Soram 소람 — Restaurant in Ridgefield

June 12, 2020

It's a Korean restaurant located in the plaza by H-Mart Ridgefield. The name of the restaurant is very humble, and many Korean restaurants use it, as Soram sort of means "it ain't much, but please look with a smile." It was actually used in letter-writing days to show writer's modesty to elders. It is definitely a positive vibe to be used as a restaurant's name, it relays the owner's diligence as well as humility in serving the customers.

Anyways, like all the restaurants due to COVID-19, Soram was currently doing take-out orders, so the pictures weren't expected at 100%, but at least referenced.

Ordered: Small Spicy Braised Beef Short Ribs $27.95 Ox Knee Soup (also known as the cartilage soup) $14.95

I was surprised to see 3 small pieces of short ribs in the $30 dish. We did order the small instead of the large $47.95, but I figured judging by the price, it would be for for 2 or 3 people. Surely, we did smile, not in a way that was expected perhaps, but yes. Restaurant confirmed that the small short ribs have 3 or-so pieces as to the large has 6 or-so pieces. I think we were still smiling then.

The cartilage soup, I can vouch job well-done, but.. they seem to have forgotten to include the salt-pepper. But it is the last drop that makes the spill or it's the last second that counts? People tend to be drawn close to restaurants that are sensible. I was getting the sense that the restaurant is falling behind of the high-end scale that they seem to be aiming for.

I am for the benefit of the doubt and hoping that the experience will be a game changer for the dine-in, as I have seen the reviews and the photos of the fellow Yelpers. Hoping the restaurant can deliver a different kind of smile in my next visit and for the restaurant to endure the effects of COVID-19.

With...

Soram is advertised as a simple but clean, authentic Korean cuisine. And it is. If people are confused why such advertised restaurants are expensive like Soram, it's the location... parking, foot traffic. The lease is probably expensive af.

Yuk-Ge-Jang is delicious. I've had Yuk-ge-jang in multiple places and a lot of them simply have saltiness and a rather unpleasantly chewy meat. Soram had what I felt was the cleanest Yuk-Ge-Jang I've eaten outside. I want to try Gamja Tang next.

My family frequently buys the dumplings here (frozen) to cook ourselves at home. They are great to make dumpling/rice cake soup with. People saying this place is overhyped or bland; you've been dishonorably sold off over-seasoned Korean food at restaurants. Korean food in restaurants these days have been becoming less and less authentic; using more seasoning and less clean ingredients.

Also the guy complaining about sour kimchi... have you never made kimchi in your life? That's what kimchi does (or any food during fermentation)... it slowly obtains a sour flavor until it goes bad. A hint of sour flavor in kimchi, especially in heated food, is more apparent and pleasant. Also the best tasting kimchi has a hint of sourness; typical restaurant kimchi is garbage because it's freshly made and therefore has not undergone any significant...

3/22/25 update * Been coming here for years now and my wife buys their frozen dumplings regularly. I must say the service here has gotten real bad. They make you feel pretty unwelcome when you walk in, and it's pretty much hey go sit over there. And when they bring the menu they toss it on your table without saying a word... wtf? Pretty rude i would say. Their food is still good though!*

One of my wife's fav spots in this neighborhood. We only eat dumplings here and that is what they are about. The soram dumplings are hand made (you can see the restaurant ladies making them at the corner table) and are very good on their own or in the soup menu. The bone broth soup the dumplings come in are good as well (be sure to add salt and pepper for your taste). You can tell the quality of food overall is very good and everything feels very clean here. I like how they serve out a small portion of pumpkin soup in the beginning as well. Btw if you like the dumplings you can purchase the frozen ones to cook at home as well! Restaurant space is cozy and compact. There is plenty of parking and you can shop in the h mart before or after the meal, or hit up paris baguette for coffee or...