Paik's Noodle Amsterdam — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I wanted to give this specific location a better score than it deserved, but after reading the response from the owner, I could not let their entirely incorrect assertions go unchallenged. No, jjajangmyeon* is not difficult to make nor especially to make good. The ingredients themselves should do that. Anyone can see from the photos provided that the lack of anything other than onions (and a few peas) is apparent. Also, can you confirm that jjajang at the korean standard should taste overtly of starch thickener? Should it be burnt and not have umami? What's more is that multiple koreans who have even gone to Paiks noodles in Korea have left reviews stating the food quality is worse here. I advise this owner to learn to read reviews, and instead of responding to them, maybe just improve the food. It is also a ridiculous assertion they provide regarding phones. All outlets are intentionally closed, and when asked if the phone could be charged where the employees have their phones, that was also denied. Funny how you also blame the employees who were nothing but kind about the situation, when it was their manager who was not accommodating. Please read the original review to see how multiple other expectations cannot be met at this restaurant.

Original review: I giving the restaurant an overall 3 because I really love korean food and wish to see this restaurant bring more popularity to the cuisine in the Netherlands. The reality is, however, that the food deserves at most 2 stars, and to anyone reading this: be warned. I will tell my friends and family not to go here. Jjajangmyeon is one of the simplest dishes to make at home and to make taste good, and we ordered it to get a baseline understanding of the restaurant. It is also one of the first korean dishes I made and the one I always serve first to introduce people to the cuisine. The jjajangmyeon here was a disgrace. It had no depth of flavor or umami and tasted only of excessive amounts of starch thickener. The dish also tasted burnt, which could be due to the cooking of the jjajang paste or the tough, dry, and sparse pork pieces. There are also usually more vegetables, but this only had onion and a few cabbage pieces. I can't imagine why, other than cutting costs, but that seems to be an overall theme to this restaurant. The portion was average for 1 person, but it is higher priced. We also ordered the Tangsuyuk (sweet and sour pork), which had good thick fried batter, but the sauce served could have been bought in a jar at the grocery store. And why skimp on the wood ear mushrooms and other vegetables, I don't know. Everything was served with a side of a few raw onion pieces with jjajang and pickled cabbage, which is a nice touch. Lastly, the hot teas were served at different temperatures, with the barley being boiling hot and bitter and the corn being lukewarm and bland. The service was great, and the staff was exceptionally friendly. The wait was also not long on a Saturday night. However, why would a restaurant where you need to order via phone (and a physical menu without drink options...) forbid cellphones to be charged using their outlets? It seems that the restaurant is trying in every manner to cut costs, but sadly, this has greatly ruined the quality and experience. Seeing as Paik Jong-won is the face of the business, it is disappointing that his passion for flavor above all else is completely disregarded at...

If you’re looking for a culinary experience that’s both unique and unforgettable, Paik’s Noodle Amsterdam is an absolute must-visit. As someone who has never been to Korea, I found the flavors here to be completely new to me—and absolutely delicious. Every bite felt like a revelation!

We were seated upstairs. I had the Jajangmyeon, which is Korean black bean sauce noodles with stir-fried pork and vegetables. Normally, I’m not a fan of pork, but this dish was so flavorful that I couldn’t stop eating it. The sauce was rich, savory, and perfectly balanced—it was unlike anything I’ve tasted before. I also shared the Gochu Yuringi, a dish of deep-fried chicken topped with sweet-and-sour soy sauce and hot chili peppers. No exaggeration: this was the best chicken I’ve ever had. The crispy coating, tender meat, and flavorful sauce worked so well together that it felt like a masterpiece on a plate. I can’t recommend it enough!

What stood out to me was how approachable the food was—it was incredibly easy and enjoyable to eat, making it perfect for anyone visiting the restaurant, whether they’re familiar with Korean cuisine or not. There were also extra sauces and flavours on every table, so everyone can adjust the taste of their dishes. The service was very friendly and accommodating.

I first learned about Paik through his appearance on Culinary Class Wars on Netflix, and his passion for making food accessible and delicious really shines through in the dishes here. He’s not just a chef—he’s a storyteller who brings Korean (and Chinese) cuisine to life.

Thank you, Paik’s Noodle Amsterdam, for an amazing dining experience I’ll never forget. And thank you, Paik, for sharing your love of food and culture with the world! I’ll...

Most disappointing Korean experience in this country yet. Please visit any other establishment instead.

The staff are friendly and try to help, but the strict rules of this restaurant essentially prohibit them from being very helpful. They have no vegetarian options, but also no pescatarian options: every meal contains meat, even those mainly based on fish. Since strictly no food can be brought in, this makes it really hard to dine here as a group. In addition, their additional costs for takeaway are quite high.

Ordering is with QR and an app. The system asks for a tip before being able to pay. This is dislikeable and already prompted me to not return here even before having the food.

Takeaway boxes are made of a type of black plastic that is not recycled in the Netherlands (essentially, only burnable).

The food is very disappointing. While there was nothing bad about it, there is also barely any good about it. It cannot beat many similar pre-made packages available at any Amazing Oriental in both taste and quantity of ingredients. While it may be made with some special recipe and fresh ingredients, the end result is just not great: the taste is nice but too weak and unnecessarily sweet, and there is barely any meat or seafood in any of the dishes. The tangsuyuk and gochu yuringi are the "good" options on the menu, but they are typically better at Korean restaurants that specialize in fried dishes, and they are too expensive for what you get.

The place itself is devoid of any atmosphere whatsoever. It is very clean though, the staff does a good job at cleaning.

In summary: staff is good, ownership can use a real hint...