SEOUL 1988 Karolinenviertel in Hamburg

Delicious food, quite spicy, but bearable. If you don't get full, it's almost impossible. Highly recommended.

Seafood jjamppong is delicious. Crayfish are delicious. There is also whole squid. However, a calculation mistake can be a fatal mistake for a customer, so it is best to check the receipt and bank app to make sure the price of the food you ate is correct. I refunded and recalculated.

The portions in the restaurant are extremely generous, which is why it is advisable to come with several people in order to be able to enjoy a larger selection of dishes together. The atmosphere is pleasantly relaxed, the staff friendly and accommodating. The prices are also very fair and are in excellent proportion to the quality of the food.

I've never had Korean food before, but it was really great. Starting with the wait staff, who were ALL very nice...in a completely normal way. Very attentive but not intrusive in any way! They were also very quick... drinks were barely ordered and the food was on the table... record-breakingly fast! The food was delicious...including appetizers! The price is totally reasonable! And best of all: I'm slightly allergic to preservatives and flavor enhancers, which unfortunately are often used in Asian restaurants! I notice this immediately, even in the smallest amounts. But here... nothing... everything's good 👍... Please keep it up... I'm thrilled... I'll be happy to come back!

The seafood Champon and fried chicken were delicious! Both are huge portions and are recommended to be shared! The seafood champon soup and spicy soup were delicious! However, it would have been nice if the soup was a little hotter.

Came here with an old colleague. Busy spot, but very welcoming. Great food and if you don't speak German, the servers are a great help in ordering. Had a great time!!

Amazing food, friendly staff, reasonable price I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I often pass these lights in the basement while working. This led me to curiosity. There was a restaurant in the basement, with a very attractive atmosphere and super friendly staff. The food is a killer in a 100% positive sense. Not only that you get a good selection of side dishes, which are not small. The portions themselves are also generous. In the photo you can see a vegan dish and the pasta bowl was really too much, so with the best will in the world I couldn't finish everything. The quality has always been absolutely top. Overall, a really tasty meal at a really good price at lunchtime. I'll be back, or rather, I've been there again.

I happened to see it on the side of the road and was craving Korean food so I went there. Kimchi stew. I ordered soft tofu and it tasted good. Bottled water is 7 euros. Kimchi stew. A total of 41 euros for one piece of soft tofu is okay because it's delicious. Keep adding more kimchi.

The Korean Fried Chicken was amazing. The service was super fast and friendly! Absolute recommendation

The food was great, and the portions were large! We could not finish the korean fried chicken, but it waa delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful but a little bit slow. The food didn’t arrive at the same time, i waited 10 minutes before mine arrived, after my husband had gotten his.

‼️ Delivery is not recommended. ‼️ The food was delivered in a spilled mess. I immediately called the store and asked a Korean employee if re-delivery was possible, but I only received a reply saying, “We will check,” and telling me to wait, and no action was taken for an hour after that. I eventually called again, and this time a German employee responded and told me to check with the delivery company. In the end, I did not receive compensation for the food and had to reorder it again. Why on earth did they ask me to wait for an hour? 😊 I was very disappointed with their customer service and problem solving skills. ‼️ Bestellen Sie auf keinen Fall per Lieferung! ‼️ Mein Essen wurde völlig verschüttet geliefert. Ich rief sofort im Restaurant an und fragte einen koreanischen Mitarbeiter, ob eine neue Lieferung möglich sei. Er antwortete nur: „Wir prüfen das, bitte warten.“ Doch danach geschah eine ganze Stunde lang nichts. As ich schließlich erneut anrief, nahm diesmal ein deutscher Mitarbeiter den Anruf entgegen und verwies mich an den Lieferdienst. Am Ende erhielt ich keine Entschädigung und musste mein Essen erneut bestellen. Warum musste ich eine ganze Stunde lang warten? 😊 Der Kundenservice und die Problemlösungsfähigkeit waren äußerst enttäuschend.

Cool shop with authentic Korean cuisine. Food was super tasty, there's nothing wrong with that. The service was also friendly and attentive. The mandus and starters were delicious. The main course Gochu Japchae was also extremely tasty. However, you had to look for what little meat there was. In the end, the price is too high for an almost vegetable dish. It may be different with other dishes, but we felt that way here.

Very cool place! We go regularly, we still haven't tried the whole menu. Ideal for a company and for sharing dishes. Throw once incredibly tasty and plentiful.

Beat Korean restaurant outside of Korea. I go here often and it is very authentic, the details are really nice, and the food is great!

One Star – Unfortunately, a Disappointment All Round I entered Seoul 1988 with a certain amount of anticipation – a name that, after all, brings with it a certain reputation. Unfortunately, the visit ended in disappointment that can hardly be described as charming. The interior has, at best, the charm of a restaurant that hasn't been maintained for a long time. It's not cozy and old, but simply outdated – especially the bathrooms, whose condition reminded me more of a train station restroom. Uncomfortable and in dire need of renovation. At first, I received a friendly welcome – which made me optimistic. But this impression vanished as soon as I ordered. The waitress was impatient, seemed annoyed, and pressed for a decision, even though I politely asked for a little advice. The place was empty; there was plenty of time. What a shame. The small side dishes at the beginning – kimchi, pickled vegetables – were fine. Fresh, crisp, and flavorful. The main course, however, was a disappointment. The homemade noodles were completely tasteless, and the sauce resembled sweetened ketchup with onions. No flavor, no depth—just sweet. After two bites, I was done. I could have chalked all of this up to a bad day. After all, the meal was moderately priced. But what happened next was the real low point: While I was finishing my beer, I heard a waitress talking about me—clearly audible and disparagingly: "Oh, that guy sitting there—oh, screw him." I was the only male guest sitting alone at the time. It was obvious that I was the one being addressed. Such behavior is unacceptable—no matter how good or bad the evening might have otherwise been. Conclusion: Seoul 1988 offers neither atmosphere nor hospitality—and the food, unfortunately, falls in line seamlessly. I recommend everyone to choose one of the many other Korean restaurants in Hamburg. You don't have to put yourself through this one.

While I had stayed in Hamburg, I visited here 2 times. The food is really nice. And he looks like the owner (old guy) he was really nice and good service. I felt good service mind was used to him. I visited here twice while I was staying in Hamburg, and it was as delicious and satisfying as eating in Korea, and the portions were huge. And the man who looked like my father (I think he was the owner) was really kind, and he took care of all the little things. It seemed like he had a service mind ingrained in him. Places like this should be successful. I recommend it.

I had high expectations as this restaurant is considered one of the most famous Korean restaurants in Hamburg. I ordered the dish Jeyuk Bokkeum (spicy fried pork), which for me is often a good indicator of how authentic and good a Korean restaurant cooks. Freshness of the meat, balanced seasoning and the right balance between original recipe and local adaptation - all of this is shown very well in this dish. Unfortunately the food didn't live up to my expectations. The taste was neither authentically Korean nor adapted to the local palate - just bland and irrelevant. Neither the typical spiciness nor any particular sweetness could be tasted. I didn't finish the dish and didn't feel the need to take the rest with me - that rarely happens to me. Another drawback was the rice. Some grains of rice were dry and hard - a sign that the work was not done carefully enough. This shouldn't happen, especially with such a simple but important part of the meal. However, I would like to positively highlight the service staff: very friendly and attentive - so much so that I was happy to give an extra tip. Unfortunately, the good service couldn't make up for the disappointing food.

Topppp!!! Korean fried chicken is simply super delicious! Very friendly service🫰 would go again

Super tasty, the portions are large and taste great. But be careful: spicy also means spicy. My tongue burned so much that I was afraid Frodo would come and throw the ring into my mouth.

Great store! A few weeks ago I was there with my friends in the evening to have something to eat and sing karaoke. We had a great time, the food was good and the portions were huge. As a vegetarian, the selection of vegetarian/vegan dishes was enough for me and the staff was super, super nice. And very generous, there were a few problems with our reservation and the technology in the karaoke room so we weren't charged anything for the room and drinks were also given as compensation. The whole thing didn't really bother us, things like that happen sometimes, but dealing with it was top notch. I'll definitely be back!

Food and ambience very authentic! 👍

Really recommended, there is an absurd amount of fried chicken with awesome sauce. The pickled vegetables were also great!

The fried chicken was very tasty. If you want to try something really spicy, pick the Scharf (scipy) one. I liked that at the entrance, you can take a picture with the people you are with; it is printed right away, and you take it home or leave it on the entrance wall. It's fun.

Unfortunately the Korean Fried Chicken wasn't good. It was chewy, dry and hard to chew. Unfortunately the meat wasn't of good quality either and I had severe stomach problems and pain afterwards. No recommendation. The staff was nice though.

Very authentic restaurant. I ate the Jajjang myeon, the bibimbap and the fried chicken and everything was super tasty and large portions. The small starters: kimchi, pickled radish, pickled cucumbers and spinach were also very tasty. Prices are absolutely justified and not too expensive. The waitresses were all very friendly and quick. All in all perfect in my opinion. I'd love to come back.

I was recently in Hamburg for work and many colleagues told me to try Hamburg classics, but this restaurant was so much more closer to my hotel and I love a good Korean stew, so why not? I loved everything I ate, although the dwaenjang-jjigae was not spicy enough. Understandable, the plates are tweaked to match the palates of the locals! Overall the service was impeccable and the interior was very very cute. You could also take a picture of yourself which would print out as a sticker. Many costumers have left these stickers all over the restaurant. What a cute concept!

My favorite Korean!! Cool furnishings/wall decorations in the 80s style.

Very good food, friendly and attentive staff, and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended!

The place is very well decorated and the food is delicious, we ate Korean fried chicken and it was delicious. The dish was very filling for two people. I don't give five stars because we had to wait a long time to be served and served the food. However, the waiter was very friendly and made good recommendations.

We had dinner in Seoul today and the food was delicious. It was clean and the free photo machine was nice too. The German waiter made a statement that we didn't find very nice, namely we once asked him for a fork, and when he gave it to us, we wanted another portion of this potato salad because it was so delicious, and then he said "next time please say everything at the same time so I don't have to go back and forth all the time". Sorry but there was another table in the shop besides us and it wasn't a long distance but 2 meters and you just don't say things like that. I liked the button on the tables to call the waiter. It's just a shame that we didn't get the rice we ordered with the “creamy orange paste”, as the rice would have gone quite well with it. It cost €50 for 4 people, which is a reasonable price. I would be happy if forks were also put in the cutlery box, and for certain dishes, like our chicken, knives were also served there. Krish Lund

We took a weekend trip to Hamburg and were craving korean food. Portions were huge and super authentic. Especially the Sundubu with silky tofu. They also have a cute instant photo booth in the waiting area adding to a super fun vibe. Only thing to note is the kitchen closes at midnight!

Very good food, good portions, a bit expensive but always worth a visit.

Totally authentic. Korean establishment. The food was really good and tasty.

A nice and busy restaurant! The menu is large with many inexpensive and authentic dishes. The Korean fried chicken is highly recommended. There are also some side dishes that add variety.

Super good food and friendliest staff! 👍

Authentic Korean food, great atmosphere.

Super authentic restaurant. The food is super tasty and there are also some vegetarian options, although the majority contain meat. Everything we tried was great. We can only recommend it. :) The service was ok.

Delicious, staff was super kind and the food was amazing! Highly recommended 🫶

So delicious and cool atmosphere

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.

Great service, very attentive and friendly. The food, super tasty, a dream and the ambience is just right. Overall great if you like Korean food.

Positively surprised. Very cool atmosphere, nice staff. Korean fried chicken look a bit expensive (25€ for 11 pieces) but they are very big as you can see in the picture so order it for 2 people 😊

Authentic dishes, portions are large, taste great, will definitely come back...

Great service, always friendly. There are also very good Korean foods here🤤✨

Authentic Korean cuisine & perfect experience – absolute recommendation! We visited SEOUL 1988 in the Karolinenviertel and were thrilled from start to finish! We were greeted extremely friendly and professionally at the reception, and the atmosphere of the restaurant transports you straight to Seoul in the 80s - a great concept with great attention to detail. Food – A taste experience! The advice was excellent: our preferences were carefully addressed and real highlights were recommended to us. We tried the fried chicken and the XXL dumplings - both were an absolute taste dream! The chicken was crispy, juicy and perfectly seasoned, the dumplings were huge, filled with delicious ingredients and incredibly flavorful. You can taste the quality and passion with which the food is cooked here. Ambiance & service – perfect all around The entire team was warm, attentive and professional. The service was quick but not rushed, and you felt genuinely welcome. The ambience with its retro charm and many loving details makes your stay something special. Conclusion - We'll be back! For this quality we are happy to travel from Bremen at any time! If you want to enjoy authentic Korean cuisine at the highest level, you definitely shouldn't miss SEOUL 1988. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars – Unconditional recommendation!

Super authentic restaurant with delicious food. Portions are huge & everyone gets full!

Super tasty chicken! Always very crowded.

There is a cooking pot, but the budae stew is not boiled. The stew was lukewarm while I was eating it. The customer from Korea and I both tilted our heads... The taste wasn't bad, but considering it was a special menu item on the dinner menu, it was disappointing. We spent a lot of money.

This is a restaurant I often go to at Seoul Station. Jjambbong is especially good these days. The problem is the chicken packaging. Nose XX Chicken costs 16 euros, but it costs about twice as much, but chicken here costs 25 euros. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed because the amount was so small and the seasoning was so small that it didn't even coat the chicken. Store service and atmosphere have improved a lot recently. The packaging of the chicken is so disappointing.

Very delicious food! I recommend the fried chicken. The spice doesn't sting much.

We were there with the children for the first time. We were all very impressed: the quality of the food, the variety of what was on offer, the authenticity of the ambience and, above all, the friendliness and really good advice and the great recommendations from the young service employee (with black glasses :) ) with regard to that The food and the menu made our spontaneous visit to the restaurant there an experience. It's a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere and there's even a play area with "old school" video games for the kids. Really cool! The Korean fried chicken is incredibly good and the price is absolutely reasonable for the size of the dish. We had fun in this restaurant, left full and happy and will definitely come back. What more could you want :)

It was the most delicious Jajangmyeon I’ve had overseas. The pork cutlet was delicious, but the batter and sauce were a bit different from the pork cutlet I had in Korea. It's a bit expensive, but it's okay to eat here occasionally.

The food and ambience were wonderful! Everyone was super nice and everything is very authentic.

It’s always a great gastro pleasure to eat at Seoul 1988! Especially korean fried chicken and tteok-bokki together is awesomeee! The portions are big and satisfying. Little side dishes are also great; they bring Kimchi, raddish kimchi etc. Have a korean beer too 👏🏻

I hadn't tried the food, but the portions were huge, which was evident at the neighboring tables. Very relaxed atmosphere. Karaoke was sung. Service was friendly and quick, good selection of Korean food and drinks.

Very Lovely and cozy place . Their food is great.

Very tasty food, especially the Tteokbokki and the Korean fried chicken! The food is very high quality and well prepared. There is a very large selection of Korean dishes. Attentive, professional and friendly service. Very nice atmosphere from the restaurant. Price-performance is more than fair. Absolutely recommended!

Very friendly staff and delicious food. No long waiting time. Would recommend!

The decor is very nice, the food is delicious, the prices are reasonable, and the staff is very friendly! Worth going🫶🏻

I visited Korea many times and this is at the moment my favorite spot. Huge variety of food, soju and overall such a good vibe with the best service. Highly recommend !

So great! The karaoke on the weekend can be loud. So if you want a quiet evening, go during the week.

Delicious Korean food served with a smile. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the neighbourhood.

Very tasty, great location and great ambience.

Lunch is recommended. It is advisable to make a reservation for dinner as the restaurant is always full. The location is good - not far from St. Pauli and the Schanze. The ambience is in retro style. There is a free opportunity to take photos at the entrance, which is a very cute idea. We can highly recommend the Korean celebration chicken.

Korean staff are very unfriendly

A bit overpriced for what it is. The waitress kept bumping into our table and pushing throw chairs while serving other tables. Kept to friction my jacket and seemed to don’t care about it. While her colleagues recognised the issue and walked the other way.

Simply fantastic. I was absolutely thrilled by the delicious food and the authentic ambience. Plus attentive but not intrusive service.

📍 Seoul 1988 - Karolinenviertel, Hamburg My last stop: Seoul 1988 in the Karolinenviertel – and I am once again thrilled by the authentic Korean cuisine! 🤤🇰🇷 🍴 What I tried: • 🥞 Kimchi Pancakes: Crispy, spicy and full of flavor – an all-time favorite! • 🍲 Jjamppong: The perfect seafood soup for fans of spicy dishes. • 🍚 Bibimbap: Fresh, aromatic and perfectly mixed - simply a classic. • 🥢 Banchan: From pickled radish to kimchi – the variety of side dishes makes every visit a highlight. ✨ What makes Seoul 1988 so special: The menu selection is huge and offers something for everyone, from spicy soups to Korean classics to small snacks. I was particularly impressed by the loving preparation and the ambience, which really reminds me of Seoul! 💡 Tip: Be sure to try the kimchi pancakes – crispy and full of umami flavor. Perfect for sharing or alone! 🙌 📸 Which dish in the picture appeals to you most? Comment below! 👇

It's so unfortunate that I can't make a phone call. Good luck!

It was very nicely decorated and you could use my bell to order authentic Korean dishes, like in Korea the waitress came to the tables very quickly and everyone was very accommodating!! I'll be back next 감사해요 :)

There is very tasty authentic Korean food here. Whenever we are in Hamburg, we come here to enjoy exactly that. The restaurant is quaint and friendly. It's just a little noisy when it's busy in the evening, so you can't hear the music (K-Pop) that well, which is also a reason for me to keep coming back.

I simply love it!!! I love Korea and their food. Super nice staff. Delicious food. Quick service Moderate prices..m of course I will come back here...and I recommend this!

The chicken rivals Korean taste. Stir-fried pork is served stir-fried. Rice is also served. The dumplings weren't bad either. However, seafood and green onion pancakes are a trap. If you're curious, give it a try. It's a seafood pancake. Nevertheless, I think this place, which offers various types of soju and beer, is authentic. Almost every time I go on a business trip to Germany, I stop by with my German friends.

One of my favorite places to eat in Hamburg, the kimchi soup is super flavorful

Almost authentic food, nice service staff and good atmosphere. Unfortunately, not all drinks on the menu (Terra) are available

Jjajang and Jjamppong are delicious, but expensive. Even by women's standards, the noodles were a bit small. I liked that there was a lot of seafood in the jjamppong.

Suggest to make reservation to avoid disappointment as it's quite a crowd. We loved all our orders. (the spicy seafood stew, Silk tofu stew, vegan dumpling & bibimbap)

Missed to take pictures because we’re just ready to dive into the food. The fried chicken was cooked well and the sauces were tasty (we got suß und heiß). I ordered Milkis despite the cold weather, complemented the meal. Their bibimbap & sundubu jiggae were also delicious. A must-visit when in Hamburg!

Delicious food, great portions and very, very nice service. We came spontaneously and there were no tables left, so we were just allowed to use the karaoke room. Next time we are in Hamburg we will definitely come back!

The meal is definitely for 2 people. Very delicious! Felt like I was in Seoul… Thank you🩵

Feels incredibly authentic, great ambience. Service is on-demand (at the push of a button), although I would have liked a little more speed here, as well as an explanation at the beginning for people who are not familiar with the system. The food came very quickly. Great for sharing different foods. Everything was very tasty! Definitely reserve in advance.

Funny shop... food comes very quickly. You shouldn't underestimate the portions. It feels like everything is intended for 2 people.

The food honestly doesn't taste good but the service and vibes there are 10/10

Awesome retro-style resraurant with a great variety of Korean dishes and drinks! I would recommend going there with some friends rather than alone. The portions are MASSIVE. So, better be super hungry. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. There is also a small arcade where you can play Mortal Kombat until your order is prepared (everything is written in Korean, but who cares).

The ambience is pretty cool. Unfortunately, the taste of the food was not good at all, at least on that day.

Really good Korean food! Korean Fried Chicken is the highlight 🔥 Please keep it up!

We were here for the third time and unfortunately this time we were a bit disappointed. It started with the weak cola (it probably lacked carbon dioxide) and unfortunately continued with the food. On the one hand, the vegan Sundubu was significantly smaller than the regular one and tasted quite bland, watery and tasteless. The Sundubu with seafood was also a bit weak in taste and economical in terms of seafood and that for almost €20! The seafood jambon was a large portion with a decent amount of seafood, so it's okay, but here the noodles were too soft. Overall, it's a shame for today's visit and the fact that three dishes were brought to the table at a different time doesn't make it any better. However, the service was great, very nice and open to criticism.

The food was delicious, but since it was very full we waited 40 minutes and had to eat in the secluded karaoke room. We came for BBQ and there was also a grill, but the very small size of the room would have made it too stuffy. After about 1.5 hours we were asked to leave because of a reservation. It's a real shame because it wasn't cheap and you could have said beforehand that there was a reservation.

This place is all about ambiance, and the food is decent. The staff is really kind. The place is perfectly curated. There is even Korean karaoke in the evenings, which I have never attended. But I can imagine it’s a blast. I recommend coming here with a group of friends or colleagues. Order to share. And PS: the kimchi pancakes are solid.

Nice place fast service menu only fn german

Best Korean in Hamburg and best fried chicken. Would Go Every Day if i could

Delicious Korean cuisine in downtown Hamburg. The map is clear. The menu consists primarily of meat dishes, but there are also some vegetarian options. The portions were very large. Might be worth sharing. The service was quick and very friendly. The decor is extremely cool, but unfortunately it can get a bit cramped and noisy when the store is full. I was able to pay conveniently by credit card. AMEX is not accepted.

Everything is tasty and the portions are huge

The Korean wings were okay, but if you order ultra-spicy, be prepared for the spiciness of red yumyums. We also had some tendons in the wings that took a really long time to chew. (Not high quality meat) The staff was really very friendly, but that doesn't necessarily mean good service. We had to go to the front several times to even be noticed to order something else. In addition, some of the waitresses didn't understand what we wanted to order. (Language barrier). But you can also describe it as authentic with rose-colored glasses. The location itself is really something special. There is relaxed Korean music playing, the lighting is appropriate depending on the time of day and the crowd is also very pleasant. And you should appreciate that too! All in all, I can recommend this restaurant if you want to have a nice evening at a Korean restaurant with some friends. But you shouldn't expect that you will get the best quality food or that the table will be cleared at some point.

You should definitely make a reservation for 4 people or more. It was very warm that day and the restaurant was therefore stuffy. Dark and no air conditioning...the food was very good. Ordered 3 dishes for 7 people and everyone was full! The portions and prices are more like 2-3 people per portion (at least for us). It was a great fit :)

Super tasty and would definitely come again!!! It was busy and we had to pay at the checkout ourselves, but that doesn't matter. The food is great!

Absolute recommendation: super tasty food, reasonably priced and cool atmosphere. 1st visit and I'm looking forward to the next visit 😍🤩🤤🤤🤤

Super tasty, especially the cauliflower wings and these tteokbokki with cheese! The 2 dishes for 2 people are completely enough! The staff was very friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food. I found the decor very authentic and cozy, which I didn't expect after reading the reviews. We both left the restaurant very happy and full! Happy to come back!

Great restaurant, best Korean food I have had in Hamburg so far. Great menu with good options of Korean food and good price. I recommend the noodles, bibimbap and the starters. Perfect Kimchi. Drinks also are amazing and very well done. I just had fun in the late night karaoke, loved the night and experience. Thanks for the amazing staff.