Spectacular place to get home style Korean food! The menu isn't very large, but you'll understand why when you get your food and see that it is prepared with great care. This is not your typical krnbbq joint--if that's what you're looking for, go somewhere with the word Kogi in the name. The stews here are on point-love the spicy one! Bbq chicken is also very tasty with lots of sesame seeds. And do yourself a favor and get the sesame pancake appetizer! The service is great here too, also rare for a Korean restaurant.
(5)
Mike B.
114 reviews and 4.5 stars is what I was looking at when I decided that I must try House Of Milae again, and I'm ending up giving them one more star. Service was attentive and friendly! Banchan are still very small portions. Come on peeps, the potato salad is pretty good, can I get more than 1/4 tablespoon full. When the kimchi came to the table, I immediately asked for another dish knowing that I would use more than what were provided. I decided on the spicy pork bibimbap which was pretty good. I would have liked a little bit more of a portion of pork on the dish. Veggies were a little bit bland. But the egg was perfectly cooked and really added nicely to the dish. I would get it again. What was really impressive was the spicy chili sauce that they served with it. It was a wonderful balance of spicy and sweet and really added a lot to the dish. My friend ordered the Spicy Calamari which came to the table bathed in so much red sauce that it looked to be aflame. I tasted it, and the nature-like bright cautionary warnings were not playing. This dish is on fireeeeeeee This dish is on fireeeeeeeeeee #AliciaKeys He was struggling to eat it, and I don't blame him. The waiter even dropped it off and made a comment about how freakin' hot it was. Overall a decent experience, I'm just looking for a little bit more... soul in the food... a little more Seoul... And with that terrible pun, I will end there.
(3)
Anna H.
First time in DC and decided to come here for dinner. The place was packed but we still had a table right away. We ordered the carrot, spinach and onion Korean pancake for our appetizer. It was quite good. Cooked to crispy perfection and the mix was a little sweet and salty which was great. Then I got a Rice and Mondu stew while my husband ordered the Bi Bim Bop with an egg cooked over easy. The stew had a great flavor and I liked all the vegetables that came in the stew. However, the rice cakes were undercooked because they were very tough to chew. The Bi Bim Bop was visually beautiful, but the flavor was not great. The meat was flavored okay, but there was too much rice, very little veggies and the mixture of all of the condiments did not blend well. We have tasted quite a few Bi Bim Bop and this was maybe one of the worst. As for the service, our water was always filled but our server forgot our friend's meal and our pancake. We had to tell him and other servers that we were missing our food. Then when we told him that the rice cakes were undercooked he just kind of walked away. After we almost finished our food, our appetizer arrived with the manager delivering it. We told him the problems we had. He gave us the pancakes for free and said that next time tell him sooner that the rice cakes were undercooked sooner. We told him that we told the server. He was very apologetic but the damage had been done. This place got lots of great reviews, but our experience here was far from great. Hopefully they will learn to write the orders down and fix the flavor of their Bi Bim Bop.
(2)
Judy C.
I had the soondobu, which is the tofu stew. I had it with seafood. It was just what my stomach needed on a rainy day. The stew was well seasoned and not overly salty like some other places. I also had the carrot and spinach pancake. That could've had more oomph to it. I was looking at it and they didn't put much spinach in there. Not much flavor without the sauce. It was kinda dead when I went. I hope they get a lot of business. They seem like nice people and the food is pretty good.
(4)
Jess C.
Friendly Korean restaurant. We had a party of nine and sat at the only round table located in the back nook of the restaurant by the bathroom/bar/kitchen area. It was a very homey place, and good for groups if you ever make a reservation. Our server was super nice and helpful. Pretty much our entire table ordered the dolsot bibimbap for ~$15, and it hit the spot. I also ordered the seafood soondubu (~$10) which was flavorful and comparable to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville--but a bit more salty (and that's why I still prefer Lighthouse more). The banchans were great and fresh--cucumber, tofu pieces, kimchi, pototo salad. It took awhile for them to refill our banchan, and by the time it was refilled, we were done with our meal. Overall, Bethesda is lucky to finally have "their first real Korean restaurant."
(4)
Tracy L.
My friends and I love this place. We almost always get the dolsot bibimbap and it has been perfect every time. The small dishes you get before the meal have always been interesting and tasty. The service is usually very good, I like to use a lot of the hot sauce and they always make sure I have a full glass of water. There is a parking garage conveniently located across the street and the metro stop is a 5 minute walk away so it is a great place for us all to meet. There aren't usually a lot of people in the restaurant so we often stay for several hours talking without interruption.
(5)
James S.
I am not an expert of Korean cuisine but I have been to the House of Milae at least three times in the past six months. I keep coming back because the main dishes as well as the sides are delicious and the service is excellent. Like many people my favorite dish is Bibimbap, the ultimate in Korean comfort food. Imagine a bowl of crusted rice covered with uniquely flavored veggies, your choice of protein and a sunny- side up egg. Mix well and taste your dreams come true. The sides are a nice addition with subtle tastes, the kimchi is especially good. So if you are in Bethesda you can find great Korean food at the House of Milae.
(5)
James L.
A Korean restaurant within a few miles of district limits? I'm already sold. I had lunch there with a friend after a round of golf. We had the Kalbi (short ribs), Kimchi Pajun (pancakes), mandu (potstickers), and the Tofu Kimchi with pork....yeah, we were hungry. Will I be back, you can bet on it.
(4)
Colin D.
Really good Korean covering both the basics--bibimbop and seafood pancakes--and some more interesting things like sweet potato noodles. The food seems to be better the less americanized and more Korean it is. My wife and I were craving good Asian food and we stumbled in here for a late lunch after a day at the Zoo. The food was very good and it seemed to be better the further you strayed from americanized Korean, which is a good sign. The seafood pancake and sweet potato noodles were fantastic as were the little dishes of sides that came with things. The bibimbop was only OK and needed to have some spicy sauce put on to get to the point that it even compared with the rest of the dishes. The service was friendly and prompt, but the place was basically dead when we walked in, so that's to be expected. They continued to bring us extra small dishes of sides when we asked so we got extra spicy radish, kimchi, and the chewy fish sauce/dough things. The space is light, open and airy, which is a nice contrast to the typical hole-in-the wall Asian.
(5)
Erica L.
I had a decent meal here. The service is friendly and attentive, and it's a fairly large space. The seafood pancake was too pancakey and heavy for my taste. It could have used more seasoning. The soondubu needed a little more flavor, probably more of the spicy bean paste and dried shrimp. It was a little too watery. The best dish I had here with the jap chae. It seemed solid. The banchan selection of side dishes was pretty tasty and had many of my usual favorites, from the sesame bean sprouts, kim chee, and marinated fish cake. I'd return if I'm in the area, but would order differently the next time.
(3)
Nicole L.
As the banner indicated "the first Korean restaurant in Bethesda" it was exciting to have a Korean food option in the area. We came here for lunch. We had the bibimbap it was not served in a hot stone bowl but a modern white bowl, however the bibimbap looked good, I had it with beef while my friend had the chicken one. Mine was tasty with a soy sauce and pepper paste. The banchans were good too! The service was a bit slow though we waited a while before getting the attention of the server for the check.
(4)
Gabe S.
The servers were quite but really kind. They made up for their silence with excellent food. I enjoyed eating my bulgogi while listening to chill Kpop music
(5)
Juhi T.
What I love about this place is that it's a small, cozy, no-frills, just good authentic Korean food place. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the dolsot bibimbap was on point. If you're looking for something different than the usual, upscale DC restaurant scene, and want some really good Korean food, definitely check it out.
(5)
Eric L.
I went here because I read such good reviews. Sadly... their wasn't really anything impressive. The side dishes seemed a bit old and didn't taste that great. The bulgogi seemed bland. The spicy chicken was impressive... kind of like a spicy teriyaki minus all the sauce. This place, i would suggest it if I was hankering for korean food and i was desperate. Otherwise... I'd avoid it. Two stars just because of the chicken dish being different. Otherwise id give it one.
(2)
Tianchen Q.
This is a small Korean restaurant, with a convenient public parking garage just across the street. We had the seafood pancake, soondubu and kimchi stew. Seafood pancake was good, while the other two were a little too sweet. The two Korean waiters are very nice. They even offered to refill the small dishes - nowadays not many Korean restaurants do this, from my experience.
(5)
aloha g.
Excellent bibimbap. Actually done right with the crispy gently burned rice on bottom of fired bowl. Good side dishes. Would bring my non Korean friends here. Very good. It is bumped up a bit price-wise with Bethesda prices. Parking garage across the street.
(4)
Sam E.
Service is great and seems like it's run by a family. Don't come expecting to get great service but all four of our waiters were really nice. But what you do come for is the food. Outstanding food. We had the Kalbi beef. Expensive but marinated to perfection. Bi bim bap with spicy pork so filling and tasty in the stone bowl. Sides were outstanding and they were generous with the extras. I love the Kim chi;)
(5)
Cora C.
The House of Milae is a classy yet authentic Korean restaurant in Bethesda. We had the jeon (pancake), the mandu (dumplings), the kimchi stew, and the bulgogi - all very good. The potato salad appetizer was delicious too.
(4)
Mike C.
SOLID. Service was attentive and generous. Food was authentic and spicy. I recommend the Galbi if you like ribs. The Jeon (Korean pancake) app was also amazing. Try the spicy chicken stew if you like a little heat.
(5)
Brian S.
Authentic and delicious Korean food. The haemul pajeun (seafood pancake) appetizer, varieties of kim chi and sides, and the bibimbap took me back to the four years I lived in Seoul. I was concerned with the look of the place from outside, but it's actually spacious and comfortable within. And once our server turned his attention from seating the dinner crowd to taking our order, we felt catered to and quite happy. If you want a real taste of Korea, I highly recommend this place. Bonus: That was the least I have spent in a restaurant in the Bethesda/DC area, especially considering the amount, quality, and variety of dishes we enjoyed.
(5)
Kat T.
Their Stone bibimbap are the best, hands down! My husband and I are serious meat eaters. Our usually order are each one has a stone bibimbap and a Galbi to share. I mean to try their other dishes like tofu soup or seafood omelette but I always order their bibimbap. It's like I'm under its spell. Besides their food, I also like their staff. Sweetest Korean guys you will ever meet. Never over do it (to the point the wait stuff bothering you) but attentive enough they make sure you have everything you need. I also like their atmosphere. It is quite enough to have a weekday dinner with family. Unlike a lot of Korean BBQ places with full blast Kpop video. If I want karaoke which I never do, so never mind on that note.
(5)
Angela W.
I went back again with a friend on a Wednesday evening at around 6PM and there was nobody there. Service was good. I noticed that the dolsot bibimbap contents changed! Same small dishes, though. Waitress sometimes didn't notice we needed things because we were the only customers. That's my only complaint.
(4)
Bhavin P.
Really good small authentic Korean place in Bethesda, MD. Loved the hot bibambap with chicken! The bowl was a little bland but adding a bit of hot pepper sauce made it taste great! Loved the local light Cass Korean beer too. Service was quick and overall experience was delightful!
(4)
Janet H.
4.5 stars rounding up Great food, great service! This place is definitely for those looking for Korean comfort food, think simple, spicy, and casual. We ordered: kimbap sampler - served lukewarm, pretty good, but we've had better. Keep in mind kimbap is not sushi, it's usually made with leftovers. The rice is warm and a bit oily (vs sushi rice is slightly sweetened with rice vinegar and maybe sugar). Spicy calamari served with rice - definitely spicy! Calamari was perfectly cooked, not overdone at all. The spice paste was familiar, bean paste based perhaps? It was delicious. Tofu kimchi served with rice - our favorite and new dish for us. Lightly pan fried soft tofu served with a pork and onion spicy mix. Oooh it was delicious!! Slightly sweet (from the caramelized onion and a tad more from the pork), savory, spicy, peppery, with a tang of sour from the kimchi. I want this again tomorrow!! The free banchan sides served was great, portion on the small side but they were happy to give us more. I loved eating the lighter pickled banchan right after a spicy bite, it was refreshing and the veggies were quite flavorful and light, almost like a palate cleanser :-) deeeeelicious! Definitely want to come back :-) banchan and tofu kimchi were def the winners!!
(5)
Becky K.
I came a lot with my parents when they opened last year. Great bibimbap and service. I didn't go back for a year, because I (fortunately) moved out of my parents' house and into DC. I went back again tonight with a friend, and one of the nice waiters/owners asked how my mom is doing. Pretty awesome that he remembered!
(5)
Bryan J.
I dig this spot overall for some non pretentious, authentic Korean food. Be wary at lunch though. It feels like they're a little understaffed to handle the crowd. Also, sometimes they skimp on the beef portions in the Bibimbap. Just sayin.
(4)
Cherise P.
This place is so good! And service is outstanding. So friendly and attentive! Waiter was nice enough to give me a sampling of sake & soju when I wasn't sure which one I wanted to order. Ordered the jjigae (stew) with seafood, tofu, & kimchi- asked for it extra spicy and it was! So yummy & comforting. Portion size was generous and price was very reasonable. Layout was pleasing (mix of tables, booths, and small bar seating area), and it looks like they have a patio too! The Korean pop music soundtrack is a nice touch. Will definitely be back to try more things!
(5)
Jennifer N.
(4.5 stars). I now have a close-to-home Korean joint for those evenings I don't feel like driving to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville. It's true that the decor in House of Milae is slightly sterile, but the warm service, barley tea (yes, please!), and fantastic, authentic food well make up for it. The seafood pancake was as good as the best I've had, and the stone pot bi bim bop was delectable (never fear, though the menu mentions beef only, unlike Lighthouse Tofu, they will happily make it with a delicious spicy chicken). House of Milae is the only Korean place I've ever gone to that throws a bit of lettuce in the bi bim bop, but it works. And, of course, it all comes with banchan, that embarrassment of riches that makes going out for Korean food so fun. The price is shockingly cheap: two of us ate for $21.
(4)
Phil B.
Wow, for Korean. Super authentic, under $10 lunch service. Counldn't ask for more.
(5)
teresa l.
Love Love Love Korean food! I grew up in Annandale, Va so I hold my standards very high. House of Milae does not disappoint. Service was a bit slow but food was piping hot, drinks were icy cold and hot ( I drank both hot sake and japanese plum wine ) and the korean pop music booming out was my heaven. I hope they stay in business for a long time.
Two and a half stars. Friendly service, standardly tasty hot tea. I was so excited to get authentic Korean in white-washed Bethesda, but... no. Banchan is a little limited-- not surprising for an establishment of this size, but I take issue with their funky-tasting radish kimchi. I could almost forgive the missing meat segment of galbi tucked under the other layers if it weren't so expensive. Lunch portions on most everything else is more reasonably priced. Sesame seeds on everything, which makes bibimbap with the raw-on-top egg all the more obvious. Its presentation may be pretty, but avoiding the traditional pot leaves my rice disappointing. Ultimately, if I compare every pho spot to NoVA's cream of the crop, I have to admit House of Milae is subpar to the average Annandale or Rockville K-eateries.
(2)
Rakesh B.
Good food and great service. Had lunch on Sunday ... Short menu but food was delicious. Several Korean pancake choices from which we tried two flavors and they were fabulous.
(4)
Evie S.
5 starts for the service. Really doesn't get any better than that. 4 stars for the food. Yummy. They are very knowledgable about vegetarian/ vegan diets and have many options available.
(5)
Chi Z.
It's pretty hard to find a good combination of genuinely considerate service and good food in a Korean restaurant, especially in the Bethesda/Southern Silver Spring area. And we are very picky in our Korean food even though we will likely try anything once (think chicken feet, uni, octopus, intestines - all things we have had enough to discern great from horrible because there is no "just okay" when considering such particulars). Enough about us. House of Milae is a great Korean restaurant set to the tone of a neighborhood quick eats/drinks place. Korean pop music sets the mood as conversations and laughter layer on top of it. TVs set to ESPN add to the relaxed and lively atmosphere. The service is the best aspect of the environment. The young man who always waits on us is courteous and quick to attend to our needs. Never needed to ask for water. The food is great. Korean good can be categorized into different styles and regions. Most people have experienced the Korean BBQ or soondubu (soft tofu soup) places. Few have experienced comfort food/drinking food like this place. They have Korean staples like bibimbap and an array of jigae's. But they specialize in foods that a Korean mom would make or foods that go well with a drink or two or when you have a craving. Kimbaps are the quick lunch foods of all Korean kids growing up and they make great ones here. They have kimchi and dwenjang jigae's that you can't make at home cause they smell up the neighborhood and still don't taste as good. Try it for lunch. If you live walking distance, try some of the Korean drinks as well as the food. We've only come for lunch so far. But we're gonna über it over and have a drink there one of these nights. It's currently on the top of our list for a quick bite.
(5)
Liberty W.
Great local korean spot! Used to travel to Annandale from Bethesda just to have some Korean cuisine so it's nice to have a neighborhood spot! They are really nice there too and provide good service. My favorite things are the kimchi pancakes and kalbi of course!!! Soups are good too!!! If you like korean food, you will love this little spot!!!
(5)
Morris S.
I've had almost everything here, and its all great. Nice, family run. Good service, high quality. I'm a regular now!
(5)
Jesse L.
I've only had Korean food a handful of times. The first few times ranged from disliking it to mildly enjoying it. Today changed everything. This Korean food was amazing. So many veggies and flavors. The rice was delicious. The service quick, attentive, and polite. Prices are good. Highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu.
(5)
C P.
Solid, but not fantastic. Does not compare to the wealth of Korean restaurants in Annandale, but for the area, it's a solid option.
(3)
Dimple N.
Definitely a must visit spot if you live or work in the area! We got spinach jeon(pancake), potstickers and dolsot bibimbap. The dolsot (hot stone) bibimbap was brilliant - left the rice crispy at the bottom. Food quantity was just the right amount for 2 people. Our server Lyon was absolutely wonderful. He was so nice and seemed like a one-man army taking the restaurant to greatness by himself. In short, great food and excellent service. I'll surely be back soon.
(5)
Mickey L.
Thanks to House of Milae (HoM), Bethesda (the whole DC Metro Area, for that matter) finally has a great Boon-shik (casual dining) Korean restaurant! Fantastic food, outstanding service, and cosy ambiance with dark wooden furniture make HoM a hot new classic! Five years ago when my dining companion and I were visiting San Jose, we practically lived nearby in Santa Clara at Roll House, a refined Boonshik spot serving delicious namesake Kim-bap as well as other comfort food classics like Ddeok-guk and Jaap-chae. We just wished that there were one in the DC area--Bethesda, specifically. Enter House of Milae, a wish come true with equally stellar food, service, and ambiance as Roll House, if not even better thanks to its absolute gem of a signature dish, Dak-do-ri-tang! Since last week, we thoroughly enjoyed two lunches (L = available also as a lunch special) and two dinners, ordering the following: - Dakdoritang: chicken stew with potatoes and onions in a slightly sweet Go-chu-jang-based broth; read below for details. - *Bulgogi Kimbap: rice roll with sliced beef, carrots, spinach, egg, fishcake, and sweet pickled radish; excellent balance of flavors and rolled expertly. - Spicy Calamari Bowl: fresh sliced squid stir-fried with cabbage, mushrooms, and spring onions in a Go-chu-jang-based (fermented red chili-soy paste) sauce; normally, this dish is too sweet, but we really enjoyed this dish--particularly the tender mollusk. - *Jaapchae: stir-fried clear sweet potato vermicelli noodles with shiitake, spinach, sliced beef; surprisingly, it has been hard to find good Jaap-chae anywhere (though it is not a difficult dish to prepare), but HoM's prepares it with ease and a good balance of sweet, savory, tender, and firm. - Ddeokguk: sliced rice cake (ddeok) soup with sliced beef, egg, and spring onion; tender ddeok in a clean beef broth and just enough beef and toppings--win! - *Chicken Galbi Bowl: slightly spicy soy sauce-based marinated thigh meat grilled to a nice charred outside; told that it may be sweeter than a usual Galbi (to please Bethesda's American taste buds), we found it just right with a light kick of heat and the perfect char. - Vegetable Bu-chim-gae: savory pancake appetizer with spinach and carrots; think Pa-jeon (scallion pancake) but with a tender inside and crispy outside. The main server of HoM, Lyon, is the son of the chef/owner. He is very courteous, makes us feel at home, and smoothly communicates between the kitchen and us. For example, he gave us a heads-up that our food would be a tad bit saltier than a previous visit because his mother was away and that his sister (who has slightly saltier taste buds than their mother) was heading the kitchen. Everything we ordered, from the fresh Ban-chan (small plates to accompany rice/entree) to the made-to-order entrees was outstanding. However, the Dak-do-ri-tang totally won me over. Although it is not an uncommon in Boonshik, we have never come across it in the DC area, Manhattan, LA, or Seoul. This dish is specially prepared by the chef/owner, and we had to pass on it once when she was away and her daughter (also a solid chef, herself) manned the stoves. The wait was worth it! Having never seen or heard of the dish, we had only learned of its existence from my uncle, when we took to Ravi's Kabob House 2 and ordered Chicken Karahi, which he said it tasted exactly like Dak-do-ri-tang. Sure enough, HoM's tasted just like the Karahi, except with a slightly thinner base and a gentle sweetness coming from the onions and Go-chu-jang to replace the spicy ginger-tomato sauce. What was so thoroughly impressive about HoM's signature dish was the finesse with which Chef prepared the chicken. Like the Karahi, it featured bone-in cuts of thigh and leg meat. However, it was impeccably devoid of fat normally abundant between the skin and meat as well as between the meat. Furthermore, the chicken was thoroughly cooked, yet very tender and easy to eat off the bone. It was as if the chicken were cooked Sous-Vide to keep the texture tender while rendering the fat before finishing it off in the stew. The night we ordered the Dak-do-ri-tang, Lyon saw how much we were enjoying the dish that he brought his mother over to see us. When she came over, we were eager to know how she prepared the chicken so perfectly. Her answer was that she was simply thorough in trimming off the fat before preparing the chicken, which she said was cooked at a high temperature for a while. She said that she only prepares and serves dishes that she would at home to her family members, each of whom has a distinct taste (sweet+salty, neutral, very mild, and spicy+bitter). This perfectly sums up HoM: homemade comfort food made with meticulous preparations (i.e. bite-size cute Kimchi is a big plus) and a refined touch paired with smooth service for a delicious experience in a relaxed vibe. Bethesda is now two-deep (Passage to India) with superb restaurants!
(5)
Hua X.
A couple months back, I watched a World Cup game here. I think they show soccer sometimes. Solid food. Really friendly service. I had some good conversations with the gregarious waiter. Definitely aiming to come back -- there are just too many restaurants in Bethesda.
(4)
lisa y.
Drive by this place every morning and has been intrigued. Friends suggested we go there Saturday night. Excellent food, excellent service. I will definitely be back. I got the dolsot bibimbap. So much beef and veggies and the rice was perfectily crisp! Drooling just thinking about this place again!
(4)
Dennis O.
New place that just opened. Family owned. Excellent food. Kimchi is very fresh and they also have this mushroom and broccoli side that I have not seen in other Korean places. Ordered the Jap Chae. Sweet potato noodles stir fried with beef and vegetables. Absolutely delicious. Not many Korean options in Bethesda actually. Highly recommended.
(5)
David T.
3.5 stars for food 2 stars for service. Korean food here is more authentic and better than MOMO. Sides are good. I come here when I'm craving Korean and don't have time to drive up to Rockville. Service is usually pretty good but they have a new young unpolished waiter with attitude that put me off. I'm going to write this constructively because I've waited tables in college and don't want to poop on this lad. Let me preface this by saying there was only two tables at 2PM on a Saturday. "Do you want to order?" He said with a hard face. Why else would I come to a restaurant. Of course I want to order. It should be "would you like to order sir?" or "are you ready to order sir?" with a smile. not "Do you" with a hard face! Also when this waiter brought food to the table, he laid it down forcefully and said "here you go" walking away quickly with out emotion. The average waiter with a little bit of experience knows to say "enjoy you meal" or "is there anything else I can get for you?" with a smile if they want a chance at a decent tip. The owner always solicits my opinion of how the establishment can improve so here it is. I know good help is hard to find but remind your help the basics of waiting tables 101.
(3)
H. Y.
This restaurant was really good! Great service...the waiters were really nice. The food was really tasty and affordable as well. I went for the first time and ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kissa M.
Went here for the first time about a month ago and now it's one of our work staples. The food is one point. You can eat lunch for less than $10. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Julia M.
If you love dolsot bibimbap (stone bowl), this is the place for you. The rice gets super crispy, perfect on a cold night. Big portions. We were so happy with the food, but even happier with the service. Lyon, our server, was so kind and considerate! You don't find this kind of service very often, he really took care of everyone in the restaurant.
(5)
Chlo L.
I love galbi. It makes me want to dance! Do dah happy dance. It was pretty empty on a Sunday evening but we came close to closing time. The kimchi soup was amazeeeee balls. They have that sake too so it was an especially good dinner. Must go back... Now.
(4)
Elise C.
My boyfriend and I went to House of Milae before seeing a movie on a Saturday night. It's been about a week and a half since we visited, and I can't stop thinking about the bibimbap. We weren't super hungry, so we asked the waiter if one order of the bibimbap would be enough for us to share, and rather than upsell us, he suggested just one order in addition to an appetizer. We shared the bibimbap with chicken (we sprung for the stone bowl) and an order of dumplings. The food was so delicious, we wished our appetites were larger so that we'd ordered our own bibimbap. Fast and very friendly service, and an affordable, high-quality meal!
(5)
Alexis M.
I love this place! Whenever I need a korean food fix, I come here. My favorite thing to get is seafood soondooboo jigae. Perfect soft tofu in scalding hot red pepper stock. Ask for the egg on the side so you can crack it yourself and ensure that the egg thickens the soup, rather than cooking at the bottom of the bowl/ pot.
(4)
Matthew S.
Been here a couple of times already. Amazing Korean food and our server has always been polite and helpful. He even helped me get food quick when my wife was pregnant and was craving Korean food. One of my favorite US Korean restaurants! Chicken Kalbi was sooooo good. Bulgogi as well. Everything I have tried so far has been great. Please give it a shot!
(5)
Victoria M.
Good food, good service, good lunch menu. Their pork bbq rice bowl is so good, and it's just spicy enough....
(4)
Aaron C.
Definitely one of - if not the - best Korean I've found in Maryland. The bibimbap was everything it's supposed to be.
(4)
Arnaud C.
I LOVE this place. Bethesda was really missing a Korean place. Here it is, and it is a good one! OK, maybe the choice will be more limited than in a Korean restaurant in Annandale VA, but the quality is here! I really like their stone bowl Bibimbap.
(5)
JD R.
Korean food that reminds me of eating at Seoraksan Mountain in South Korea. Few frills; just honest, authentic Korean food.
(5)
Jerold P.
The food was enjoyable, and we had a pleasant experience. I enjoyed my kimchi jijigae and my girlfriend liked her bibimbap. I had the house sake (cold) which was okay, and my girlfriend had the korean raspberry wine. She had a huge amount that she was able to take home as well. The place offered good value and we would go there again.
(4)
Claire M.
Wandered in here on a rainy Friday night in search of some steaming hot bibimbap. If you've never had bibimbap, you're missing out, and you should go immediately, but I'll try and describe it for you. The waitress will bring you a piping hot ceramic bowl, filled to the brim with prettily organized little sections of food. Rice, carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, greens, etc, with a softly fried egg on top. Then you take your chopsticks (okay, fine, I used a spoon for this part...) and mix everything together. The hot clay pot cooks the egg and and crisps the rice, so that it gets a little crunchy and very tasty. Then you can add a bunch of hot sauce or some kimchi to your bowl, and go at it. The bibimbap was really good. I'd definitely go back for it. The potstickers weren't too memorable - pretty bland. Go to House of Milae if you need a quick bibimbap fix.
(3)
Steve M.
I hate to repeat all those boring reviews. But they are right. This place is great. It was my first time in a Korean restaurant and definitely not my last. Pleasant clean interior. Friendly staff answered all of my questions and gave advice. Seafood pancake (jeon) was great. Rice wine was excellent. The sides were multiple, pretty, and tasty throughout. Then the bibimbap with pulled pork in a lovely hot ceramic bowl; lovely and huge. The waiter offered to mix it and I gladly accepted. With my permission he added hot sauce, and then lots more hot sauce. It was great, not too spicy for me, and I left pleasantly stuffed and thinking about my next visit very soon.
(5)
Takahiro O.
Being a local, I was excited to try this place out because I love Korean food and House of Milae is pretty much the only Korean restaurant in Bethesda. The interior is spacious and clean. They play K-pop music in the background, but it's not too loud. They have hot green tea for free, which is always a plus on a cold day. I ordered the Kimchi Jjigae (tofu soup). I'm not sure how customizable this soup is, but I got the default one (beef, medium spicy to spicy). It came with napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, mixed vegetables, tofu, and a bowl of rice. Free refills for the side dishes (not sure about the rice). Overall, the food was not bad but not great either. It was just okay. The soup was on the spicier side for my taste, and I wish they had dropped an egg to make it more mild. The mixed vegetables side dish was bland. If you're looking for simple, reasonably-priced, home-style Korean food, House of Milae is a good place for you. There's nothing special about the food, but service was excellent and I had a good time overall. I might come back to try something else, but I'd rather go somewhere else like Lighthouse Tofu to satisfy my jjigae craving.
(3)
Parinaz G.
The first thing that needs to be said about this place is that their service is EXCELLENT! The food is great too, and I loved their Bibimbap. It is a cute, cozy restaurant and well worth the trek from Arlington. Definitely a must try and probably one of the better Korean restaurants in the DMV.
(4)
Mark P.
The best Korean food I have had since i moved from Boston 20+ year ago. Try the kimchee pancake appetizer or the kimchee, tofu and pork entree delicious.
(5)
Lenny G.
Perfect bibimbap. The restaurant is small, but the food is great, the people nice and the serve pretty fast. I will be coming back here to try the other selections!
(5)
Chris K.
pretty good but very expensive and light on the meat. service is generally slow and distracted by their iphones.
(2)
Kimie K.
I and my husband ordered Tofu Kimchi and Spicy Squid which were both awesome. I also love how they prepare their banchans (side dishes). When it comes to Korean restaurants, if their side dishes are good, that's the indication of how good of Korean restaurant it is. The servers were extremely nice, friendly, and polite. I wish I lived around there so I could visit more often. To sum up, will I go back? of course!
(5)
Eric M.
I got a togo order and it was very well packaged. You can tell that they actually try to give you the same quality as eating in. I would dine herebif I get the chance
(5)
Ruofei D.
Splendid Korean restaurant. All dishes are delicate. The service is awesome. Infinite Korean small dishes. Yummy!
(5)
Michael F.
Was expecting A LOT better from the reviews I read. I got the stone bowl. The rice at the bottom was crispy and the food was overall tasty--4 stars. Service was also good--not overbearing but attentive. Our waiter brought us a little sampler of lots of different vegetables which was also very nice. There were to main problems I had. The first was that the portion was too small. I finished my food and I was hungry after. Simple as that--and I'm not any huge eater or anything. Second was that I paid a lot for my small portion. $17 if I remember correctly? That's a lot for slightly above average food that left me still hungry afterward. I went with my coworker and while I didn't taste his food, he had a lot more negative impression of this restaurant. He said he wouldn't be coming back, especially for the price. IIRC he got sweet potato noodles or something like that. I may give this place a second shot, but I'm not sure at all.
(3)
Mol R.
I have been here several times and I keep coming back. The service is wonderful, the restaurant is spotless, and the food is delicious. They have expanded their alcoholic beverages menu to include a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese alcohols. It was really busy tonight, but the service was quick and the waiters offered to bring more banchan twice. I have lived in both Jeonju and Seoul, and I can tell you this food is exactly what you would eat in a casual restaurant in Korea. Anyone saying that the food at Milae cannot compare to the Korean restaurants in Annandale doesn't seem to understand that those restaurants are not like what a regular night out in Korea is like. The waiters also speak Korean if you are interested in practicing. I no longer have a need to drive to Virginia to get my Korean fix!
(5)
Tou M.
A simple menu with excellent quality dishes. I ordered the fried pork pot stickers which were crunchy on the outside and steaming on the inside. They were accompanied with a sweet soy sauce for dipping. My entree was the dolsot bimbimbop. It arrived sizzling hot along with a bottle of gochujang for spice enhancement. All dishes arrived promptly,freshly made and were flavorful. I would definitely go back, however being located on St Elm Ave, there are also a lot of other enticing restaurants and bars within walking distance.
(5)
Richard W.
This review is a couple of weeks late (not that it matters that much). Was in Bethesda on business and knew I would be stuck in my hotel room for a couple of nights getting work-related stuff done. Really didn't have time to go out and eat and I really didn't want to order room service. So, checked out House of Milae, since Korean food sounded good. Got the galbi, dwaeji bulgogi, and japchae...enough food for two nights. Coming from a city with a large immigrant Korean population, I feel like I know what's good vs. bad Korean food. I have to say that I was impressed with House of Milae and would highly recommend. Since I did takeout, I can't comment on the actual restaurant and service, but based on how I was served as a person doing takeout, I would think their in-house service is just fine. Go and check this place out.
(3)
Kim L.
I love this new addition to Bethesda! The mom, daughter and son all work together which makes this gem a true family restaurant. The pork bulgogi is beyond delicious as was the seafood stew. The calamari was spicy but incredibly tender. I am thrilled I no longer have to trek to Annandale for my weekly fix!
(5)
Michelle A.
Good addition to the Bethesda dining lineup - and speaking of lineup, here are the deets: 1) Really friendly service 2) Korean sushi sampler was mediocre, the cooked tuna isn't really appealing, a lot of people are going to choose this app and be disappointed. Back to the drawing board, please! 3) Potstickers were very tasty 4) I liked the bulgogi taste-wise, but I like my meats on a hot plate to come out sizzling, maybe it's just for show, but I didn't get that "just cooked" experience I'm used to at a Korean place 5) Decor needs some work, finishing touches seemed sloppy (poorly taped off paint work in the bathroom, etc.), could be a warmer, more inviting atmosphere 6) Need more banchan 4 stars since it's a great addition to the area, but there are some improvements that need to be made to become a long lasting fixture.
(4)
Rita A.
Absolutely authentic great little restaurant. Korean home cooking - delicious spicy food for a fair price. Simple, clean, small place for Lunch and Dinner. They also do take - out. Bibimbap is a must. Large portions. I had lots of Korean food in NYC. I think this place is among the few places in Bethesda that is better than average.
(5)
Arpitha B.
Nice place for quite lunch or dinner. Food is really tasty. However the dessert menu needs to be looked upon. Overall a good place for Korean food. Good variety in vegetarian.
(4)
Cynthia L.
Came for lunch on a rainy Thursday. Served immediately by a lovely young man. Both of us were craving bibimbop. A lunch portion, $9, was perfect in flavor, potion size and freshness. And 6 varieties of banchan. Each one delicious. We were happy lunchers. Must add that we are foodies. And very critical
(4)
Greg G.
Great food here. Went with some Korean colleagues -always a bonus to have natives when you want to navigate the terrain of foreign cuisine and not get lost or worse sick. My one disclaimer to any who enjoys ramen noodles is to not be surprised or shocked or run to an enterologist when you notice undigested noodles in your poo or toilet bowl. My experience was oh no why are there worms coming out back there!! Thankfully it was just an another example that the human body cant get nutrients out of everything you eat or break it down properly.
(4)
Nandi E.
Excellent food. I got the short ribs. Had three times and it is good everytime. Great service too.
(5)
J S.
They have a nice selection of Korean wine. Waiter was very kind to let me taste three before choosing one. Galbi was excellent. Highly recommended. The spicy calamari is HOT! The wait staff is fantastic. Very helpful and friendly.
(4)
Sara S.
I have to agree with Mike B. below - mediocre. I liked the atmosphere and general feel of House of Milae - it was neat and clean with plenty of seating, a small bar, and some Christmas decor. The hostess was nice and my food-to-go came out promptly. I got the bulgogi, which had some flavor but was a little over-cooked/dry even with the thin sauce it came with. While the sides looked good, they were very bland and came in tiny portions. I also got some veggie potstickers ,which weren't bad but didn't seem to have too much filling. As Mike said, the best part was the perfectly cooked sticky rice.
(3)
Jonathan L.
The bibimbop I had was excellent, as were the dumplings, appetizers and korean beer. Contrary to what others have written, the wait staff was very good taking the order promptly, answering my questions about the menu patiently and making sure that the water glasses were full during the meal.
(5)
Steph M.
Yummy in my very hungry tummy! That is my split sentiment regarding House of Milae--good food to salivate to while you are starving on a Saturday night. Serving traditional, home-style korean food that is flavorful and well-priced, House of Milae is located in "old Bethesda" on a mysterious street that is impossible to find. After you circle around Cordell a few times, accidentally walk back and forth in front of Naked Pizza (because that is how everyone wants their pizza, flaccid and cold to the touch), you end up on St. Elmo and hopefully within the narrow restaurant that is House of Milae. The food is lovely! The food is solid in quality! The restaurant is dismally understaffed and is kept (non) functioning by means of a 2-person waitstaff. Lack/slow service made this restaurant impossible to even visit on a moderately busy Saturday evening. I was sad, but not sad enough to visit flaccid naked pizza next door. Visit this authentic korean spot during the off-hours or on a weekday, and you won't be disappointed!
(3)
Davita K.
Phenomenal food and service! I got the dolsot bibimbap, and it was incredible! Probably the best one that I have ever had in the United States. Plus, the server was very friendly.
(5)
Jen A.
This place is great! I love the sweet man that always greets me during lunch. It's been a while since I've visited, but I'm definitely no stranger there. All of their bulgogis are delicious. I love the side dishes that come with - especially the radishes and fish cakes. It doesn't matter what you pick, it will all be delicious! The flavors are all there.
(5)
Andre D.
Great food and good service. Among the best of Bethesda. Try the bulgolgi jeon. Service is attentive but music is sometimes a bit loud. We'll be back!
(5)
Samyuktha K.
It's a nice cosy place with great service and good food. We ordered the Kimchi Jjingae and the Dwaeji (Pork) Bulgogi and both were quite nice. We were also given a few free sides and some nice hot tea. The service was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter who was quite considerate towards us. This won points with me. I am happy when customers are treated with respect and vice versa. The ambiance is cozy especially when sitting in the booth on a cold, rainy day. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Tom M.
Really delicious, affordable Korean food. The menu is rather small, and it's pretty reminiscent of other Korean places, but I've been there several times now and everything is really good and very reasonably priced. You really can't beat it.
(5)
Weimew Y.
I am so glad that there is finally a Korean restaurant in Bethesda! House of Milae serves authentic Korean 'small dishes', all complimentary. The vegetable pancake and sweet potato noodles are very tasty. We plan to go back to try tofu stew sometime soon. It's nice to have a good Korean restaurant in Bethesda downtown that we don't need to drive to Rockville for Korean food.
(4)
Kelvin C.
Best Korean food in the area. The stone pot bibimbap is the best I've had in the DMV area. The waiter is also a very friendly and warns you about the spiciness of the tofu soup.
(5)
Miss C.
I visited House of Milae after reading the Yelp reviews hoping to find my fix of Korean food that would match the yummy authentic places I came to know in Atlanta.The service was good, the place is small. The food was well seasoned, good but not outstanding. I had the sweet potato noodles, with tofu. They were tasty, the tofu was well seared. I have had better kimchi, the portions were kinda small for what I am used to. Would try them again though, just that I didn't get hooked and compelled to return the next day and several days in a row like I have a other places! Maybe I will have an update for later!
(3)
Tony M.
As a neighbor, I welcome these first rate folks to open House of Milae. I have eaten there 3 times already...every time wonderful! I'm on the newer side to Korean food, but loved everything I've had.. Bulgogi, several soups, the seafood pancake is wonderful! Very fresh, very nice family (owners)...please check them out, and tell them Chef Tony sent you!
(5)
Jason W.
Finally a Korean restaurant in downtown Bethesda, and one that serves dol sot bibimbap. Although the food was not as good as some of the Korean restaurants in the Rockville area, it was convenient and tasted good. The dol sot bibimbap came with 5 sides of banchan that were a nice starter while I let my egg fry and the rice brown and crust on the clay pot that the bibimbap came in. I left stuffed but determined to return for more. They do have a limited drink menu, but that will hopefully change.
(4)
E Y.
Decent korean for Bethesda but definitely nothing special, just ok. Take out seems to taste better than eating there.
(3)
Noah C.
The food was amazing (I recommend the Chicken Galbi, though everything is fantastic) and the service was absolutely wonderful. I loved the waiter and can't wait to go back to try even more spectacular Korean dishes.
(5)
Good E.
i came here for lunch with a friend. i got the bibimbap and we split one of the pork specials. the bibimbap was pretty good. i did use the entire bowl of hot sauce and did not feel that it was overwhelmingly spicy. my friend was not so bold but he liked his bibimbap as well. the other pork dish was just ok, nothing amazing. the lunch specials are well worth it, the price came down to about thirteen bucks per person which was very reasonable for what you get and in this day and age. the server was incredibly nice and polite. the place is small and not well demarcated. they should probably change the sign or do something to make themselves more prominent. the decor is average, but the place is very clean. i did not use the bathroom so i cannot comment on that! parking is something you have to pay for , boo overall, i would say if you happen to be in the area, try this place out. it wont be as amazing as the K places for grub in annandale but it's not bad.
(4)
Solomon S.
I love this place. They have incredible korean food and even better service. The kimbap was just to die for. The bugogi was excellent as well. And they might possibly have the best kimchi in DC to boot. The server was very nice and even gave us some new dishes to sample. Really hope the restaurant sticks around. I had a wonderful meal there with my best friends.. Will definitely be back
(5)
Tony P.
This place is awesome. Great service and the food was off the chain. Some of the best Korean food I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and give them a visit!
(5)
Lauren R.
Great new Korean restaurant. Delicious food, really nice server - family run seems like. We loved everything we got - including bebimbop with beef and love their pork dish. Also had a vegetarian with us who loved the bebimbop with tofu. and yay for mochi ice cream - both green tea and red bean flavors. Love it!
(4)
Eld S.
Great good! Very veggie friendly as well. Will be going back.
(5)
Scott S.
Excellent service and food. We live nearby and decided to give House of Milae a try. We had the bibimbap with beef and sweet potato noodles - these and all of the sides were so delicious, especially with the hot barley tea. We left with an inexpensive tab and happy stomachs without feeling overly full. We definitely recommend stopping by here!
(5)
Awesta H.
I've been here twice in the last four days. It's so good. The dolsot bibim bop is fantastic. And that service is great. Not many people go because it's not very noticeable, so try it!
(5)
Yumi M.
Such great customer service! They made sure our water was refilled, made sure the food was good, and asked if we wanted extra banchans! My fiance and I ordered bulgogi kimbob, chicken galbi, and soondubu (which is not on the menu but they will make it for you!) We absolutely LOVED everything. Very homemade style and was tasty. We will be back in no time. (And as a restaurant in Bethesda, very generous pricing.)
(4)
Robyn M.
If you are like me and you've have been waiting for a Korean restaurant to come to Bethesda, you''ll welcome the arrival of House of Milae. The side dishes were fresh, the kalbi tangy, and our kids loved the delicious chap jae (sweet potato vermicelli). Both of the soups that we ordered sported rich, savory broths; I liked how my kimchi soup came with a choice of white or multigrain rice (the latter was fantastic). The choice of drinks was interesting (my kids tried the banana milk, which is apparently popular in Korea). For dessert, we all found a flavor of mochi to satisfy us. The service was first rate, with the chef sending out several of the house specialties to sample. Overall, this casual family-run restaurant has a lot to offer. We'll definitely be back soon and often.
(5)
Robert V.
We have been looking for a great Korean place without having to drive far away and boy does this fit the bill. Everything we ordered was amazing and was as good as the Korean food I've eaten across the country (NYC, California, Hawaii). For our meal we ordered the Galbi, Dol Sot Bibimbap and Kimchee Jjigae. Each dish was so good that we left completely stuffed! In addition, the Kimchee and other pickled dishes we got were all well spiced and really complimented our meal. We look forward to being VERY frequent customers :)
(5)
M Louise S.
Like other patrons this was our first Korean food adventure outside of Annandale (for this area). We had the hot stone Bibimbap and the Kimbap sampler. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding. Definitely a place we will visit again.
(4)
Sarah P.
I am a huge fan of Korean food and this place meets expectations! Their meat is cooked to perfection, tender, and tasty. Staff is very friendly. I highly recommend!!!
We really enjoyed our meal here! We both got the bibimbap - one in a hot stone bowl and the other regular. They were both very satisfying! I loved all the little bowls of other food that came with it as well. Our waiter was very patient answering our questions, made helpful recommendations, and was attentive. The bill came in under $40, which is great for two entrees and two beers in Bethesda! We look forward to coming back soon.
(5)
Kelly C.
DELICIOUS KOREAN FOOD! :) Somehow, growing up in the area, I have never been to a korean restaurant in MD (other than the usual krn bbq places). I finally yelped a korean restaurant by me and found this place! I came on a Friday night and it was surprisingly empty. The food was soooo good. My boyfriend and I shared the bulgogi kimbap to start and then for entrees, he got the bibimbap and I got the kimchi jjigae. Everything was seriously amazing (or I have just been in major deprivation of korean food that at this point, anything would be amazing). We also got the green tea and red bean mochi ice cream for dessert. The guy working there was super nice and said the red bean was better, so when we asked to try both flavors, he gave us 2 red bean and 1 green tea. (He was right, btw!). At the end of the meal, he also came by and gave us these cute little lollipop treats. They weren't too special but he was so friendly to us during our meal that I felt required to eat it, lol. Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for some delicious korean food along with great service.
(5)
Amanda B.
Absolutely delicious and definitely filling the Korean food void that was in Bethesda. My korean fiance and I now go here several times a week for takeout! The service is absolutely amazing and the food tastes genuine and delicious! The bulgogi gimbop and bibimbop are our favorites!
(5)
Michael S.
This place is so new - - we are the only party in the place. The barbecued pork and hot rock Bulgogi were very satisfying. Great kimchi.
(4)
Elizabeth B.
A great new option in Bethesda! Terrific kalbi, spicy pork, and bibimbap. Great, attentive service. We will definitely be back. Only note I'd fix is the big neon sign outside. Seems a little too garish for the great food within. I have eaten authentic korean all over, having grown up in Hawaii, and have waited for folks on the east coast to catch on. If you like barbecue, and spicy food, you should go.
(5)
Jennifer M.
I'm sitting in House of Milae right now for lunch, and I am stuffed and happy. The service is incredible, and the kimchi jjigae is perfect. And who doesn't love Kpop??
(5)
Jessica L.
I am so excited that my neighborhood finally has a good Korean restaurant! I had the kimchi jigae, and it was awesome... just as good as the Korean places further out in the burbs. Our waitress was really sweet, prices were reasonable, tea was hot, bathrooms were clean. It wasn't crowded at all... I hope more people go there, because I want this place to stick around!
(5)
Edoardo K.
GREAT food! Not too expensive. Wonderful service. Definitely a keeper in Bethesda and a definite "must go."
(5)
C W.
The menu at House of Milae has the usual popular Korean dishes: bulgogi, galbi, bibimbap, and kimbop. We ordered the veggie potstickers, bulgogi kimbop, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. The side dishes were definitely fresh and homemade, which I enjoyed. The food itself was good; however I wish they had added bit more flavor or marinated the meat longer. I personally like when the rice in the bibimbop has a nice layer of crispy/almost burnt rice at the bottom. The rice in my order was hot but not at all crispy. The next time I go, I'll be sure to request that. Overall, food was good. I'd recommend this place to my parents and to any that prefer a less spicer version of typical Korean food. I appreciate the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant and best of all, is conveniently located in Bethesda. The staff here was very friendly and I would go back again to get the lunch specials.
(3)
Cherise P.
This place is so good! And service is outstanding. So friendly and attentive! Waiter was nice enough to give me a sampling of sake & soju when I wasn't sure which one I wanted to order. Ordered the jjigae (stew) with seafood, tofu, & kimchi- asked for it extra spicy and it was! So yummy & comforting. Portion size was generous and price was very reasonable. Layout was pleasing (mix of tables, booths, and small bar seating area), and it looks like they have a patio too! The Korean pop music soundtrack is a nice touch. Will definitely be back to try more things!
(5)
Jennifer N.
(4.5 stars). I now have a close-to-home Korean joint for those evenings I don't feel like driving to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville. It's true that the decor in House of Milae is slightly sterile, but the warm service, barley tea (yes, please!), and fantastic, authentic food well make up for it. The seafood pancake was as good as the best I've had, and the stone pot bi bim bop was delectable (never fear, though the menu mentions beef only, unlike Lighthouse Tofu, they will happily make it with a delicious spicy chicken). House of Milae is the only Korean place I've ever gone to that throws a bit of lettuce in the bi bim bop, but it works. And, of course, it all comes with banchan, that embarrassment of riches that makes going out for Korean food so fun. The price is shockingly cheap: two of us ate for $21.
(4)
Sam E.
Service is great and seems like it's run by a family. Don't come expecting to get great service but all four of our waiters were really nice. But what you do come for is the food. Outstanding food. We had the Kalbi beef. Expensive but marinated to perfection. Bi bim bap with spicy pork so filling and tasty in the stone bowl. Sides were outstanding and they were generous with the extras. I love the Kim chi;)
(5)
James S.
I am not an expert of Korean cuisine but I have been to the House of Milae at least three times in the past six months. I keep coming back because the main dishes as well as the sides are delicious and the service is excellent. Like many people my favorite dish is Bibimbap, the ultimate in Korean comfort food. Imagine a bowl of crusted rice covered with uniquely flavored veggies, your choice of protein and a sunny- side up egg. Mix well and taste your dreams come true. The sides are a nice addition with subtle tastes, the kimchi is especially good. So if you are in Bethesda you can find great Korean food at the House of Milae.
(5)
James L.
A Korean restaurant within a few miles of district limits? I'm already sold. I had lunch there with a friend after a round of golf. We had the Kalbi (short ribs), Kimchi Pajun (pancakes), mandu (potstickers), and the Tofu Kimchi with pork....yeah, we were hungry. Will I be back, you can bet on it.
(4)
Cora C.
The House of Milae is a classy yet authentic Korean restaurant in Bethesda. We had the jeon (pancake), the mandu (dumplings), the kimchi stew, and the bulgogi - all very good. The potato salad appetizer was delicious too.
(4)
Mike C.
SOLID. Service was attentive and generous. Food was authentic and spicy. I recommend the Galbi if you like ribs. The Jeon (Korean pancake) app was also amazing. Try the spicy chicken stew if you like a little heat.
(5)
Brian S.
Authentic and delicious Korean food. The haemul pajeun (seafood pancake) appetizer, varieties of kim chi and sides, and the bibimbap took me back to the four years I lived in Seoul. I was concerned with the look of the place from outside, but it's actually spacious and comfortable within. And once our server turned his attention from seating the dinner crowd to taking our order, we felt catered to and quite happy. If you want a real taste of Korea, I highly recommend this place. Bonus: That was the least I have spent in a restaurant in the Bethesda/DC area, especially considering the amount, quality, and variety of dishes we enjoyed.
(5)
Tianchen Q.
This is a small Korean restaurant, with a convenient public parking garage just across the street. We had the seafood pancake, soondubu and kimchi stew. Seafood pancake was good, while the other two were a little too sweet. The two Korean waiters are very nice. They even offered to refill the small dishes - nowadays not many Korean restaurants do this, from my experience.
(5)
aloha g.
Excellent bibimbap. Actually done right with the crispy gently burned rice on bottom of fired bowl. Good side dishes. Would bring my non Korean friends here. Very good. It is bumped up a bit price-wise with Bethesda prices. Parking garage across the street.
(4)
Phil B.
Wow, for Korean. Super authentic, under $10 lunch service. Counldn't ask for more.
(5)
George M.
Spectacular place to get home style Korean food! The menu isn't very large, but you'll understand why when you get your food and see that it is prepared with great care. This is not your typical krnbbq joint--if that's what you're looking for, go somewhere with the word Kogi in the name. The stews here are on point-love the spicy one! Bbq chicken is also very tasty with lots of sesame seeds. And do yourself a favor and get the sesame pancake appetizer! The service is great here too, also rare for a Korean restaurant.
(5)
Mike B.
114 reviews and 4.5 stars is what I was looking at when I decided that I must try House Of Milae again, and I'm ending up giving them one more star. Service was attentive and friendly! Banchan are still very small portions. Come on peeps, the potato salad is pretty good, can I get more than 1/4 tablespoon full. When the kimchi came to the table, I immediately asked for another dish knowing that I would use more than what were provided. I decided on the spicy pork bibimbap which was pretty good. I would have liked a little bit more of a portion of pork on the dish. Veggies were a little bit bland. But the egg was perfectly cooked and really added nicely to the dish. I would get it again. What was really impressive was the spicy chili sauce that they served with it. It was a wonderful balance of spicy and sweet and really added a lot to the dish. My friend ordered the Spicy Calamari which came to the table bathed in so much red sauce that it looked to be aflame. I tasted it, and the nature-like bright cautionary warnings were not playing. This dish is on fireeeeeeee This dish is on fireeeeeeeeeee #AliciaKeys He was struggling to eat it, and I don't blame him. The waiter even dropped it off and made a comment about how freakin' hot it was. Overall a decent experience, I'm just looking for a little bit more... soul in the food... a little more Seoul... And with that terrible pun, I will end there.
(3)
Anna H.
First time in DC and decided to come here for dinner. The place was packed but we still had a table right away. We ordered the carrot, spinach and onion Korean pancake for our appetizer. It was quite good. Cooked to crispy perfection and the mix was a little sweet and salty which was great. Then I got a Rice and Mondu stew while my husband ordered the Bi Bim Bop with an egg cooked over easy. The stew had a great flavor and I liked all the vegetables that came in the stew. However, the rice cakes were undercooked because they were very tough to chew. The Bi Bim Bop was visually beautiful, but the flavor was not great. The meat was flavored okay, but there was too much rice, very little veggies and the mixture of all of the condiments did not blend well. We have tasted quite a few Bi Bim Bop and this was maybe one of the worst. As for the service, our water was always filled but our server forgot our friend's meal and our pancake. We had to tell him and other servers that we were missing our food. Then when we told him that the rice cakes were undercooked he just kind of walked away. After we almost finished our food, our appetizer arrived with the manager delivering it. We told him the problems we had. He gave us the pancakes for free and said that next time tell him sooner that the rice cakes were undercooked sooner. We told him that we told the server. He was very apologetic but the damage had been done. This place got lots of great reviews, but our experience here was far from great. Hopefully they will learn to write the orders down and fix the flavor of their Bi Bim Bop.
(2)
Judy C.
I had the soondobu, which is the tofu stew. I had it with seafood. It was just what my stomach needed on a rainy day. The stew was well seasoned and not overly salty like some other places. I also had the carrot and spinach pancake. That could've had more oomph to it. I was looking at it and they didn't put much spinach in there. Not much flavor without the sauce. It was kinda dead when I went. I hope they get a lot of business. They seem like nice people and the food is pretty good.
(4)
Jess C.
Friendly Korean restaurant. We had a party of nine and sat at the only round table located in the back nook of the restaurant by the bathroom/bar/kitchen area. It was a very homey place, and good for groups if you ever make a reservation. Our server was super nice and helpful. Pretty much our entire table ordered the dolsot bibimbap for ~$15, and it hit the spot. I also ordered the seafood soondubu (~$10) which was flavorful and comparable to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville--but a bit more salty (and that's why I still prefer Lighthouse more). The banchans were great and fresh--cucumber, tofu pieces, kimchi, pototo salad. It took awhile for them to refill our banchan, and by the time it was refilled, we were done with our meal. Overall, Bethesda is lucky to finally have "their first real Korean restaurant."
(4)
Tracy L.
My friends and I love this place. We almost always get the dolsot bibimbap and it has been perfect every time. The small dishes you get before the meal have always been interesting and tasty. The service is usually very good, I like to use a lot of the hot sauce and they always make sure I have a full glass of water. There is a parking garage conveniently located across the street and the metro stop is a 5 minute walk away so it is a great place for us all to meet. There aren't usually a lot of people in the restaurant so we often stay for several hours talking without interruption.
(5)
Colin D.
Really good Korean covering both the basics--bibimbop and seafood pancakes--and some more interesting things like sweet potato noodles. The food seems to be better the less americanized and more Korean it is. My wife and I were craving good Asian food and we stumbled in here for a late lunch after a day at the Zoo. The food was very good and it seemed to be better the further you strayed from americanized Korean, which is a good sign. The seafood pancake and sweet potato noodles were fantastic as were the little dishes of sides that came with things. The bibimbop was only OK and needed to have some spicy sauce put on to get to the point that it even compared with the rest of the dishes. The service was friendly and prompt, but the place was basically dead when we walked in, so that's to be expected. They continued to bring us extra small dishes of sides when we asked so we got extra spicy radish, kimchi, and the chewy fish sauce/dough things. The space is light, open and airy, which is a nice contrast to the typical hole-in-the wall Asian.
(5)
Erica L.
I had a decent meal here. The service is friendly and attentive, and it's a fairly large space. The seafood pancake was too pancakey and heavy for my taste. It could have used more seasoning. The soondubu needed a little more flavor, probably more of the spicy bean paste and dried shrimp. It was a little too watery. The best dish I had here with the jap chae. It seemed solid. The banchan selection of side dishes was pretty tasty and had many of my usual favorites, from the sesame bean sprouts, kim chee, and marinated fish cake. I'd return if I'm in the area, but would order differently the next time.
(3)
Nicole L.
As the banner indicated "the first Korean restaurant in Bethesda" it was exciting to have a Korean food option in the area. We came here for lunch. We had the bibimbap it was not served in a hot stone bowl but a modern white bowl, however the bibimbap looked good, I had it with beef while my friend had the chicken one. Mine was tasty with a soy sauce and pepper paste. The banchans were good too! The service was a bit slow though we waited a while before getting the attention of the server for the check.
(4)
Gabe S.
The servers were quite but really kind. They made up for their silence with excellent food. I enjoyed eating my bulgogi while listening to chill Kpop music
(5)
Juhi T.
What I love about this place is that it's a small, cozy, no-frills, just good authentic Korean food place. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the dolsot bibimbap was on point. If you're looking for something different than the usual, upscale DC restaurant scene, and want some really good Korean food, definitely check it out.
(5)
Eric L.
I went here because I read such good reviews. Sadly... their wasn't really anything impressive. The side dishes seemed a bit old and didn't taste that great. The bulgogi seemed bland. The spicy chicken was impressive... kind of like a spicy teriyaki minus all the sauce. This place, i would suggest it if I was hankering for korean food and i was desperate. Otherwise... I'd avoid it. Two stars just because of the chicken dish being different. Otherwise id give it one.
(2)
Kat T.
Their Stone bibimbap are the best, hands down! My husband and I are serious meat eaters. Our usually order are each one has a stone bibimbap and a Galbi to share. I mean to try their other dishes like tofu soup or seafood omelette but I always order their bibimbap. It's like I'm under its spell. Besides their food, I also like their staff. Sweetest Korean guys you will ever meet. Never over do it (to the point the wait stuff bothering you) but attentive enough they make sure you have everything you need. I also like their atmosphere. It is quite enough to have a weekday dinner with family. Unlike a lot of Korean BBQ places with full blast Kpop video. If I want karaoke which I never do, so never mind on that note.
(5)
Angela W.
I went back again with a friend on a Wednesday evening at around 6PM and there was nobody there. Service was good. I noticed that the dolsot bibimbap contents changed! Same small dishes, though. Waitress sometimes didn't notice we needed things because we were the only customers. That's my only complaint.
(4)
Bhavin P.
Really good small authentic Korean place in Bethesda, MD. Loved the hot bibambap with chicken! The bowl was a little bland but adding a bit of hot pepper sauce made it taste great! Loved the local light Cass Korean beer too. Service was quick and overall experience was delightful!
(4)
Janet H.
4.5 stars rounding up Great food, great service! This place is definitely for those looking for Korean comfort food, think simple, spicy, and casual. We ordered: kimbap sampler - served lukewarm, pretty good, but we've had better. Keep in mind kimbap is not sushi, it's usually made with leftovers. The rice is warm and a bit oily (vs sushi rice is slightly sweetened with rice vinegar and maybe sugar). Spicy calamari served with rice - definitely spicy! Calamari was perfectly cooked, not overdone at all. The spice paste was familiar, bean paste based perhaps? It was delicious. Tofu kimchi served with rice - our favorite and new dish for us. Lightly pan fried soft tofu served with a pork and onion spicy mix. Oooh it was delicious!! Slightly sweet (from the caramelized onion and a tad more from the pork), savory, spicy, peppery, with a tang of sour from the kimchi. I want this again tomorrow!! The free banchan sides served was great, portion on the small side but they were happy to give us more. I loved eating the lighter pickled banchan right after a spicy bite, it was refreshing and the veggies were quite flavorful and light, almost like a palate cleanser :-) deeeeelicious! Definitely want to come back :-) banchan and tofu kimchi were def the winners!!
(5)
Becky K.
I came a lot with my parents when they opened last year. Great bibimbap and service. I didn't go back for a year, because I (fortunately) moved out of my parents' house and into DC. I went back again tonight with a friend, and one of the nice waiters/owners asked how my mom is doing. Pretty awesome that he remembered!
(5)
Bryan J.
I dig this spot overall for some non pretentious, authentic Korean food. Be wary at lunch though. It feels like they're a little understaffed to handle the crowd. Also, sometimes they skimp on the beef portions in the Bibimbap. Just sayin.
(4)
teresa l.
Love Love Love Korean food! I grew up in Annandale, Va so I hold my standards very high. House of Milae does not disappoint. Service was a bit slow but food was piping hot, drinks were icy cold and hot ( I drank both hot sake and japanese plum wine ) and the korean pop music booming out was my heaven. I hope they stay in business for a long time.
Two and a half stars. Friendly service, standardly tasty hot tea. I was so excited to get authentic Korean in white-washed Bethesda, but... no. Banchan is a little limited-- not surprising for an establishment of this size, but I take issue with their funky-tasting radish kimchi. I could almost forgive the missing meat segment of galbi tucked under the other layers if it weren't so expensive. Lunch portions on most everything else is more reasonably priced. Sesame seeds on everything, which makes bibimbap with the raw-on-top egg all the more obvious. Its presentation may be pretty, but avoiding the traditional pot leaves my rice disappointing. Ultimately, if I compare every pho spot to NoVA's cream of the crop, I have to admit House of Milae is subpar to the average Annandale or Rockville K-eateries.
(2)
Rakesh B.
Good food and great service. Had lunch on Sunday ... Short menu but food was delicious. Several Korean pancake choices from which we tried two flavors and they were fabulous.
(4)
Evie S.
5 starts for the service. Really doesn't get any better than that. 4 stars for the food. Yummy. They are very knowledgable about vegetarian/ vegan diets and have many options available.
(5)
lisa y.
Drive by this place every morning and has been intrigued. Friends suggested we go there Saturday night. Excellent food, excellent service. I will definitely be back. I got the dolsot bibimbap. So much beef and veggies and the rice was perfectily crisp! Drooling just thinking about this place again!
(4)
Dennis O.
New place that just opened. Family owned. Excellent food. Kimchi is very fresh and they also have this mushroom and broccoli side that I have not seen in other Korean places. Ordered the Jap Chae. Sweet potato noodles stir fried with beef and vegetables. Absolutely delicious. Not many Korean options in Bethesda actually. Highly recommended.
(5)
Chi Z.
It's pretty hard to find a good combination of genuinely considerate service and good food in a Korean restaurant, especially in the Bethesda/Southern Silver Spring area. And we are very picky in our Korean food even though we will likely try anything once (think chicken feet, uni, octopus, intestines - all things we have had enough to discern great from horrible because there is no "just okay" when considering such particulars). Enough about us. House of Milae is a great Korean restaurant set to the tone of a neighborhood quick eats/drinks place. Korean pop music sets the mood as conversations and laughter layer on top of it. TVs set to ESPN add to the relaxed and lively atmosphere. The service is the best aspect of the environment. The young man who always waits on us is courteous and quick to attend to our needs. Never needed to ask for water. The food is great. Korean good can be categorized into different styles and regions. Most people have experienced the Korean BBQ or soondubu (soft tofu soup) places. Few have experienced comfort food/drinking food like this place. They have Korean staples like bibimbap and an array of jigae's. But they specialize in foods that a Korean mom would make or foods that go well with a drink or two or when you have a craving. Kimbaps are the quick lunch foods of all Korean kids growing up and they make great ones here. They have kimchi and dwenjang jigae's that you can't make at home cause they smell up the neighborhood and still don't taste as good. Try it for lunch. If you live walking distance, try some of the Korean drinks as well as the food. We've only come for lunch so far. But we're gonna über it over and have a drink there one of these nights. It's currently on the top of our list for a quick bite.
(5)
Liberty W.
Great local korean spot! Used to travel to Annandale from Bethesda just to have some Korean cuisine so it's nice to have a neighborhood spot! They are really nice there too and provide good service. My favorite things are the kimchi pancakes and kalbi of course!!! Soups are good too!!! If you like korean food, you will love this little spot!!!
(5)
Morris S.
I've had almost everything here, and its all great. Nice, family run. Good service, high quality. I'm a regular now!
(5)
Jesse L.
I've only had Korean food a handful of times. The first few times ranged from disliking it to mildly enjoying it. Today changed everything. This Korean food was amazing. So many veggies and flavors. The rice was delicious. The service quick, attentive, and polite. Prices are good. Highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu.
(5)
C P.
Solid, but not fantastic. Does not compare to the wealth of Korean restaurants in Annandale, but for the area, it's a solid option.
(3)
Dimple N.
Definitely a must visit spot if you live or work in the area! We got spinach jeon(pancake), potstickers and dolsot bibimbap. The dolsot (hot stone) bibimbap was brilliant - left the rice crispy at the bottom. Food quantity was just the right amount for 2 people. Our server Lyon was absolutely wonderful. He was so nice and seemed like a one-man army taking the restaurant to greatness by himself. In short, great food and excellent service. I'll surely be back soon.
(5)
David T.
3.5 stars for food 2 stars for service. Korean food here is more authentic and better than MOMO. Sides are good. I come here when I'm craving Korean and don't have time to drive up to Rockville. Service is usually pretty good but they have a new young unpolished waiter with attitude that put me off. I'm going to write this constructively because I've waited tables in college and don't want to poop on this lad. Let me preface this by saying there was only two tables at 2PM on a Saturday. "Do you want to order?" He said with a hard face. Why else would I come to a restaurant. Of course I want to order. It should be "would you like to order sir?" or "are you ready to order sir?" with a smile. not "Do you" with a hard face! Also when this waiter brought food to the table, he laid it down forcefully and said "here you go" walking away quickly with out emotion. The average waiter with a little bit of experience knows to say "enjoy you meal" or "is there anything else I can get for you?" with a smile if they want a chance at a decent tip. The owner always solicits my opinion of how the establishment can improve so here it is. I know good help is hard to find but remind your help the basics of waiting tables 101.
(3)
H. Y.
This restaurant was really good! Great service...the waiters were really nice. The food was really tasty and affordable as well. I went for the first time and ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kissa M.
Went here for the first time about a month ago and now it's one of our work staples. The food is one point. You can eat lunch for less than $10. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Julia M.
If you love dolsot bibimbap (stone bowl), this is the place for you. The rice gets super crispy, perfect on a cold night. Big portions. We were so happy with the food, but even happier with the service. Lyon, our server, was so kind and considerate! You don't find this kind of service very often, he really took care of everyone in the restaurant.
(5)
Chlo L.
I love galbi. It makes me want to dance! Do dah happy dance. It was pretty empty on a Sunday evening but we came close to closing time. The kimchi soup was amazeeeee balls. They have that sake too so it was an especially good dinner. Must go back... Now.
(4)
Elise C.
My boyfriend and I went to House of Milae before seeing a movie on a Saturday night. It's been about a week and a half since we visited, and I can't stop thinking about the bibimbap. We weren't super hungry, so we asked the waiter if one order of the bibimbap would be enough for us to share, and rather than upsell us, he suggested just one order in addition to an appetizer. We shared the bibimbap with chicken (we sprung for the stone bowl) and an order of dumplings. The food was so delicious, we wished our appetites were larger so that we'd ordered our own bibimbap. Fast and very friendly service, and an affordable, high-quality meal!
(5)
Alexis M.
I love this place! Whenever I need a korean food fix, I come here. My favorite thing to get is seafood soondooboo jigae. Perfect soft tofu in scalding hot red pepper stock. Ask for the egg on the side so you can crack it yourself and ensure that the egg thickens the soup, rather than cooking at the bottom of the bowl/ pot.
(4)
Matthew S.
Been here a couple of times already. Amazing Korean food and our server has always been polite and helpful. He even helped me get food quick when my wife was pregnant and was craving Korean food. One of my favorite US Korean restaurants! Chicken Kalbi was sooooo good. Bulgogi as well. Everything I have tried so far has been great. Please give it a shot!
(5)
Victoria M.
Good food, good service, good lunch menu. Their pork bbq rice bowl is so good, and it's just spicy enough....
(4)
Aaron C.
Definitely one of - if not the - best Korean I've found in Maryland. The bibimbap was everything it's supposed to be.
(4)
Arnaud C.
I LOVE this place. Bethesda was really missing a Korean place. Here it is, and it is a good one! OK, maybe the choice will be more limited than in a Korean restaurant in Annandale VA, but the quality is here! I really like their stone bowl Bibimbap.
(5)
JD R.
Korean food that reminds me of eating at Seoraksan Mountain in South Korea. Few frills; just honest, authentic Korean food.
(5)
Jerold P.
The food was enjoyable, and we had a pleasant experience. I enjoyed my kimchi jijigae and my girlfriend liked her bibimbap. I had the house sake (cold) which was okay, and my girlfriend had the korean raspberry wine. She had a huge amount that she was able to take home as well. The place offered good value and we would go there again.
(4)
Claire M.
Wandered in here on a rainy Friday night in search of some steaming hot bibimbap. If you've never had bibimbap, you're missing out, and you should go immediately, but I'll try and describe it for you. The waitress will bring you a piping hot ceramic bowl, filled to the brim with prettily organized little sections of food. Rice, carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, greens, etc, with a softly fried egg on top. Then you take your chopsticks (okay, fine, I used a spoon for this part...) and mix everything together. The hot clay pot cooks the egg and and crisps the rice, so that it gets a little crunchy and very tasty. Then you can add a bunch of hot sauce or some kimchi to your bowl, and go at it. The bibimbap was really good. I'd definitely go back for it. The potstickers weren't too memorable - pretty bland. Go to House of Milae if you need a quick bibimbap fix.
(3)
Steve M.
I hate to repeat all those boring reviews. But they are right. This place is great. It was my first time in a Korean restaurant and definitely not my last. Pleasant clean interior. Friendly staff answered all of my questions and gave advice. Seafood pancake (jeon) was great. Rice wine was excellent. The sides were multiple, pretty, and tasty throughout. Then the bibimbap with pulled pork in a lovely hot ceramic bowl; lovely and huge. The waiter offered to mix it and I gladly accepted. With my permission he added hot sauce, and then lots more hot sauce. It was great, not too spicy for me, and I left pleasantly stuffed and thinking about my next visit very soon.
(5)
Mickey L.
Thanks to House of Milae (HoM), Bethesda (the whole DC Metro Area, for that matter) finally has a great Boon-shik (casual dining) Korean restaurant! Fantastic food, outstanding service, and cosy ambiance with dark wooden furniture make HoM a hot new classic! Five years ago when my dining companion and I were visiting San Jose, we practically lived nearby in Santa Clara at Roll House, a refined Boonshik spot serving delicious namesake Kim-bap as well as other comfort food classics like Ddeok-guk and Jaap-chae. We just wished that there were one in the DC area--Bethesda, specifically. Enter House of Milae, a wish come true with equally stellar food, service, and ambiance as Roll House, if not even better thanks to its absolute gem of a signature dish, Dak-do-ri-tang! Since last week, we thoroughly enjoyed two lunches (L = available also as a lunch special) and two dinners, ordering the following: - Dakdoritang: chicken stew with potatoes and onions in a slightly sweet Go-chu-jang-based broth; read below for details. - *Bulgogi Kimbap: rice roll with sliced beef, carrots, spinach, egg, fishcake, and sweet pickled radish; excellent balance of flavors and rolled expertly. - Spicy Calamari Bowl: fresh sliced squid stir-fried with cabbage, mushrooms, and spring onions in a Go-chu-jang-based (fermented red chili-soy paste) sauce; normally, this dish is too sweet, but we really enjoyed this dish--particularly the tender mollusk. - *Jaapchae: stir-fried clear sweet potato vermicelli noodles with shiitake, spinach, sliced beef; surprisingly, it has been hard to find good Jaap-chae anywhere (though it is not a difficult dish to prepare), but HoM's prepares it with ease and a good balance of sweet, savory, tender, and firm. - Ddeokguk: sliced rice cake (ddeok) soup with sliced beef, egg, and spring onion; tender ddeok in a clean beef broth and just enough beef and toppings--win! - *Chicken Galbi Bowl: slightly spicy soy sauce-based marinated thigh meat grilled to a nice charred outside; told that it may be sweeter than a usual Galbi (to please Bethesda's American taste buds), we found it just right with a light kick of heat and the perfect char. - Vegetable Bu-chim-gae: savory pancake appetizer with spinach and carrots; think Pa-jeon (scallion pancake) but with a tender inside and crispy outside. The main server of HoM, Lyon, is the son of the chef/owner. He is very courteous, makes us feel at home, and smoothly communicates between the kitchen and us. For example, he gave us a heads-up that our food would be a tad bit saltier than a previous visit because his mother was away and that his sister (who has slightly saltier taste buds than their mother) was heading the kitchen. Everything we ordered, from the fresh Ban-chan (small plates to accompany rice/entree) to the made-to-order entrees was outstanding. However, the Dak-do-ri-tang totally won me over. Although it is not an uncommon in Boonshik, we have never come across it in the DC area, Manhattan, LA, or Seoul. This dish is specially prepared by the chef/owner, and we had to pass on it once when she was away and her daughter (also a solid chef, herself) manned the stoves. The wait was worth it! Having never seen or heard of the dish, we had only learned of its existence from my uncle, when we took to Ravi's Kabob House 2 and ordered Chicken Karahi, which he said it tasted exactly like Dak-do-ri-tang. Sure enough, HoM's tasted just like the Karahi, except with a slightly thinner base and a gentle sweetness coming from the onions and Go-chu-jang to replace the spicy ginger-tomato sauce. What was so thoroughly impressive about HoM's signature dish was the finesse with which Chef prepared the chicken. Like the Karahi, it featured bone-in cuts of thigh and leg meat. However, it was impeccably devoid of fat normally abundant between the skin and meat as well as between the meat. Furthermore, the chicken was thoroughly cooked, yet very tender and easy to eat off the bone. It was as if the chicken were cooked Sous-Vide to keep the texture tender while rendering the fat before finishing it off in the stew. The night we ordered the Dak-do-ri-tang, Lyon saw how much we were enjoying the dish that he brought his mother over to see us. When she came over, we were eager to know how she prepared the chicken so perfectly. Her answer was that she was simply thorough in trimming off the fat before preparing the chicken, which she said was cooked at a high temperature for a while. She said that she only prepares and serves dishes that she would at home to her family members, each of whom has a distinct taste (sweet+salty, neutral, very mild, and spicy+bitter). This perfectly sums up HoM: homemade comfort food made with meticulous preparations (i.e. bite-size cute Kimchi is a big plus) and a refined touch paired with smooth service for a delicious experience in a relaxed vibe. Bethesda is now two-deep (Passage to India) with superb restaurants!
(5)
Takahiro O.
Being a local, I was excited to try this place out because I love Korean food and House of Milae is pretty much the only Korean restaurant in Bethesda. The interior is spacious and clean. They play K-pop music in the background, but it's not too loud. They have hot green tea for free, which is always a plus on a cold day. I ordered the Kimchi Jjigae (tofu soup). I'm not sure how customizable this soup is, but I got the default one (beef, medium spicy to spicy). It came with napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, mixed vegetables, tofu, and a bowl of rice. Free refills for the side dishes (not sure about the rice). Overall, the food was not bad but not great either. It was just okay. The soup was on the spicier side for my taste, and I wish they had dropped an egg to make it more mild. The mixed vegetables side dish was bland. If you're looking for simple, reasonably-priced, home-style Korean food, House of Milae is a good place for you. There's nothing special about the food, but service was excellent and I had a good time overall. I might come back to try something else, but I'd rather go somewhere else like Lighthouse Tofu to satisfy my jjigae craving.
(3)
Parinaz G.
The first thing that needs to be said about this place is that their service is EXCELLENT! The food is great too, and I loved their Bibimbap. It is a cute, cozy restaurant and well worth the trek from Arlington. Definitely a must try and probably one of the better Korean restaurants in the DMV.
(4)
Mark P.
The best Korean food I have had since i moved from Boston 20+ year ago. Try the kimchee pancake appetizer or the kimchee, tofu and pork entree delicious.
(5)
Lenny G.
Perfect bibimbap. The restaurant is small, but the food is great, the people nice and the serve pretty fast. I will be coming back here to try the other selections!
(5)
Chris K.
pretty good but very expensive and light on the meat. service is generally slow and distracted by their iphones.
(2)
Kimie K.
I and my husband ordered Tofu Kimchi and Spicy Squid which were both awesome. I also love how they prepare their banchans (side dishes). When it comes to Korean restaurants, if their side dishes are good, that's the indication of how good of Korean restaurant it is. The servers were extremely nice, friendly, and polite. I wish I lived around there so I could visit more often. To sum up, will I go back? of course!
(5)
Eric M.
I got a togo order and it was very well packaged. You can tell that they actually try to give you the same quality as eating in. I would dine herebif I get the chance
(5)
Ruofei D.
Splendid Korean restaurant. All dishes are delicate. The service is awesome. Infinite Korean small dishes. Yummy!
(5)
Michael F.
Was expecting A LOT better from the reviews I read. I got the stone bowl. The rice at the bottom was crispy and the food was overall tasty--4 stars. Service was also good--not overbearing but attentive. Our waiter brought us a little sampler of lots of different vegetables which was also very nice. There were to main problems I had. The first was that the portion was too small. I finished my food and I was hungry after. Simple as that--and I'm not any huge eater or anything. Second was that I paid a lot for my small portion. $17 if I remember correctly? That's a lot for slightly above average food that left me still hungry afterward. I went with my coworker and while I didn't taste his food, he had a lot more negative impression of this restaurant. He said he wouldn't be coming back, especially for the price. IIRC he got sweet potato noodles or something like that. I may give this place a second shot, but I'm not sure at all.
(3)
Mol R.
I have been here several times and I keep coming back. The service is wonderful, the restaurant is spotless, and the food is delicious. They have expanded their alcoholic beverages menu to include a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese alcohols. It was really busy tonight, but the service was quick and the waiters offered to bring more banchan twice. I have lived in both Jeonju and Seoul, and I can tell you this food is exactly what you would eat in a casual restaurant in Korea. Anyone saying that the food at Milae cannot compare to the Korean restaurants in Annandale doesn't seem to understand that those restaurants are not like what a regular night out in Korea is like. The waiters also speak Korean if you are interested in practicing. I no longer have a need to drive to Virginia to get my Korean fix!
(5)
Tou M.
A simple menu with excellent quality dishes. I ordered the fried pork pot stickers which were crunchy on the outside and steaming on the inside. They were accompanied with a sweet soy sauce for dipping. My entree was the dolsot bimbimbop. It arrived sizzling hot along with a bottle of gochujang for spice enhancement. All dishes arrived promptly,freshly made and were flavorful. I would definitely go back, however being located on St Elm Ave, there are also a lot of other enticing restaurants and bars within walking distance.
(5)
Richard W.
This review is a couple of weeks late (not that it matters that much). Was in Bethesda on business and knew I would be stuck in my hotel room for a couple of nights getting work-related stuff done. Really didn't have time to go out and eat and I really didn't want to order room service. So, checked out House of Milae, since Korean food sounded good. Got the galbi, dwaeji bulgogi, and japchae...enough food for two nights. Coming from a city with a large immigrant Korean population, I feel like I know what's good vs. bad Korean food. I have to say that I was impressed with House of Milae and would highly recommend. Since I did takeout, I can't comment on the actual restaurant and service, but based on how I was served as a person doing takeout, I would think their in-house service is just fine. Go and check this place out.
(3)
Kim L.
I love this new addition to Bethesda! The mom, daughter and son all work together which makes this gem a true family restaurant. The pork bulgogi is beyond delicious as was the seafood stew. The calamari was spicy but incredibly tender. I am thrilled I no longer have to trek to Annandale for my weekly fix!
(5)
Michelle A.
Good addition to the Bethesda dining lineup - and speaking of lineup, here are the deets: 1) Really friendly service 2) Korean sushi sampler was mediocre, the cooked tuna isn't really appealing, a lot of people are going to choose this app and be disappointed. Back to the drawing board, please! 3) Potstickers were very tasty 4) I liked the bulgogi taste-wise, but I like my meats on a hot plate to come out sizzling, maybe it's just for show, but I didn't get that "just cooked" experience I'm used to at a Korean place 5) Decor needs some work, finishing touches seemed sloppy (poorly taped off paint work in the bathroom, etc.), could be a warmer, more inviting atmosphere 6) Need more banchan 4 stars since it's a great addition to the area, but there are some improvements that need to be made to become a long lasting fixture.
(4)
Rita A.
Absolutely authentic great little restaurant. Korean home cooking - delicious spicy food for a fair price. Simple, clean, small place for Lunch and Dinner. They also do take - out. Bibimbap is a must. Large portions. I had lots of Korean food in NYC. I think this place is among the few places in Bethesda that is better than average.
(5)
Arpitha B.
Nice place for quite lunch or dinner. Food is really tasty. However the dessert menu needs to be looked upon. Overall a good place for Korean food. Good variety in vegetarian.
(4)
Cynthia L.
Came for lunch on a rainy Thursday. Served immediately by a lovely young man. Both of us were craving bibimbop. A lunch portion, $9, was perfect in flavor, potion size and freshness. And 6 varieties of banchan. Each one delicious. We were happy lunchers. Must add that we are foodies. And very critical
(4)
Greg G.
Great food here. Went with some Korean colleagues -always a bonus to have natives when you want to navigate the terrain of foreign cuisine and not get lost or worse sick. My one disclaimer to any who enjoys ramen noodles is to not be surprised or shocked or run to an enterologist when you notice undigested noodles in your poo or toilet bowl. My experience was oh no why are there worms coming out back there!! Thankfully it was just an another example that the human body cant get nutrients out of everything you eat or break it down properly.
(4)
Nandi E.
Excellent food. I got the short ribs. Had three times and it is good everytime. Great service too.
(5)
J S.
They have a nice selection of Korean wine. Waiter was very kind to let me taste three before choosing one. Galbi was excellent. Highly recommended. The spicy calamari is HOT! The wait staff is fantastic. Very helpful and friendly.
(4)
Sara S.
I have to agree with Mike B. below - mediocre. I liked the atmosphere and general feel of House of Milae - it was neat and clean with plenty of seating, a small bar, and some Christmas decor. The hostess was nice and my food-to-go came out promptly. I got the bulgogi, which had some flavor but was a little over-cooked/dry even with the thin sauce it came with. While the sides looked good, they were very bland and came in tiny portions. I also got some veggie potstickers ,which weren't bad but didn't seem to have too much filling. As Mike said, the best part was the perfectly cooked sticky rice.
(3)
Jonathan L.
The bibimbop I had was excellent, as were the dumplings, appetizers and korean beer. Contrary to what others have written, the wait staff was very good taking the order promptly, answering my questions about the menu patiently and making sure that the water glasses were full during the meal.
(5)
Steph M.
Yummy in my very hungry tummy! That is my split sentiment regarding House of Milae--good food to salivate to while you are starving on a Saturday night. Serving traditional, home-style korean food that is flavorful and well-priced, House of Milae is located in "old Bethesda" on a mysterious street that is impossible to find. After you circle around Cordell a few times, accidentally walk back and forth in front of Naked Pizza (because that is how everyone wants their pizza, flaccid and cold to the touch), you end up on St. Elmo and hopefully within the narrow restaurant that is House of Milae. The food is lovely! The food is solid in quality! The restaurant is dismally understaffed and is kept (non) functioning by means of a 2-person waitstaff. Lack/slow service made this restaurant impossible to even visit on a moderately busy Saturday evening. I was sad, but not sad enough to visit flaccid naked pizza next door. Visit this authentic korean spot during the off-hours or on a weekday, and you won't be disappointed!
(3)
Davita K.
Phenomenal food and service! I got the dolsot bibimbap, and it was incredible! Probably the best one that I have ever had in the United States. Plus, the server was very friendly.
(5)
Jen A.
This place is great! I love the sweet man that always greets me during lunch. It's been a while since I've visited, but I'm definitely no stranger there. All of their bulgogis are delicious. I love the side dishes that come with - especially the radishes and fish cakes. It doesn't matter what you pick, it will all be delicious! The flavors are all there.
(5)
Andre D.
Great food and good service. Among the best of Bethesda. Try the bulgolgi jeon. Service is attentive but music is sometimes a bit loud. We'll be back!
(5)
Samyuktha K.
It's a nice cosy place with great service and good food. We ordered the Kimchi Jjingae and the Dwaeji (Pork) Bulgogi and both were quite nice. We were also given a few free sides and some nice hot tea. The service was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter who was quite considerate towards us. This won points with me. I am happy when customers are treated with respect and vice versa. The ambiance is cozy especially when sitting in the booth on a cold, rainy day. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Hua X.
A couple months back, I watched a World Cup game here. I think they show soccer sometimes. Solid food. Really friendly service. I had some good conversations with the gregarious waiter. Definitely aiming to come back -- there are just too many restaurants in Bethesda.
(4)
Tom M.
Really delicious, affordable Korean food. The menu is rather small, and it's pretty reminiscent of other Korean places, but I've been there several times now and everything is really good and very reasonably priced. You really can't beat it.
(5)
Weimew Y.
I am so glad that there is finally a Korean restaurant in Bethesda! House of Milae serves authentic Korean 'small dishes', all complimentary. The vegetable pancake and sweet potato noodles are very tasty. We plan to go back to try tofu stew sometime soon. It's nice to have a good Korean restaurant in Bethesda downtown that we don't need to drive to Rockville for Korean food.
(4)
Kelvin C.
Best Korean food in the area. The stone pot bibimbap is the best I've had in the DMV area. The waiter is also a very friendly and warns you about the spiciness of the tofu soup.
(5)
Miss C.
I visited House of Milae after reading the Yelp reviews hoping to find my fix of Korean food that would match the yummy authentic places I came to know in Atlanta.The service was good, the place is small. The food was well seasoned, good but not outstanding. I had the sweet potato noodles, with tofu. They were tasty, the tofu was well seared. I have had better kimchi, the portions were kinda small for what I am used to. Would try them again though, just that I didn't get hooked and compelled to return the next day and several days in a row like I have a other places! Maybe I will have an update for later!
(3)
Tony M.
As a neighbor, I welcome these first rate folks to open House of Milae. I have eaten there 3 times already...every time wonderful! I'm on the newer side to Korean food, but loved everything I've had.. Bulgogi, several soups, the seafood pancake is wonderful! Very fresh, very nice family (owners)...please check them out, and tell them Chef Tony sent you!
(5)
Jason W.
Finally a Korean restaurant in downtown Bethesda, and one that serves dol sot bibimbap. Although the food was not as good as some of the Korean restaurants in the Rockville area, it was convenient and tasted good. The dol sot bibimbap came with 5 sides of banchan that were a nice starter while I let my egg fry and the rice brown and crust on the clay pot that the bibimbap came in. I left stuffed but determined to return for more. They do have a limited drink menu, but that will hopefully change.
(4)
E Y.
Decent korean for Bethesda but definitely nothing special, just ok. Take out seems to taste better than eating there.
(3)
Good E.
i came here for lunch with a friend. i got the bibimbap and we split one of the pork specials. the bibimbap was pretty good. i did use the entire bowl of hot sauce and did not feel that it was overwhelmingly spicy. my friend was not so bold but he liked his bibimbap as well. the other pork dish was just ok, nothing amazing. the lunch specials are well worth it, the price came down to about thirteen bucks per person which was very reasonable for what you get and in this day and age. the server was incredibly nice and polite. the place is small and not well demarcated. they should probably change the sign or do something to make themselves more prominent. the decor is average, but the place is very clean. i did not use the bathroom so i cannot comment on that! parking is something you have to pay for , boo overall, i would say if you happen to be in the area, try this place out. it wont be as amazing as the K places for grub in annandale but it's not bad.
(4)
Solomon S.
I love this place. They have incredible korean food and even better service. The kimbap was just to die for. The bugogi was excellent as well. And they might possibly have the best kimchi in DC to boot. The server was very nice and even gave us some new dishes to sample. Really hope the restaurant sticks around. I had a wonderful meal there with my best friends.. Will definitely be back
(5)
Tony P.
This place is awesome. Great service and the food was off the chain. Some of the best Korean food I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and give them a visit!
(5)
Lauren R.
Great new Korean restaurant. Delicious food, really nice server - family run seems like. We loved everything we got - including bebimbop with beef and love their pork dish. Also had a vegetarian with us who loved the bebimbop with tofu. and yay for mochi ice cream - both green tea and red bean flavors. Love it!
(4)
Eld S.
Great good! Very veggie friendly as well. Will be going back.
(5)
Scott S.
Excellent service and food. We live nearby and decided to give House of Milae a try. We had the bibimbap with beef and sweet potato noodles - these and all of the sides were so delicious, especially with the hot barley tea. We left with an inexpensive tab and happy stomachs without feeling overly full. We definitely recommend stopping by here!
(5)
Awesta H.
I've been here twice in the last four days. It's so good. The dolsot bibim bop is fantastic. And that service is great. Not many people go because it's not very noticeable, so try it!
(5)
Yumi M.
Such great customer service! They made sure our water was refilled, made sure the food was good, and asked if we wanted extra banchans! My fiance and I ordered bulgogi kimbob, chicken galbi, and soondubu (which is not on the menu but they will make it for you!) We absolutely LOVED everything. Very homemade style and was tasty. We will be back in no time. (And as a restaurant in Bethesda, very generous pricing.)
(4)
Noah C.
The food was amazing (I recommend the Chicken Galbi, though everything is fantastic) and the service was absolutely wonderful. I loved the waiter and can't wait to go back to try even more spectacular Korean dishes.
(5)
Robyn M.
If you are like me and you've have been waiting for a Korean restaurant to come to Bethesda, you''ll welcome the arrival of House of Milae. The side dishes were fresh, the kalbi tangy, and our kids loved the delicious chap jae (sweet potato vermicelli). Both of the soups that we ordered sported rich, savory broths; I liked how my kimchi soup came with a choice of white or multigrain rice (the latter was fantastic). The choice of drinks was interesting (my kids tried the banana milk, which is apparently popular in Korea). For dessert, we all found a flavor of mochi to satisfy us. The service was first rate, with the chef sending out several of the house specialties to sample. Overall, this casual family-run restaurant has a lot to offer. We'll definitely be back soon and often.
(5)
Robert V.
We have been looking for a great Korean place without having to drive far away and boy does this fit the bill. Everything we ordered was amazing and was as good as the Korean food I've eaten across the country (NYC, California, Hawaii). For our meal we ordered the Galbi, Dol Sot Bibimbap and Kimchee Jjigae. Each dish was so good that we left completely stuffed! In addition, the Kimchee and other pickled dishes we got were all well spiced and really complimented our meal. We look forward to being VERY frequent customers :)
(5)
M Louise S.
Like other patrons this was our first Korean food adventure outside of Annandale (for this area). We had the hot stone Bibimbap and the Kimbap sampler. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding. Definitely a place we will visit again.
(4)
Sarah P.
I am a huge fan of Korean food and this place meets expectations! Their meat is cooked to perfection, tender, and tasty. Staff is very friendly. I highly recommend!!!
We really enjoyed our meal here! We both got the bibimbap - one in a hot stone bowl and the other regular. They were both very satisfying! I loved all the little bowls of other food that came with it as well. Our waiter was very patient answering our questions, made helpful recommendations, and was attentive. The bill came in under $40, which is great for two entrees and two beers in Bethesda! We look forward to coming back soon.
(5)
Kelly C.
DELICIOUS KOREAN FOOD! :) Somehow, growing up in the area, I have never been to a korean restaurant in MD (other than the usual krn bbq places). I finally yelped a korean restaurant by me and found this place! I came on a Friday night and it was surprisingly empty. The food was soooo good. My boyfriend and I shared the bulgogi kimbap to start and then for entrees, he got the bibimbap and I got the kimchi jjigae. Everything was seriously amazing (or I have just been in major deprivation of korean food that at this point, anything would be amazing). We also got the green tea and red bean mochi ice cream for dessert. The guy working there was super nice and said the red bean was better, so when we asked to try both flavors, he gave us 2 red bean and 1 green tea. (He was right, btw!). At the end of the meal, he also came by and gave us these cute little lollipop treats. They weren't too special but he was so friendly to us during our meal that I felt required to eat it, lol. Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for some delicious korean food along with great service.
(5)
Amanda B.
Absolutely delicious and definitely filling the Korean food void that was in Bethesda. My korean fiance and I now go here several times a week for takeout! The service is absolutely amazing and the food tastes genuine and delicious! The bulgogi gimbop and bibimbop are our favorites!
(5)
Michael S.
This place is so new - - we are the only party in the place. The barbecued pork and hot rock Bulgogi were very satisfying. Great kimchi.
(4)
Elizabeth B.
A great new option in Bethesda! Terrific kalbi, spicy pork, and bibimbap. Great, attentive service. We will definitely be back. Only note I'd fix is the big neon sign outside. Seems a little too garish for the great food within. I have eaten authentic korean all over, having grown up in Hawaii, and have waited for folks on the east coast to catch on. If you like barbecue, and spicy food, you should go.
(5)
Jennifer M.
I'm sitting in House of Milae right now for lunch, and I am stuffed and happy. The service is incredible, and the kimchi jjigae is perfect. And who doesn't love Kpop??
(5)
Jessica L.
I am so excited that my neighborhood finally has a good Korean restaurant! I had the kimchi jigae, and it was awesome... just as good as the Korean places further out in the burbs. Our waitress was really sweet, prices were reasonable, tea was hot, bathrooms were clean. It wasn't crowded at all... I hope more people go there, because I want this place to stick around!
(5)
Edoardo K.
GREAT food! Not too expensive. Wonderful service. Definitely a keeper in Bethesda and a definite "must go."
(5)
C W.
The menu at House of Milae has the usual popular Korean dishes: bulgogi, galbi, bibimbap, and kimbop. We ordered the veggie potstickers, bulgogi kimbop, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. The side dishes were definitely fresh and homemade, which I enjoyed. The food itself was good; however I wish they had added bit more flavor or marinated the meat longer. I personally like when the rice in the bibimbop has a nice layer of crispy/almost burnt rice at the bottom. The rice in my order was hot but not at all crispy. The next time I go, I'll be sure to request that. Overall, food was good. I'd recommend this place to my parents and to any that prefer a less spicer version of typical Korean food. I appreciate the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant and best of all, is conveniently located in Bethesda. The staff here was very friendly and I would go back again to get the lunch specials.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
George M.
Spectacular place to get home style Korean food! The menu isn't very large, but you'll understand why when you get your food and see that it is prepared with great care. This is not your typical krnbbq joint--if that's what you're looking for, go somewhere with the word Kogi in the name. The stews here are on point-love the spicy one! Bbq chicken is also very tasty with lots of sesame seeds. And do yourself a favor and get the sesame pancake appetizer! The service is great here too, also rare for a Korean restaurant.
(5)Mike B.
114 reviews and 4.5 stars is what I was looking at when I decided that I must try House Of Milae again, and I'm ending up giving them one more star. Service was attentive and friendly! Banchan are still very small portions. Come on peeps, the potato salad is pretty good, can I get more than 1/4 tablespoon full. When the kimchi came to the table, I immediately asked for another dish knowing that I would use more than what were provided. I decided on the spicy pork bibimbap which was pretty good. I would have liked a little bit more of a portion of pork on the dish. Veggies were a little bit bland. But the egg was perfectly cooked and really added nicely to the dish. I would get it again. What was really impressive was the spicy chili sauce that they served with it. It was a wonderful balance of spicy and sweet and really added a lot to the dish. My friend ordered the Spicy Calamari which came to the table bathed in so much red sauce that it looked to be aflame. I tasted it, and the nature-like bright cautionary warnings were not playing. This dish is on fireeeeeeee This dish is on fireeeeeeeeeee #AliciaKeys He was struggling to eat it, and I don't blame him. The waiter even dropped it off and made a comment about how freakin' hot it was. Overall a decent experience, I'm just looking for a little bit more... soul in the food... a little more Seoul... And with that terrible pun, I will end there.
(3)Anna H.
First time in DC and decided to come here for dinner. The place was packed but we still had a table right away. We ordered the carrot, spinach and onion Korean pancake for our appetizer. It was quite good. Cooked to crispy perfection and the mix was a little sweet and salty which was great. Then I got a Rice and Mondu stew while my husband ordered the Bi Bim Bop with an egg cooked over easy. The stew had a great flavor and I liked all the vegetables that came in the stew. However, the rice cakes were undercooked because they were very tough to chew. The Bi Bim Bop was visually beautiful, but the flavor was not great. The meat was flavored okay, but there was too much rice, very little veggies and the mixture of all of the condiments did not blend well. We have tasted quite a few Bi Bim Bop and this was maybe one of the worst. As for the service, our water was always filled but our server forgot our friend's meal and our pancake. We had to tell him and other servers that we were missing our food. Then when we told him that the rice cakes were undercooked he just kind of walked away. After we almost finished our food, our appetizer arrived with the manager delivering it. We told him the problems we had. He gave us the pancakes for free and said that next time tell him sooner that the rice cakes were undercooked sooner. We told him that we told the server. He was very apologetic but the damage had been done. This place got lots of great reviews, but our experience here was far from great. Hopefully they will learn to write the orders down and fix the flavor of their Bi Bim Bop.
(2)Judy C.
I had the soondobu, which is the tofu stew. I had it with seafood. It was just what my stomach needed on a rainy day. The stew was well seasoned and not overly salty like some other places. I also had the carrot and spinach pancake. That could've had more oomph to it. I was looking at it and they didn't put much spinach in there. Not much flavor without the sauce. It was kinda dead when I went. I hope they get a lot of business. They seem like nice people and the food is pretty good.
(4)Jess C.
Friendly Korean restaurant. We had a party of nine and sat at the only round table located in the back nook of the restaurant by the bathroom/bar/kitchen area. It was a very homey place, and good for groups if you ever make a reservation. Our server was super nice and helpful. Pretty much our entire table ordered the dolsot bibimbap for ~$15, and it hit the spot. I also ordered the seafood soondubu (~$10) which was flavorful and comparable to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville--but a bit more salty (and that's why I still prefer Lighthouse more). The banchans were great and fresh--cucumber, tofu pieces, kimchi, pototo salad. It took awhile for them to refill our banchan, and by the time it was refilled, we were done with our meal. Overall, Bethesda is lucky to finally have "their first real Korean restaurant."
(4)Tracy L.
My friends and I love this place. We almost always get the dolsot bibimbap and it has been perfect every time. The small dishes you get before the meal have always been interesting and tasty. The service is usually very good, I like to use a lot of the hot sauce and they always make sure I have a full glass of water. There is a parking garage conveniently located across the street and the metro stop is a 5 minute walk away so it is a great place for us all to meet. There aren't usually a lot of people in the restaurant so we often stay for several hours talking without interruption.
(5)James S.
I am not an expert of Korean cuisine but I have been to the House of Milae at least three times in the past six months. I keep coming back because the main dishes as well as the sides are delicious and the service is excellent. Like many people my favorite dish is Bibimbap, the ultimate in Korean comfort food. Imagine a bowl of crusted rice covered with uniquely flavored veggies, your choice of protein and a sunny- side up egg. Mix well and taste your dreams come true. The sides are a nice addition with subtle tastes, the kimchi is especially good. So if you are in Bethesda you can find great Korean food at the House of Milae.
(5)James L.
A Korean restaurant within a few miles of district limits? I'm already sold. I had lunch there with a friend after a round of golf. We had the Kalbi (short ribs), Kimchi Pajun (pancakes), mandu (potstickers), and the Tofu Kimchi with pork....yeah, we were hungry. Will I be back, you can bet on it.
(4)Colin D.
Really good Korean covering both the basics--bibimbop and seafood pancakes--and some more interesting things like sweet potato noodles. The food seems to be better the less americanized and more Korean it is. My wife and I were craving good Asian food and we stumbled in here for a late lunch after a day at the Zoo. The food was very good and it seemed to be better the further you strayed from americanized Korean, which is a good sign. The seafood pancake and sweet potato noodles were fantastic as were the little dishes of sides that came with things. The bibimbop was only OK and needed to have some spicy sauce put on to get to the point that it even compared with the rest of the dishes. The service was friendly and prompt, but the place was basically dead when we walked in, so that's to be expected. They continued to bring us extra small dishes of sides when we asked so we got extra spicy radish, kimchi, and the chewy fish sauce/dough things. The space is light, open and airy, which is a nice contrast to the typical hole-in-the wall Asian.
(5)Erica L.
I had a decent meal here. The service is friendly and attentive, and it's a fairly large space. The seafood pancake was too pancakey and heavy for my taste. It could have used more seasoning. The soondubu needed a little more flavor, probably more of the spicy bean paste and dried shrimp. It was a little too watery. The best dish I had here with the jap chae. It seemed solid. The banchan selection of side dishes was pretty tasty and had many of my usual favorites, from the sesame bean sprouts, kim chee, and marinated fish cake. I'd return if I'm in the area, but would order differently the next time.
(3)Nicole L.
As the banner indicated "the first Korean restaurant in Bethesda" it was exciting to have a Korean food option in the area. We came here for lunch. We had the bibimbap it was not served in a hot stone bowl but a modern white bowl, however the bibimbap looked good, I had it with beef while my friend had the chicken one. Mine was tasty with a soy sauce and pepper paste. The banchans were good too! The service was a bit slow though we waited a while before getting the attention of the server for the check.
(4)Gabe S.
The servers were quite but really kind. They made up for their silence with excellent food. I enjoyed eating my bulgogi while listening to chill Kpop music
(5)Juhi T.
What I love about this place is that it's a small, cozy, no-frills, just good authentic Korean food place. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the dolsot bibimbap was on point. If you're looking for something different than the usual, upscale DC restaurant scene, and want some really good Korean food, definitely check it out.
(5)Eric L.
I went here because I read such good reviews. Sadly... their wasn't really anything impressive. The side dishes seemed a bit old and didn't taste that great. The bulgogi seemed bland. The spicy chicken was impressive... kind of like a spicy teriyaki minus all the sauce. This place, i would suggest it if I was hankering for korean food and i was desperate. Otherwise... I'd avoid it. Two stars just because of the chicken dish being different. Otherwise id give it one.
(2)Tianchen Q.
This is a small Korean restaurant, with a convenient public parking garage just across the street. We had the seafood pancake, soondubu and kimchi stew. Seafood pancake was good, while the other two were a little too sweet. The two Korean waiters are very nice. They even offered to refill the small dishes - nowadays not many Korean restaurants do this, from my experience.
(5)aloha g.
Excellent bibimbap. Actually done right with the crispy gently burned rice on bottom of fired bowl. Good side dishes. Would bring my non Korean friends here. Very good. It is bumped up a bit price-wise with Bethesda prices. Parking garage across the street.
(4)Sam E.
Service is great and seems like it's run by a family. Don't come expecting to get great service but all four of our waiters were really nice. But what you do come for is the food. Outstanding food. We had the Kalbi beef. Expensive but marinated to perfection. Bi bim bap with spicy pork so filling and tasty in the stone bowl. Sides were outstanding and they were generous with the extras. I love the Kim chi;)
(5)Cora C.
The House of Milae is a classy yet authentic Korean restaurant in Bethesda. We had the jeon (pancake), the mandu (dumplings), the kimchi stew, and the bulgogi - all very good. The potato salad appetizer was delicious too.
(4)Mike C.
SOLID. Service was attentive and generous. Food was authentic and spicy. I recommend the Galbi if you like ribs. The Jeon (Korean pancake) app was also amazing. Try the spicy chicken stew if you like a little heat.
(5)Brian S.
Authentic and delicious Korean food. The haemul pajeun (seafood pancake) appetizer, varieties of kim chi and sides, and the bibimbap took me back to the four years I lived in Seoul. I was concerned with the look of the place from outside, but it's actually spacious and comfortable within. And once our server turned his attention from seating the dinner crowd to taking our order, we felt catered to and quite happy. If you want a real taste of Korea, I highly recommend this place. Bonus: That was the least I have spent in a restaurant in the Bethesda/DC area, especially considering the amount, quality, and variety of dishes we enjoyed.
(5)Kat T.
Their Stone bibimbap are the best, hands down! My husband and I are serious meat eaters. Our usually order are each one has a stone bibimbap and a Galbi to share. I mean to try their other dishes like tofu soup or seafood omelette but I always order their bibimbap. It's like I'm under its spell. Besides their food, I also like their staff. Sweetest Korean guys you will ever meet. Never over do it (to the point the wait stuff bothering you) but attentive enough they make sure you have everything you need. I also like their atmosphere. It is quite enough to have a weekday dinner with family. Unlike a lot of Korean BBQ places with full blast Kpop video. If I want karaoke which I never do, so never mind on that note.
(5)Angela W.
I went back again with a friend on a Wednesday evening at around 6PM and there was nobody there. Service was good. I noticed that the dolsot bibimbap contents changed! Same small dishes, though. Waitress sometimes didn't notice we needed things because we were the only customers. That's my only complaint.
(4)Bhavin P.
Really good small authentic Korean place in Bethesda, MD. Loved the hot bibambap with chicken! The bowl was a little bland but adding a bit of hot pepper sauce made it taste great! Loved the local light Cass Korean beer too. Service was quick and overall experience was delightful!
(4)Janet H.
4.5 stars rounding up Great food, great service! This place is definitely for those looking for Korean comfort food, think simple, spicy, and casual. We ordered: kimbap sampler - served lukewarm, pretty good, but we've had better. Keep in mind kimbap is not sushi, it's usually made with leftovers. The rice is warm and a bit oily (vs sushi rice is slightly sweetened with rice vinegar and maybe sugar). Spicy calamari served with rice - definitely spicy! Calamari was perfectly cooked, not overdone at all. The spice paste was familiar, bean paste based perhaps? It was delicious. Tofu kimchi served with rice - our favorite and new dish for us. Lightly pan fried soft tofu served with a pork and onion spicy mix. Oooh it was delicious!! Slightly sweet (from the caramelized onion and a tad more from the pork), savory, spicy, peppery, with a tang of sour from the kimchi. I want this again tomorrow!! The free banchan sides served was great, portion on the small side but they were happy to give us more. I loved eating the lighter pickled banchan right after a spicy bite, it was refreshing and the veggies were quite flavorful and light, almost like a palate cleanser :-) deeeeelicious! Definitely want to come back :-) banchan and tofu kimchi were def the winners!!
(5)Becky K.
I came a lot with my parents when they opened last year. Great bibimbap and service. I didn't go back for a year, because I (fortunately) moved out of my parents' house and into DC. I went back again tonight with a friend, and one of the nice waiters/owners asked how my mom is doing. Pretty awesome that he remembered!
(5)Bryan J.
I dig this spot overall for some non pretentious, authentic Korean food. Be wary at lunch though. It feels like they're a little understaffed to handle the crowd. Also, sometimes they skimp on the beef portions in the Bibimbap. Just sayin.
(4)Cherise P.
This place is so good! And service is outstanding. So friendly and attentive! Waiter was nice enough to give me a sampling of sake & soju when I wasn't sure which one I wanted to order. Ordered the jjigae (stew) with seafood, tofu, & kimchi- asked for it extra spicy and it was! So yummy & comforting. Portion size was generous and price was very reasonable. Layout was pleasing (mix of tables, booths, and small bar seating area), and it looks like they have a patio too! The Korean pop music soundtrack is a nice touch. Will definitely be back to try more things!
(5)Jennifer N.
(4.5 stars). I now have a close-to-home Korean joint for those evenings I don't feel like driving to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville. It's true that the decor in House of Milae is slightly sterile, but the warm service, barley tea (yes, please!), and fantastic, authentic food well make up for it. The seafood pancake was as good as the best I've had, and the stone pot bi bim bop was delectable (never fear, though the menu mentions beef only, unlike Lighthouse Tofu, they will happily make it with a delicious spicy chicken). House of Milae is the only Korean place I've ever gone to that throws a bit of lettuce in the bi bim bop, but it works. And, of course, it all comes with banchan, that embarrassment of riches that makes going out for Korean food so fun. The price is shockingly cheap: two of us ate for $21.
(4)Phil B.
Wow, for Korean. Super authentic, under $10 lunch service. Counldn't ask for more.
(5)teresa l.
Love Love Love Korean food! I grew up in Annandale, Va so I hold my standards very high. House of Milae does not disappoint. Service was a bit slow but food was piping hot, drinks were icy cold and hot ( I drank both hot sake and japanese plum wine ) and the korean pop music booming out was my heaven. I hope they stay in business for a long time.
(5)Cristina M.
pleasant ambience, friendly service, and good enough eats to turn this korean food ambivalent into a believer! stopped in over the holidays for a dinner with visiting family. can't say I've been a big fan of Korean food, but found the sides to be of a great variety, with lots of crunch and flavor to ponder over as we awaited our bibimbap and entrées. the bowls themselves lacked a bit of spice, but it was nothing a bit of recommendation from our friendly waitstaff couldn't resolve! special beef and pork entrées were delicious; food was fresh and filling. a small but authentic drink menu to accompany a highly pleasant meal, and let's not forget the uplifting sounds of k-pop to add to the Friday night cheer. have recommended this pleasant little place and will definitely visit again soon! technical note: there is metered street parking, but a public garage right across the street (free Saturday and Sunday) will be your best bet!
(5)Ruth C.
Two and a half stars. Friendly service, standardly tasty hot tea. I was so excited to get authentic Korean in white-washed Bethesda, but... no. Banchan is a little limited-- not surprising for an establishment of this size, but I take issue with their funky-tasting radish kimchi. I could almost forgive the missing meat segment of galbi tucked under the other layers if it weren't so expensive. Lunch portions on most everything else is more reasonably priced. Sesame seeds on everything, which makes bibimbap with the raw-on-top egg all the more obvious. Its presentation may be pretty, but avoiding the traditional pot leaves my rice disappointing. Ultimately, if I compare every pho spot to NoVA's cream of the crop, I have to admit House of Milae is subpar to the average Annandale or Rockville K-eateries.
(2)Rakesh B.
Good food and great service. Had lunch on Sunday ... Short menu but food was delicious. Several Korean pancake choices from which we tried two flavors and they were fabulous.
(4)Evie S.
5 starts for the service. Really doesn't get any better than that. 4 stars for the food. Yummy. They are very knowledgable about vegetarian/ vegan diets and have many options available.
(5)Chi Z.
It's pretty hard to find a good combination of genuinely considerate service and good food in a Korean restaurant, especially in the Bethesda/Southern Silver Spring area. And we are very picky in our Korean food even though we will likely try anything once (think chicken feet, uni, octopus, intestines - all things we have had enough to discern great from horrible because there is no "just okay" when considering such particulars). Enough about us. House of Milae is a great Korean restaurant set to the tone of a neighborhood quick eats/drinks place. Korean pop music sets the mood as conversations and laughter layer on top of it. TVs set to ESPN add to the relaxed and lively atmosphere. The service is the best aspect of the environment. The young man who always waits on us is courteous and quick to attend to our needs. Never needed to ask for water. The food is great. Korean good can be categorized into different styles and regions. Most people have experienced the Korean BBQ or soondubu (soft tofu soup) places. Few have experienced comfort food/drinking food like this place. They have Korean staples like bibimbap and an array of jigae's. But they specialize in foods that a Korean mom would make or foods that go well with a drink or two or when you have a craving. Kimbaps are the quick lunch foods of all Korean kids growing up and they make great ones here. They have kimchi and dwenjang jigae's that you can't make at home cause they smell up the neighborhood and still don't taste as good. Try it for lunch. If you live walking distance, try some of the Korean drinks as well as the food. We've only come for lunch so far. But we're gonna über it over and have a drink there one of these nights. It's currently on the top of our list for a quick bite.
(5)Liberty W.
Great local korean spot! Used to travel to Annandale from Bethesda just to have some Korean cuisine so it's nice to have a neighborhood spot! They are really nice there too and provide good service. My favorite things are the kimchi pancakes and kalbi of course!!! Soups are good too!!! If you like korean food, you will love this little spot!!!
(5)Morris S.
I've had almost everything here, and its all great. Nice, family run. Good service, high quality. I'm a regular now!
(5)Jesse L.
I've only had Korean food a handful of times. The first few times ranged from disliking it to mildly enjoying it. Today changed everything. This Korean food was amazing. So many veggies and flavors. The rice was delicious. The service quick, attentive, and polite. Prices are good. Highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu.
(5)C P.
Solid, but not fantastic. Does not compare to the wealth of Korean restaurants in Annandale, but for the area, it's a solid option.
(3)Dimple N.
Definitely a must visit spot if you live or work in the area! We got spinach jeon(pancake), potstickers and dolsot bibimbap. The dolsot (hot stone) bibimbap was brilliant - left the rice crispy at the bottom. Food quantity was just the right amount for 2 people. Our server Lyon was absolutely wonderful. He was so nice and seemed like a one-man army taking the restaurant to greatness by himself. In short, great food and excellent service. I'll surely be back soon.
(5)Mickey L.
Thanks to House of Milae (HoM), Bethesda (the whole DC Metro Area, for that matter) finally has a great Boon-shik (casual dining) Korean restaurant! Fantastic food, outstanding service, and cosy ambiance with dark wooden furniture make HoM a hot new classic! Five years ago when my dining companion and I were visiting San Jose, we practically lived nearby in Santa Clara at Roll House, a refined Boonshik spot serving delicious namesake Kim-bap as well as other comfort food classics like Ddeok-guk and Jaap-chae. We just wished that there were one in the DC area--Bethesda, specifically. Enter House of Milae, a wish come true with equally stellar food, service, and ambiance as Roll House, if not even better thanks to its absolute gem of a signature dish, Dak-do-ri-tang! Since last week, we thoroughly enjoyed two lunches (L = available also as a lunch special) and two dinners, ordering the following: - Dakdoritang: chicken stew with potatoes and onions in a slightly sweet Go-chu-jang-based broth; read below for details. - *Bulgogi Kimbap: rice roll with sliced beef, carrots, spinach, egg, fishcake, and sweet pickled radish; excellent balance of flavors and rolled expertly. - Spicy Calamari Bowl: fresh sliced squid stir-fried with cabbage, mushrooms, and spring onions in a Go-chu-jang-based (fermented red chili-soy paste) sauce; normally, this dish is too sweet, but we really enjoyed this dish--particularly the tender mollusk. - *Jaapchae: stir-fried clear sweet potato vermicelli noodles with shiitake, spinach, sliced beef; surprisingly, it has been hard to find good Jaap-chae anywhere (though it is not a difficult dish to prepare), but HoM's prepares it with ease and a good balance of sweet, savory, tender, and firm. - Ddeokguk: sliced rice cake (ddeok) soup with sliced beef, egg, and spring onion; tender ddeok in a clean beef broth and just enough beef and toppings--win! - *Chicken Galbi Bowl: slightly spicy soy sauce-based marinated thigh meat grilled to a nice charred outside; told that it may be sweeter than a usual Galbi (to please Bethesda's American taste buds), we found it just right with a light kick of heat and the perfect char. - Vegetable Bu-chim-gae: savory pancake appetizer with spinach and carrots; think Pa-jeon (scallion pancake) but with a tender inside and crispy outside. The main server of HoM, Lyon, is the son of the chef/owner. He is very courteous, makes us feel at home, and smoothly communicates between the kitchen and us. For example, he gave us a heads-up that our food would be a tad bit saltier than a previous visit because his mother was away and that his sister (who has slightly saltier taste buds than their mother) was heading the kitchen. Everything we ordered, from the fresh Ban-chan (small plates to accompany rice/entree) to the made-to-order entrees was outstanding. However, the Dak-do-ri-tang totally won me over. Although it is not an uncommon in Boonshik, we have never come across it in the DC area, Manhattan, LA, or Seoul. This dish is specially prepared by the chef/owner, and we had to pass on it once when she was away and her daughter (also a solid chef, herself) manned the stoves. The wait was worth it! Having never seen or heard of the dish, we had only learned of its existence from my uncle, when we took to Ravi's Kabob House 2 and ordered Chicken Karahi, which he said it tasted exactly like Dak-do-ri-tang. Sure enough, HoM's tasted just like the Karahi, except with a slightly thinner base and a gentle sweetness coming from the onions and Go-chu-jang to replace the spicy ginger-tomato sauce. What was so thoroughly impressive about HoM's signature dish was the finesse with which Chef prepared the chicken. Like the Karahi, it featured bone-in cuts of thigh and leg meat. However, it was impeccably devoid of fat normally abundant between the skin and meat as well as between the meat. Furthermore, the chicken was thoroughly cooked, yet very tender and easy to eat off the bone. It was as if the chicken were cooked Sous-Vide to keep the texture tender while rendering the fat before finishing it off in the stew. The night we ordered the Dak-do-ri-tang, Lyon saw how much we were enjoying the dish that he brought his mother over to see us. When she came over, we were eager to know how she prepared the chicken so perfectly. Her answer was that she was simply thorough in trimming off the fat before preparing the chicken, which she said was cooked at a high temperature for a while. She said that she only prepares and serves dishes that she would at home to her family members, each of whom has a distinct taste (sweet+salty, neutral, very mild, and spicy+bitter). This perfectly sums up HoM: homemade comfort food made with meticulous preparations (i.e. bite-size cute Kimchi is a big plus) and a refined touch paired with smooth service for a delicious experience in a relaxed vibe. Bethesda is now two-deep (Passage to India) with superb restaurants!
(5)Hua X.
A couple months back, I watched a World Cup game here. I think they show soccer sometimes. Solid food. Really friendly service. I had some good conversations with the gregarious waiter. Definitely aiming to come back -- there are just too many restaurants in Bethesda.
(4)lisa y.
Drive by this place every morning and has been intrigued. Friends suggested we go there Saturday night. Excellent food, excellent service. I will definitely be back. I got the dolsot bibimbap. So much beef and veggies and the rice was perfectily crisp! Drooling just thinking about this place again!
(4)Dennis O.
New place that just opened. Family owned. Excellent food. Kimchi is very fresh and they also have this mushroom and broccoli side that I have not seen in other Korean places. Ordered the Jap Chae. Sweet potato noodles stir fried with beef and vegetables. Absolutely delicious. Not many Korean options in Bethesda actually. Highly recommended.
(5)David T.
3.5 stars for food 2 stars for service. Korean food here is more authentic and better than MOMO. Sides are good. I come here when I'm craving Korean and don't have time to drive up to Rockville. Service is usually pretty good but they have a new young unpolished waiter with attitude that put me off. I'm going to write this constructively because I've waited tables in college and don't want to poop on this lad. Let me preface this by saying there was only two tables at 2PM on a Saturday. "Do you want to order?" He said with a hard face. Why else would I come to a restaurant. Of course I want to order. It should be "would you like to order sir?" or "are you ready to order sir?" with a smile. not "Do you" with a hard face! Also when this waiter brought food to the table, he laid it down forcefully and said "here you go" walking away quickly with out emotion. The average waiter with a little bit of experience knows to say "enjoy you meal" or "is there anything else I can get for you?" with a smile if they want a chance at a decent tip. The owner always solicits my opinion of how the establishment can improve so here it is. I know good help is hard to find but remind your help the basics of waiting tables 101.
(3)H. Y.
This restaurant was really good! Great service...the waiters were really nice. The food was really tasty and affordable as well. I went for the first time and ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap. I will definitely be back!
(5)Kissa M.
Went here for the first time about a month ago and now it's one of our work staples. The food is one point. You can eat lunch for less than $10. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Julia M.
If you love dolsot bibimbap (stone bowl), this is the place for you. The rice gets super crispy, perfect on a cold night. Big portions. We were so happy with the food, but even happier with the service. Lyon, our server, was so kind and considerate! You don't find this kind of service very often, he really took care of everyone in the restaurant.
(5)Chlo L.
I love galbi. It makes me want to dance! Do dah happy dance. It was pretty empty on a Sunday evening but we came close to closing time. The kimchi soup was amazeeeee balls. They have that sake too so it was an especially good dinner. Must go back... Now.
(4)Elise C.
My boyfriend and I went to House of Milae before seeing a movie on a Saturday night. It's been about a week and a half since we visited, and I can't stop thinking about the bibimbap. We weren't super hungry, so we asked the waiter if one order of the bibimbap would be enough for us to share, and rather than upsell us, he suggested just one order in addition to an appetizer. We shared the bibimbap with chicken (we sprung for the stone bowl) and an order of dumplings. The food was so delicious, we wished our appetites were larger so that we'd ordered our own bibimbap. Fast and very friendly service, and an affordable, high-quality meal!
(5)Alexis M.
I love this place! Whenever I need a korean food fix, I come here. My favorite thing to get is seafood soondooboo jigae. Perfect soft tofu in scalding hot red pepper stock. Ask for the egg on the side so you can crack it yourself and ensure that the egg thickens the soup, rather than cooking at the bottom of the bowl/ pot.
(4)Matthew S.
Been here a couple of times already. Amazing Korean food and our server has always been polite and helpful. He even helped me get food quick when my wife was pregnant and was craving Korean food. One of my favorite US Korean restaurants! Chicken Kalbi was sooooo good. Bulgogi as well. Everything I have tried so far has been great. Please give it a shot!
(5)Victoria M.
Good food, good service, good lunch menu. Their pork bbq rice bowl is so good, and it's just spicy enough....
(4)Aaron C.
Definitely one of - if not the - best Korean I've found in Maryland. The bibimbap was everything it's supposed to be.
(4)Arnaud C.
I LOVE this place. Bethesda was really missing a Korean place. Here it is, and it is a good one! OK, maybe the choice will be more limited than in a Korean restaurant in Annandale VA, but the quality is here! I really like their stone bowl Bibimbap.
(5)JD R.
Korean food that reminds me of eating at Seoraksan Mountain in South Korea. Few frills; just honest, authentic Korean food.
(5)Jerold P.
The food was enjoyable, and we had a pleasant experience. I enjoyed my kimchi jijigae and my girlfriend liked her bibimbap. I had the house sake (cold) which was okay, and my girlfriend had the korean raspberry wine. She had a huge amount that she was able to take home as well. The place offered good value and we would go there again.
(4)Claire M.
Wandered in here on a rainy Friday night in search of some steaming hot bibimbap. If you've never had bibimbap, you're missing out, and you should go immediately, but I'll try and describe it for you. The waitress will bring you a piping hot ceramic bowl, filled to the brim with prettily organized little sections of food. Rice, carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, greens, etc, with a softly fried egg on top. Then you take your chopsticks (okay, fine, I used a spoon for this part...) and mix everything together. The hot clay pot cooks the egg and and crisps the rice, so that it gets a little crunchy and very tasty. Then you can add a bunch of hot sauce or some kimchi to your bowl, and go at it. The bibimbap was really good. I'd definitely go back for it. The potstickers weren't too memorable - pretty bland. Go to House of Milae if you need a quick bibimbap fix.
(3)Steve M.
I hate to repeat all those boring reviews. But they are right. This place is great. It was my first time in a Korean restaurant and definitely not my last. Pleasant clean interior. Friendly staff answered all of my questions and gave advice. Seafood pancake (jeon) was great. Rice wine was excellent. The sides were multiple, pretty, and tasty throughout. Then the bibimbap with pulled pork in a lovely hot ceramic bowl; lovely and huge. The waiter offered to mix it and I gladly accepted. With my permission he added hot sauce, and then lots more hot sauce. It was great, not too spicy for me, and I left pleasantly stuffed and thinking about my next visit very soon.
(5)Takahiro O.
Being a local, I was excited to try this place out because I love Korean food and House of Milae is pretty much the only Korean restaurant in Bethesda. The interior is spacious and clean. They play K-pop music in the background, but it's not too loud. They have hot green tea for free, which is always a plus on a cold day. I ordered the Kimchi Jjigae (tofu soup). I'm not sure how customizable this soup is, but I got the default one (beef, medium spicy to spicy). It came with napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, mixed vegetables, tofu, and a bowl of rice. Free refills for the side dishes (not sure about the rice). Overall, the food was not bad but not great either. It was just okay. The soup was on the spicier side for my taste, and I wish they had dropped an egg to make it more mild. The mixed vegetables side dish was bland. If you're looking for simple, reasonably-priced, home-style Korean food, House of Milae is a good place for you. There's nothing special about the food, but service was excellent and I had a good time overall. I might come back to try something else, but I'd rather go somewhere else like Lighthouse Tofu to satisfy my jjigae craving.
(3)Parinaz G.
The first thing that needs to be said about this place is that their service is EXCELLENT! The food is great too, and I loved their Bibimbap. It is a cute, cozy restaurant and well worth the trek from Arlington. Definitely a must try and probably one of the better Korean restaurants in the DMV.
(4)Mark P.
The best Korean food I have had since i moved from Boston 20+ year ago. Try the kimchee pancake appetizer or the kimchee, tofu and pork entree delicious.
(5)Lenny G.
Perfect bibimbap. The restaurant is small, but the food is great, the people nice and the serve pretty fast. I will be coming back here to try the other selections!
(5)Chris K.
pretty good but very expensive and light on the meat. service is generally slow and distracted by their iphones.
(2)Kimie K.
I and my husband ordered Tofu Kimchi and Spicy Squid which were both awesome. I also love how they prepare their banchans (side dishes). When it comes to Korean restaurants, if their side dishes are good, that's the indication of how good of Korean restaurant it is. The servers were extremely nice, friendly, and polite. I wish I lived around there so I could visit more often. To sum up, will I go back? of course!
(5)Eric M.
I got a togo order and it was very well packaged. You can tell that they actually try to give you the same quality as eating in. I would dine herebif I get the chance
(5)Ruofei D.
Splendid Korean restaurant. All dishes are delicate. The service is awesome. Infinite Korean small dishes. Yummy!
(5)Michael F.
Was expecting A LOT better from the reviews I read. I got the stone bowl. The rice at the bottom was crispy and the food was overall tasty--4 stars. Service was also good--not overbearing but attentive. Our waiter brought us a little sampler of lots of different vegetables which was also very nice. There were to main problems I had. The first was that the portion was too small. I finished my food and I was hungry after. Simple as that--and I'm not any huge eater or anything. Second was that I paid a lot for my small portion. $17 if I remember correctly? That's a lot for slightly above average food that left me still hungry afterward. I went with my coworker and while I didn't taste his food, he had a lot more negative impression of this restaurant. He said he wouldn't be coming back, especially for the price. IIRC he got sweet potato noodles or something like that. I may give this place a second shot, but I'm not sure at all.
(3)Mol R.
I have been here several times and I keep coming back. The service is wonderful, the restaurant is spotless, and the food is delicious. They have expanded their alcoholic beverages menu to include a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese alcohols. It was really busy tonight, but the service was quick and the waiters offered to bring more banchan twice. I have lived in both Jeonju and Seoul, and I can tell you this food is exactly what you would eat in a casual restaurant in Korea. Anyone saying that the food at Milae cannot compare to the Korean restaurants in Annandale doesn't seem to understand that those restaurants are not like what a regular night out in Korea is like. The waiters also speak Korean if you are interested in practicing. I no longer have a need to drive to Virginia to get my Korean fix!
(5)Tou M.
A simple menu with excellent quality dishes. I ordered the fried pork pot stickers which were crunchy on the outside and steaming on the inside. They were accompanied with a sweet soy sauce for dipping. My entree was the dolsot bimbimbop. It arrived sizzling hot along with a bottle of gochujang for spice enhancement. All dishes arrived promptly,freshly made and were flavorful. I would definitely go back, however being located on St Elm Ave, there are also a lot of other enticing restaurants and bars within walking distance.
(5)Richard W.
This review is a couple of weeks late (not that it matters that much). Was in Bethesda on business and knew I would be stuck in my hotel room for a couple of nights getting work-related stuff done. Really didn't have time to go out and eat and I really didn't want to order room service. So, checked out House of Milae, since Korean food sounded good. Got the galbi, dwaeji bulgogi, and japchae...enough food for two nights. Coming from a city with a large immigrant Korean population, I feel like I know what's good vs. bad Korean food. I have to say that I was impressed with House of Milae and would highly recommend. Since I did takeout, I can't comment on the actual restaurant and service, but based on how I was served as a person doing takeout, I would think their in-house service is just fine. Go and check this place out.
(3)Kim L.
I love this new addition to Bethesda! The mom, daughter and son all work together which makes this gem a true family restaurant. The pork bulgogi is beyond delicious as was the seafood stew. The calamari was spicy but incredibly tender. I am thrilled I no longer have to trek to Annandale for my weekly fix!
(5)Michelle A.
Good addition to the Bethesda dining lineup - and speaking of lineup, here are the deets: 1) Really friendly service 2) Korean sushi sampler was mediocre, the cooked tuna isn't really appealing, a lot of people are going to choose this app and be disappointed. Back to the drawing board, please! 3) Potstickers were very tasty 4) I liked the bulgogi taste-wise, but I like my meats on a hot plate to come out sizzling, maybe it's just for show, but I didn't get that "just cooked" experience I'm used to at a Korean place 5) Decor needs some work, finishing touches seemed sloppy (poorly taped off paint work in the bathroom, etc.), could be a warmer, more inviting atmosphere 6) Need more banchan 4 stars since it's a great addition to the area, but there are some improvements that need to be made to become a long lasting fixture.
(4)Rita A.
Absolutely authentic great little restaurant. Korean home cooking - delicious spicy food for a fair price. Simple, clean, small place for Lunch and Dinner. They also do take - out. Bibimbap is a must. Large portions. I had lots of Korean food in NYC. I think this place is among the few places in Bethesda that is better than average.
(5)Arpitha B.
Nice place for quite lunch or dinner. Food is really tasty. However the dessert menu needs to be looked upon. Overall a good place for Korean food. Good variety in vegetarian.
(4)Cynthia L.
Came for lunch on a rainy Thursday. Served immediately by a lovely young man. Both of us were craving bibimbop. A lunch portion, $9, was perfect in flavor, potion size and freshness. And 6 varieties of banchan. Each one delicious. We were happy lunchers. Must add that we are foodies. And very critical
(4)Greg G.
Great food here. Went with some Korean colleagues -always a bonus to have natives when you want to navigate the terrain of foreign cuisine and not get lost or worse sick. My one disclaimer to any who enjoys ramen noodles is to not be surprised or shocked or run to an enterologist when you notice undigested noodles in your poo or toilet bowl. My experience was oh no why are there worms coming out back there!! Thankfully it was just an another example that the human body cant get nutrients out of everything you eat or break it down properly.
(4)Nandi E.
Excellent food. I got the short ribs. Had three times and it is good everytime. Great service too.
(5)J S.
They have a nice selection of Korean wine. Waiter was very kind to let me taste three before choosing one. Galbi was excellent. Highly recommended. The spicy calamari is HOT! The wait staff is fantastic. Very helpful and friendly.
(4)Sara S.
I have to agree with Mike B. below - mediocre. I liked the atmosphere and general feel of House of Milae - it was neat and clean with plenty of seating, a small bar, and some Christmas decor. The hostess was nice and my food-to-go came out promptly. I got the bulgogi, which had some flavor but was a little over-cooked/dry even with the thin sauce it came with. While the sides looked good, they were very bland and came in tiny portions. I also got some veggie potstickers ,which weren't bad but didn't seem to have too much filling. As Mike said, the best part was the perfectly cooked sticky rice.
(3)Jonathan L.
The bibimbop I had was excellent, as were the dumplings, appetizers and korean beer. Contrary to what others have written, the wait staff was very good taking the order promptly, answering my questions about the menu patiently and making sure that the water glasses were full during the meal.
(5)Steph M.
Yummy in my very hungry tummy! That is my split sentiment regarding House of Milae--good food to salivate to while you are starving on a Saturday night. Serving traditional, home-style korean food that is flavorful and well-priced, House of Milae is located in "old Bethesda" on a mysterious street that is impossible to find. After you circle around Cordell a few times, accidentally walk back and forth in front of Naked Pizza (because that is how everyone wants their pizza, flaccid and cold to the touch), you end up on St. Elmo and hopefully within the narrow restaurant that is House of Milae. The food is lovely! The food is solid in quality! The restaurant is dismally understaffed and is kept (non) functioning by means of a 2-person waitstaff. Lack/slow service made this restaurant impossible to even visit on a moderately busy Saturday evening. I was sad, but not sad enough to visit flaccid naked pizza next door. Visit this authentic korean spot during the off-hours or on a weekday, and you won't be disappointed!
(3)Davita K.
Phenomenal food and service! I got the dolsot bibimbap, and it was incredible! Probably the best one that I have ever had in the United States. Plus, the server was very friendly.
(5)Jen A.
This place is great! I love the sweet man that always greets me during lunch. It's been a while since I've visited, but I'm definitely no stranger there. All of their bulgogis are delicious. I love the side dishes that come with - especially the radishes and fish cakes. It doesn't matter what you pick, it will all be delicious! The flavors are all there.
(5)Andre D.
Great food and good service. Among the best of Bethesda. Try the bulgolgi jeon. Service is attentive but music is sometimes a bit loud. We'll be back!
(5)Samyuktha K.
It's a nice cosy place with great service and good food. We ordered the Kimchi Jjingae and the Dwaeji (Pork) Bulgogi and both were quite nice. We were also given a few free sides and some nice hot tea. The service was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter who was quite considerate towards us. This won points with me. I am happy when customers are treated with respect and vice versa. The ambiance is cozy especially when sitting in the booth on a cold, rainy day. I would definitely go back.
(5)Tom M.
Really delicious, affordable Korean food. The menu is rather small, and it's pretty reminiscent of other Korean places, but I've been there several times now and everything is really good and very reasonably priced. You really can't beat it.
(5)Weimew Y.
I am so glad that there is finally a Korean restaurant in Bethesda! House of Milae serves authentic Korean 'small dishes', all complimentary. The vegetable pancake and sweet potato noodles are very tasty. We plan to go back to try tofu stew sometime soon. It's nice to have a good Korean restaurant in Bethesda downtown that we don't need to drive to Rockville for Korean food.
(4)Kelvin C.
Best Korean food in the area. The stone pot bibimbap is the best I've had in the DMV area. The waiter is also a very friendly and warns you about the spiciness of the tofu soup.
(5)Miss C.
I visited House of Milae after reading the Yelp reviews hoping to find my fix of Korean food that would match the yummy authentic places I came to know in Atlanta.The service was good, the place is small. The food was well seasoned, good but not outstanding. I had the sweet potato noodles, with tofu. They were tasty, the tofu was well seared. I have had better kimchi, the portions were kinda small for what I am used to. Would try them again though, just that I didn't get hooked and compelled to return the next day and several days in a row like I have a other places! Maybe I will have an update for later!
(3)Tony M.
As a neighbor, I welcome these first rate folks to open House of Milae. I have eaten there 3 times already...every time wonderful! I'm on the newer side to Korean food, but loved everything I've had.. Bulgogi, several soups, the seafood pancake is wonderful! Very fresh, very nice family (owners)...please check them out, and tell them Chef Tony sent you!
(5)Jason W.
Finally a Korean restaurant in downtown Bethesda, and one that serves dol sot bibimbap. Although the food was not as good as some of the Korean restaurants in the Rockville area, it was convenient and tasted good. The dol sot bibimbap came with 5 sides of banchan that were a nice starter while I let my egg fry and the rice brown and crust on the clay pot that the bibimbap came in. I left stuffed but determined to return for more. They do have a limited drink menu, but that will hopefully change.
(4)E Y.
Decent korean for Bethesda but definitely nothing special, just ok. Take out seems to taste better than eating there.
(3)Noah C.
The food was amazing (I recommend the Chicken Galbi, though everything is fantastic) and the service was absolutely wonderful. I loved the waiter and can't wait to go back to try even more spectacular Korean dishes.
(5)Good E.
i came here for lunch with a friend. i got the bibimbap and we split one of the pork specials. the bibimbap was pretty good. i did use the entire bowl of hot sauce and did not feel that it was overwhelmingly spicy. my friend was not so bold but he liked his bibimbap as well. the other pork dish was just ok, nothing amazing. the lunch specials are well worth it, the price came down to about thirteen bucks per person which was very reasonable for what you get and in this day and age. the server was incredibly nice and polite. the place is small and not well demarcated. they should probably change the sign or do something to make themselves more prominent. the decor is average, but the place is very clean. i did not use the bathroom so i cannot comment on that! parking is something you have to pay for , boo overall, i would say if you happen to be in the area, try this place out. it wont be as amazing as the K places for grub in annandale but it's not bad.
(4)Solomon S.
I love this place. They have incredible korean food and even better service. The kimbap was just to die for. The bugogi was excellent as well. And they might possibly have the best kimchi in DC to boot. The server was very nice and even gave us some new dishes to sample. Really hope the restaurant sticks around. I had a wonderful meal there with my best friends.. Will definitely be back
(5)Tony P.
This place is awesome. Great service and the food was off the chain. Some of the best Korean food I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and give them a visit!
(5)Lauren R.
Great new Korean restaurant. Delicious food, really nice server - family run seems like. We loved everything we got - including bebimbop with beef and love their pork dish. Also had a vegetarian with us who loved the bebimbop with tofu. and yay for mochi ice cream - both green tea and red bean flavors. Love it!
(4)Eld S.
Great good! Very veggie friendly as well. Will be going back.
(5)Scott S.
Excellent service and food. We live nearby and decided to give House of Milae a try. We had the bibimbap with beef and sweet potato noodles - these and all of the sides were so delicious, especially with the hot barley tea. We left with an inexpensive tab and happy stomachs without feeling overly full. We definitely recommend stopping by here!
(5)Awesta H.
I've been here twice in the last four days. It's so good. The dolsot bibim bop is fantastic. And that service is great. Not many people go because it's not very noticeable, so try it!
(5)Yumi M.
Such great customer service! They made sure our water was refilled, made sure the food was good, and asked if we wanted extra banchans! My fiance and I ordered bulgogi kimbob, chicken galbi, and soondubu (which is not on the menu but they will make it for you!) We absolutely LOVED everything. Very homemade style and was tasty. We will be back in no time. (And as a restaurant in Bethesda, very generous pricing.)
(4)Robyn M.
If you are like me and you've have been waiting for a Korean restaurant to come to Bethesda, you''ll welcome the arrival of House of Milae. The side dishes were fresh, the kalbi tangy, and our kids loved the delicious chap jae (sweet potato vermicelli). Both of the soups that we ordered sported rich, savory broths; I liked how my kimchi soup came with a choice of white or multigrain rice (the latter was fantastic). The choice of drinks was interesting (my kids tried the banana milk, which is apparently popular in Korea). For dessert, we all found a flavor of mochi to satisfy us. The service was first rate, with the chef sending out several of the house specialties to sample. Overall, this casual family-run restaurant has a lot to offer. We'll definitely be back soon and often.
(5)Robert V.
We have been looking for a great Korean place without having to drive far away and boy does this fit the bill. Everything we ordered was amazing and was as good as the Korean food I've eaten across the country (NYC, California, Hawaii). For our meal we ordered the Galbi, Dol Sot Bibimbap and Kimchee Jjigae. Each dish was so good that we left completely stuffed! In addition, the Kimchee and other pickled dishes we got were all well spiced and really complimented our meal. We look forward to being VERY frequent customers :)
(5)M Louise S.
Like other patrons this was our first Korean food adventure outside of Annandale (for this area). We had the hot stone Bibimbap and the Kimbap sampler. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding. Definitely a place we will visit again.
(4)Sarah P.
I am a huge fan of Korean food and this place meets expectations! Their meat is cooked to perfection, tender, and tasty. Staff is very friendly. I highly recommend!!!
(5)Randy S.
My husband and I ventured for our first Korean restaurant outside of Annandale, VA and we had a delicious dinner with good service and a pleasant setting. We enjoyed the bimbabot [spelling?] and the delicious short ribs. The servings seemed too large when the darling waitress first served us ... but we ate everything. Yes, the décor is spare. It might be nice to just set the place servings with placemats on the tables and perhaps have small votive candles on the tables too. I would not mind something Korean in terms of the art or décor as well. The food was delicious and the service friendly. The prices were fine and the beer was cold. I am glad to see variety in Bethesda that is not Italian, Thai, or a burger bar. We will be coming back and bring our friends.
(4)L. S.
We really enjoyed our meal here! We both got the bibimbap - one in a hot stone bowl and the other regular. They were both very satisfying! I loved all the little bowls of other food that came with it as well. Our waiter was very patient answering our questions, made helpful recommendations, and was attentive. The bill came in under $40, which is great for two entrees and two beers in Bethesda! We look forward to coming back soon.
(5)Kelly C.
DELICIOUS KOREAN FOOD! :) Somehow, growing up in the area, I have never been to a korean restaurant in MD (other than the usual krn bbq places). I finally yelped a korean restaurant by me and found this place! I came on a Friday night and it was surprisingly empty. The food was soooo good. My boyfriend and I shared the bulgogi kimbap to start and then for entrees, he got the bibimbap and I got the kimchi jjigae. Everything was seriously amazing (or I have just been in major deprivation of korean food that at this point, anything would be amazing). We also got the green tea and red bean mochi ice cream for dessert. The guy working there was super nice and said the red bean was better, so when we asked to try both flavors, he gave us 2 red bean and 1 green tea. (He was right, btw!). At the end of the meal, he also came by and gave us these cute little lollipop treats. They weren't too special but he was so friendly to us during our meal that I felt required to eat it, lol. Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for some delicious korean food along with great service.
(5)Amanda B.
Absolutely delicious and definitely filling the Korean food void that was in Bethesda. My korean fiance and I now go here several times a week for takeout! The service is absolutely amazing and the food tastes genuine and delicious! The bulgogi gimbop and bibimbop are our favorites!
(5)Michael S.
This place is so new - - we are the only party in the place. The barbecued pork and hot rock Bulgogi were very satisfying. Great kimchi.
(4)Elizabeth B.
A great new option in Bethesda! Terrific kalbi, spicy pork, and bibimbap. Great, attentive service. We will definitely be back. Only note I'd fix is the big neon sign outside. Seems a little too garish for the great food within. I have eaten authentic korean all over, having grown up in Hawaii, and have waited for folks on the east coast to catch on. If you like barbecue, and spicy food, you should go.
(5)Jennifer M.
I'm sitting in House of Milae right now for lunch, and I am stuffed and happy. The service is incredible, and the kimchi jjigae is perfect. And who doesn't love Kpop??
(5)Jessica L.
I am so excited that my neighborhood finally has a good Korean restaurant! I had the kimchi jigae, and it was awesome... just as good as the Korean places further out in the burbs. Our waitress was really sweet, prices were reasonable, tea was hot, bathrooms were clean. It wasn't crowded at all... I hope more people go there, because I want this place to stick around!
(5)Edoardo K.
GREAT food! Not too expensive. Wonderful service. Definitely a keeper in Bethesda and a definite "must go."
(5)C W.
The menu at House of Milae has the usual popular Korean dishes: bulgogi, galbi, bibimbap, and kimbop. We ordered the veggie potstickers, bulgogi kimbop, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. The side dishes were definitely fresh and homemade, which I enjoyed. The food itself was good; however I wish they had added bit more flavor or marinated the meat longer. I personally like when the rice in the bibimbop has a nice layer of crispy/almost burnt rice at the bottom. The rice in my order was hot but not at all crispy. The next time I go, I'll be sure to request that. Overall, food was good. I'd recommend this place to my parents and to any that prefer a less spicer version of typical Korean food. I appreciate the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant and best of all, is conveniently located in Bethesda. The staff here was very friendly and I would go back again to get the lunch specials.
(3)Cherise P.
This place is so good! And service is outstanding. So friendly and attentive! Waiter was nice enough to give me a sampling of sake & soju when I wasn't sure which one I wanted to order. Ordered the jjigae (stew) with seafood, tofu, & kimchi- asked for it extra spicy and it was! So yummy & comforting. Portion size was generous and price was very reasonable. Layout was pleasing (mix of tables, booths, and small bar seating area), and it looks like they have a patio too! The Korean pop music soundtrack is a nice touch. Will definitely be back to try more things!
(5)Jennifer N.
(4.5 stars). I now have a close-to-home Korean joint for those evenings I don't feel like driving to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville. It's true that the decor in House of Milae is slightly sterile, but the warm service, barley tea (yes, please!), and fantastic, authentic food well make up for it. The seafood pancake was as good as the best I've had, and the stone pot bi bim bop was delectable (never fear, though the menu mentions beef only, unlike Lighthouse Tofu, they will happily make it with a delicious spicy chicken). House of Milae is the only Korean place I've ever gone to that throws a bit of lettuce in the bi bim bop, but it works. And, of course, it all comes with banchan, that embarrassment of riches that makes going out for Korean food so fun. The price is shockingly cheap: two of us ate for $21.
(4)Sam E.
Service is great and seems like it's run by a family. Don't come expecting to get great service but all four of our waiters were really nice. But what you do come for is the food. Outstanding food. We had the Kalbi beef. Expensive but marinated to perfection. Bi bim bap with spicy pork so filling and tasty in the stone bowl. Sides were outstanding and they were generous with the extras. I love the Kim chi;)
(5)James S.
I am not an expert of Korean cuisine but I have been to the House of Milae at least three times in the past six months. I keep coming back because the main dishes as well as the sides are delicious and the service is excellent. Like many people my favorite dish is Bibimbap, the ultimate in Korean comfort food. Imagine a bowl of crusted rice covered with uniquely flavored veggies, your choice of protein and a sunny- side up egg. Mix well and taste your dreams come true. The sides are a nice addition with subtle tastes, the kimchi is especially good. So if you are in Bethesda you can find great Korean food at the House of Milae.
(5)James L.
A Korean restaurant within a few miles of district limits? I'm already sold. I had lunch there with a friend after a round of golf. We had the Kalbi (short ribs), Kimchi Pajun (pancakes), mandu (potstickers), and the Tofu Kimchi with pork....yeah, we were hungry. Will I be back, you can bet on it.
(4)Cora C.
The House of Milae is a classy yet authentic Korean restaurant in Bethesda. We had the jeon (pancake), the mandu (dumplings), the kimchi stew, and the bulgogi - all very good. The potato salad appetizer was delicious too.
(4)Mike C.
SOLID. Service was attentive and generous. Food was authentic and spicy. I recommend the Galbi if you like ribs. The Jeon (Korean pancake) app was also amazing. Try the spicy chicken stew if you like a little heat.
(5)Brian S.
Authentic and delicious Korean food. The haemul pajeun (seafood pancake) appetizer, varieties of kim chi and sides, and the bibimbap took me back to the four years I lived in Seoul. I was concerned with the look of the place from outside, but it's actually spacious and comfortable within. And once our server turned his attention from seating the dinner crowd to taking our order, we felt catered to and quite happy. If you want a real taste of Korea, I highly recommend this place. Bonus: That was the least I have spent in a restaurant in the Bethesda/DC area, especially considering the amount, quality, and variety of dishes we enjoyed.
(5)Tianchen Q.
This is a small Korean restaurant, with a convenient public parking garage just across the street. We had the seafood pancake, soondubu and kimchi stew. Seafood pancake was good, while the other two were a little too sweet. The two Korean waiters are very nice. They even offered to refill the small dishes - nowadays not many Korean restaurants do this, from my experience.
(5)aloha g.
Excellent bibimbap. Actually done right with the crispy gently burned rice on bottom of fired bowl. Good side dishes. Would bring my non Korean friends here. Very good. It is bumped up a bit price-wise with Bethesda prices. Parking garage across the street.
(4)Phil B.
Wow, for Korean. Super authentic, under $10 lunch service. Counldn't ask for more.
(5)George M.
Spectacular place to get home style Korean food! The menu isn't very large, but you'll understand why when you get your food and see that it is prepared with great care. This is not your typical krnbbq joint--if that's what you're looking for, go somewhere with the word Kogi in the name. The stews here are on point-love the spicy one! Bbq chicken is also very tasty with lots of sesame seeds. And do yourself a favor and get the sesame pancake appetizer! The service is great here too, also rare for a Korean restaurant.
(5)Mike B.
114 reviews and 4.5 stars is what I was looking at when I decided that I must try House Of Milae again, and I'm ending up giving them one more star. Service was attentive and friendly! Banchan are still very small portions. Come on peeps, the potato salad is pretty good, can I get more than 1/4 tablespoon full. When the kimchi came to the table, I immediately asked for another dish knowing that I would use more than what were provided. I decided on the spicy pork bibimbap which was pretty good. I would have liked a little bit more of a portion of pork on the dish. Veggies were a little bit bland. But the egg was perfectly cooked and really added nicely to the dish. I would get it again. What was really impressive was the spicy chili sauce that they served with it. It was a wonderful balance of spicy and sweet and really added a lot to the dish. My friend ordered the Spicy Calamari which came to the table bathed in so much red sauce that it looked to be aflame. I tasted it, and the nature-like bright cautionary warnings were not playing. This dish is on fireeeeeeee This dish is on fireeeeeeeeeee #AliciaKeys He was struggling to eat it, and I don't blame him. The waiter even dropped it off and made a comment about how freakin' hot it was. Overall a decent experience, I'm just looking for a little bit more... soul in the food... a little more Seoul... And with that terrible pun, I will end there.
(3)Anna H.
First time in DC and decided to come here for dinner. The place was packed but we still had a table right away. We ordered the carrot, spinach and onion Korean pancake for our appetizer. It was quite good. Cooked to crispy perfection and the mix was a little sweet and salty which was great. Then I got a Rice and Mondu stew while my husband ordered the Bi Bim Bop with an egg cooked over easy. The stew had a great flavor and I liked all the vegetables that came in the stew. However, the rice cakes were undercooked because they were very tough to chew. The Bi Bim Bop was visually beautiful, but the flavor was not great. The meat was flavored okay, but there was too much rice, very little veggies and the mixture of all of the condiments did not blend well. We have tasted quite a few Bi Bim Bop and this was maybe one of the worst. As for the service, our water was always filled but our server forgot our friend's meal and our pancake. We had to tell him and other servers that we were missing our food. Then when we told him that the rice cakes were undercooked he just kind of walked away. After we almost finished our food, our appetizer arrived with the manager delivering it. We told him the problems we had. He gave us the pancakes for free and said that next time tell him sooner that the rice cakes were undercooked sooner. We told him that we told the server. He was very apologetic but the damage had been done. This place got lots of great reviews, but our experience here was far from great. Hopefully they will learn to write the orders down and fix the flavor of their Bi Bim Bop.
(2)Judy C.
I had the soondobu, which is the tofu stew. I had it with seafood. It was just what my stomach needed on a rainy day. The stew was well seasoned and not overly salty like some other places. I also had the carrot and spinach pancake. That could've had more oomph to it. I was looking at it and they didn't put much spinach in there. Not much flavor without the sauce. It was kinda dead when I went. I hope they get a lot of business. They seem like nice people and the food is pretty good.
(4)Jess C.
Friendly Korean restaurant. We had a party of nine and sat at the only round table located in the back nook of the restaurant by the bathroom/bar/kitchen area. It was a very homey place, and good for groups if you ever make a reservation. Our server was super nice and helpful. Pretty much our entire table ordered the dolsot bibimbap for ~$15, and it hit the spot. I also ordered the seafood soondubu (~$10) which was flavorful and comparable to Lighthouse Tofu in Rockville--but a bit more salty (and that's why I still prefer Lighthouse more). The banchans were great and fresh--cucumber, tofu pieces, kimchi, pototo salad. It took awhile for them to refill our banchan, and by the time it was refilled, we were done with our meal. Overall, Bethesda is lucky to finally have "their first real Korean restaurant."
(4)Tracy L.
My friends and I love this place. We almost always get the dolsot bibimbap and it has been perfect every time. The small dishes you get before the meal have always been interesting and tasty. The service is usually very good, I like to use a lot of the hot sauce and they always make sure I have a full glass of water. There is a parking garage conveniently located across the street and the metro stop is a 5 minute walk away so it is a great place for us all to meet. There aren't usually a lot of people in the restaurant so we often stay for several hours talking without interruption.
(5)Colin D.
Really good Korean covering both the basics--bibimbop and seafood pancakes--and some more interesting things like sweet potato noodles. The food seems to be better the less americanized and more Korean it is. My wife and I were craving good Asian food and we stumbled in here for a late lunch after a day at the Zoo. The food was very good and it seemed to be better the further you strayed from americanized Korean, which is a good sign. The seafood pancake and sweet potato noodles were fantastic as were the little dishes of sides that came with things. The bibimbop was only OK and needed to have some spicy sauce put on to get to the point that it even compared with the rest of the dishes. The service was friendly and prompt, but the place was basically dead when we walked in, so that's to be expected. They continued to bring us extra small dishes of sides when we asked so we got extra spicy radish, kimchi, and the chewy fish sauce/dough things. The space is light, open and airy, which is a nice contrast to the typical hole-in-the wall Asian.
(5)Erica L.
I had a decent meal here. The service is friendly and attentive, and it's a fairly large space. The seafood pancake was too pancakey and heavy for my taste. It could have used more seasoning. The soondubu needed a little more flavor, probably more of the spicy bean paste and dried shrimp. It was a little too watery. The best dish I had here with the jap chae. It seemed solid. The banchan selection of side dishes was pretty tasty and had many of my usual favorites, from the sesame bean sprouts, kim chee, and marinated fish cake. I'd return if I'm in the area, but would order differently the next time.
(3)Nicole L.
As the banner indicated "the first Korean restaurant in Bethesda" it was exciting to have a Korean food option in the area. We came here for lunch. We had the bibimbap it was not served in a hot stone bowl but a modern white bowl, however the bibimbap looked good, I had it with beef while my friend had the chicken one. Mine was tasty with a soy sauce and pepper paste. The banchans were good too! The service was a bit slow though we waited a while before getting the attention of the server for the check.
(4)Gabe S.
The servers were quite but really kind. They made up for their silence with excellent food. I enjoyed eating my bulgogi while listening to chill Kpop music
(5)Juhi T.
What I love about this place is that it's a small, cozy, no-frills, just good authentic Korean food place. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the dolsot bibimbap was on point. If you're looking for something different than the usual, upscale DC restaurant scene, and want some really good Korean food, definitely check it out.
(5)Eric L.
I went here because I read such good reviews. Sadly... their wasn't really anything impressive. The side dishes seemed a bit old and didn't taste that great. The bulgogi seemed bland. The spicy chicken was impressive... kind of like a spicy teriyaki minus all the sauce. This place, i would suggest it if I was hankering for korean food and i was desperate. Otherwise... I'd avoid it. Two stars just because of the chicken dish being different. Otherwise id give it one.
(2)Kat T.
Their Stone bibimbap are the best, hands down! My husband and I are serious meat eaters. Our usually order are each one has a stone bibimbap and a Galbi to share. I mean to try their other dishes like tofu soup or seafood omelette but I always order their bibimbap. It's like I'm under its spell. Besides their food, I also like their staff. Sweetest Korean guys you will ever meet. Never over do it (to the point the wait stuff bothering you) but attentive enough they make sure you have everything you need. I also like their atmosphere. It is quite enough to have a weekday dinner with family. Unlike a lot of Korean BBQ places with full blast Kpop video. If I want karaoke which I never do, so never mind on that note.
(5)Angela W.
I went back again with a friend on a Wednesday evening at around 6PM and there was nobody there. Service was good. I noticed that the dolsot bibimbap contents changed! Same small dishes, though. Waitress sometimes didn't notice we needed things because we were the only customers. That's my only complaint.
(4)Bhavin P.
Really good small authentic Korean place in Bethesda, MD. Loved the hot bibambap with chicken! The bowl was a little bland but adding a bit of hot pepper sauce made it taste great! Loved the local light Cass Korean beer too. Service was quick and overall experience was delightful!
(4)Janet H.
4.5 stars rounding up Great food, great service! This place is definitely for those looking for Korean comfort food, think simple, spicy, and casual. We ordered: kimbap sampler - served lukewarm, pretty good, but we've had better. Keep in mind kimbap is not sushi, it's usually made with leftovers. The rice is warm and a bit oily (vs sushi rice is slightly sweetened with rice vinegar and maybe sugar). Spicy calamari served with rice - definitely spicy! Calamari was perfectly cooked, not overdone at all. The spice paste was familiar, bean paste based perhaps? It was delicious. Tofu kimchi served with rice - our favorite and new dish for us. Lightly pan fried soft tofu served with a pork and onion spicy mix. Oooh it was delicious!! Slightly sweet (from the caramelized onion and a tad more from the pork), savory, spicy, peppery, with a tang of sour from the kimchi. I want this again tomorrow!! The free banchan sides served was great, portion on the small side but they were happy to give us more. I loved eating the lighter pickled banchan right after a spicy bite, it was refreshing and the veggies were quite flavorful and light, almost like a palate cleanser :-) deeeeelicious! Definitely want to come back :-) banchan and tofu kimchi were def the winners!!
(5)Becky K.
I came a lot with my parents when they opened last year. Great bibimbap and service. I didn't go back for a year, because I (fortunately) moved out of my parents' house and into DC. I went back again tonight with a friend, and one of the nice waiters/owners asked how my mom is doing. Pretty awesome that he remembered!
(5)Bryan J.
I dig this spot overall for some non pretentious, authentic Korean food. Be wary at lunch though. It feels like they're a little understaffed to handle the crowd. Also, sometimes they skimp on the beef portions in the Bibimbap. Just sayin.
(4)teresa l.
Love Love Love Korean food! I grew up in Annandale, Va so I hold my standards very high. House of Milae does not disappoint. Service was a bit slow but food was piping hot, drinks were icy cold and hot ( I drank both hot sake and japanese plum wine ) and the korean pop music booming out was my heaven. I hope they stay in business for a long time.
(5)Cristina M.
pleasant ambience, friendly service, and good enough eats to turn this korean food ambivalent into a believer! stopped in over the holidays for a dinner with visiting family. can't say I've been a big fan of Korean food, but found the sides to be of a great variety, with lots of crunch and flavor to ponder over as we awaited our bibimbap and entrées. the bowls themselves lacked a bit of spice, but it was nothing a bit of recommendation from our friendly waitstaff couldn't resolve! special beef and pork entrées were delicious; food was fresh and filling. a small but authentic drink menu to accompany a highly pleasant meal, and let's not forget the uplifting sounds of k-pop to add to the Friday night cheer. have recommended this pleasant little place and will definitely visit again soon! technical note: there is metered street parking, but a public garage right across the street (free Saturday and Sunday) will be your best bet!
(5)Ruth C.
Two and a half stars. Friendly service, standardly tasty hot tea. I was so excited to get authentic Korean in white-washed Bethesda, but... no. Banchan is a little limited-- not surprising for an establishment of this size, but I take issue with their funky-tasting radish kimchi. I could almost forgive the missing meat segment of galbi tucked under the other layers if it weren't so expensive. Lunch portions on most everything else is more reasonably priced. Sesame seeds on everything, which makes bibimbap with the raw-on-top egg all the more obvious. Its presentation may be pretty, but avoiding the traditional pot leaves my rice disappointing. Ultimately, if I compare every pho spot to NoVA's cream of the crop, I have to admit House of Milae is subpar to the average Annandale or Rockville K-eateries.
(2)Rakesh B.
Good food and great service. Had lunch on Sunday ... Short menu but food was delicious. Several Korean pancake choices from which we tried two flavors and they were fabulous.
(4)Evie S.
5 starts for the service. Really doesn't get any better than that. 4 stars for the food. Yummy. They are very knowledgable about vegetarian/ vegan diets and have many options available.
(5)lisa y.
Drive by this place every morning and has been intrigued. Friends suggested we go there Saturday night. Excellent food, excellent service. I will definitely be back. I got the dolsot bibimbap. So much beef and veggies and the rice was perfectily crisp! Drooling just thinking about this place again!
(4)Dennis O.
New place that just opened. Family owned. Excellent food. Kimchi is very fresh and they also have this mushroom and broccoli side that I have not seen in other Korean places. Ordered the Jap Chae. Sweet potato noodles stir fried with beef and vegetables. Absolutely delicious. Not many Korean options in Bethesda actually. Highly recommended.
(5)Chi Z.
It's pretty hard to find a good combination of genuinely considerate service and good food in a Korean restaurant, especially in the Bethesda/Southern Silver Spring area. And we are very picky in our Korean food even though we will likely try anything once (think chicken feet, uni, octopus, intestines - all things we have had enough to discern great from horrible because there is no "just okay" when considering such particulars). Enough about us. House of Milae is a great Korean restaurant set to the tone of a neighborhood quick eats/drinks place. Korean pop music sets the mood as conversations and laughter layer on top of it. TVs set to ESPN add to the relaxed and lively atmosphere. The service is the best aspect of the environment. The young man who always waits on us is courteous and quick to attend to our needs. Never needed to ask for water. The food is great. Korean good can be categorized into different styles and regions. Most people have experienced the Korean BBQ or soondubu (soft tofu soup) places. Few have experienced comfort food/drinking food like this place. They have Korean staples like bibimbap and an array of jigae's. But they specialize in foods that a Korean mom would make or foods that go well with a drink or two or when you have a craving. Kimbaps are the quick lunch foods of all Korean kids growing up and they make great ones here. They have kimchi and dwenjang jigae's that you can't make at home cause they smell up the neighborhood and still don't taste as good. Try it for lunch. If you live walking distance, try some of the Korean drinks as well as the food. We've only come for lunch so far. But we're gonna über it over and have a drink there one of these nights. It's currently on the top of our list for a quick bite.
(5)Liberty W.
Great local korean spot! Used to travel to Annandale from Bethesda just to have some Korean cuisine so it's nice to have a neighborhood spot! They are really nice there too and provide good service. My favorite things are the kimchi pancakes and kalbi of course!!! Soups are good too!!! If you like korean food, you will love this little spot!!!
(5)Morris S.
I've had almost everything here, and its all great. Nice, family run. Good service, high quality. I'm a regular now!
(5)Jesse L.
I've only had Korean food a handful of times. The first few times ranged from disliking it to mildly enjoying it. Today changed everything. This Korean food was amazing. So many veggies and flavors. The rice was delicious. The service quick, attentive, and polite. Prices are good. Highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu.
(5)C P.
Solid, but not fantastic. Does not compare to the wealth of Korean restaurants in Annandale, but for the area, it's a solid option.
(3)Dimple N.
Definitely a must visit spot if you live or work in the area! We got spinach jeon(pancake), potstickers and dolsot bibimbap. The dolsot (hot stone) bibimbap was brilliant - left the rice crispy at the bottom. Food quantity was just the right amount for 2 people. Our server Lyon was absolutely wonderful. He was so nice and seemed like a one-man army taking the restaurant to greatness by himself. In short, great food and excellent service. I'll surely be back soon.
(5)David T.
3.5 stars for food 2 stars for service. Korean food here is more authentic and better than MOMO. Sides are good. I come here when I'm craving Korean and don't have time to drive up to Rockville. Service is usually pretty good but they have a new young unpolished waiter with attitude that put me off. I'm going to write this constructively because I've waited tables in college and don't want to poop on this lad. Let me preface this by saying there was only two tables at 2PM on a Saturday. "Do you want to order?" He said with a hard face. Why else would I come to a restaurant. Of course I want to order. It should be "would you like to order sir?" or "are you ready to order sir?" with a smile. not "Do you" with a hard face! Also when this waiter brought food to the table, he laid it down forcefully and said "here you go" walking away quickly with out emotion. The average waiter with a little bit of experience knows to say "enjoy you meal" or "is there anything else I can get for you?" with a smile if they want a chance at a decent tip. The owner always solicits my opinion of how the establishment can improve so here it is. I know good help is hard to find but remind your help the basics of waiting tables 101.
(3)H. Y.
This restaurant was really good! Great service...the waiters were really nice. The food was really tasty and affordable as well. I went for the first time and ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap. I will definitely be back!
(5)Kissa M.
Went here for the first time about a month ago and now it's one of our work staples. The food is one point. You can eat lunch for less than $10. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Julia M.
If you love dolsot bibimbap (stone bowl), this is the place for you. The rice gets super crispy, perfect on a cold night. Big portions. We were so happy with the food, but even happier with the service. Lyon, our server, was so kind and considerate! You don't find this kind of service very often, he really took care of everyone in the restaurant.
(5)Chlo L.
I love galbi. It makes me want to dance! Do dah happy dance. It was pretty empty on a Sunday evening but we came close to closing time. The kimchi soup was amazeeeee balls. They have that sake too so it was an especially good dinner. Must go back... Now.
(4)Elise C.
My boyfriend and I went to House of Milae before seeing a movie on a Saturday night. It's been about a week and a half since we visited, and I can't stop thinking about the bibimbap. We weren't super hungry, so we asked the waiter if one order of the bibimbap would be enough for us to share, and rather than upsell us, he suggested just one order in addition to an appetizer. We shared the bibimbap with chicken (we sprung for the stone bowl) and an order of dumplings. The food was so delicious, we wished our appetites were larger so that we'd ordered our own bibimbap. Fast and very friendly service, and an affordable, high-quality meal!
(5)Alexis M.
I love this place! Whenever I need a korean food fix, I come here. My favorite thing to get is seafood soondooboo jigae. Perfect soft tofu in scalding hot red pepper stock. Ask for the egg on the side so you can crack it yourself and ensure that the egg thickens the soup, rather than cooking at the bottom of the bowl/ pot.
(4)Matthew S.
Been here a couple of times already. Amazing Korean food and our server has always been polite and helpful. He even helped me get food quick when my wife was pregnant and was craving Korean food. One of my favorite US Korean restaurants! Chicken Kalbi was sooooo good. Bulgogi as well. Everything I have tried so far has been great. Please give it a shot!
(5)Victoria M.
Good food, good service, good lunch menu. Their pork bbq rice bowl is so good, and it's just spicy enough....
(4)Aaron C.
Definitely one of - if not the - best Korean I've found in Maryland. The bibimbap was everything it's supposed to be.
(4)Arnaud C.
I LOVE this place. Bethesda was really missing a Korean place. Here it is, and it is a good one! OK, maybe the choice will be more limited than in a Korean restaurant in Annandale VA, but the quality is here! I really like their stone bowl Bibimbap.
(5)JD R.
Korean food that reminds me of eating at Seoraksan Mountain in South Korea. Few frills; just honest, authentic Korean food.
(5)Jerold P.
The food was enjoyable, and we had a pleasant experience. I enjoyed my kimchi jijigae and my girlfriend liked her bibimbap. I had the house sake (cold) which was okay, and my girlfriend had the korean raspberry wine. She had a huge amount that she was able to take home as well. The place offered good value and we would go there again.
(4)Claire M.
Wandered in here on a rainy Friday night in search of some steaming hot bibimbap. If you've never had bibimbap, you're missing out, and you should go immediately, but I'll try and describe it for you. The waitress will bring you a piping hot ceramic bowl, filled to the brim with prettily organized little sections of food. Rice, carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, greens, etc, with a softly fried egg on top. Then you take your chopsticks (okay, fine, I used a spoon for this part...) and mix everything together. The hot clay pot cooks the egg and and crisps the rice, so that it gets a little crunchy and very tasty. Then you can add a bunch of hot sauce or some kimchi to your bowl, and go at it. The bibimbap was really good. I'd definitely go back for it. The potstickers weren't too memorable - pretty bland. Go to House of Milae if you need a quick bibimbap fix.
(3)Steve M.
I hate to repeat all those boring reviews. But they are right. This place is great. It was my first time in a Korean restaurant and definitely not my last. Pleasant clean interior. Friendly staff answered all of my questions and gave advice. Seafood pancake (jeon) was great. Rice wine was excellent. The sides were multiple, pretty, and tasty throughout. Then the bibimbap with pulled pork in a lovely hot ceramic bowl; lovely and huge. The waiter offered to mix it and I gladly accepted. With my permission he added hot sauce, and then lots more hot sauce. It was great, not too spicy for me, and I left pleasantly stuffed and thinking about my next visit very soon.
(5)Mickey L.
Thanks to House of Milae (HoM), Bethesda (the whole DC Metro Area, for that matter) finally has a great Boon-shik (casual dining) Korean restaurant! Fantastic food, outstanding service, and cosy ambiance with dark wooden furniture make HoM a hot new classic! Five years ago when my dining companion and I were visiting San Jose, we practically lived nearby in Santa Clara at Roll House, a refined Boonshik spot serving delicious namesake Kim-bap as well as other comfort food classics like Ddeok-guk and Jaap-chae. We just wished that there were one in the DC area--Bethesda, specifically. Enter House of Milae, a wish come true with equally stellar food, service, and ambiance as Roll House, if not even better thanks to its absolute gem of a signature dish, Dak-do-ri-tang! Since last week, we thoroughly enjoyed two lunches (L = available also as a lunch special) and two dinners, ordering the following: - Dakdoritang: chicken stew with potatoes and onions in a slightly sweet Go-chu-jang-based broth; read below for details. - *Bulgogi Kimbap: rice roll with sliced beef, carrots, spinach, egg, fishcake, and sweet pickled radish; excellent balance of flavors and rolled expertly. - Spicy Calamari Bowl: fresh sliced squid stir-fried with cabbage, mushrooms, and spring onions in a Go-chu-jang-based (fermented red chili-soy paste) sauce; normally, this dish is too sweet, but we really enjoyed this dish--particularly the tender mollusk. - *Jaapchae: stir-fried clear sweet potato vermicelli noodles with shiitake, spinach, sliced beef; surprisingly, it has been hard to find good Jaap-chae anywhere (though it is not a difficult dish to prepare), but HoM's prepares it with ease and a good balance of sweet, savory, tender, and firm. - Ddeokguk: sliced rice cake (ddeok) soup with sliced beef, egg, and spring onion; tender ddeok in a clean beef broth and just enough beef and toppings--win! - *Chicken Galbi Bowl: slightly spicy soy sauce-based marinated thigh meat grilled to a nice charred outside; told that it may be sweeter than a usual Galbi (to please Bethesda's American taste buds), we found it just right with a light kick of heat and the perfect char. - Vegetable Bu-chim-gae: savory pancake appetizer with spinach and carrots; think Pa-jeon (scallion pancake) but with a tender inside and crispy outside. The main server of HoM, Lyon, is the son of the chef/owner. He is very courteous, makes us feel at home, and smoothly communicates between the kitchen and us. For example, he gave us a heads-up that our food would be a tad bit saltier than a previous visit because his mother was away and that his sister (who has slightly saltier taste buds than their mother) was heading the kitchen. Everything we ordered, from the fresh Ban-chan (small plates to accompany rice/entree) to the made-to-order entrees was outstanding. However, the Dak-do-ri-tang totally won me over. Although it is not an uncommon in Boonshik, we have never come across it in the DC area, Manhattan, LA, or Seoul. This dish is specially prepared by the chef/owner, and we had to pass on it once when she was away and her daughter (also a solid chef, herself) manned the stoves. The wait was worth it! Having never seen or heard of the dish, we had only learned of its existence from my uncle, when we took to Ravi's Kabob House 2 and ordered Chicken Karahi, which he said it tasted exactly like Dak-do-ri-tang. Sure enough, HoM's tasted just like the Karahi, except with a slightly thinner base and a gentle sweetness coming from the onions and Go-chu-jang to replace the spicy ginger-tomato sauce. What was so thoroughly impressive about HoM's signature dish was the finesse with which Chef prepared the chicken. Like the Karahi, it featured bone-in cuts of thigh and leg meat. However, it was impeccably devoid of fat normally abundant between the skin and meat as well as between the meat. Furthermore, the chicken was thoroughly cooked, yet very tender and easy to eat off the bone. It was as if the chicken were cooked Sous-Vide to keep the texture tender while rendering the fat before finishing it off in the stew. The night we ordered the Dak-do-ri-tang, Lyon saw how much we were enjoying the dish that he brought his mother over to see us. When she came over, we were eager to know how she prepared the chicken so perfectly. Her answer was that she was simply thorough in trimming off the fat before preparing the chicken, which she said was cooked at a high temperature for a while. She said that she only prepares and serves dishes that she would at home to her family members, each of whom has a distinct taste (sweet+salty, neutral, very mild, and spicy+bitter). This perfectly sums up HoM: homemade comfort food made with meticulous preparations (i.e. bite-size cute Kimchi is a big plus) and a refined touch paired with smooth service for a delicious experience in a relaxed vibe. Bethesda is now two-deep (Passage to India) with superb restaurants!
(5)Takahiro O.
Being a local, I was excited to try this place out because I love Korean food and House of Milae is pretty much the only Korean restaurant in Bethesda. The interior is spacious and clean. They play K-pop music in the background, but it's not too loud. They have hot green tea for free, which is always a plus on a cold day. I ordered the Kimchi Jjigae (tofu soup). I'm not sure how customizable this soup is, but I got the default one (beef, medium spicy to spicy). It came with napa cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, mixed vegetables, tofu, and a bowl of rice. Free refills for the side dishes (not sure about the rice). Overall, the food was not bad but not great either. It was just okay. The soup was on the spicier side for my taste, and I wish they had dropped an egg to make it more mild. The mixed vegetables side dish was bland. If you're looking for simple, reasonably-priced, home-style Korean food, House of Milae is a good place for you. There's nothing special about the food, but service was excellent and I had a good time overall. I might come back to try something else, but I'd rather go somewhere else like Lighthouse Tofu to satisfy my jjigae craving.
(3)Parinaz G.
The first thing that needs to be said about this place is that their service is EXCELLENT! The food is great too, and I loved their Bibimbap. It is a cute, cozy restaurant and well worth the trek from Arlington. Definitely a must try and probably one of the better Korean restaurants in the DMV.
(4)Mark P.
The best Korean food I have had since i moved from Boston 20+ year ago. Try the kimchee pancake appetizer or the kimchee, tofu and pork entree delicious.
(5)Lenny G.
Perfect bibimbap. The restaurant is small, but the food is great, the people nice and the serve pretty fast. I will be coming back here to try the other selections!
(5)Chris K.
pretty good but very expensive and light on the meat. service is generally slow and distracted by their iphones.
(2)Kimie K.
I and my husband ordered Tofu Kimchi and Spicy Squid which were both awesome. I also love how they prepare their banchans (side dishes). When it comes to Korean restaurants, if their side dishes are good, that's the indication of how good of Korean restaurant it is. The servers were extremely nice, friendly, and polite. I wish I lived around there so I could visit more often. To sum up, will I go back? of course!
(5)Eric M.
I got a togo order and it was very well packaged. You can tell that they actually try to give you the same quality as eating in. I would dine herebif I get the chance
(5)Ruofei D.
Splendid Korean restaurant. All dishes are delicate. The service is awesome. Infinite Korean small dishes. Yummy!
(5)Michael F.
Was expecting A LOT better from the reviews I read. I got the stone bowl. The rice at the bottom was crispy and the food was overall tasty--4 stars. Service was also good--not overbearing but attentive. Our waiter brought us a little sampler of lots of different vegetables which was also very nice. There were to main problems I had. The first was that the portion was too small. I finished my food and I was hungry after. Simple as that--and I'm not any huge eater or anything. Second was that I paid a lot for my small portion. $17 if I remember correctly? That's a lot for slightly above average food that left me still hungry afterward. I went with my coworker and while I didn't taste his food, he had a lot more negative impression of this restaurant. He said he wouldn't be coming back, especially for the price. IIRC he got sweet potato noodles or something like that. I may give this place a second shot, but I'm not sure at all.
(3)Mol R.
I have been here several times and I keep coming back. The service is wonderful, the restaurant is spotless, and the food is delicious. They have expanded their alcoholic beverages menu to include a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese alcohols. It was really busy tonight, but the service was quick and the waiters offered to bring more banchan twice. I have lived in both Jeonju and Seoul, and I can tell you this food is exactly what you would eat in a casual restaurant in Korea. Anyone saying that the food at Milae cannot compare to the Korean restaurants in Annandale doesn't seem to understand that those restaurants are not like what a regular night out in Korea is like. The waiters also speak Korean if you are interested in practicing. I no longer have a need to drive to Virginia to get my Korean fix!
(5)Tou M.
A simple menu with excellent quality dishes. I ordered the fried pork pot stickers which were crunchy on the outside and steaming on the inside. They were accompanied with a sweet soy sauce for dipping. My entree was the dolsot bimbimbop. It arrived sizzling hot along with a bottle of gochujang for spice enhancement. All dishes arrived promptly,freshly made and were flavorful. I would definitely go back, however being located on St Elm Ave, there are also a lot of other enticing restaurants and bars within walking distance.
(5)Richard W.
This review is a couple of weeks late (not that it matters that much). Was in Bethesda on business and knew I would be stuck in my hotel room for a couple of nights getting work-related stuff done. Really didn't have time to go out and eat and I really didn't want to order room service. So, checked out House of Milae, since Korean food sounded good. Got the galbi, dwaeji bulgogi, and japchae...enough food for two nights. Coming from a city with a large immigrant Korean population, I feel like I know what's good vs. bad Korean food. I have to say that I was impressed with House of Milae and would highly recommend. Since I did takeout, I can't comment on the actual restaurant and service, but based on how I was served as a person doing takeout, I would think their in-house service is just fine. Go and check this place out.
(3)Kim L.
I love this new addition to Bethesda! The mom, daughter and son all work together which makes this gem a true family restaurant. The pork bulgogi is beyond delicious as was the seafood stew. The calamari was spicy but incredibly tender. I am thrilled I no longer have to trek to Annandale for my weekly fix!
(5)Michelle A.
Good addition to the Bethesda dining lineup - and speaking of lineup, here are the deets: 1) Really friendly service 2) Korean sushi sampler was mediocre, the cooked tuna isn't really appealing, a lot of people are going to choose this app and be disappointed. Back to the drawing board, please! 3) Potstickers were very tasty 4) I liked the bulgogi taste-wise, but I like my meats on a hot plate to come out sizzling, maybe it's just for show, but I didn't get that "just cooked" experience I'm used to at a Korean place 5) Decor needs some work, finishing touches seemed sloppy (poorly taped off paint work in the bathroom, etc.), could be a warmer, more inviting atmosphere 6) Need more banchan 4 stars since it's a great addition to the area, but there are some improvements that need to be made to become a long lasting fixture.
(4)Rita A.
Absolutely authentic great little restaurant. Korean home cooking - delicious spicy food for a fair price. Simple, clean, small place for Lunch and Dinner. They also do take - out. Bibimbap is a must. Large portions. I had lots of Korean food in NYC. I think this place is among the few places in Bethesda that is better than average.
(5)Arpitha B.
Nice place for quite lunch or dinner. Food is really tasty. However the dessert menu needs to be looked upon. Overall a good place for Korean food. Good variety in vegetarian.
(4)Cynthia L.
Came for lunch on a rainy Thursday. Served immediately by a lovely young man. Both of us were craving bibimbop. A lunch portion, $9, was perfect in flavor, potion size and freshness. And 6 varieties of banchan. Each one delicious. We were happy lunchers. Must add that we are foodies. And very critical
(4)Greg G.
Great food here. Went with some Korean colleagues -always a bonus to have natives when you want to navigate the terrain of foreign cuisine and not get lost or worse sick. My one disclaimer to any who enjoys ramen noodles is to not be surprised or shocked or run to an enterologist when you notice undigested noodles in your poo or toilet bowl. My experience was oh no why are there worms coming out back there!! Thankfully it was just an another example that the human body cant get nutrients out of everything you eat or break it down properly.
(4)Nandi E.
Excellent food. I got the short ribs. Had three times and it is good everytime. Great service too.
(5)J S.
They have a nice selection of Korean wine. Waiter was very kind to let me taste three before choosing one. Galbi was excellent. Highly recommended. The spicy calamari is HOT! The wait staff is fantastic. Very helpful and friendly.
(4)Sara S.
I have to agree with Mike B. below - mediocre. I liked the atmosphere and general feel of House of Milae - it was neat and clean with plenty of seating, a small bar, and some Christmas decor. The hostess was nice and my food-to-go came out promptly. I got the bulgogi, which had some flavor but was a little over-cooked/dry even with the thin sauce it came with. While the sides looked good, they were very bland and came in tiny portions. I also got some veggie potstickers ,which weren't bad but didn't seem to have too much filling. As Mike said, the best part was the perfectly cooked sticky rice.
(3)Jonathan L.
The bibimbop I had was excellent, as were the dumplings, appetizers and korean beer. Contrary to what others have written, the wait staff was very good taking the order promptly, answering my questions about the menu patiently and making sure that the water glasses were full during the meal.
(5)Steph M.
Yummy in my very hungry tummy! That is my split sentiment regarding House of Milae--good food to salivate to while you are starving on a Saturday night. Serving traditional, home-style korean food that is flavorful and well-priced, House of Milae is located in "old Bethesda" on a mysterious street that is impossible to find. After you circle around Cordell a few times, accidentally walk back and forth in front of Naked Pizza (because that is how everyone wants their pizza, flaccid and cold to the touch), you end up on St. Elmo and hopefully within the narrow restaurant that is House of Milae. The food is lovely! The food is solid in quality! The restaurant is dismally understaffed and is kept (non) functioning by means of a 2-person waitstaff. Lack/slow service made this restaurant impossible to even visit on a moderately busy Saturday evening. I was sad, but not sad enough to visit flaccid naked pizza next door. Visit this authentic korean spot during the off-hours or on a weekday, and you won't be disappointed!
(3)Davita K.
Phenomenal food and service! I got the dolsot bibimbap, and it was incredible! Probably the best one that I have ever had in the United States. Plus, the server was very friendly.
(5)Jen A.
This place is great! I love the sweet man that always greets me during lunch. It's been a while since I've visited, but I'm definitely no stranger there. All of their bulgogis are delicious. I love the side dishes that come with - especially the radishes and fish cakes. It doesn't matter what you pick, it will all be delicious! The flavors are all there.
(5)Andre D.
Great food and good service. Among the best of Bethesda. Try the bulgolgi jeon. Service is attentive but music is sometimes a bit loud. We'll be back!
(5)Samyuktha K.
It's a nice cosy place with great service and good food. We ordered the Kimchi Jjingae and the Dwaeji (Pork) Bulgogi and both were quite nice. We were also given a few free sides and some nice hot tea. The service was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter who was quite considerate towards us. This won points with me. I am happy when customers are treated with respect and vice versa. The ambiance is cozy especially when sitting in the booth on a cold, rainy day. I would definitely go back.
(5)Hua X.
A couple months back, I watched a World Cup game here. I think they show soccer sometimes. Solid food. Really friendly service. I had some good conversations with the gregarious waiter. Definitely aiming to come back -- there are just too many restaurants in Bethesda.
(4)Tom M.
Really delicious, affordable Korean food. The menu is rather small, and it's pretty reminiscent of other Korean places, but I've been there several times now and everything is really good and very reasonably priced. You really can't beat it.
(5)Weimew Y.
I am so glad that there is finally a Korean restaurant in Bethesda! House of Milae serves authentic Korean 'small dishes', all complimentary. The vegetable pancake and sweet potato noodles are very tasty. We plan to go back to try tofu stew sometime soon. It's nice to have a good Korean restaurant in Bethesda downtown that we don't need to drive to Rockville for Korean food.
(4)Kelvin C.
Best Korean food in the area. The stone pot bibimbap is the best I've had in the DMV area. The waiter is also a very friendly and warns you about the spiciness of the tofu soup.
(5)Miss C.
I visited House of Milae after reading the Yelp reviews hoping to find my fix of Korean food that would match the yummy authentic places I came to know in Atlanta.The service was good, the place is small. The food was well seasoned, good but not outstanding. I had the sweet potato noodles, with tofu. They were tasty, the tofu was well seared. I have had better kimchi, the portions were kinda small for what I am used to. Would try them again though, just that I didn't get hooked and compelled to return the next day and several days in a row like I have a other places! Maybe I will have an update for later!
(3)Tony M.
As a neighbor, I welcome these first rate folks to open House of Milae. I have eaten there 3 times already...every time wonderful! I'm on the newer side to Korean food, but loved everything I've had.. Bulgogi, several soups, the seafood pancake is wonderful! Very fresh, very nice family (owners)...please check them out, and tell them Chef Tony sent you!
(5)Jason W.
Finally a Korean restaurant in downtown Bethesda, and one that serves dol sot bibimbap. Although the food was not as good as some of the Korean restaurants in the Rockville area, it was convenient and tasted good. The dol sot bibimbap came with 5 sides of banchan that were a nice starter while I let my egg fry and the rice brown and crust on the clay pot that the bibimbap came in. I left stuffed but determined to return for more. They do have a limited drink menu, but that will hopefully change.
(4)E Y.
Decent korean for Bethesda but definitely nothing special, just ok. Take out seems to taste better than eating there.
(3)Good E.
i came here for lunch with a friend. i got the bibimbap and we split one of the pork specials. the bibimbap was pretty good. i did use the entire bowl of hot sauce and did not feel that it was overwhelmingly spicy. my friend was not so bold but he liked his bibimbap as well. the other pork dish was just ok, nothing amazing. the lunch specials are well worth it, the price came down to about thirteen bucks per person which was very reasonable for what you get and in this day and age. the server was incredibly nice and polite. the place is small and not well demarcated. they should probably change the sign or do something to make themselves more prominent. the decor is average, but the place is very clean. i did not use the bathroom so i cannot comment on that! parking is something you have to pay for , boo overall, i would say if you happen to be in the area, try this place out. it wont be as amazing as the K places for grub in annandale but it's not bad.
(4)Solomon S.
I love this place. They have incredible korean food and even better service. The kimbap was just to die for. The bugogi was excellent as well. And they might possibly have the best kimchi in DC to boot. The server was very nice and even gave us some new dishes to sample. Really hope the restaurant sticks around. I had a wonderful meal there with my best friends.. Will definitely be back
(5)Tony P.
This place is awesome. Great service and the food was off the chain. Some of the best Korean food I've ever had. Do yourself a favor and give them a visit!
(5)Lauren R.
Great new Korean restaurant. Delicious food, really nice server - family run seems like. We loved everything we got - including bebimbop with beef and love their pork dish. Also had a vegetarian with us who loved the bebimbop with tofu. and yay for mochi ice cream - both green tea and red bean flavors. Love it!
(4)Eld S.
Great good! Very veggie friendly as well. Will be going back.
(5)Scott S.
Excellent service and food. We live nearby and decided to give House of Milae a try. We had the bibimbap with beef and sweet potato noodles - these and all of the sides were so delicious, especially with the hot barley tea. We left with an inexpensive tab and happy stomachs without feeling overly full. We definitely recommend stopping by here!
(5)Awesta H.
I've been here twice in the last four days. It's so good. The dolsot bibim bop is fantastic. And that service is great. Not many people go because it's not very noticeable, so try it!
(5)Yumi M.
Such great customer service! They made sure our water was refilled, made sure the food was good, and asked if we wanted extra banchans! My fiance and I ordered bulgogi kimbob, chicken galbi, and soondubu (which is not on the menu but they will make it for you!) We absolutely LOVED everything. Very homemade style and was tasty. We will be back in no time. (And as a restaurant in Bethesda, very generous pricing.)
(4)Noah C.
The food was amazing (I recommend the Chicken Galbi, though everything is fantastic) and the service was absolutely wonderful. I loved the waiter and can't wait to go back to try even more spectacular Korean dishes.
(5)Robyn M.
If you are like me and you've have been waiting for a Korean restaurant to come to Bethesda, you''ll welcome the arrival of House of Milae. The side dishes were fresh, the kalbi tangy, and our kids loved the delicious chap jae (sweet potato vermicelli). Both of the soups that we ordered sported rich, savory broths; I liked how my kimchi soup came with a choice of white or multigrain rice (the latter was fantastic). The choice of drinks was interesting (my kids tried the banana milk, which is apparently popular in Korea). For dessert, we all found a flavor of mochi to satisfy us. The service was first rate, with the chef sending out several of the house specialties to sample. Overall, this casual family-run restaurant has a lot to offer. We'll definitely be back soon and often.
(5)Robert V.
We have been looking for a great Korean place without having to drive far away and boy does this fit the bill. Everything we ordered was amazing and was as good as the Korean food I've eaten across the country (NYC, California, Hawaii). For our meal we ordered the Galbi, Dol Sot Bibimbap and Kimchee Jjigae. Each dish was so good that we left completely stuffed! In addition, the Kimchee and other pickled dishes we got were all well spiced and really complimented our meal. We look forward to being VERY frequent customers :)
(5)M Louise S.
Like other patrons this was our first Korean food adventure outside of Annandale (for this area). We had the hot stone Bibimbap and the Kimbap sampler. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. Service was outstanding. Definitely a place we will visit again.
(4)Sarah P.
I am a huge fan of Korean food and this place meets expectations! Their meat is cooked to perfection, tender, and tasty. Staff is very friendly. I highly recommend!!!
(5)Randy S.
My husband and I ventured for our first Korean restaurant outside of Annandale, VA and we had a delicious dinner with good service and a pleasant setting. We enjoyed the bimbabot [spelling?] and the delicious short ribs. The servings seemed too large when the darling waitress first served us ... but we ate everything. Yes, the décor is spare. It might be nice to just set the place servings with placemats on the tables and perhaps have small votive candles on the tables too. I would not mind something Korean in terms of the art or décor as well. The food was delicious and the service friendly. The prices were fine and the beer was cold. I am glad to see variety in Bethesda that is not Italian, Thai, or a burger bar. We will be coming back and bring our friends.
(4)L. S.
We really enjoyed our meal here! We both got the bibimbap - one in a hot stone bowl and the other regular. They were both very satisfying! I loved all the little bowls of other food that came with it as well. Our waiter was very patient answering our questions, made helpful recommendations, and was attentive. The bill came in under $40, which is great for two entrees and two beers in Bethesda! We look forward to coming back soon.
(5)Kelly C.
DELICIOUS KOREAN FOOD! :) Somehow, growing up in the area, I have never been to a korean restaurant in MD (other than the usual krn bbq places). I finally yelped a korean restaurant by me and found this place! I came on a Friday night and it was surprisingly empty. The food was soooo good. My boyfriend and I shared the bulgogi kimbap to start and then for entrees, he got the bibimbap and I got the kimchi jjigae. Everything was seriously amazing (or I have just been in major deprivation of korean food that at this point, anything would be amazing). We also got the green tea and red bean mochi ice cream for dessert. The guy working there was super nice and said the red bean was better, so when we asked to try both flavors, he gave us 2 red bean and 1 green tea. (He was right, btw!). At the end of the meal, he also came by and gave us these cute little lollipop treats. They weren't too special but he was so friendly to us during our meal that I felt required to eat it, lol. Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the mood for some delicious korean food along with great service.
(5)Amanda B.
Absolutely delicious and definitely filling the Korean food void that was in Bethesda. My korean fiance and I now go here several times a week for takeout! The service is absolutely amazing and the food tastes genuine and delicious! The bulgogi gimbop and bibimbop are our favorites!
(5)Michael S.
This place is so new - - we are the only party in the place. The barbecued pork and hot rock Bulgogi were very satisfying. Great kimchi.
(4)Elizabeth B.
A great new option in Bethesda! Terrific kalbi, spicy pork, and bibimbap. Great, attentive service. We will definitely be back. Only note I'd fix is the big neon sign outside. Seems a little too garish for the great food within. I have eaten authentic korean all over, having grown up in Hawaii, and have waited for folks on the east coast to catch on. If you like barbecue, and spicy food, you should go.
(5)Jennifer M.
I'm sitting in House of Milae right now for lunch, and I am stuffed and happy. The service is incredible, and the kimchi jjigae is perfect. And who doesn't love Kpop??
(5)Jessica L.
I am so excited that my neighborhood finally has a good Korean restaurant! I had the kimchi jigae, and it was awesome... just as good as the Korean places further out in the burbs. Our waitress was really sweet, prices were reasonable, tea was hot, bathrooms were clean. It wasn't crowded at all... I hope more people go there, because I want this place to stick around!
(5)Edoardo K.
GREAT food! Not too expensive. Wonderful service. Definitely a keeper in Bethesda and a definite "must go."
(5)C W.
The menu at House of Milae has the usual popular Korean dishes: bulgogi, galbi, bibimbap, and kimbop. We ordered the veggie potstickers, bulgogi kimbop, galbi, and dolsot bibimbap. The side dishes were definitely fresh and homemade, which I enjoyed. The food itself was good; however I wish they had added bit more flavor or marinated the meat longer. I personally like when the rice in the bibimbop has a nice layer of crispy/almost burnt rice at the bottom. The rice in my order was hot but not at all crispy. The next time I go, I'll be sure to request that. Overall, food was good. I'd recommend this place to my parents and to any that prefer a less spicer version of typical Korean food. I appreciate the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant and best of all, is conveniently located in Bethesda. The staff here was very friendly and I would go back again to get the lunch specials.
(3)