The food court experience shouldn’t be limited to unhealthy options like burgers and pizza. Sorabol Korean BBQ & Asian Noodles appears to be redefining fast food as a genre. The Sorabol concept prides itself in its ability to keep up with busy, modern-day lifestyles with a quick and casual take-out atmosphere that is able to retain the rich flavors of traditional Korean cuisine. “I believe we are a healthy alternative. All the food that is served is prepared fresh everyday, not centrally processed or delivered. We are targeting the consumer that is looking for a healthy, nutritious, satisfying and tasty option in the food court,” said Richard Hong, son of the founders and now the CEO of Sorabol Restaurant Group LLC.
Sorabol is a family-owned chain that serves generous portions of Korean food for about $10, with current locations in California, Nevada and the Philippines. With Sorabol, your palate won’t have to choose between the usual Chinese or Japanese options at the food court. Treat your taste buds to a hot plate of BBQ chicken, dak gui in Korean, or bite into some deliciously savory BBQ short ribs, kalbi, or satisfy a craving for spicy pork, dwegi gui. “People are realizing that there is more to Asian cuisine than Chinese and Japanese. I like to think that Sorabol has been a dominant influence in bringing Korean cuisine to the mainstream consumer,” Richard Hong said.
Emigrating from South Korea to the Bay Area in the mid-60s, Sorabol was started by Young-Ran Hong and her husband in 1979. The Hongs decided to open the first and only Sorabol Restaurant on Grand Avenue in Oakland, Calif., then a sit-down, fine-dining operation, due to a lack of Korean dining establishments in the community at the time.
“It was one of the first Korean restaurants in Northern California,” said Richard Hong. “More than just providing a nice dinner, Sorabol was a place for the Korean people in the community to meet.”
The name Sorabol, not to be confused with the serving bowl, comes from the capital of the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C.-935 A.D.), a city in Korea that experienced an economic and cultural golden age during its time.
The restaurant started gaining in popularity and its appeal spread far and wide, and in the late ’80s, the Hongs were approached by Emeryville Public Market, a food retail center in Emeryville that showcases the diversity of cuisine in the Bay Area. Sorabol was then transformed into a more casual, quick-serve food stop, becoming the first Korean fast-food chain in the United States. Young-Ran Hong, who is now in her 60s, is still deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the business; her husband is semi-retired but remains a dedicated community activist for his own venture, the Multi-Service Center for Koreans, now called Korean Center Inc.
Sorabol has been a huge success and is usually one of the top producers in all of its food-court locations. The Westfield San Francisco Centre location has had to limit menu options in order to keep up with the volume of diners. But nonetheless, many on restaurant review Web site Yelp highly recommend the Westfield location, with one reviewer stating that Sorabol provides “large helpings of flavorful, well-seasoned chicken” and is not your average food-court eatery.
And according to Richard Hong, what was then a meeting place for Koreans has now attracted the attention of non-Koreans: “We’re well-received by communities we’re in, and most of our business has started catering to non-Korean clientele.” Yukejang, a spicy soup with shredded beef, clear noodles and an assortment of vegetables, has been surprisingly popular among non-Korean eaters. “I warn my customers and tell them that yukejang is already really spicy, but usually I see them eating it with kimchi and hot sauce on the side,” Richard said.
Sorabol has also adjusted along with consumer palates. Many customers have asked for fish options, so grilled salmon and grilled mackerel have been added to the menu, and in the near future, Sorabol will be offering soon dubu, a spicy stew of silken tofu.
Currently with 15 locations, a 16th Glendale location already confirmed, and plans to expand to Washington, D.C., and New York City, Sorabol continues to be a quick and satisfying take on traditional Korean cuisine, appealing to even the pickiest of eaters.
Sorabol Korean BBQ & Asian Noodles current locations
California
CAPITOLA MALL
1855 41st Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 477-7075
CENTURY CITY MALL
10250 Santa Monica
Century City, CA 90087
(310) 277-3772
EMERYVILLE PUBLIC MARKET
5959 Shellmound St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 601-5959
GREAT MALL
608 Great Mall Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 956-8080
NEWPARK MALL
2081 Newpark Mall
Newpark, CA 94560
(510) 745-8989
NORTHRIDGE MALL
796 Northridge Mall
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 449-1155
OAKRIDGE MALL
925A Blossom Hill Road
San Jose, CA 95123
(408) 578-2912
RINCON CENTER, S.F.
101 Spear St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 896-5959
SHERWOOD MALL
5308 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 473-7898
STONESTOWN GALLERIA
3251 20th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 753-5959
SAN FRANCISCO CENTRE
845 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 777-5959
TANFORAN MALL
1150 El Camino Real
San Bruno, CA 94066
(650) 589-2289
TOPANGA MALL
6600 Topanga Canyon
Canoga Park, CA 91303
(818) 888-1959
Nevada
BOULEVARD MALL
3480 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 547-5959
Philippines
SM MEGAMALL
Lower Level
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
(632) 633-4241
Coming Soon
GLENDALE
MANHATTAN
ORANGE COUNTY
SAN DIEGO
SEATTLE
WASHINGTON, D.C.