Hoban Korean Restaurant

Coming from San Francisco where there is plenty of amazing Korean food, I was prepared for disappointment and ended up being pleasantly surprised at how good and authentic the food was here.

The restaurant is located at the end of a strip mall and definitely won't be winning any awards for ambiance. However, what it lacks in the decor department, it more than makes up in food quality.  

We shared the scallion and kimchip pajun (Korean pancake), bulgogi in a bowl, and kalbi.

Pajun: Very good. Next time, I'd like to try one with beef. $12.95
Kalbi: Very well marinated and grilled. Served on a sizzling plate with onions and mushrooms. $14.95
Bulgogi in a bowl: A ton of thinly sliced grilled marinated beef in a broth with glass noodles, enoki mushrooms and vegetables. Comes in a clay bowl which is so hot the broth is simmering when they bring it to the table. The broth was delicious -- richly flavored with a hint of sweetness and the bulgogi was tender and perfectly marinated. A great value for $12.95.

One of the reasons I love Korean food is the Pan Chan, which are all the complimentary little side dishes that come with your meal. The pan chan here did not disappoint! It probably varies, but we got bean sprouts, diced potatoes, broccoli, julienned daikon, shredded cabbage, and of course, kimchi. We asked for a second round of pan chan even though we were stuffed.

Many others have complained about the slow service. We didn't have that problem, but I will note that we showed up around 2:30pm so the restaurant wasn't busy at the time. I was actually surprised at how many people were there. In fact, a steady stream of people came in while we were there. Given what I observed, I'd avoid coming in during peak dining times. I definitely will return!

BTW, if you're looking for a Korean Karaoke bar, there's one right next door to Hoban called Do-Re-Mi. For those who haven't done Korean Karaoke, it's awesome because you can rent a private room for just you and your friends, order food and cocktails to be delivered to your room, and pick all the songs you want to sing. You don't have to listen to a bunch of strangers sing while waiting for your request to come up and, more importantly, you only humiliate yourself in front of your friends.

Why isn't there more Korean food in the twin cities?! WHY?!

Ok, anyhow, Hoban is pretty solid. The atmosphere isn't exactly special or fancy or anything, but the food is good and that is what counts, especially when the pickings are so slim for Korean...I would say they deserve 3.5 stars...

The service was good and we only had to wait a few minutes for a table even though it was quite busy. It seemed like they had a lot of take-out orders going on. the bulgogi was good, and they give pretty decent sized portions of both the meat and the rice which was nice.

I would definitely go back here if it wasn't so far from my house. It is quite a hike...

Best Korean restaurant in Minnesota.

Being that it boasts the largest menu of Korean food in the Twin Cities, one could initially suspect that perhaps only a handful of the dishes might be executed well. I will be the first to attest that, from my countless experiences here, the latter could not be a more inaccurate assumption. There's nothing I've tried here that I've disliked. Not only is the quantity impressive, (portions are such that you will never leave with anything less than a distended stomach indicating the most desirable end result of having had a greatly substantial and satisfying meal) but the quality of the food is a big contributing factor of what helps deliver such great authenticity. The flavors and textures, which contrast perfectly, are almost always on point. If they are not, specify your preferred taste and they will gladly cater to it.

Some faves/must-try's, to name only a FEW...
Spicy wings- even though they're not actually spicy, they just taste awesome.
Dolsot Bibimbap- hot stone rice bowl with meat and veggies (Comes out sizzling so that everyone will look at you with interest and envy when it comes to your table)
Kalbi- Korean BBQ short ribs (Don't feel bad if you finish the entire plate yourself. It would be more work to try to NOT finish it)
Bulgogi- thinly sliced beef marinated and then barbecued/grilled. (This can oftentimes be a good introductory option for many Korean food newbies who are unfamiliar with Korean cuisine and may be unsure of what to order).

Side dishes or "panchan" (if you are wondering what the several small dishes encroaching on your table space are doing there) are customary to serve at Korean meals. They consist of cold, pickled/marinated veggies such as radish, bean sprout, potato, cabbage, and of course kimchi. You will earn the respect of all the Korean staff at Hoban if you are open enough to indulge in the crunchy, spicy goodness that is kimchi. The panchan/side dishes may be mistaken or misinterpreted by some to be appetizers but actually serve as more of an array of accompaniments that help to incorporate a contrast between hot/cold temperature, spicy/sweet/sour flavors, crunchy/soft textures into your meal.
It doesn't hurt that people tend to enjoy being allowed the opportunity of trying a little of a lot of different things rather than simply eating a large portion of only one thing. What other nationality's cuisine supplies you with such a variety of side dishes for free with every meal?!

If someone wanted to try Korean for the first time, I would direct them here.
If someone knew good Korean food and wanted to know where to get some, I'd tell them to come here.
In either instance, Hoban will not disappoint.