Sorabol Fusion Asian Cuisine

02/05/2008 Posted by earthbeing12

Having lived on the economy in Korea we have the benefit of direct experience with the foods Korean's eat every day. Sorabol serves exactly the same dishes we ate on the streets of Seoul in an expansive and comfortable space. For the uninitiated, Korean food is incredibly diverse, robust, adventurous and, for lack of a better word, pure. Despite the abundance of American fast food, and TGI Friday’s-styled “restaurants” in urban Korea, and the integration of Japanese cuisine into the fabric of Korean life, Korean food is remarkably and distinctly Korean. It draws upon itself, and is little influenced by outside cultures unless one dials back thousands of years. Sorabol’s offerings are authentic, and reflect a minimalist sampling of all that Korean cuisine has to offer. They have not dumbed-down the food to suite the bland American palate, so unlike the typical Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Chinese restaurants have in order to draw in the locals. Order Dwen-chong Chigai, a hearty stew which is as common a dish as one will find in Korea, and you will be tasting Korean food as it is in Korea. Bi-Bim-Bop, and particularly the excellent Tol-sot Bi-Bim-Bop at Sorobol, were dishes we survived on during our first weeks in Korea as we assimilated. Sorabol’s sushi bar offers typical Japanese imports, common in Korea, but try the Korean pan-chan, small dishes of traditionally served with the main course. Kim-chee, picked lotus root, marinated mushrooms, and a broad array of other temptations should not be missed. Wash it all down with Bori-cha, a tea made with roasted barley, served cold in summer, hot in winter, or a Hite beer, a very light Korean pilsner. Take time to chat with the staff, and seek their help in making selections. After a couple of visits, and some very pleasant conversations with the owners and staff, we were treated like regulars and welcomed upon walking through the doors. Certainly Sorabol is our favorite Asian eatery.

Pros: Authentic Korean, great sushi, fine staff.

Cons: None - keep your expecations to a minimum and enjoy.

01/12/2008 Posted by yaewonie

Wow I'm surprised at the bad reviews I read. I have always found the service prompt, friendly, and polite. The food is really tasty, I recommend the kimchi jigae or kimchi bockum for those that like spicy food and the bulgogi for those that like mild but tasty beef, I found the portions plenty filling and I always seem to bring home leftovers. It also has a good atmosphere, kinda cool modern casual unlike the rather stiff feeling of more traditional korean places. I'm still getting used to the mix of sushi with korean food, but the stuff I got off the sushi belt is good and has plenty of options. I think this is a good place for people new to sushi, since I didn't see too much raw fish and their are lots of other alternatives. Yup, I like this place lots!!!

Pros: friendly service, tasty food, casual ambience

Cons: Can't bring in a huge party of 12+ impromptu

01/10/2008 Posted by chillip

I decided to give Sorabol Fusion Restraunt a shot. I've always eaten down at the Beaverton Korean restaurants. So today my girlfriend, my brother, and I decided to go in for lunch today. They got great daily lunch specials during lunch hours. For example, every Mondays it'd be 50% off Korean stews... Tuesdays 50% off Korean soup... and etc. Not only that, the waiter was extremely friendly and service was great. We ordered BiBimBop, Mackerel BBQ, Hot & Spicy Pork BBQ, along with Soft Tofu Kimchi Stew! We had one hell of a delicious lunch... Very reasonable prices! Definitely a must go to place for Korean food! I am definitely coming back here again!!

Pros: Service

Cons: None

01/10/2008 Posted by ya1222

I tried this place again for my family gethering for the new year. And I don't understand why some reviews are so bad. We ordered one of thier set menu for 4 people, while the food was being prepared we picked up few sushi plates from the rotating belt, there were so many different kinds of fish, rolls, and other Korean stuffs, and for us the plates were interesting to look at, and good enough for the price they charge. There are tons of plates for under $2. And just by looking at the moving plates made us to lose the bordom of the wating for the main menu. and again, the main menu was not the top of all of the Korean Restaurants, but it was tasty enough for us. Also, the menu came with some 9 different little side dishes. The server was friendly but her accent was very hard to understand; however, she responded very nicely to my requests, such as refilling the side dishes, and such. At the last, green tea ice creams which were included the set meal gave us a nice cool feeling after eating the hot and spicy Korean BBQs. In overall , the restaurant is not a traditional authentic Korean restaurant, but with a little loud Korean and Japanese pop music, tons of tvs with music videos on all the time, more likely for the trendy younger generations who cares not only the food, but also the surroundings of different auras. We spent a little over $70, and all of my 6 party members including the kids were satisfied with the restaurant with the reason.

Pros: Main Korean menus with sushi snacks

Cons: Somewhat too spacious ambience, Hard to understand server

10/13/2007 Posted by kioko

I've been to this place twice, before and after their remodeling. Before the remodeling, it was really packed and the place didn't look that nice. It often gets quite "warm" because of all the grill setting off. The food was okay. They aren't great, but you can eat them without gagging. After the remodeling, the places became more spacious and tidy. The food remains the same. They now have a "sushi bar", which serves "sushi all day long" (old). I've only tried their Korean BBQ and Rice dishes. They do not provide side dishes with their Korean BBQ. You have to grab them from the sushi rotating belt, and yes, they do charge you for them. I tried their Eel Rice Bowl and Spicy Squid/Calamari Rice Bowl, and they are absolutely not the best that I've had. Like I previously said, their food is nothing special. If you wonder about the sushi, I don't have much experience with that because they look absolutely disgusting and OLD. They seem to rotate on the belt all day! Their services is...I don't know the right word. They don't check on how you're doing and you really need to ask them if you want anything; after they took your order and after they brought out the food, that's it. I guess there's a reason why they're often so slow...

Pros: Quiet, Spacious

Cons: Bad customer services, "okay" food

08/14/2007 Posted by cabada

Wow, this place now has the largest, and worst sushi conveyor belt in Portland, and the most limited lunch menu in town, basically you can get bbq chicken, or bbq beef. its not that good, and very fatty, not good pieces of meat. i love Korean food, and this place is a never again. on top of that i waited 1/2 hour for water after asking, and 1/2 for the check after finishing i had to get up and ask for it, which i find embarrassing, and there was almost no one in the place! i love food, but this was my worst dining experience in Portland yet. OH, AND NO KOREAN PICKLED APPETIZERS come with the food, i dont think there even on the menu!!! not worth it.

Pros: prompt seating

Cons: everything else

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/13/2007 Posted by pdxdesigns

So my girlfriend and I just got back from dinner at Sorabol restaurant and I would have to say that our experience there was quite forgetable although due to the service I will be reminded never to go there again. Although everything at surface seems well and dandy, the restaurant is a joke. I've never gone to a Korean restaurant that charges people for side dishes like kim chee. That itself is ridiculous, every Korean meal comes with kim chee, without charge! The service really put me over the top. The waitress never came by our table even though the restaurant was slow. When she did come by our table she was unhelpful, unfriendly and generally useless. We had to ask two times for everything, including asking for a glass of water. It was aggravating and mainly due to the service but also because of the unexpectedly expensive tab, I'd definately not recommend this place to anyone.

Pros: A Pearl District throwback for people in SE, if thats a good thing

Cons: Service

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/10/2007 Posted by albeairis

I know the owner and manager there and they are the most honest and respectful people I know. They treat their customers with such great care. They recently remodeled with the longest sushi conveyer system I've seen thus far. But to be honest, it's all about the Korean BBQ that makes me come back for more. Their prices are reasonable and inexpensive. The aroma, atmosphere, the staff and the food is just heavenly. There is just a limitless variety of food there. I, for one, enjoy walking out of there, belly stuffed, extremely satisfied and smelling like Bulgogi.

02/10/2007 Posted by janascally

I too echo the other reviews in saying that the remodel makes Sorabol a top choice for Korean dining. Now that's it's officially "Fusion Asian", you have many more choices with japanese and sushi. (it's not very pan pacific fusion, but offers more choices). The servers are friendly and efficient. It feels more like a japanese restaurant dining experience. I love the open semi trendy feeling of the restaurant. They have tin industrial siding on the walls, a long sushi bar and cocktails bar, and the Korean videos also add to the younger atmosphere. But it's a casual and not overly trending feeling. Cool atmosphere, good food and prices, esp daily lunch specials; this is my new place to eat Korean! yay!

Pros: ambience, price, service

01/07/2007 Posted by belmontlover

Fantastic! You must try their $2.95 lunch specials, awesome food, big portions and cheap! Their sushi is also really good. The unagi is superb, it melts in your mouth. I'm pretty impressed with the variety of dishes available on their menu and everything I've tried has been good. The ambiance is unique with tin walls and korean music video playing on the tvs. Overall, I'd say if you haven't tried Sorabol it's about time you did!

Pros: unagi, sushi, cheap 2.95 lunch specials

Cons: sometimes service can be slow