Seoul Restaurant — Restaurant in Chattanooga

I want to give a thorough review.

While I did enjoy the food of this place, I was disappointed in the service and experience as a whole. When I walked in, I was wearing a mask. When I was seated, I was immediately given another mask to wear because mine was “no good”. I never get complaints about my mask anywhere else, so this was a first and kind of shocked me!

I noticed another couple that was elderly walk in, yet they weren’t wearing masks at all when walking in nor were they given masks as I was given. Which made me feel extremely uncomfortable and as if I was already being judged! Why treat me one way and the couple another way?! That’s not fair!! That made my jaw drop! They were the only set of customers that were there other than me, and they sat on the opposite side of the restaurant, so I didn’t make a big fuss about it.

Even though that was unfair and made me want to storm out right then, I still stayed and enjoyed my lunch. After all, I have a food blog to write!

Korean stir-fry is what I ordered, which is a simple and a fairly common dish. I was also given kimchi, which is exactly why I came, (their kimchi is delicious!) The rice was perfect! 👌🏻 The stir-fry was decent. The portions were adequate, though I thought they would be slightly larger. My meal came to me warm, so it wasn’t sitting out and was served to me as soon as it was cooked.

Though I enjoyed what I ate, the food was overpriced for what it was. I’m assuming Covid may have drove their costs up, as some of these ingredients may have to be imported and their suppliers may have raised their costs.

Also, I’m pretty sure the server didn’t know I was cultured, as I ate my meal with the provided chopsticks and didn’t struggle using them. The menu would have been difficult for most to navigate, though I was fairly sure what I wanted right away after about 5 to 10 minutes of thoroughly looking over the menu, (as I’ve been to South Korea before).

I was also respectful and polite, despite the poor service I received. I didn’t make a mess and stacked my bowls on my plate, as well as my untouched utensils and my used chopsticks. I left feeling full, but disappointed for paying $20 just for one meal by myself.

I probably would have gave this 4 stars had I received better service. My tea was only refilled once, (very early on into my meal and not by much at all; then I was never checked on again.)

I’d recommend this if you are a tourist or someone passing through the area, but it’s definitely not a place to frequent! 👎🏻

It’ll be a while before I decide to try this place again. Hopefully I’ll be treated better next time!

Tip for the server: A little kindness goes a LONG way! So does fairness!! Some of us are food bloggers, so keep that in mind before being rude. Also, people don’t always remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel! ✌🏻

5/10, and I would recommend but I wouldn’t frequent this establishment. Honestly, I wouldn’t visit this place more than once or twice... ever. But they do have a unique selection of dishes, even if limited on choices. Food is great! 👍🏻 Service is terrible! 👎🏻 So prepare yourself and brace for it...

I've gone there 3 times.... each time the experience got worse. The first time was okay (in June 2015), we were the only patrons in the entire place- and yet the service was still non-existent. It literally took us 20 minutes after eating to get our bill & pay. The food was pretty good, though. The second time (just a couple weeks ago) I was still the only patron. I think it's just a married couple who does everything. But the woman was somewhat pushy and impatient from the moment I sat down. I asked for one minute to peruse the menu, but she appeared in less than 2 minutes back at the table asking what I wanted. I went ahead and ordered something, which was very quick to come out and delicious this time around. However, the service was just as slow/non-existent as the first time. She never came back to the table after she dropped off the food. After finishing I waited again for a good 15+ minutes before she brought the ticket so I could pay. Today was the third and last time I will visit this establishment. Once again, as the only patron in the place I was seated quickly and rushed to order. This time when I ordered the same dish I had gotten last time that was so delicious, she said no- pointed at something else on the menu and said "okay?". I was unsure of what she was saying and said "okay..... what?".... to which she said "OKAY. Yes. Okay" and took my menu and walked away before I could figure out what the heck was going on! She came back maybe 5 minutes later with a dish that I had no idea what it was. I was so confused and too polite, so I just accepted it. Well- whatever it was, It wasn't good. So much so that I began looking for anything to mask the taste... soy sauce... Sriracha sauce... Anything! There was nothing on the table, so I waited about 5 or so minutes before I got up to go find someone... I found her sitting in the side room watching television. She looked up and asked what I needed (I think) and I asked her if they had hot sauce. She replied that it was over on the counter and pointed for me to go get it...... You read that correctly.... after having to track her down, she had me get it myself. Don't get me wrong... I'm all about self-service... but not when eating at a restaurant that you're expected to tip at for service. After this, I was pretty much just over it. I ate quickly and waited for a check that didn't come until I waved her down to get the heck out. Needless to say, I will...

I recently had the misfortune of dining at Seoul Restaurant, and I must say, it was an incredibly underwhelming experience. From the moment I walked in, no one greet me and take me to the seat.

The service was far from ok. The staff appeared disinterested and inattentive, making it feel like a chore for them to take our orders or answer any questions. It took an eternity for our food to arrive, and when it did, it was clear that the kitchen wasn't putting much effort into presentation or quality.

The menu boasted a variety of options, but the dishes themselves were bland and lacked any sort of creative flair. It was as if they were just going through the motions without putting any thought into the flavors or textures. The portions were laughably small, leaving us feeling unsatisfied and wondering if they were trying to save money on ingredients.

To add insult to injury, the prices were exorbitant considering the subpar experience. I wouldn't have minded paying a premium for exceptional food and service, but what we received was nowhere near worth the cost.

Overall, I would strongly advise against wasting your time and money at Seoul Restaurant. There are countless other dining establishments in the area that offer far superior meals, ambiance, and service. Save yourself the disappointment and steer clear of this...