Sun Nong Dan — Restaurant in San Gabriel

A new find of good Korean restaurant for us. Although this place has been here with the same name, this newly opened with new renovation seemed to be a new restaurant. Even the menu seemed to be different.

Sun Nong Dan is a famous restaurant in Korean town and many of the Youtube food Vlogger had paid patronage to the restaurant.

Now, this newly opened restaurant became an instant hit with the SGV locals. Sun Nong Dan is a perfect place to enjoy meaty Korean dishes. If you’re alone or with a small company, enjoy their Korean soup entrees like Galbi Tang(beef short rib soup) or Sul Lung Tang(ox bone soup).

Sun Nong Dan is most famous for its Galbi Jjim, which is adequate for a big group of 3-4 people and more. We came this on a rainy and cold day. It was a perfect recipe to keep us warm up.

Sun Nong Dan’s name came from a name of a place in South Korea. Sun Nong Dan, located in Seoul, South Korea, is originally a historical site known to have been an altar in the Chosun Dynasty. The King of the dynasty had used the altar to bring good luck to a good year of harvest.

After worshiping the agriculture god, the kingdom would hold a big festival where they boil the farming cow into a hot soup to feed all the participants from the ritual. Some say that this soup was originally called Sun Nong Tang then later modified to Sul Lung Tang, which is the name of an ox bone soup we normally call these days.

That’s what we ordered for our lunch, the oxtail and beef brisket soup. With many hours of cooking, the oxtail soup was so flavorful and tasty. One order was big enough to feed three of us.

Besides the soup dishes, another famous dish is Galbi Jjim. Here at Sun Nong Dan, this dish is a modern version of this traditional dish with a contemporary twist. It is a big, heavy combination of beef, rice cakes, green onions, potatoes, carrots, kimchi and cheese. We also had this dish but couldn’t finish it. We had it packed up to take home. If you want to experience Korean cuisine, Galbi Jjim would provide everything that’s Korean food for you.

Prices are reasonable. For a family of 3, expect to fork out $60 for the meal. If you want your individual soup, you can order ala carts for under $20.

People are very nice here. The service here is definitely a big improvement from the Korean...

Please keep in mind this review is only for this (SGV) location. I always give a 5/5 rating for the KTown and Rowland Heights locations.

Food quality and taste: I ordered the Special (Teuk) Galbi Tang. Unfortunately, the soup and meal did not taste good. The flavor profile was very lacking and for the very first time, I had to add in salt to my soup. You can tell the soup was not cooked for a while so the flavors could develop and it seemed like the kitchen rushed to make the food. The side dishes were a bit lacking in taste as well, it didn't taste as good and didn't have as much texture as the KTown or Rowland Heights location.

Service: Service was just okay. Definitely can tell the restaurant was understaffed, think there were about 5-6 waitstaff servicing 30+ tables. I only interacted with the waitstaff once, and that was when I ordered my food in the beginning. I initially was not planning to tip more than 10% due to the lack of service, but I understood the restaurant was understaffed and the waiters were trying their best so I ended up tipping a gracious amount.

Ambiance: Modern and spacious, many tables for various party sizes.

Price: $$ or $$$ based on your food item. My item was $21.99 - not including tip and tax.

Overall Experience: 2/5. Terrible food taste and profile, mediocre service. Definitely lacking compared to the other locations. Do not recommend and will...

Title: Severe Food Poisoning and Appalling Negligence - A Warning to All Customers

I am writing this review with extreme disappointment and distress after experiencing one of the worst dining incidents of my life at this restaurant. Not only did the food here cause me to develop acute gastroenteritis, but the management’s response was utterly irresponsible and dismissive.

Shortly after consuming the meal, I began suffering from severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. A visit to the doctor confirmed that I had acute gastroenteritis directly linked to food poisoning. The symptoms were debilitating and required medical attention.

When I contacted the restaurant to inform them of the situation, they refused to acknowledge any responsibility. They showed zero concern for my well-being and did not offer an apology, let alone a solution. This level of negligence and disregard for customer safety is unacceptable.

I strongly advise everyone to avoid this restaurant at all costs. The lack of hygiene standards and the irresponsible attitude of the management pose a serious risk to diners. I will be reporting this incident to the relevant health authorities for further investigation.

Do not make the same mistake I did. Your health is not...