Authentic Korean food, in an Industrial themed restaurant! The walls are decorated with an ocean shipping container. I highly recommend the following: jap chae (glass noodles with beef), soon dobu (tofu soup), egg soufflé (steam eggs, Korean style).

Order: * Korean Fried Chicken (Honey Soy and Sweet Spicy) * Sundubu Jigae with Pork * Soy Marinated Shrimps Pros: * Hip K-pop bar lounge vibe, but comfortable for all ages. Friendly and helpful service. * Marinated shrimps were on point - I would get them again. * Both the honey soy and sweet spicy were delicious (although slightly overcooked). The sweet spicy is definitely spicy, but simultaneously with a deep, well rounded flavor. * Sundubu didn't have a spice level option, but it was also right on point. Cons: * Back to the chicken, although I still enjoyed it, it was overcooked because the exterior was a bit too hard and the interior not as moist as it could be. Comments: * I plan to go back for the food, service, and vibe. I'm also not aware of any other spot in the area that offers the same menu and vibe. With that said, I'm knocking it down for the overcooked chicken.

Tried Chingu in San Mateo on San Mateo Drive today. It has two high top tables that fit multiple people and a number of regular tables. Playing on a large screen was a Korean talent show. I was immediately impressed with the laughter and enjoyment of the people at the other tables. Chingu has a relaxed atmosphere. There is quite a variety to the menu including appetizers, soups and main courses. I tried the Tteokbboki. There were options to add ramen, rice, for a very small upcharge. Banchan was served when I sat down which included daikon, kimchi, broccoli and sprouts. It was delicious and I requested more daikon and received a generous portion. The Tteokbboki was fantastic. Definitely the best I have had. It was spicy but not to hot. The rice and fish cakes were perfectly cooked, the boiled egg was a wonderful addition to this dish. There were lots of little veggies, onions etc to scoop up with the rice cakes. It was a large portion that could be shared if your table is also getting an appetizer or other dishes. The staff were friendly and quick. I very much enjoyed meeting Aaron (sp?). He has a wonderful smile, was extremely helpful and very nice. He even gave me a quick Hangul lesson and answered a variety of random questions. It was very much appreciated. If you are looking for a comfortable, informal setting to laugh with your friends and enjoy a hearty and heartwarming Korean meal, try Chingu. It worth finding parking.

Perfect weather and perfect night for nice, hot food here on a stone pot or plate! It was a cold wintry night after a day of rain where the skies finally cleared and people were out and about. It brought back memories of Ktown when we would go out late at night for dinner after finishing work late. Even connecting with the modern culture, the kpop vibes are directly aligned with the "Hallyu!" exhibit at the Asian American Art Museum going on in The City - SF, now!

We finally got a chance to try the much-anticipated army stew at Chingu! It truly lived up to the hype, providing the perfect warmth and comfort on this chilly evening. The stew was a delightful medley of flavors and textures. It was packed with ingredients like hot dog pieces, spam, rice cakes, enoki mushrooms, zucchini, napa cabbage, onions, and the star of the show - ramyeon noodles. The broth was perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of spice to tantalize the taste buds. The portable stove kept the stew piping hot throughout our meal. While the portion size was ideal for two, it could easily feed a group of 3-4, complemented with 1-2 additional dishes for a larger party. Unfortunately, Chingu's popularity can make for a noisy dining experience. The restaurant was packed during our visit, and the loud conversations, especially from a large party nearby, made it difficult to have a quiet meal. Despite the noise, the army stew was a delicious and satisfying experience!

Came in after work for some happy hour. I really enjoyed the Korean fried chicken both the spicy and the sweet. The egg soufflé was huge! Bigger than expected and was pretty tasty too. Soju is of course on the menu, but I really enjoyed the sweet Sikhye instead. Thank you!

This is truly a hidden gem in San Mateo! Immaculate vibes and top notch service. You can really tell that Chingu's owner put in a lot of effort in the interior designs (also my water cups were never empty lol) Came here after a gathering to get some soju and some late night snacks. They have every flavor of soju imaginable! They also sell the "hangover cure" flavor mix ins for the plain soju which was super fun! They give us banchans even tho we didn't order any food. The staff were super nice and attentive. We ended up ordering the fried chicken skin and it's just so crispy and delicious (very unique) Definitely will be coming back for some late night craving and try some Korean comfort foods!