Madtongsan Restaurant

6.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  8     

Great food. Love their bibimbap and beef/potato stew. We had one bad experience waiting a long time for our meals but every other time has been fine. We keep going back for more!

May 13, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  10     

Like others I'm reviewing Madtongsan II, the newer version upstairs which is open for dinner.

In summary. Its cheap, its BYO, the food is fantastic, and the ambience is great.
Wow, what a gem in Brisbane this is. A vibrant, busy, loud, delightful establishment. You can't book, so be prepared to wait anywhere up to 40 minutes as this place is getting a reputation. But the wait is worth it. I couldn't pronounce half the things I ate, but between the four of us it was all tasty although a little too spicy for my partner's liking (soup).

Couple this with quick staff who operate "on call", and the fact that it is BYO, makes for great evening, and a cheap night out ($15 per person for entrees and mains, including some beers). It is noisy so I don't recommned it for couples wanting a quiet night, but get a bunch of friends together and enjoy.

Oct 07, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  5      Service  8      Value  9     

Just called in for lunch, never heard of it before. Will definitely return. Tastes were amazing. Service was very helpful. Great value.

Sep 08, 2010 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  9     

I am talking about Madtongsan II, the newer version upstairs open until midnight. I must have eaten here 80 times now! The place is always so busy, loud and full of Koreans and many other people.

The food is very tasty, I have tried range from good to excellent, and the soups (chigae's) are amazing as is the be bim bup range and larger soups to share. There has been a small decline in the quality of the food over time though. The side dishes are appalling. The service is polite and very prompt, the meals arrive within minutes. It is also the cheap, the value is amazing. You can eat well for as low as $10.

I think that the place needs to be cleaned better as I noticed the floors are often quite grimy and the toilets are appalling and filty (the mens). With quite a few new Korean options around, they need to improve the cleanliness and side dishes to compete as other places are doing it better. But generally, this is tasty option.

Mar 28, 2010 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I went to Madtongsan the other day for lunch and the food was great! The staff were friendly and the meals were huge (and tasty). I haven't been to Madtongsan II yet but I'm sure it's similar. Can't recommend it enough!

Apr 21, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

I ate at Madtongsan II so I imagine it reflects what Madtongsan I must be like. Great food and value the staff was friendly and helpful with our order. I tried one of the soup dishes with Kimchi the first time and went back to try a rice dish, both excellent. I guess I always have sought out the "hope in the wall" hidden location restaurants. Unlike earlier reviewer, Madtongsan II was open for dinner. Try the cucumber flavoured alcoholic beverage. On another note, inner city Brisbane poorly serviced with good reasonably priced eateries.

Feb 09, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  5      Service  7      Value  10     

Unfortunately, it's only a lunch place, but still the best I've had in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.

Feb 19, 2007