Spring Restaurant

This is probably one of the best Korean restaurants in the Portland area. I always get a soup and an entrée, and it’s enough to feed three people. The Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap (Seafood Bibimbap) is yummy and piping hot, and I really enjoy the yukgaejang.
Service here is a hit or miss though. When I come during lunch and it’s just ajummas serving, we never get a refill on tea. I came during dinner one time and they actually had a younger guy serving and he was super courteous the whole time (even apologizing for the wait). When this place is packed, be prepared to wait a long time for the food to come out.

My quest to find a decent Korean restaurant, was told to try this place, not disappointed with the food I ordered (Kom Tang), but the kimchi needs improvement. Maybe it’s because my mother in law makes ours, her kimchi is to die for. Kind of a small place but it’s cozy, service was great, place was packed for a Sunday lunch, but was able to find a table. Their menu selection is pretty good too, will definitely be back for more.

Yum!
My husband us Korean and loves eating here. Fried rice is delicious, little plates of Kim chi are mostly wonderful!
People are sooooo friendly! Prices are extremely reasonable.
We will return.

We planned to go to another korean restaurant but it was closed and decided to try the Spring Restaurant. It was unexpectedly good!!! Eight dishes each table and the food was sooo delicious! My friend and I like it very much!

Food here is delicious! my second favorite korean restaurant right after JCD in Beaverton. It’s a smaller space upstairs inside of a korean market called G-​Mart but it’s worth trying! Just don’t expect service to be awesome… this place would be 5 stars if they were a bit nicer, or at least smile here and there? The main lady seems pissed off and annoyed 24/​7, makes it awkward to ask for any assistance.

Hidden gem in G-​mart! A lot of people I introduced to the place didn’t even know this place existed. Do yourself a favor try #1 JJIN MANDU. definitely my fav item on the menu. Everything that I tried here is good and I been here tons! the wait here is much shorter that Nakwon which makes me smell like BBQ by the time I am done with dinner: p

Sorry Spring but you’ve clearly went downhill. It’s very unfortunate as we were such regulars. Once a week we’d dine there and consistently our bill was $ 35-​$ 40. Your food was once actually pretty good but it no longer is. Quality has slipped tremendously and your service sucks.
We were regulars and always tipped 20% or more and never caused any trouble or complained about anything. If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen us in a long time, it’s because it was the final straw. How do you treat your fly-​by-​night customers better than you treat your regulars??? When I ask for a refill on my water, you roll your eyes??? You’re reluctant to even ask if we need anything yet you go out of your way to help customers who will eat there once a year, if that. We were there EVERY single week, sometimes twice a week. Then you started failing. The quality of your food obviously went down. Portions? Haha I laugh because the plates seem to be shrinking on a weekly basis where our galbi plate literally had 1−1÷3 pieces of galbi. 4 small bones, no joke.
What happened? Did all this Unilocal fame get to your head? You need to treat your regulars with a little more class and respect because we are the ones who will continually dine there and keep the biz afloat, even in rough times. But no, you’ll treat random people with so much friendliness and let your regulars slip to the wayside. Unfortunate. Very unfortunate.

Wow, I’m seriously surprised anyone even knows about this restaurant! It was like a treasure hunt looking for this place! First of all, you find Gmart, this Korean grocery store. And you look around for the restaurant but you see nothing but a small sign printed on regular paper that says «Spring Restaurant». It’s almost like a Where’s Waldo search for this sign since it’s sprinkled among a bunch of other paper ads. Since there weren’t any other doorways or buildings around, I assumed that this small little paper sign means the restaurant is inside the grocery store. So I go inside. There is no sign or indication anywhere that there is a restaurant present. So I walk all the way to the back of the grocery store, nothing. Searched and searched. Then I found this small (almost hidden) stairway that looks like it goes towards an office space on the second floor that should be employees only… but if you walked closer, you see these small signs that say «Spring Restaurant, upstairs, closed Mondays». Wow, difficult to find!
So once you find this place, the rest is easy. It’s a no frills kind of place, Just table, chairs, a large picture menu and a TV. If you can find this restaurant, you have accomplished a great feat!
Food:
1) steamed dumplings: A little bland for my taste but I think it paired up really nicely when I dipped it into the tofu soup or the dipping sauce for the seafood pancake. The filling was chopped really finely and I could tell there were a lot of ingredients in there! I liked the presentation and the finer details in how they put the dumplings together.
2) seafood pancake: A little soggier than I’d like, there were crispier areas of the pancake, but largely most of it came out a little oily and soggy. but nonetheless, it was packed with a lot of ingredients and flavor! The dipping sauce was amazing!
3) seafood tofu soup: a little bigger than regular portions, I think the flavor and ingredients were pretty decent.
Service:
The service is really GOOD here! Everyone is so nice! It feels like they genuinely care if you like the food and if you are having a good dining experience! I was thanked a million times for dining there before I left! Excellent service! Extra tips for them! :)
Ambiance:
Like I said, no frills, just your typical tables and chairs. No fancy silverware or dishes. Their casual décor really completes the whole «hole in the wall» restaurant feel.
Price:
Pretty typical prices, I didn’t feel like it was extra pricey or cheap.
Overall:
I liked the food and the service was excellent here! I will definitely come back!

The entrees were really tasty, well prepared and hot. The sides were a bit less stellar. My hot tea came at the end of the meal as did the appetizer and we had to ask for them twice.

This place is truly a hidden gem. I almost don’t want to share the secret. Even if you’ve been to G-​Mart, you might not have noticed this restaurant tucked away in the loft. And once you’ve spotted it, it still might take a while to find the stairs. Of course, you explore the aisles and find all types of tasty delights… where can I take a Korean cooking class?
We usually get the kimchi pajeon and then try something different with each visit. We are always satisfied– the food is fantastic and the service is great, too.
We’re often the only patrons of non-​Asian decent, and usually the only ones who get served glasses of water upon arrival instead of tea. But no big deal, I’m sure it is based on experience of what most customers like, and they bring tea as soon as I ask.

Sort of a hole-​in-​the-​wall. You know it’s good when there’s Korean grandmas there!
The food is good, but the service is what makes this a five-​star business. I ordered a cold noodle dish on accident and didn’t enjoy it because I like my noodles hot. They promptly replaced my order with a hot noodle dish without charging. How amazing is that?

Step into G-​Mart and look for the meat department to the back right. Right next to there, you will find the stairs leading up to cafeteria style loft dining of Spring Restaurant. I am a fan of their Short Rib Spicy Yukejang soup and the Rice cake and Dumpling soup. When the new owners took over about a year ago, they added additional $ 1 across the board. Even at that, Spring is of the more affordable Korean eats in the Little Korea, Beaverton. The staff is friendly and they don’t mind refilling your free side dishes of their delicious Banchan. Usually, they serve 7 colorful dishes of Banchan with always a classic Kimchi. Korean portions are big. I recommend just one item per person.

This place is great! I always have a hard time making a decision. The steamed mandu is always a must and the kalbitang is so delicious, the meat falls right off the bone. Today I got the broiled mackerel, it didn’t let me down!
The only sad part is that they don’t serve beer. ;)

Located inside Gmart which I think makes for a fun experience. I’ve never been to G mart until I heard about this place and was surprised how big this place was. Big enough to squeeze in a restaurant up top.
Food is delicious and served hot and fresh! Words seriously can’t describe it.
Pricing is fair, most plates are about between $ 10-​$ 15 for a nice filling portion.
Definitely recommend the Jjin Mandu #1 ($ 6.95) which look like dumplings or gyozas. Worth it!
Staff is so friendly and kind. The lady made me feel at home and I’m not Korean lol. She was just super sweet and informative although she didn’t speak 100% fluent English, but was understandable that we didn’t have any confusion.
The menu with the picture and English translation was so helpful. It made it clear what you are getting and for what price.
Came here on a Wednesday night and had no issues with seating although we did come about an hour before closing, but never felt rushed.

I have driven by multiple times and never knew this was here. It is inside an asian grocery on the top floor, next to the subaru dealership. Décor was very basic and parking was limited, but not a problem.
Our server (maybe the owner) was very friendly and kept bringing us more side dishes. I liked the kimchi, green veggie, and bean sprouts.
We ordered a few dishes of which i tried the pork and kimchi pancake, beef bulgogi, and pork and veggie dumplings. All were enjoyable. Beaverton is the hotspot for korean restaurants.

I went again and this time I tried their yukejang, spicy beef soup. This is my litmus test for Korean restaurants since that’s my favorite dish! First thing I noticed was it wasn’t served in a large silver bowl which is uncommon. They used a little clay pot which doesn’t have enough volume for the broth. The broth was super hot (temperature) which is always important. On the bottom was a lot of glass/​sweet potato noodles, and I mean a lot! As in that’s mostly what I found, where’s the beef? Oh well, I can do with eating less beef but the problem with so much noodles is that it soaks up too much of the not enough broth! The flavor was good, spicy but not crazy spicy. I do like other places yukejangs but it wasn’t bad. They had at least 6 – 7 panchans, little side dishes which were all pretty good. And people, speak up if you want your panchan refilled. I wasn’t offered any refill but didn’t need it.
I’m still looking for the best dish at Spring!

The moment I walked into this restaurant, I KNEW it was going to be good because it was packed with ajumas (older married women) and halmonees (grandmas) who KNOW what good Korean food is like!
My mom and I stopped by before doing some grocery shopping for lunch and ordered chicken katsu and yuk-​geh-​jang (spicy beef soup). The side dishes it came with were all delicious and perfectly seasoned. One thing I love about Korean restaurants: unlimited side dishes! But do be mindful that making side dishes take a s***-ton of work so don’t be greedy and ask for multiple refills (I attempted to make 4 popular side dishes at home and it took me 3 hours T. T)…but I digress.
Once the entrées came out, my mom and I were impressed with the sizes and got right to eating. The katsu was crispy and tender, although I can’t say it was the best. The katsu sauce was a little different from what I was used to but still tasty. Onto the yuk-​geh-​jang: IT WAS AMAZING! This soup contains strips of brisket, various veggies, potato starch noodles, and egg in a rich, hearty, spicy broth that warms the tummy and the soul! It came in a giant bowl and was enough to serve 2 – 3 people! This soup hits the spot and can cure the common cold, end famine, and bring world peace (ok, maybe not the last 3 but it is great for cold days or when you’re feeling under the weather).
The service was great and the waitress was attentive to all guests, including non-​Korean foreigners who were sitting next to us and thoroughly enjoying their meals as well. Don’t expect a fancy restaurant but do expect fantastic food! It’s located in the upstairs portion in the back of the G Mart so don’t be confused if the address takes you to a Korean grocery store! Hope you all enjoy the food just as much as my mom and I did (and my mum knows a thing or two about Korean food! :) Can’t wait to be back in Oregon to eat here again!

I give this place a 5 as a Korean. I’m sure the service wouldn’t be as warm if you don’t speak the language. But as far as their food goes, it’s pretty awesome.
As the other reviews have mentioned, this place is on the 2^nd floor of a Korean grocery store. If you’re shy, just walk quickly past the cashiers that greet you in Korean and take the stairs in the back near the butcher case. When you walk in, there’s a wall of pictures of their food so you can order by pointing if you don’t know what’s what.
There are so many things from noodles, to soups, to grilled meats. You really can’t go wrong in my opinion. Galbi tang (short rib soup) would be a great non-​spicy option for those who like meat. It comes in a big bowl of this beef bone broth, clear noodles, leeks, eggs, etc. If you like spicy, there are so many things like the spicy chicken, spicy pork, haemul bibimbap (seafood mixed rice with a spicy sauce). Plenty of complimentary banchan, or side dishes, like any good Korean restaurant to accompany your meal too.
It might look a little pricy, especially for the location and casual environment of the place, but it’s authentic and filling. Definitely worth checking out and being a regular if you are so lucky!

Korean is one of the few reasons to goto Beaverton.
This little hideaway is a mainstay in the Korean community, we were the only non-​Koreans lunching on a Sunday.
The #1 JJin Man Doo dumplings were so soft, very delicious. The #3 DDuk _​_​Gi — an olio of noodles — was one giant red mess, I was not a fan.
Other Korean staples such as BiBim Bap were up to par.
Our server (owner?) was very friendly. Parking is plenty.

Spring Restaurant is thee restaurant to go for Korean food. Though it’s probably a drive for most it’s well worth fighting traffic for because in the end you’re going to get fed well.
You’re going to want to order MAEWOON DAK BULGOGI #36 ($ 13.95). It’s tender chicken, onion, zucchini, & carrots marinated in spicy sauce, & it. is. awesome. It’s brought out in a cast iron plate & served with banchan. What’s banchan you ask? It’s small dishes of food, i.e. kimchi, steamed vegetables, fish cake, etc. that’s served with rice (see photo). This dish can feed two people or you can save the leftovers because it’s just as good the next day. If you run out of banchan the ladies are more than happy to refill them, too.
A delicious starter is JJIN MANDU #1 ($ 6.95). It’s 10 pieces of steamed dumplings stuffed with meat & vegetables. These look & taste delightful. The dumpling sauce is not the usual sauce one may be used to but it’s still good. It may also taste spicy to those who are unable to handle spice very well.
Spring Restaurant is located on the second floor of G Mart which is just north of SW Canyon Rd near Aaron’s & Beaverton Auto Upholstery. The smell of fish & other unique foods emanate from inside & it’s a powerful one. Walk to the back of the grocery store, up the stairs, & there you’ll be greeted & seated promptly. Prices are reasonable for how much food you get.
The service was great but this last time our server decided to converse with us toward the end of our meal. She asked how old I was & was surprised I was in my 30’s. So next conversation is between her & my mother:
Server: What is your relation to her? (looking at my mother while pointing at me)
Mom: She’s my daughter.
Server: Oh. You look more like her grandmother.
Oh, Snap! Mom stopped coloring her hair after she retired early so yeah, maybe her natural grays aged her but not by that much. The insult was unintentional so we shrugged it off, well, I laughed just a little. Anyways, service is usually insult-​free.
Also, review your bill carefully. It was busy that day & when I received the bill it was almost $ 10 more than what it should’ve been. Again, I’m sure that was unintentional too. They sincerely apologized & corrected their mistake. All was good.