SEOUL 1988 Karolinenviertel in Hamburg

was surprised they offer a vegan option for their famous chicken, it’s sooo good! i usually go for a classic tofu bibimbap, which is also great. i also love their yuzu tea. all my friends who eat meat enjoy their other dishes too; must-try for the fans of Korean food

I've been here several times now and have always been very satisfied! The Korean fried chicken is amazing! I really appreciate the complimentary appetizers – and they're delicious! The staff and owners are very friendly. I'll definitely be back!

I’ve been coming here quite often, but after my experience today I honestly don’t feel like coming back again. The waitress with glasses was very rude and unfriendly for no apparent reason. I was polite and didn’t do anything wrong, yet she acted like she was annoyed the entire time and seemed to take her frustration out on customers. It completely ruined the visit and left a really bad impression. I used to enjoy coming here, but after being treated like that, I definitely cannot recommend this place anymore.

Like a little piece of Korea in Hamburg! The food is authentic, served quickly, and incredibly delicious. Many Koreans eat and work here, which is always a good sign for me. The service is attentive and courteous. The decor (down to the last detail) completes the experience and contributes to a truly wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommended 😋

The food was excellent! The atmosphere was very authentic and the service was very attentive and quite fast! Excellent value for money!

I went there because the reviews said it was delicious, but I was disappointed. The hygiene and the taste of the food didn't feel like Korean food. I was craving Korean food, but I ended up leaving feeling unsatisfied and wasting money.

Nice shop. But the prices are rather steep.

We dropped by without a reservation and were offered a table for 1 hour and 30 minutes, which was fine with us. However, we weren't served for 25 minutes, while tables that arrived after us were served promptly. We left without ordering anything to eat or drink, so we can't comment on the food itself.

The food was absolutely delicious and the decor was lovely! The waitresses deserve special mention; they were incredibly friendly and attentive. We'd love to come back again <3

Delicious food, friendly service and a nice atmosphere. I like it.

A wonderful experience every time! The food is excellent! The atmosphere is very relaxed, although I had to wait well over 30 minutes on weekends, but I'd gladly come back again! Thank you :D

My favorite restaurant for Korean food in Hamburg with a super authentic atmosphere.

We had dinner here and the food was really delicious. The staff (a young blonde woman) were very friendly and attentive. We'd love to come back! :)

The service was incredibly friendly and the atmosphere cozy. The food was tasty but nothing special; you can find better elsewhere. However, if you're in the area, you won't go wrong eating here.

Great food but terrible table service

This time it was very disappointing overall! I've had much better meals here several times. It was a rather unusual dish with large pieces of chicken, boiled. Unfortunately, it was only lukewarm. It was topped with bland-tasting cheese. The cheese probably drew the heat away from the dish as it melted. It wasn't listed as baked on the menu! The meat was sitting in a pool of water with chili. The liquid was too thin and didn't cling to the meat. Since the meat itself wasn't seasoned and the water contained nothing but a little chili, the whole thing was unfortunately very bland and lacked any appealing flavor. This seems to be very touristy, but in the style of: American woman "cooks" – as disturbingly common on certain platforms! Whether it's a cultural classic or a trend: It should be: 1. piping hot and 2. flavorful in multiple ways. ... 3. Furthermore, a dressing or sauce needs a texture/viscosity that coats the food. Vegetables should also be included; only traces were discernible. So, a very expensive chicken layered in chili water with a sprinkle of cheese on top, served lukewarm. Not recommended! And the colored lighting in the room only hinted at what was floating on the plate. And there were some generic side dishes: They were so cold that no flavor came through. I usually really like sprouts and kimchi. But today, they were disappointing.

Friendly and delicious spot. In comparison to the its sister in the center, it serves more proper meal options in biggg potion. Love the soup dishes. The place is however inevitably loud due to its size and the amount of tables. But if you love the vibe, this is the place.

We were a group of five and had a truly perfect evening at SEOUL STATION 1988. The food was incredibly delicious, fresh, and prepared with great care. We especially want to highlight the attentive and prompt service – all the staff were incredibly friendly and patiently explained the dishes to us in detail whenever we asked. You immediately feel welcome and well taken care of. A definite recommendation – this certainly won't be our last visit!

Limited selection, taste and sauce nothing special. Small restaurant, more like a student canteen.

I had a reservation for 10 people for my birthday on Friday, they called 2 hours beforehand and said they had accidentally booked it on the wrong day and were cancelling.

A real insider tip! Fantastic, authentic food! The price and quality are just right. Generous portions! We'll definitely be back!

We ate there on a Saturday evening. What I really liked was that, compared to other Korean restaurants, they offered several vegetarian options. We had made a reservation, so we didn't have to wait, as it gets very busy on weekends. The food arrived quickly and was delicious. The service was friendly and attentive. BUT: what we didn't know was that they have karaoke in the entire restaurant in the evenings. When the karaoke started, it became unbearably loud and dark, making conversation impossible. Luckily, we had just finished eating and were able to leave.

After trying to enter twice and a long wait, Seoul Station and it's food did not disappoint. Hands down one of the best Korean food I've had.

Delicious food and large portions 😋 A bit pricey…

The food was just okay. The taste wasn't very impressive, and the portion size was really small. Unfortunately, the service was much worse. The waitress clearly didn't want to serve us, and we were kept waiting for ages each time. She was incredibly unfriendly, with no apology or thank you. I'm used to the staff at other Seoul 1988 locations being very attentive and friendly. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend this location.

The service was excellent, and the place was calm and pleasant. The value for money is quite poor; the dish I ordered wasn't anything special for the €23 I paid, and the same was true for my wife's. There were no desserts on the menu either. I recommend you come and see for yourself; the restaurant isn't something to avoid, far from it.

Discovering this charming gem was a delightful surprise! The food was exceptionally flavorful, and the staff provided friendly and efficient service. The indoor seating was inviting and cozy, perfect for those who prefer a smoke-free environment. Additionally, there's a fun arcade game area indoors, adding to the appeal. We tried the bibimbap, which had a perfect balance of fresh ingredients and textures. The cold noodle soup was refreshing and full of vibrant flavors. The egg omelette was light, fluffy, and cooked to perfection. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, absolutely addictive. Each dish showcased excellent culinary skills, making this place a standout.

Located somewhat noisy and cramped in the basement, #Seoul1988 offers authentic Korean cuisine. The prices are quite high, but the food is also very good. The service is consistently excellent and friendly.

The Korean chicken was very tasty, but soup number 91 was tasteless; I have the feeling that the cook forgot to season it.

Highly recommended. Nothing more to say.

The Korean fried chicken is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten! The tteokbokki is also highly recommended!

We were 3 people, and ordered everything in the picture (seolleongtang, beef japchae, fried chicken (1/2 sweet sour, 1/2 soy)) and kimchijeon. Taste wise everything was pretty decent. But the beef on both the japchae and seolleongtang was quite tough and chewy.

Delicious food and ambient. Food came fast and everything tasted great. Definitely going back.

Delicious Korean restaurant in St. Pauli. Typical fresh Korean cuisine in a fitting atmosphere. Service and food were excellent. The ambiance could be improved, but unfortunately, I've never been to Korea to better assess it or make a comparison. We'll be back! Keep it up!

Great restaurant with authentic Korean food

This was my first time here, and I highly recommend it! Food: Appetizer and main course. Both were very generous and delicious! Spicy options were also available, but this was clearly indicated on the menu. Service: Vicky is a fantastic employee; she was incredibly friendly and competent. A little bonus: I mentioned I was really hungry, and however she managed it, my food arrived what felt like two minutes later… I'm very grateful for that! Atmosphere: Authentic and clean.

I cannot recommend this restaurant. The service was very inattentive overall. My cocktail was prepared without any care – more like a juice spritzer. The cutlery tray was greasy/smeared inside. The dip for the appetizer tasted like ketchup, and the appetizers for the main course were meager. They were supposedly going to be refilled, but that's impossible if the server doesn't ask – not even if you'd like another drink, if everything was alright, or if you needed anything. Even a 15% tip didn't elicit any reaction from the waiter. The fancy photo booth was broken, as was the toilet. Really nothing special.

Good food and generous portions. Unfortunately, I can only give the service 2 out of 5 stars because: The service was friendly and attentive, BUT my husband had an entire meal spilled all over his pants, hands, and shoes. We didn't make a scene at all, because these things happen, and the waitress was clearly embarrassed. BUT then we were told we'd get a free round of drinks as an apology, and at the end, when we got the bill, we were charged for everything. When I asked what had happened to the free round of drinks, they initially pretended they knew nothing about it, and then they only removed my husband's second drink. We all only had tea for €4, no expensive cocktails or alcohol. So, if we had insisted on having the clothes cleaned, it would have cost the restaurant significantly more than €16 for tea for four people! Therefore, points deducted for making promises and not keeping them. 👎

The best Korean fried chicken in Hamburg, and every visit to the restaurant feels like a short trip to Seoul. :)

We had delicious food and a beautifully decorated atmosphere. The portions were truly generous.

I visited with friends and we enjoyed Korean fried chicken, noodles and a few other dishes and everything was tasty, and the portion sizes were much better than expected. The service was friendly, and the Soju paired perfectly with the meal. The space is a bit cramped, but the atmosphere is lively, and the photobooth at the entrance is a fun touch. Overall, a solid choice for Korean comfort food.

The food was delicious, and we truly enjoyed our meal. The service rating was edited from 1 to 4.

What a fantastic, charming, and authentic Korean restaurant! I felt incredibly comfortable! Great selection, wonderful staff. A perfect dinner! Highly recommended! December 3, 2025 8:00 PM

I went there for lunch on a recommendation. The food was really delicious, and I found the atmosphere very appealing and authentic.

One of our favorite restaurants in Hamburg, which we always enjoy visiting. Delicious food, friendly staff, and a lovely atmosphere. Reservations are recommended. As a nice bonus, there's also a free photo booth.

Our last visit was disappointing. They told us they are out of chicken at 18:20 on a Sunday!

There were four of us with friends, and it was a truly fantastic evening! Since we had a reservation, everything went incredibly smoothly, and we didn't have to wait in line. The food was a 10/10, and the service was super friendly, fast, and attentive. The prices are more than fair for what you get. The atmosphere is also perfect; it feels authentic. We'll definitely be back!

Thank you so much! Excellent quality, friendly atmosphere. The food was delicious and tasty. Parking nearby. Perfect for everyone. We'll definitely be back.

It was nice experience. We chose Friday night for dine. It was super crowded and too loud to talk. The food is ample and taste wise is good. I had thought of hotpot or barbeque concept, where one kinda cook the food. The table had the facilities but I think it's need a speical request.. We liked the spicy korean fried chicken. It's super hot 🔥 spicy. If you are fan of it then must try.

Really tasty food and good portions, a bit pricey though

Very cool Korean restaurant. The food was good!

It's very salty; only the Germans don't find it salty. The Germans like it very salty.

The food is great, huge portions for very good price (you can also charge your portion for some food categories). The Korean chicken is delicious and crispy. There is also cute little appetizers before your food is ready. Also so many interesting vegan options. For drink we tried Aloe vera drink and that was so refreshing. The service was perfect and waiters were super friendly. Feel free to ask them about what you want to choose. They made our experience much more fun. All in all, we had a very nice evening as a group of 15 people in heart of Korean culture.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have much to do with Korean food anymore... What a shame... Visually appealing. Taste-wise, it's terrible. And far too expensive for what it is.

Very cool atmosphere. It's difficult to get a table without a reservation. We were lucky. Delicious food and a very friendly lady who served us convinced us to come back.

What an amazing restaurant! It starts right at the entrance... selfie time at the wall-mounted camera with instant prints... which you can then stick on the wall for the other guests to see. Inside the restaurant, you're greeted warmly and the atmosphere is stylish. You immediately feel comfortable and transported to Korea. The menu has a fantastic selection, fair prices, and way too many choices because everything looks so delicious! The drinks menu features fancy Asian-style cocktails and long drinks... cool! And then the food... what can I say? A perfect 12 out of 10! Amazing!!! If you don't leave full, you've got bigger problems... We will definitely be back!!!

Awesome location, amazing staff, karaoke is so much fun, and the food tastes just like in Korea. Simply an absolute highlight in Hamburg! Best Korean restaurant!

Excellent service! The wings had the wrong (spicy) sauce, but when I asked the server, they replaced them. Plus, I got a complimentary water and beer.

Super delicious food. We love the Korean chicken. It's full and cool. It's like a little piece of Korea :)

I went to three Korean restaurants in a week and this was the best!! The only thing I was most excited about was the Jjamppong broth, which wasn't as deep as I'd hoped for, but the rest was really delicious!!

This is the best Korean restaurant

This was my first time here, but everything was great. The food was delicious – I especially recommend the chicken. The service was attentive and friendly. If I come back to Hamburg, I will definitely come here again.

Korean fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce! I love it!!

Everything was perfect. Super delicious food and great service. Our new must-visit in Hamburg!

This is the best Korean restaurant in Germany. Now, the only one important thing is to stay like that. All of business places change something after they deserve customers' hope and trust. It is mostly the price or the amount of food. Sometimes, even the quality of dish. I hope they don't want to lose the customers. I hope. Update 2025: Every main dish includes rice and panchan. But this time we ordered 6 dishes but only one of it were served with panchan. As we asked about it, they gave one more panchan. We could not have the other 4 panchan. Maybe many customers can not eat the panchan and they save some food to avoid food waste. But if it is written on menu, they should serve with panchan.

My favourite Korean restaurant in Hamburg.

Don't visit this restaurant. My food was delayed due to missed orders and mixed-up orders between tables. I got tired of waiting and rang the bell several times to ask when it would be ready, but they told me it was rude and told me not to come back. Then they boasted, "This restaurant serves the fastest food in Hamburg!" Their strong affirmation ultimately sounded like a strong denial. I hope the restaurant reflects on their actions, wondering if they were so offended by the delay that they acted rudely towards their customers.

A really nice restaurant in St. Pauli 🍽️ We went there with a small group, and everyone loved it. The food came quickly, was perfectly presented, and absolutely delicious 😋 The meat portion was so large I couldn't finish it, and that's saying something! Friendly service, relaxed atmosphere—highly recommended anytime 👍

This restaurant has a long tradition, and you can rely on its quality. Less oil in the fried dishes would be better.

I always love it when I come here

Super good authetic food, big portions and nice cosy mood, very nice waiters. Side dishes included like in korea ;)

Very nice authentic atmosphere of modern Korea. We had fried chicken and Teigtaschen XXL with meat, good size portion and tasty. Better than KFC.

I tried the sundae and Korean chicken. They taste delicious.

Not very authentic. Rather expensive.

Very nice discovery in the west of Hamburg city center. This Korean restaurant is kind of hidden underground but also offers a banal terrasse, option I have preferred. You are welcomed with some small Korean dishes giving you a first glimpse of the culture and spices used. Very nice! I have then ordered some Gun Mandu, homemade fried dumpling with pork filling. The soy sauce with it was excellent. Perfect to share, for 2 or 4. I then took a Bokkumbap, fried rice with veggies and shrimps. Tasty, but the dark Bohnen sauce which came with it was for me too sweet and neutral. Still an excellent plate. I recommend!

We were traveling as a family: two adults and one child. The food was delicious, and the portions were enormous. We were put in the karaoke room, which was a plus for us with a child. (There was no noise at all.) The staff was friendly, and if I'm back in Hamburg, I'll definitely come back.

This restaurant never disappoints. Absolutely incredible food every time we come here, excellence in service as well. The best dishes on earth are here! A massive 5 start from me!

This Korean restaurant was such a good experience. The food was really tasty, and the vibe of the place was just so cool – it genuinely felt like being back in Seoul. It ended up being a bit of a highlight during my trip to Hamburg We tried a bunch of different dishes, and everything we had was super delicious. The restaurant itself is really nicely decorated. They also have karaoke, which sadly we didn’t get to try, but it looked like a lot of fun. Definitely worth checking out if you’re craving Korean food in a great setting.

Incredible place for food and karaoke! The service was perfect. Friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended! :)

We thought it was really cool here! At Seoul 1988, you can get delicious food and have fun with a karaoke bar! We went here for the karaoke, and an hour cost €20, which is actually totally fine because there were ten of us. So, with a large group, it's totally worth it! Unfortunately, I can't say much about the food, as I drank a bit and sang a lot. The drink selection is modest and well-organized, but unfortunately, they only serve American Coca-Cola and no Fritz Cola. Soft drinks were priced at €3.50 for a small drink and €5 for a large drink. In summary, I can say it's definitely worth it, and I want to come back! Next time, I'll definitely try the food 😍

What a crazy decorated place. I haven't been to Korea yet, but you'd really think you were. The service is attentive and friendly, and so is the food. I've known Seoul1988 for years from its location on Mohlenhofstrasse, and I can assure you that the Korean chicken is the best of any other restaurant I've tried. However, from its original price of €14 to €25, the price has really reached its limit, as the price of this dish has risen disproportionately compared to the other dishes on the menu. What a shame. Back to Seoul on Karolinenstrasse. Apparently you can rent a karaoke room here, and there's karaoke in the restaurant on some evenings. I was impressed by all the dishes and will go back for karaoke sometime.

The food is good and authentic. Service is okay, but could be improved. It's a bit loud inside.

It almost doesn't get any more authentic than this... In traditional South Korean style everything is served in metal post, and you get kimchi, korean fried chicken, bimbap, and all that good stuff. All tasting great! But.. The spiciness charts are completely wrong. Whether you pick one, two or three chilis the food isn't spicy at all. I get that Germans cannot eat foods at the insane Korean spice levels, but a bit of spice would have been nice.

It's interesting that all Seoul 1988s in Hamburg vary in food quality. I found the taste here to be mediocre. I liked the tteokbokki the most—I'd go back for that! The portions are also very generous. I think this is the nicest of the chain in Hamburg in terms of atmosphere. The waitress was also very friendly and welcoming.

Went straight to the top of my favorites! While waiting at the entrance, you can snap some instant photos and leave one on the wall if you want, which makes for a fun touch. The food was absolutely delicious, and the portions were huge! we ordered a dish for two, but it easily could’ve fed four! We ended up taking the rest home. The price is also fair, considering how much eating out usually costs in Hamburg! On weekends, they also host karaoke nights! and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier.😊Highly recommend!

The food was delicious and our server Lucas was super nice and friendly!

I didn't expect the food portions to be rather big compared to other places! It's really worth the price! It also tastes soooo goood ^^ The service is also very kind and welcoming !! I'll come again when I can !

Very friendly service and excellent food!

The jajangmyeon and kimchi pancakes were okay, but the cold noodles weren't tasty at all. They had no flavor, and in the end, I had to eat them with the jajangmyeon sauce. Very disappointing.

The restaurant was spacious and clean, and the staff were all very friendly. The food was delicious and the portions were generous, so I was very satisfied! The rice was chewy and similar to the rice I eat in Japan. I'd definitely like to go again!

Fantastic fish soup + very nice service

I've never had a problem with the service here, but one young man, who was probably hired for the summer due to a staff shortage, doesn't even understand why he came to work: rude and incompetent.

Superb food and a very authentic atmosphere. We had a reservation and had to wait a bit, but otherwise it was great and we'll be back!

The food is very expensive, but delicious. The service is incredibly poor. We waited forever for someone to acknowledge us and to be seated, and just as long to pay. There's no toilet paper in the restroom. In general, the staff seemed very overwhelmed.

It’s an amazing Restaurant been there multiple Times absolute Favorite always the Same Quality .One of the best Restaurants in Hamburg

I visited twice with a friend during our vacation in Hamburg. The food is absolutely delicious and the portions are very generous, so you'll definitely leave the place without feeling hungry. The quality is excellent and the atmosphere is absolutely wonderful, like spending a short time in Korea. I highly recommend it!

The place is huge- loads of seating options, so highly recommended to book a table if you wish to go. The downside of this is that service is slow as it gets super busy. The food is average, the flavours really need to be enhanced more, and the sweetness reduced. Though the portion sizes are very generous. The fried chicken- which we requested to be the first dish, came towards the end of the meal after already reminding them twice and once being told that it had already been served. The ambience is nice, and we had a surprise of someone almost starting a karaoke (maybe?).

Really delicious food, the service was super friendly and the shop itself is really well decorated 🥰 you should definitely make a reservation in advance as there is a queue, especially in the evenings.

The food is delicious, with large portions and a good selection. Service could be faster, but it was also really busy. It's best to make a reservation!

Best Korean food, folks Everything is so delicious We'll definitely be back Thank you so much