04/13/07

Cute Small Intimate Restaurant

by callisto

I was reluctant to go into this restaurant at first because it was a really small space, but I was glad after I sat down & got my food. Yes, the place is tiny, it can probably hold not even 20 ppl, but it was a nice intimate dinner spent w/ good conversation w/ my friend. I ordered the Seafood bebimbop & it was quite tasty, a little sweet but I finished it all. My friend ate the soondubee & that was decent as well. I wouldn't say it's the best Korean food I've ever had, but they did a good job. Even though we were in closed quarters, I felt like I still had a private conversation w/ my friend.

• Pros: Intimate dinner, Good Service
• Cons: Not good for large groups

11/13/06

Great Service, Reasonable price

by soniabrewman

I usually go this restaurant. There are super cute staff and great food with reasonable price.

NOT ONLY Popular DOLSOT (or bulgoki, kalbi, pork).

My new favorite is spicy squid (sometimes seafood casserole) truly yummy.......Lunch special? that's almost free. (still can get small kimchi things) sooooo cheap.

Temple's staff always say "sure" i like that. actually im kind of demanding. I asked sidemenu threetimes but they still said "sure"(!!!!)

i dont think this restaurant is best korean restaurant in NYC but It must be one of good restaurants.

• Pros: Ambience, cute interior, Service
• Cons: small...crowded

09/03/06

I love Korean Temple

by sasha_nyc

Great, cheap and healthy korean food. It's not your typical korea-town bbq joint where you walk out smelling like a fire pit and spent $50 a head, but it will satisfy your cravings for a $7 bowl of kim chee chigae. The interior is very cute too.

I recommend this place for a casual lunch or intimate dinner spot. The small tables and candle light make for a memorable night, especially if it's snowing outside and your out with a handsome date.

• Pros: Delicious, cheap and healthy food. Cute interior. Not too crowded.

08/01/06

not worth your time or money

by youngpark

to put it simply, this place is really bad. the food is bad. the servers and cook are bad and need to learn service etiquette. korean food is delicious so please don't think temple constitutes korean food. temple is really really bad. this is NOT the place to go and it's really suspect that they have some good reviews. i agree with the other reviewer that said the good reviews were written by the owners or their friends because no matter optimistic you are, there's unfortunately nothing really good to say about this place. sorry. just remember not to go there and waste your time and money.

• Pros: st marks area
• Cons: bad food, bad service

02/05/06

Is this a joke?

by aknoeb

We ordered from Temple because it's the only Korean place near the lower east side that delivers. The eel bi bim bop doesn't come with any of the usual vegetables that constitute bi bim bop so for $14 dollars I got some greasy rice (tasted like popcorn) with eel on top. Great. Of the five famous sides (as if they invented kim chee) we only got four and they came in one ounce containers. Since they only sent one set (even though we ordered two entrees) the portion was good for one bite each. You can do better elsewhere, and by elsewhere I mean anywhere.

11/16/05

storebought dumplings

by butter88

I've been to many korean restaurants but this will be the first place that serves dumpling that is supermarket bought. They were awful and certainly expensive at $4 during lunch hour. Very deceptive practice and I was not happy.

• Pros: service, decor
• Cons: cheap food, not 'homemade', cheap ramen

10/16/05

Great service! but mediocre food.

by pandacub143

This restaurant is small but beautifully decorated, with spashes of color and natural elements. The service is wonderful- timely, polite, and helpful. With our check, my friend and I received a complementary ginger honey tea. The prices are reasonable and they offer lunch specials that shave a few dollars off. The food was prepared quickly, but with our high expectations, I have to say I was slightly dissapointed. It was nothing special to rave over. If you really want authenticity and good food... don't bother.

• Pros: service, presentation, ambiance
• Cons: small

10/01/05

Go for the ambience, not for authenticity.

by vron1178

I live next door to Temple; I've eaten there several times and I walk by it daily.

I agree with the reviewer who stated that the people who have given overly positive reviews are probably friends of the owner (a smart move -- these reviews, along with the ones printed on the door and the high Zagat rating bring in a lot of people). The food is decent, not great or 100% authentic, but that's not what you go for -- it's the location and the ambience (cute, trendy) that make this place unique and a nice change from K-town. It is always crowded, which is not surprising considering it only seats about 15 people (the restaurant is like one long hallway with some sidewalk seating). Service can get slow during busy hours, but is usually gracious. The side dishes change regularly, but are tasty (although portions are very small).

• Pros: Decent food, Nice alternative, Moderately-priced
• Cons: Exagerrated reviews, Limited seating, Small portions

09/27/05

Taste, Value, Service!

by taksa

My friend and I stumbled upon Temple at lunch yesterday and were very pleased. The space is tiny, but pretty and comfortable. Our server was charming and speedy. And the food was close to perfection. I loved my kimchee stew with bits of shredded pork and just enough hotness to clear the sinuses, but not kill all other flavors. I think this would make a perfect hangover cure or an afternoon warmer on a deep winter's day. It came with perfectly prepared sticky rice and a selection of 5 vegetable appetizers. My friend had the beef bulgogi, also served with the rice and 5 apps. The beef was tender and delicately marinated, a salty/sweet miso dipping sauce was just right and for extra spice we asked for a side of hot sauce. Our lunch, with 2 large Korean OB beers, was about $30 - a bargain.

• Pros: Lovely Food, Great Service, Nice Space

09/02/05

Misguided Enthusiasm.

by johncritico

The menu at Temple reads like the owners rummaged around the city and patched together a collection of somewhat sloppy, overly stylized dishes to entice certain demographical crowd. All too sanitized and saccharinated. Well, this is, after all, East Village. The quality of service mirrors their food. I walked into Temple hoping to experience the authenticity of Korean cuisine, or something that evokes Park Soo Keuns portraits of humble and ordinary life. Instead I found myself humming Yeats' the Song of the Old Mother with the pubescent zeal of waitresses reminiscent of Ganguro girls. boink. Disappointing, but not inedible.

• Pros: smallness, location
• Cons: too small, food, service