KangChon Restaurant — Restaurant in Albert-Eden

The best Korean noodles~ Chicken tangsuyuk and Kkanpunggi are so great!

Some reviews mention long waits and perceived poor service at this Korean restaurant. From what I saw I feel it's because that the restaurant’s small size and single chef contribute to slower service during busy times. I don't think delays are due to indifference or unfair treatment; it’s about managing a high volume of orders with limited resources. Additionally, some dishes cook faster than others, which might seem like later customers are served first, but it’s more about the cooking time.

And I don't think Jajangmyeon here is pre-made. You can simply hear and smell the sauce is well prepared from a wok.

The restaurant’s approach to service may differ from Western expectations, partly due to language barriers and cultural differences. For Koreans, speaking the same language naturally facilitates more cordial communication, especially since many are regulars. East Asians may indeed appear somewhat reserved in front of non-co-ethnics, and interpreting this as differential treatment might be a misunderstanding. While there’s room for improvement in service, the decision not to hire fluent English-speaking staff could be due to cost considerations and the customer base.

And I'm not even a Korean. I use english to order as well. During peak hours, surely it...

This place is problematic in so many ways.

Firstly the food is bland, overpriced and took nearly an hour to arrive. But don’t worry you won’t even get to have this experience unless you’re Korean or with somebody who is Korean. The restaurant was quite busy which was a great sign, until the restaurant filled up and a group of non Koreans came in. The older looking woman who was running the restaurant told them that there were no tables available and they asked how long it would take to wait, she just shook her head and said no. Even when they asked if they could sit at one of the other tables that had some of the complimentary side dishes sitting on it but she shook her head again and they left. Right behind them came another group of Koreans and she asked a group of two to move to accommodate them. I couldn’t believe my eyes!

I saw another group of non Koreans come in and I knew what would happen. Surely enough they left a few moments later!

And then another, and then another!

I’m calling out this behavior publicly because it is absolutely unacceptable in New Zealand and frankly anywhere in the world.

If you want to behave like this in New Zealand then frankly I’d recommend that look for somewhere else in the world to live taking your lackluster cooking skills and pre 21st century...

As a customer who has dined at this Korean-Chinese restaurant more than 20 times, I can confidently say it’s a great choice when you’re unsure what to eat.

My top recommendation is the “Number Nine”Spicy Seafood Noodles(Samseon Jjamppong). It’s mildly spicy, nutritious, and packed with a variety of fresh seafood like scallops, oysters, squid, and prawns, along with veggies such as carrots, greens, onions, and zucchini. The seafood soup is delicious with a slight garlic taste.

The Stir-fried Glass Noodles and Veggies(Japchae) are another favorite. They’re delicious and the texture of glass noodles is silky, though they can be a bit oily for me.

Lastly, the Veggie & seafood salad, green bean starch, mustard sauce on side(Yangjangpi) is colorful and appetizing, with a great combination of fresh vegetables and stir-fried meat, perfectly complemented by a mustard sauce that enhances the overall taste.

The only drawback is that it gets very busy on weekends, so you might not find a seat and could end up waiting over 30 minutes for a bowl of noodles during peak times.

The restaurant is conveniently located across from a Woolworths and a parking lot, so parking isn’t an issue. For public transport, Bus 25 is a...