TLDR
An underrated Midtown gem offering the same viral honey butter pancakes as its sister location, but without the long wait.
Reddit Sentiment for GOLDEN HOF/ NY KIMCHI(based on 109 Reddit opinions)
Instagram Posts References
The user visited Golden Hof, a restaurant near their accommodation, after seeing pancakes from Golden Diner. They were delighted to find that Golden Hof offered a mini version of the pancakes as a dessert, which they described as heavenly. The user also highly recommended the burger, which they ordered after a server suggested it, finding it incredible. The post also mentions a 'persimmon old fashioned' cocktail.
Golden HOF is a new restaurant from the chef behind Golden Diner, offering two distinct dining experiences. Downstairs features incredible Korean BBQ, while upstairs has a more relaxed, equally delicious menu where patrons can order the iconic Golden Diner pancakes without the usual long wait.
Golden Hof is highlighted as the sister restaurant to Golden Diner, offering an identical menu item: the viral honey butter pancakes, but crucially, without the typical long wait times. The post also notes that Golden Hof serves a 'mean' Caesar salad and 'amazing' Korean BBQ wings, indicating a diverse and well-received menu beyond breakfast items.
Experience Sam Yoo's high-end steakhouse, NY Kimchi, near Rockefeller Center, blending Korean barbecue vibes with meticulous attention to detail.
Morgan Carter praises NY Kimchi, a Korean steakhouse in Midtown West, for its serene atmosphere, expertly cooked steaks and seafood, and creative cocktails.
Bryan Kim reviews NY Kimchi, a Midtown steakhouse blending Korean BBQ elements with traditional steakhouse fare, praising its unique ssamjang Caesar salad and porterhouse steak.
Bryan Kim reviews Golden HOF, a Midtown Korean pub where kimchi martinis and creative bar snacks like bacon kimchi pancakes and disco fries are the stars. It's a lively spot for after-work drinks and casual bites.
Details
A versatile Korean pub and steakhouse near Rockefeller Center that offers an accessible alternative to its sister restaurant, Golden Diner [1], [2]. The space features a unique, dim, cave-like atmosphere upstairs for casual snacks and drinks, while the downstairs provides a more traditional Korean BBQ experience [2], [8]. While signature items like the honey butter pancakes are a major draw, the menu also excels with creative fusion plates and hearty appetizers [3], [9].
Food Overview
The menu features a creative blend of Korean and American influences, famously including honey butter pancakes, which many find to be a must-try, though some critics argue they can be cloying or excessively sweet [2], [6], [9]. Other standout dishes include the ssamjang Caesar salad and various Korean-style wings [1], [3]. Conversely, some diners have found items like the cheeseburger to be generic and have expressed disappointment with the quality of the banchan [2], [6], [9].
Highlights / Recommended
"Highly recommended dishes include the honey butter pancakes, the ssamjang Caesar salad, and various Korean-style wings [1], [3], [6]."
Mentioned Dishes:
- •pancakes(28)These pancakes, particularly the honey butter variety inspired by Golden Diner, ...
- •caesar salad(8)The Caesar salad, especially with the ssamjang variation, is highly regarded as ...
- •fried chicken(7)The fried chicken and wings receive strong recommendations, noted for being exce...
- •buldak dumplings(5)These dumplings are highly praised, described as incredible, delicious, and slig...
- •rice cakes carbonara(4)
- •golden cheeseburger(4)
- •bacon kimchi pancake(4)
- •rose rigatoni(3)
- •oysters rockefeller(3)
- •seafood tower(2)
- •lobster roll(2)
- •parmesan egg souffle(2)
- •cracked lobster(2)
- •salads(2)
- •30-day, dry-aged porterhouse(2)
- •black bass "naengmyum" crudo(2)
- •hanger steak(2)
- •mains(2)
Caveats
The restaurant's atmosphere is frequently described as less authentic than its sister location, and some diners have reported concerns regarding the value and occasional seasoning issues [2], [6], [9].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About GOLDEN HOF/ NY KIMCHI
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Agrees it wasn't great, though the Caesar salad was good."
NeutralFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Argues the pancakes are cloying and gross."
NegativeFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Didn't love the restaurant, noting that the pancakes weren't great and the fried chicken glaze was too hard."
NegativeFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Mentioned as a casual Korean option."
NeutralFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Mentioned as a recommended restaurant."
NeutralFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Didn't enjoy the vibe, but the food was good, specifically the ssamjang Caesar."
NeutralFrom post: Any Musteat Restaurants In This General Vicinity
"Mentioned as a recommended restaurant."
NeutralFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user notes the pancakes were smaller than the Golden Diner version but still too much, while praising the appetizers."
NeutralFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user had an extremely positive reaction, describing the pancakes as life-changing."
PositiveFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"Even as a dessert lover, the user did not enjoy the pancakes as they were too much."
NegativeFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user felt the pancakes were overly sweet and oily, finding the experience overwhelming."
NegativeFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user agrees with recommendations for the salads and corn cheese."
PositiveFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user finds the mains and salads solid, but considers the dessert a sugar bomb."
NeutralFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user prefers the dessert portion size at this location compared to Golden Diner and highly recommends the salads."
PositiveFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user enjoyed the pancakes and recommends this location as the place to get them."
PositiveFrom post: The Famous Honey Butter Pancakes From Golden
"The user visited for the honey butter pancakes and found them overwhelmingly sweet, noting that the restaurant is a good alternative to avoid lines at Golden Diner."
NegativeFrom post: Any Pancake Recommendations On Uws Ues Or Midtown
"The commenter had a positive experience at a work event, enjoying the scallion pancakes, sliders, chicken bites, and small pancakes, and plans to return."
PositiveFrom post: Any Pancake Recommendations On Uws Ues Or Midtown
"The commenter recommended Golden Hof, mentioning it's the sister restaurant to Golden Diner and offers a smaller version of their pancakes."
PositiveFrom post: Looking For An Early Afternoon Happy Hour In
"This commenter suggested Golden Hof as a place with an early happy hour starting at 3pm."
NeutralFrom post: Whats A Good Korean Bar To Watch The Mexico Vs
"Golden Hof in Midtown is offering a watch party for the game, and reservations can be made on Resy."
Positive