Nak Won Garden — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Atmosphere: Cozy hole-in-the-wall that offers primarily half-booth seating (with pillows)

Service: Friendly, helpful Korean staff

Cost: Slightly pricey lunch menu (about $12 or so as of the time of this review) and there is a limitation of two cards for splitting a single check (though cash can be used to cover the rest)

Dining experience: I came in with three co-workers and ordered the grilled mackerel lunch special with a steamed egg and rice for my sides (accompanied with some hot tea for all of us).

Various little side dishes (kimchi, spicy cucumber-pickle slices, and a few other things) greeted us as our sides were served. The steamed egg dish came in a steaming hot bowl (go figure) and was fluffy and light enough to eat with a spoon (which I confess to have found easier than using the other default utensil: smooth silverware chopsticks). I personally preferred to mix the rice, egg, and other side dishes together rather than eating each individually (though the latter methodology would seem more uncommon).

The grilled mackerel's fishy aroma matched my expectations for its hint-of-teriyaki taste: delightful. The bones were a bit tricky to eat around (had to pull the meat in the same angle), but the fish came apart easily enough (once the cooked outer part was 'broken-in'). Aside from the initial awkwardness of breaking the outer parts/pulling the flesh from the spine, the experience was pretty satisfying.

My coworkers ordered bulgogi (chicken and beef) and miso soup, and everyone had a positive experience for the most part.

Based on my two experiences so far, I think this is a pretty good restaurant for an alternative change-of-pace lunch. Just make sure to divide the bills BEFORE ordering (only two cards can be used if...

Food was overpriced, got the soldiers hot pot for 2 of us which consisted of few slices of hot dogs and maybe half of can of spam, onions, kimchi, red peppers, 4 slices of tofu, few Shanghai vegetables and very little bit chrysanthemum leaves and 1 Korean ramen noodles and it cost $42 before tax.

I didn’t mind paying for that but what I do mind is the server/owner attitude when I gave her $4.00 in tips. She said it wasn’t enough for the food ordered and asked me why I gave $4.00 instead of 18% or 20% or 22% of the bill total (after tax) which was $46.01. I was not served water because I brought my own bottle water and she never asked us if we want water but assumed we don’t water because we brought our own. All she did was brought us the food we ordered and 4 very small sides dishes and that’s it. Didn’t asked us was everything was okay, nothing and I still gave her a tip to be polite. She was rude in asking me for more whenever I told her she only brought us the food and that’s it. Last time when I ate there I also gave her tip but she didn’t complain instead she adjusted the tip more than what I wrote on the slip and so I have to called them and called my credit company and them adding additional tip when I didn’t authorize it.

Go there if you don’t mind this and like Korean food or have money, but don’t go if you wanted to be treated like this. As other reviewers have mentioned the...

My friends and I had dinner here for the third time over the weekend. Like always, the food was exceptional. We shared appetizers and main courses, and there's nothing I tasted that doesn't deserve a full 5-stars.

I read many 1-star reviews that criticized the owner/manager of the restaurant. She's blunt, and she's efficient, but I never found her to be rude. She's an old-school, no-nonsense kind of person, and I respect that. If you're pushy with her during the evening rush, I wouldn't be surprised if she told you (in no uncertain terms) that you need to wait. If you bring five kids who trash her restaurant, I wouldn't be surprised if she made you clean it up.

In my opinion, this is a cultural difference in which many people believe the "customer is always right" and is entitled to cheerful service, whether or not you're a respectful patron. I disagree with this mentality. The customer is not always right, and they are not entitled to bring five kids who treat a restaurant like a battle ground. (That review really rubbed me the wrong way.)

If you agree with me, I think you'll love this place. If you don't, this might not be your cup of tea. You may want to consider going elsewhere if you're a demanding patron who (1) thinks tables magically appear at 6:00 PM on a Saturday or (2) expects special treatment while your kids throw kimchi through a...