Hotstone Authentic Korean Cuisine — Restaurant in Olympia

Absolutely incredible Korean food. Partner and I got the (beef) bulgogi bibimbap and spicy pork bulgogi bibimbap, with Dduk Bokki (Tteok Bokki) for an appetizer. Portion sizes were huge, plenty to take home a separate container of each. The sides (bean sprouts, kimchi, cucumber kimchi, broccoli & shredded carrot, and something shredded that I didn't recognize (partner thinks radish, I think delish)) were all perfectly prepared. Big highlights were the kimchis, both of which we were given seconds on almost as soon as we finished them.

On the topic of the service, the waitress was attentive, responsive, and delightful. Whether it was keeping our waters topped off or grabbing us a larger bag for our takeout containers, we barely had time to say what we wanted before she got it.

Back to the food (or at least what it's in). I can't tell if I've just gotten used to takeout containers, but the way the Dduk Bokki simmered and steamed in the dolsot bowls on the way to our table was downright sultry. I'm leaning towards those stone bowls being magical, since the sizzle of the bulgogi was just as thrilling. On the more technical end, when I say the Dduk Bokki was simmering, I mean it was straight up bubbling. I was worried at first, I have a sensitive tongue (which had already been burned earlier today), but to my surprise I could start comfortably eating as soon as it touched the table. Magical bowls indeed. The chopsticks were also splinter-free and sturdy enough to break cleanly.

As for taste, everything on the table was perfect. This was my second time eating Dduk Bokki, the first having been from a Korean fried chicken joint, and Hotstone has totally blown it out of the water. The spiciness was perfect, just there enough to make me want one more bite without overshadowing the other flavors. I never felt like one flavor was too dominant. The prevalence of veggies and the thin-cut meat also meant that, even after stuffing myself, I don't feel bloated at all.

This is one of the first restaurants I've gotten to sit down in since quarantine started, and I have to say, would not ask for a better reminder of why I...

After visiting Olympic National Park, we drove for 2.5 hours to get to this Korean restaurant for dinner. We were looking forward to it, as we had seen positive reviews and pictures on Google.

The food at this restaurant was average, but it was the service that compelled me to write this review. Firstly, the waitress seemed tired and not very welcoming. However, when my child felt nauseous due to the road trip, I asked for a glass of warm water. She took the extra effort to boil some hot water for us, and I am grateful for that.

Unfortunately, my child still ended up vomiting, and it landed on her own plate, causing her distress and embarrassment. She started crying because she was uncomfortable. I took my child to the restroom to clean up, and my husband immediately took care of the mess on the table. We did it quietly and did not disturb other guests.

When I returned from the restroom with my child, I noticed the waitress wearing an icy expression, swiftly cleaning the table, and taking away the glass of warm water my child had. In fact, the table was completely cleared, as if they were rushing us to pay. As a mother, I apologized to the waitress twice, but there was no response, and she continued to clean without acknowledging me. My child, feeling embarrassed and upset, started crying again, and I could only comfort her, telling her that it wasn't her fault.

We promptly paid the bill and left a decent tip, but the demeanor of the waitress didn't improve. And my kid thought that the waitress was still angry:(

We are tourists, and we might not come back to eat here again, but I still want to share my experience here. I hope the restaurant can improve its customer service to be more considerate. For a child who feels embarrassed about inconveniencing others because of her own vomiting, a simple comforting gesture from the waitress would have been...

Unfriendly customer service and improper food handling. When my friend and I were seated to dine in, the waitress gave us less than two minutes before she returned and demanded if we were ready to order. We hadn't even opened our menus yet and were still chatting. Lack of social awareness.

I ordered the bibimbap with tofu, no egg. My friend ordered the fried dumplings. The waitress brought out her food first, awkward. We sat there waiting for my food to come out. The bibimbap arrived with a RAW EGG plopped on top. I was under the impression that the dish usually comes with a fried egg, and I had specified no egg anyway so I was shocked. The waitress started to walk away and I stared at my food, trying to figure out how to get the egg back out.

The waitress stopped and goes, "OH you wanted no egg! Hang on..." She grabbed a spoon and plate, returned to the table and DUG THE EGG out of my food!!! I'm pretty sure this is against health codes and overall unappetizing. The hotpot made the food taste fishy and the tofu was pretty much raw and flavorless. The whole dish was bland and mushy.

Now if you want some AMAZING Korean food and are headed to Bremerton, go to...