Hoban Korean Restaurant

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beachh20

Joined 5 years ago

!!Newly Remodeled!!. The Hoban has received a giant facelift!! What was once a worn establishment with slow service, nasty bathrooms and great food has been transformed into a great place to bring family and friends!!! The newly upgraded resturant is very clean, has excellent, fast, smiling service and some of the best Korean food we've had since San Francisco!! Not in the mood for something exotic, try the kal bai beef ribs (they are my favorite!!) I also LOVE the fresh Kim Chee!! I hear they also have a lunch buffet but I have not tried it yet...

This place was pretty good before, now it's great!!!!

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mickotoole

Joined 5 years ago

people are stupid. I honestly cannot believe that the service was ever bad. Both my sisters are completely crazy (as are their boyfriends, of course) and are rude, terrible restaurant people. However, the staff has always been overly patient and polite to us. When I'm there alone they're nice and polite, and when I'm with the wack-jobs they're nice and polite. Thus, I must confer that the people claiming snickering etc. are paranoid or stupid. The latter seems more probable.

But onto more important things: this is the most delicious authentic Korean food you can find in MN period. (just as Taste of Thailand St. Paul location is the most authentic Thai.) And yes, I have been to Korea (South and North).

It's delicious, flavorful, beautiful food. So even if you are paranoid (or stupid) - stiff upper lip- go there (it's 20min. from Mpls. about 13 from St. Paul - NOT the middle of nowhere. That's a total mid-western thing- people commute an hour to work but eat at Applebee's because Hoban is 20min. away). Enjoy!

Doesn't Recommend

ADANS

Joined 5 years ago

mixed review. Strange acidic smell permeates the restaurant and makes it very hard to enjoy the food. I can't say what it was. The food looks and tastes good but you can?t appreciate what you are eating because the smell is so overwhelming.

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navelinski

Joined 6 years ago

Best Korean in Town - Family Friendly - Inexpensive too!!!. This is the Best Korean restaurant in town. And I've been to them all. The food is much better than anywhere else and the prices are very low. I love their Kalbi and Shrimp Tempura. My husband is crazy for the Hot and Spicy Squid! Kim and her staff treat us like family. We drive all the way from Blaine as often as we can to visit and have great authentic Korean food!

They also have a great little lunch buffet. On Thursdays, their buffet has a dish that is unique and you've got to try it - Bulgogi with Rice Cakes - yum yum!!!

And take the kids with... We took my nephews and neice with us a while back. My nephew spilled his milk all over the table and the waitress just took a pair of chop-sticks and squeegeed off the table without batting an eye!

You've got to try this one!!!

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suhflah

Joined 6 years ago

Good local Korean restaurant. The food at Hoban is good Americanized Korean food. The assorted panchon isn't spicy and has odd flavors and textures as if it's too new or too old. Wait staff is very friendly and accomodating. Restaurant decor needs updating as the booths are falling apart. The place could use a little deep cleaning. Try the dolsot bibimbap - it's awesome on a cold day! Also try the taeji (pork) bulgogi...this dish actually has some heat to it (a little).

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Local favorite serves traditional Korean cuisine.. In Short
This family-run Korean restaurant is elegant and quiet, with silently turning ceiling fans, a spattering of plants, and comfortable tables and booths broken up by glass-block walls. Newcomers to Korean eats try bulgogi or barbecued beef or chicken. More well-traveled customers go for an egg foo young-like dish spotted with seafood. Other specialties include spicy pork and squid, chap chae (noodle stir-fry) and bibimbap, a beef salad.

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bluefractal13

Joined 8 years ago

Fantastic Food. As a regular customer at Hoban, I must say this has to be one of my favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. The atomosphere is relaxing and the service has always been friendly. The ginseng tea is amazing and the must have dish is the Dolsot Bimbibob. Before your entree your server sets out several small dishes with many tasty appetizers for you to enjoy. (Free of charge I might add.) It's a great place to go with a friend and spend some leisure time enjoying some wonderful food. For those who have had trouble with service, this is not a place to go if you are in a rush. The time is made for you to enjoy, not to hurry through.

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scotlandbnd

Joined 8 years ago

Better then most. Unlike some people, I like the fact that this place isn't too well known and is a bit of a drive to get to. Makes it a little bit more adventurous. Each time I go there I notice a great diversity of people dining out and many of them bring children or come as a large group. I love the pickled veggie dishes and their kimchi jungol is the best!

Doesn't Recommend

littleboot

Joined 9 years ago

BAD service BAD food. Ok this place is in the middle of nowhere - the staff are impolite and worst of all the food is just BAD... oh and do not ask the wait staff anything - they actually snicker at you! This place reminds me of a bad movie....

I went to this place with my husband and a few friends (about six in our party)- we were a very ethinically mixed group and the waitron even made a snide comment about that! Stay AWAY! Oh and their bulgolgi is the worst I have had ever.

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lindgrenee

Joined 11 years ago

Spicy hot. Very authentic Korean, if you want to eat light just ask for rice and side vegetables, very tasty. If you are hungry the seafood soup is the best thing on the menu, 10 dollars for a bowl of soup that you can easily split or bring home for later. Delicious!