Dok Suni's Restaurant

(212) 477-9506

119 1ST Ave
New York, NY 10003 40.7273 -73.9857

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

Price:

$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Celeb Hangout, Dine At The Bar, Cheap Eats, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Korean

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Dok Suni's Restaurant

Featured Review

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

In Short – Dok Suni means "strong woman" in Korean, which is fitting since this lady has lasted more than a decade. Old Korean newspapers decorate the walls, while thumping music and Asian-inspired cocktails please the stylishly edgy crowd. The menu is broad, with appetizers like sticky rice cakes in spicy red pepper and garlic sauce, and entrees ranging from light potato noodles with vegetables in sesame sauce to hearty white bean stew with miso, tofu, zucchini and mushroom.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Recreate Dok Suni's dishes from the restaurant's popular cookbook, on sale behind the bar.
Know Before You Go:
Do Hwa, Dok Suni's popular West Village sibling is more spacious, accepts credit cards and has barbecue tables to boot.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “appreciate GOOD food, cozy ambience and friendly wait staff, all of which Dok Suni's has plenty of.”
  2. “The atmosphere is sexy and romantic - a great place to take outtatowners to show them a REAL New York experience - it's small, hip and GOOD.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The Wait Never more than 20 minutes, you can wait at the bar (friendly bartenders, decent drinks)”
food quality
88.85000228881836% positive
  1. “The bulgogi and bebimbop are yummy!”
  2. “The people that work there are friendly, the food is awesome and the orange saketini's, well lets just say they are very good.”
  3. “Yummy food and very friendly staff!”
  4. “favourites. food is yummy, staff is friendly, and having a young owner really helps to make this a great small place to yummy korean food.”
  5. “Despite the long wait, the food is delicious and well worth the wait.”
  6. “The food in this restaurant tastes good but they do not give you as much as you would get in Koreatown.”
  7. “Good food”
  8. “the food is great but the portions are kinda small especially considering the prices.”
  9. “Food average. Service ok. Ambience nothing special, just regular neighborhood place. Overall: "Dok Suni" has received great reviews elsewhere, but honestly, don't waste your time. I know Korean food and if that's what you want to eat, just go to Korea Tow”
  10. “enjoy all the seafood selections (the monkfish and the spinach/clam soup are excellent).”
  11. “The food here is good; however, it could be a bit more spicier.”
  12. “appreciate GOOD food, cozy ambience and friendly wait staff, all of which Dok Suni's has plenty of.”
  13. “The service was great once we ordered, and the food was fabulous.”
  14. “The food is mediocre and overpriced.”
  15. “Very authentic, very spicy, very tasty!”
  16. “Jalapeno chicken is beyond delicious.”
  17. “Im told that their beef selections are also good.”
  18. “am a regular at DoK Suni and recommend this place if you love Korean food.”
  19. “Decor does not compliment the food.”
  20. “There are many good Korean bbq restaurants like Togi at 7th street and Yakiniku JUJU at 28th street where you can have Shabu-shabu as well.”
  21. “korean food is good”
  22. “Everything I've had is delicious- they just know how to get all the spices right at this place- I especially ejoy the Bulgogi, Kimchi Pancake and Tender chicken.”
  23. “It's trendy, sure, but you'd be better off going to a Koreatown place if you really want good Korean food.”
  24. “Dok Suni is a slightly funky Korean restaurant that's a little different in that they play with traditional dishes, in a good way, and the service is pretty good.”
  25. “Dok Suni's is consistently delicious.”
  26. “Dok Suni, it's great if you want average Korean food in the chic East village setting.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “enjoy all the seafood selections (the monkfish and the spinach/clam soup are excellent).”
  2. “The staff were all friendly and willing to explain different menu items to us.”
  3. “Im told that their beef selections are also good.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “All in all a good place to eat especially on a weekday evening when it is not too crowded.”
  2. “The atmosphere is sexy and romantic - a great place to take outtatowners to show them a REAL New York experience - it's small, hip and GOOD.”
  3. “favourites. food is yummy, staff is friendly, and having a young owner really helps to make this a great small place to yummy korean food.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “Yummy food and very friendly staff!”
  2. “Even though entrees are neatly described in plain english, the staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.”
  3. “Dok Suni is a slightly funky Korean restaurant that's a little different in that they play with traditional dishes, in a good way, and the service is pretty good.”
  4. “The Wait Never more than 20 minutes, you can wait at the bar (friendly bartenders, decent drinks)”
  5. “The service was great once we ordered, and the food was fabulous.”
  6. “appreciate GOOD food, cozy ambience and friendly wait staff, all of which Dok Suni's has plenty of.”
  7. “The staff was very friendly and the service was quick.”
  8. “favourites. food is yummy, staff is friendly, and having a young owner really helps to make this a great small place to yummy korean food.”
  9. “The people that work there are friendly, the food is awesome and the orange saketini's, well lets just say they are very good.”
  10. “The staff were all friendly and willing to explain different menu items to us.”
  11. “Its a small restaurant and I wouldnt recommend a party larger than four people.”
value
80.0% positive
  1. “the food is great but the portions are kinda small especially considering the prices.”
  2. “The place is really tiny so don't go with a huge group”
  3. “Great taste and great value here.”
  4. “Despite the long wait, the food is delicious and well worth the wait.”
  5. “The food is mediocre and overpriced.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “Despite the long wait, the food is delicious and well worth the wait.”
  2. “The Wait Never more than 20 minutes, you can wait at the bar (friendly bartenders, decent drinks)”
  3. “The staff was very friendly and the service was quick.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/08/07

yummy.

by kevikev at Citysearch

this is one of my e.vilage favourites. food is yummy, staff is friendly, and having a young owner really helps to make this a great small place to yummy korean food.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/29/06

korean food is good

by nycjuice at Citysearch

I think this is the best korean you can get in les- if you want better ask my mom or go to flushing. the food is great but the portions are kinda small especially considering the prices. The place is really tiny so don't go with a huge group

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/30/06

Yummy food and very friendly staff!

by punky21 at Citysearch

We went for a friend's birthday with 5 people. The table was cramped but it worked better because we were all sharing food. The chilean sea bass, the pork and the dumplings were all delicous. Try the So-Yo specialty cocktail. It's made with potato vodka and some yogurt drink that is popular is Korea. I wish they sold it everywhere because it was incredibly yummy.

The staff were all friendly and willing to explain different menu items to us. We sat at the bar while we waited for our table to bet set up and the bartender kept us entertained with conversation.

I'm not sure this will be my new favorite but it's definitely worth a couple of visits.

  • Pros: friendly staff, yummy cocktails
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/12/06

DIFFERENT CAN BE EXCITING

by redbaronn27 at Citysearch

I took my boyfriend, who is Korean to DOk Suni for his birthday. We both agree the food isn't as traditional as K town but really loved it anyway. It was very delicous, he had the bulgogi and I had the jalepeno chicken. The finishing shots of cinnamon tea were so spicy and lovely!

A perfect spot to experiment with friends and lovers!

  • Pros: Creative Menu, Abience
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/21/06

Good taste but small servings

by pingerl at Citysearch

The food in this restaurant tastes good but they do not give you as much as you would get in Koreatown. My favorites are the tofu in the mixed appetizer that they give and the kalbi and bulgogi dishes. Service is pretty efficient. All in all a good place to eat especially on a weekday evening when it is not too crowded.

The Details on Dok Suni's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good korean food
  • love small place
  • friendly wait staff
  • favorite date night spot
  • great dok suni
  • really good drinks
  • overpriced food
  • consistently good experience
  • great service
  • beyond delicious jalapeno chicken
  • recommend small restaurant
  • yummy bebimbop
  • not compliment decor
  • friendly bartenders
  • good taste
  • recommend wouldnt
  • excellent monkfish
  • good beef selections
  • yummy bulgogi
  • great value
  • best korean