Ilsong Garden

Update 1/30/24: we had a couple of good experiences and have become regulars again. The hot stone pot wasn't quite crackling this last time, but good nonetheless. They now have a self-serve ban chan area, which is great for filling up on kimchi. However, it also means that the specialty times like the squid are no longer offered :( The kimchi pancake has gone back to its original size, maybe it was just the cook at the time that skimped? Back to being the best Korean food in SA. Original post: Not the place it once was, again Ilsong Garden appears to have new owners, and the changes will likely impact your overall experience if you knew what to expect before. Kimchi pancake shrank in size but grew in price. The pork bulgolgi and hot pot remain excellent, but a Korean restaurant that can't pull that off isn't long to this world. Good ban chan, ask for the squid if you don't see it included. The three stars are a result of service since we had to ask for refills, and out food took forever as a result of our food being delivered to the wrong table.

You don't answer the phone and you don't allow mods on orders. My order was canceled 2 times on door dash which I have to wait to get my money back. All because I want soy bean paste with my food and lettuce. Didn't think that was hard to ask for but phone doesn't work so I have to wait to get my money back

This is not authentic Korean food, despite having Korean owners. I’m half Korean from my mother’s side, and I know what real Korean food is. They (the restaurant) didn’t even use pepper flakes in their dishes. The japchae was runny and horrible, used the cheap thin noodles. The kimchi was the “bad fresh”. Every real Korean knows you need to leave it out to sour for a few days. The one redeeming quality of the restaurant was the waiter. White kid, speaks fluent Korean, and reads/writes Hangul. Kid was super nice, and even spoke in Korean to us. He gets a 5/5, the restaurant itself gets 1/5.

I was in town (I live in Katy) visiting a friend I served in the Army with and got a few things to go. I really enjoyed the food here. I ordered the yaki mandu and kalbi. The banchan was delicious and there was plenty of food left for me to have seconds of later that evening.

Nice and cool waiter good food unlimted side when order entree goodfish cakes and kimchi