TO SOC CHON 토속촌 — Restaurant in Katy

Went in for a late lunch, kind of when no one is around and the staff is preparing for the dinner rush. Greeted with a smile and quickly sat down. Asked if we needed a child's seat, asked for a booster, which they had. Wife and I argued on what to order (got the "idk what to order" + "idk what I want" spiral), was helped out immediately. She got the Dolsot Bibimbap w/ beef and I got the Soondae-guk. Also ordered a Haemool Jun (seafood pancake) and a side of Soondae for appetizers.

Food came out quick and HOT. Of course the banchan (side dishes were set first). The pickled veggies were so nice on a hot day. Cool, refreshing, crunchy, slightly salty and enough variety to keep you entertained. The ggak-duki was nice and cold, crisp and just spicy enough to make your mouth water for the next bite. The kimchi, oh... my, the kimchi. I'm not sure if its because I haven't had Kimchi in a while or not.. but man... it was the best kimchi I put in my mouth in a long... LONG long time. If you ask any Korean person where they get the best kimchi, they would usually say oh, someone from their church makes the best, or... they buy kimchi from this place or that place. Overall, it's probably not bad. Say... hits the spot in a 60%-80% range (out of 100%). In Houston... there's really no place where you can get good kimchi... like... it's all just mediocre. Everything from the kimchi you can buy from Hmart or the rice cake store, or some banchan place... its pretty mid. BOLD I FOUND THE BEST KIMCHI IN HOUSTON BOLD. The kimchi here, the first bite, I knew this was special... I knew you couldn't get it just anywhere. This was homemade, this was someone's own recipe. This was passed down generation to generation. This was something that was made with love. This was cared for, carefully aged... this was special. It's not some bougie oyster kimchi, or some crazy almost medicinal 30+ ingredient kimchi. This is the kimchi your favorite church grandma would make on special occasions... this is the kimchi you got a jar of only once in a while. It's the kimchi that's in the re-used kimchi jar, the one without any stickers, or some boxy tupperware container with saran wrap on top, deliberately placed IN FRONT of your everyday/normal kimchi you regularly have in the fridge. This the "special" kimchi. It's the kimchi that goes fast, it doesn't last more than a week or two (because everyone eats it). It's the kimchi you make ramen JUST to eat it. It's the kimchi your dad asks for when he sits down for after coming home from work. It's the kimchi you miss when there's nothing but juice and some bits left, so you even finish it off by saluting it off to be used as stock for your ramen. If you're quick enough, you use the last bit to make some master class kimchi-fried rice with.

Kimchi goes a long way for Koreans. It really can make or break a meal. I'll stop ranting about the kimchi, because the soups are great too. Before you leave, do ask if you could buy some kimchi (psssst they sell it).

My soondaeguk came with the pepper paste, and fermented shrimp sauce. Also, a side of greens (don't know the English word for it). I season my soup the way I like it, added some salt... went to town. It's silky, warm, coats the mouth.. almost creamy. It's the perfect soup to go with a hot bowl of rice and the kimchi (and/or kkadugi). Ask for a side of Soondae (think it costs like $3? $4?), and throw em in if you're really hungry, or skipping out on the rice. You can dip the bits of meat from the soup into the fermented shrimp sauce between the spoonfuls of soup and rice. It's really, something nice, something unique. I'm thankful to have To Soc Chon in Houston. Next time I'm craving something soupy, I'm heading straight there. It's the old-school style of Korean soup/stew place to go in Houston. I would write more, but I'm probably...

I’ve heard so much about this place, from friends, social media, and local buzz, all claiming it’s the best spot for authentic Korean food in town. Since it’s right by my house, I had to see for myself. We visited on a Saturday afternoon around 2–3 PM. It was fairly packed but not overcrowded, and my first impression was already a good one.

The moment you walk in and hear people speaking Korean, you know you’ve come to the right place. Most of the customers were Korean, and the staff were even taking orders in Korean- which says a lot about its authenticity.

But keep in mind: authentic doesn’t mean cheap. The prices here are definitely on the higher side, but it makes sense. The portions are generous, the quality is noticeably better, and the flavors are spot-on. One of the highlights for me was the banchan, especially the kimchi. The best I’ve had. It’s clearly homemade and has that deep, fermented flavor you don’t find in store-bought versions.

The menu isn’t huge, which I actually appreciate, it means they focus on doing a few things really well. Since we knew the portions were big (and the prices a bit steep), we ordered two entrées and one side to share: • Soondae (Korean Blood Sausage): Mild in flavor but super soft and moist, not dry at all. It comes with a salt and pepper mix on the side, which I believe is the traditional way to eat it. • Haemul Soondubu (Spicy Seafood Soft Tofu Stew): Served piping hot in a huge pot, larger than any other place I’ve been to. Packed with seafood and loaded with toppings that kept showing up the more we ate. Full of flavor and very satisfying. • Mul Naengmyeon + Bulgogi Combo: They will give you vinegar and mustard bottle on the side. The cold noodles had the perfect chewy texture, just the way they’re supposed to be. We asked for extra sauce like we usually do at other places, but honestly, we didn’t even need it the dish already came well-seasoned. The bulgogi was delicious, though we wished the portion of meat was a bit more generous.

We shared everything between the two of us and left completely full, even my husband, who usually eats for two! The homemade kimchi and even the way they store their utensils added thoughtful, authentic touches. The interior is simple and reminds me of what you’d see in a Korean drama clean, modest, and traditional.

A small critique: while the portions and flavor justify the pricing for the most part, I do think they could offer a bit more meat in the dishes that include it. They also have a lunch special from Monday to Friday (10:30 AM – 2:00 PM) which is only $1 off the regular price. Personally, I think they could do more with the “special” to make it feel like a real deal, especially since you won’t find any entrée under $10 except for side dishes.

Overall, we had a great experience. If you’re someone who truly enjoys Korean cuisine and are looking for an authentic, high-quality spot—this place should be at the top of your list. Just be prepared to pay a little more, and...

I recently visited To Soc Chon with my family, and what began as a spontaneous outing turned into a truly memorable dining experience. This local Korean restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way, offering authentic flavors, warm hospitality, and excellent value.

We ordered three dishes:

#29 Korean Sausage & Pork – perfectly cooked pork paired with Korean sausage. This dish stood out as the highlight of our meal.

#6 Beef Bulgogi – tender and mildly sweet, though slightly less memorable compared to the other selections.

#12 Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang) – mild and comforting, served in traditional style with salt and pepper on the side so you can season to taste. Exactly what I was hoping for.

A generous variety of banchan (side dishes) accompanied our meal, all of which were fresh and well-prepared. The food arrived promptly, and everything was served piping hot.

The atmosphere was cozy and reminiscent of a scene from a Korean drama. Nearly all of the other patrons were Korean, which further reinforced the authenticity of the cuisine. The staff were welcoming and attentive, making us feel right at home.

Though the menu is more focused compared to larger establishments, I see that as a strength — it allows the kitchen to excel at its specialties. Prices are quite reasonable given the quality and portion sizes, especially the generous servings of meat.

In summary, To Soc Chon is a standout for authentic Korean food in the area. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine culinary experience and look forward to returning to explore more of the menu. This restaurant certainly deserves greater recognition and...