Secret Garden

Recommends

desserts4life

Joined 6 years ago

YUMMY Korean Food!!. I've been to Secret Garden several times and every time has been DELICIOUS! I've never had problems with my orders even though their servers' english was limited. I usually order the Bibim Bap (hot stone claypot w/beef & veggies) or the Mandu Kuk (dumpling soup). It's always very good & my order comes very quickly even when they are crowded.

Well, the food may come fast but trying to get a refill of water or actually get your check to pay can be challenging. I think that's my only complaint. They have too many servers helping EVERYONE & it appears that servers aren't assigned specific areas to help so it gets a little crazy. I've actually refilled my own water before. It beats waiting when you've eaten Kimchi & your mouth is on fire! As far as paying, I've learned to just walk up to the register when I'm ready to go so that I don't have to wait for them to deliver my check...it's MUCH faster that way & I don't mind. Their servers are always friendly & the food has always been great :-).

Just a note, they've "updated" the inside w/new seats & menus. Looks great!

Doesn't Recommend

dan_g

Joined 9 years ago

Good food, bad service. A Korean friend first introduced me to Secret Garden about 6-years ago. I quickly became a big fan of the food, the staff, and the aptmosphere, and I was there so often that everyone knew my name.

Unfortunately, that's no longer the case.

The food is usually good (but not reliably so), but the service has gotten so poor that I refuse to go there anymore.

Sometimes food is cold, sometimes it's not prepared the way you'd asked for it, and sometimes they forget entire items from your order. "Service with a smile" seems to have been replaced with "service if you're lucky".

Perhaps it's the newer faces, maybe new management, I don't know. What I do know is that in my opinion, there are much better experiences to be had elsewhere and I would not recommend Secret Garden.

Recommends

svsekaran

Joined 11 years ago

First time, but I'll try again. I got take out (2 orders of Bi Bim Bap). I asked for no eggs, but they put eggs on. Also, they did not include rice. Every where else I've been rice is a given with Bi Bim Bap. It's like eating a hot dog without a bun!

I need to find a korean place around San Mateo.