaurant. A lot of them got the katsu chicken sandwich and they enjoyed it but it was a bit smaller than expected. Others got the stir fried udon and that was so delicious! If I came back, I would definitely get this again. The noodles are so good! I got the urban 3b. I love how that there's so much veggies and the meat was well seasoned. The purple rice was an interesting touch to it. Food was pretty good, would definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Bashar S.

    Great food! I usually have a different item each time I visit but my favorite items on the menu are the loaded fries and the gogi sliders. The beer selection is also above average. The service is pretty good especially for how busy it can get sometimes.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    Been meaning to try this place and what better night to visit than on Taco Tuesday. They have four different kinds of tacos to choose from including gogi, pork belly, chicken and tofu. We did a mixture of the gogi (ribeye steak) and the pork belly. The pork belly was on the drier side and not even crispy, just plain dry and chewy. This was not in my wheelhouse and would be an easy pass the next time I go for Taco Tuesday. On the other hand, the gogi was juicy and flavorful. We both liked this taco so much more. We also decided on the Kimchi Chorizo Fried Rice. The presentation was cool with the sunny side up egg, but when I mixed it all together the rice took over and the Kimchi got lost. I would have liked to have more kimchi in the bowl, as there were only a few tiny pieces. The pork belly was a bit more juicier here with nice chunks of pork. I enjoyed this dish much more than my counterpart. I waited about 50 minutes (6:10 to 7:00) to eat and they would not honor the happy hour for people that were on the list before 7. I think it's just good business to go the extra mile for the customer. They did not have enough menus and bowls as they wanted to steal our menus (we finally gave them one) while we were still deciding on what to order next. Many in the servers came around asking if we wanted to order something else over and over and over while we were still waiting for our original order to arrive. Overall, our experience here was just ok. I would go back to a try a few other dishes, but in all honesty, I'm in no hurry.

    (3)

  • Mai T.

    I came here for dinner with a friend and we both enjoyed our experience. She ordered the UB3 which is a salad mixed with rice and your choice of meat. You also get to choose white or purple rice, which is a healthier version and if I heard correctly a blend between white and brown rice. Somehow it comes out purple, but it was a unique item to try and wasn't dry like brown or white rice can sometimes get. The salad came with some sort of red bean sauce that was a bit spicy. I ordered the three pork belly tacos which were delicious. The meat was crisp and the tacos came with an orange sauce. The portion sizes here are decent, you don't leave hungry or overly stuffed. The spectrum location is a lot bigger than the diamond jamboree location, with bathrooms and a heated outdoor area, so this location is much quieter and has less of a line.

    (5)

  • Jesika J.

    I love the food here, I have opted to give a 2 star review after my last two not so pleasant experiences here. :( I go to Urban Seoul about once a month for lunch, it is tasty and not too far from my office.. 5-10 minutes depending on how many lights I hit. The loaded fries are amazing, I could eat those for a meal and I have, the cheese steak is good and so is the bibmibap where they lose out is their wait staff and customer service. So the 2 stars explained- my last visit for my birthday with a few coworkers the food was good but the waiters are really lacking, they appear to not want to be there and they don't seem to know anything about the specials or the menu. The special at the time was the Posole Udon- one of us ordered the small not being informed that no Udon comes in the small bowl and that it would just be a bowl of posole...if he would of told us that we would of got a large. It's a special maybe he wasn't informed I don't really know but hey it happens. The real deduction of stars came yesterday when I got there at 11:30 (their "opening time") for lunch.. you know that meal most people get 30minutes to an hour for... well at 11:30 no one was allowed into the restaurant as they weren't open yet... ok I'll wait a few minutes and I will just know what I want and order quickly.. 5 minutes go by and more people come and "not open yet... 5 minutes later so 11:40.. more people come and they are still not allowing anyone in.. at 11:45 I finally ask if they are ready cause now I have waited for 15 minutes after driving there from my office effectively wasting 25 minutes of my lunch time to be told they still are not ready. I mean c'mon.. you have people outside.. why not sit them, get their drink order, share the specials do something besides telling people you are not open 15 minutes after you should of been open. I am extremely disappointed with how yesterday was handled even more so because I was so very excited to try the special they had advertised on the board. Urban Seoul you have disappointed me, your food is really great but if you can't be reliable on what time you open maybe you shouldn't even open for lunch.. people have places to be and if you are like me you plan accordingly and get to a place when they open so you can get in an out as quickly as you can.

    (2)

  • Cori L.

    Chicken Drumettes: Fantastic! Perfectly spiced and fried. Kogi Sliders: Very cute in my basket and very happy on the taste buds. Pork Belly Tacos: The meat was perfect, but I wish they used a little bit less vinegary(?) cabbage (Dos Chinos still has the best pork belly tacos, in my opinion). Loaded Fries: Complete and total stoner fare. I loved the sweet meat and cheese combination, which I was a little hesitant about at first. Very glad I tried it. Service: Very attentive and nice. Beers on tap! Another plus. Parking: Sucks. But hey, this comes with the Diamond Jamboree territory and it's completely worth the frustration to get to Urban Seoul!

    (4)

  • Jennifer D.

    This place is definitely my go to!!! I love tasting spices and flavor popping food and this place has that. Sure there is a lot of Asian fusion places and claim their food is good but this place seems well thought out. The service is great, never had to wait long, questions answered and best of all... The food was worth it! The restaurant decor has an industrial look, very hip. Won't be disappointed ....

    (5)

  • Matt R.

    This place is best described as a gigantic explosion of flavor. The only downside I can even pretend to come up with is the horrific parking at this shopping center. Can't blame this place for it though. Had the fries with bulgogi topping. Even as a to-go order they were super crispy and the perfect indication of great food to come. Tons of toppings and a hefty portion to boot. I got the fried rice and couldn't believe the portion size. About a gallon of rice, topped with a fried egg, pickled red onions and french fried onions (like out of a can.) The portion alone would have been worth it, but the food wins again. Their sliders were also amazing, but I wouldn't consider them anything other than American fare, which I'm ok with. Soft bun, nicely seared beef and thousand island dressing. Like a couple of mini In-N-Out burgers, but with fresher flavor. I also got a trio of tacos, but by the time (I had been sharing everything) I got to them, I was stuffed. The few bites I did have, were great. I ended up taking all the leftover rice and taco filling and making two giant burritos with it the next day. Probably the best burritos I've ever had. Considering the entire meal was under $30, I cannot complain about the price, especially considering the amount of food I got. Take it from me, save those leftovers for a burrito, you'll thank me later! Gluttony at it's best.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    This place is a great find! Food was amazing! Ordered like 3-4 different things with my party. All of it was amazing. Will definitely come back again. Limited seating. Probably not great for large parties 10+. Parking is fine. Could get crowded but won't really wait for a spot to park. Customer service is great too. If your in the area and like fusion foods (food truck style) you should try this place out. Also has Ramune!

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    I've been going to Diamond Jamboree a lot for food and I've been waiting for this place to open up ever since I saw the signage go up a couple of months ago. I went in the other day with a good friend of mine who ordered up some dishes as I was running late. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place - very easy going but not so cookie cutter like Irvine tends to get. The food is very tapas based and not bad. The servers and the manager were easy going and easy to talk to. All in all, a place I'd try again. Now to the details. We started off with the pork belly tacos. Normally I'm not a big fan of fusion...i tend to like my Asian food to taste and look Asian, and my Mexican food to do the same...but there was something about the way the pork belly worked with the taco that i had to say was quite good. The crunchy texture of the pork belly went well with the taco and the seasoning...this I enjoyed. We then got the Gogi Sliders. Normally a burger is a burger to me. All the fancy burger places generally seem to be pretentious to me. What can make a burger better though, is the sauce. And I have to say I tried two different sauces, the sour cream siracha and the pesto cilantro. Out of the two, I have to say enjoyed the pesto cilantro with the burger the best. Seemed to add a zest and tang that really brought the flavor of the burger out. I then finished off with the Tofu Bibim Bap. I enjoyed the Bibim Bap because its like a comfort food for me. I threw in some of the cilantro pesto sauce, and it really took it up a notch (if you can't tell, I seem to like that sauce, haha). Overall, its a tough dish mess up, so it was good to go. I would come again cause I enjoy the ambiance and the food was generally ok. I'm waiting for the Chorizo Fried Rice, as they didnt have it yet...but thats definitely on my list of items to try.

    (4)

  • Hyesun K.

    It did not satisfy my authentic korean tongue. It was REALLY exciting to see a korean fusion place in Diamond Jamboree. First impression: i thought the place was so small and scrammed.. The decor was very modern. very chipotle-ish... very hip... It was open seating. I was very curious what the place had to offer. we sat down and waitress brought us the menu. ummm... everything on the menu was overpriced!!!! i ordered the spicy rice cake and bibimbap with purple rice. I wanted other things on the menu but i couldn't justify the price for the item. WOW. after the food came in, that was another shock. the portions were TINY!!!! and they both lacked in flavor. I was hugely disappointed. Didn't even finish my food, i was just NOT enjoying the food. I don't know how and why this place got the amount of stars it has... just because it's fusion, that doesn't mean you need to decrease the flavor. I was almost offended as korean!! I felt that korean food was mis-interpreted/represented at this restaurant. 2* for the cleaniess and service.

    (2)

  • J L.

    Like the food and the service! The place is pretty small so there is usually a wait list.

    (4)

  • Steve B.

    Visited for the 1st time a few weeks ago. Surprised to see a Saturday Happy Hour menu. The food was terrific. Found out that they are opened a Spectrum location. Can't wait to try it as well.

    (5)

  • Kelvin Z.

    Awesome tacos! Taco Tuesday definitely a must. The gogi and pork belly are delicious.

    (5)

  • Heather K.

    Awesome tacos! This place isn't very big, but the food is good and inexpensive.

    (5)

  • Lily O.

    Love the whole center that this place is located. But this place is pretty awesome. Wasn't too hungry so only tried a few things... 1) loaded fries. yum! love waffle fries. gotta eat it fast or it gets soggy with the toppings though. 2) curry puffs. they were ok. not bad, but not great. 3) gogi sliders. delicious! definitely must get again. 4) fried rice. good flavor. already too full at this point but i liked it. bummer that there isn't really any dessert options, I am a sucker for sweets. But there's plenty of options in the plaza for sweet treats so that's ok. the servers were good. the food came out relatively quickly. cute little joint. I really just don't like how crazy busy the Diamond Jamboree center always seems to be that you drive around forever looking for parking and actually stalking people waiting for a spot.

    (4)

  • Bryan C.

    I didn't know what to expect as the menu items looked similar to those of food trucks. Well, I must say I was pleasantly surprised how delicious the foods were. My brother and I ordered sliders, pork belly tacos, japchae mari and loaded fries. They were very flavorful, especially pork belly tacos. The prices were more than reasonable as most items are under 7-8 dollars. I will be definitely coming back to this place!

    (5)

  • Christiana C.

    Cutely snuggled away in Diamond Jamboree, Urban Seoul has a really chill and relaxing vibe to it. My friend and I split the sliders and chorizo kimchi fried rice. The sliders (~$6) were pretty good, but nothing super special that we couldn't make ourselves. The chorizo kimchi fried rice (~$8) though was really interesting with its mixture of flavors that definitely had a little kick to it. It was kinda weird at first bite, but it teases you and makes you want more hahaha. But yeah, unique foods, friendly waiters and relaxing vibes. Definitely recommend at least stopping by and giving it a try!

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    YUM YUM YUM! At first I thought, oh just another Kogi truck. BUT, this place seriously takes it to the next level! The prices are pretty fair and the flavors are amazing! My favorite was definitely the sliders. I don't know how they get their bun to taste so soft and crunchy at the same time!The meat isn't a burger, but a pulled pork consistency. Also tried the torta and the taco. Both amazing! The owner, I believe was there, it was a Korean lady. She was super nice and friendly. I can't wait to be off this diet and go back to Urban Soul! I hope you guys are around for a long time!

    (5)

  • Catherine W.

    This is our new favorite go to! Delicious flavor and interesting foods. Our favorites were the loaded nachos, fried rice, pork belly tacos. Great atmosphere, good service and great food. One critique- plastic silverware... It kept breaking! Invest in some forks!

    (5)

  • Barry W.

    Really 3.5 but my wife only gave them a 3 so since I am afraid of my wife so a 3 it is. Food: Pork Belly tacos: great favor. Interesting mix of texture and latin/korean flavor. Maybe a tad over priced at ~5-6 since they were really small. Short Rib Arapas: I loved and was my favorite. Wife like and also liked the combo of flavors.$5-6 Kim Chee rice: subpar but great bang for the buck as portion was big for $7. I think we could have had this for a meal b/w the both of us for a light dinner. Fried rice cakes. Good chewy texture. Became monotonous. $7 Biggest problem I had was a lack of meat in my dishes above. I literally wanted to go over to the other side and get my self an order of meat balls or something. Service: excellent. attentive, helpful with dish selections Decor: nice and lots of attention to detail I would try this place again if some friends wanted to try some new flavors but not going to over my 300 minute plan to call grandma about this place.

    (3)

  • Tim C.

    This place is awesome Went here on a tuesday and it seems like we made it right before the dinner rush. The service was great, the waiter came by to refill our water many times which is always a huge plus. The ambience of the place is really cool! Its something you would expect to find in a trendy part of LA, not in Irvine. They have a great bar with some of my favorite beers, didn't order any but definitely would come here for a drink another time. We ordered loaded fries, kimchi pancake quesadillas and urban 3b. It was me and my girlfriend and that was more than enough food for the both of us. My favorite was definitely the Urban 3d. They give you this great sauce to put in it. It has a kick, but also tons of flavor. So great can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Dillian N.

    Pretty cool little joint. Kind of reminds me of downtown LA/SF/SD. Our initial order was messed up, but they quickly fixed it by giving us the correct order and letting us try the one that they messed up on. That was a nice gesture. Here's why I gave it 5 stars... 1. Service was good 2. Tacos were good. Other items was decent. 3. Hipster environment. Would definitely come back for tacos and soju only. 4. If everything we ordered was good, this would def be a 5. I'll update later. They barely open, so i'll give them time to adjust. Def has potential.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle P.

    Wanted an alternative to our usual Taco Tuesday, a few friends and I came here for dinner. Korean-style tapas in a cool, 'urban' space that made the atmosphere both casual yet refined. Reminds me of a food truck, but with many enjoyable perks: a place to sit (aside from a parking lot curb), a TV to watch the game, and a BATHROOM! Hallelujah. As far as the food, our kimchi pancake quesadilla, gogi sliders, spicy rice cakes, and bimbimbap were demolished amongst the three of us famished girls. Indecisive as I was, the manager Karis recommended (and ultimately decided) dishes for us to eat. She was extremely friendly and charming, so hopefully some of her allure rubs off on the other staff.

    (4)

  • Joanna B.

    We ended up coming her on a good day. Taco tuesday! All tacos are $1.50 a piece. Got 3 tacos, gogi, spicy chicken, and pork. All were tasty but the pork stood out the most. Crunchy pieces of pork meat with slaw and their special sauce. Also got to try their korean pancake quesadilla and elote. Both extremely delicious. Parking sucks and the restaurant is really small but I believe its worth the wait. I will for sure be back soon to try more of their menu.

    (5)

  • Tim Z.

    This place has a really awesome happy hour. $3 gogi quesadillas, $3 drumettes (tastes better when reheated) and $2 elote is all I need. But, my favorite dish has gotta be the pork belly tacos. It had really strong flavors that just mix together to create a perfect taco. The japchae mari could've used some substance inside though, plain rice noodles simply doesn't cut it. Ddukbokki was a little meh for me. The manager seemed pretty passionate about what he was doing and was walking around talking to customers. Parking in DJ is as expected; really awesome in a horrible way. kudos for having mexican coke :( no arepas doe

    (4)

  • Bao Q.

    I really like this place. The bimbimbap is really a must try. Also they have these loaded fries that are really good too. Cool place , cool ambiance , I give it 5 stars! It's delicious and unique

    (5)

  • DanVy N.

    Love this place! It's a change from AYCE korean bbq and tofu houses (although I am a fan of both). They have a lot of "small" portions, and by small I mean sharable! I suggest coming here and ordering multiple dishes to share. My friend and I got the kimchi pancake quesadillas, pork belly tacos, and the bulgogi bimbimbap. The kimchi pancake quesadillas were OK, a bit too cheesy for my taste and very filling. The pork belly was tasty!! Juicy and meaty and had a slight spicy kick to it. My favorite was the bulgogi bimbimbap tho. Probably one of the best bimbimbap I've ever had. I'm usually not a huge fan of veggies, but this was just the right mix of it! Also, I loved the purple rice as well - who knew healthy could taste so good (:

    (4)

  • Miri B.

    wooh~ finally!! Was here on a Tuesday evening and didn't expect Taco Tuesdays! and happy hour too when we arrived at 5pm. I ordered pork belly taco and beef taco, but the beef wasn't as good as pork belly. Then I ordered stir fried udon or something (Today's special menu I think), and itwas so delicious!! I can't wait to come back here again and try other dishes!

    (5)

  • Kelley R.

    Sometimes out of nowhere, I will get a sudden craving for Urban Seoul's Spicy Rice Cakes. I love this dish because it is extremley flavorful, perfectly spicy, fun to eat, and topped with two delicate quail eggs. They also give you a huge portion! and although I usually get full pretty fast, I can't resist eating it all. I'm a fan of their pork belly tacos, and their urban 3d bowls (with purple rice), but I can't stay away from the spicy rice cakes. The service is also really great. They're super fast and really nice. It's a very causal and cool atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Wally L.

    Love the kalbi and gogi sliders are good enough to repeat many time. .love this place among sea of Asian places to eat at diamond plaza.. I also had the chicken wings and ate off my kids Kimchi chorizo fried rise. All good. good prices and good taste.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    Great lunch spot in Diamond Plaza- minus battling traffic during noon. Park in the white structure behind. Modern, clean, and streamlined interior with an open-concept kitchen Bibimbap- delicious and prepared with brown rice! It's huge! Enough for two females to share for lunch but a bit greasy. Pork belly tacos- good combination of flavors - again greasy but expected. I originally gave the restaurant 4 stars- but later suffered - perhaps the mixture of flavors and the grease? The bar is a fun spot to sit at. Service is friendly and attentive.

    (3)

  • Johan M.

    If you're reading this right now and have not dined at Urban Seoul, please proceed to do this: Turn off your computer. Put on a coat. Grab your keys. Get in your car. Set the GPS towards the intersection of Alton and Jamboree. Start driving. Drive faster. Faster. FASTER. Get to the destination. Find Urban Seoul. EAT THERE. Urban Seoul isn't a Korean taco food truck without wheels, as many are beginning to comment, it is a innovative Korean fusion street food kitchen. The Kalbi slider is a brilliant recreation of a cross between a Korean version of a White Castle slider and an In-N-Out cheeseburger- bulgogi beef, caramelized onions and a secret sauce aided by the perfect crispy crunch of a spicy pickle in the middle. The Short rib arepas are also a one of a kind creation that could only be concocted by the geniuses at Urban Seoul. Marinated short rib meat inside a fried corn biscuit with pickled red onions, cojita cheese and this incredible green sauce served aside. The green sauce is what brings this dish to the next level. As to what causes the greenness, I am unaware of. I heard it was an avocado based cause, could be tomatillo, but no explanation is needed for deliciousness. The chicken lollipops are also perfect. Although the portion size is extremely small (about six smaller sized bones per order), the sauce that the drumsticks are tossed in is out of this world. If the intersection between the right amount of spicy and the right of sweetness existed, the sauce used on the chicken lollipops would be right in the center of this intersection. But please, add a few more drumsticks to the order. I don't want to go broke ordering chicken lollipops. Kalbi tacos and loaded fries which were also served that night were pretty good, but nothing as remarkable as the dishes listed above. Your average Korean street taco enhanced by a dash of cojita cheese and a Korean version of ballpark nachos. Money in my wallet and my waistline, please be prepared to relinquish yourself to Urban Seoul and do as they say. I will be back.

    (5)

  • Steph L.

    came here for weekday lunch Chicken Katsu Torta!!! oh so yummy ~ will definitely be coming back to try out other items line was really long so i ordered togo and still had to wait 15 min.

    (4)

  • Christiana C.

    Taco tuesday has become a lovely tradition among my friends. Warning-there is a waitlist as they lack seating if you come around the lunch rush

    (5)

  • Genise S.

    Super crowded, but another yummy place to eat at the Diamond Jamboree plaza. I in love with their happy hour menu. The wait can take forever, but is totally worth the wait. Small place and can get really loud in there. Friendly staff and great food will keep me a frequent visitor.

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    We enjoyed the garlic edamame, kimchee chorizo pork belly fried rice, kids cheeseburger slider and bibimbap with chicken. Everything was delicious. The hostess was nice and our waitress was friendly and gave great recommendations. The dessert - strawberry shaved snow was a perfect compliment to end the meal.

    (5)

  • Nat T.

    Food: 4 Service: 4 Got Kalbi sliders which were pretty good and the Curry Chicken Puffs which were mediocre. Overall taste was fine. But the servings were small for the price. But that's "fine dining" for you. Service was ok. Pretty busy night. They have a few tvs set to the Laker game, so that was nice.

    (4)

  • Christine J.

    Urban Seoul, you are are just what I was waiting for in Irvine. Korean Mexican fusion, or should I dare to say, Korexican or Morean fusion... whichever you prefer. The food is delicious! It comes out in little tapas style. Nothing else like it here. If it's your first time, I suggest you to order a few items off the menu and share with friends and see which ones you like. I got the Spicy Rice Cake and Pork Belly Tacos. Both YUMMM! My friends and I caught the Lakers v. Spurs game there tonight and had a blast! Ambiance is great. Very casual yet hip/trendy. The service is awesome! Everyone is inviting, warm, and helpful. Will go back!

    (5)

  • Jeff F.

    I'm very impressed by this restaurant! I've eaten at a few neo-Korean cuisine but this one really stands out. New flavors, new recipes. Not to mention an IMMACULATE bathroom. You don't see that everyday. LOL. I think this place is gourmet so be prepared to pay gourmet prices. Worth a try! You won't be disappointed. Be warned - the parking inside this square is bookoo CRAZY! Try and park by the H-Mart if you can. Good thing is that this square has a lot other good places you must try...but that's for another review. Cheers.

    (4)

  • Kymwei H.

    it is not too heavy compare to american food, I had a spicy tuna purple rice bowl, it's good but just feel they dump too much oil in it. Beside that tasty pretty good and refresh to me. Pork belly taco come with three small tacos, i only took a bit , taste good but hard to hold it. I like the mix fusion flavor. Price is a little bit expensive to me. Btw, because it is a open kitchen, you will smell like food after you get out here.

    (3)

  • Victoria S.

    Food is really good. I love it!! But a bit pricey for a small portion. One item doesn't fill me up so I always end up getting more. Parking can be difficult to find when the plaza gets busy

    (4)

  • Eric L.

    Decent Meal. Overall the meal was decent, but it wasn't too spectacular. The pricing was a little on the higher end (since it is a tapas restaurant, you probably need a few dishes to get full/satisfied). The service was great though Entrees: Kimchi Pancake Quesadilla - It was totally not what I was expecting, but it was probably the best dish I had during my visit here. (The sauce that was served with it was amazing). Pork Belly Tacos - I felt like the Pork Belly Tacos were over-hyped by other Chorizo Fried Rice - My friend, who tried this dish, seemed apathetic about it. I think he was expecting the dish to be amazing. I think this is a cool place to check out 1-2 times, but I think I wouldn't want to come here more then that.

    (3)

  • Shalini D.

    The food was pretty good, but nothing new. Ordered the Golbi Sliders and it was decent, but too salty for my taste. The Korean Burger was better, but once again it wasn't anything mind blowing. The Tacos were my favorite! Truly delicious and unique. The orange sauce was oh-so-good. The service was friendly. The girls who helped us were very sweet and definitely deserved their generous tip. The atmosphere overall was odd. I wanted to like it, but the chairs were so uncomfortable that it made eating my dinner literally a pain in my back. The urban paintings and the style really added to the ambiance so the pain was worth it. Would I come back? It's kind of up in the air. Not the best place, not the worst, but definitely a place to try at least once.

    (3)

  • Cherry F.

    This review might be a bit biased...only because my fiancé and I were quite the intoxicated duo during dinner. This type of Korean-American-Mexican-fusion cuisine is basically glorified bar food, aka food truck food. It was perfect for our little Drunkie Date Night. It might have been a bad idea to order bottles of soju before having food in our stomachs. OR it might have been the best idea in the world!!!!! We were obnoxiously loud, eyes bigger than our stomachs, ordering excess as usual. I ordered the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice and the Kimchi Pancake Quesadillas. He ordered the Gogi Sliders and Pork Belly Tacos. Everything was so overwhelming flavorful (mind you, we were quite drunk). We scarfed everything down except for the fried rice, which we took home since we were stuffed with so much salty goodness. My F's favorite was the Gogi Sliders. Mine was the Tacos. Scrumdidlyumptious. Next time, I'd like to try the Short Rib Arepas, Chicken Curry Puffs, and maybe some Loaded Pork Fries. Hmmm...maybe tonight?

    (4)

  • Irene I.

    This isn't The French Laundry, people. It's funny how some of the reviewers expect a gourmet meal, but you have to judge it for what it is. It's tasty Korean-fusion bar food. The kalbi burger is delicious, but the ddukbokki was too sugary. If they held back on the sugar and made it a tad more spicy, it would have been more enjoyable. I do like that they fry the little pieces of dduk (or rice cake), though. Other winners include the quesadilla and the bibimbap. Not digging the plastic cups - wish it were more eco-friendly. Since it's a pretty casual atmosphere, maybe they can give each table their own pitcher of water. That way, the staff can focus on taking orders and serving their patrons the delectable Korean-inspired treats. You can tell that the staff is excited for Urban Seoul. Hope the energy translates into long-term success!

    (4)

  • C. C.

    Nestled amid all the shops, restaurants and cafes in the Diamond Plaza is this gem of a restaurant, and it's probably better than most of them. My fiancee and I have repeatedly come back to this place since we discovered it several months ago. I've had Asian/Mexican fusion before, but the flavors here are so good, and the dishes are so well thought out and made. Just about everything we've ordered (and we've ordered pretty much everything on the menu) we've really liked. Highly recommended. Our favorites include the kimchi quesadilla, arepas, gogi sliders, and chorizo fried rice. But honestly, most everything here is good.

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    I was a bit hesitant walking into this place because it was empty when all the surrounding restaurants were full. It turned out to be not bad. The place looked nice and the staff very friendly and accommodating. The food portions are pretty big, here's what we got: Kimchi Fried Rice: 4, the pork made this sooo much better. the bottom of the rice was crispy. the only thing that would've made this better would be more kimchi, more spicy Loaded Fries: 3, who doesn't like criss-cut fries?? there was a ton of topping on it which made the fries soggy, which i dunno if it's a good or bad thing. Pork sliders: 1, i forgot what it was called. it was the pork sliders. it tasted like a mcdonalds cheeseburger...an expensive one. Pork Belly Tacos: 3, the pork belly used in this is different because it wasn't the big slabs of pork belly one might be used to. they were small chopped up pieces that were deep fried. that made this good, but i've had better.

    (3)

  • Eric S.

    What a great new spin on my Taco Tuesdays! Located in that parking situation from hell called Diamond Jamboree Plaza, its a small sit down spot, one of the smallest in the plaza. Yet don't be fooled, it gets packed real fast, especially on a Tuesday night! My girlfriend and I ordered the pork belly tacos and the spicy pork tacos. We also shared an order of the chorizo fried rice. The tacos came in 3's for $1.50 each on the Taco Tuesday deal, which is a steal. Pork belly tacos - they were delicious and worth the $1.50 deal! I had to eat a second helping, reminded be of the regular bulgolgi marinade at KBBQ. Spicy pork tacos - Not as great compared to the pork belly tacos, but not bad at all. The spice adds to the flavor and just added fuel for my appetite, so to speak. Chorizo fried rice - I wouldn't go out of my way to order only this dish, but it was a pretty interesting mix of flavors. It definitely had a Asian/Mexican fusion in its taste. The slices of sweet onions/radish? were the cherry on top, they made the dish work. Its a fusion dish that successfully combined two different flavors of two different cultures without blowing me away at the same time. Place has some packed hours and the service can get very busy at the same time, but I recommend that anyone going here during happy hour (5-7PM) on a Tuesday will not be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Christine J.

    OMGOSH This place is such a gem. I didn't know about this place til couple weeks ago when i was browsing on yelp for high reviews and it popped up. It's located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza right next to the PHO place and kicking crab. I haven't tried all the stuff on the menu yet but from what i've tried I love them all. I already came back twice and plan to come back more often it's very close to where i live. Must get: -Kimchi Quesadilla -Kimchi Fried Rice -Short Rib Sampler -Curry Puff

    (5)

  • Ike E.

    I wanted to try out a new place in the busy Diamond Jamboree plaza & decided to go for this! Better than my expectations! It was absolutely delicious. Sometimes I don't like Asian fusion very much, but everything was very good. The service was very friendly and the environment was very chic. Our favorite was the japchee! Very delicious and a good price. We will come again!

    (5)

  • Kristin B.

    Urban Seoul is a great addition to the diamond jamboree plaza. its a small space located not in the main block of restaurants with 85C but rather in the smaller strip mall across the parking lot where kicking crab and bon epi are located. seating is mostly at a long bar or a few communal tables. when Justin B and i stopped in for dinner on a Monday night, the place was fairly crowded but we were able to get bar seats right away. service was pretty good throughout our meal and in fact, it seemed like they were overstaffed which i guess isnt a bad thing for guests haha. the food is a korean/mexican fusion a la the kogi truck but its done really well! dishes are tapas style so its best to order a few different things and share. we ordered the chicken katsu torta (essentially served as a slider with chicken katsu, katsu sauce, refried beans, tomato, lettuce), pork belly tacos, gogi sliders, and loaded fries (skinny fries topped with cheese and pork). my faves were the chicken katsu torta cuz surprisingly the combination of katsu and refried beans worked for me and the pork belly tacos which i was told is their best seller so its a must try. oh and they do have beer on tap (shock top, budlight, stella, blue moon) plus soju haha. each dish is in the $6-8 range so dinner for me and Justin B. cost us about $30 but we were so full when we left! was dying to try their chorizo fried rice but unfortunately they were out of it when we came so will back to try that and the rest of their menu haha

    (4)

  • Calvin M.

    Came in yesterday for the pork belly tacos, the Gogi Sliders and the kimchi fried rice. They were all short of amazing. Service was super friendly. The atmosphere is young and hip. The decor has an urban hiphop vibe to it. All great things. The place has an open kitchen area with bar seating around it. I liked this a lot. Overall this place is a great hip place. I need to go back to try everything on the menu.

    (5)

  • Jules H.

    The menu is a mouthwatering fusion of Korean, Mexican, and definitively LA street food. I would call it finger food for the epicurean. I wanted to try them all, but I could only get my little hands on 4 dishes. Highlights : Bulgogi sliders come with an unexpectedly refreshing crunchy sweet and spicy, and melt in your mouth at the same time. Sesame seeds! YUMMM on the pork belly tacos- decorative and adds a toasty goodness that just gets lost in translation. Spicy pork arepas and the green yogurt sauce! (definitely need to get that one again.) Reminded me of Bin-Dae dduk in a strange and comforting way. Chicken Lollipops with crisp white cubes of moo :D- a childhood fave that can't go wrong... Everything just sort of disappears from your plate before you know it

    (5)

  • D G.

    Loved the tapas fusion of foods. Appreciate how the exploration of flavors are being pursued with passion at Urban Seoul.

    (5)

  • PJ J.

    Trying to decide? Ummmmmm....YES, eat here! I actually want to add a star to the rating. After perusing no less than 10 restaurants in Jamboree Plaza, I decided on this restaurant because it had bimbimbap at a reasonable price and looked like a friendly place to dine solo. My expectations were EXCEEDED. I told them about my dietary restrictions (low-sodium) and was not prepared for their accommodations.. I ended up with a bimbimbap with plenty of fresh veggies and full of taste. I don't even live in the area, and I know this is one of my favorite new places to return to. The only thing better than the food was the staff. VERY friendly, attentive, and just all around excellent people. This place is awesome. So happy to have found Urban Seoul!!

    (5)

  • Julia O.

    Mmm tasty!! I love the Kimichi Quesadilla and the Pork Belly Tacos!! The Kimchi Quesadilla had lots of cheese, chicken and the perfect amount of Kimchi, topped with Kimchi sour cream. The sour cream has a light Kimchi flavor and blends very well with the quesadilla. I devoured the Pork Belly Tacos, they were combined with the right amount of sauce, lettuce and cheese. The big chunks of pork belly was amazing. Definitely must try this place!

    (4)

  • Michelle R.

    This place is soooo good. My coworkers and I crave it for lunch. Try the pork belly tacos - you won't be disappointed. I've had the tacos, quesadilla and loaded fries on different visits and enjoyed it all. Unfortunately, it isn't very healthy so the last time I got the bibimbap instead which was great. I highly recommend checking out Urban Seoul. Well, I kind of do. The parking can be terrible at times so maybe I don't want you to go there. Just kidding. ;-)

    (5)

  • Mia L.

    This is my first and last time with Korean fushion. It left a confusing taste in my mouth. Chicken katsu sandwich - big, runny, better if no egg Loaded fries - just okay, small pieces of meat, would be better if thick instead of crisscut Curry puffs - gross, should be taken off the menu Gogi sliders - bf liked it Small place so the server should've been attentive. Kept reminding her to refill my water. I should've stuck with a traditional korean restaurant.

    (2)

  • Reema H.

    Such a cool vibe. A little bit of Costa Mesa in Irvine. Cool hangout for professionals and hipsters. I'd chill here for awhile.

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    I love this place! The atmosphere is pretty chill and the staff is friendly and not overbearing. Although the food seems like simple bar food, it is actually quite creative and delightful in its simplicity. Order: Fried Kimchi Rice--a good portion, enough for two people. A little bit oily but it is to be expected when deep fry the pork belly, right? All in all, it was a good dish, definitely try. Loaded Fries--the meat on top of these fries were sweet and maybe the best part of the dish. The fries are criss-cut, they were a bit soggy because of all garnish on top, so get to this quickly! Pork Belly Tacos--delicious! A must order The only downside is that the plaza that it is located in, gets kind of hectic, so parking can be kind of frustrating to find. I suggest coming for lunch or just coming earlier in general for dinner. I will definitely come back if I am in the area!

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Ordered the chorizo kimchi fried rice bowl, which to me seemed like an homage to Chego in Chinatown. The flavors were quite good and, as many others have figured out by now, a runny egg suits the fried rice very well. Downside is I ended up paying $15.99 for a lunch rice bowl (w/ tax and tip). I'd venture to say it was a 5-star dish, but the price is a bit higher than what I'd pay at Chego when I worked downtown. (and, truthfully, Chego is a bit better). Would have certainly given the restaurant a higher rating had the prices been a bit more friendly on the wallet.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    I'm not a huge fan of fusion tacos. Especially Asian fusion tacos. I've had Korean fusion before and it always left me craving the real deal so I never really had any interest in trying Urban Seoul but their Taco Tuesday deal sounded good (1 taco= $1.75). I met my friend here one night with my little sister and the service was very friendly and efficient. I think the decor is a little cold though and could be a little less bar like. It does get kind of crowded at night so I suggest coming a little bit earlier or choose to dine outside the restaurant. Between the three of us, we ordered the loaded Waffle Fries, Bibimbap, and three of their tacos (pork belly, chicken, and gogi). The waffle fries were actually delicious. Crispy waffle fries covered with spicy pork, cheese sauce, green onions, jalapeños, queso fresco, cilantro, and pickled red onions. Not too greasy and was the perfect side to some beer. The tacos were a little more mediocre. Out of the three, my favorite was the pork belly. All three of them came with your choice of meat, lettuce, kimchi, queso fresco, gochujang aioli, and their house hot sauce. The tacos are a little too greasy and too messy for me to eat. And honestly their chicken and gogi tacos tasted pretty much the same. My friend's bibimbap was pretty good. A little too sweet for my personal taste but they were heavy handed with their vegetables which I greatly appreciated. It comes with your choice of meat, shredded lettuce, egg, red cabbage, radish, carrots and fried onions. Overall, I could see the appeal. It's quick, it's hot, and sometimes what you need to eat is a greasy food. It's definitely not light or healthy in any way so come when you want to stuff yourself with some bad food. 3/5

    (3)

  • Russell R.

    Found this place by accident. Loved everything we ordered. Gogi sliders. Kalbi sliders. Hawaiian style toasted buns. Amazing waffle fries. Real hecho en Mexico fanta, sprite and coke. It wasn't just good it was memorable. We will definitely be returning. Only one teeny tiny complaint. Ordered the slider specials and probably will again but apparently it is taco Tuesday night and it wasn't posted on the specials board. Problem is I won't be here on Tuesday next week. All of this at $10 per person I would recommend this place to any and every one.

    (5)

  • Andrew L.

    Came here for lunch on Taco Tuesday ($1.75/taco). I ordered each meat taco and I would rank the meats as follows: 1) Pork Belly 2) Spicy Pork 3) Gogi 4) Chicken The tacos are Korean fusion style. They are medium sized and have decent flavor and a little bit of spiciness. Bottom line: worth a try, fairly inexpensive on Tuesdays. A different take on tacos and that some people love. Note: Gratuity included for parties 6 or more.

    (3)

  • Be K.

    I came in, expecting actual Korean food, but it turned out to be Korean fusion; I've had K-fusion before from a food truck which was really fantastic, so my expectations shifted. It's a nice space with a casual-bar type of ambiance. I had the happy hour stuff with special priced quesadillas and loaded fries. The quesadillas were good with Korean bbq inside a tortilla that had cheese grilled on the surface. The fries were just ok. Nothing too special--those large crisscross fries smothered nacho cheese and some bbq. If I really liked the food, I would have eaten everything in one sitting, but I had two quesadillas and most of the fries left over. I asked for a box, and the waiter gave me one measly little box that could barely stuff the fries in. Really? Anyway I might give this place another go and get the regular food. But from what I got it's just eh.

    (3)

  • Kevin O.

    This is the first time I've been here and I can see that they have the best customer service ever. The servers are very sociable and they check up on you every now and then. I think it is the best to eat at the bar because if the servers see anything wrong with your food, they will immediately give you compensation for whatever is wrong with your food. An example is when my friend got the stir fried udon and then he found plastic in his meal (my friend didn't even think of it as a big deal or anything either, he just took it out of his bowl and onto his napkin) and then the servers noticed and immediately apologized for it. They then gave my friend free churros AND free loaded fries! Really amazing service and the food taste AMAZING. Everyone working there seem like they get along very well too; they communicate well and work together. I love these guys and for sure I'm going to come back for more later on, mainly for the service.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Out of tower that read the massive amount of reviews and had to try it. Sat down at the bar top area ordered a beer and observed. Great looking plates being served. Happy customers. 3 sips into my beer and I am given a complementary gogi slider. It was delicious. At the going price it was well worth it. For free, it was amazing. Great way to treat a random out of towner sitting at your bar. Got the Kimchi pancake quesadilla with pork belly. It was outstanding. Large portion for the price. I wish I was still hungry, because there are a few more items I want to try. Will definitely hit one more time before leaving town. And when I come back.

    (5)

  • Dennis L.

    First time here today! Ordered the loaded fries, 3 pork belly tacos, and kalbi burgers Wow delicious!! Loaded fries were so good. I love the idea of having cheese and jalapeños together. The tacos were delicious as well. Burger was superb!! The only downfall is that there's so much oil and grease on the buns for my burger. I ended up not being able to hold it with my hands so I had to use a fork. The tacos were good too but oil would drip like crazy while eating them. The place is loud and somewhat small (no tables were available tonight so there was a short wait (630pm on a Friday night) Anyway everyone should go check it out. Definitely get the burger or the tacos!!

    (4)

  • Clara Y.

    This place has an awesome theme but i wasn't too impressed with the taste of the dishes. When I looked at the menu I wanted to try everything because the Korean fusion dishes looked so intriguing! I decided to get the most bang for my buck by getting the $10.50 bibimbap (B3). I chose bulgogi as my meat and picked purple rice (over white). The presentation of the dish was beautiful. The colors of the veggies really popped against the black bowl and there was more vegetable to rice ratio (which i like). I mixed the watery red sauce and poached egg they gave us and gave it a try. It wasn't all that great. The veggies watered down the dish along with the spicy red sauce. The dish definitely needed more sesame oil and gochujang (red pepper paste) to salvage the texture and heighten the lacking flavor. When i asked for it, they had no idea what I was talking about. What a disappointment. As a korean, i cannot fathom eating bibimbap without gochujang. So this already watered down dish was a lowkey disaster for me. I would not get it again. If I could go back in time, I would choose the chimichangas. They were so delicious and tender and the meat was very succulent. My ragrets. The bulgogi sliders were also tender and flavorful. Concept is great, food is meh. Waiters were very nice, but none were korean so I was sketched by how "korean"-fusion this place was.

    (3)

  • Jeanie L.

    The food here is pretty standard for Mexican-Korean fusion. I still like to compare this type of fusion food to my flavors from the Kogi truck (Kogi will always have a special place in my heart). Where do I begin? Tables were kind of full, so my sister and I happily took seats at the bar. We made it in time for happy hour and got the drummettes (honey-bbq wings) and also quesadilla. I also ordered the Kalbi burger, hoping this burger would be unique and hold up to the menu description. Cool part about ordering today I guess they had their strawberry mint lemonade on sale as well, they gave us a 32 oz, along with waffle fries in addition to the burger for an additional $3. Not bad, I decided to add that on. Finally the drummettes come out, nothing special. Very similar to honey bbq chicken wings actually. Good part was that it was sweet, texture was semi crunchy, but chicken meat was on the drier side. It really needed a kick of chili or something on that sauce, but the flavor and presentation was mediocre. Finally dove into the quesadilla, outside of the tortilla had that burnt, crunchy texture, which was strangely satisfying and didn't taste burnt at all. The cheese they used was actually not bad and they had some shredded beef inside. Also was OK, but nothing really stood out about it. They had this pink dipping sauce that accompanied the quesadilla...I wasn't so sure what it was made of but it reminded me of pink mayo. Finally got the kalbi burger and I expected one burger, but it came out as two small/med sized burgers with a side of waffle fries. The fries were on the oilier side, but really had a nice texture to them. The burger was again, ok, more on the sweeter side. The bun didn't hold up too well because it became soggier as you continued to hold your burger. I could barely, I mean barely, taste the kimchi, which I thought would give it a good flavor. I was kind of disappointed,it just literally tasted like an American burger than a fusion. I guess if you like sweet burgers you'd like this one. I didn't get to try the tacos, so I would definitely make a trip back during Taco Tuesday to see how they stack against Kogi's tacos. Service was ok.

    (3)

  • Ross S.

    The food was great and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They truly have urban and new food that j have never tried and it was delicious. Great happy hour specials and taco Tuesday. Will definitely be going back. Recommend this place to anyone who is interested in trying something new. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Marcus X.

    I have been here twice now. The food is moderately priced, the atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and the staff are all pretty friendly. Their food is not the best in the world, but it's not a bad way to spend $5-to-$15 USD. Happy Hour (21:30+) menu adjusts over time. All options are, if I remember, around $5 dollars. A solid 4.2.

    (4)

  • Uyen P.

    Food is 3 stars and service is 5 stars. A few of my friends decided to give this place a try after reading all the wonderful reviews on yelp. Between the 4 of us we ordered: 1. pork belly tacos - crispy and seasoned welled 2. loaded fries - crisscut fries topped with cheese and meat and other things. really difficult to go wrong with fries 3. stir-fried udon - not super greasy, nicely seasoned 4. Gogi sliders - lots of bulgogi and crispy fried onions on a roll Overall, the food was decent. I would come back if my friends really wanted to go but otherwise, I'm not dying to come back.

    (4)

  • Chowder K.

    This place is out of this world! Creative and great food and set up. Excellent service. They pulled off fusionized Korean staple very creatively. Must must try! Every walks of life can come and enjoy. Good learning experience.

    (5)

  • Titi L.

    Hipster vibe and nice customer service. BUT execution was off on flavor and presentation. Garlic edamame was sad looking in color and too mild with flavor (Tokyo Table has killer garlic edamame). Spicy Tuna Bibimbap with purple rice was lackluster - the spicy tuna was wrong in consistency and texture. It was like a cold creamed paste with hot sauce. Where is the fish?! And where is the stone bowl with the crunchy cooked rice on the bottom? The purple rice was just served in a plastic bowl. The cotija corn was not fresh off the cob, the kernels were puckered and chewy like they had been frozen. Unfortunately we won't be coming back.

    (2)

  • Kim C.

    Came in around 2pm on a Saturday with my brother. We had: -Elote, so tasty that my brother who doesn't like mayo gobbled it down -Gogi quesadillas, which were the best. Sweet and savory and not overwhelmingly cheesy -Spicy pork flauta, which were only a little spicy - Cantelope fresca, which was huge and sweet -Churros, with an orange-ginger marmalade. They were warm and crisp and absolutely delicious end to this fun meal The service was nice too and great ambience (they played Latin tunes). They have actual Mexican coke! Defintely coming back, especially for that gogi. ^_^

    (5)

  • Mark V.

    Great Korean / Mexican fusion place. Get there right at 5:00 or you will be waiting. I can highly recommend all of the tacos and happy hour items, especially the signature Gogi tacos - a perfect blend of spicy beef, cheese and kimchi. Same goes for the Gogi quesadilla. The Elote (street corn) is a perfect reproduction of what you get on the street in Puerto Vallarta. My daughter ordered stir fried udon off the regular menu which came with a soft fried egg on top and enough veggies and noodles to feed two kids her size - even so she managed to mow through three fourths of it. Now the one bad - an 18% gratuity added to the bill for our party of six, which is A) irritating and, B) illegal in the state of California. I would have gladly tipped 20% if they hadn't automatically added that gratuity line (and upped my review to five stars). Still - it's worth the drive. Maybe.

    (4)

  • Tiffany V.

    I could eat their pork belly tacos ALL DAY ERR DAY!! These beautimous tacos come with crispy fried pieces of pork belly meat, crunchy cabbage, a sprinklin of black sesame seeds, a drizzle of queso, a dash of feta (?) cheese, and who knows what else but it is a Korean and Mexican party in your mouth. I crave these every day :o( The boo likes their kimchi fried rice (rice is a lil mushy for me though, and not enough kimchi bits but the taste overall is great) . I've also tried their kalbi burger and gogi sliders, and they were pretty bomb diggity too! Sliders are betta doe. Their loaded fries are delish but next time I'd ask for dat extra cheese, mang. Long story short: Freakin pork belly tacos. Loaded fries with extra cheese. Gogi sliders. Amazeballs.

    (5)

  • Andy V.

    Went here for the first time after being bummed the buffalo place closed down. Fortunately, I came during taco Tuesday. The tacos were pretty good. My favorite were the pork belly tacos reminded me of carnitas that weren't pulled apart. The downside to the tacos were that they all slightly tasted the same maybe it was bc they use the same sauces. The kimchi quesadillas were really good, I enjoyed them a lot. The drumettes were decent, I think I would enjoy them more if they were spicier. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the prices for happy hour and taco Tuesday was great for a first time try.

    (3)

  • Aziz A.

    Good food, nice environment but bad service. It's a shame that the service doesn't match the food. It took an hour at this place trying to get a sandwich! Other customers ordered after me got their orders at least 10 mins before me! Clearly the waiter messed up the order and denied it when confronted, simple apology would've been sufficient. Advice to customers: food is great, order pick-up, or just don't go there on rush hour. Advice to management: this restaurant doesn't need a table service, lines are a good proven system for fast food restaurants, learn something from the other thousands restaurants in your category.

    (2)

  • Matthew G.

    It was my first time here, and I was satisfied with my meal. I had the spicy pork bibimbap and it was really good! The place was really poppin around the time I went so the food was pretty fresh. The menu consists of a Korean-Mexican fusion; each dish is a combination of a Korean and a Mexican dish. I would recommend this place to my friends because of the uniqueness of the menu and the quality of the ingredients.

    (4)

  • Vivian V.

    I love this place, I really do, but it's located in one of THE WORST shopping centers so be prepared to shark it out for a parking spot. Don't let that deter you though because it's totally worth all the trouble. Obviously I recommend Taco Tuesday. My bf and I got 6 tacos and 2 beers for $24 (not including tip). Like everyone else, I highly recommend their pork belly tacos. Their tofu tacos are good if you are looking for something on the 'lighter' side. Their soju is also 50% on TT.. Not sure if that's a daily happy hour deal (it's been a while). It's basically like Korean vodka... Regular vodka and I already don't get along so I, personally, need a mixer for hard alcohol. I'd recommend getting a Calpico to mix with your soju if you aren't partial to the taste. You can't taste the soju at ALL. That being said, consume responsibly. Only downside is that it causes some gnarly hangovers if you have too much. Worth it? You decide. The only mild issue I could see was that that they seemed a little frazzled last time I went in. Although, they also seemed mildly understaffed that day and as a waitress myself... I know that feel bro. Props because they were STILL able to do a rockstar job at serving good food and crisp beer despite being slammed. If you don't tacos, I also recommend the kimchi fried rice... But only if you haven't eaten all day because that bowl is VERY big and VERY deep haha. Good, hearty portion sizes and good drinks? What else could you want out of a restaurant?! Oh, and of course, don't forget to tip :)

    (5)

  • Rachel Ann C.

    This spot doesn't seem to belong in the Diamond Jamboree plaza. It seems to be going for the more modern "hipster" vibe as compared to DJ's normal sweet and bubbly spots. But, I have to say that I am so glad this restaurant is here! I was able to go on Taco Tuesday, in which all their tacos are only $1.50 each. They offer Chicken, Gogi, Pork Belly, or Spicy Pork Tacos, and they are all SO worth it. The tacos themselves were small but packed with a lot of stuff to make it worth the $1.50 (SO CHEAP). Only $6 for 4 full tacos?! (I to-goed, of course.) Their other regular menu options were a little steep, but, for an Asian Fusion/Korean tapas place, you seem to be getting what you are paying for. Overall, their menu reminded me almost of a food truck menu. It has heavy, greasy, meaty, experimental food-trucky kind of food. For me, the tacos were both flavorful and light enough to satisfy my appetite. Plus, the whole place is set up nicely with an open bar/kitchen area and a friendly, cool staff. I'd definitely love to come here again.

    (4)

  • Mary F.

    I'm not from the area and was looking for some great fusion. I used the powers of the interwebs to find some good eats and was mesmerized by the pictures of yum. Alas, I feel mislead. Service wasn't great. I ordered over the phone, and the gentleman who took my to-go order acted like it was more of a burden than anything else. I was really excited for the food, but it turned out to be waaaay too greasy. Like, greasier than what was expected from fried rice and pork belly. That greasy. Great concept, sub-par excecution .

    (2)

  • Hannah Y.

    If I want Korean food, I go to my mother's. But if I want a modern kick and a twist compared to my mother's traditional cooking. I prefer Urban Seoul! We had our hearts set to the OC Night market, but due to the immense crowd and its family reunion for every individual of Orange County, we were one of the unlucky ones to make it in. A sheer disappointment to be quite frank with you, however, Jamboree is practically OC Night market without the nightmare of terrible drivers and running into old classmates so we came to try Urban Seoul that I've walked by plenty of times during my 85* Bakery runs. Seating is a bit limited, and quite crowded, but it was during dinner hour so I suppose it was expected nonetheless. I wasn't too fond of feeling a little cramped with the guests next to me, but we were seated quickly. Due to the many options, it was a little difficult to figure out what exactly I wanted to try. Many of the food items are street style food, so we decided to try three things; the spicy tuna bibimbap (my favourite!), the bulgogi sliders, and the elote, mm!. We certainly made the right choices with each dish because we devoured everything; it was more than phenomenal. Bibimbap is a Korean favourite, but their alteration of bibimbap with added crispy onions, forbidden rice, and radishes made the dish pop from the rest. This dish is an instant favourite! The bulgogi was exceptional; my friend liked the taste of these out of everything. The elote here however was the first time I ever had an elote, and wow, I am quite a fan. I was able to eat the entire elote to myself! I rarely eat Korean food outside of my mother's home, but Urban Seoul is an exception. The dishes I tried were fantastic, I suggest others to try the same x

    (5)

  • Addison Y.

    Urban Seoul is a great down to earth place with amazing Mexican/Asian fusion. My personal favorite are the tacos and elotes. I come here most of times with coworkers, grab couple of bottle of sojus and just drown ourselves in tacos every tuesday. It's a great place with great food and great atmosphere. I highly recommend everyone around the area to try the food here.

    (5)

  • Somer S.

    Overall excellent. The food was very good, the service was amazing. The ambiance was very urban and cool. I wasn't crazy for my food but I liked it. I got the kimchi fried rice dish which was really good but I personally do not like kimchi that is why I wasn't crazy over it. My friends got the udon and I tried it and that was pretty good. The sweet potato fries were excellent. I'll definitely be back but I'll definitely try something different

    (5)

  • Monica N.

    First time at Urban Seoul and I was satisfied! Walked in and was well greeted and didn't even realize we hit happy hour as well :) The price was very reasonable for the quality and quantity for our orders. My boyfriend and I ordered the bulgolgi sliders, which were really big for a slider! I love how they put kimchee in there. -Pork belly tacos, came in 3 pieces but very well made and stuffed. -Loaded fries, were huge! Criss cut fries, cheese and bulgolgi etc!! -And some pancake quesadilla and some wings. Everything came out to be $30 We are definitely coming back

    (5)

  • Nina R.

    The tacos!!! WOW!! I loved the pork belly tacos, the kimchi with the sauce OH MYYYY!! SO good... First time for me last night, I will say that I was expecting the elote on the cob, and was pretty disappointed when I realized it was canned corn... meh, wont order that again but I can't wait to try to bimbhbimpap or whatever its called! it sounds amazing with the poached egg and also I cant wait to try to Spicy Pork Torta... soooo looking forward to updating my review, gave it 4 stars SIMPLY b/c the corn was disappointing. ALSO service is great, I asked my roomie, who I went with, what the bimpbimphpap was and she was saying it was like noodles or something and one of the servers politely interrupted to properly explain what it was and now I cant wait to try it. Also pretty good selection of beer, I spend a lot of time in craft brewery heaven (aka San Diego) and they had my favorite brewery on tap (Alesmith) so big thumbs up for that one!!

    (4)

  • Linda N.

    I must have had high expectations here based on the other yelp reviews. because my expectations were shot down. The food looked pretty on the eyes. I got the pork belly tacos, and the meat was dry and it was overly salty and too spicy. The Elotes were good but who can mess those up? Loaded fries were huge! but they were just Meh. Service was attentive but the food came out slower. Sorry Don't think I'll ever be back here.

    (2)

  • Ashley W.

    I came here for taco tuesday and ordered a pork belly taco & a spicy pork and bleh I really don't see what's so great about it. I mean don't get me wrong it's not that I DON'T like korean tacos (I like kogi truck) but I don't think urban seoul's is good at all. The pork belly was dry and hard and the spicy pork was a tad bit better but still suckish LOL idk what the hype is because my friends all love it but I just think that it's an overly crowded restaurant that really shouldn't be LOL Fusing korean and mexican food is getting old and idk this place is just not cuttin it for me

    (2)

  • Michelle H.

    Really incredible korean/mexican fusion restaurant that serves bomb food at BOMB prices. Urban Seoul is located inside of Diamond Jamboree in the smaller centers just across the way from the large building where BCD and 85 degrees are. The restaurant is pretty small and can probably only fit 20-25 at the most. The decor/ambiance is very urban and I will say that the seating is not very comfortable because the tables are small and the seats are literally made of metal... No padding... Nada. The food really shines though. My friend and I were here for our weekly dinner and ordered a bunch of really awesome food from their happy hour menu and regular menu. We were able to get: -Gogi Tacos (FINGER LICKING GOOD, but small) -Loaded Fries (PERFECTION... Salty, creamy, a little bit sweet and sour... SO YUM) -Wings (I need to get back here to eat more of these delectable morsels!) -Kimchi Quesadilla (Just a genius idea) The food was delicious and I washed it all down with their house drink of the day... Watermelon Lemonade! It was refreshing and not too sweet and came in a huge big gulp sized cup! Pros: -Amazing Food -REALLY nice staff -GREAT PRICES Cons: -Seating is cramped/uncomfortable Tips: -Come before 6 to avoid the crowds and order from the HH menu! :)

    (4)

  • Vicky M.

    PORK BELLY AND GOGI TACOS FOR $1.75 ON TUESDAYS! *Plus 50% off Soju (not recommended for the 9-5 work schedule lol) Flavorful tacos with a delectable sauce to top it off! Most taco lovers are head over heels for the Ave 26 Taco Stand in Lincoln Heights or the tacos straight from the Kogi Truck, but these tacos.... I have to give it to them, they were mouthwateringly good! Definitely coming back here on Tuesdays more often!

    (5)

  • Tom C.

    Urban Seoul located in the busy Jamboree Plaza. The first thing that stuck out to me is the hospitality the staff shows at this restaurant. They are SO friendly and very accommodating. This is definitely one of the strengths of this restaurant. I really like the food they served here. I had the Kalbi burger and the pork belly tacos. If you are a burger fan, try the kalbi burger it's a different twist from a traditional one. Especially with the marinated meat Korean style! The hamburger buns were really soft. The pork belly taco threw me off. I was literally thinking samgyupsal cooked in a corn taco but they fried it so it has a crispy crunch to it. I think I would like the regular pork belly better but it's still good. I would definitely recommend Urban Seoul. I want to come back and try the other food items in this place!

    (4)

  • S T.

    Disappointed :( I like the one in Irvine Spectrum much better.

    (2)

  • Eva L.

    I've always been a huge fan of fusion food of ANYTHING! Korean-Mexican fusion is definitely one of my favs and I'm so excited that I finally got the chance to check this place out. If you don't know what to order, then try their pork belly tacos ($7.50). Hands down, it's the best thing there. Your order comes with 3 tacos topped with shredded cabbage, lettuce, cheese, and other yummy ingredients. I love the pork belly, as it is diced into nice little cubes. They totally pop in your mouth! Nom nom nom! The service here is friendly and this place can get really busy during lunch hours. Would I come here again? Of course! I still have yet to try some other stuff on their menu. =)

    (4)

  • Jonny C.

    I'm a big fan of fusion food! This place has the mix of Korean and Latin... Gotta love it! We sat right at the bar so we can catch some of the action. We were noticing the chef training a new staff member. We ordered the pork belly tacos, gogi fries, arepas and elote. The fave has got to be the tacos! That pork belly was great! I wish the tortillas were toasted up a bit more. The gogi fries were yum as well, the criss cross fries are crispy and the gogi or I'm assuming is bulgogi, was marinated well. It seems to have a bit of a twist from the traditional marinade, a citrus of some sort. Must be the fusion side. the elote was off the cob and was pretty good, I def love the roasted corn. The arepas were interesting, it was different from what I was expecting. The arepa itself was a bit more fried but had a pretty good crunch and fluff in the middle. It was a cool twist on the food. To was it all down, I had a watermelon lemonade. It was refreshing and not too sweet which is a great sign it was made in house. Overall pretty satisfied.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    Always great service at this establishment. Although the parking situation could be better, it doesn't stop me from making the trek to the plaza to grab some pork belly tacos. I wish that they would bring back their seasonal mint and watermelon drink. It is def something to yelp about.

    (5)

  • Cat N.

    I've been here a total of four times and I have not been let down. Brian makes it worth the wait, every time. He is consistent and prepares food with a passion. I purposely come on the days that he is cooking and sit at the bar to watch. Today, he pulled out the big guns with his latest creation.... Chicken verde tacos. We usually order: 1. Kimchee quesadilla 2. Loaded fries 3. Elote 4. Chorizo fried rice 5. Tofu tacos 6. Pork belly tacos Omg, yum!!! I loooove this place. If you go on taco Tuesdays the tacos are cheap! I also like their churros, they're as good as Disneyland's. Another thing they have that I don't see often is pineapple Fanta! I highly recommend trying this place out. Cheers!

    (5)

  • Karissa G.

    First timer! I went during happy hour with my friend. I tried the Elote ($3), which was okay. Just needs more flavor. I also got the pork belly tacos ($8.95), which tasted great! I wouldn't mind getting that again if I was in the area.

    (4)

  • Rafael D.

    Taco tuesday is ideal for this spot. They have $1.50 tacos, korean tacos to be exact. I know that $1.50 for tacos sounds a bit much but honestly the tacos are pretty bomb. Normal price for their tacos run up close to $5 i think. Looking at their menu, you'll notice that the price is a bit up from normal. Got to try out all their tacos ( fatty, I know). Pork belly, Bulgogi, Spicy Pork and Tofu. Probably my favorite taco was their Pork Belly tacos. The rest are good but the other one that stood out was their Spicy Pork. Beware for they do have a kick and are really spicy if you're weak sauce for spicy. Small tortillas, oily and full of toppings on top, tacos done right. The other two dishes we managed to try were the Japchae Mari ( tempura fried seaweed noodle rolls) and their Spicy Pork Arepas. The Japchae Mari was tasty. Small appetizer that comes with a sweet sauce over. Pretty simple, nothing crazy with flavor. The Spicy Pork Arepas were pretty bomb. They are made from fried masa, or dough bun type ( hard to explain if you never had an Arepa before, from Columbia). The meat is up to you. I chose the Spicy Pork because it was good and packs a kick. The problem with this dish is that its filling enough on its own. If you wanna eat tacos as well, might be too much food for you. Both of these dishes I thought were a bit pricey. The tacos are worth on a tuesday, don't know about paying more than $1.50 for them. The place is ridiculously small, waiters are super busy but manage to get to you. The wait can really be a downer though. Sometimes the wait can run p to 40 minutes, what is this? Boiling crab?? You got to be careful too because how busy it is, its easy for servers to skip names on waiting list so be aware ( skipped us twice). The only reason I still have this place a 4 star and not a 3 like i wanted to is that the food is actually pretty good. If the food wasn't good, I wouldn't even bother. I don't bother as well if the line is half an hour wait, so come with time if you really want tacos on a tuesday night.

    (4)

  • Matt V.

    Mexican Korean fusion. The spicy pork Torta was bomb. Food is pretty greasy but delicious. They also had a surprisingly nice but small tap list with some good local beers. Its worth checking this place out. The parking lot is a nightmare though.

    (4)

  • Robert P.

    Urban Seoul 2.0 is NOT affiliated with Urban Seoul. If it was, I'd be very disappointed with their chain restaurant. That being said, the original Urban Seoul blew me away with their delicious Kalbi burgers. Their mango fresca drink of the day was the perfect amount of sweet and tart, and their $2 taco tuesday tops it all off with succulent meat. I don't know why Urban Seoul 2.0 changed their recipe so much, but you HAVE to come to the original first. The only con is the seating space is small, but sitting at the bar is a huge pleasure and it's a very cozy atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Mel H.

    What a find! What a gem! What a treat! Urban Seoul delivers it's best every night. The staff's positive demeanor and attitude makes me feel valued as a customer. The other eateries do not compare in quality and service like Urban Seoul. You will not get the typical "Asian" service here... :) You get what you pay for, both in quality of food + service. So, actually, it's a relatively cheap eatery. Urban Seoul's unique concept presents foods of a California + Korean + Mexican fusion. There is none like Urban Seoul. Must try foods: Elote - Corn on the cob with buttery goodness + white cream Bibimbap - with a poached like egg on top! $2 Tuesday Tacos!! (all night long)

    (5)

  • Lynn C.

    Pros: Great food. Can even be inexpensive if you hit a special like Taco Tuesdays. Cons: Crowded, service can suffer as a result. I've been meaning to try Urban Seoul for a while. A couple times I turned away because it was crowded. When I finally did try it, I decided to order take out. But the wait was long nonetheless. It took a while just to get my order in, and I had to flag someone down. I do believe the staff was well meaning, as I interacted with them later and they made a effort to fulfill a special request. I ordered the areppa with gogi. The gogi had a citrus tang and was nice and tender little bites. The corn flatbread it was on lent a nice, crunchy grit. I went a second time not long after that. I hit them on Taco Tuesday. The tacos weren't as good as the areppa, but still noteworthy. They were a bargain, though, on Taco Tuesday. I got away for $5.25! So I'll be back, but maybe I'll try to schedule visits to low volume days like Monday or Tuesday.

    (4)

  • Susie K.

    I think their Taco Tuesday. spicy pork taco and street corn . nom nom Only reason I gave them 4 star is wait is too long. I guess you'll expect that from small

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Urban Seoul surpassed my expectations, although I have to admit, they weren't so high. It all sounded a bit gimmicky to me. However, I left quite impressed and my belly was happy. First off, the customer service was great. Our server offered us a sample of the drink of the day (pineapple tangerine) and explained any questions we had about the menu as best she could. The spicy gogi taquitos and gogi and chicken lettuce wraps were both $4 each. The chicken lettuce wraps were my favorite and come with a generous amount of meat so I was full after 3 wraps (each order comes with 2 wraps, so we ordered 2). I was particularly surprised that the food is quite affordable for such a hip new place. Don't get me wrong, it's not cheap, but it is well priced for unique cuisine.

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    This is my 5th time visiting Urban Seoul. Keep in mind that is a Korean/Mexican Infusion restaurant. As you walk in the door you see a modern setting. Thereis sitting inside and a couple of tables outside. There are only about 8 tables for the whole restaurant. It doesnt accomodate groups of 5 to 6 people. This is part of the reason why I am giving them a 4 star review. They can put their two seating tables together for a 5 to 6 person group but thats if the tables are available. Either this or sit next to another group in a longer table they have for about 16 people. Their staff is very nice, they seem to be attentive on you needing anything and come to ask quiet often if there is anything you need. The food doesnt take long to be brought to your table after you order id say roughly about 15 minutes depending on what you order. If you waiter/waitress the cooks are not bothered at all by having to bring out your order. The one thing I really like is the fact that they have an open kitchen. You can see everything they are doing and can even sit right in front of the kitchen so you can see everything they are doing. So this gives me a perception that they have nothing to hide. If you order water it is kept nice and fresh in a beverage container with lots of ice in it. They do offer different types of beers, as well as sodas but sodas are not from tap they are in a can. The food is pleasing to your pallet. Although im a big fan of the food here i do have to say that this past weekend I tried the Arepas and to my dismay thet were not that great. The corn cake that make up the top and bottomn of the arepa does have a weird taste to it, it tastes something like dirt. They waiter said that this particular dish is one of their most popula dishes I honestly would have to say that I dont agree with that. Here is what I have tried at this restaurant: pork belly tacos, gogi bimbimbap, gogi arepas, gogi mini quesadillas, loaded fries, elote skillet, chicken mandu, and the churro. The gogi is the best tasting to me. I would that in the past visits i have done 1/2 the times ive ordered the gogi bimbimbap with purple rice. The purple rice is more filling than the regular rice, it also comes with some red sweet & spicy sauce that is amazing. This bimbimbap plate is what youd want to eat if yoy are in the mood for something filling, and refreshing. It does contain just the right mixture of veggies and meat as well as a poached egg. My other favorite is the elote(corn) skillet which was recently changed because they used to sell it on the husk. Now they cut the corn off the husk and serve it on a plate with cotija cheese, mayo, cilantro, paprika, and a slice of lime. This eminds me of esquite which is what we Mexicans have its corn kernels in a cup. The charred corn is so good and gives this elote dish its unique flavor. Now my other reason for giving them a 4 star rating. Down to the clealiness part, the restaurant is nice and clean in the front portion but as soon as you walk towards the back down to the restroom its a whole different story. As you walk past the seperating walk of barrels you will see they have their trash right beyond that. The people sitting at the table by this seperating wall im pretty sure can smell the trash. I honestly do not know if they reuse their clear plastic cups for their beverages. I say this because as I was back in the hallway waiting for the bathroom one of the waiters came to through away the food left over on the plates he picked up and it was weird to me that he did not toss the plastic cups in there as well. He has sat them them right on top of the beer barrels they have along the wall by the trash can. Not sure what happened to them at the end. The bathroom clealiness if ok. They do have a toilet and a urinal in the bathroom since there is only one bathroom. As you walk in if there is water on the floor from peopke washing their hands in the sink you can slip and fall. They have polished concrete floors throughout the restaurant so if its wet it becomes extremely slippery. Hope you liked my review and happy eating :-)

    (4)

  • O. Francesco A.

    One of my favorite place in OC! I love the food as much the small and the cozy atmosphere! Especially if you sit at the bar and watch them cooking your order. Every visit is a "Heaven on a plate" and I think I went thru the whole menu already! A must go place. What should I order? Anything and everything! So GO hungry! But don't forget their "Elote corn" is die for! Follow on my Instagram account: oakyuz77 for more reviews and pictures. (Eat Pray Love..)

    (4)

  • Jenny V.

    I really like eating here-especially on Tuesdays when they have $1-2 tacos! Been here a few times with the boyfriend and friends. The last time I was here, I had their gogi taco (~$2), spicy pork taco(~$2), and their loaded fries ($7-8) with a friend. I also really like the their bibimbap as well. I usually order it with purple rice because it makes it a bit more different/interesting. The service here is usually pretty nice and attentive. But the last time I was here, our waitress completely forgot our orders for tacos and we were waiting for almost an hour for them. However when I asked another server about our order, he immediately got our order out quickly and apologized. I think Urban Seoul gets pretty busy on Tuesdays (because of their taco deals) and weekends, so I would keep that in mind as well. All in all, the food does make up for the slightly bad service last time I was here. I will probably be back again!

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    I mainly come here on Tuesdays for their all day taco specials. Each taco will run you $1.75. You have a choice from bulgogi, pork belly, chicken, spicy pork, or tofu. They're all pretty much dressed the same but just with different meats. My personal favorite is the PORK BELLY. Crispy, fatty, and meaty. I get about 4 of these. A far second place would be the bulgogi and the rest just doesn't come even close. Short rib arepas - I never had an authentic arepas to compare but it is basically a corn flatbread. There was a lot going on and I could really see the potential in this dish but it was way too salty for my liking. The service here is mixed. There has been good days and bad days. I try not to judge it too much on this. The parking lot is usually pretty full on this side of the plaza. With some patience it's not too hard to find something.

    (4)

  • Clara C.

    It's totally worth it to come here on Taco Tuesdays (or make it for happy hour between 5 to 7 pm). I found Urban Seoul through Yelp because I was looking for a place for dinner to meet up with old friends. Luckily I chose to come on a Tuesday because tacos were only $1.75 each (as opposed to 3 for $7.50)! When I got there at 7 pm, I was the second person on the wait list outside the door. I waited about 20 minutes for a table, and when I got seated for a party of 5, there were about 4-5 more parties behind me. Urban Seoul is located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza with H Mart. It's next to Byul cafe, across the parking lot from 85 degrees. Parking can be difficult because this place gets really crowded. If you can't find parking in front of the restaurant, you can always park in the garage (free) behind 85 degrees. Urban Seoul is Korean / Mexican fusion - if you can't tell from the pictures already. I absolutely love the concept because it's my favorite two foods combined together! Of course the pork belly tacos are THE best. Don't even order chicken or tofu (sorry vegetarians..). I'd recommend getting spicy pork if you like spicy and gogi if you just want to try it. Personally, gogi was too sweet to be in a taco, so I didn't like it as much. Service was kinda slow unfortunately because it was so busy in there.. There were 3 servers in the dining area, but I felt like this one girl did all the work. She was the one who seated us, took our orders, and helped everyone else in the restaurant! (I'm sorry I didn't get your name!) She was very nice, and I don't blame her for forgetting our hot sauce. I also tried the watermelon mint drink. They make it fresh every day, but it's not on the menu. It was pretty big, so I shared it with 2 other people. It was definitely refreshing, and I would get it again if they were making it! I will most likely be back, especially to try out their chorizo kimchi fried rice, which sounds really good too! Oh, this establishment is on the small size, so I recommend coming here for parties of 6 or less!

    (4)

  • Pat P.

    This restaurant is awesome! I ordered pork belly tacos and my friend got bulgogi burger and they were amazing. Food wasn't expensive ($8-9 per person) and we get a good amount of portion. The pork belly was so delicious and they gave me so much pork belly so I thought it was really worth it. The restaurant was a little small so there might be some wait. However, the staffs were really friendly. Last time I was there, the staff forgot our food so we waited for like half an hour. After realizing that our food wasn't here, the staff felt really bad and gave us BBQ chicken on the house. So I was really impressed since not a lot of restaurants would do this. Would recommend it to everyone!

    (4)

  • Samantha N.

    Location is in Diamond Jamboree plaza. It's in between Bon Epe and Pho Saigon Pearl. Beware that parking is a complete menace once the sky is dark - that's when people visit DJ for dinner. Other than that, the restaurant is easy to find. I came here with a friend for dinner, and we were seated pretty quickly. Inside there are long wooden tables where you would have to share personal space with customers sitting next to you. There's also a bar and a TV set, so people can stick around for Monday Night Football. We had also came here on a Tuesday, and for this day only their menu serves the tastiest and crunchiest Tacos. Price is $1.75/each - a great deal!! I ordered the Golgi Slider, which contains golgi meat topped with lettuce and onions. The meat was pretty greasy, and so were the buns - but I don't regret eating the slider.

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    I've heard about this place for a while now from my friends and I have to say, it's definitely overhyped. It's located in diamond jamboree by the Kickin Crab so parking can be definitely an issue since it's such a busy plaza in general. I wanted to give it a shot and nothing really wowed me. We ordered chicken wings, pork belly tacos, loaded fries which is just waffle cut fries with nacho cheese and pork on it, elote, sweet potato fries, fried udon and chorizo kimchi fried rice, all ranked from favorite to least by the way. The waiters looked like they didn't care most of the time but they were nice at least. Overall, Urban Seoul is just okay. This place shouldn't be one of your must try places. Give it a shot if you're in the area and if it's not busy. It's pretty small so I can imagine it to get packed. And on Tuesdays, you can get 1.50 tacos if you want.

    (3)

  • Rob D.

    I came back to try Taco Tuesday. For $1.75 for each taco, it is a pretty good deal as their taco's are fairly good size. I ordered the pork belly, spicy pork and gogi tacos. My favorite was the pork belly taco with moist and crispy chunks of pork belly, kimchi, queso fresco and other tasty ingredients. Each of the tacos had lots of flavor and were very good. I have to say though that the star of the show was the kimchi fried rice that I ordered, on the recommendation of a friend, that I shared with friends. This dish is addicting. It contains chorizo, bacon, pork belly, kimchi, pickled onions, fried onions, a sunny side egg on rice. All of my favorite ingredients in a dish that is so decadent, delicious and unctuous that you will want more. And, I have come back for more. ; )

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Sat at the bar and watched the cooks! I like this concept because you can actually see how your food is being made! Their food is really fresh and full of flavor..loved the uniqueness of the menu! Very reasonably priced too.. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    Oh lord I don't even know where to start with these guys. They sure know how to make you feel comfortable and welcomed! I'm a first timer here, I used my cheat day for these delicious fries smothered in Gogi meat , cheese, and etc you just gotta try it. Great environment guys. I've had yelp for a long time and Ive never ONCE commented or rate on anyone. But this one fellow got me going so I want to make a shout out to FLÁVIO - My flavor friend lol. Thanks again I'll see you again on a cheat day!

    (5)

  • Vincent L.

    Tried their chorizo kimchi fried rice, kimchi pancake quesadilla, and loaded fries. Chorizo kimchi fried rice: party in my mouth! Not only is the flavor, which is a mix of what I would describe as chili and kimchi, interesting, but there's a lot of different textures! The rice is kinda soft and chewy, the meat is... Meaty... And the kimchi and red onion is crunchy... Really cool. Kimchi pancake quesadilla: hella kimchi! Haha I wasn't expecting such a taste but it works well with the chicken and cheese. Loaded fries: heart attack. It's pretty heavy with all the nacho cheese but it works well with the spicy pork, and the jalapeño gives it a good kick. Overall the flavors here are amazing and if you're in the area it's definitely worth trying. The ooooooonly thing is that for their slightly steep prices the serving size is a bit too small... But it's not terribly small where I felt completely ripped off. The taste more than makes up for it!

    (5)

  • Jana B.

    I came here with a co-worker for lunch on a Friday afternoon. To be honest, I wasn't too excited given that I have been to Urban Seoul 2.0 in the Spectrum previously and didn't love it. But, I was VERY pleasantly surprised. It was a bit crowded, as can be expected at Diamond Jamboree, so we sat at the bar. Our service was great - the cooks were very helpful and took our order immediately. I got the pork belly arepas and they were delicious!!! The flavor was excellent - I usually have to ask for hot sauce, but it wasn't needed because the green sauce that the arepas came with was so flavorful. I would definitely come here again because there were multiple things on the menu that I wanted to try! Well done. :)

    (5)

  • Thao V.

    Yum! A little Mexican/Korean fusion restaurant. The bf really enjoyed his first visit here so he made sure I had the chance to try this little gem as well. We arrived on a late Saturday afternoon so there were no crowds and somewhat easy parking (everyone knows how chaotic it can get during peak hours in this plaza!). +/-ELOTE - A corn, halved, with your typical spread, and sprinkled with cilantro. It's delicious, but I didn't care to remember it. I would prefer the cheap elote from the corn lady instead. +++URBAN 3B (w/ bulgogi) - Their take on bibimbap You get lettuce, radish, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, micro greens, and your choice of meat all in one bowl. We chose bulgogi and it was spot on. What brings this dish together is their sauce. It's was so addicting that I found myself squeezing some on every dish. It's sweet with some tang, indescribably really. +++GOGI QUESADILLAS - Our favorite. Oozing with cheese with scatter gogi, this quesadilla was a guilty pleasure. The crisp layer of burnt cheese created such a delightful crispy crust that should be on every quesadilla. Portion was a little skimpy for the price, but dare I say that I'd order it again? ++PORK BELLY TACOS - Add their house sauce and you're tastebuds will be dancing with joy. They're generously filled with nice caramelized pork belly, lettuce, onions and sprinkled with cheese and black sesame. I had to eat some of the filling before I could even pick it up and eat it properly. It's delicious and filling. +/-SERVICE/AMBIANCE - It's a love hate. Aside from counter seating where you can see them cook and prep your food, the tables were really small. Too small to fit the four dishes and two drinks we ordered. Seats were uncomfortable as well..made of all metal and sure to make you a$$ to numb. Service was "okay." It appears that they employ very young people who don't really know the key to excellent customer service (checking on the customer, giving them their check when they've already finished their food, etc.). Happy Hour runs from 5pm-7pm everyday, but the happy hour menu is VERY small. You only get 5 options of small plates and 5 options of alcoholic beverages. Urban Seoul has lots of potential to be a five-star eatery. Their food is different and enjoyable for a foodie like me. I'd come back for the bibimbap and quesadillas for sure.

    (4)

  • Chase B.

    The pork belly tacos are amazing! And they serve it "street style" in a paper tray.....truly reflective of a chef with attention to detail. Yay! Each bite of the taco is filled with luxurious cubes of pork belly, with an occasional crispy edge to give some crunch, and a spicy aioli to balance the richness of the fatty goodness! The elote, by comparison, was tasty, but was not as good as the tacos. Though the concept is great, the elote dish suffered because it used canned corn instead of fresh kernels off the cob.

    (4)

  • Roger F.

    This laidback new style restaurant is a hole in the wall in the Diamond Jamboree plaza. We ordered all of their popular dishes (pork belly tacos, loaded fries, steak sandwich, kimchi quesadilla). Some were amazing but some were subpar. The pork belly was okay, but I recommend their bugolgi or another meat. I wasn't a fan of the pork belly. Overall laid back environment with sports, chalk menus, and water in plastic disposable cups. I'm definitely going back.

    (4)

  • Anne Q. T.

    One day, I run into Andy from the other office in the parking lot. Out of nowhere, he goes, "Have you been to Urban Seoul? It (rocks)." Ok. Guess I have to try it sometimes. But I wasn't serious. After all, the location's been a turnover spot. And who wants street food that's under a roof? Then a few months later, a group of us were looking to grab a few small bites, we looked around and settled at UrbS. Maybe we were hungry. Maybe it was the cheap happy hour menu. Maybe it was the ambience. Whatever the reason, the 4 of us ordered enough for 8. This seems to be a trend for me. Even when I'm part of a party of 2, we're ordering enough for 8. I now have favorites: chicken and pork belly tacos; and the spicey tuna BiBiBap with purple rice served as a cold dish. Unusual, but a very good balance of taste and texture. Above all, I like that I can sit at the bar, eat my street tacos and eavesdrops on the kitchen staff side conversations instead of wondering how good can a mobile kitchen be? Hey Andy, you rock for plugging UrbS.

    (4)

  • Jimmy N Suzana N.

    ITS NEXT TO PIEOLOGY AND WAHOO! parked super far and was on a time crunch so no bueno. but the place is super nice. good atmosphere. also great deals. they do close at 2PM for break between lunch and dinner. i got the 3 tacos but i wanted to mix up the meats and they did not allow it =[. i got spicy pork and would definetly come back and try the other meats!

    (4)

  • Deanna N.

    3-4 Stars Prices just rose for happy hour items. It is now the 'regular price' we saw a few weeks ago. I recommend the Gogi quesadilla, elote, and Gogi Sliders. Pro: Food is yummy and flavorful Con: Getting expensive now. Sometimes bad service even on a slow day. Elote: I remember first coming here (when the business was fairly new) they served the actual corn. I LOVED it. Now they just use those cheap corn that you can buy out of the can. It is still good.. but wasn't like before Gogi quesadilla: Still yummy and still my favorite to eat here. It used to just be $2 during Happy Hour... now that the price rose to $4 (Happy Hour), I'm not sure if it's still worth it to eat here. Overall, I recommend to still try it out. The food has a food truck vibe to it and even if the portions look small, it can fill you up pretty quickly. I wouldn't recommend to come here often since the price is rising while the food is slowly suffering in quality.

    (3)

  • Natasha N.

    I LOVE THE FOOD HERE! Our waiter (Samuel) was very helpful and recommended me to get the Urban 3B gogi which was seriously jaw dropping delicious! I love how everything mixed well together (the purple rice, veggies, gogi, and the sauce). I did not get to finish mine, but I took it home for togo and it still tasted amazing. The container for the togo is very cute. I also got to taste their gogi quesadillas and wow that was pretty amazing (the crisp of the tortilla just made it WOW). My best guy friend ordered the chicken katsu sandwich and that looked very yummy by watching him eat it (he got soooo messy haha). The service was excellent! The chef had amazing personalities as well. If you can sit at the bar so you can watch them cook (have some quick conversations with them too). It is really neat to see how they work as a team to put together the meals for their customers. Check this place outtt!!

    (4)

  • Rebecca B.

    New korean food that resembles very good street food.

    (4)

  • Jme N.

    Sweet lil spot if you want to grab a quick Korean dish with a twist if Mexican, American, and Yumminess. We were a group of 3: udon, bibimbop, and gogi cheese steak. All were good. The chicken udon and bibimbop had distinct flavors that tantlize the taste buds. The service was quick, serving sizes good, and reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Dorothy P.

    This place can get pretty crowded. Sharing a table with others is not a cozy as one might think when you have to get up to let other people exit the table. Onto the food... I recommend the kimchi quesadillas (the sauce that comes with them is great), and the rice cakes which are fun and tasty. The loaded fries are OVERLOADED and overwhelming. The bibimbaps are nothing special, I actually think bibimbap is Korean for "bowls of mediocrity".

    (4)

  • Jessica O.

    My first time at Urban Soul! It was a great experience. I went for happy hour and had their drink-of-the-day, the Tropical Hibiscus, and paired it with Soju (Korean vodka). Soooo good! I had a slue of dishes from the pork belly tacos to the Goji burger and as well as their garlic edamame. EVERYTHING was good and super flavorful. My stomach and taste buds are definitely satisfied. Even the presentation of each dish was phenomenal. Laura and Flavio were great! Super friendly and helpful when choosing what to get. I would come back again!

    (4)

  • Jeff L.

    Got the pork belly tacos after checking my Yelp app, thanks for the recommendation =) At around $9 after tax for 3 tacos, it's a little bit on the pricey side but I think it's worth it once in a while. The pork belly was really tender and the sauce on the tacos were great. Also their waffle fries were on point, nom nom nom It's in the middle of the Diamond Jaboree plaza so it might be a bit hard to find parking. The place itself is fairly small so there might be a wait depending on when you go. Also had a bar/tv watching area which made it a bit loud.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    Urban Seoul is surprisingly a good place! As long as you don't expect amazing service, it's probably one of the best places in diamond jamboree. Most of the food is good and just perfect bar food. Adding a beer with your food makes it 100000x better. Their menu is pretty small, but it's a good small - almost everything on the menu is a good choice and it seems very hard to go wrong with whatever you select. The prices are a little bit on the more pricey side, but that's probably more to do with rent than anything. Everything I've had on their menu is great: -Pork belly tacos? Awesome -Chicken drumettes - perfectly crispy and flavorful. Sauce isn't overpowering at all -Loaded fries - gets soggy fast so eat it quickly but it's good! -gogi quesadillas - good! They have happy hour from 5-8PM where things get a bit cheaper. It's pretty fun to go for happy hour, get a cheap beer and order a bunch of food and share with your friends.

    (4)

  • Risya L.

    The flavors are amazing!!! I ate here last night and I literally had a mouth-gasm! I had the Arepas one with bulgogi and the other with spicy pork with a side of waffle fries. The texture, the flavors, the environment was spot on. I'm not one to normally do spicy, but I can take the heat every once in awhile and man o man was it worth it. It burned so good lol can't wait to come back and share this place with my friends.

    (4)

  • Nhung N.

    The only dish I will get here is the 3b with gogi and purple rice. It is so good and so filling. I never finish all of it so I usually save it for the next day'a lunch and it is still good a day later! The restaurant is quite small so I you go during dinner time expect to have a bit of a wait especially on Tuesdays. It is unfortunate that is it located in Diamond jamboree since the parking there is horrible. Back to the 3b, the gogi is always tasty and the purple rice is supposed to be healthier I can't tell but it makes the dish. when I eat here I never feel gross afterward since the dishes are always fairly light. the prices are fair for the portions, for the 3b anyway. I also love the different drinks they offer. The watermelon lemonade is my favorite so far.

    (5)

  • Michelle N.

    Urban Seoul is a small hidden gem located in Irvine's Diamond Plaza. Parking is a pain, but well worth the frustration for when you sink your teeth into the delicious goodies at Urban Seoul. Walking in, the name truly reflects in the restaurant. We self seated ourselves and quickly skimmed the happy hour menu. Food for $2-$3?! Count us in! In reality, we got only 2 items off the happy hour menu and the rest from the regular menu. Gogi Quesadillas - Delicious. Bulgolgi like meat inside a quesadilla!! Definitely something to try especially when it's happy hour. Perfect small little morsels that were individual tortillas rather than one giant one. Corn thingy - SO GOOD! My favorite of the night. Corn on the cob, slathered with butter, cheese, and pepper flakes. Pork Belly Tacos (comes with 3) - Very tasty. Full of flavor, not salty at all. Katsu Sandwich - Full of different items besides the Katsu. Full of deliciousness! Hite beer - $7 a bottle. Drink before you eat. It's a sin to waste alcohol. Service was quick and very sweet. Overall I loved the ambiance and food that Urban Seoul has to offer. WIll be back with friends for another happy hour/dinner/gluttony experience.

    (4)

  • Samuel K.

    I came here for the first time last weekend for dinner. I liked the industrial design and vibe of the interior. Excited that they offered their happy hour menu every day. We ordered each of the specials along with dukboki(spicy rice cake) and sweet potato fries. The presentation of food was really creative and artsy. But unfortunately, they lacked big flavor. My favorite item was their bulgogi quesadillas. Nice texture but mild on flavor. I felt their dipping sauce needed more kick. The presentation of the mandoo was amazing but without the soy sauce, it was bland. The drummetes sauce was too sweet and the meat was dry. Meh. The elote looked delicious but was lacking big flavor. Not a edamame fan to start with but their version with garlic really enhanced the flavor. The dukboki reminded me of gnocchi and the sauce was light. Didn't like the chewy texture. The sweet potato fries were okay. There were 2 servers who were very friendly and attentive. Overall, I loved the ambience, service and prices but the food was disappointing. Nice concept and presentation of the food but overall needed a healthy infusion of flavor. Solid 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Harmony L.

    I was a little hesitant first because it wasn't that busy and this was during prime dinner time and every other place was packed. But we went in anyways and thank goodness we did. Seated right away, very friendly staff. We ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice, Loaded Fries, and the Gogi Quesadilla. My favorite was the quesadilla...IT WAS SO GOOD. I saw a picture and it didn't do it justice at all. Such great flavors, not too cheesy (like the picture depicted), warm and crispy! The fries were amazing, I wish it had a little bit more toppings (more so the meat). Got the cheese on the side so it wouldn't have such a strong flavor. The fried rice was huge and yummy. I wish it had a little more flavor, but the meat they put it in it was good. Will most definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Kat C.

    Great inventive dishes. Loved the combo of chorizo and kimchi in their fried rice. Cool vibe. But try not to sit at the kitchen counter near the cooks/chefs if you don't want to hear them gripe about customer order modifications.

    (4)

  • J Y.

    Overall good food. Gets busy at lunchtime. I still prefer the Kogi truck, but at least I always know where to find this place!

    (4)

  • Nicole P.

    I went for my first time on a tuesday and I was delighted to know that they did a Taco Tuesday! It was $1.75. I had the pork belly tacos and those were pretty good. Pork belly was nice and crispy. I also had the kimchi pancakes or watever and those were also surprisingly good. I thought it was gonna be a pretty tacky fusion spot made for the general mass but the flavors were pretty good.

    (4)

  • Lisa T.

    How do you run out of mayo for your elote?! And the wait staff was NOT getting people seated as seats were clearing = very angry hungry preggers! Been here numerous times and today was NOT the usual service. Seated after 30 mins but people who sat after us were served drinks and got there orders taken first. WTH guys?! Dining update: saw elotes coming out with mayo, so we asked the cook staff who confirmed they didn't run out. So why did the waiter say they ran out? Seriously, get it together! Just watched my Gogi quesadilla sit on the kitchen counter for 10 mins before it was served to us. Three other quesadilla was sent out during that 10mins. I am too upset to eat at this point. But I have to feed my baby, so I'll eat but I'm not happy eating. That's the worse feeling.

    (1)

  • Akiko T.

    Went in for lunch today for a take out! Friendly service and was helpful on helping us select our order. As per other reviewers raved on, opted for the pork belly tacos, and got spicy pork bibimbap. Food was ready really fast, and we went on our way. Taco was so good!!! The sauces were all very delicious and there was a different texture and different burst of flavor per bite. The pork belly was crunchy and delicious as well. Bibimbap's sauce was good, too. Could use a little more rice (imo) but with all the fresh veggies in there it was yummy. Overall def a spot I will return to when I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Justin L.

    One of a kind food that you can't find anywhere else. The chefs are dedicated and every single thing on the menu is so good. I usually go for lunch and it's perfect if you want to grab something tasty to go. The open kitchen is amazing and you can really appreciate all the work it takes to prepare a meal.

    (5)

  • Catherine S.

    Love Urban Seoul! Went a few times 1. for taco tuesday 2. just for fun! tacos were awesome! and the tofu tacos were surprisingly good and are on the top my list. i ordered the loco moco skillet the next time i came and that was DELICIOUS. after just coming back from visiting maui, i can say that the loco moco here was even better than those there. Would definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Geena S.

    Okay I'm obsessed with this place. Me and my boyfriend come here literally every week for date night. We always say we want to try somewhere new but it's just so good that we can't! It's always busy but they usually sit us fast. We have always had exceptional service. One time we waited at our table for maybe 5-10 minutes before someone came and she felt so bad she gave us free drinks (the hibiscus berry drink was amazing!!). I always get the urban 3b with pork belly and purple rice. It's unbelievable. Kyle has gotten the tacos, the chimichanga, and the wet burrito and all are amazing. Super cool little restaurant and even though the parking is a pain it is worth it!!

    (5)

  • Minkyung S.

    Best Korean Mexican Food! First of all, I came to this location numerous time because it is close to my house. Every time I dine here or to-go, all the servers are always energized and have a smile on their face. You can totally feel that they are enjoying their work. It just makes me feel like home. Great customer service! One of the BEST. Parking is self park but it will take a long time for you to find a parking spot in Diamond Jamboree plaza. If you come here during the weekend or on the weekday lunch/dinner hours expect to at least take about 15-30min finding a parking spot. It is highly recommended to carpool with group of friends or just avoid those lunch/dinner hours. I tried most of their menus since I've been coming here ever since they opened. All the food always tasted good. *Recommendations* - Pork belly tacos: pork belly is cooked right/ you can taste different flavors at once b/c of their sauce. MUST TRY. - Beef bibimbap: Their bibimbap is definitely Urban style. Adding fried onion in their really adds a different taste to the bibimbap. Ask for their house made sauces. Green sauce is spicy but it goes well with the bibimbap. Purple rice tastes so good & it purple rice is healthier than white rice. - Elote (Street Corn): One of the best street corns. They used to just give you in corn but now they just cut out the corn for you which is easier and more convenient to eat. - Spicy rice cake: Most of the Korean restaurants don't usually make rice cake with the rice cake they use at Urban Seoul. The sauce and the way the rice cake is cooked is just right. - Stir Fried Udon: I love their stir fried udon because there is a lot of veggies and the sauce taste good. I love how they change their special drink (non-alcohol). Usually it changes every month I believe. Recommended to try their own drinks. If you crave asian fusion food with lots of taste, I highly recommend Urban Seoul!

    (5)

  • Jeong P.

    I'm not really a fan of this type of food, but I'll be a little generous since it was my first time here and the flavors were good. If you can't already tell by the name, this place serves korean fusion dishes similar to the countless other food trucks roaming around OC and LA. The menu consists of the usual prerequisites like pork belly tacos and kimchi quesadillas, but it also has a couple of unique items like japchae mari and stir fried udon. My friend and I just stopped by for a little snack, so we only ended up trying the chicken drumettes and the loaded fries. The fries were really loaded with a bunch of bold flavors, but they worked surprisingly well together and were quite good. Greasy and heavy, but still good. The chicken wings were not as good. They came glazed with a sweet sauce that was okay, but the chicken itself was bland, and obviously not seasoned or brined. But considering that the wings are probably not very popular here, I'll give this one a pass. I don't think there's anything here that will impress anyone, but I can definitely see why so many people like the food here. The menu items seem like they are well thought out and the marinated korean bbq flavors are something that can appeal to a wide range of tastes. So I can appreciate this place for what it is. I just don't think this type of food is very innovative or interesting, but that's just me.

    (4)

  • Amanda Y.

    I was excited to try this place after reading all of the great reviews. A friend and I came in here on a Wednesday night for a post-workout snack. We instantly got that the vibe was cool and laidback, and the music they play here is on point. I got the jabchae mari and my friend got the pork belly tacos. I highly recommend the jabchae mari. They are full of flavor: sweet, a bite of sourness, just enough spice. And the concept of japchae rolled into seaweed and then fried is just so original! Love it! My friend enjoyed the pork belly tacos, as much as all the other reviewers did, I'm sure. Haha I think the only thing I'd complain about is that portions are a little small for the prices. And although it wasn't a very busy night, they food came out a little slow, in my opinion. But I would definitely want to come back and try some other stuff they've got.

    (4)

  • Jodonn D.

    Came in on a Saturday night with the family. Ordered the loaded fries as an appetizer. They were a nice take on loaded fries, cross cut fries with a lot of the normal "loaded" fixings except for the asian twist of spicy pork. Combination went well and everyone devoured the fries. I ordered the special, pork belly chimichangas. It was an interested combination, but came out lacking in some manner. I'm used to chimichangas stuffed with meat, and this was more of a cross between a flauta and chimichanga. Aside from meat portion overall it was delicious. I don think I'd get this again and attempt something off of the standard menu. Also ordered the stir fried udon. It came out plain looking so I was concerned that it would have much flavor. I was wrong, the noodles and broth were flavorful. This is definitely a dish I would order again. Overall Urban Seoul is part of that new movement of mixing Mexican and asian flavors. They do it well. I would definitely consider stopping by next time I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Abbe W.

    My sister and a few of my friends told me about this place. For some reasons, my husband and I never made it to try until this past weekend. We were trying to catch a movie around noon so came here for a quick bite. We ordered chicken drummettes, pork belly tacos and cheese steak (gogi) sandwich. My pork belly taco was a nice crisp on outer layer and moist and soft inside. It's delicious. I'm glad the pork belly was crisp and not flabby at all. My husband had the cheese steak (gogi) stand. He liked it. The chicken drummettes is tasty too. A bit too much heat for us but it's very well done. Crispy outside and moist inside. The place is small and has a bar feel. Service was quick. We also had the Orange Bang for drinks that came with togo cup. Free refill too. Very refreshing. Definitely a very nice alternative for food at Diamond Jamboree Center.

    (4)

  • Brizylla A.

    Love this place and I'll surely be coming back! Parking sucks because it's in DJ (Diamond Jamboree) of Irvine, but once you get a parking spot, it's all good. This place is tiny inside but I've never had a problem with seating. Service is great too! The times that I've been here, the waiters always answer my questions and seem pretty honest about their opinions. Menu is small, but I've tried lots of things and they're all delicious. I highly recommend the happy hour from 5-7 pm though because it's such a steal! Bulgogi quesadillas are delicious but the gogi tacos are amazing. Portions are more like a snack portion but it's okay because this place is ridiculously inexpensive. I highly recommend this place to everyone if you're down in Irvine! The flavors of the food- it's a must try!

    (5)

  • Jonathan K.

    One of my new favorite places to eat in Irvine! Korean-Mexican fusion is now commonplace since the Kogi truck movement, and effectively captures the culinary diversity and humility at the core of great Southern California cuisine. Urban Seoul retains this authentic "street food" feel to become one of the most popular restaurants in DJ plaza. Unlike other Korean-Mexican fusion places that are pale imitations of Kogi, Urban Seoul boldly tests the limits in its menu. Though relatively limited, almost every item I've tried here has been ridiculously good. The loaded fries are super heavy but delicious, great blend of meat, cheese, and jalapenos on criss cut fries. The tacos are all amazing too, especially the spicy pork (not for the faint of tongue) and the pork belly, which is nice and crispy. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the gogi quesadilla, which is too cheesy and thickly battered. Happy hour is 5-7 and you can get seated quickly if you come in earlier. They've got a number of dishes for only $2-3, and beers for $2.50. Soju, which is usually $10+, is half off -- can't beat that! Usually you can only get tacos in a set of 3 and can't mix and match, but on Tuesdays each one is only $1.75 and you can get whatever you want. So Taco Tuesday + happy hour = mindblown. The only reason I'm deducting a star is because the food is so unhealthy that I can't bring myself to eat here regularly (definitely doesn't help that I always end up ordering way too much here....)

    (4)

  • Stevie D.

    Went in during Happy Hour today. Ordered the Elote & Gogi Quesadilla off the HH menu....good stuff. And we ordered a couple items off the regular menu.. Sliders & the pork belly tacos.. They served up a refreshing watermelon drink that was so good.. Our first visit got a thumbs up!!! The service was friendly and the food was served up quick!!!

    (4)

  • Briana L.

    I have gone a number of times before but always felt intimidated by the long lines. This past Tuesday I came again and roughed out the 35 minute wait for tacos. The bar opened up and they quickly seated me and gave me a menu. My hunger couldn't wait for my boyfriend so I ordered a pork belly taco to start. The cook gave me a beer recommendation and poured me a nice cold 802 to go with my taco which he generously heaped with the most savory, crunchy pieces of pork belly I have ever had (I swear this isn't an exaggeration, it is THAT good). I ate it slowly to try and wait for my boyfriend and in the meantime the cook had added cheese to an order by a mistake and probably felt bad for me sitting alone so I ended up getting two kogi tacos on the house. Jackpot! Still, the pork belly tacos are my favorite and the katsu sandwhich is pretty good too. I love the friendly service here and their generosity with the servings. Makes the price and hassle of finding parking and waiting in a huge crowd well worth it. Thanks again for the extra tacos!!!!!

    (4)

  • Aaron E.

    Urban Seoul takes the "if you can't beat them, join them" approach and thanks to excellent execution, scores big. Irvine, California is finally stating to come around culinarily. After decades of stagnant and bland franchises running the scene you would be forgiven for giving up on ever having an interesting meal in Irvine. In the last 3 years however, things are turning around. People are voting with their wallets and each month a carcass of cuisine is replaced by something infinitely better. Urban Seoul is among those restaurants. Let's be clear, this is an absolute rip off out of the Roy Choi Kogi playbook. In fact most of the menu is basically paraphrased from the Kogi empire. Kimchi Quesadilla? Check. Pacman Burger? Yep, just abbreviated and given the rather antiseptic title of "Galbi Sliders". Short rib/Pork belly tacos? Yessir. You see where this is going... That doesn't mean it isn't delicious. In fact, there was not a single item I didn't totally enjoy during my lunch. Their take on Korean/Mexican fusion is just as good as Kogi and arguably more innovative. Take the Kimchi Pancake quesadilla for instance, my favorite item from Kogi. Urban Seoul replaces the tortilla with a savory pancakes with incredible results. The Galbi sliders where also nothing short of awesome and I can think of countless other burgers that could learn an important lesson from the bun to meat ratio displayed. The seasoned waffle fries even registered as major league. I almost forgot about the Watermelon Mint Lemonade. It is the BUSINESS people. They leave small bits of pulp in the slurry and it creates a wonderful mouthfeel. The mint flavor is kept nice and tight and adds to the drink without overpowering it, something I feared from the onset. The service was a bit sketchy as the young waiter made a few rookie gaffes, but nothing worth crucifying the place over. He could be brand new for all I know. Also, I was able to feed two with plenty of food left on the table at the ridiculously inexpensive $25.00 cost of admission. For flavors this bold and complex, an absolute bargain. Thank you Urban Seoul for joining the franchise revolt underway here in Mid-County!

    (5)

  • Andrew L.

    The one star is for the disgusting preparation of food in the kitchen. The kitchen's open to the restaurant and you can see the cooks prepare all of the food. They bare hand EVERYTHING...we saw one cook mop the floor, then bare-hand a chunk of lettuce before slipping her nasty hand into a bowl to pick up a poached egg. We never saw one of them even attempt to wash their hands. If you like your intestines, stay away!

    (1)

  • Michelle S.

    Weight going up....on a Tuesday! (referring to Drake's song if no one gets it LOL) One of my favorite places to dine in Irvine! I've always visited Irvine occasionally and put this place under my "To Try" Bookmarks, but I never got the chance to visit Urban Seoul until a few days ago. We were seated immediately, as my boyfriend and I came in at 1PM, one hour prior to closing. On a Tuesday, I wasn't expecting to get anything on the Specials Menu and expected to order something on the menu like a typical dine-in scenario. To the best of our luck, however, Tuesdays mean $1.75 Korean Taco Tuesdays! We were pretty much stoked as soon as we walked through the door and were constantly debating which taco meats to order with huge grins on our faces. We decided to order an appetizer of fries to subside our hunger a bit as we waited for the tacos, and the fries were a great start! They were drenched in nacho cheese and also came with jalapenos, green onions, other ingredients, and some kind of delicious meat (sorry for the vagueness because I forgot, but believe me it's good! haha). The tacos actually came out really fast as well within a matter of minutes, and it was the best Taco Tuesday I have ever experienced. Each taco comes with two mini tortilla wraps, its respective meat that you ordered, green and purple cabbage, and delicious sauce. Our favorite was the Pork Belly Taco, as the meat is super crispy and complements the taco ingredients very well. I loved the Spicy Pork one as well, but the Pork Belly Taco is truly a winner. The Bulgogi Taco was alright. Also, the workers here are very nice and attentive! We already made a mental note that the next time we drive down to Irvine, Urban Seoul will be one of our stops!

    (5)

  • Jace C.

    Another fusion restaurant - Korean/Latin American food. I came here with a Korean friend. Funny thing is we came here by chance. We were thinking of getting something like Vietnamese or Chinese food since she's Korean and I lived in Korea...we have to be tired of Korean food...But she said some of her coworkers kept telling her about this place, probably because she's Korean. Haha. We decided to give it a try. We ended up ordering the chorizo kimchi fried rice, the pork belly tacos (because so many reviews recommended it), and the loaded fries. I loved every dish. I recommend you eat the tacos while they're hot. After they cool down, the meat hardens up and the tacos don't taste as good anymore. The chorizo kimchi fried rice was a nice touch. However, I wished I could taste more kimchi than chorizo. To me, it tasted like a chorizo fried rice, without the kimchi. My Korean friend liked it. Though I'm not saying that she's the Queen of Korean Food Judging because she's Korean. Food is food and she liked the taste. Same goes for the fries. The servers are nice, but they spend a lot of time chitchatting instead of working. Even though it's a small place, it makes it hard to get their attention. It took me a while to wave down a waiter. I'd definitely come again to try out other things on the menu if I'm ever in the area again.

    (4)

  • Crystal D.

    You can't go wrong with Urban Seoul. The staff are very welcoming and helpful. I met Flávio and David for the first time while I was eating at the bar today and it was very easy to talk to them, very humble people. The other guys working here greet every customer coming in so that's a good thing to notice about this place! Now food. The food here never fails to satisfy my craving. If you're not sure what to order just go for the Pork Belly tacos. They're by far my favorite and very popular here. It was my first time trying the Elote (corn) and I have not found a place that sells authentic Mexican, tasting corn but this place impressed me. The corn is grilled and mixed with cojita cheese, mayo, paprika, cilantro, and Korean chili flakes. They add a bit of Korean spice with Mexican style corn, it's great. Lastly I tried the Churros, for the first time today as well, with the horchata dipping sauce on the side. Perfect texture and the sauce perfects the whole dessert! Here are some pictures of the food. (Repost from snapchat)

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    Mmmm greasy Korean fusion. Sure they have a relatively healthy bibimbap but why order that? This is a place you got to after you've been eating modestly for a few days and then decide to splurge a little but not on the level of ordering a 22 oz USDA Prime rib-eye. Over the course of two visits, I walked out with a smile. More like a smirk because I got that full and greasy feeling (which, don't be shy, you enjoy on occasion) without actually feeling all too guilty. Gogi quesadillas- good and greasy Taco Tuesday tacos- good and greasy Chicken wings- good and greasy Beer- good and helps with the greasy * note- "good and greasy" is not necessarily a negative ;) Skip the elote. This used to be VERY GOOD when they used to serve it on a stick (loads of mayo/cream sauce) but it's served off the cob and not very good nomo'. Surprisingly good service for as understaffed and busy they are Helpful tips - Taco Tuesday is very busy - Very good happy hour specials- e.g. 4 wings for $3; $3 gogi quesadillas. But only crap on tap (Bud Light, Coors Light) for beer specials - Elote is no longer served on a stick =(

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    I don't have a lot of experience with Korean food besides the occasional KBBQ outing, but this place is amazing! The price is right, the people are friendly, and they have good beer in tap. What more could you ask?

    (5)

  • Tracy H.

    Tried this place out for the first time. Service here is horrible - had to seat ourselves and walked to their service table to get ourselves our own menu. Waiter did not come around till 5 minutes later. We ordered 3 Pork Belly tacos, which were superb! However, the downfall was the tremendous amount of oil that would drip down after each bite of the taco. It was messy to eat and it would fall apart. The Chorizo bibimbap bowl was delicious! It reminded me of Chego in LA. We also ordered the Gogi quesadilla for $4 because it was happy hour. That was really good as well.

    (4)

  • Valle E.

    I gave them one star extra for the freshness and customer service. Their mint watermelon lemonade is the most refreshing drink i think I've ever tasted. The gogi sliders were ok. Gogi sliders : 3stars Overall Lemonade: 5 stars Grilled elote: 5 Cust service: 5.

    (4)

  • Kimmy P.

    Happy hour is 5-7pm. We went right at 5 on a weekday and it was empty! Love when that happens! This place is really small so it's good to come at on off time. We got one of the daily specials, the spicy pork taquito - I really enjoyed the flavors and how crispy it was. The bulgogi sliders were pretty big and were super tasty. Elotes are no longer on the cob which was a little disappointing but on the bright side it was easier to eat and less messy. That left me pretty full and very satisfied. Next time I'd like to try taco Tuesday hehe

    (4)

  • Prairie P.

    Like many asian fusion restaurants, Urban Seoul is heavy handed with the sauce. It is unfortunate because usually the first couple of bites are really good, but then the flavor just gets redundant. Here are some highlights and lowlights about the restaurant. Highlights: - Pork belly tacos were crispy and filling Lowlights: - Chicken Katsu sandwich was drenched in sauce, soggy, and very underwhelming. We expected a crispy breading and katsu style meat. The katsu meat was not thin and not prepared like a true chicken katsu. - Seating is awkward and uncomfortable We also had their loaded fries, which were good for the first few bites, but started tasting really heavy shortly thereafter.

    (3)

  • Brittany N.

    I came here for a birthday celebration. We had a party of 9. A bit of a wait, but not too long..Service was great and our foods came not too long of a wait. I ordered the arepas, half gogi and half spicy pork. It was definitely hot and fresh because I couldn't even eat it with my hands since it was burning hot! Thank goodness they gave us forks to use, haha. The meats were extremely flavorful that were topped with pickled onions. There was also a lime cilantro sauce that came with it on the side and it was so light and zesty, it really complimented the dish! Then there was the corn biscuits topped with melted cheese. Only loss of star because the corn biscuits lacked flavor - for me, it tasted bland...not even a hint of salt to taste, and no hint of corn flavor. However, as I combined the corn biscuit with the meats and sauce flavor, the taste became better. Definitely filling for me because the corn biscuits were pretty dense. OH, and parking can be bit of a challenge...not my favorite.

    (4)

  • Derek T.

    The food here is really good. Taco Tuesday is from 5-9PM obviously on Tuesdays. They also have happy hour going on at 5-7PM, concurrently. They're always usually quick as they are small and need to be able to turn tables quickly. The only downside to this is that they don't often take orders down on paper, but they take it down mentally. However, the problem with this is that if 4 other tables are bombarding you with requests/questions when you're walking to the POS (point of sales system) to input the order, you'll probably forget something. In this case, this past Tuesday we came in and were seated within 5 minutes at the bar. We ordered the drink specials of the day and then we ordered our tacos and some appetizers. We got the tacos first and waited for our appetizers/small dishes. After a bit, we assumed the kitchen was backed up. So my friend and I began to eat. it wasn't until the people next to us at the bar, had sit down after us, received all their food and then left, that we asked for our appetizers. Mind you this is 25 minutes after the fact. So we asked our server what happened to our appetizers and he said he'll check on it. I, myself, am a server, and I'm sitting in front of the expo runner. I noticed that a ticket printed out and the runner called back to the kitchen, the appetizers that we had originally ordered about 30 minutes ago. Basically, those who can't follow, this means that he never inputted our appetizers. It took about 5 minutes for the appetizers. Even though these situations happen often, and OFTEN to me, I still think that the food and service warrants a 4 star rating. I'll just have to be very aggressive with the servers next time to make sure that I'm not happy with 30 minute appetizers.

    (4)

  • Mary N.

    Came here for the first time couple weeks ago for a late night bite. A good amount of people were still there at around 10 pm. Shared the loaded fries, which was so freaking tasty! Also ordered the chicken tacos and my companion got the fried rice. I didn't enjoy the chicken tacos at all. Perhaps I'm just not used to that particular combination of flavors. I tasted some of the fried rice and that was pretty good. I gulped down my thirst-quenching-giant-sized watermelon lemonade. Super refreshing. Will definitely be back to try other items.

    (5)

  • James L.

    I was here in April 2015 on a tuesday. Honestly i would give them 2 stars but since they don't deserve the 4 star i am compelled to give 1. Their tacos are not bad, this is probably because 80% of the components are not cooked. However everything else on the menu i had here was severely over cooked to hell. This place claims that its Korean fusion but this is a deception that leave you with a very rusty knife behind your back. Nothing here resembles Korean food or flavors. This establishment probably have a high rating because UCI kids go here to eat and they don't know what good food is YET.

    (1)

  • Julian T.

    The food is here good - Elote, Golgi Tacos, and Chicken Katsu Sandwich. All of which I have had at other places and they seem comparable. Nothing to gripe about with the food. Spent $22 w/o tip for the meal. The place is small with bar seating and table seating. Last time dining here, I sat at the bar and was served quickly. Food service here is quick and precise since there are not many tables to look over and there's plenty of attentive wait staff. What I DON'T like however is that since the place is small, certain workers (more like one worker) need to understand that if they say ANYTHING, that more than likely a customer will hear it. Especially for the workers behind the bar (not the cooks or anything). My boyfriend could hear the worker complain a few times and then talk negatively about customers. It was not about us, but we noticed and we do not feel comfortable when people are being judge, not by their attitude, but by what they're eating, how they look, how old, etc. This is VERY rude! Otherwise, the other wait staff were great and attentive. The food was good, atmosphere was the hustle and bustle of a normal restaurant. Will continue to come back, maybe.

    (3)

  • Trisha A.

    urban seoul lives up to the hype. we came at around 5pm and my party and i were seated in no time. happy hour is everyday from 5-7pm and offers appetizers and drinks for under $5. we started off with the elote ($2) and was delicious with the mayo, paprika, korean chili flakes, and a hint of lemon juice. my favorite were the gogi tacos. i loved how the tortilla was soft but still crispy at the same time. i would recommend taking advantage of their taco tuesday here. the spicy pork bibimbap was juicy and marinated well. the fresh veggies complimented the spicy pork as well as the egg. you can ask them to use purple rice instead of the white. i will come back to try the spicy tuna. last but not least we had to order the chorizo kimchi fried rice. the pieces of chorizo were so delicious and im glad it came with an over easy egg!

    (4)

  • Tara A.

    Came here again a few weeks ago with my parents and one of my friends! New items I got to try included the gogi sliders, the chicken wings, the urban 3b (bibimbap), the chorizo fried rice, and the watermelon mint drink. Gogi sliders: Really good flavoring on the meat! It's kinda messy because they do actually fill the slider with meat haha Chicken wings: Enjoyed these a lot, they were perfectly deep fried and covered in a sweet and slightly spicy chili sauce (think sweet chili, not sriracha)! Definitely reminds me of korean fried chicken because of the sauce urban 3b: Their style of bibimbap, personally my favorite part of bibimbap at korean places is the stone pot & how the rice gets crispy on the edges, but this was cool too! My friend got it with purple rice which was interesting because well, it was purple and i've never seen purple rice before! But it tasted entirely the same as white rice and it's supposed to be healthier! They include a lot of shredded cabbage in this so make sure to mix thoroughly, because at one point we couldn't find the rice because it was clumped together at the bottom haha Chorizo fried rice: Another favorite of mine here!! The chorizo is so good and the crispiness really adds to the dish, in addition to the crispy onion strings!! Try putting the red sauce (don't know what it actually is) on this and it's really good too and not too spicy, just a little kick! Watermelon mint drink: This drink really surprised me!!! It's made fresh in the restaurant and it tastes that way! I thought mint would be a weird flavor to have with watermelon but it was so delicious, and the cup they give you is huge!!! Will definitely order this again if I ever have the chance. Will definitely be coming back!! One day I want to go for happy hour or taco tuesday.... one dayyyy

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm
  • Mon : 11:30 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Urban Seoul

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