Han Bat — Restaurant in New York

Tasty traditional Korean food in a cozy space with friendly staff. I dropped by Koreatown for a quick Friday dinner with a couple of friends, but we foolishly didn't make a reservation AND were on a bit of a time crunch. After cursing ourselves for this rookie mistake, we started randomly popping into restaurants to see if anyone was able to take us with a minimal wait, and, to our surprise and delight, Han Bat had one table open. They ushered us into a lovely little table in the back of this quaint, crowded restaurant. We told them we were in a bit of a rush and they were super understanding and accommodating; they let us glance over the menu quickly and then were back within 3 minutes to collect our orders. We got the hameul pajeon as a starter (because how can you say no to this delightful seafood pancake, even if you're in a rush?) and a few soondubu jjigaes for our mains, and they offered to just bring things out as they were prepared vs. all at once to ensure we could make full and efficient use of our time.

The pajeon came out first; it was delightfully crispy on the outside and packed with seafood. It was also really big, so I appreciated that they cut it into smaller, more manageable diamond-shaped slices instead of the traditional pizza-like triangle slices. The dipping sauce was flavorful, and the pancake wasn't overly greasy -- all in all, a very solid hameul pajeon.

They brought out our entrees about ten minutes after the pajeon. The soondubu jjigae was super flavorful, with rich umami undertones from the anchovy stock and a great kick of spice. I got the veggie version, which came with zucchini, broccoli, and mushrooms. The tofu and other mix-ins were quite plentiful, and the soup was super hot -- it was still bubbling when they set it down on the table. That did make it a little hard to scarf the soup down quickly, but it was absolutely delicious (and worth every burnt taste bud).

All in all a great experience, and I really appreciated how accommodating and efficient the staff was. Can't wait to come back to visit Han Bat again...hopefully with a little more time and ability to fully enjoy their food and soak in...

This restaurant has served homey, comfort Korean food for decades. My mother and aunt (both Korean btw) would have their monthly meet ups here because of their solid, delicious food and the comfortable, unpretentious ambiance. Sadly, their meet ups had to stop this year because of the pandemic especially since they're considered high-risk.

Another thing that stopped were tour groups that would enjoy a quick, delicious lunch here before continuing on with their jam-packed itinerary to see all the amazing NYC sights. As I ate my gop dol bibimbab, I watched how the staff served a large group of about 15 people like a well-oiled machine and was amazed how efficient and organized they were.

It saddens me that all of that no longer happens. And it angers me that reviews like the one before mine have the audacity to criticize a once bustling restaurant that has now lost so many customers and is struggling to stay afloat with the high rent and overhead of maintaining a business in one of the most expensive cities in the world during a PANDEMIC.

How ridiculously out of touch can someone be to take the time to write a bad review about a small business during a global pandemic?! Did you pat yourself on the back after you wrote the review thinking you did some sort of public service? I hope the previous reviewer (ahem “pandemics” - since you keep changing your name or anyone like her) reads this and thinks about what kind of impact her thoughtless, little fingers could be making on people's livelihoods. It amazes me how self-centered or oblivious some people can be during this extremely difficult time. I can go on but I'll end my rant here.

Anyway, everything is good but my personal faves are the sam gye tang, al jigae, soon dae guk, do ga ni tang and of course the bibimbab.

Be patient and understanding. The second wave is here. Everyone is doing the best they can given the horrible circumstances. Just be a decent human being for...

This restaurant has been around for decades! I remember my first visit was in 2011, when a colleague introduced this restaurant to me.

Back to present day, now this is one of my go-to restaurants for lunch whenever I plan to meet up with a fried for a quick catch-up. I highly recommend visiting on a Friday to avoid any rush hour crowd. Whether it’s for lunch or dinner bc many companies are still offering a hybrid work from home Friday schedule. Which means staffs are friendlier and food quality is always at its best when there is a smaller crowd.

Their lunch special prices are unbeatable considering this joint is located in midtown Manhattan, New York. Bc a typical lunch meal is generally more expensive than any other NY boroughs. The lunch special menu offers many opts, so you will definitely find something suitable one way or another and leave satisfied since they serve a good portion too. Let’s not forget all the complimentary side dishes they provide before your meal even arrives. I like to pair the kimchis with my entree, but while I wait for my entree to arrive, I snack on the other side dishes.

This is another must try restaurant in my opinion if you are new in the area, or if you are a local and craving authentic...