HamaHippo Korean Kitchen — Restaurant in Fullerton

Atmosphere/Vibes - It's very casual and chill! The place is neat and relatively simple, there wasn't a whole lot going on but that's okay because it's more about the food. I think just being simple and clean is better than decorated/cluttered and dusty.

Service - Very sweet service! They didn't fully speak or understand English super well but did their best to understand, so if they seem to be struggling then just be patient with them. They are so kind and friendly! At first, they did accidentally give me the beef bibimbap (which is the one pictured because I forgot to take a photo of the tofu one) but quickly pointed out their own mistake, apologized, and re-made it! Luckily I didn't eat yet but I would've found out anyway since the nature of bibimbap calls for mixing everything together!

My mom had an unfortunate accident right in the parking lot because she tripped over one of the parking beams :'( Scraped both her knees real bad and was struggling to walk. They were kind enough to let us take the table closest to the entrance door. At the end of our meal, we were also given a small complimentary cup of shikhye (Korean rice punch).

Food - Overall, the food was delicious! The kabocha banchan was SO GOOD. It's like a sweet, soft, and caramelized kabocha. I would've gotten a whole plate if it was possible!

Pajeon: The seafood one is typically the most popular but since I'm vegetarian, I went with the scallion! It's tasty and hearty :) I missed it because every other Korean restaurant only ever has just a seafood pajeon. This one was a little bit thicker than I'm used to but the flavor is still good!! Very filling.

Tofu Dolsot Bibimbap: I usually love the hot stone bibimbaps versus the og one. There will be bits of crispy rice because of it so it's perfect. Bibimbap is such a balanced meal too because you have veggies, a protein, and your carbs. The bibim sauce and sesame oil that you mix into it make it super flavorful. I highly recommend the dolsot! Just be careful when eating because it's hot.

Bibim Naengmyun: I did not eat this because it's not vegetarian but my mom did. She really loved it and appreciated the fact that they gave her less noodles since she normally doesn't like to eat that much. She thought the dish was very refreshing and tasty! Her only note was that she wished they gave more broth but I'm sure you could always ask for more...

Wife and I continued our recent pattern of doing a medical thing and then looking to chow down. What a delight that we've found this place right next to St. Jude-Providence in Fullerton. We came in at a perfectly acceptable linner time of 4 PM, ordered 3 entrée items, and walked out with a $72 bill, tips & taxes included.

First, the banchan. We were served 6 different kinds of banchan. The mashed pumpkin was the real star. (I think it was made from Kabocha pumpkin.) I could eat that thing all day. But we had to stop at a single re-up to preserve our modesty. There were also the fish cake, seaweed, bean sprouts, kimchee, and turnips. They all ranged from decent to very good. But when they eaten next to the pumpkin, well, it just hardly seems fair!

Then enters the entrées. We ordered the Dolsot Bimbimbap, Japchae, and a Gomtang. The Bimbimgap is one of the best I've ever had. I think part of the secret of its taste is that HamaHippo uses a slight lower and wider hot stone pot. It gave higher ratio of heating volume to food volume, or Q/grams of food for you science and engineering type. Also, the seasoning was quite well done. Both the Japchaeand Gomtang were decent. Then again, it hardly seems fair to review them when that 5-star stone pot of goodness is just 15 inches away.

Wow. What a lucky find. This place is so good that we wouldn't mind driving 25 miles just to come...

I had an absolutely delightful dining experience at Mama Hippo, a Korean restaurant that completely won me over with its culinary authenticity and warm hospitality. The standout dish for me was definitely the galbi, which was exceptionally tender and fresh, melting perfectly with each bite. The banchan selection was a pleasant surprise, offering a different variety each day I visited, always fresh and flavorful, enhancing the overall meal.

The soondubu jjigae deserves special mention for its exquisite taste. It was wonderfully hearty and comforting, with just the right amount of spice and silkiness in the tofu that it was hard not to crave more. What added to the charm of Mama Hippo was the cleanliness of the place, including a welcoming and well-maintained entrance that set a positive tone right from the start.

The staff, particularly the ladies serving, were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the dining experience feel more like a meal at a friend's home rather than a restaurant. They were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that every part of the meal was enjoyable.

If you're looking for authentic Korean cuisine served in a friendly atmosphere, Mama Hippo is a must-visit. It's a place where the food and the people leave you with a warm heart and a...