Yi's Traditional Korean Beef Soup Restaurant (이가네 전통 설렁탕) — Restaurant in Lakewood

We’ve been loyal customers of Yi’s Traditional Korean Beef Soup in Lakewood for quite some time now. The soup has consistently been flavorful, comforting, and well-made, and up until now, the service had matched the quality of the food. Unfortunately, today’s experience was a complete disappointment and left us feeling disrespected and unwelcome.

From the moment my wife walked in and sat down, she was met with visible attitude from the server—dismissive tone, unwelcoming body language, and a general sense of hostility. While the soup still tasted decent (around 80–85% as good as previous visits), it leaned heavily on spice and lacked the balance of flavor we had come to expect.

The real issue, however, came when my wife politely asked for a couple of to-go containers. The server responded with more attitude, tension you could physically feel, and made it seem like a burden. When I went to pay, I noticed a surprise charge. I asked about it, and instead of a courteous explanation, she just picked up the containers and said, “It’s for these.”

This is the first time we’ve ever been charged for to-go containers at this restaurant—and frankly, anywhere else we dine. The only thing we’ve ever been charged for elsewhere is a bag, which makes sense under Washington state law. A simple heads-up when we asked would’ve been perfectly fine and we wouldn’t have thought twice. It’s not about the 50 cents—it’s the lack of transparency and basic courtesy. Anything less feels dishonest and shady.

What made matters worse was how noticeably kinder and more respectful the server was to Korean-speaking customers. It’s hard not to see the pattern here. If we’re being treated differently because we’re not Korean, that’s not just bad service—it’s unacceptable.

We came here to celebrate a happy occasion. Instead, we left feeling humiliated and frustrated. If the goal was to ruin a special evening for your guests, mission accomplished.

We won’t be...

I’m going to preface this review with a caveat that my husband and I visited this restaurant on a Monday evening. This might not be the most representative review of the service and atmosphere.

With that being said, I loved it here. I crave 설렁탕 randomly and was super pleased to see a place had opened in Lakewood/Tacoma!! I like the Federal Way place, but it can be a war zone.

The atmosphere — it’s laid back and calm. The space is large, and there is plenty of seating. The music isn’t loud, the lights aren’t blinding/too dark, and it’s clean.

The service — again, we went on a Monday evening, so it was quieter, but our server was amazing. He was very polite, kind, and courteous. I could tell he was mindful of his customers because he’d swing by when we’d get low on side dishes, or just to check in. He was easy to get along with and an overall A+ server!

The food — I loved it. I had the 섞어 설렁탕 (cannot remember what that was in English…), and I personally think the broth was almost thicker(?) than the broth at the Federal Way Yi’s. The meat was plentiful, too! I take it out and set it on the lid of my rice bowl to let it cool for a bit, and the meat was overflowing. Both kimchis were delicious, and we got a second helping. My husband got the mandu, and I he enjoyed them quite a bit. I don’t really liked steamed mandu, but I also enjoyed it.

Overall, given the price point and portion sizes, I know we will be returning soon. I can’t wait to try the other things...

Unfortunately, the dumplings in my friend’s soup were cold in the center. It was apparent (and disappointing) that they had been frozen. The noodles in my own soup were tasteless, and didn’t absorb the flavor of my soup. The dishes came out at drastically separate times despite there being no other individuals dining in.

However, the delicious beef bone soup from both dishes were served scaldingly hot (which was wonderful), and were authentic and rich in flavor. Presentation was beautiful as well.

Continuing this positive note, the banchan (korean side dishes) were great. The kimchi had good fermentation and the pickled radish was fresh and crunchy. Both had a pleasant spice level.

Service was solid, and the utensils are creatively located in a compartment inside of the dining table. My personal experience doesn’t define the entirety of the restaurant; perhaps I coincidentally stumbled across the rare occasion where the soups proved...