For lunch, I decided to a nearby spot at work. Korean Express is quick with their service. I got their lunch special with bulgogi (marinated beef), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and fries. It hits the spot since I don't have time to travel to K-town for my lunch break. The ambiance is best described as a quick casual bite for students and young adults. I only get take out. I always see more than half the tables full when I walk in.

This spot is perfect for enjoying a quick and delicious variety of Korean dishes. From galbi, soups, and kimbap to bibimbap and Korean-style fried chicken, the menu offers something for everyone. I tried the kimchi stew, served in a piping hot stone pot, accompanied by pickled radish and kimchi as side dishes. The first bite instantly transported me back to Korea--it was perfectly spicy and packed with flavor. The aged kimchi, tender meat, and tofu blended beautifully. With New York's first snowfall yesterday, enjoying this warm and authentic kimchi stew on a cold day was pure comfort. One downside, however, is that aside from the stone pot, they use plastic and disposable containers for everything else. The rice bowl, side dish plates, and even the utensils were all made of plastic. It would be great if they could switch to reusable tableware in the future. I'm still looking forward to coming back to try more dishes!

The food was very flavorful and a good stop if you're in the area on the go. Small spot but cozy, fast service and polite people

Nice selection + prices here. The army stew was delicious and ready within a few minutes. If you're like me and can't handle spice, don't worry--the stew is pretty mild. Overall super happy to have found a Korean spot on the upper east side!!

For quick, inexpensive Korean food, this place is pretty good! My daughter works nearby and her co-workers are regulars. She, my husband, and I came here for dinner recently because it was not far from an auditorium where we were headed. I ended up ordering Vegetable Jab-Chae (sweet potato noodles with vegetables and mushrooms) and liked it. My husband had Shrimp Fried Rice, something he loves at most places, and thought it was good but better when he added hot sauce. My daughter had one of their Pajeons (savory pancakes) - it was slightly overcooked but she still liked it. Service was friendly and fairly quick. You place your order at the register and find a table after paying. The ambience was fine for a casual place. It's nothing fancy but we weren't there for that.

Came for a quick eat during dinnertime and was happy there weren't that many people. I thought this place, because its a self-service place, would be less than $15 but unfortunately it was not. I would say if you're in the area, it's not a bad place to eat at all BUT if you're closer to Koreatown would just recommend going to BDG Tofu House. I ordered the Kimchi Tofu Stew and it was pretty good. The flavors were very intense and I appreciate how many different ingredients they had in there. I especially liked the egg that was soft boiled so that it melted all over the tofu stew. I wish they gave more banchans past kimchi but that's okay. I also had the opportunity to try the Hot Stone Bibimbap and was not a fan as the charred rice on the bottom was a bit overwhelming. Overall, not a bad place for Korean food in Midtown but would not be my first choice for tofu stew.

First time here! I ordered Kimchi Fried Rice, Bulgogi, and Spicy Pork all for $11 lunch special! This has to be the best budget friendly meal I've had in NY. Looking at the color of the Kimchi Fried rice, you already know it was spicy and moist! And it was.The Bulgogi and Spicy Pork were soft and juicy as well. I'd definitely come back and order the same thing. Might as also add Kimbap because the pictures look good!! P.s Thanks to the workers for holding my purse when I forgot it! You guys are lifesavers!