Kokiri Korean Bistro — Restaurant in Edinburg

I honestly wish I could give this place a better review after reading the others, but this experience just wasn't great.

When we walked in, it took a little while to be seated, which, which we didn't really mind given that the place had more than a few tables occupied. However, after that, we were given menus and were left alone for almost 20 minutes. Not abysmal service, but not good. Finally, our hostess came around, apologized for the wait and took our order. Then we waited.

For almost an hour. At some point one person in our party received their meal, and we thought the wait was over, but they only dropped off the one plate and our hour wait resumed. We began to notice some other parties arriving and being seated quicker than we had, and also receiving their food first. Twice we discussed leaving, but we stayed because there were no staff to explain the situation to, as I didn't want to look like we were DnD'ing. Finally, the rest of our food arrived. The food itself was fine, though the first person who got theirs decided to wait and their food was cold (not the restaurant's fault, I know).

Again, I understand there were other tables and yes, I read the sign at the front that asked for patience during their soft opening period. I get all of that, but I wasn't expecting to wait almost an hour for our meals. At the very least, the staff could have explained that there was a wait, that way we could've decided if we wanted to stay or not. Instead, the service was poor and although they were apologetic when we were spoken to, staff generally avoided eye contact with us.

I know this doesn't reflect the real experience of this restaurant - I'm sure at its best it can be one of the best Korean restaurants in the Valley, but there's definitely room for...

On my first visit, I decided to try the Kokiri Loaded Fries, and they instantly impressed me. The golden fries were perfectly crispy and served as a delicious foundation for the rest of the ingredients. The bulgogi beef was tender and packed with a deep, savory flavor that beautifully complemented the melted cheese. The kimchi added just the right amount of tanginess and spice, cutting through the richness and tying everything together for a balanced, flavorful bite. Every ingredient brought something special to the table, creating a dish that was both indulgent and well-rounded.

Next up was the Stone Bibimbap, served sizzling hot in a dolsot (stone bowl). Visually, it was a stunning presentation vibrant vegetables, perfectly seared beef, and a golden fried egg sitting on top of warm rice. The combination of textures was incredibly satisfying, with the crunchy rice at the bottom of the bowl being a standout element. The gochujang added a bold, slightly sweet heat that elevated every bite. It’s a comforting and hearty dish, my personal favorite.

A huge shoutout goes to our server, Samantha, who made the experience even better. She was incredibly hospitable and attentive from the moment we sat down. Knowing it was my first visit, she personally recommended the loaded fries and she absolutely nailed it. Samantha was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also genuine in her care and service. Her kind demeanor and trustworthy suggestions made our visit feel warm and personalized.

This restaurant exceeded expectations with both its food and service. The flavors were bold, comforting, and memorable, and the staff, especially Samantha, ensured a welcoming and enjoyable dining experience. I’ll definitely be...

My boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves to some Korean food and decided to give Kokiri a try. The place is on the smaller side (capacity maybe around 40ish people at a time). There are several flat screens playing various K-pop videos and some scenic videos so it’s pretty lively of an atmosphere. The service was top-notch with our server checking in on us throughout the time we were there. The menu is rather small, but it is a bistro after all. All the classics. We ordered the fried dumplings, spicy seafood noodle soup, bibimbap, and Tteokbokki. The dumplings were good but I felt the soy sauce could have used some vinegar to cut some of the salt factor. The bibimbap was well served and came with a side of gochujang sauce. We asked about the banchan and were told only certain dishes come with those as sides but we could order them for no charge so we did. The kimchi was so fresh yet so well flavored I could have eaten a whole plate of that over rice. The spicy seafood noodle soup was HUGE. Very nicely seasoned although I did end up adding the sauces left over from the kimchi banchans to add some acidity and it could have been a bit spicier for my preference, but it was still very satisfying and I brought some home because it was too much to eat in one sitting. The Tteokbokki was nice and spicy although not too spicy for those that can’t handle too much heat. All in all, it was a good meal. Will have to return to taste the kimchi pancake and maybe order a side of rice and the banchan again (still thinking of that kimchi’s freshness) and to write on their graffiti wall. So give this place a try if you’re craving some K-pop and some...