SSAM
“It's K-town level good, at least for their dduk mandoo guk and kimchi.”
“Soy ginger drumsticks are crispy yet moist on the inside.”
“Japchae is my favorite food here.”
SSAM
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. After moving from Queens–home to many amazing Korean restaurants, I needed a go-to Korean joint near Boerum Hill. Reviews were super mixed about this place but I finally gave it a go to see for myself. It also looks like there a few fake 5-star reviews on here–accounts that just joined yelp and only have 1 review, no photos, etc…just beware.
Unfortunately the food fell short..service was ok. I don't want to sound harsh but anyone who says Ssam has good Korean food clearly hasn't been to restaurants around Queens. Even Ktown in Manhattan has better choices. Somethings off about their KFC-the sauce and flavor seemed right but the skin wasn't crispy like Boka or BonChon. The bibimbap and soondubu (soft tofu soup) was lacking in flavor but still passable. Their seafood pancake was the most disappointing, from texture to taste, nothing was right. It almost seemed undercooked..like doughy eeek.
The best thing about Korean restaurants is the ban chan, free small side dishes. Yes they are free but Ssam only provided three measly and sub par ban chan dishes during my dinner. I don't expect the world but this is the worst ban chan spread I've ever encountered.
Sadly wont be back and don't really recommend.
Ok, Brooklyn. We've got some eating to do. Ssam has got to be one of the most underrated restaurants in this city and it's a shame because the food, service, (and prices!) are SO GOOD.
I live around the corner from Ssam but only went in for the first time tonight because I assumed it wasn't very good given how empty it usually is.
The restaurant itself is clean and well-decorated. And I immediately felt welcomed by the staff.
I ordered the bulgogi japche (clear sweet potato noodles with super flavorful and lean beef) and the spicy pork bibimbap. Both were stupid good and came with traditional Korean side dishes (A+ kimchi) and miso soup. My only complaint is the egg on the bibimbap was a bit overcooked. The yolk should just break open but they must have cracked it a bit too early before serving because part of the yolk had cooked. The tofu side dish was also a little off texture-wise, but now we're getting picky.
Add a 7 dollar lychee martini and a few on-the-house tasters and I was a very satisfied lady.
I'll absolutely be back. Tell your friends! I want this place to stick around a while.
Hmmm, the food really is only 3 stars but I will most likely go back. It is walking distance for me. Sigh, must I go to Manhattan and Queens for good Korean always? The chicken wings were ok, my husband enjoyed his bibimbop, and I was ok with my tofu stew broth (don't order the seafood one like I did, because fake crab meat is not seafood!) Good service!
I really want to give Ssam a higher star rating – honestly their dolsot bowls were delicious and deserve 4 or even 5 stars. But service was messy and a lot of problems arose that unfortunately we're not so great.
First, they forgot to bring us the appetizer we has ordered, a kimchi pancake. Our dolsot bowls (one with spicy pork and one with kalbi) arrived. One dish had a perfectly cooked soft boiled egg on top while the others was overlooked and hard – bummer!
The waiter must have at this point realized our appetizer pancake had never been made and he came over and apologized, giving us a different type of pancake than we had ordered saying it was on the house. Then he asked if we wanted some beers on the house. This was all lovely and made up for the slight mistake.
However, when our bill arrived they had charged us for the pancake that was supposed to be on the house. Everything just seemed completely disorganized although our waiter was good intentioned. Because the food was tasty though I would give them another chance.
Those who know me or have read my review know that I'm typically easy to please, except for when I review racist establishments. Please note that this review is about the horrible experience I had over here last weekend and NOT because of any racial-related treatment.
I bought a groupon deal two weeks before visiting this establishment because of (frankly) the fried chicken. I always thought that Korean fried chicken were tad overpriced. I'm willing to pay for Bonchon type of goodness but not exactly ready to do so at an establishment that to me isn't a known quality (I live in cobble hill so people like me are generally deprived of Korean fried chicken unless we trek over to Manhattan on a non-work weekend.
Armed with a $40 value groupon certificate I bought for $25, I walked into the store and ordered my fried chicken as take out. When it was ready the manager told me that he is consciously refusing to honour my Groupon.
Whaaaa der fugg…. I asked him why and he tried to explain. I told him it's unfair for me to get caught in the middle of his mess with Groupon but it didn't matter to him. I had to pay for my take out. And I'm still out of pocket by another $25. My $40 voucher wasworthless.
The experience sucked. I don't know who's fault it was and frankly as a customer, it should not be me bearing the brunt of someone's screw up. The management said that Groupon sold this without their "permission". I paid for the meal because I did not want to be that person does not pay for his food. And when I called Groupon up, they said they'll refund the $25 and contact the management (over a week still nothing from Ssam or groupon) but refused to right the wrong. To me it was still wrong because I paid for something that I would not have ordered and paid for knowing how crappy the experience would be and that the voucher would not be honoured.
Maybe Groupon was wrong, maybe Ssam was wrong but the bottom line is the customer suffered because no one wanted to do the right thing. Shame on Ssam, shame on Groupon. And no, I would not pay $39.09 for their overpriced fried chicken although this is something I'm not opposed to doing when it is delicious but still overpriced like Bonchon
The chicken honestly was not good. Wet and soggy and the sauce was very runny.
Friday evening front of the restaurant is almost full but the back is empty. We're immediately directed to our table with our first steps in. It's the same for all others who walk in.
Even after we look at the menu and are trying to make eye contact that were ready to order, it takes another 10 mins for someone to come over and this is me hardcore trying to wave someone over with my eyes.
I order, he repeats my order but the appetizer still comes out half wrong. We ordered the seafood pancake and get the kimchi one instead. However it was delicious, the flour they used was orange in color and tasted maybe like sweet potato? The kimchi fried are a must – crispy fries topped with cheese, kimchi for a little kick, a little bit of a sauce, and scallions – superb!
Soy ginger drumsticks are crispy yet moist on the inside. Beef bibimbap could have used more meat ($3) for extra but was still a good comfort food entree.
Would def return! We were skeptical but it's the best korean food I've had in brooklyn yet!
I'm not well versed in Korean food, but it was tasty and hot. The service was also impeccable, waiter was super nice and made good recommendations.
ummmmm I'm not totally sure how I feel about this place.
On the one hand, the price is affordable and the food is pretty inoffensive, but on the other hand, I feel like SSAM is suffering an identity crisis. Is it trying to be swanky with the weird neon lights at the bar? Orrr romantic and cozy with the booths and soft woodgrain decor?
The menu is equally confused with a myriad of japanese-american sushi rolls (and surprisingly only 3 types of korean kimbap) and a few other items that felt out of place. The wine list is pretty limited and it was also difficult to select something without actual bottle names and only descriptions + regional notes.
On the plus side, I thought the banchan offerings were modest but tasty, and our waitress offered to refresh them for us towards the end of the meal. It was a bit challenging to flag staff down from time to time but people were always warm and friendly once we were able to get their attention.
The real downer is the awful lighting – if they could fix the sort of off-putting fluorescent tone I think it'd drastically improve the ambience. Overall I think I would consider this place more for takeout (Netflix and Chill?! aaaight) but I wouldn't put up a fight if I was with a few people who really wanted to sit down. For Cobble Hill korean, it'll do.