Sorabol Korean Restaurant

This was once Pagoda (my family go-to restaurant for bigger gatherings). The menu is extensive. The price is not cheap. The family ordered japchae and soup stews, pork ribs, meat jun etc. We tried the seafood pan jeon and a so myun noodle with stir-fried baby octopus (so chewy and spicy). The seafood pancake was better than Kim chee and chive one. The octopus was way too chewy/salty/spicy.

First time visiting the restaurant and the venue, and the landscaping was beautiful, first off! We were seated by the southern side of the restaurant, which had plenty of sunlight streaming in. We ordered samgyupsal, ahnchang, kalbi, and bulgogi for BBQ; kimchi pancake and lettuce on the side. Our favorites were the kalbi and ahnchang, but personally we didn't like the flavor of the bulgogi. I also liked Sorabol's banchan than other places I've visited e.g. Sura's We also received seafood soup and sikhye (like a sweet rice tea, this was also my favorite)

Second time here and everything was just as delicious as last time. We got a different server today and she was as attentive, quirky, and patient as our last one. We ordered food cooked in their kitchen so that everyone could eat together. The servers brought out our drinks, rice, and sides quickly after we ordered and made sure everyone was served. We ordered BBQ chicken, beef bulgogi, meat jun/gogi jun (pan-fried egg battered beef), seafood pancake, japchae (glass noodles), soon dubu chi-ke (spicy soft tofu pot stew with clam) and two orders of their seasoned sliced pork belly. We had to order lettuce and sliced raw garlic separately--it's not part of the meal. Everything was made/cooked fresh. We appreciated how fast everything came out since we spent the day at the beach and we were all pretty hungry. The kids always enjoy the atmosphere. They love looking and searching for the big koi fish and little turtles. The building is so uniquely structured. Parking is street parking with an option for valet parking. It's an early Monday evening so it was pretty easy to find spots for both of our cars. We ended the night with a sweet rice drink. It was really cold and sweet. All in all we highly recommend this place. We all left happy and full.

I wanted to share my recent experience at this restaurant. While the food was enjoyable, I had concerns about the service. As someone from a non-tipping culture, I left an $8 tip (6% of the bill), which I believed was fair. However, the server insisted on an 18% tip and argued with us, making us uncomfortable. Additionally, when I asked for advice on portion sizes, the server's guidance seemed to encourage us to order more than necessary. I believe that tipping should be optional and based on the quality of service, not a mandatory percentage. Clearer communication about tipping expectations for international guests would be appreciated. I hope this feedback helps improve the dining experience for all customers.