I’ve been to most of the Korean restaurants on telegraph and this is my new favorite! Neng Myeon had the perfect ice texture, ban Chan were well seasoned, delicious, and easy to refill. Seoullongtang was milky with a lovely flavor. I liken it to DaeHo but a much wider variety of Korean dishes. KBBQ was fine, but that’s how I feel about most things that are not grilled in front of you. This is my new go to!

The beef clear soup was yummy, cool spot to get your Korean food fix

+6

Wow, my mouth was drooling from every part of this meal. I have never had banchan so fresh and so flavorful. The meal was perfection - the beef stew was creamy and slow cooked. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy. The seafood pancake was so fresh and perfectly put together. 10/10. No notes.

Newly opened Korean restaurant, this place is the best of all the Korean restaurants in the Bay. Will be back again to try the many other plates on their menu. Recommended!

+3

I visited this place for dinner with some friends. I had been to Mugunghwa in El Cerrito before and really enjoyed the food there, so I decided to try the Oakland location since it's closer to home. I heard their pork cutlet (donkatsu) is popular, so I ordered that. We also got rosé tteokbokki with ramen added, some makgeolli, deulkkae haejangguk, and finished off with the garlic bossam. Everything was incredibly delicious, but the bossam especially stood out — it was the most tender I’ve ever had! The side dishes were all flavorful too. They also serve very generous portions, so you definitely get your money’s worth. If you're craving well-seasoned, authentic Korean food, I highly recommend this place!

At 6 on a weekend there was not much activity but pretty soon it got busy and the tables were full. They have great banchan and their food is great. Their dumplings were big and rich, the galbi jjim was well made and good for 3 people. Their soups are creamy but as with a lot of Korean tang (seoullangtang) you can ask for some salt/pepper to your taste.

+2

Came in today on a dreary Friday for lunch after shopping at KP mart. The touchscreen order system took me by surprise but it was actually really efficient. We immediately got served hot tea and banchan. The banchans were fresh and flavourful. Our mushroom soft tofu stew was delicious and filled with generous morsels of mushrooms, zucchini, and chunks of tofu. Loved the purple rice. We got another milky beef noodle dish, which I wasn't so much a huge fan of as the flavor profile was very one dimensional. I am vegetarian (caveat) so I only tasted a sip of it. All in all, a very good experience!

couldn’t be happier with my visit here!! The banchan was unforgettably fresh and flavorful, and the bulgogi paired perfectly with it. I only regret not getting our waitresses’ name because she was so kind and friendly to us! Super glad I have a new favorite spot to come back to :)

Mugunghwa is amazing! I have been here several times and I almost exclusively get the kbbq beef ribs and the chive pancake because they are just so delicious. The pancakes are pretty large. Their banchans are also incredible!

Really solid Korean staples like bibimbap, dolsot, seafood pancake, tofu soups. Good size portions, prompt and friendly service, order on the tablet style. Family and kid friendly due to the many banchans and modifiable spice levels for many dishes. Came on a weekend evening around 6pm for no wait, definitely got busy after that but was back to no wait by 8pm or so. A definite return.

This is my new favorite restaurant (though I still love Seoul Gomtang). Their bimbimpap and rice cake/dumpling soup and jun are all heavenly. Even their banchan is tasty.

Best Kimchi in town. I hope they sell it as a menu. I had Galbi Jjim and Mugunghwa nang myun(cold noodles). For native Korean I felt it was sweet but not too much. I’m impressed.

Sandy Sum

Came in today on a dreary Friday for lunch after shopping at KP mart. The touchscreen order system took me by surprise but it was actually really efficient. We immediately got served hot tea and banchan. The banchans were fresh and flavourful. Our mushroom soft tofu stew was delicious and filled with generous morsels of mushrooms, zucchini, and chunks of tofu. Loved the purple rice. We got another milky beef noodle dish, which I wasn't so much a huge fan of as the flavor profile was very one dimensional. I am vegetarian (caveat) so I only tasted a sip of it. All in all, a very good experience!

Elaine Kim

This is my new favorite restaurant (though I still love Seoul Gomtang). Their bimbimpap and rice cake/dumpling soup and jun are all heavenly. Even their banchan is tasty.

Kikuye Koyano

Mugunghwa is amazing! I have been here several times and I almost exclusively get the kbbq beef ribs and the chive pancake because they are just so delicious. The pancakes are pretty large. Their banchans are also incredible!

Geoffrey Langham

Really solid Korean staples like bibimbap, dolsot, seafood pancake, tofu soups. Good size portions, prompt and friendly service, order on the tablet style. Family and kid friendly due to the many banchans and modifiable spice levels for many dishes. Came on a weekend evening around 6pm for no wait, definitely got busy after that but was back to no wait by 8pm or so. A definite return.

Eunhye Jeon

Best Kimchi in town. I hope they sell it as a menu. I had Galbi Jjim and Mugunghwa nang myun(cold noodles). For native Korean I felt it was sweet but not too much. I’m impressed.

Leo

I visited Mugunghwa on a Saturday evening and was pleasantly surprised to find no wait time. The restaurant immediately gave off a calm and welcoming vibe — clean, well-organized, and spacious, with soft pop music playing gently in the background. The ambiance strikes a nice balance between modern and comfortable, making it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. Service was prompt and professional. I was seated right away, and the staff handled everything efficiently and courteously. My dishes — Galbi Tang and Bulgogi — arrived impressively fast without compromising quality. The food was the true highlight. The banchan (side dishes) were especially memorable — fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care. Each small plate added a vibrant contrast to the main dishes, showing attention to authenticity and balance. The Galbi Tang was comforting, with a clean, rich broth and tender beef that fell apart easily. The Bulgogi was tasty and well-seasoned, though the rice on the side was a touch too moist; a drier texture would have made the dish even better. Still, the quality of ingredients and consistency of flavors stood out. Overall, Mugunghwa delivers an impressive combination of fresh flavors, attentive service, and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel taken care of without any pretense. Despite a minor flaw in the rice texture, I’d gladly return for another meal — especially for those wonderful banchan.

Max Kay

Authentic Korean restaurant with good variety of cuisines. Touches order at the tables. Quick service. Food was fresh and delicious. May be long line or wait time. Large indoor seating area good for kids, groups, meetup and gathering. Larger groups may need reservation. Free and paid street parking. Accessible with flat entry.

Abi Hwang Nable

We stumbled upon Mugunghwa in Oakland’s Koreatown while trying to find a feel-good Friday night meal. It just so happened to be during their soft opening period– we visited on 7/18/25. We got there around 8pm and were seated immediately, it looked pretty empty at that time. Around 8:30 we noticed that tables started to fill up pretty quick. Even though the restaurant became increasingly full, the staff was able to keep up with orders and refill requests in a timely manner. Which honestly, for a soft opening, is very impressive! Not only that, we ordered around 8:15 and had our food by ~8:30. Since it was our first visit, we wanted to try a variety of items. You order from the tablets secured to each table, which also lets you request banchan (complimentary side dish) refills and booricha (roasted barley tea). Here’s what we got: Mandu with Pork (steamed pork dumplings) – $14 Korean Fried Chicken, bone-in 8pc with half spicy and half garlic sauce on the side – $19 BBQ Combo Yukhoe Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup with Korean beef tartare), with Kalbi (+$5, marinated short ribs) and Ssam (Korean-style wraps) – $43 We were blown away by the portion sizes. We even tried to recruit some friends mid-meal to help us out (unsuccessfully), so we left with plenty of leftovers. Throughout our meal we noticed that the main items were light in flavor, but all of the side dishes, sauces, and pickles were very heavily seasoned. Some items were slightly unbalanced, like the regular Kimchi (fermented spicy napa cabbage). My first bite was so overwhelming with salt and the next was way too sweet, so I gave it a good mix and that seemed to do the job. The daikon and carrot jangajji (pickled daikon and carrot) is usually my go to for adding to my ssam but it was too sweet for me. All of the other banchan really brought each bite together. The umami from the Sigeumchi Namus (seasoned spinach side dish) went really well with the light flavor of the mandu. The mandu came with five pieces and honestly, it could be a meal on its own. Each one was about the size of my palm and piping hot when it first came out! The Korean Fried Chicken arrived next. The first thing we did was try each sauce on its own. The garlic sauce tasted like straight garlic puree which actually worked quite well since the acidity from the garlic helped to cut the grease of the chicken. Not that it was overly greasy, but that it was the perfect amount of garlic flavor for fried chicken. The chicken itself was perfectly crispy, not overly breaded, and very juicy. I kept going back for more and had to remind myself I also needed to try the Kalbi and Yukhoe Naeng Myun. The Kalbi was a bit underwhelming on its own—I personally prefer a stronger marinade—but the meat was very tender and well-marbled. It really shines when eaten with ssam and the right banchan, which seems to be the point here: building your perfect bite. The concept of the Yukhoe Naeng Myun was so exciting to me but it wasn’t anything that I would rave about. There is an option to order the Yukhoe on top of Dolsot Bibimbap (stone bowl mixed rice) which I will definitely have to try next time. I felt that the Yukhoe was overpowered by the broth of the Naeng Myun itself. I appreciate that the interior is sleek yet feels very open. The soju bottle design that acts as a barrier between the middle tables and perimeter tables adds a splash of green that helps brighten the atmosphere as well! I can’t wait to see how Mugunghwa evolves as they move past the soft opening. I’ll definitely be back to try the Rose Kalbi-Jjim (braised short ribs) with friends!

We stumbled upon Mugunghwa in Oakland’s Koreatown while trying to find a feel-good Friday night meal. It just so happened to be during their soft opening period– we visited on 7/18/25. We got there around 8pm and were seated immediately, it looked pretty empty at that time. Around 8:30 we noticed that tables started to fill up pretty quick. Even though the restaurant became increasingly full, the staff was able to keep up with orders and refill requests in a timely manner. Which honestly, for a soft opening, is very impressive! Not only that, we ordered around 8:15 and had our food by ~8:30. Since it was our first visit, we wanted to try a variety of items. You order from the tablets secured to each table, which also lets you request banchan (complimentary side dish) refills and booricha (roasted barley tea). Here’s what we got: Mandu with Pork (steamed pork dumplings) – $14 Korean Fried Chicken, bone-in 8pc with half spicy and half garlic sauce on the side – $19 BBQ Combo Yukhoe Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodle soup with Korean beef tartare), with Kalbi (+$5, marinated short ribs) and Ssam (Korean-style wraps) – $43 We were blown away by the portion sizes. We even tried to recruit some friends mid-meal to help us out (unsuccessfully), so we left with plenty of leftovers. Throughout our meal we noticed that the main items were light in flavor, but all of the side dishes, sauces, and pickles were very heavily seasoned. Some items were slightly unbalanced, like the regular Kimchi (fermented spicy napa cabbage). My first bite was so overwhelming with salt and the next was way too sweet, so I gave it a good mix and that seemed to do the job. The daikon and carrot jangajji (pickled daikon and carrot) is usually my go to for adding to my ssam but it was too sweet for me. All of the other banchan really brought each bite together. The umami from the Sigeumchi Namus (seasoned spinach side dish) went really well with the light flavor of the mandu. The mandu came with five pieces and honestly, it could be a meal on its own. Each one was about the size of my palm and piping hot when it first came out! The Korean Fried Chicken arrived next. The first thing we did was try each sauce on its own. The garlic sauce tasted like straight garlic puree which actually worked quite well since the acidity from the garlic helped to cut the grease of the chicken. Not that it was overly greasy, but that it was the perfect amount of garlic flavor for fried chicken. The chicken itself was perfectly crispy, not overly breaded, and very juicy. I kept going back for more and had to remind myself I also needed to try the Kalbi and Yukhoe Naeng Myun. The Kalbi was a bit underwhelming on its own—I personally prefer a stronger marinade—but the meat was very tender and well-marbled. It really shines when eaten with ssam and the right banchan, which seems to be the point here: building your perfect bite. The concept of the Yukhoe Naeng Myun was so exciting to me but it wasn’t anything that I would rave about. There is an option to order the Yukhoe on top of Dolsot Bibimbap (stone bowl mixed rice) which I will definitely have to try next time. I felt that the Yukhoe was overpowered by the broth of the Naeng Myun itself. I appreciate that the interior is sleek yet feels very open. The soju bottle design that acts as a barrier between the middle tables and perimeter tables adds a splash of green that helps brighten the atmosphere as well! I can’t wait to see how Mugunghwa evolves as they move past the soft opening. I’ll definitely be back to try the Rose Kalbi-Jjim (braised short ribs) with friends!

+6

Authentic Korean restaurant with good variety of cuisines. Touches order at the tables. Quick service. Food was fresh and delicious. May be long line or wait time. Large indoor seating area good for kids, groups, meetup and gathering. Larger groups may need reservation. Free and paid street parking. Accessible with flat entry.

+5

I visited Mugunghwa on a Saturday evening and was pleasantly surprised to find no wait time. The restaurant immediately gave off a calm and welcoming vibe — clean, well-organized, and spacious, with soft pop music playing gently in the background. The ambiance strikes a nice balance between modern and comfortable, making it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. Service was prompt and professional. I was seated right away, and the staff handled everything efficiently and courteously. My dishes — Galbi Tang and Bulgogi — arrived impressively fast without compromising quality. The food was the true highlight. The banchan (side dishes) were especially memorable — fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care. Each small plate added a vibrant contrast to the main dishes, showing attention to authenticity and balance. The Galbi Tang was comforting, with a clean, rich broth and tender beef that fell apart easily. The Bulgogi was tasty and well-seasoned, though the rice on the side was a touch too moist; a drier texture would have made the dish even better. Still, the quality of ingredients and consistency of flavors stood out. Overall, Mugunghwa delivers an impressive combination of fresh flavors, attentive service, and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel taken care of without any pretense. Despite a minor flaw in the rice texture, I’d gladly return for another meal — especially for those wonderful banchan.

+2

The food is fantastic.The servers are nice.The only thing I noticed is tv screen doesn’t even work in that such a good restaurant and it hurts my kids eyes and is not entertaining. They should also fix the heater, it is very cold. I would come here more if they fix it

Ethan Casana

The food is fantastic.The servers are nice.The only thing I noticed is tv screen doesn’t even work in that such a good restaurant and it hurts my kids eyes and is not entertaining. They should also fix the heater, it is very cold. I would come here more if they fix it

Anjera C

We got their specialty cold noodle and beef bugolgi. Overall it was a lot of food and value for 2 for the beef bugolgi. The portion size was qutie generous but the beef was not quite as charred as I’d liked it to be. I enjoyed the acidity in the cold noodle however and found it to really hit the spot. It was a little spicy for me though which is a personal preference, but I would get it again!

We got their specialty cold noodle and beef bugolgi. Overall it was a lot of food and value for 2 for the beef bugolgi. The portion size was qutie generous but the beef was not quite as charred as I’d liked it to be. I enjoyed the acidity in the cold noodle however and found it to really hit the spot. It was a little spicy for me though which is a personal preference, but I would get it again!

Annie

Everything has a gas smell, and the cheese was completely bitter with no cheese flavor at all. I asked the waitress and she said it was normal. I’m not sure if it really is, but it taste terrible...

Two diners together, one got food right away, the other guests food hadn't come out for another 40 minutes. We used the electronic system to ask for help and the server never came. We stopped workers walking by and they apologized but gave no explanation. The second diner's food came after almost an hour and after the first guest finished eating and only after two complaints and it was just bibimbap... not even something that needs to be cooked for a long time. No one checked on us in the 90 minutes we were there. The side dishes were never refilled. The bill had a random discount ($13) as an apology but just a terrible overall experience. Food was fine, but unlikely to return.

Michael Angis

Two diners together, one got food right away, the other guests food hadn't come out for another 40 minutes. We used the electronic system to ask for help and the server never came. We stopped workers walking by and they apologized but gave no explanation. The second diner's food came after almost an hour and after the first guest finished eating and only after two complaints and it was just bibimbap... not even something that needs to be cooked for a long time. No one checked on us in the 90 minutes we were there. The side dishes were never refilled. The bill had a random discount ($13) as an apology but just a terrible overall experience. Food was fine, but unlikely to return.