Naru Korean - Victoria

We are always on the lookout for excellent Korean cuisine. Living on the Island, we have a decent Korean restaurant in Nanaimo, but we enjoy trying different options. Naru was our third attempt in Victoria, and we hit the jackpot! Having traveled extensively across all continents, we can confidently say this was some of the best Korean food we've tasted anywhere. The dishes are occasionally a bit "different" and may not align with traditional interpretations (or perhaps they are more traditional in their own way—it’s hard to say since we haven’t been to Korea yet), but everything was delicious and expertly prepared. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Naru and plan to return every time we’re in Victoria. While it’s not the cheapest option, it offers true value for the money. Nothing is held back here. Since we don’t dine out often, we prioritize quality over low prices.

From the outside, the restaurant appears small, but once you step inside, you'll find it has a decent amount of space. The waitress provided excellent service throughout our visit. The food was incredible and quite reminiscent of authentic Korean cuisine. The Japchae was delicious, the sweet and sour chicken flavorful, and the Samgyeopsal was also very good, served with a variety of condiments. The only downside was the absence of Gochujang as a side or extra condiment, which would have been a great addition for the BBQ.

The food was satisfactory but not exceptional. The seafood pancake was soggy, the short ribs were tender but not grilled, and the bibimbap was quite plain. I likely won't be returning.

I was surprised about the great taste of the food. This is my second time trying out Korean kitchen. And for sure: I love it. Not only the food was exceptional, but also the service. Thanks a lot for this great experience!

The food was really good! no complaints whatsoever. service was a little weird— there was a girl server who was really nice and helped us, but the guy server who took our orders treated us a little weirdly. other than that, i really enjoyed our meal here!