Tala Coffee & Tea

Really good Korean food especially in this area. I would come all the way from Oakland to eat here. Staff was friendly. Food was served promptly. Seafood pancake and rice cakes (with cheese) were really good. Soups were also delicious. Spacious bathrooms, handicap friendly, also with changing table for babies. The Staff was nice enough to provide kids plates

Excellent banchan and galbi jjim. We got one galbi jjim for two people and it could have easily fed 3-4. The meat was extremely tender and the sauce was very flavorful. The galbi jjim quality was comparable to Daeho and Moo Bong Ri, very happy to have this option nearby and excited to try their soondubu and gomtang!

I ordered the beef rib and tofu soup combo. Two people can easily share this. This place has the flavor the atmosphere and great service. Thank you Sam for being so hospitable.! Glad El Cerrito finally has some good Korean Cuisine.

Alma Rey

We loved the beef bulgobi, and the little side dishes (banchan) that come with the food. Everything was so fresh and yummy. The rice comes in a hot pot and it was crispy and smokey for the whole duration of the meal. You order the food through terminals on the table, so process is very easy and fast. Great experience and food! Plus everyone is very nice.

Yeeun Moon

We love Mugunghwa, their food is delicious & authentic. It’s a privilege to have such well established, family owned Korean restaurant around, something that is not always given. All the main dishes, I believe, come with 6 set of side dishes and please don’t sleep on them - the portions are very generous (& you can ask for refills) and are flavorful. I think they make all their kimchi in house as well. And as a Korean, I grew loving sotbap which is basically a rice cooked in a pot where you can take out the cooked rice to a side bowl and let the rice stuck to the pot simmer in broth which makes a nutty nooroongji. So I got pretty excited when I heard they have sotbap. Our current favorites are: Sellongtang, galbijjim and bone harjangguk. But honestly all of their stuff is great in my opinion so try whatever sounds interesting to you!!

Jenny Hee Kyung Lim

Good and nice clean atmosphere, tasty authentic korean foods. fresh ingredients And kind and smile service especially weekdays.

A A

The star of our dinner was the Galbi Jjim. I would recommend to bring a sophisticated friend to enjoy with you. Try before they get the Michelin star they deserve!!!

ahkwai Lert

I've visited this place twice, and it came highly recommended by a friend. Everything was fantastic, especially the fried chicken and tteokbokki. It was definitely worth it, and it's now my go-to spot for Korean fried chicken. Moreover, the restaurant has a lovely modern decor. The staff were incredibly nice and friendly, frequently checking in to see if we needed anything else.

Helene

Really good Korean food especially in this area. I would come all the way from Oakland to eat here. Staff was friendly. Food was served promptly. Seafood pancake and rice cakes (with cheese) were really good. Soups were also delicious. Spacious bathrooms, handicap friendly, also with changing table for babies. The Staff was nice enough to provide kids plates

Andrea Novoa

As a huge fan of Korean food, I can confidently say Mugunghwa is on another level. This restaurant blends elegance, tradition, and flavor in the most beautiful way. The ambiance is serene and sophisticated perfect for a special night out or anyone who truly appreciates refined Korean cuisine. The staff made the experience even better: attentive, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about each dish. Now, let’s talk food, I tried the steamed pork dumplings plump, juicy, and full of flavor. The beef japchae had that perfect sweet-savory balance with silky glass noodles. The beef tartare bibimbap was fresh, vibrant, and perfectly seasoned. The galbi short ribs were so tender they practically melted in my mouth, and the galbi jim was rich, hearty, and deeply comforting. But the surprise favorite? The Mugunghwa cold noodles icy, chewy, with the perfect touch of mustard heat. So refreshing and absolutely addictive. Every dish was a hit beautifully presented, thoughtfully prepared, and full of bold, authentic flavors. If you’re craving a next-level Korean dining experience with gorgeous views and impeccable service, Mugunghwa is it. I’ll be dreaming about this meal for a long time

Yi

Overall it’s a great experience. We get Beef Tarter and Pork Dolsot (the hot stone pork bulgogi) . The side dishes are great too. The music is also nice and relaxing. Overall, reminds me of my time in Asia. I really enjoyed it.

Rachael Morton

Excellent banchan and galbi jjim. We got one galbi jjim for two people and it could have easily fed 3-4. The meat was extremely tender and the sauce was very flavorful. The galbi jjim quality was comparable to Daeho and Moo Bong Ri, very happy to have this option nearby and excited to try their soondubu and gomtang!

Diana

I ordered the beef rib and tofu soup combo. Two people can easily share this. This place has the flavor the atmosphere and great service. Thank you Sam for being so hospitable.! Glad El Cerrito finally has some good Korean Cuisine.

Milo Conway

Plenty of inside seating for parties of 4-6. No windows but well-lit. Simple decor. Serving ware is all metal avoiding plastic affecting the taste. Banchan pretty spicy. KBBQ comes with sauce and lettuce to wrap. Seafood pancake has a decent amount of non-batter ingredient. Seollongtang / broth has a depth of flavor that doesn't rely on saltiness. The menu is pretty expansive, looking forward to the next visit.

Jeff Chalmers

The restaurant is still in the soft opening stage. The service was a little slow and although some of the food came out super fast, other dishes were slower. They also need to wait for soup dishes. That said the food was fantastic, came out at a good temperature and was very tasty. I am sure they will iron out the service issues (we were there on a busy Saturday night at 6:30 pm) and we will definitely return.

We ordered the Bulgogi and were shocked by the size of the plate. The meat was tender and clearly fresh, not frozen. The variety of banchan kept the meal exciting.

chris

Oh my god, how have I not been here sooner?? Legendary good Korean food, with lots of staples that don’t always make it to other Korean restaurants. I had their Kalbi Tang (stew), which came out tomahawk-style on the bone, and it was so hearty. The other persons at my table had soft tofu stew and kalguksu, also solid. While eating I had Ratatouille-style flashbacks both to my mom’s cooking, and also to a recent trip to Seoul. Even the banchans, every last one, could’ve been a standout on its own. Will have to come back again soon.

Samantha Ho

Tried this place out today and it was delicious! We moved out of Berkeley and needed to find our new go-to Korean restaurant. MUGUNGHWA has officially become that for us! Service was great; staff was attentive and quick. Food was fresh, flavorful, hot, and so so good. Nothing was greasy or oily (not even the fried chicken)—everything was cooked perfectly. Their variety of tofu soups are awesome and their rose tteokbokki is genuinely one of the best we’ve had out. Highly recommend trying this place out! :) we’ll be back!! Thank you!

The food is really good! You order through a tablet on you're table. I forgot to take a picture of the bossam, but it was SO GOOD! The the tofu soup was so good too! The banchan was good and tasty. I would return and highly recommend! The food stayed very warm for a long time and that was perfect! Come check it out!

A friend recommended this place, and we decided to give it a try. The wait wasn’t too bad—about 15 minutes on a Friday evening —but they were a bit unorganized. We ordered three combo sets of meat and soup, along with their famous garlic bossam. The spicy pork was a highlight for me (it had more fat than meat, though), and the soups were rich and flavorful. While the bossam was good, it was a bit too sweet and overly garlicky for my taste. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely return when we’re craving authentic Korean cuisine!

Exceptional banchan, high quality dishes from pancakes to soups, large servings, and ease of ordering (tablet at table). But orders sometimes get forgotten or missed, the order in which they come can be unpredictable, and most of the restaurant has no natural light or windows, with tight seating. It's also quite pricey and can get very loud and crowded. Overall, still the best option around.

Sam

The food is really good! You order through a tablet on you're table. I forgot to take a picture of the bossam, but it was SO GOOD! The the tofu soup was so good too! The banchan was good and tasty. I would return and highly recommend! The food stayed very warm for a long time and that was perfect! Come check it out!

Hanna Kang

A friend recommended this place, and we decided to give it a try. The wait wasn’t too bad—about 15 minutes on a Friday evening —but they were a bit unorganized. We ordered three combo sets of meat and soup, along with their famous garlic bossam. The spicy pork was a highlight for me (it had more fat than meat, though), and the soups were rich and flavorful. While the bossam was good, it was a bit too sweet and overly garlicky for my taste. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely return when we’re craving authentic Korean cuisine!

Max Stanton

Exceptional banchan, high quality dishes from pancakes to soups, large servings, and ease of ordering (tablet at table). But orders sometimes get forgotten or missed, the order in which they come can be unpredictable, and most of the restaurant has no natural light or windows, with tight seating. It's also quite pricey and can get very loud and crowded. Overall, still the best option around.

Delicious food, as always. It was difficult to get the tea we had ordered. Also, it was t really the waitress fault, but at lunch ordered a dish that seemed like a smaller lunch size order (other comparable dishes were $15 to $20) must have cost about $70, as total split in half was about $40 or more )

The food is OK - boyfriend had beef kalbi and seafood and I had seafood tofu soup. The beef was too fatty, and interestingly, the seafood, soft tofu soup had beef broth (it’s quite unusual that the seafood soft tofu soup is made with broth, especially since the menu doesn’t indicate this). The banchan was ok - there was two different kind of kimchi, and both were not very fermented; disappointed that they didn’t have the typical banchan like seasoned spinach or sprout. The atmosphere is clean and modern. The service was underwhelming - we pressed the service button twice and waited 10 minutes for refill of banchan. Additionally, the dirty dishes, were piling up as this server did not pick up any of them…..Well, at least not until we left.. Another thing, when they bring you the refill of banchan, rather than taking away the empty dirty banchan dish, they will pile the refill on top of the empty dirty dish, lol..

mary reviewa

The food is OK - boyfriend had beef kalbi and seafood and I had seafood tofu soup. The beef was too fatty, and interestingly, the seafood, soft tofu soup had beef broth (it’s quite unusual that the seafood soft tofu soup is made with broth, especially since the menu doesn’t indicate this). The banchan was ok - there was two different kind of kimchi, and both were not very fermented; disappointed that they didn’t have the typical banchan like seasoned spinach or sprout. The atmosphere is clean and modern. The service was underwhelming - we pressed the service button twice and waited 10 minutes for refill of banchan. Additionally, the dirty dishes, were piling up as this server did not pick up any of them…..Well, at least not until we left.. Another thing, when they bring you the refill of banchan, rather than taking away the empty dirty banchan dish, they will pile the refill on top of the empty dirty dish, lol..

I don’t usually give bad reviews, but this time, I feel compelled to share my experience. My boyfriend and I were excited to try the food here, especially since I love Korean fried chicken. We ordered a pancake, bibimbap, and fried chicken. However, we were shocked to find jagged pieces of glass in our green onion pancakes, which is a serious safety issue. We immediately informed the waitress, who apologized and said they would remove the charge for the dish. We were shocked. Unfortunately, we forgot to take photos of the glass. She then went to the kitchen to speak with the chefs. When she returned, she claimed there were no glass items in the kitchen and that they had no idea how it happened. What was even more concerning, however, was that no one from management or ownership took responsibility or reached out to personally apologize. We later learned that the owner was actually there that night, yet no one from the management team made the effort to follow up with us. As someone who used to work at a restaurant, I know that good managers and owners always take responsibility when things go wrong and make sure customers feel valued. The lack of follow-up made the situation feel even more impersonal, and it was a missed opportunity for the restaurant to show accountability and genuine concern for our well-being as customers.

Miu

I don’t usually give bad reviews, but this time, I feel compelled to share my experience. My boyfriend and I were excited to try the food here, especially since I love Korean fried chicken. We ordered a pancake, bibimbap, and fried chicken. However, we were shocked to find jagged pieces of glass in our green onion pancakes, which is a serious safety issue. We immediately informed the waitress, who apologized and said they would remove the charge for the dish. We were shocked. Unfortunately, we forgot to take photos of the glass. She then went to the kitchen to speak with the chefs. When she returned, she claimed there were no glass items in the kitchen and that they had no idea how it happened. What was even more concerning, however, was that no one from management or ownership took responsibility or reached out to personally apologize. We later learned that the owner was actually there that night, yet no one from the management team made the effort to follow up with us. As someone who used to work at a restaurant, I know that good managers and owners always take responsibility when things go wrong and make sure customers feel valued. The lack of follow-up made the situation feel even more impersonal, and it was a missed opportunity for the restaurant to show accountability and genuine concern for our well-being as customers.

Jason Boron

We decided to try this new spot instead of our usual Gangnam Tofu. The food was average, though we appreciated the convenience of ordering directly from the monitor at the table—a feature most restaurants in the area don’t offer. Unfortunately, we found a hair in the rice. When we politely brought it to the attention of an employee, his response was abrupt and dismissive, with no apology or acknowledgement. That lack of basic courtesy overshadowed what could have been a better dining experience. It seems like a common issue, because there’s another table having a similar issue