Jian Korean Cuisine — Restaurant in Upper Darby

I ordered the soondae guk, a traditional Korean blood sausage soup usually served hot in stoneware with sliced soondae, veggies, and a rich broth.

The best thing here is the price — it’s cheap, which is rare for Korean food. The food came out fairly quickly, but since it was served in stoneware, I expected it to be piping hot — instead, it was just lukewarm. Even worse, the broth was incredibly bland, lacking the depth and seasoning you'd normally expect from this dish. The portion of soondae itself was also disappointing — maybe 6 inches max, cut up, which felt stingy for a dish centered around it.

The banchan (side dishes) included store-bought kimchi and sweet soy peanuts — nothing special, but not bad either. Overall, it’s one of those “you get what you pay for” experiences.

The cafeteria-style seating area was a bit dirty, but that’s likely not their responsibility. Still, it impacts the overall vibe. Also, no napkins or hand sanitizer available — both are kept behind the counter, which makes the place feel a bit unwelcoming and overly cautious.

After eating, you’re expected to place your tray on a rolling cart, which is fair, but reinforces that this is more fast-food than full-service.

Overall: A cheap meal that arrives fast, but the soup was bland, the portions were small, and the dining setup could...

I've been consistently going to Jian ever since I discovered it two years ago, and the food has always been consistently good! During the winter their warm Bulgogi entrees really hit the spot because the hot plates come out steaming. During the summer their regular dishes are also good.

The people who run the stand are extremely nice! I didn't know about this before, but you can always ask them for more Kimchi or other side dishes that come with your entree as the owners said it's okay to ask for more if you really like that stuff.

I can't say anything bad about the place. It's a unique dining experience, and authentic enough to...

I would love to enjoy more Korean food. Since the Covid epidemic, I find myself watching A LOT of GREAT Korean shows and movies. I mean, they are FANTASTIC! Everything about Korean entertainment centers around drinking (Soju) and eating...mainly tteokbokki. I am naturally curious. So I’ve yet to find a place that serves either. I really would like to try Soju, that way I can feel like a real fake-Korean who enjoys a good drink. At Jian Korean Cuisine, I did try the Bul-Gogi. It was delicious. I’ve had the kimchi previously, just because I wanted to experience it. Would I do it...