SEOUL 1988 Innenstadt in Hamburg

I was here for the first time. The food is more geared towards the younger generation. I've eaten Korean food before, but here the focus was more on meat and fried foods. But there are also dishes with more vegetables. There were five of us and we all tried each other's dishes. I had the spicy chicken. Personally, there weren't enough vegetables here and it wasn't spicy enough for me. The spiciness of all dishes was rather spicy, including the Buldak chicken, which was advertised as very spicy. In addition, there was a lot of cheese on the spicy chicken, which I didn't think was particularly appropriate. The chicken and sauce was delicious though. As a side dish there was rice, pickled eggs and also kimchi, which I thought was quite good. The service was good for me. They were a bit stressed and easily distracted. The ambience wasn't quite my thing. It's Asian-style, which I thought was good, but it's all very small. Anyone who has ever been to Asia as a European knows that it is authentic when everything is small, but there were five of us that day and everyone at a small table was a bit tiring. I could barely lift my elbows and my legs were pressing against my neighbor's. And these days I'm more of a thinner person. So I probably won't come here again.

Not recommended if you have other choices for Korean food. In case you have to be there, then do not order neither Tteokbokki (spicy sticky rice) which is lack of ingredients, nor Ojingeo Bokkeum (Spicy Squid) which is not chewable as hard rubber. Service lady on that day was really rude. The problem is the service if the food is not ok. No empathy for the customer. Just a that's how we do it. Even if one has a legitimate issue. Read some other one star comments and be warned.

Brilliant food, large portions (!!), super nice service, everything perfect

The meticulous interior design, reminiscent of Korea, is impressive. Good food for the price.

The bimbibab came in a stainless steel bowl rather than a hot cast iron bowl. That changes the meaning of the dish, that it continues to cook and stays hot. The vegetables were put together very simply and unimaginatively. That was about the first and last visit, the second dish, beef, was boring and nothing special. We had to listen to the guests who had already advised against it. Unfortunately we were deceived by the very good reviews.

I had really delicious Korean food in Germany! I was so busy eating that I couldn’t even take a picture of everything I ordered. The kids say it’s delicious too~

Great small and very friendly and comfortable. Yummy. Small card. Something special. 😉

Truly the feeling of being in Korea. While the principle of queuing on a waiting list may hold some people back, it is worth it to enjoy authentic flavors. Having been to Korea a few months earlier, I found comparable flavors here. The service is very friendly with explanations of the dishes. I highly recommend!

Super friendly staff and really delicious food. Lunch for little money that fills you up and tastes good! The negative is that ONLY cash payment is possible. The ambience is perfect - you feel like you're in Korea. Absolute recommendation!

Kimchi “pork stew” without pork. Afterwards I was annoyed that I even paid for it. The watery broth tasted like can. I hadn't eaten so badly in a long time. I left the food.

Poorest service ever encountered in Hamburg. I spent 15 minutes for the meal. As soon as i finished the last bite, they were very pushy and sent me the bill instantly without my request. With the high price and low service quality, you always got better choices.

Extremely good, authentic food!

Really good Korean food in Hamburg. The portions were also huge so we got everything to share it would be hard to finish one plate alone. The service was nice and you can only pay in cash. Would go back again

Authentic Korean food. The food was great. Unfortunately, there are only relatively few seats, which is why you may have to put yourself on a waiting list. Attention: no cash payment!

Very authentic Korean cuisine. Super tasty, but the room is a little too small.

Cool, small shop with friendly staff. You usually have to wait, but it doesn't take long to get a seat. The prices are a bit high, but the portions are really big and tasty. The chicken can be shared between two people.

Delicious! Large selection of Korean dishes, the order was brought very quickly, the staff is pleasant and friendly. Most or all employees speak Korean.

I have rarely been to such a sensational restaurant. Everything just fits together here. The food is great, the selection is great and there is also a good selection of beer here. We had dinner here and were treated very well by the friendly staff. The European Championship game from Germany was then broadcast. Meanwhile there was a great atmosphere in the entire establishment. Afterwards there was a karaoke evening. Here you don't have to wait long until the song you want is played and the atmosphere is great - the better and better known the song is, of course. We had a really nice and unforgettable evening here. A clear recommendation. There is also the option to immortalize yourself with a photo.

Best value for lunch! Great portion, good portion and delicious!! My fav is always the fried pork!

There is no better Korean Fried Chicken in Hamburg, and everything else is of high quality. Great cucumber salad, for example. The only drawback: not a good wine selection

Best Korean in Hamburg, honestly delicious food as well as really friendly people. Thank you so very much.

I came here looking for a Korean restaurant in Hamburg. There were more customers than expected and the food was pretty good. It's a bit inconvenient that they only accept cash.

Yesterday I visited Seoul 1988 Restaurant again and tried the Korean Fried Chicken. It was excellent as always – crispy, juicy and full of flavor. An absolute must for all Korean food lovers! I highly recommend Seoul 1988. The only thing I missed was the Korean beer. Service was a little disorganized but still attentive and quick.

Delicious food, very authentic restaurant. Clear recommendation.

The place is small Food comes out quickly

My companion is gluten intolerant and has not been able to have dinner. They offered him four dishes and three were sold out: he only had tofu left... She has not chosen to have this disease, like someone who CHOSES to be vegan. The situation he has had to live in is very discriminating.

I am VERY angry with this site: I am gluten intolerant. He told me I could eat 4 dishes and 3 of them were sold out. I only have the option of tofu alone. I wasn't going to eat just that. They haven't been able to offer you ANYTHING else. They didn't even ask me what I wanted to drink. My companions have eaten a dish and we have left so I can eat. I do not recommend this site AT ALL!!!!! I don't know if it's because in Germany people are not intolerant to gluten or what happens, but it is very sad to feel this DISCRIMINATION towards MY CONDITION. I haven't chosen it. I am not gluten intolerant by choice: IT IS A serious DISEASE.

Good food with reasonable price, authentic Korean grill! Fried chicken is also great, highly recommend the most spicy one. But the restaurant is a bit crowded and smoky, waitress are too busy. At least they responded us quick slow.

I would say the environment was very unsuitable for summer. It was unbelievable that a male customer had the only fan in the store aimed at him and the store did nothing about it. It's just hot in Germany in summer, but the truth is that many shops have electric fans that are used by everyone. The picture with the chair shows my friend sweating after 20 minutes in the store. The food was okay and tasted the same as before.

Very authentic Korean food. Super tasty for in between meals and the service is super nice. It was raining so hard when we wanted to leave and she offered her umbrella. The portions look small but are completely sufficient and filling. It's a bit inexpensive compared to other Korean restaurants. With a drink you have to expect at least €20 per person. However, there are offers at lunchtime.

A small restaurant, very nice service and very tasty food. The next time we are in Hamburg we will definitely come back. To recommend!!!

The Korean restaurant delivers an authentic dining experience that truly transports you to the streets of Seoul. Each dish bursts with traditional flavors and ingredients, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Korea. However, the true standout is undoubtedly their Korean fried chicken. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and generously coated in a mouthwatering sauce that perfectly balances sweet, savory, and spicy notes. It's a culinary masterpiece that keeps you coming back for more. If you're craving authentic Korean cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit! Be aware that reservations are not possible

Their fried chicken is beyond this world 🍗🍗🍗👨‍🚀👩‍🚀🌌🚀🛸

Chill meal. Got some side dishes for free to start, including kimchi, spicy cucumber, and a random thing from the few times we have gone there. Food comes out quite fast and is quite good. They only accept cash thou.

Excellent place to eat Korean food, I will definitely return very very soon. Bring cash, they only accept CASH

small, cute restaurant with a cool atmosphere. nice service. Delicious food, I had Seoul bibimbap and dumplings, both recommended.

Fantastic food and very kind staff. We had the yangneyom chicken, tteokboki, and cheese dakgalbi, which were all great.

Since I came from far away, they gave me refills for side dishes very conveniently. This is a menu item that my husband really likes because he fell in love with the Dakgangjeong and the Dakgangjeong from Sinpo-dong that he ate at highway rest areas in Korea. He loved it because it was so delicious. This is a place I want to visit often. I am so grateful to my aunt’s bosses.

One of the best Korean soups I've had in a long time, I'll happily come back. However, you shouldn't eat there with more than 5 people as the shop is very small.

Very good Korean food, I always get Bibimbap, and it fills me up every time! Plus, the price is cheaper when you eat there at lunchtime. The service is great and the interior of the restaurant is really nice! Despite the restaurant being small, the service is so good that there is never really a long wait :)

Excellent restaurant to discover Korean cuisine Good service, friendly staff and many wonderful dishes

Absolutely incredible discovery, excellent cuisine and kindness of the staff. I highly recommend!

I was there a couple of weeks ago, it was very tasty, I liked it. The service is simply excellent! Very nice waiters. I really liked the food. The atmosphere is great! Today I'm going to go here with my sister and dad.

We had fried chicken. Super recommended! The atmosphere is amusing. The waiter (with curly hair) was very entertaining. You rarely see waiters like him. ;)

Original Korean cuisine. Perfectly cooked.

It's a small shop with a very cozy environment. The sizzling beef was very tasty, with a good balance of sweet and salty. The kimchi and kimchi pancakes are pretty good. The bibimbap was a bit too cold. The fried chicken didn't have a lot of juice, but the seasoning was okay. Overall good

My husband usually likes to leave something on the plate. This time he also 'stole' something from mine. Not because the portions are too small but because it is incredibly tasty. We will be back. Sooo delicious!

The kimchi stew was authentic, even though the kimchi was very sour. The bibimbap is topped with bulgogi and there is a lot of it. Of course it tastes good. The chicken is also around 10 euros, so it seems cheaper than in Korea... I couldn't eat it because I ordered Korean food, so I just looked at it. I want to come back just to eat the chicken. I can recognize this as an authentic Hamburg Korean restaurant. A restaurant with reasonable prices, large portions, and delicious food!! However, the space is small so you may have to wait.

Great food, great service, cozy atmosphere. Be prepared to wait a little since they don’t take reservations.

Excellent food in a great atmosphere - definitely try it out! 😍

I ate Seoul bibimbap for 3 days. I think the taste is better than the bibimbap I tried in Korea. It's also good value for money, so today is my last day in Hamburg and I'm planning to go again.

Delicious food 😍.Fast service 😊

The Korean fried chicken was very tasty. It's a very large portion that can be shared between two people. Unfortunately, the store is not that big, but it has its own charm.

A very cozy, small, original restaurant. The food is incredibly delicious. For some dishes you may wish that they were less spicy. The card has 2 DinA 4 pages, but it has everything you could want. I will now always eat there when I am in Hamburg! I ended up having another portion packed up on site and ate it for three days. You cannot reserve a table, there is a notice on site where you can enter your name and be called as soon as a table becomes available. Pay cash at the end. The waitresses are very friendly and you can communicate very well. The kitchen is very quick, you order and get something to eat quickly. This means that a table becomes available again relatively quickly.

Easy to park, delicious and plentiful! The best Korean food in Hamburg I've been to many places, but this place tastes the best of Korean restaurants! It is so popular that reservations are required. The chicken is especially delicious! There are 4 1988 stores and this is the most delicious!

Super tasty and a great experience. We really enjoy going there

the shop is too small in peak time you have to ask for queue. not many choices of food but perfect for the litte restaurant like this and so tasty

Really nice place. I visited with my friends and the food was really delicious. The only problem was they only accept cash.

This is a Korean restaurant. The store is not very big and has many locations. However, the decoration inside is very Korean. The meals include Korean fried chicken and beer, Korean copper plate barbecue, Korean side dishes, and spicy fried rice cakes. Wait, come and try it if you have a chance.

It was so great to find a very lovely Korean restaurant in the middle of the old quarter in the center of Hamburg. We had Kimchijigae, Bibimbab, and fried chicken, and they just tastes sooooo good. Prepare to bring cash, as they don’t accept credit card.

An atmospheric restaurant with history and authentic Korean cuisine. The service is very fast, the ordered dish is brought almost immediately. I recommend a mandatory visit.

Absolutely delicious and authentic food! Very young friendly service! I particularly liked the atmosphere and reminded me a little bit of the streets of Vietnam! Unfortunately, the wheat beer came without a glass, which is not so pleasant to drink with wheat beer when you take the last sips.

The food is delicious, the staff is enthusiastic and friendly. The view is very beautiful, unique to Korea. Will definitely come back 👏🧑‍🍳

Delicious food and huge portions, be prepared to wait a while for a table. Can only pay with cash.

We had dinner at Seoul 1988 today and were really very satisfied! The food was delicious and since there was a lot going on in the store, they also served free appetizers. Marinated cucumbers, kimchi and marinated radish. The kimchi was really very good. Unfortunately our dishes were not served at the same time so there was a 5 minute gap between each. Our main courses were Topokki and Teriyaki Chicken. Both were incredibly good. The ambience is very nice even if it is a bit too small for the number of guests. Everything is a bit retro Korean style. Very cool! We would definitely come back! But next time we'll make a reservation because there's a lot of rush.

It was the same as eating in Seoul. They provided three basic side dishes, and the cucumber salad and kimchi were delicious, just like eating them in Korea. The kimchi stew is also a kimchi stew with a really rich soup, so it's a shame I couldn't eat it all because I was full. Bibimbap comes with a half-boiled fried egg, and radish sprouts and bean sprouts are each seasoned deliciously. I wholeheartedly recommend it if you come to Hamburg.

Soy sauce kimchi is too salty for Koreans’ taste. The sauce for the seasoned chicken is really delicious! Even though the batter came off and we played separately, The meat was really soft and delicious! The packaging comes out quickly and they are friendly!

Most probably the one & only authentic Korean restaurant in Hamburg. The stainless steel chopsticks & plates, the ambience of the place, large servings of food - definitely Korean! Other "Korean" places in Hamburg are Vietnamese-owned & that means they mixed all the Asian cuisines in one place - this is a no-no for the real foodies.

Cash only spot. Great taste and huge portion for one person. Only setback is the dish was not steamy hot like fresh out of the kitchen wok. Or at least the hot plate was not fired up. Service was good but not enough seats for large groups.

Very good food. I expected and preferred tteokbokki to be spicier but it was still good. Recommend🥟✨

Best ever Like being in Korea Congrats!!!!

Service could be a bit more quick. Food was nice and authentic. Really nice atmosphere...it's only missing hot and humid climate

Me and my boyfriend wanted to eat Korean barbecue, so we called to reserve a seat. The lady told us that there's no reservation, and we can just come as we like. Then we came there, and there was a queue in front of the restaurant. That same lady asked all the people before me (they were Asians) if they had a reservation. Then she looked at me and without a word walked away. I guess that's what experiencing discrimination is like? Anyways I don't recommend the place

Really very tasty! Especially the crispy chicken! Difficult to get a seat at lunchtime.

Korean street food! Ambiance and food go together! The medium-spicy fried chicken was amazing! The glass noodles with beef were also very tasty. You can go here! 😋 Attention: Cash only!

Delicious. Table next to the door sometimes a bit cold. Friendly staff:)

Great restaurant. You should eat up and down the menu. Be careful, the portions are large

We ordered Seoul Bibimbap, it was good, Tteobokki was delicious, but Gandjang Chicken beat everything. I recommend!!! The place is small, it looks as if nothing has changed there since 1988, but that's probably what the owner wants. You have to wait in line for a table. Very nice service.

Very cool retro concept of an old school Korean restaurant! We got the 400gr samgyeopsal bbq for 2 that came with 3 side dishes, kimchi soup and rice. Everything was delicious and came in good portions. The staff was kind enough to advised when we have over-ordered. Cash only

Went there for the bbq, had eaten it many times in other cities, unfortunately very overpriced in comparison and saved a lot on the side dishes, service when ordering was nice, didn't see them again after that, although their help would have been necessary. A pity! ☹️

We were on visit from Denmark. My daugther loves korean food, so we went to this restaurant from far away. I called them to make a reservertion, but they told me it was unnessary, when we came to the place it was fully occupied. We waited for about 30 minutes to get inside, and and there came others who also waited. There was a list written on korean/germany, and people behind us wrote on this. When the waitress came, she just called the name on the list, and we couldn't get in. I told the waitress we had waited for long time, but she didn't seem to care. She told us to write our names and wait. This is really bad service. We will never go there again!!!!!!!

Explosive diarrhea after eating here

It is said to be the best Korean hamburger restaurant! When I arrived at the store at 1:30 in the afternoon, I was still in line and waited for about ten minutes. It was a bit difficult to choose when dining alone. In the end, I ordered one fried chicken and one bibimbap. In fact, it was enough for 2 to 3 people, so I couldn't eat it at all. In the end, I packed up the fried chicken and took it home to eat two more meals. The bibimbap tastes good, you can squeeze the hot sauce on the table into it, but the rice is a little sticky. The fried chicken comes in four flavors: original, soy sauce, snowflake and hot sauce. Although it is not listed on the menu, you can order it manually with the waiter! The seasoning of the fried chicken was excellent, but the fried chicken was a little burnt. The store is very close to the business district. The space is not large, with only five or six tables, and many Korean-style decorations. The front store and back kitchen are all Koreans, and the waiters are very handsome! Point deductions can only be made in cash, but receipts will be provided normally.

The food is delicious and the service is super nice, but you have to wait a long time before you get a seat. Unfortunately reservation is not possible. But we still look forward to being able to eat here again and again.

Wow, this Korean mini restaurant is really a blast! Super small and cuddly, but with a mega authentic vibe - including Kpop beats that create the right mood. The food? Simply great! Be it BBQ, japchae or the chicken, everything was amazing. The chairs - brilliant for parking the jackets so they don't smell like barbecue. So if you're in the mood for good Korean food, you must stop by here!

Good portions and great food! It really captures the taste of Seoul. It is a small place so you should check if you get a place.

Good food good mood ✅10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Small, beautifully decorated Korean restaurant in downtown Hamburg. The food is excellent and extremely authentic. The fried chicken is very crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The sauces are very tasty. You can choose between many different sauces. Be it sweet and sour, hot or sour hot. (Price around €15 per serving) There is also the option of grilling Korean BBQ yourself on a table grill. This is definitely recommended. Be it the pickled pork belly slices or the bulgogi. (Price around €20 per serving). Soju can be enjoyed with the food to complete the Korean experience. Overall, the prices are a bit high and the smoke vent is unfortunately not fully functional, so you smell a BBQ smell after your visit. If you are interested, you should definitely make a reservation here. The store is almost always packed. The service was good overall and we were very satisfied and full. Overall, we like to come back or take fried chicken to go.

What a terrible experience.I immediately got diarrhea after eating at this restaurant today.

Fried Chicken is super tasty. Bulgoggi is great too. Very small but very friendly.

I've been to Hanmi and SEOUL 1988 for korean food especially Korean BBQ so far in Hamburg and cannot decide which one blew my mind more! We had Grill Bulgogi and Spicy Cheese Dakgalbi and this was soooo much but the flavours were perfectly matching that we ended up eating everything up🤤🤭

Leckeres Essen, günstige Preise.

Ein wundervolles sehr kleines Restaurant mit authentischer Küche. Das Hähnchen ist großartig. Auf dem abend Menu kann man die Platte mit Hähnchen auch mischen und sich zwei Zubereitungen servieren lassen. Das Ambiente ist sehr authentisch wenn man gerne in einem kleinen Laden auf der Ecke in Korea sitzen möchte. Für mich wunderbar. Der Service ist aufmerksam und höflich.

The prices of the menu it's not updated.

Ich war das erste Mal dort mit meinem Freund. Hier ist nur Barzahlung Möglich. Leute ihr sollt euch vor der Tür bei der "Warteliste" eintragen und sobald in dem Miniaturladen was frei ist, wird man aufgerufen. Einfach in der Kälte gewartet. Nach uns kam eine koreanische Familie die sich nicht eintragen musste. Diese ging rein, haben anscheinend was zum Mitnehmen ausgewählt und sind dann ins Bad runter gegangen. Da haben die gut Zeit tot geschlagen und durften schön drinnen warten. Das ist sehr unfair. Wir durften unser essen draußen auswählen. Das Bad, egal ob für Mann oder Frau war nicht angenehm. Die Mülleimer waren so voll, sodass die Papiertücher schon auf dem Boden lagen. Platz gibt es kaum und Gabeln gab es auch nicht. Nichtsdestotrotz war das Essen lecker und die Bedienung nett.

Great food, amazing environment and super nice personnel. Will come back!

Love this Korean restaurant, feel like we are in Korea! Good food good Service always good as Asian friendly style Except Kimchi soup too sour to me!

Ich war zum ersten Mal in diesem Laden. Jedoch war ich von Fleisch etwas enttäuscht. Es war noch die Haut vom Hühnchen dran und auch noch die Haare entsprechend.

Das Ambiente ist ansprechend. Das Restaurant zeichnet sich durch seine Authentizität aus, und das Essen ist sehr gut, auch bei geringen Bestellmengen wird man sehr satt. Das Team ist äußerst zuvorkommend.

Thank you for letting me eat without reservation, I felt really good, everyone had a smile many 🙏