Bonchon Berkeley

Apr 20th, 2022

Apr 9th, 2022

Being a little new to the Korean food scene, I cannot speak with much authority, having only eaten at all-you-can-eat's, and the occasional the BiBimbop spot, which I have come to love, since they bring out up to 16 different side dishes each with a unique flavor, just small bits here and there, which is kind of my favorite, and I have come to have a deep and abiding love for Bulgoki. So it was on this crowded Friday night, that I decided to treat myself to somewhere new since I had had a good week, and after navigating what I can only call the absolute civil engineering wreck that is Milvia street, (have a great idea! Let's build a bunch of things that protrude right out of the road to puncture tires and ruin cars! Let's make two one-way streets run right into one another and then provide no signs, or lights! Yeah that'll be great! Welcome to Berkeley civil engineering 101. If we can mess it up, we will) I looked up and happened upon Banchan, directly across from the central Berkeley firehouse. Sparsely decorated inside, it would look like more of a pub, or a microbrewery, or even a bar, if it were not for the fact that there is nothing on the walls except the occasional soggy bottle in their small selection of beer. But my curiosity won out as it always does, coming inside I was greeted by a nice lady who spoke Spanish to me, (NOTE: 90% of the Asian restaurants in the East Bay have Latinos working in the FOH or kitchen. Show some respect. Say hi to them once in a while. Tell them that they did good if they did. Don't let them be invisible) and sat me at a nearby table. I decided to not have what I normally had which would be the Bibimbap or hot pot, and decided to go with something called "Bull Dak", which when I said it aloud, made a couple behind me, who later turned out to be lesbian, laugh out loud. If you get the joke you get the joke. Anyway, they were not offended, and I was very amused. Bull Dak, is hot spicy chicken, (it comes on a hot metal plate making a crackling sizzling delicious sound that you can hear in the video I provided ) (with scallions, and a spicy sauce, and Korean rice cakes, which are more like a chewy large noodle, rather than what we would call a cake, but they have a nice texture, and go well with the chicken. A little white rice was served on the side I polished off the entire thing with gusto. I also gave a thumbs up and said hi to the kitchen staff and said thank you as always do when I go to a place I really like. I hope more people start complement in the kitchen staff in these restaurants and making them feel like they are appreciated. I'm just one person but I'm pretty sure I can start a movement. The Korean owners were very nice, explaining many things about how the food is prepared in Korea, the rice cakes, and some of the pictures on the walls. All in all I had a great time, I only ordered one dish but I will be back to try the other stuff, and what I really enjoyed was is that was really out of the way and the spot where I could eat in quiet on a busy Friday night. Thanks Bonchon!
Mar 27th, 2022

Didnt bother to call me to tell me they were out of what I ordered. Only informed me once I got there. Definitely dont recommend this location
Mar 26th, 2022

Food is delicious as with other Bonchon locations. However my coworkers and I ordered ahead through the website hoping to pick up and have time to eat on our lunch break but food was not ready when we arrived at the designated pickup time. We had to wait an additional 30 minutes to get our food. Though they offer curbside pickup online, there arent many parking spaces and no designated curbside pickup spot. Probably would not get again unless I had time to spare.
Feb 18th, 2022