SongDo Restaurant 송도식당 — Restaurant in Hibiscus and Bays

A Late and Deeply Disappointing Review: On Saturday, 5th of July 2025，my female friend and I each brought our daughters to dine at this restaurant. It was raining outside, and I entered the restaurant first with the two girls. At the time, there were no four-person tables available—only two small tables for two. I informed a male staff member that we were a party of four. He told us to wait a moment as a four-person table in the corner had just finished and would be available soon. I let the two girls sit at one of the small tables while I looked through the menu. About two minutes later, my friend joined us after parking the car. So, two adults were standing while the two kids were sitting, waiting for the table to be ready. Suddenly, the same male staff member came over and asked us to wait outside. I thought I misheard him and asked again, and he repeated, "Please wait outside." I asked why, and he replied, "Because it's too crowded inside." It was raining outside and we had two small children with us, yet he insisted we leave and wait outdoors. We were shocked and confused. It wasn't until we stepped outside that we truly felt how uncomfortable and unwelcome the situation was. Since we were hungry and with kids, we decided to leave and went to another nearby restaurant, Zero Japanese Ramen, where the staff were incredibly warm, professional, and welcoming. The contrast was stark. The service we received at 88 SongDo restaurant was unprofessional and felt discriminatory. As two women with children, we were treated in a way that was both dismissive and inconsiderate. If the restaurant was truly too crowded to accommodate us, we should have been informed at the door—not after waiting inside. I will not return to this restaurant again, and I cannot recommend it. Instead, I highly recommend Zero Japanese Ramen nearby. The young female staff there were polite, kind, professional, and hospitable. The environment was great, and we had a lovely...

We recently discovered Songdo Restaurant in Browns Bay through Uber Eats, and wow, were we in for a delightful surprise! After sampling nearly all the Korean fried chicken in Auckland, we decided to venture into their stir-fried pork and bibimbap. The pork was incredibly juicy and packed with flavor, complemented perfectly by the sides. The beef bibimbap was rich and had the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and the extra heat I craved – truly one of the best I’ve had. On our second visit, we placed a pick-up order directly from the restaurant. The place was spotless, cozy, and beautifully lit. The owners were warm and inviting. I stuck with the bibimbap, while my husband ordered the stir-fried beef bulgogi. The bulgogi was tender yet chewy, bursting with flavor, and made with the freshest ingredients. My second round of bibimbap didn’t disappoint – it was consistently delicious, with well-cooked rice, perfectly balanced flavors, and just the right level of spice I had requested.

Portion sizes are generous, and their kimchi is also a standout. If you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, this place...

2023 update (pictured) New management, the place looks brighter. We got fried chicken, squid legs (fried squid), spicy beef stew, vege bibimbap, and pork backbone stew. Recommend the squid and chicken. Light crispy batter! The bibimbap was average not a lot of variety in vegetables. Beef stew was not very generous either around 4 bits of beef. The pork bone stew was redeeming, hefty, hearty and SPICY. Watch out if you can’t handle heat! The side dishes were lovely, their kimichi is one of the best I’ve had. A much smaller menu since changing hands but its good to try new things

2020 review: The fried chicken is a must-have! The spicy sauce is great but I suggest going half with and half plain! The Kalbi is too saucy for my liking! It should be a seared! Yummy side-dishes that are refillable! Self service water service! Pancake is not bad, but would prefer...