HanKki(formerly T-toust) — Restaurant in Berkeley

This is a spot right across the street from campus in the alley cutting through Bancroft and Durant. It’s not the best Korean food I’ve ever had, but it’s still really delicious, and the price is very reasonable for something so close to campus. The portions are also pretty generous. Sometimes I feel like I can spend $20 on something at a restaurant and still not be filled, but they offer a lot of food for a good price. I would definitely recommend going into the physical location and ordering at the kiosks, even if you’re ordering takeout. Ordering on something like DoorDash will give you inflated prices, even if you do pickup. Even ordering on Snackpass isn’t the best because I’ve found that I don’t get the discounts/daily deals the in store kiosks do (maybe I’m tripping).

It’s all self-service. You order at the kiosk, pick up your food at the counter when it’s ready, choose your utensils as needed, and then you empty and return your tray yourself. There’s also a free water dispenser for patrons and you can get ice cold water. It’s pretty consistently busy throughout most hours of the day, and people seem to be in generally good spirits. There’s kpop blasting all the time too, if...

T'toust has become my go-to spot for authentic Korean cuisine, and their specialty, soft tofu soup, never disappoints. The variety of options, including beef, seafood, combination, sausage and ham (Spam), mushroom, or dumplings, allows for a personalized experience. I appreciate the traditional touch of serving it in a hotpot, allowing me to crack a raw egg into the soup. The generous serving with a heaping cup of rice and complimentary side dishes like kimchi and potatoes adds to the overall value.

Beyond the soft tofu soup, T'toust offers a diverse menu featuring delicious items like beef bulgogi and bibimbap. The "clean-as-you-go" policy, while reflecting the norm in many Asian restaurants, contributes to a unique dining experience. The personalized touch of the owner knowing my name creates a welcoming atmosphere. As a Berkeley student, I highly recommend T'toust as one of the must-try around campus, even though the place can be a bit cramped. You come here for the incredible food, not the ambiance, making it a standout choice...

I wanted to like this place... They have my favorite dish, tuk guk on the menu by default, without having to order it like "tuk mandu guk, no mandu" so that was pretty amazing. Unfortunately, when the soup arrived, it had about half a cup of added miscellaneous vegetables: carrots, mushrooms, onions, etc. I thought maybe I'd just misread the description on the webpage, and they'd disclosed the veggies, but no, it says, "rice cake and beef soup with eggs and scallions." No mention of carrots... for good reason. They don't belong in this soup. It's patronizing to add random vegetables to try to improve your customers health.

Also, the ban chan all tasted weird. Something was off.

I might come by again and give them another chance, but this first impression was...