01/12/08

Despite bad reviews, I actually enjoyed it!

by pleslie

I loved this restaurant. My friends and I (group of 7) decided to have a late dinner around 11 P.M., but service was great. Others have put bad reviews for service, but that must be during busy times. We came at an odd hour so it wasn't crowded. You would expect food to be bad during slow hours but it was actually great. I would love to taste their food during busy hours. Definitely try the Kal Bi and special beef (? that's what I heard them call it). It was DELICIOUS! We ordered about 7 orders of the beef barbeque. I love the fact they are 24/7. It's a great place to dine after a night out with friends.

09/05/07

Good food but quite expensive!

by wisebrain

The food was great but the portions definitely small. The wait staff was nice and efficient. The atmosphere was very crowded, hardly romantic.

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Expensive

08/25/07

WHO DOES THAT?

by langdonulger

The food is okay, but overpriced and if you're not korean they're not as nice to you. I used to not mind that much, but after the terrible service I received the last time i went, i will NEVER go back. I went there in a birthday group of ten people. The waitress was rude, but we thought whatever, it's a busy night, who cares? After the meal, some of the group was already downstairs and outside, while the rest of us settled the bill. We put the money on the table and were about to leave when the waitress STOPPED US. She said we had to wait there - that we could not leave - until she had counted out the money we left. I was absolutely STUNNED, and then extremely angry at her rudeness in suggesting that we would try to dine and dash. (it's not like we were a group of teenagers who wouldn't have enough money. we're freakin twenty something asian bankers.) She counted the money painstakingly slow in front of everybody in the restaurant and then bid us a facetiously nice goodbye when she realized we had left her an $80 tip. Afterwards, my friend tried to complain to the manager on duty, but he pretended to not speak english!

My advice - if you're looking for overpriced korean food, just go to the restaurant across the street. their bulgogi is better anyways.

• Pros: Nice hostess
• Cons: Horrible waitresses

03/17/07

Just Not Fun Anymore

by sheshe14

If you don't mind dropping $60-$70 in 20 minutes flat for so-so food, this is your place. We used to come here, both as a couple and in a group, and it was always fun - an experience - not rushed, food decent, service not great, but okay. The last couple times have been awful. They hovered over us until we were ready to order, and no sooner did they drop the kimchee plates, they were bringing the main course, and insisting on cooking it on the BBQ for us, despite us making it clear we like to do it ourselves... on our own time, at our own pace. The beef was grisly (again) and the chicken was bland. The Shumai appetizer (which came AFTER the main course food) sucked. Trader Joe's has better frozen Shumai. This place is now like a fast-food joint, with 4-star restaurant prices. We will NEVER go here again.

• Pros: FAST, nicer decor than others
• Cons: Too FAST, Expensive, Annoying Service

02/26/07

Overrated

by milkiss

This restaurant is enjoyable for the decor only. The food is bland and mediocre. Furthermore, the service that i had received was terrible. The Manager himself spilt soysauce all over my bag and my coat, and he expressed no remorse or heartfelt apology for his actions. In fact, when i confronted him about it, he accused me of being oversensitive and rude. I felt having black soy sauce over a four hundred dollar bag was good reason to be upset, especially when he did nothing to help or ease my frustration. He was belittling and condescending. I will never go there again. For better food, friendlier service, and a more authentic korean experience, i highly recommend Kunjip restaurant, further down the block near fifth ave.

• Pros: decor
• Cons: manager, food

01/30/07

One Word: Delicious!

by sistagirl86

The food was unbelievable. This was my first time eating Korean BBQ and I'm hooked. This restaurant has an wonderful and speedy staff. I can't wait to go back.

01/27/07

Indifferent management / rude staff.

by gottcats

We had a very shocking experience during our meal when a member of staff threw a table number from the balcony above at one of our party hitting her on the head, luckily missing an eye. A member of staff was informed and said he would tell the manager, but as it turned out did not do so. We later spoke to the manger and found his attitude indifferent and unconcerned and can only assume such rudness is the norm.

Rather than enjoying a relaxed meal, we felt embarrassed, slighted and horrified at the disregard in which we were held. Obviously we will not dine there again.

.

01/24/07

Great Korean

by searchcity

Kum GangSan (in Manhattan) was fantastic. We sat upstairs. The people were all friendly. The service was great.

We had the jap chae, bulgogi(beef) dak qui (chicken) and a shrimp dish you also cook at the table.

The waitress couldnt have been nicer. They stamped our parking ticket (you pay them $12) and hand the ticket to the garage attendant. So you end up paying $12 instead of $35 for parking. Don't listen to negative reviewers. I couldnt find one thing to complain about.

• Pros: food service

01/21/07

Rude service, cafeteria like atmosphere, mediocre food- much better alternatives available.

by onepebblesplashing

I am not sure what the allure for KumGang San is; perhaps it is the imitation cliff face with a baby grand piano perched upon it but anyone who has sampled Korean food from the area would soon recognize after a visit here that there are simply much better choices available. The atmosphere at KumGang San- bright light, crowed wide open spaces, and all you can hear is the clamoring of plates and the din of conversations- very cafeteria like. The food isn't bad but there are simply places in the area that prepare it better and for cheaper prices.

The worst thing about KumGangSan is the service-

Recently while having dinner at KumGang San I was hoping to enjoy a dish of Bim Bim Bop in hot stoneware. I accidentally pointed to the wrong item on the menu and the waiter mentioned that the beef would be raw but he was not clear that there would be no hot stoneware where it would cook. Beef tar tar styled Korean dish arrived at my table in a cold metal bowl and I realized I had made a mistake. I then say to the waiter, " I am sorry I made a mistake, would it be okay if I had a hot bowl or something to cook the meat in- I would be happy to pay extra." Before I even had a chance to finish my sentence the waiter shouted at me saying "No! I told you what is! No!" and he stormed off. I sat there rather surprised and shocked at his reaction and decided to put the dish aside and see if he would return more composed but he didn't want to serve me anymore. So I approached the manager and I explained that I would be happy to keep the dish but I wished for some means of cooking the meat. He agreed it would be okay but when he came over he was annoyed, and unfriendly. As I left I thanked the manager but he wouldn't listen to me. It was simply the rudest service I have experienced. Alternatives- for inexpensive vegetarian Korean try Cho Dang Gol (55W 33rd), for nice serene atmosphere try HanGawi (12 E. 32nd), other good bets- Woo Lae Oak (148 Mercer), or Yangpyun (43W 33rd).

• Pros: imitation rock face
• Cons: rude service, bad ambience, mediocre food.

12/22/06

Inattentive Service

by choito

Every single time I go to this restaurant, I experience one of the worst services you can receive in a Korean restaurant. Unfortunately, I go cuz I have to as this is one of the largest places and sitting is almost guaranteed. The service is Inattentive, and slow. The waiter will not show up unless you have to call him, which is hard as they are never looking toward your side. I found them many times talking between themselves and not taking care of business. The food is OK, and the BBQ is below average. It has a nice decor, and you are paying for it. If you want to taste the real Korean food in 32nd ST. go somewhere else.

Don't let the restaurante fool you with the free parking, as sometimes they won't validate it. On a Saturday, I took my out of town friends because it was the only one who offered free parking. Oh, well.... spent over $100 for lunch for 4 people and because I was 1 minute over the limit, the parking ticket was not validated. They should have covered at least the first 2 hours that they have promised and I could paid the difference, but this was not an option with the restaurant.

• Pros: Enough Sittings
• Cons: Inattentive Service, below average food, no free parking as advertised