GinGoGae

You have to try this place. The food is better than any place off the 99.

Don’t waste your $ by going here. Gamja tang/​Spicy potato soup was made with minimal effort, microwaved potatoes, no broth and freezer burned meat. Yeah.
We were the only people there at dinner time so that should have been a clue…

I love Korean food and sometimes I get the hankering to make home made kimchi or Sikhye and sometimes I do BBQ ribs or kimchi fried rice– but that’s where my «Korean» culinary skills stop.
Not being in the mood to cook I wanted Korean food and remembered this shop up on Aurora near the Safeway on 99.
When I got there the place was crawling with other Asians. Then a group of teenagers came in and took over a couple tables. I was happy seeing the younger generation still eating the food their parents were more than likely raised on. People were laughing and having a good time, I suspect soju was being consumed in mass quantities. This is a good sign.
I also have a love for eel. When I saw jang uh ghi on the menu my decision was made. Sometimes I just settle for bibimbap, but tonight it was go big or go home!
I think we literally got anywhere from 8 – 12 banchan served to us while waiting for the eel to cook. They were all so tasty. I really liked the little dried anchovy (or sardines) which were coated in what seemed to be a sweet unagi type sauce.
Unfortunately for my husband a lot of the banchan flavours didn’t play nicely with his pallet, but he did take a bite of everything like a good sport.
While waiting I had to text my dad to ask about the foods. He spent four years in Korea while on tour for the Air Force and knows the cuisine. He said from the way it sounded and the pictures I sent him it’s a legit/​authentic place. I also asked him the difference between soju and sake. He said if I were to drink the soju like I drink sake I would be on my ass. I heeded his advice and decided not to try the soju this time.
The eel came out and was beautifully displayed. I was pleased with the appearance, smell and taste. It was so good.
All in all I was very pleased with this restaurant and even happier that I was able to take home a good sized left over chunk of eel.
Later in the day I had a Korean friend come over and she tried some of my left overs. She too said it sounded like everything was authentic.

I always ordered the same food every time I went there. Beef short rib soup and Korean pancake for dinner! Or lunch special beef soup for $ 4.99 comes with small side dishes.
So sad, the owner is retiring and closing her business end of March. :’(

I’m no expert, but I came here with a Korean friend, and he judged the place very authentic. Their specialty is blood sausage and budae chigae — the former which I couldn’t psychologically process and physically stomach and the latter which was chock-​full of random deliciousness.

At first glance, this place looks SUPER sketchy. It’s in this tiny, rundown strip mall next to a 7 – 11. Go inside, the interior doesn’t help. But oh jeez their soups are freaking awesome! The sul lung tang is one of the bests you can find here in Shoreline. Gamja tang is pretty delicious as well! Be warned, this place is NOT a KBBQ restaurant. This isnt what they specialize in. If you want BBQ, go to Grill King, LITERALLY a two minute walk away from here.
Why would anyone go to a korean restaurant and always expect great korean bbq? Would you go to Sharies and expect a delicious, juicy bbq pulled pork sandwich? Didnt think so.

Great variety in menu items as well as price.
If you know what you’re ordering, they are THE BEST IN SEATTLE.
If you have no idea what they specialize in, and end up ordering KBBQ items like nubs, then it’s mediocre at best (due to price/​quality).
You can’t go wrong with any of their soup-​based dishes and their Soon-​dae (Pork blood sausage. It sounds gross, but it’s just incredible… I’d say it’s almost better than those I’ve eaten in Korea). They are cheap and extremely high quality.

For under twenty bucks we got two tasty bowls of soup and six little dishes of mixed veggies and such. Left very full and had a to-​go bag to boot. I had some soft tofu with egg soup, I really liked it, GF got the beef bone soup, not up my alley. Service was a little slow, but the place filled up with Koreans quickly, I think that’s a good sign.

I came here because of the good reviews. Bad idea. Usually when you arrive at a restaurant you are seated and poured ice water and served your appetizers. When I arrived here we sat for almost 20 minutes before someone came to take our order. The water and (almost nonexistent) appetizers came with the food. I even found a fly in my water but the help was off somewhere and I never got the chance to ask for new water. After about an hour and a half, I went to find our waitress to get some boxes. When I approached her, she was sitting at a table with the other staff, eating… Um… To top it off I now have a very bad stomach. Won’t be coming back.

This is great place for bargain hunter. Since it is near shoreline community college great for student. Food wise it is a average Korean restaurant specialize in bone soup. So if you have a cold or hangover try gin go gae.

Simply one of the best budget Korean restaurants in Seattle. The prices are very reasonable considering the generous portions of very tasty Banchan (side dishes). My friend likes the sullangtang quite a bit. Personally, I enjoy the yukgaejang here. While the broth isn’t the best I’ve had, it’s very good. However, I was really impressed by the amount of vegetables. It’s a personal preference for 2/​3rds vegetables to ¹⁄₃ meat and just the right amount of broth. It lasted two meals with the banchan.
Again, not the best, but definitely great for the price. The service has consistently been excellent as well.

After a few several failed attempts to find an open Korean spot for dinner our Unilocal search led us to this teeny hidden spot.
No doubt you’ll question it due to its rather sketchy surroundings, but please take the initiative and come through the doors to some really good home cooked Korean cuisine.
We had been served some delicious banchan and kimchi with an actual kick to it. The total bill for dinner between the 4 of us came to about $ 34.00 total, a complete deal! There are lots of lunch and dinner specials between $ 5-​$ 9.
If your veg, you’ll find it a little hard to get something omitted without meat in it, but the BiBimBop serves as a hearty subsitute.

I know this place looks a bit sketch on the outside, but the food is legit.
Actually one of the better korean resturants south of Aurora. Food tastes like home cooking! Although the panchan «side dishes» could use a little work. The pickled radish (kakdugi) is delicious and one of the best! Always crunchy and flavorful! Perfect for their delicious Suhlungtang (bone marrow soup). Their lunch specials are ridic! I believe its 5.99 for suhlungtang! Service is always nice and great.
MUST try my FAV– gamja tang! (potatoe & pork stew)

I’ve been a customer for years and I never get sick of their food EVER! If I had the money I would eat there everyday. I never write reviews but decided that it’s about time that I pay my respect to the restaurant. My favorite is probably sul lung tang (beef bone soup) which they are KNOWN for they also have lunch special right now for $ 5.99. I just read a review which mentioned that it didn’t include bone in the sul lung tang but I’ve never been anywhere with actual beef bone in the soup. Also Koreans eat Sul lung tang only with the raddish kimchi and the cabbage kimchi, not with any other side dishes. If you ever go to a restuarant that specialize in sul lung tang you will ONLY get two side dishes. So don’t think the owner is being a bitch.
Ajuma (older lady in Korean) always hooks me up with plentiful kimchi and the ggak doo gi (raddish kimchi) it is the best raddish I have ever had in my life!
However, If you are not an Korean food expert I don’t suggest sul lung tang since it is considered more authentic dish. I would suggest their pajuhn which is exquisite or their bibimbop. Plus when you order those meals you get more side dishes! =)
Overall I will continue going back to Gingogae. I am drooling just thinking about their food.

Solid food and friendly service. My only gripe was that the banchan needed a little more variety, something sweet and soothing to cut the spiciness of the rest of the meal.
Will definitely be returning.

Always a solid meal at Gin Go Gae! I’ve been here a handful of times and the dol sot bibimbap is the best in the area. I’ve also had the shredded beef soup, korean sausage soup, and the soft tofu soup which are all pretty tasty. Not crazy about the cold noodle broth dish (Though it could be a temperature thing) but overall I like it here. The tofu and cucumber banchan is my favorite.
Service is a little slow at times, but it feels homey. Great option for Korean food without having to trek to Ichiro’s in the UDist.

Off the beaten path. I came to this place on a recommendation from a friend’s friend as good home cookin… And since I was in the hood I figure why not track this place down on the iphone. It’s off the main road and next to the 7eleven parking lot.
You walk in and know it is going to be good home cookin and judging by the korean patrons there, I just know I’ll get something authentic.
I’d like to first discuss Bean B.‘s review of the Seafood Pancake. That person has «No Clue» I almost didn’t freakin order the thing on that review alone and this is why Unilocal can be terrible for restaurant owner’s… To me, the Pah Jun (Seafood Pancakes) were… wait for it «Le-​Gen-​Dairyyyyyyy»
See my pics as the picture speaks volumes. It is not merely an appetizer, it should be the center of all other things that you get for your meal at this mom and pop korean spot. Simply put, it was the best pah jun I’ve ever had. BESTTTTT… And I’ve had plenty in my life… Filled with plenty of seafood, but that wasn’t it. The crispiness to the outside pieces and the thick flavor in the middle pieces was superb and what did it for me. I still think about those pancakes with the crispy outside because I’m from the east coast with hundreds of Korean restaurants in my hood but I’ve never had it like this place…
I know why the owner wouldn’t serve Bean B. again. To them, the Pah Jun is like a work of art… like putting steak sauce on a perfect steak or adding soy sauce to a well prepared fish. And when you insult it, you don’t deserve anymore…
Okay okay… on to other stuff. I had a oxtail bone soup for my meal and that made me feel nice and warm like comfort food should. Enormous pieces of oxtail with meat that just fell off the bone. Such an unexpected and satisfying experience… Dolsot Bi Bim Bap was also a good choice and it tastes right…
I saw an add for weekday So Long Tong special at $ 5 bucks… How can you beat that??? It’s really too bad this place isn’t in a more crowded area or where it can be properly appreciated…

K-​nomz a plenty.
Off the beaten path – the only living spot in a super dead strip mall (hope the rents are cheap). However, the place is exactly what you might hope for. They had a targeted menu and weren’t afraid to translate offal and various other bits into English. That means goodness for me!
I had the bone soup, which was new for me. Pretty good, very boney. The kimchee definitely seemed homemade and they were kind enough to sell a HUGE to-​go container for $ 5. Yumz for later.
While I was super happy when we went, I definitely want to go back as the walls were plastered with local Koren newspaper articles about some crazy-​good salad with tendon and other parts in it. Must find. I think it’s like $ 30 though (and huge).

Nice dol sot bibimbap! I love me some rice crisped in a hot bowl! Nom nom nom! I enjoyed their selection of mini appetizers. pickle-​y goodness!
My husband and I enjoyed their kimchee quite a bit so we bought a huge takeout container to have at home for about $ 5! This place is pretty far from me, but I’d definitely come back again if I wander this way.

I’ve only been to two Korean BBQ restaurants in Seattle, but I like this one better. Although it takes out all the fun when you aren’t cooking the meat, it tastes better when somebody cooks the meats for you. I always get the bulgolgi beef and bulgogi pork (spicy!!!), seafood pancake, and soft tofu soup here. The banchan is really good as well and you’ll never run out.
Nothing fancy here — just good Korean food!