Sorabol Korean BBQ + Asian Noodles

If I were to be very honest and blunt, the wonton noodle soup I ordered here was garbage. Complete garbage. It’s the worst I’ve ever had in my life. I can honestly make this myself at home. What kind of restaurant sell soup that uses instant noodles? This was a huge turn off! Not to mention, the taste was completely off. It’s as though they threw random vegetables inside (I.e. mushrooms) and mixed it with the powdered seasoning that instant noodles usually come in with. I haven’t tried their other dishes but from what I’ve experienced, this place is terrible. It’s a complete robbery as the soup was pricey. Avoid at all costs.

The food was all right. It’s not as good as the one in Westfield mall. They were a bit skimpy on the kimchi too :/

I wish I could give this sorry place a negative 5. The girl behind the counter tonight was classless and rude. She made it a point to rip off a bite size chunk of the already meager amount of chicken that she put on the paper plate and throw it back into the metal warming bin. Who trained this bimbo?! The portions were an absolute joke — the Sorabol at Westfield *smokes* this joint in service, quantity AND quality. The japchae noodles were stale, overcooked and tasted like crap. The brown rice was very mushy = fail. The BBQ chicken was dry, tough and bland. Don’t waste your hard earned bucks here, it’s not worth it — stay away from this place!

Not going back. Used to be a favorite, now prices have gone up, and portions have gone down. Worst yet is the unfriendly attitude of their servers. It’s too bad that the whole food court has suffered after Borders moved out, but, really, you have to do better on food and service to keep people coming. Plenty of other better Korean options.

I have been going to Sorabol in the Emeryville Public Market over 10 years, back when it was the hottest food stand in that food court. Times have changed since Bay Street was built in Emeryville.
Then I found Sorabol in Sun Valley Mall, and it was a let down because it was different and it disoriented me for a bit.
Now there is this Sorabol in the new Metreon Food Court. It has some of the same items and flavors, like the chicken bowl, etc., but has its own twist to what I remember way back when.
I guess it is a franchise chain trying to bring fast food concepts to Korean food. Or is it Korean Food to fast food concepts?
It hasn’t found the secret formula Asian fast food success, like Panda Express has, but they have been at it longer. This is more like the Phở franchise of Phở Hoa, you know, those with the green and red colored menus. It is a franchise too. You didn’t know that? Not sure what sort of support in exchange for a royalty payment Phở Hoa gives, but it is looser than Panda Express, which may be company owned, not franchised. I am not sure.
But Sorabol gives you a hint of Korean flavors with their meat bowls, optional kimchi, and their «sauce» they poor on your meat and rice.
The thing that is similar with all of them, is that they always seem to have a large grilled filled with chicken cooking on it.
There was one older Korean lady, presumably the owner working here, other wise, there were young people from all sorts of background working here. So I guess the franchisee can hire who they want. Whereas every Panda Express I have ever been in, they have Asian women serving you, and Latino men frying in all up in the wok.

I’m usually only in this area if I’m watching a movie or for yet another tech conference. They usually have a pretty short line (probably since there are so many options now).
What is nice is you can get brown rice without getting charged more. I got the beef rib stew, I thought it was a little sweet.
I wasn’t a big fan for the kimchee.

Got the bibimbap. Huge portions! Couldn’t finish it. Pretty tasty. Fast and friendly service.

Same food as the other spots, I wanted to try this location out since it was an amazing day outside in SF and this location sits right on the Yerba Buena gardens. There was huge line as Oracle World is in town. The line moved very quick and the service was fast and friendly. I had the to 2 entrée special, Spicy Bar-​B-​Que Chicken and the Beef Rib Stew, with brown rice. It also came with Kimchi which was a little bland. The spicy chicken was was very good, nice tangy sauce and the chicken was cook just right. The Beef Rib was OK, the beef was over cooked and a little chewy. The sauce and the veggies where fine. Overall a decent meal but a tad bit expensive for lunch $ 12.00 which included organic mango Oolong tea. Yes for location and access to the great outdoors in the middle of SF!