Hangang Korean restaurant — Restaurant in Temple City

When I heard about this new and upcoming Korean restaurant in the SGV, my friends and I knew we had to check it out and support a fresh addition to the area's vibrant food scene.

However even with the large sign outside, I still missed the entrance a couple of times. The restaurant is tucked inside a side plaza, and if you're not familiar with the area, the entrance can be easy to overlook. It's located just after the stoplight when coming from the 10 freeway, so be sure to stay in the far right lane ahead of time. I've added some photos to help others spot the turn. Very important though that if you're coming from Las Tunas Drive, you can't make a U-turn directly in front of the plaza, so you'll need to loop through the opposite plaza's lot to make a left turn. That's definitely something to keep in mind for first-time visitors.

Once we got inside, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and quickly seated. The interior blends modern Korean decor with a creative flair--there's playful calligraphy-inspired art on the walls, giving it a cozy yet trendy feel. I really liked the built-in drawers at the table that stored utensils and napkins, which saved space and made room for what really matters--the food.

The banchan (complimentary Korean side dishes) were a great way to start. From the house-made kimchi to the creamy macaroni salad, everything was fresh and flavorful. While the menu is compact--just one page, front and back--every dish we tried was clearly made with care. Don't let the limited options fool you. The cheese jeon was the highlight for me; it was brought out and cut tableside by a staff member, and it made for a delicious and fun start to our meal.

By the end, we were completely full and impressed by the quality and presentation. The staff's hospitality added to the whole experience, making it feel like a true hidden gem.

I can easily see Hangang becoming a go-to spot for locals searching for authentic Korean comfort food or a cozy place to enjoy stone pot dishes. While the location can be tricky to find at first, it's well worth the effort. With so many Asian restaurants even down the street by Las Tunas, give Hangang a try and support this...

Poor experience – would not recommend.

We reserved a table for five (three adults and two toddlers). Initially, we were seated at a spacious table, but a staff member insisted on moving us to a smaller four-person table. As a result, one of our toddlers had to sit at the end, and with all the side dishes and main dishes, we had barely any room to enjoy our meal. We had to constantly ask our kid to be careful not to accidentally touch the pot as it’s hot! The restaurant was only about 30% full, so this seating change felt unnecessary.

What made it worse was that shortly after, another party of five arrived and was seated at the larger table we were originally given — without being asked to move. It was frustrating and confusing. Why were we moved when our group size was the same?

We ordered the cold noodles, galbijjim, and samgyetang. Unfortunately, the food was also disappointing. The chicken in the samgyetang had soft, bones broken into tiny pieces and the rice inside was STILL icy cold. It remains me of the prepackaged frozen samgyetang from H Mart. The cold noodles were served clumped together, making them difficult to eat.

Overall, it was not a pleasant experience, and sadly, we...

Disappointing Experience – Not Returning

We were really looking forward to trying this restaurant, but unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired. The squid hot plate was overwhelmingly salty—so much so that we couldn’t enjoy it as served. We asked to take it home so we could balance it out with some Odong noodles, but that wasn’t accommodated.

The pan-chan (side dishes) were average at best, especially compared to other Korean restaurants like Yong Dong, where the variety and freshness are far superior.

One major issue was the tipping system: there was no option to customize the tip percentage. The only choices were 18% and above—or no tip at all. We didn’t feel that 18% was justified based on our experience and service level, and when we expressed that, the owner told us not to come back. That level of customer service is incredibly unprofessional and disappointing.

We always try to support local businesses respectfully, but based on this experience, we will not be returning.

실망스러운 경험 – 다시는 가지 않을 것 같습니다

이 식당을 정말 기대하고 방문했지만, 전체적인 경험은 매우 실망스러웠습니다. 오징어 철판 요리는 너무 짜서 도저히 그대로는 먹을 수 없었습니다. 오동면을 넣어 다시 조리해 먹으려고 포장해 달라고 요청했지만, 그것조차 허용되지 않았습니다.

반찬은 그냥 평범한 수준이었고, 용동 같은 다른 한식당에 비하면 신선도나 다양성 면에서 많이 부족했습니다.

가장 큰 문제는 팁 시스템이었습니다. 팁 비율을 사용자 지정할 수 없고, 선택 가능한 최소 팁이 18% 이상이거나 아예 팁을 주지 않는 방식이었습니다. 저희는 이 날의 서비스와 음식 수준을 고려했을 때 18%는 과하다고 느꼈고, 그 점을 말씀드리자 사장님께서 다시는 오지 말라는 경고를 하셨습니다. 이런 대응은 매우 무례하고 실망스러웠습니다.

저희는 항상 지역 식당들을 존중하며 이용하려고 노력하지만, 이번 경험으로 인해 이곳은 다시...