Seoul Sizzle — Restaurant in City of Middletown

I'm rounding this review up from my desired 3.5 stars to four, because this restaurant is still in their soft opening. There is potential, but so far, the execution is a little lacking.

Some of the positives: the presentation of the food was nice, and this restaurant is the cleanest thing for blocks around. That's actually the prelude to one of the downsides, being that this restaurant is on a corner near a dirty bodega, a greasy deli, a tattoo shop, of corner liquor store, two gas stations, and no parking at the restaurant. You have to park down the block and walk past some of these businesses to get here. As I sat near the window, I watched as the homeless and the beggars walked by. One even came in trying to use the restroom.

I ordered the beef bulgogi. It was the least flavorful version of this dish I have ever had at any Korean restaurant. I would have ordered something more exciting, except they were not serving their full menu yet. It was served with sides that were both very noticeably fresh, but also uninspired. Other Korean restaurants might serve with more interesting sides than a flavorless marinated cucumber, or plain marinated glass noodles. At the very least, kimchi would have been expected and would have been more flavorful than the sides offered. I did not see that on the menu at all. I was impressed, however, with their choice of purple Rice instead of the more traditional white as the serving accompaniment.

The prices are reasonable for this type of cuisine, but rather pricey for the neighborhood they are in. I suspect that they will be doing the bulk of their business by delivery or take out.

The seating area was very poorly designed. I sat at the only two person table. The other tables seated six, eight, and three other tables at seated for. They either expect to only have large parties, or did not plan for dine-in customers.

They are a very modern restaurant, which I do appreciate. Their menus are digital, and while it's not working yet, they do have a self ordering kiosk. The style of the restaurant is, you go to the counter, place your order, and then sit and wait for it to be brought to you. You. You pay at the time of ordering, which makes tips and awkward situation. The cashier quickly skip past that screen when I went to pay with my card. As a result, I did not have the ability to add a tip to my purchase. To be honest, however, I feel awkward leaving a tip before I've seen the service.

The lady that helped me at the register was very friendly, however, she has serious problems understanding the English language. This will be an issue given the neighborhood that they are in. While I was there, I did not see any customers of Asian descent. All the customers were English speaking cultures.

A small irritation for me, and one that I'm shocked didn't get caught by the health department, was that the front door does not automatically close. Since I was sitting at the table closest to the door, each time someone came in or left, and thought the door was going to close behind them, it didn't. I was treated to 30° wind blasts during my meal constantly.

Again, I have high hopes for this place. But so far, I wasn't impressed. But, as it was a soft opening, I will still give them the benefit of the doubt, and will definitely go back again sometime...

When I was a regular customer of owner Dave's shop on the opposite corner he asked me a few times if I thought a Korean restaurant would work here. There is an Asian fusion place down on Dolson Ave. but it's not really authentic Korean and the prices are crazy and so I told him that yes, I definitely thought a Korean restaurant would work around here. I recently returned to the Middletown area and was very excited when I drove by and saw Seoul Sizzle. I noted the location and thought 'What are the odds that Dave has finally been able to open his restaurant?'. I ordered online for a light lunch today and went to pick up my food. I was able to park easily on Monhagen alongside the building so no troubles there. I walked in and sure enough, there was Dave behind the counter. I was very happy to see him. The space is beautifully appointed with authentic Korean touches and is very clean. I chatted with him for a bit, picked up my order and headed out. I had ordered Moo Sam, Tteokbokki, and Eo-Mook Tang. I got into the car and started in on the Moo Sam, it was incredible! I had never seen or eaten it before when living in South Korea but it was so good, I ate them all right there! The pickled radish wrap is genius and the crab stick, peppers and radish sprouts make it delicate and sophisticated. When I got back to the office I started on the Eo-Mook Tang. The broth was perfectly seasoned and the fishcake was a great addition, although that's where the name comes from. I think the radish could have been a bit firmer but all-in-all it was a great dish. I was intending to take the Tteokbokki home with me but have already made several dips into it. The sauce is well-made, just spicy enough. The ricecake, mandu and fishcake were just right as well. I don't think it's going to make it home! The prices were reasonable, you're not paying City prices here. For the same money just the other day at another spot I got soup and salad with chicken breast added. What I got today will keep me full through dinner. My wife and I will definitely be coming here and I'll be ordering to pick up lunch or dinner as often as I can.

9/28/24 Add-on: I was missing a particular Guk dish but it's not on the menu. The chef kindly offered to make it for me and it was...

After a long day of selling real estate with McAteer & Will Estates at Keller Williams, we decided to unwind and recharge with dinner at Seoul Sizzle in Middletown. Arriving hungry, we explored a variety of dishes, and we were pleasantly surprised with what we experienced. Although this restaurant focuses on Korean cuisine, some dishes had a Vietnamese twist, adding an exciting fusion to the meal.

We started with Japchae, a classic Korean dish of stir-fried glass noodles, which was packed with flavor and perfectly complemented by sesame seeds. The noodles had a great chewy texture, and the vegetables were fresh and added a crisp balance to the savory dish.

Next, the Beef Soup was a comforting and hearty choice, served with a side of purple rice and assorted sides, including pickled radish, steamed broccoli, and cucumber kimchi. The broth was flavorful with just the right amount of spice, and the beef was tender, falling apart in each spoonful.

We also tried spicy chicken served sizzling on a hot plate. It was rich, fiery, and satisfying. Each bite was bursting with flavor, leaving us coming back for more.

One of the highlights was the fried dumplings, golden, crispy, and served with a tangy dipping sauce. They made for a perfect appetizer and left a lasting impression.

Overall, Seoul Sizzle offered a delicious and authentic Korean dining experience that helped us unwind after a busy day. We left feeling satisfied and already thinking about what we’ll order next time. Whether you're a fan of Korean cuisine or looking to try something new, this spot in Middletown is definitely...