spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)
John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)
Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)
Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)
Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)
Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)
Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)
Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)
Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)
John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)
Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)
Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)
John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)
Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)
Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)
Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)
Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)
Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)
Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)
M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)
Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)
DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)
Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)
Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)
Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)
Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)
S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)
Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)
Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)
David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)
Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)
J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)
Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)
P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)
Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)
Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)
Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)
Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
(4)
Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)
Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)
Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)
Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)
Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)
David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)
Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)
Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)
Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)
Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)
Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)
Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)
Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)
Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)
Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)
Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)
Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)
Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)
Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)
Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)
Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)
Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)
Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)
P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)
Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)
Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)
Dan R.
spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)
John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)
Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)
Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)
J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)
Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
(5)
Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)
Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)
Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)
Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)
Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)
Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)
Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
(4)
Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)
Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)
Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)
Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)
Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)
Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)
Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)
Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)
Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)
Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)
David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)
Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)
Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)
Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)
Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)
Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)
Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)
Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)
Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)
Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)
Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)
Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)
Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)
Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)
Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)
P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)
Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)
Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)
Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)
John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)
Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)
Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)
John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)
Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)
Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)
Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)
Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)
Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)
M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)
David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)
Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)
DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)
Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)
Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)
Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)
Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)
S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)
Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)
Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)
Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)
J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)
Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)
P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)
Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)
J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)
Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
(5)
Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)
Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)
Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)
Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)
Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)
Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)
Dan R.
spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)
John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)
Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)
Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)
Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)
Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)
Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)
P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)
Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)
Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)
Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)
Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)
Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
(4)
Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)
Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)
Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)
David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)
Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)
Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)
Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)
Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)
Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)
Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)
Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)
Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)
Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)
Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)
Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)
Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)
Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)
Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)
John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)
Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)
Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)
Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)
M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)
DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)
Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)
Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)
Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)
John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)
Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)
Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)
Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)
Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)
Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)
Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)
David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)
Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)
Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)
S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)
Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)
Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)
J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)
Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)
P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)
Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)
J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)
Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Dan R.
spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
(4)Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
(4)The R.
Pros: Spicy food, pickled starters. Cons: Service, atmosphere, kimchi. Stopped in for lunch today. The atmosphere is pretty bland, was very cold in the restaurant and there were boxes in the dining room near the front that looked like storage, not too inviting. I ordered a spicy pork dish with white rice. My coworker I attended with ordered a vegetarian bowl that was not spicy on the menu but he requested for spic to be added. Fist thing to come out was the starters, a little kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and some sautéed tofu. All starter items were average in flavor except the kimchi, the kimchi lacked flavor and needed more spice and more time to ferment. My meal came out as ordered and was a generous helping of pork with white rice. The flavored were good but I was hoping to leave the restaurant with my mouth burning a little and this dish did not provide the heat that I normally find in Korean dishes. My coworkers meal was not vegetarian as he ordered and ended up fining mussels and squid in his bowl. The service was nothing but subpar and we waited a while before our check came despite an empty table.
(2)Melissa H.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)Dan R.
spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
(5)Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
(4)The R.
Pros: Spicy food, pickled starters. Cons: Service, atmosphere, kimchi. Stopped in for lunch today. The atmosphere is pretty bland, was very cold in the restaurant and there were boxes in the dining room near the front that looked like storage, not too inviting. I ordered a spicy pork dish with white rice. My coworker I attended with ordered a vegetarian bowl that was not spicy on the menu but he requested for spic to be added. Fist thing to come out was the starters, a little kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and some sautéed tofu. All starter items were average in flavor except the kimchi, the kimchi lacked flavor and needed more spice and more time to ferment. My meal came out as ordered and was a generous helping of pork with white rice. The flavored were good but I was hoping to leave the restaurant with my mouth burning a little and this dish did not provide the heat that I normally find in Korean dishes. My coworkers meal was not vegetarian as he ordered and ended up fining mussels and squid in his bowl. The service was nothing but subpar and we waited a while before our check came despite an empty table.
(2)Melissa H.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
(4)Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)Khalid S.
All of y'all did a great job on reviewing these guys. My first time ever to a real authentic Korean place and I absolutely loved whatever I got. Someone had recommended their Bulgoki which came with all the fix ins. I totally loved the Kim chi and wish they'd given more of it compared to some other condiments/pickles. The waitress lady was very nice. Surprisingly they were not busy, only two tables occupied, maybe it was a little late in the night... in short highly recommended!
(4)J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
(5)Stephanie Y.
This cute little place has such a warm, comforting atmosphere, from the tan color scheme to the rustic paintings to the barley tea (on the house). Acoustic Korean music adds to the comfort. The hostess is very friendly and welcoming. The best kimchi I ever had...it is spicy but also sweet and flavorful, with plenty of garlic and sesame. Sometimes I get a good-size container of it to go for just $5. My favorite entrees are the L.A. kalbi (bbq beef) and nakji bokeum (octopus in spicy sauce). I would recommend the lunch box special, which is a bento box with your choice of entree, along with two dumplings, a salad, mini Korean pancake, white rice. A great place to get some truly authentic Korean and relax.
(4)Lisa R.
We ate here on Friday night. My first taste of Korean food. I really loved the BBQ pork that my husband ordered. My Udon soup was fine... I want to go back with someone who has more experience with Korean and try more items from the menu.
(3)Jessica B.
My review echoes what everyone else is saying. This restaurant was my first experience with Korean food, and since then has been my favorite. A good friend of mine, who is Korean, introduced me to this restaurant. Last February I moved away from the Harrisburg area, but when I come back to visit I always stop by this restaurant. Their Kim-chi is excellent. When I go there, I focus in the Korean dishes. I usually bring a large group of friends, and we order several dishes and share. It can get a bit pricey, but I have paid more for crappier food from chain restaurants. I live in western pa now, and I would pay top dollar to have this place near me again :( Byob is a nice touch....we all usually bring a bottle of wine each, and once again, share! Great atmosphere. I know some people may look down at the decor....I find it welcoming. Not too stuffy....it feels like going to visit your beloved aunt who makes awesome food and cleans up after you and your rowdy friends :)
(5)Marge T.
My husband and I just moved to the area from Chicago and were quite excited when we found out there was an authentic Korean restaurant in the area. We are both Asian and are very fond of Korean food and have gone to a few "authentic" Korean restaurants both here in the States and in Asia (my husband has been to Korea). After reading the excellent reviews about this place, we decided to try it out yesterday. We had high hopes for Spring Garden but were unfortunately disappointed with our experience. The restaurant itself is very clean and well-kept. The menu is typical of a Korean restaurant (it's available online at koreanspringgarden.com ). They also have a page of Japanese dishes to choose from. Our biggest disappointment, however, was their appetizers. Don't get me wrong, their kimchi and pickled vegetables tasted great but they had very little variety to choose from. The Korean restaurants that we used to frequent offer at least 10 different kinds of appetizers but at Spring Garden, they only gave us four. We came with a couple of friends and most of us ordered from their lunch specials. My husband had the Bibim Bap which he said was good, especially with the sauce that they gave him. I had Yukgae Jang, my favorite Korean soup. It was OK. Not excellent, just OK. I've definitely had more flavorful Yukgae Jang in the past. Service was average. We unfortunately found a strand of hair in one of their appetizers and our server replaced it for us but offered no apologies. On the upside, we did enjoy their Kimchi and brought home a bottle of it that we bought from the front desk. While we were there (Sunday lunch), there were 3 other tables that were occupied with Korean patrons. In all, I thought Spring Garden was OK but not exceptional. Although I'm not raving about it like the other reviewers are, because it seems to be the only decent Korean restaurant in the area, my husband and I will probably be back.
(3)Grace T.
I was very surprised to find such a yummy Korean restaurant in the middle of Pennsylvania. Living in the middle of SoCal, where we two different K-towns within 30 miles of each other, there is no shortage of good Korean food. My sis and I came here to give it a try a few months ago when I came out to help her move into her apartment. We ordered the pan-fried mondu (potstickers), the xa xiang mein (noodle with black bean sauce), and bulgogi. It was all very tasty and the portions were pretty big, we ended up having plenty of left over to take home.
(4)Dayyan L.
This is the best Korean food you will get in the area. Don't expect fanciness or a ridiculous number of banchan (side dishes). This place doesn't do that, it is more like home, or small restaurant in Seoul!
(5)Dan R.
spring garden korean bbq restaurant. this place has totally excellent korean food. this place has a lot of parking and its fairly easy to get to right across from Good Shepard School on market street in camp hill pa. its in a small plaza that has three other businesses. Min Sok oriental market used to be located right next to this place, but it closed down in 2006. they usually give you appetizers for free when you order an entree. like kimchee, bean sprouts, sweet potato, tofu, rice and other spicy stuff i dont know what it is. it all comes in these little sliver dishes. the lady who works there is very nice, shes the owner / cook / waitress. she is very nice and will often suggest types of food you might like if you havent had korean before, this might seem annoying to some, buts its their custom, suggest the best (and most expensive) thing. the price of the food is a little bit higher that many other places, it can cost anywhere from 9 to 20 dollars per person, but totally worth it for a special occasion or party. Jampong, LA Kalbi, Kalbi-gui, Pugolgi, Bimbim-bap. The only thing I wish they had on their menu was goat soup. They have a few Japanese-syle items. there are usually always other korean people there eating, either natives, first or second generation. i always thought this was a very clean upscale place to eat. there are paintings hanging on the walls that you can purchase, which i think are from her son. one is of east broad top railroad in huntingdon county. it is very beautiful on the inside. There are plenty of tables and a sushi bar that was closed down years ago. on a side note the door opens kinda crazy like from the left, the opposide of how a door normally would open. Spring Garden Restaurant Authentic Korean BBQ 5 S 35th St Camp Hill, PA 17011 phone 717-737-0238 koreanspringgarden.com
(5)John R.
Make sure you know what you are getting. We ordered Teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up with some other chicken dish. It turned out that the waitress took it upon herself to order a more expensive dish for us. Out of two kids and two adults our bill was $70. I'll never go back again!
(2)Jennifer C.
I love this place. Everything I've ever ordered has been absolutely delicious. The kimchi is excellent. I also love the broiled chicken, fried dumplings, and the noodles with brown bean sauce. The kimchi jigae is perfectly spicy. Service has always been good. The owner is really nice and will make a lot of suggestions. I just go with it and have never been disappointed. However, as much as I love their food, I can't justify the prices very often. Their kimchi pancakes are double the price of the other Korean restaurant down the street. $17 for a chicken bbq dish and some white rice is way too much. I would definitely frequent more if they were a bit cheaper and/or had some specials.
(4)The R.
Pros: Spicy food, pickled starters. Cons: Service, atmosphere, kimchi. Stopped in for lunch today. The atmosphere is pretty bland, was very cold in the restaurant and there were boxes in the dining room near the front that looked like storage, not too inviting. I ordered a spicy pork dish with white rice. My coworker I attended with ordered a vegetarian bowl that was not spicy on the menu but he requested for spic to be added. Fist thing to come out was the starters, a little kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled cucumbers, and some sautéed tofu. All starter items were average in flavor except the kimchi, the kimchi lacked flavor and needed more spice and more time to ferment. My meal came out as ordered and was a generous helping of pork with white rice. The flavored were good but I was hoping to leave the restaurant with my mouth burning a little and this dish did not provide the heat that I normally find in Korean dishes. My coworkers meal was not vegetarian as he ordered and ended up fining mussels and squid in his bowl. The service was nothing but subpar and we waited a while before our check came despite an empty table.
(2)Melissa H.
I love bibimbap... Randomly saw this place and pulled over. Fast service, great kimchi, I want to go back and try the other items on the menu.
(5)Daniel G.
LOVE IT HERE! Korean BBQ is absolutely fantastic! I have had other items as well, all were good, but its the BBQ that wins out over all. And trust me, I am not someone who orders the same thing twice, but I will order this forever and a day.
(5)Ann L.
Great place for lunch. Authentic Korean (not so much on the Japanese) that is fresh and tasty. Nice assortment of various types of kimchee. Lacking a bit in atmosphere (visible junk room when you walk in on the left) but service is great and very friendly.
(4)Diane C.
I came from out of state and was in the area with my family and decided to try out this korean restaurant based on reviews. I'm also korean and can always go for a good korean meal. We came at an off peak time so there was only one other family there which was fine with me. We orderedthe yukgaejang (spicy beef soup) and kampoongi (spicy fried garlic chicken). The waitress which was also the owner came out with our soup then shortly after brought what was teriyaki chicken made spicy. We said we didnt order that and she insisted we would like that chicken better and kept saying we have never tried it before. We tasted it and it was bland and wanted our original order but was skeptical because she said a lot of people dont order it and liked the chicken she brought out to us better. I asked if she used the same sauce for the kampoongi and she said no so we said we still wanted it and she said no problem. It was just a little odd that she would go out of her way to make something we didn't order and try to force us to eat it. The kampoongi came out and had a lot more flavor than the previous chicken. The experience just made me feel uncomfortable.
(2)Eric N.
I don't know enough about Korean food to give it 5 stars, but I do know that I just had the best lunch I've had in a long time! Excellent service and the food, well it was delicious.
(4)P G.
3.5ish Great seafood pancakes! FYI,that clear liquid in the small bottle is not vinegar ,but wasabi oil. If you want to commit suicide,put a bunch of it on a pot sticker. Whoa! Oh yeah,BYOB is cool.
(4)Brian L.
Had dinner here one of the nights I was in the Harrisburg area. I was the only one there the night I went. The woman working was very friendly and her service was great. I ordered bulgogi (I can't seem to break that habit at a Korean restaurant). The meal started out with an assortment of kimchi. I tried again, but I still can't get into the taste of kimchi...(hopefully some day). The bulgogi was delicious. It was just what I needed that night. Not too cheap, but worth the money.
(4)Ken E.
2.5 rounded up to 3. The only Korean option in Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill. The food is decent to good. The owners are nice and very friendly. They sell fish cakes and kimchee behind the register.
(3)Daniel T.
The bbq pork was flavorful beyond description. It was also spicy which only made it that much better. Sampled some of the vegetarian appetizers. They were really good too. Pricey but well worth it.
(5)Yuelin L.
The best Korean food in Hershey / camp hill area. We lived in Hershey, but we will drive 30 minutes to spring garden just for supper. A small family restaurant, the soup, hotpot, kimichi pancakes are all good. We almost tried everything on the menu. However, it is a little bit pricey comparing to other big cities' Korean food.
(4)Anum H.
My first time at this restaurant and let me just say this: I am a Korean and I approve this place. Kimchi jigae is one of the most simple stews that Koreans have with their meals on a daily basis. I also see how authentic a Korean restaurant is based on how their kimchi jigae or doenjang jigae tastes because of their simplicity. Loved the kimchi jigae! Samgyupsal was also served just right - not too crispy and just the right amount of oily. I'll be back soon. I knocked a star off because the price is on the steeper side.
(4)Laura S.
Really good food and very friendly staff but prices are a little nuts for the quantity. My mom, brother and I came here on a Saturday night looking for good Korean food and we were not disappointed! I was quite surprised how dead it was for a weekend night. The atmosphere was nice; it was nothing amazing but the place had simple Asian decorations such as bamboo and paper screens. We were seated immediately and served a pitcher of water which I give bonus points for, I always run out of water at restaurants. The lady who took our order was very friendly. She even gave us recommendations of what to order, but I already knew what I was coming in for from researching on yelp. I liked the traditional Korean dishes they started us with. Their kimchi was quite good, especially since I've never liked any other kimchi I've tried before. I wish the woman told us the name of the various dishes she gave us. I wasn't crazy about the bean sprout one, but I liked the spicy cucumber one. We began by ordering Fried Dumplings (5 pieces for $5). They were unique from what I'm used to. They were very crispy and had a strong ginger flavor laced with the meat. They were good but okay but nothing amazing. For our entrees, we ended up splitting their Bulgoki ($20) and the L.A Galbi ($24) between the three of us. Luckily, my brother eats a lot less than he used to otherwise we wouldn't have had enough food. I could have polished one of those dishes off no problem with how much they give you. It really wasn't a lot for the price. The bulgoki was my favorite. The meat mixed with the onions had so much flavor and was amazingly juicy and tender. I was taking the extra drippings and pouring it over my white rice it was so good. The galbi was definitely good, but disappointing because most of the bones were bare of meat...The meat was more tough but still had tons of flavor and the fat was deliciously charred. Even though this dish was good, due to the price and lack of meat, I would not get this dish again. Overall, I really liked their Korean bbq but for the price it just wasn't worth it. Really nice workers and great service. Although I did really like this place, I don't think I would go out of my way to go back.
(4)Susan C.
We've been to this restaurant a couple of time before, the food is pretty good but it's a bit chaotic and hard to make special requests. Yesterday because I was coming in from out of town I called ahead to be sure they would be open (they said they were open till 9:30). Our party if 5 walked in at 8:06 and were greeted with "no table". I asked how long the wait would be and hosted said "too late". I looked around , there were clearly tables finishing up. So after 4 words and no apology, clearly our business was not welcome so we took our $100 and had a great meal at Thai Cafe in Windsor shopping center, which by the way was still graciously seating people after the closing time.
(1)Wayne L.
We have been here quite a few times as this is the only authentic Korean food around as far as we know. In summary, the experience here is: Delicious food, inconsistent service (usually bad), and overpriced menu. Taste: 5/5. We frequently dine at Korean restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia. As far as taste goes, this restaurant serves delicious and authentic food made with good ingredients. This kind of quality is hard to find even in a bigger city. Service: 2/5. There is ever only 1 waitress here (the owner?). When the restaurant is dead quiet she might actually stop at your table (+1 star). If there are more than a couple tables in the restaurant, not only will she never stop at your table, good job trying to hail her down for a glass of water. We went once when it was fairly packed and when you talk to her, she won't even stop and look at you. If you come here, expect service to be non-existent. Price: 3/5. Korean restaurants everywhere tend to be a little more expensive, but this one is the most expensive one we have been to (without any sort of service to mention). Everytime I and my wife eat, the bill comes to around $60 before tips. For that price I usually expect some sort of dining experience that this place fails to provide. Overall: 3/5. Only come here when you live around the area and have a serious craving for Korean food.
(3)David A.
In Harrisburg before an ice storm and looking for a place to grab a bite that was close to my hotel. Found this place on yelp with some decent reviews. I first pulled up and there were no cars so I went elsewhere (a longer story since two places didn't work out) and it was getting late so I went back here. Sure enough I was the only person in this fairly large restaurant. Don't understand why this place calles themselves Korean-Japanese. It is clearly traditional Korean (which I wanted). No decor, fairly run down place but smelled great. I was promptly brought tea. I ordered and the server (probably the owner) said I did not order what she preferred. I told her to surprise me. I received a piping hot dish of squid and noodles in a spicy sauce in under five minutes along with four complementary side dishes (kimchi, two types of sprouts, cucumbers). The food was great. I was a bit scared of seafood in an empty restaurant, concerned about how fresh it would be but not an issue. The sides were great, too. I don't like eating in empty restaurants but this place hit the spot. No way you can give five stars with the atmosphere but the food hit the spot.
(4)Zanna H.
So I decided to take a long weekend and went out to Hershey PA. After getting rained out and retreating to the hotel. We dried off and chose this little gem as our dinner destination. The decor is very simple but it is warm and inviting. We were greeted and seated by the owner who could not have been more friendly. Realizing we were newbies to her place she gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and then made some great suggestions. She was very motherly and made sure we were ok with the selection Their kim-chi and pickled items that come with your meal are amazing! The best I have ever had. My dish was good but I regret not getting the barbecue since a neighboring table did and it smelled wonderful! The dish I did get was very good, it came served in a blistering hot cast iron bowl so as to fry the egg and basically make fried rice right there. The owner mixed it at my table before I could snap a picture but the presentation was very nice. All in all it was the best part of my soggy adventure into the rural Hershey area.
(4)Dennis L.
Delicious and authentic, with a large selection to fit all tastes. The service is fast and friendly. I live about an hour away and make it a point to go out of my way to get here when I can. The Korean pancakes are superb - try them out!
(5)Ajay R.
I love this place - love it so much I go there at least 2-3 times a week. I was there yesterday and I'll be going back there again for lunch today. It's not that I can't find good Korean places; they're just not quite as good as Spring Garden. If you are looking for a nice fancy place to take a date for the first time, this might not be the place for you. If you do, there might not be a second date. But, if you are past the first few dates, this is place to go! Let's start with the ambience - it's nothing to write home about. It's simple, but very functional. It's like most other mid-price Korean and Chinese restaurants. I would consider it to be a step above a dive. Food - my favorite part of any review. The restaurant has a pretty extensive menu with quite a few different meal options. All entrees come with Kimchi and the other Korean condiments. Since this restaurant is primarily a Korean restaurant, I try to stick to Korean food. Hence, I haven't tried the Japanese options here and will not be able to review that part. As for the Korean food, this place rocks! The portions are rather large, but who's complaining? If you aren't very hungry you can make 2 meals out of most dinner entrees. I love hot and spicy food and they have quite a few choices for people with a fire-ey pallet like myself. Pricing - the portions are large and food is to die for so I don't mind spending a little extra to go there for a good meal. Also keep in mind, Korean food can be somewhat difficult to cook.The entrees range from $10-30. The more complex bbq dishes are the ones that are closer to $25-30, which isn't bad as most other Korean places serve it for even more than that. Service - simple and I wouldn't expect anything better from a place at their level. The owner lady is the only person I've seen waiting on their customers, but she is nice, cordial and very fast in getting stuff done. You know the food is fresh because it can take them upto 20 minutes to get the meal ready. If you like Korean food, you'll love this place! Let me know if you don't.
(5)Sara N.
Granted there aren't many, if any, authentic Korean restaurants in the central Pennsylvania area, but it's not an excuse to gouge desperate bibimbop-craving customers with an outrageously overpriced menu. We paid about twenty-five dollars for several small barbecue beef ribs--not even half a rack! And the rice and noodle dishes were as salty as the owner/chef, who never came to our table when we needed her and never left us alone when we desired a quiet lunch with family. Hike over to Philadelphia or down to Germantown for a more pleasant Korean dining experience if you have the time, or else be prepared to drink lots of water and literally and physically pay dearly for this greasy, salted mess.
(1)Len T.
LA Kalbi is amazing and came with 5 yummy veggie side dishes (tofu, radish, kim chi, sprouts, and fresh spicy cucumber).
(5)Jennifer D.
I had dinner at Spring Garden Restaurant two weeks ago with friends. This was my first and only (so far) experience with Korean food. The friends I dined with have been to Spring Garden a few times before, and highly recommended the food. They were surprised to see the restaurant so empty at 6 pm on a Friday night. There were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours when we arrived, but by the time we left, the place was packed. Our table ordered the bulgoki, saewoo yachae, and yachae yakisoba. All three dishes, as well as the pre-meal kimchi, were absolutely delicious. The waitress/owner was very helpful with making recommendations to the two of us who had no experience with Korean food, and our entire party was satisfied with both the flavor and quantity of our dinners. I've been raving about the food at Spring Garden since my visit there, and will definitely be back!
(4)Patrick B.
First time back in maanny years. Why did I wait so long? This place is just lovely. Friendly, accommodating service from the whom I presume to be the owner. Having lived in Korea for a year, I was fairly familiar with the foods; but for my not-too-spicy-loving companions, it was more of an adventure. I had to try the bulgoki, which was delicious, as were all of the kimchi plates. (Summer, not the really hot winter kimchi.) B tried a shredded pork dish that she liked, which surprised me when I tasted the heat; but she said that the heat of the pork was easily balanced by the cool kimchi. (Brilliant, just as if we were in Seoul!) The owner asked M if she liked chicken and rice, then produced a teriyaki-like dish that was wonderful and not on the menu, I'm sure. All told, a very satisfying dining experience. We will NOT wait years to go back!
(4)Kev L.
More like a three star joint. But when you consider the options around you, well, the extra star is easier to justify. i will say the owner is extremely friendly and talkative. Very refreshing especially when you're in the middle of a 20 hour road trip. All of the banchan offered were very delicious, including the spicy cucumbers, my personal favorite. The Kimchi was not impressive, but not horrible either. I ordered the Yuk Gae Jang and thought it was above average. When in this area, I will definitely be back again.
(4)Chon T.
Decent Korean. For central penn, this place rocks. I shouldn't compare this place to gen or shik do rak...and I won't. But hell, this place deserves points for being in the right place at the right time. Stick with the basic Korean BBQ when you come. Was disappointed with the soon tofu, and the japchae noodles weren't cooked well, but it was okay. Props to you, spring garden for being open till 930pm!
(3)Rachel W.
I went there last night and the owner was very rude. It's probably because she feels she doesn't have to be as professional if she personally knows you. I have gone in there for years because the food was decent - not the best my umma's is way better. Anyway, she completely ignored us and when we asked for boxes to go she acted as if we were an inconvenience for her. Umm...you're running a restaurant! That is your job! The entire time she was there she sat down with other Korean customers and was eating dinner with them. That was not professional either. My friend and I both got sick from the food this morning. I would not recommend going to this place because she does put MSG in her food. I know this because every time I have MSG in my food my mom and I get nauseous. And she will tell you that she doesn't put it in her food. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone! I travel to Maryland all the time to get real authentic Korean food and the restaurant owners are always so nice and welcoming. Not this lady! The only reason I come here is because it's closer than MD and it does the trick at the time but after I arrive I always regret going. The owner is rude beyond belief.
(1)Melissa O.
Welp I'm sold! I just moved back home from Korea and I was having some serious Korean food withdrawals. I can't believe how authentic and delicious this place is! The kimchi is especially good! Probably the best kimchi I've ever tasted!
(5)Johnny F.
Came across this mom and pop restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. I was first concerned when I walked in there was not one other person in the restaurant. But maybe Korean is not very popular in the area and the time I went was late in the evening on a weekday...so... But the amount of people had nothing to do with the food quality and taste. What a great place!! Living in Los Angeles we are blessed with great Korean food and this was close to it maybe better! I had the Jajang Myung which is noddles with black bean sauce and was one of the best I have had in years! The Agudashi Tofu I had was very generous and tasted great also. If your looking for good quality food with a decent price, this is a great place. Other reviews are similar, this seems like a great catch if you can find it! Great quality/tasting food and great portions.
(4)Jojo G.
food is definitely over price. Cannot compare those in NYC. But it seems it is the only korean restaurant in this area.
(3)Matt P.
Surprised to find Korean all the way out here in central Pennsylvania! Reminiscent of the old Korean restaurants that opened in the 80's when I was a kid. Not to mention that the music played is stuff that my parents listened to when they were in college :P However, let's talk food: I ate the yukejang --- spicy beef soup with some noodles ad various vegetables, perfect for a cold winter night. Family ate bibimbap, kalbi (LA style), sullung-tang, and haemul (seafood) dwenjang jjigae. All was good and met the standard of a good Korean all-purpose family restaurant, which is what this place basically is. An extensive menu, like other general Korean restaurants of this nature, so I can't vouch for the rest of the dishes, though I imagine they will be good. Note that they are closing the month of February (perhaps for renovations?), so be sure to call ahead.
(4)Wendy T.
I have been to a lot of Asian restaurant around Harrisburg area. This place surprise me the most. Me and my boy friend eat so much each time we go, because everything is super good! These food are not Americanized, they r truly original. I will recommend this place to all the Asian international students in the area, as well as Americans. I love the owner too, she is super nice and kind! The best part is the kimchi. That's how Korean people do to there vegetables. A total love!!!!!!!
(5)John G.
This was my first experience with Korean Food and the first time going into the Spring Garden Restaurant. This is not your everyday Americanized Oriental Restaurant. Since the only thing I knew about the Korean style of cooking was the word Kimchi I looked for it on the menu. Kimchi is a dish made with fermented cabbage,vegetables onions and spices. What I found was Kimchi Jigae a spicy soup with shreds of pork and vegetables and and tofu. The servers brought me out some pickled vegetables like cucumbers, napa cabbage and shredded pickled green leafy cabbage and some spicy cold tofu cubes. The Bowl of Kimchi Jigae came out Boiling in the bowl and loaded with tender cabbage sliced tofu some Korean Style noodles and onions and other vegetables it was spicy but not what I consider hot Spicy and the taste of the broth was very enjoyable. The restaurant was very clean and the servers were pleasant and attentive. When I was paying my bill the server asked how I enjoyed my meal and I did inform her that it was my first time here. She seemed surprised and asked was this your first time eating Korean Food I said yes she said and you ordered the Kimchi Jigae and asked how it was I told her I really liked it and she said well if you enjoyed the soup you will enjoy most of the Korean Menu. I plan to return again Korean Food is a new experience for me even though I have a background in food service I must say this is a new and tasty experience.
(4)Mrs B.
I would definitely recommend this place. We have been wanting to try Korean BBQ for a while. The reviews online are all positive so we dove in. I'm live in Florida and usually only eat Asian food on the west coast in Seattle or Vancouver. I hate wasting my time with Asian food that is dumbed down for the American palate. Spring Garden was surprisingly good. The waitress and I assume owner a nice Korean woman put together our order for us after she found out we were Korean virgins. We had picked out a bunch of things to try and share but the waitress asked us what stuff we like and how we like spicy and made an order for us. The only thing that my brother requested over her order was a Kimchi pancake. To me it was just like a onion pancake that is done in Chinese restaurants and I find boring. She boat us short ribs that were grilled, nice flavor and moderately tender. Not fall off the bone like a braised rib. The second dish was chicken and vegetables with no spice. Unanimously the table favorite was Chefs special number 6. Spicy pork with veg. She said it was the most popular dish. I highly recommend. Next time we will venture farther into the menu. The waitress was great and had us laughing at the end.
(4)Art C.
I've been going here for years. The food is excellent. I have loved everything that I have ever eaten here. But the prices have become absurd. $10.95 for Bi Bim Bap? Seriously? There is no bowl of Bi Bim Bap worth $10.95. Not even here. Sad to say that I will not be going back. I remember well 5-10 years ago, when most items on the menu were a good value. Now there's not one affordable entree left on the whole menu.
(2)Vickie C.
I have never loved a restaurant more than I love Spring Garden. I've tried something new every time I go, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The staff is nice and really helpful. I'd eat here every day if I could.
(5)M A.
I ate here yesterday, the food was just okay. Being from LA where there is a ton of Korean restaurants this place was a little below average. I probably won't eat here again.
(2)DL H.
As you can see by most of the other reviews on here, this place has very very good food. My personal favorite is the Korean BBQ, Dak Gui, although I've tried many different things on the menu, have liked them all. Staff is also friendly. My only small complaint is the price, but you pay for what you get which is awesome food, be prepared to spend about at least $20 per meal for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, great for a date night.
(4)Andrea T.
This may have been the first Korean restaurant I went to. I'm not sure, but (and allow me to be unfair for just a second) other experiences in Maryland and Virginia have overshadowed it. HOWEVER, since it is one of the scarce Korean restaurants in the area, I would probably give it a good rating.. maybe more like 3.5, if that were possible? Our server, most likely the owner, was very helpful and nice. Kind of motherly..? I ordered the bibimbap (rice, veggies, and beef in spicy sauce with egg cooked on top), but my cousin ordered chicken barbecue under her suggestion. The chicken was very flavorful. The bibimbap was good, but I wish that the egg was left a little runny so I could mix it all better. My sister ordered the Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup. She wasn't too keen on it. I don't think we took much of a liking to how the dumplings tasted (when we ordered it for an appetizer). It was kind of bitter so we soaked it a lot in the soy sauce. The pickled side dishes that came with everything were wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised that they just kept being refilled. OH! And the decor is very cute. When I asked for water, she just gave me a pitcher for the table, but it was the cutest container!! I was happy, but the people with me weren't satisfied (since it is a bit pricey so they probably expected to be blown away). So maybe next time I'll have to find a group to just go for the barbecue.
(3)Rob K.
I must say, I didn't think I'd find legitimate Korean food in central PA. I am happy to be proven wrong! Spring Garden restaurant is a gem of a restaurant, sort of hidden among a residential area. The decor is nice, similar to other Korean places I've been to. Clean, with a wait staff that is a bit brusque and hard to understand, but always ready with helpful suggestions if you can't decide. The food...is simply...authentic. My party ordered a bunch of stuff, from the seafood pancake, to the squid and noodles, to the classic bulgogi...everything everyone else ordered was delicious. BBQ chicken, spicy seafood noodles...all delicious. The only thing that was subpar was what I happened to order...the jajang mien, which is chinese style noodles with brown bean sauce. Everything else was amazing. Now this place is a little on the pricier side, at least compared to what I'm used to paying for this type of food. It's worth the price though, given the quality of the food and the lack of anything else as authentic and delicious around here. I suppose the strongest endorsement is the fact I'm definitely going there back again and again.
(5)Toni S.
The food was great. I had the Dak Yachae and there was a lot of it. I had plenty to take home. It was enough for several people. The service was great - very friendly.
(4)John C.
I have been here three times in the last three weeks. The BBQ is awesome, actually, this is what I usually order. I usually come here with a friend. Had practically all of their BBQ. The waitress is very nice. She is very prompt and usually asks if we need more Kimchi, rice and such. I do not like their dumplings though. Tastes much different than the ones I am used to eating. I have tried their Jambong(not sure the exact spelling). It is very taste and VERY big. I think it may be too big. Also their Korean pancake is good, but not really to my liking. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place. Got to try their Broiled Beef and Broiled Chicken BBQ, they are the BEST!
(4)Kyra P.
Great, local place to find yummy Korean food!
(5)Byoung L.
Great and authentic Korean food. Take it from a Korean
(5)Keith V.
Very good food with typical "dive" appeal. Pros: - Friendly service - Kimchi - Portions are generous Cons: - A bit pricy given "dive" ambiance - Ambiance - Menu is too large - Probably not the best choice if you're in a hurry
(4)Richard K.
I am writing this review because I was a victim of previous inaccurate review. So I do not see any more innocent people suffer the food here. First, we ordered following dishes. Jjang jang myun, Jjang poyong (typical chinese version noodle), Soon du_pu, cho ki gui(grilled fish) Jjang jang myun is only OK taste, the rest of them was horrible. Even the taste of watermelon for dissert was bad. I am sorry to say this but I have no choice to rate "the worst korean restaurant I ever been"
(1)Steve P.
Having a wife that is from Toronto does have 1 drawback. Her cultural experiences are way higher than mine. In a city with 6 million people, she had the choice of any ethnicity for dinner within a 15 mile radius. Korean is one of her favorite foods. Coming from a place where you could throw a penny and hit 3 places, to a spot where there's 3 places in the whole city was difficult. I've been trying to find her a spot that would compare to her Sunny Dragon, which is what leads into this review. We arrived at 6ish on Thursday for a sit down meal. The server, which I think was the owner was nice and brought the carafe of water and chatted with us for awhile asking if we have eaten Korean before, the wife informed her yes that it was one of her favorites and explained the dishes she enjoys. To her dismay they didn't have 2 of the 3 she is used to. This made her feel a little upset since they were in her experience "standard" Korean meals. Since I have no leg to stand on in this matter, I cannot comment if they were. She settled on her 3rd choice, the tangsuyook, a sweet and sour style dish. The lady offered me her BBQ chicken dish and said most people really enjoy it. Being rather inexperienced in this realm, I decided to take her word for it. After taking the orders she brought out the pickled dishes, kimchee, sprouts and tofu. Most of them were alright. I liked the yellow things, which the name escapes me. About 15 or so minutes later we got our plates. Immediately we took notice that this was not the same style of Koren we had seen in Canada. Her sweet&sour dish was red instead of golden brown. It didn't have any pineapple but it did have carrots and onions. It tasted like the sweet and sour chicken you get at any chef wongs which I could tell was disappointing. Still, she ate the dish without complaining although she did mention, that to her it tasted too Americanized. (it's a term you hear a lot when you know Canadians) My Chicken dish was very good. It came out on a sizzling plate. Had an interesting tangy flavor with a little bit of spice. The chicken was cut into strips and covered in a reddish brown sauce. It didn't need any soy or vinegar to change the flavor, it was well balanced. The food was good, although if you are used to a less "Americanized" type of Korean, you may be a little disappointed, to find out what they have here. Personally I would like to come back and give another dish a shot, but I don't know if I can persuade the spouse to give it another go.
(3)Grace L.
The Chajang Myun (delicious noodle dish with a mellow brown sauce) here is incredible so are the small sides (my husband loved the potato dish). The bulgogi is lacking a bit in complexity and a little too sweet however still okay. The dumplings are handmade and good (dipped sparingly in soy sauce). The Kimchee pancakes were ginormous! They were rather doughy but tasty. If you bring children, they have orange & grape sac sac juice that is fun to drink and delicious. It is pricey but in my opinion worth it. The food is authentic, homemade, fresh & portions are generous. I really can't say it ranks anywhere near to the best Korean food I have eaten (the chajang myun however was PERFECT)... but considering there are no others in the Central PA area to compare it to, I am giving it the best rating. Can't wait to go back and try some more! BTW it is BYOB. And you can buy the kimchee & sides to go.
(5)David E.
Hidden around a corner, this place still retains most of what I cherish of Korean food. Its hard to find authentic K-BBQ or any asian dish in Camp Hill PA. Ms Kim is amazing, even though a bit aggressive at first, she understands quickly what a customer came here for and delivers great food and quick service. I tend to lean more towards the edge of spiciness most people dont enjoy, so remember to mention how hot you want your dish. Prices of all the dishes are honestly more than the ususal (compared to Korean BBQ in NYC), but with barely any other good competition, you can understand why. All in all this place gets a 4/5 the cost of the food being the negative.
(4)Wendy W.
Just had the best meal of my week a few days ago, and it was right here. As a college student it's not easy to get by if you're not a natural chef. I'm one of those people. When I'm cut off from my parents I find that my diet consists of instant noodles and TV dinners. So it was great to come here and share several dishes with a few friends. This wasn't my first time eating here, but it was my best experience by far. While waiting for our food to come, we were close to starving so we pigged out on their banchan (those little side dishes). The potatoes are always so good. I usually love the kimchi here, but this time it tasted a little watery. There wasn't as much flavor as there usually is. We shared a kimchi jigae (a stew-like dish with kimchi, tofu, pork, rice cakes, and other ingredients), an ojinguh bokeum (spicy squid with noodles and veggies), and bulgogi. I wasn't a big fan of the bulgogi because the meat seemed to clump up and it looked kind of pale. The kimchi jigae had nice flavors, and I really liked the rice cakes. However, the star of the meal was the ojinguh bokeum. I absolutely loved this dish! It was nice and spicy, and the sauce complemented well with the two bowls of rice that I had (yep, I'm a fatty). My three friends and I completely stuffed ourselves, and the total came out to be $14 with tip for each of us, which I think is pretty cheap for Korean food. Be warned that sometimes the water takes on this weird metallic, sawdust kind of taste. It only tastes like regular water if it comes in a closed container with a blue or green lid on top. Don't ask me why.
(4)Sophia P.
I agree with Rob's review. I've been to this restaurant a dozen times, and I've enjoyed each trip. You can tell how authentic a korean restaurant is by the spiciness of the kimchi. the side-dishes were spot on, my favorite being the sweet potatoes. I haven't tried a dish that I didn't like, however, the tofu soon is not made the same way as BCG Tofu House. I highly recommend the chef's tofu specialty (under the chef's specialty section). it has the most amazing spicy sweet and sour sauce (NOT the panda express but rather homemade). One of the most delicious dishes their is the seafood pancake. Even though it is an appetizer shared it with other people, the portion is meal-sized. I believe the restaurant is family owned, and the female owner who greets you at the door is the sole waitress there. It's amazing how she manages to wait on everyone, but do expect some delay in getting the food. I would make the trip before you are starving.
(5)S M.
Food is almost always good, however Koreans receive the good Kimchi dishes and the rest of us do not, even when we ask. I also notice that my bill is always more that what the menu adds up to. When questioned the waitress always plays dumb. I ignored it for a while because it was the only place to get decent korean food in the area, but I got tired of always paying more. It is just as easy for me to make my own.
(3)Danny R.
Went with my lovely girlfriend for some Korean BBQ last night and couldn't be happier with our experience! We are relatively new when it comes to the art of K-BBQ, but the staff couldn't be more helpful! And to top it all off our food was delicious! My girlfriend and I will definitely be back! Next time I will be more adventurous with my menu choices. Will definitely recommend this place to friends.
(5)Hannah N.
I recently moved to Hershey to go to school and was craving Korean food like none other. I was actually shocked to find a Korean restaurant within a 30 mile radius (thank you, Yelp) and decided to try it out. I was totally prepared for mediocre Korean food... but just wanted some kimchi and rice that wasn't Jasmine rice. Believe me, I know Korean food - Born to Korean parents, llived in Korea for 12 years before moving to the States. Oh my gosh what a pleasant surprise. Since then I've been there several times. I'd say somewhere in the 20+ range. :: Main courses: Their Kalbi (marinated beef ribs) is so tender and juicy and perfectly marinated, their chicken dish is perfectly spicy and delicious, so tender. I've tried their DuenJang chigae (korean style miso soup), broiled fish, Bibimbap (Rice and veggies served in a hot pot), Kimchichigae (Kimchi soup), Yook-gae-jang (Spicy soup), Soon-du-bu (spicy tofu soup), Hae-mul-Jun (Korean seafood pancakes), Kimchi Bokkumbap (Kimchi-fried-rice) and Sullungtang (bone marrow soup). None have disappointed yet. :: Banchan (meaning the side dishes that accompany your meal): Their side dishes are meh (standard to below standard) - but their kimchi is unique. It tastes a bit different, and in a good way. It doesn't smell nearly as funky, and has a hint of sweet. Loves it. I love how the cabbage in the kimchi is extra crunchy and crisp. I always make sure to buy a bucket before I leave since there is a fridge at front that you can choose and buy side dishes from. A lot of times they sell side dishes that aren't served in the restaurant and I've tried a few. They were all pretty good. :: Summary: The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is because being Korean, I've had better. But really, I have to factor in the fact that I am in central PA, and that this Korean restaurant has virtually no competition around and is still doing a very decent job. I'll just come out and say it's difficult to get much better than this in the US. Even my sister from Salt Lake City (which has about 5 mostly mediocre Korean restaurants) was jealous. ::General: If you've never had Korean food, start with the Bulgogi (thin sliced beef), Dak-Gui (spicy chicken), or Kalbi (marinated beef BBQ). Those are like the tikka masalas of Korean food - I have never heard anyone say anything bad about them. If you're vegetarian, but don't mind seafood, try their squid dishes and hae-mul-jun (Korean pancakes). Before you think that the hae-mul-jun is too bland, don't forget you're SUPPOSED to dip the pancakes into soy sauce. If you're hardcore vegetarian +/- lacto/ovo, try their bibimbop and ask the waitress to leave out the beef and/or egg. But honestly, it's not easy being vegetarian at a Korean restaurant. The other stuff might be a little more confusing and best reserved for a repeat visit. Esp soups, if you are not familiar with the Korean dining style - soups are the entree, not the appetizer course.
(4)J E.
I visited Spring Garden for the first time a few weeks ago, accompanyed by my brother-in-law, whom recently returned from South Korea after living there for a year. This was my first time having Korean cuisine, so everything was very new to me. Our visit was during the week, so it wasn't busy at all. Restaurant decor was nice. Prices are pretty good. We had to specificially ask for rice after receiving our main courses (is is not typical to get rice?) and water multiple times. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but the food wasn't as wonderful as I expected... not a fault of the restaurant as much as me just not being a huge fan of Korean food. I will definitely have to give it another try before I can give a confident ruling. Four of us shared the following items: Various side dishes - all I can remember is pickles and kimchi. BIL said their kimchi tasted more mild than he was used to. Kimchi pancake - good, a little greasy Bibim bap - I didn't try this one, it had beef O-Jinguh Jigae - squid in spicy stew with vegetables. This was my favorite dish. Kimchi Soon Tofu - kimchi and soft tofu, this was OK. The restaurant has their entire menu online at koreanspringgarden.com
(3)Brian R.
This might be my favorite place to eat of all time. The place is quite nice inside, the owners are extremely friendly and the food. . . wow. I've tried a number of things from this place and I just have to tell you to order the pan fried pork dish. It is absolutely to die for! The dumplings are also amazing, and naturally don't forget the kimchi !
(5)P N.
Based on food alone, I would rate it a 5. But when you take into account the prices and service, it drops to 3. The owner is a bit pushy and doesn't really seem to cater to your needs/asks. As a multiple time repeat customer, I still feel a bit uncomfortable every time I am there until after today. Even though we came in to dine at 1:30 PM (which is clearly lunch time), she gave us the dinner menu with higher prices rather than the lunch menu. I was very upset about this, but my hands were tied because we were with guests and I felt uncomfortable to say anything.
(3)Barbara V.
Kimchi was great. I've been here a few times and the service is really great! The wait staff will assist you if your new to Korean. It's BYOB and has room for groups. I've got a friend that lives near and she goes so often they know her voice when she calls for take out!
(4)J R.
Having home made Korean food on a regular basis in the past, this place is authentic and quite good. Nice selection as well. I hear the kimchi is good but personally not a fan of kimchi. Everything else was good.. Lots of parking and nice decor..
(4)Amy G.
I would give this place 6 stars if it would let me. It's on the side of the building so don't miss it!! This is what a Korean restaurant should be. Authentic. In fact, this is what all ethnic restaurants should be - AUTHENTIC. Granted, they don't serve up some of the super exotic vegetables and proteins that you can't find easily in the US. However, they don't bastardize the recipes to coddle the American palates. They also do Japanese, but since Korean can't be found easily in Central PA I skip the Japanese and focus on some incredible Korean eating! KIMCHI! I grew up on Kimchi. I love it, love it, love it. Spring Garden makes a mean cabbage Kimchi. They also make several other spicy fermented/pickle/tasty dishes that are wonderful. Every night you get a lovely assortment of pickles and other goodies. They always have cabbage Kim Chi, but you'll also find cucumber dishes as well as bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, even small dried fishes in a sweet/spicy glaze. Their "cook at the table" BBQ dishes are a fun thing to do with a group and with kids. They do a really great Bulgoki (or Bulgogi) beef. Great flavors in that dish. Not too sweet like some places that "dumb-down" for Americans. Although, I have to admit that the Bulgoki dish is pleasing to most American's without modification. Their baked fish are great - don't panic if you see head and tails - it's supposed to be that way. The Korean pancakes are good, but I prefer to eat other items on the menu. I LOVE their soups. When I'm really sick with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and fever, I send my husband (or should I say ask him politely) to bring home a container of spicy soup with kimchi. All of the soups are great, I just prefer the spicy ones. It seems to cure my colds quickly - even if I'm imagining the cold being cured, at a minimum the spicy soup makes it easier to breathe. Kimchi Jigae is my favorite. My favorite dish: Bibim Bap. It's authentic so it's not for the faint of heart. Rice, beef, vegetables, fried egg. YUM! The ambiance is nice. Simple, clean, uncluttered - just like you'd expect at a nice Korean restaurant.
(5)