Reviewing Sue’s Korean Kitchen: Homemade, authentic Korean food in San Diego.  

Sue’s Korean Kitchen is one of those hole-in-the-wall restaurants that makes you feel lucky you know about it when you’re craving homemade, authentic Korean food. Located in the outdoor Food Court at Plaza Sorrento in Mira Mesa, it’s a hidden gem that serves lunch specials such as bibimbap, tofu soup, and Korean fried rice as well as entrées like bulgogi sliced beef, pork, or chicken, galbi, and kimchee pancakes. In addition to the menu items, they have a refrigerator filled with containers of kimchee, fish cakes, pickled radish, and other assorted side dishes for sale, so you can buy your favorites, bring them home, and stock up for the week! While the assorted dishes are the main reason that I’ve been here multiple times to get my kimchee and fish cake fix, what makes this restaurant truly special is the owner, Sue, who will always greet you with a smile. 

Sue’s Korean Kitchen is a fairly small establishment, so there is no indoor dining, and all food is served to go. Since it is in an outdoor food court, plenty of tables with umbrellas are located right outside. I came here for lunch on a Tuesday and was able to order and receive my food within 15 minutes with two people ahead of me. The first time I came was on a Saturday for lunch, and with five parties ahead of me (about 10 people total), so it took closer to 45 minutes to receive my food during this peak dining time on a weekend. I’m always willing to wait for my food because this is a family-run establishment with Sue and a few others working in the kitchen, although wait times can vary depending on how busy it is. 

For lunch, I ordered the chicken cutlet with rice, salad, sauce lunch special, and the gimbap (Korean sushi). Have you ever been to a Korean restaurant where they serve you assorted sides that leave you wanting more? I am always that person, so I grabbed kimchee, a fish cake, and pickled onions to eat with lunch and store in my fridge for the week. The kimchee and fish cake were $5 each and the pickled onions were $7, but prices may vary. Once my food was ready, I picked one of the shaded tables outside to eat my lunch.  

The chicken cutlet is perfectly cooked, with a crispy outside and tender meat. They give a sweet sauce on the side, where I like to dip my chicken so it can stay fresh and crispy. With a cutlet, I like my rice to not be too dry or too moist, so I was grateful for this well-cooked rice that paired perfectly. Underneath the chicken was Korean pickled radish, which was sweet and tangy. I would take bites of those bright yellow radishes whenever I needed to reset my palate.  

This was my first time ordering the gimbap, and I’m so glad I did! It was served with two rolls of vegetables, egg, fish cake, and rice wrapped in Korean seaweed. I picked up an individual piece and admired the variety of colors and textures of the bright yellow radish, pink fish cake, orange carrots, green seaweed, and more wrapped in an adorable roll. When I ate it, I enjoyed the assortment of flavors ranging from the tangy, sweetness of the pickled radish to the softness of the egg, and how the rice and seaweed tied everything together. My favorite part of this dish was that it was clearly homemade with care in their restaurant.  

Finally, I’ve had assorted sides at different Korean restaurants, and this kimchee was the spiciest I have ever had. I love spice, so it awakened my senses when I snacked on it in between bites. Fish cakes are one of my favorite sides, so I was happy to take some home and eat them throughout the week. The pickled onions were fun to try. In the past, I tried their pickled white radish, which tasted excellent.  

The first time I came, I ordered seafood tofu soup and bulgogi sliced beef, which were both delicious. Next time I visit Sue’s Korean Kitchen, I will definitely try the kimchee fried rice and kimchee pancake appetizer. I still need to try so many menu items and assorted side dishes, so I always look forward to my future visits! When you’re in the mood for authentic, homemade Korean food to make you feel at home, be sure to visit Sue at Sue’s Korean Kitchen!