Seoul Garden Restaurant

Traditional Korean Karama 2 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2010

Walking into Seoul Garden Restaurant is a bit like entering a set from Twin Peaks – it feels like stumbling into an old Korean family home that has somehow been transported to the busy intersection between Zabeel and Umm Hureir Roads. Everything feels just slightly off. The lobby, if it could be called that, is large and empty save a cabinet of Korean curios in the corner and a scattering of old orange couches around a coffee table. A tall, thin Korean woman in a gold sparkly dress with her hair tied tightly back greets guests and takes them to a small, claustrophobic, windowless room with a simple table and one picture hanging forlornly on the wall. The food is unfortunately just as lacklustre – the seafood soup, brimming with intact shrimp and octopus, served on the on-table grill, is largely tasteless. But the mostly Korean-language menu, and mostly Korean clientele, hints that this place is quite authentic – just not particularly enjoyable. This is a restaurant worth visiting for novelty, but little else.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 6 April 2010

• Previous reviews
  • 30 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 21 June,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Natalie on 25 Apr ' 10 at 13:18

• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

We LOVE this place, and our friends do too. Having your own room means the kids can act up, and the menfolks barbeque to their heart's delight, right there at the table. Not for impressing your date, but very comfortable. The setting is plain, and there's no alcohol, yet we still go back because the food is too darned good to resist...super hot, right off the grill...tasty! It's a different and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Posted by: Jeff on 08 Apr ' 10 at 08:54

• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Having spent 7 years in Korea I can say that I know what good Korean food is. This place does not have it. We ordered the Kalbi and the Indian boy who tried to cook it for us burned it. I ended up telling him to get away and that I would cook it myself. The side dishes were few and stingily served. Not the way in Korea and not for that price. We were angry when we left the restaurant and the cashier could not even look us in the eye. She knew. Save your money and go to the several other better options in Dubai.