Soban Korean Restaurant — Restaurant in Dumaguete

Soban has been around for a long time and they're still going strong, in spite of their rather unfortunate location in a run down strip mall along the highway on the outskirts of town. In order to survive in such a location, you must be able to offer something special and unique. Soban offers authentic, traditional Korean food at reasonable prices, and makes the trip out well worth it. The prices for individual dishes might look steep by Dumaguete standards but you get a lot for your money, free appetisers, a pot of tea and ice tea, plus the portions are really big, so it's best to come in a group or be prepared to take half of your food back home. They're doing nice dumplings and seafood pancakes (a bargain at 200 Php, the price hasn't changed in years) but their killer dish is osom bulgogi, which should be called awesome bulgogi, really. It's expensive at 600 something pesos, but while they say it's good for 2, it actually feeds 4 easily. I'm generally not too impressed with their appetisers (dry pancake, slightly too sweet pickles) and the atmosphere not terribly inviting, therefore it's only a four star place for me, but for lovers of Korean food, Soban is a must visit while...

true enough they have a best selection of side dishes among korean resto in the city. Quail egg, raddish, kimchi, kamote, teokbokki...to name a few. this also includes rice already. they have small bits of chicken as well as 4 slices of gimbap.

they only have one kind of pork served per order. 5 slices each time. per order but you can order as much as u can each and consume all if not you pay for the left over.

everything was good. servers are quick to respond. the only downside is we are served with cabbage/lettuce that includes a cabbage worm. a little gross but since we are hungry and dont want to spoil the night, we kust informed the waiter and he apologized. that is it, but no apology came from the kitchen.

for unli pork its 499, unli pork & beef at 649 pesos.

the location is not really ideal since it is located at almost the back of the building. no exhaust in each table located unlike to the new k-resto found today. but there are a few exhaust located in the...

This place has a great atmosphere. Though the whole area is slightly cramped - especially when packed - it does however have that community feel to it, very typical of Korean and Japanese restaurants.

The decor invoke that sense of being in Korea, from the main door to the false windows inside.

But the most important aspect of any restaurant is the Food and the service, so let's discuss that. The food is good, very filling, and relatively cheap - averaging 270 pesos or about $6. Typical of Korean dishes, there are plenty of spicy dishes, meat dishes that are lean and you get very involved - grilling the meat, or pouring in the components into the little gas stove each table is given. The service is fine, waitresses are helpful, and courteous, though they can stand to be more conversational - still it's a common thing in the Philippines, when people call you sir or maam, do not expect them to be that conversational.

All in all going to Soban is an experience that...