Kimchi Korean - State College

I have been ordering the tofu dolset at this restaurant for years. While I wish it was a bit less oily, I absolutely LOVE this dish. The rice becomes crispy in the special bowls they serve it in, and there are delicious sprouts, mushrooms, greens...truly high quality ingredients. Just a heads up, the miso soup is not vegan and some of the sides they provide may not be either, but the wait staff is very accommodating and knowledgeable about vegan options. There are other menu items that may also be vegan as is. I highly recommend trying this place out! And the rice tea is really delicious as well.

There are several vegetarian options available, however, when I mentioned that I was vegan, our server quickly informed me that there were no vegan options on the menu. The chef was unable to accommodate any vegan requests, which I found to be disappointing. Even steak houses usually have vegan options available. I was not impressed and would not recommend this restaurant.

We have been to Kimchi several times over the past 5 years. The quality seemed to decline a couple of years ago, with our soda glasses being filled only 3/4 of the way and the restaurant closing on Tuesdays. Located in a strip of shops near Cherry Lane and South Atherton Street, Kimchi is a good spot to avoid crowds during Penn State football games. The menu still offers vegetarian options like Tofu or Vegetable Dolsot served in hot sizzling bowls with Seaweed Soup on the side. Previously, Korean Red Pepper Paste was provided on every table but now you have to ask for it with your Dolsot. The Vegetable Tofu and Vegetable Denjang have been consistently good over the years, served with white rice and shared side dishes. However, make sure to request all vegetarian side dishes as they may include Fish Cake unless substituted. Overall, Kimchi provides an average dining experience due to uncertainty about ingredients and slow service.

My husband is Korean and my mother-in-law is an amazing cook of Korean dishes, so this review may be somewhat biased. We enjoy trying different Korean restaurants in new places as it is one of our favorite cuisines. The service at this restaurant was good, but unfortunately, the food did not impress us and was a bit pricey. The menu is limited, especially for those looking for meatless options. I ordered the Kimchi soup, which was just okay and disappointing for the price of $18. The portion was also smaller than we are accustomed to at Korean restaurants. My husband ordered the beef bulgogi, which had a strange texture and was just okay according to him. If you are new to Korean cuisine, you may enjoy trying this place out. However, if you are familiar with and often cook Korean food at home, you may find this restaurant to be basic and overpriced.

The appetizer of fried noodles was one of the best dishes I've ever tasted - spicy but delicious. However, I was extremely disappointed with the chicken rice dish. The chicken had no flavor and the curry had a raw spice taste. I ended up throwing half of it away as I couldn't bring myself to finish it.