Review Bannsang - Auckland Central

Foods always a 5star, only thing I didn't like was staff just stand there and watch you until you order. Once food arrives staff will watch you eating your meal. Food was delicious as per normal.

Fantastic Korean food. Hidden away on high street, you would miss it if you weren't look for it. Even so, it is a popular spot for the average foodie. The galbi soup was very warming during winter. Actually thinking about going back again some time this week as I write this.

Yum selection of bbq dishes, love having a good side dish selection though it is extra on top unlike most Korean restaurants I’ve been which have it complimentary. Though each dish comes with its own set. Opted for red wine pork belly and kimchi pork belly-both were yum, I personally felt it it’s your average bbq dish amongst all the bbq dishes I tend to go for, nothing too special in the actual body of the dish. Done well and enjoyable. What’s special about bannsang is the extra bbq dish options and having you own side dishes. Good pick in the city.

Favourite Korean restaurant! Always come here for the bbq dishes, their bulgogi is amazing!! You also get a whole bunch of sides with your dish and the service is great. Would recommend!

They bumped up the price a lil bit but it's okay 👍 the food was superb, the ambience was great and lastly, they could work more on to their customer service approach 😅 (smile and more approachable) but overall it's a good experience

The food here is delicious and reasonably priced! I got the kimchi stew - portion size is bigger than other Korean restaurants in CBD, and it's not excessively oily. Service is fast and they recognise regulars which is lovely. Would recommend!

#Korean restaurant# Recommend fish roll soup and fried pork belly, you can choose the meal set with rice and side dishes, one person is enough

My favourite spot for Korean BBQ in my hood! Love it even more because they have my favourite cider (Rekorderlig) on the menu. Friendly staff, tasty BBQ and side dishes. They're also super quick so you're not waiting ages for your order. My usual is the full bulgogi (#1) but I tried #12 (chicken chapssal gui) for the first time a year ago and I really liked it so have been ordering it more frequently. Am drooling just thinking about it so need to go back here for dinner real soon! I tend to swap out my kimchi side dish for either another sweet potatoe or seaweed side dish. My mate and I love coming here when he's visiting from Perth but I come here a lot with other friends or colleagues. I should probably explore the menu more though as I keep ordering the same thing every time I come here so will aim to branch out when I'm here next.

The Fish Roe soup is so good. I will be back for more. It comes with RICE and 4 different side dishes for $23. Very Yum! I RECOMMEND THIS PLACE.

Nice food. The menu doesn't have picture, i just choose some traditional food. But all taste nice 😁 sea food pancake was 28 dollars, can't remember the price for the other 2.

🍱 This restaurant is one of my favourite Korean eatery in city centre. I was extremely impressed by the presentation (check out the pictures) and the ambience is simply cozy! A must try when you chilling in CBD. Go there and show them some 🫰🏼

I was very impressed with the service at BannSang because it was super efficient and seamless. Like clock work, they promptly cleared tables to avail seats and welcome patrons. The ambiance of the restaurant was also cosy and familial. To start I ordered fried pork dumplings served with a soy vinegar dipping sauce. These were excellent. For my main, I enjoyed the sizzling spicy fried chicken on vegetables with sides and that was a very tasty dish. Serving sizes were generous and the food was delicious. I appreciate that they take credit card too with a 2% surcharge. It’s definitely worth a visit for Korean food enthusiasts!

The food was really nice and quick. The service was not bad at all. I found the portion is a little bit small.

I have tried lots of dishes from the menu and always loved all of them. Price is good too. Its great to come here. Fast service as well. Today i had spicy pork belly and calamari, calamari were sooooo tender, so soft. I love to come to this place.

Delicious food, with some good vegetarian options. Highly recommend the kimchijeon - we were tempted to order another one after our meal! Fantastic service and nice seating.

Food is tasty and this place is popular for a reason. It’s super crowded at lunchtime and on weekends. It can be hard to get a seat and staff always look flustered by the crowds. There is very little leg room. Would recommend takeaway? The portions are small but tasty. Authentic Korean food.

Ambience good, service good, food good, price friendly.... lockdown level 2.... need to register the guest lists and don't forget to apply hand sanitiser on.

It has been our go to korean restaurant for a quick dinner.. love the food, quick service and humble staff ...

Classic korean food done superbly. If you are just trying out korean food this place is a safe bet. It does get quite busy you are warned.

Rating 4 Tuck away at the back, it’s not obvious nor very visible from the street. On a tip from a colleague who swear that this is his favourite Korean place in the city. Not flash or necessarily very polished, it’s a place you come for causal, cheap & homely food. For under $20 I got the haemultang, spicy seafood soup with tofu, plus all the side dishes one expects. They don’t skim on the seafood too. Well seasoned, not overly spicy, but still had a good kick. Washed down with some soju. Happy!

It was my first time trying Korean cuisine and I was pleasantly surprised! Got haemultang kalguksu and Bulgogi. Loved the side condiments with the sweet potato, seaweed salad and kimchi. The beef was tougher than expected but had nice flavor and the seafood noodle soup had generous amounts of crab. Great value for money!

The bibimbap itself was pretty good however the sides totally let down the meal, swap the pasta side for kimchi would be a good start. Plenty vegetarian options on the menu which is great though.

Al-tang, a classic @bannsang, my goto Korean comfort food. Actually I order this fish roe soup 90% of the time when I goto Bannsang. Are you the type to always order the same dish? 🤓<br/>💲Price $17<br/>😋Taste 4.5/5<br/>📍CBD<br/><br/>Head to @pandadrools on Instagram for more honest food reviews!

Such tasty food and great value for money! I wouldn’t have minded more pickles (but when will there ever be enough pickles?!)

This chewy noodles is so good 👍

Great Korean restaurant, popular regardless of lunch or dinner, they constantly seem to be expanding with more seats now located upstairs. <br/><br/>I found that their prices have increased since a couple of years back (inflation etc) but when I got my menu it seemed they have also increased their portion size which I was very grateful for. My favorite dish from here is the Wine Pork belly dish which is served on a sizzling plate with rice and a few side dishes. If I feel like a rice dish I order the Albap which is fish roe in rice, or if I feel like something spicy the Nakjidupbap (spicy octopus rice bowl) is also a good option too. Service is quick and efficient.

This restaurant is very similar to an ordinary Korean restaurant in Korea. If you want to try what is Korean food this is the right place. There's plenty of shitty korean restos you must avoid in Auckland so I highly recommend here before to try any other korean restaurant in NZ before.

A casual Korean restaurant located on High Street. They have a great range of dishes from bbq to hot pots. Reasonably portioned.<br/><br/>Their bbq beef and bbq squid were well spiced and tender. The Dak Galbi hot pot was a little dry, the chicken was tender and the flavoring was good but I’ve definitely had better.<br/><br/>Friendly waitress however they always seem to miss or omit on the orders. This time they forgot to provide us the extra ramen noodle we asked for.<br/><br/>There are only 4 sides available and they no longer have kimchi as a side.<br/><br/>Taste: 8/10<br/>Presentation: 7/10<br/>Service: 7/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Value for money: 9/10<br/><br/>Price $25 per person (excl alcohol)<br/>

I feel as if the price was not up to par compared to other Korean restaurants and the proportion of the sides, other restaurants would have a variety. It was yummy and I love the #2 from the menu. The staff who served us during Saturday 24th August at around 2 did not seem welcoming as she did not have any good customer service, not well at listening nor did she seem interested. I’ve ate her before and was a bit disappointed after how I came back to this. I would try again but needs lots of improvement.

Hit and miss. Fried kimchi rice was pretty good, but the bibimbap was a bit disappointing. Yukgaejang was not too bad. Portion was pretty good. Service was average and came out a bit unfriendly. Meal was around 20$. Overall, it’s okay.

Always have had good service and food. The staff is really friendly too. Can see why they're always so busy. I always order Sundubu and love it everytime

Had dinner at this Korean restaurant today. Ordered two full menu, then we asked the waitress to order one more rice. It took the waitress at least 10 minutes to bring the rice. We had to stand up and walk to the counter to talk to the guy to bring a rice to our table. When we get back to the table the dishes are all cold. Very disappointed especially on a Chinese Valentine's day like this. All the manager said at the end is sorry and don't even seem sincere.

No fuss service. Food arrived quickly which is good for lunch. Had the BimBimbap that came in a cold bowl. It was a decent bimbimbap but not the best one I have had. The pork bone soup was very tasty and the bones were full of meat. Very good.

Service was good and food came out pretty fast. Serving size was decent but a bit on the pricey side. Nice place to come with a group. Food was good.

Me and My girlfriend came here for lunch on Saturday, it was rather full but we luckily managed to get one of the last tables.. Food was fast to prepare and staff were friendly.. :)

Best korean food in auckland cbd. My favourite is number 9. The price is really affordable. Around $15 dollars will get you a complete great tasting meals with a few sides as well. #bannsang #koreanfood #foodporn #foodie #delicious

Bannsang has been a favourite place of mine for Korean lunch in town. I came here with a friend during the lunch rush hour and was given a spot quite quickly. The setup was clean and tidy while our food came fast. However the quality of the food was disappointing compared to what I had in the past. <br/><br/>My sausage stew had little meat while filed with mostly vegetable and our side dishes were quite saddening as we didn’t even get served kimchi which used to be available in the past. I don’t think my soup had any sausage pieces in it at all. My friend ordered the chicken soup and while the chicken breast was large it was dry and difficult to eat. <br/><br/>Overall an average lunch compared to the past but it could’ve been due to the lunch hour rush. <br/><br/>

First ever Korean bbq fish experience! Ordered the no. 7 pork belly kimchi. Good ratio of pork belly meat, lightly spicy, with tender and well marinated kimchi and vegetable onion pieces. It could have been hotter but is very suitable for those with a lower tolerance to spice but are branching out! The sides were a bit of a let down, the portions were lacking and they was nothing special-wish that the radish had a heavier pickled taste, more salty potato chunks, and just more of the macaroni and everything else would’ve been much better. However the main meat itself was tasty and soft with full flavor, but I think I still like a heavy chunky pork belly instead of thin slices. 3.8/5<br/> The price is good for the portion and I was happy with the customer service! Good first impression towards Korean bbqs, would be keen to try some more!<br/>

The food is amazing and the staff are so nice! I lost my umbrella and they had kept it for me <br/>Really nice food for the price, and i really like the small side dishes it comes with as well. Favourite is the pork belly bulgogi

I used to come here for lunch and the food was much better ...today I had the soft tofu with egg... all I tasted is chilli powder...even the side dishes wasn’t impressive...I was rather disappointed as I was so looking forward to this lunch ...<br/><br/>Probably won’t come back for a while as there are a few Korean places near by .

Very tasty!!! The staff are friendly and the food is just sooo good. They really did put in lots of effort into thinking of their menu and dishes, i would definitely recommend and I’d go there myself again!

One of the best Korean restaurant I have been to! The bibimbap was great portion and healthy, the stew and seafood noodle were both delicious and rich in flavour and ingredients. Overall, we are very satisfied with all the food and definitely come back all the time!

Bannsang is a pretty well-known spot in town that deserves its reputation. When I came in on a late Monday arvo, it was quiet but I have seen it get packed during peak hours. <br/><br/>I ordered their delicious Bibimbap in a hot stone bowl, which was very filling and stayed hot pretty much the whole time I was eating. It was colourful and had a variety of texture. It wasn't cheap but it does come with tasty side dishes. <br/><br/>Service can be a bit hit-and-miss but mostly friendly.<br/><br/>Looking forward to trying more dishes the future!

Absolutely love this place! It’s always very busy but service is amazing and staff always really friendly and always have a smile on their face! Food is delicious! My favorite dish is the no.27 Galbitang, must try!!

Great and fast service. I ordered the traditional beef, dwenjang jiage and spicy rice cake. Food was delicious and tasted like authentic Korean homemade food.

This might be a biased review as this was my first time having korean and realised it wasnt for me but nevertheless lol.<br/><br/>The place smells so good and its damn huge , theres ground floor and upstairs seating. Its definitely a busy restaurant but the staff are very quick in taking orders plus serving! <br/><br/>For food I ordered #11 Maewoon Chicken Full, it came with kimchi, assorted veg/sides and bowl of rice. The portion was definitely big and worth the price, can be shared or eaten alone. Idk how korean flavours work but it was not spicy at all and eating the chicken on its own had very little flavour but somehow eating it with rice was alot better!! Dont know the science behind that haha. Unsure if I’d go back but thats that.

This place is usually VERY busy but nonetheless the food was great! The food came out very quickly and was very tasty! Definitely going again!!!

The food here is fantastic and great value for lunch. It's a pretty small restaurant so can be hard to get a table during weekday lunchtimes.

Not a really good authentic Korean restaurant I suggest. Taste is very average and not authentic at all. However the it's on a good location and service is super fast no matter how busy it is. Hence, this place is quite convenient for people who work and the city and just want a quick lunch during the week :)

The waiter who served us was excellent and extremely attentive. I ordered the spicy beef noodles and my friend ordered the chewy cold noodles. Both meals were absolutely full of flavour and tasted very authentic. I love the little side dishes and the portion size is well planned - very worth the price. Definitely will come back to try more on the menu! <br/><br/>Food - 5/5<br/>Ambience - 4/5<br/>Service - 5/5

I got the jaeyuk Kimchi as a main (right). Bannsang has the best sweet potato side dish 😍 and I like how the food is served nice and hot.<br/>Prices have increased since when I used to come here though 😭

4.5/5 Taste<br/>5/5 Display <br/>4.5/5 Quantity <br/>5/5 Customer Services<br/><br/>Best Korean Restaurant in CBD.<br/><br/>This restaurant is by far the best Korean Restaurant in City.<br/>Quality, flavour, texture, portion, hygene, service, all exceptional standards. <br/>Not fine dining class but you can tell that this place is good because it’s always packed. <br/>All mains are served with 4 side dishes and they are all really good too. <br/>If you are concerned about the msgs used in Korean food this is the place to go.<br/><br/>Bannsang will never ever fail you. <br/>

Good. My Korean teacher always mentions this restaurant. My friend also recommended me this. 부대찌개 is good. But maybe my expectation is too much high. I think it's not good enough and not spicy enough. If I have a chance to go to Korea, I must try the most traditional Korean food!

My first time eating here with my colleagues.<br/>Food was good, glasses for water could be better.<br/>Service was slow... It almost took half an hour for my order to get served. Soup was super hot in temperature.<br/>I'm sorry but experience was below expectations. It was so hot n humid inside.

My favorite Korean restaurant in CBD!<br/>Location is good, inside is clean and it’s not fancy.<br/><br/>I love Korean food, especially Sung Dub .<br/>Their Sung Dub is the best!<br/><br/>My partner always went for different one, and their other meal is also up to average every time!<br/>Usually some of menu is not good in most restaurants so It’s remarkable point and very easy to bring friends.

This is my favorite korean restaurant in town. Service pretty fast and polite. good for a quick lunch. I love cold noodle with soup and spicy squid best.

Out of the very many Korean restaurants in town, it’s hard to find how unique one is to the other. At the end of it all, I guess it really comes down to ambience and convenience.<br/><br/>Bannsang seems to be everyone’s go-to to satisfy their Korean food cravings. Situated right in the middle of High Street, it becomes very convenient for university students, office workers nearby, or anyone nearby for that matter - to just pop in and grab a meal. Compared to the Korean restaurant opposite, Bannsang is much cheaper. However the place is very tight (unless you come in a big group and they give you a spot upstairs) and does get crowded fast. I would say if you’re after better ambience, to try out another restaurant instead.

Many options to choose, food service and food.<br/>If we have no idea what to eat at lunch, we will alway go to this one. Sometimes need to wait for a while.<br/>Recommend beef rib soup, a great choice of not spicy dish.

My go-to place for lunch when I'm in the city and i want something quick and simple. My uni friends and I go there so often, but am still not sick of it! I usually get the kimchi fried rice or a bbq dish.<br/>All the mains come with complimentary side dishes.<br/><br/>The downside is that some staff lack English skills. The food is slightly spicier than other korean restaurants which is fine because the flavour is lovely. However, every time i ask for less spicy, no onions, or whatever other request, i notice the staff does not write it down and hello hello, the food does not come per my request. This has happened many times.

Haven't been back since first year of university in 2014. I had a sudden craving for Korean food. The perfect meal on a cold night, spicy squid on hot plate. After all these years their quality is still amazing. I have missed their potato side dish 🥔😋

Always a full house here. Came on Sat dinner time and we have to wait for a seat so make sure you book! The usual Korean hotpot, we ordered seafood this time and pork&squid bbq. Side dishes are a bit of letdown. Nothing special. $60 for three people.

Used to enjoy the meal here every time I visited until today. I recommended this place to many friends who asked me about decent Korean restaurant, but I realised it's not as good as it used to be.<br/><br/>Today I noticed couple of changes compared to few years ago.<br/>Deducted three stars for<br/>1) subaverage main. O Sam Bulgogi had unpleasant fish odor.<br/>2) inadequate authentic Korean side dishes. Served three dishes but two were not anywhere close to authentic and the soy potato was bit too salty. Most importantly Kimchi was missing! 🤐<br/>3) price policy. Paying extra $ for side dishes isn't so Korean and i would rather pay same amount without seeing two different price columns for main only and full. Thats just not cool.🤔<br/><br/>If the points above don't bother you, then you may enjoy Bansang, but for me it's no longer go to Korean restaurant in town.

I like Korean food and this was my first experience with BannSang. But must say it was an amazing experience. I like kimchi pancake very much. My bibimbab was so good. I can give 9/10 to customer service and friendly staff.

It’s been a year since last time I came to BannSang. The most significant change is the side dishes - it used to serve 6 dishes now it’s been cut to 2 only with a tiny salad.<br/>Also, the chicken BBQ I had was half raw.

This Korean restaurant is a nice and cozy place hidden in High street. The wooden interior give off a homely feel. I ordered no.7 on the menu. The spicy pork belly was the right level of spiciness without being too spicy. It also had a hint of sweetness which created the perfect flavour! The kimchi and vegetables complemented the spicy meat really well. The side dishes were also yummy vegetables which served as a good balance to the entire meal. My friend ordered no.2 which was also really nice. <br/><br/>Funny story: <br/>Me to waitress: I will have the no.7 full <br/>Friend: I will have the "two full" XD <br/><br/>They have some trendy Kpop songs playing in the background without being too loud so that you can converse, and also jam to it while enjoying the food. The side dishes are also refillable. However my friend and I were very full from just the meal alone. The staff are very friendly and attentive, occasionally circling around, perhaps being alert to customers who would like to have their side dishes refilled. Would highly recommend this place for a flavoursome and satisfying meal :)))

This is an oldie but goodie.<br/><br/>It's been our go to Korean place in town for as long as I can remember, and that is real testament to it's quality in both service, food delivery and quality.<br/><br/>Favourite dish for me here has to be number 8 on the menu, spicy pork belly and squid combination, it's always cooked to perfection and sauced just the right amount. Such a perfect dish to scoff down with some rice.<br/><br/>Also recommend their fish roe soup, it is super delicious, and without sounding like a fan boy, everything I've had here has been good, I got no complaints about the food here.<br/><br/>If you are planning to visit, it does get super busy during lunch and dinner rush hour, be prepared to wait for a table, but they move things pretty quick here, so you shouldn't be waiting for too long. Same goes for the food, it comes out super quick.<br/><br/>Ambience here is lively, it's a small place so everything is compact and you are sitting really close to the next group, but still enough personal space so you don't feel like you're going to accidentally spill into someone else's food.<br/><br/>Only thing keeping me from giving this a 5 star rating is that they no longer provide kimchi as one of the free side dishes, you have to pay for it. We do everytime because it's damn good, but it's kimchi, literally the staple of korean dining and given for free all over korea, why do they have to charge for it here? Who know,s business decision I guess, but I'd still buy it, just wish I didn't have to.

Definitely one of my go to Korean restaurants. Food is always amazing and reasonably priced. Staff are very nice and welcoming. Side dishes are some of the best I've had in Auckland.

Was too busy scoffing down the food to take any photos for this one. By far one of the best places to have Korean food. Sizzling dishes were amazaballs. Will be back to try out some more soon.

Being here for so many times but never get bored of the food.. it’s delicious as always.. my fave one is bbq dishes - spicy pork belly.. i also ordered seafood noddle for Denny Setiawan but he prefer the bbq dishes too.. maybe next time will try their share menu 🤤🤤

I come here regularly for lunch, and as I am a creature of habit, I tend to get the same things (not at once!) 🙂 spicy chicken and veges or the spicy beef noodle soup. They are consistently delicious. This place is always busy and they turn the tables quickly. Service is efficient and friendly which is expected given the volume of customers. You’ll never feel rushed to finish your meal though, so relax and enjoy. I also tend to prefer this Korean restaurant in town compared to others because the food is not too sweet - I have found some places are but too heavy handed with sugar. This place suits me best. Oh and they won’t automatically serve kimchi as a side dish but you can ask for it and swap out a side dish or order as extra. Yum! 🙂

Average food but great friendly service. We ordered Jeyuk-deopbap and Soju. The food came out within 10 minutes. The Jeyuk-deopbap wasn’t the normal Korean spicy we are use to and it was cheap gristly pork. The seaweed side was the worst we have tasted. Our sides didn’t come with kimchi, so I ordered a side plate of it. The kimchi wasn’t the best I have tasted. Everything was just average.....except the service.

The kimchi soup and first side batch of kimchi we got was bland but second serving of side was good so we just added it to the soup to make th otherwise tastless soup tasty.

I quite like BannSang, although I liked it better when it was cheaper. <br/><br/>This restaurant is always busy with students and there’s a good variety of dishes found at your typical Korean restaurants.<br/><br/>Food is always tasty and served with refillable side dishes.

3.8/5 overall<br/>I ordered spicy squid with bulgogi set meal. Usually in korean restaurants they only have one type of meat in a sizzling plate so i was pretty excited when I saw there’s a set meal having squid and beef together. <br/>❤️: the sizzling dish wasn’t too salty. Bulgogi was well marinated. I really like the potato side dish.<br/>😑: fish cake side dish is my favourite at all time but they only gave a tiny bit :( <br/><br/>This is a very busy restaurant that sometimes people have to wait to be seated. My friend and I were lucky to get a table within 2 mins. The place was very crowded and customers sat quite close to each other.<br/><br/>Food: 3.7/5<br/>Service: 3.5/5<br/>Overall: 3.8/5

This Korean restaurant has a good design and a nice dining atmosphere. There are a range of options on their menu: they provide spicy and some mild dishes. My friends and I enjoyed our meals here and I like the way they presented our food along with side dishes. The price range is reasonable and affordable, especially for people that are studying.

Great service 😃 had a fine dining experience here nothing bad about my food at all. It was delivered within 3minutes of ordering too so i was quite pleased. Would eat here again

I think this one is the best Korean restaurant in city. i love this separate side dishes so much. Like to come here when i have small group of friends, price is getting higher though.... like it

The best traditional korean dish in Auckland, their gamjatang is nice and yummy, price is affordable, i’m not into with their bulgogi, kimchi stew is not bad

Might be one of my new favourite Korean places I'm Auckland. The food was similar to what I had in Seoul, and the service was excellent. Will be definitely returning!

The food is great, doesn’t take too long to come out. You can use your receipt to get a free upsize at the coffee place next door which is nice. Service is prompt and friendly. The place is almost always busy which is a good sign, and the food is tasty and authentic. The prices are reasonable. I always come back here for good Korean food.

Cheap and cheerful! A really quick and filling lunch/dinner spot. Their cold noodles are killer in summer, and their dumplings are deffs a personal face.

I just personally think it's over rated and not very authentic place. I tried few times and now had stop trying but I keep hearing it being one of the popular restaurant in the city so maybe I will try some more foods there

This was the fist time I had Korean food in my life and this place didn’t disappoint. When I first saw this place I thought it looked really busy as it was built in a small area. But after having food at this place I understood why. I didn’t choose for myself as I had no idea whatsoever, my friend suggested something and I just went ahead with it. If I remember it right I had a hot plate callled Dolsot Bibimbap. It was made up of vegetables, rice, tofu, fried egg, seaweed and served in a really hot stone pot. Haven’t been to this place after that but will definitely next time I’m in town. :)

It was a very busy eatery when we went for lunch! Food was freshly made and we enjoyed the beef dish. The side dishes were very small for me but good thing I could ask for free top ups which is normal for Korean eateries.

Always a super spot for a quick, Great value tasty meal in the city. Regularly stop in with friends and the staff are really welcoming and the food is good quick Korean food that's always super filling and tasty.

Very good food at BannSang with quick and friendly service. they even offer you a „refill“ of the sides that come with your meal which was really nice.

Really tasty traditional Korean food. Their main and side dishes are good and staff are quick and polite. Price is also affordable. However, the place can get quite crowded as the tables are close to each other and it can get quite noisy. Despite that, definitely recommend :)

Favorite Korean restaurant so far. The right amount of seasoning and reasonable price too. I always come back here whenever a friend wants to eat Korean food. The service is good and the side dishes are yummy. Every food ive tried from here never disappoints

Great wide range of Korean food, with dishes tasting close to home-made. Great place to take friends for Korean and one of the better Korean restaurants in CBD.

The price is not reasonable and the male staff wearing glasses that working in the counter was really rude to us. We could not even stay 5 more minutes after the other female staff took away our plates. The male staff working in the counter even didn't say thanks after we paid the money！No one owe you，never come here again

Really good experience today, I had the no.44 Spicy Octopus on rice. Decent portion and tasty. You cant ask much for $15. Definitely will come back !

The gochujang pork belly was a highlight. It was perfectly spiced and delicious. We also had the short ribs which were also good but next time I would try something else like the bulgogi. The side dishes were all great. A personal favourite of our is the sweet potato thing. <br/><br/>Would recommend going!!

Everything was delicious, well priced, and service was quick... highly recommend! We had the kimchi fried rice with tofu, a traditional beef BBQ dish, and a spicy pork dish and would order them all again

Came on Monday night. Teriyaki chicken was tender and marinated well. The salmon sashimi bowl (mixed with the lettuce, carrots, apple, and other things) was delicious! Bannsang's side dishes were also very enjoyable to have. I especially liked the potatoes and wakame. Would go again to try their noodles.

Had my eye on this place for quite a while but not familiar with Korean food so had to take a foodie that knew her Korean dishes 😊 we arrived around 1pm for lunch on a weekday and it was very crowded but the place extends out quite a bit around the inside so we had good seating. I was feeling seafood so I picked the was squid hot pot with vegetables (44) while my friend ordered the marinated chicken stew. Our dishes came very fast and I have to admit the serving size was super generous. Both dishes came in a hot pot which kept the food hot for a REALLY long time which I appreciated. Presentation was cute and overall service was good. Can’t say my dish was very tasty but definitely puts down my guard for Korean food! Definitely would come here again to try something new!

Went there for lunch, waited 45 minutes to be told they forgot the order. Staff were indifferent and did not offer any solutions. Much better Korean restaurants in the area.

Generous serving and excellent customer service as they were fast and efficient - from greeting the customers, being seated, getting the orders and food served at the table. Tried their Dweji Bulgogi and it was good. The 4 side dishes were appetising and the pork was tender and tasty. Very keen to go back and try the other dishes.

Went for lunch midday during the week and am not surprised at why it was so busy! There were lines out the door. <br/><br/>BannSang is the epitome of good quality food for a reasonable price. I ordered the spicy chicken hot plate and my mum ordered the pork belly with veggies on a hot plate. <br/><br/>Both dishes came with a few side dishes of kimchi, pickled cabbage, sweet potato and a salad as well as rice. for the amount of food you are given the price is so reasonable. we were charged around $15-18 at lunch which is standard. <br/><br/>The pork belly was definitely the better dish and was spicier than the spicy chicken funnily enough. But both tasted great and we were both very satisfied. <br/><br/>Service was friendly but we didn’t have to deal with them too much.

With a wide variety of authentic Korean dishes, BannSang never fails to satisfy those cravings! Great food and great service. Portions are generous and fill you right up. Definitely recommend the dolsot bibimbap and bulgogi! Can cater to big groups no problem

Been here twice. Lots of options. Decently priced meals for tasty food. One of the better places for Korean food in the CBD. Would definitely come here again.

I really love coming here! Prompt service from staff, great meals and love the atmosphere upstairs. Prices are around $10 to $16, but they also serve large dishes to share as well. One of the best Korean places in town.

Always busy because of how lovely and good this place is, I recommend booking first..however one of my favorite Korean restaurants in Auckland! 맛있어요

Been here twice and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Not too pricey and atmosphere is very nice and lively. Good for groups or a lunch/dinner date. Staff are friendly and efficient at cleaning away dishes.

Absolutely love this place. It’s my go-to Korean in the city and the bulgogi is always great. Too bad that kimchi doesn’t come as a free side dish though. The potions are huge and enough for two!

Was craving for Korean food, especially in hot stone. So found this restaurant in the city which surprisingly was not as small as we thought. It is located close to the Victoria car park so it is convenient to park and just walk down High Street. Food is good in that the sauce did not over power the mains. We ordered the Kim Chi rice in hot stone, and pork belly and squid osam bulgogi. We loved the food so much that everything was emptied without a trace and we didn’t take any photos! We will sure be back to check out the other dishes.

The food here is very nice and the restaurant is kept clean! They give nice side dishes, service is always smiling and one of my go-to spots when I feel like eating Korean :)

Great service and great food. The staff are really friendly and attentive. The portions are generous and prices are extremely reasonable. The food is great and fresh.

Food here is great and the portion sizes are perfect for the price. Got really good service really fast. Will definitely come back here, 10/10.

It's a small restaurant so most of the time it's crowded. The staff is very nice and attentive. They'll help you with the menu if you don't know what to choose. The main dish (large portion) is served with 4 side dishes so it's completely worth the money. Everything tastes so good, flavours are well balanced. I highly recommend this place.

Was hungry af so emptied whatever was consumable on my tray. Wasn't served water first (like your usual Asian restaurant etiquette) but it was kinda busy. Food came quick. Not as much meat as other Korean restaurants for similar price. Broccoli was served as one of the side dishes as an alternative to Kimchi i guess. Just make sure to voice out for assistance especially during busy times.

If you are into Asian/ Korean cuisine and looking for a cheap place to eat, this is definitely the place to be. I think this is the reason why there's a lot of students eating in this place. They have a wide variety of menu and they can also cater to big groups, to think the place looks small from the outside. It has a good Korean vibes too! Just be early or make a reservation because this hidden gem can get full.

The only korean restaurant i will eat at.. everything ive had there tastes so good. The spicy ricecake is a must try!!!! Hands down the best korean restaurant ive been to!

There was a piece of hair in my soup. Told the waitress she didnt even apologize for that. Non of the staff were friendly and the food. (Really :L a piece of hair with no apology. ) Will NOT go back again.

Amazing Korean food, no doubt.<br/>Horrible service, not much to say really.<br/>Just ignore the staff and you will have a good meal.<br/>Kinda why I still come all the time and it's really good they've expanded a lot.

Low key my favourite korean restaurant in Auckland. Service is quick and friendly. Has set my standard for what yukaejang (spicy beef soup) should be like. Refillable side dishes are always a nice bonus

Food took a bit long since there was a lot of people but nonetheless the food was really nice, the service is nice and we got our order right, lots of variety and the spicy food was a little bit spicy and could be even hotter. Would go again to try out other orders

Really great authentic Korean food, owners are super friendly, service is attentive and their jjol myeon is a must try. Really good value for money

Ordered Squid & Pork dish .. the taste was just average .. the service was fine nothing special .. BUT the worst part was quantity .. for $16 the amount of food was not worth it .. I was able to finish all the 4 side dishes, rice & fried pork & squid myself which has never happened before .. Very less likely to go back again :(

Been to this place twice now and would still come back. Quick and cheap but very delicious Korean food. I tend to go for the LA Galbi and it never fails me. My mate tried it too and said he would get it next time. This place can be very busy but they are quick to accomodate. It's nothing fancy so don't expect fancy decors or anything. They make great Korean food. Good sides too but wish they serve or at least sell hot tea. Overall, I recommend for causal dinners or hang outs. Gets loud so just be aware.

I arrived at 6:45 and there was a line! There seemed to be 2 main waiter/waitress, and they were basically so busy seating people/receiving payments that it took ages for someone to take our order as we were sitting upstairs and the front of house didn't come up frequently despite knowing that new customers were sat upstairs. Read my full 🤔 on instagram: @rina.eats<br/><br/>Fish roe soup set<br/>They put a lot of red pepper powder but not much paste so the soup was a little thin and flaky. However, there was a generous amount of roe, and it was done just perfectly and stayed chunky in the soup, but melted into little bubbles of joy as they're bit into 💕<br/><br/>The side dishes provided were pickled radish & carrot (alright), blanched broccoli with paste (average), sweet soy braised potato (best I've had this year), and seaweed radish (never had this before, and didn't particularly like it. Seaweed was just way too soggy soft!)<br/><br/>Spicy rice & fish cake<br/>Generous use of red pepper paste made the texture of the sauce nice and thick and very flavorful! Definitely gave the most spicy kick of the night. Fish cakes were a little too soft for my preferences, and some had stuck together 😶 generous servings of vegetables though for that crunch!

Octopus (nakji dubap), beef bibimbap and chicken bokkeum (bbq) are very authentic and tasty. Always busy but staff are very friendly and attentive.

I've come here at least 20 times. This is my go to Korean place. All my Korean friends say that this place makes the best Korean food so I trust them. <br/>Their side dishes are all delicious which means that nothing else can really go wrong. <br/>Over the past I have gotten most of their sizzling dishes, their cold noodles, their shared hot pots and their single soup dishes. Every single thing is delicious on this menu. <br/>The service here is good too, not that you come to these places for service. Even if the service is bad it will still be a 5/5 because the food is that goddamn good.

Good options for all tastes. Came for lunch and serving a good size. Very good value for town. Good atmosphere and excellent service. Will be back soon.

So for anyone who goes through my profile and the list of restaurants I've been to, will know that I LOVE Korean food! Doesn't matter if they all serve the same things I still feel this important need to eat at each and every one of them and scrutinise how flavourful the food is and whether or not the pork belly is sliced way to thick or way to thin. Anyyyyyway BannSang is tucked away in the cute little High Street located in Auckland city. My favourite dishes to order are the spicy pork belly with kimchi and the spicy rice cake. They are absolutely delicious and the price point is fantastic. I have tried almost every meal on their menu and they are all so flavourful and cooked beautifully. They are always busy, especially during lunch. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good korean meal with a price point that wont be hard on the wallet. They have great staff and fast service👌🏼

Been here multiple times now and I love it~ It's especially nice in winter the atmosphere is very cosy and dim. Food is amazing and comes very quickly. Price is also very affordable.

I had #19, the pork kimchi jigae. It was perfect on such a cold day, and was definitely worth the $15. My friend booked our group in earlier in the day, securing us a table for 4 in a nice, rather secluded area from the rest of the diners. Service was great, they were very both friendly and attentive. The food came out real quick - something that always happens when I come to BannSang! I love it! But the quick prep time didn't compromise the taste. My jigae was rich and tasty with bits of kimchi, tofu and pork belly. Definitely recommend it for those who like the rich taste of kimchi.

First time trying a Korean restaurant and I quite enjoyed it! <br/>We tried the beef and pork classic bbq dishes. <br/><br/>Service was good. Would go back and give something else a try so I can continue to learn about Korean food :)!

I love korean food and this is my go-to korean restaurant in the cbd..<br/><br/>The kimchi fried rice never failed me so far..👌👌👌<br/><br/>Very quick service 👍👍👍

Been here 4 times. Such good value for money. The food is tasty and it comes with four yummy side dishes. This makes it totally worth it. The restaurant is really small and there are limits spaces so I recommend booking before coming. Totally worth it and I would fully recommend.

Came here in a group of 6 and was pleasantly surprised to be led upstairs to a more spacious seating area. <br/><br/>For something quick and easy, the food here is perfect. Nothing mind blowing but certainly hits the spot and comes out super quickly. All the mains come with 4 side dishes but I was disappointed to find that this didn't include kimchi 😭.

Food and Flavour: 5/5<br/>Ambience: 4/5<br/>Seating: 4.5/5<br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Value for Money: 3.5/5The service was excellent and staff were very friendly and did not feel at all rushed which was nice. I love the decor and really spacious dining atmosphere.  The Jeyuk Bokkeum was my favourite whereas the hubby and the kids loved the Bulgogi and the Spring rolls. We have been here approximately 12 times and we will be back for more.

My frequent spot. Number 9 of squid and beef BBQ dish is one of my favorite. It is a little spicy but very tasty. I also like the free sweet potato that comes with the set cause it is soft and melts in the mouth. Recently I discovered another dish that I like, number 29, the half chicken soup, best in the winter time.

The food here is enjoyable - one of the best Korean restaurants in Auckland. The side dishes are excellent, and they are willing to refill two of them when empty. I generally go for one of the hot plate meat dishes with rice and side dishes.

Really good place, always busy, good authentic Korean food, really good value for money and fast service. The food that's served is substantial and always feels really fresh.

This korean place is a goto place for me if I can't make up my mind. In winter, the stews are the best treat and the side dishes are always good, especially when you can ask for refills. The service was alright but it's understandable as they're always busy because most uni students come here for lunch (usually a queue for lunch). We ordered the spicy beef stew and beef ribs stew. The beef ribs stew was sweet, but when you eat it with the rice everything just balances out. Same with the spicy beef stew and it's not that spicy at all. $35 for two is ideal. <br/><br/>Taste - 7/10<br/>Quality - 7/10<br/>Size - 8/10<br/>Service - 5/10<br/>Price - 8/10

So glad we found this place. Amazing service. The place was packed with people when we came in but the staff were pretty quick from seating us, taking orders, serving the food and attending to our other requests. The food was soo good and addictive. We tried the budae jjigae (kimchi soup with sausage) & samgyupsal marinated in wine. Would definitely come again & try everything on the menu.

Another Korean restaurant that I go to now . Similar to Nol Bu ne. <br/>Really love the customer service as the staffs member are really attentive however , it can get a bit messy when it's busy. <br/><br/>Love the side dishes. More variety and the food as well :)

Had spicy chicken and was nervous as I don't take spice well buy this was amazing. My helpful friend got cheese added to it and I'm in love. A friend has bulgogi and he enjoyed it so wins all around.

One of recommended Korean restaurant in town. Always need to get there early during lunch time to avoid disappointment. Their price above average. I tried few of their dishes and particular like their cold bimbabip rice. Not into their hot stone bimbabip because I feel it looks like a self service fried rice to me. Overall great choice of lunch option if you around cbd.

Always busy and crowded when I go but I have always been impressed with the food whenever I dine here! The restaurant is quite small and cramped but staff are friendly and service is quick. My favourite dish is the bibimbap pictured below (I love the process of mixing it all up). Definitely the place to go if you want affordable Korean food with decent portions!

great service, food comes out fast and taste great. got ths bibimbap and tteokbokki, and it just taste so nice. the bibimbaps seasoned nicely and tge tteokbokkis spiciness is just right. good customer service, environments clean and customers all enjoying the time where the atmospheres great. always a great lunch/dinner options with friends

Very authentic korean restaurant in the heart of Auckland cbd.<br/><br/>It is a very loud, busy and popular restaurant. Staff is very accomodating and quick in service.<br/><br/>I first time tried korean pancake... ooops potato and kimchi pancake... its was sooo yum!<br/><br/>Do book in advance to avoid waiting...

Pros:<br/>- Tasty korean food comes hot and fresh and doesn't take too long<br/>- Food worth the price (~$15)<br/>- Good service<br/>- Tasty side dishes<br/>- decent serving size<br/>Cons:<br/>- cramped and claustrophobic environment<br/>- may have to way some time to get in (it is pretty popular)

I've always wanted to try this place, I haven't had much Korean food before but I love the sizzling plates and the little side dishes they give you. I normally love Korean bulgogi beef and Korean fried chicken, but would love to try other more authentic korean dishes. <br/><br/>I ordered the spicy chicken which came on a hot plate with rice and 4 side dishes of seaweed, potato, pickled radish and broccoli. The spicy chicken was good but not spicy at all which was disappointing! I have always loved the way Koreans do the potato side dish, it's cold potato in a sweet sauce, so yum! I didn't like the seaweed but the pickled radish was good and the broccoli had a spicy wasabi tasting sauce with it. <br/><br/>Overall it was a pretty tasty, hot meal for a cold day. Although $16 is a tad more steep compared to other Korean places where you would pay $11-13 dollars for the same meal and portion size. I'm not sure about the side dish refills or how many you get but most Korean places it's unlimited refills. One thing I really liked is that a few Korean places make me feel super thirsty after and probably have MSG, this place didn't make me feel thirsty after which was great! <br/><br/>Would rate higher if the spicy chicken was actually spicy. I also wished they served kimchi as a side dish! Service was friendly and food came out in 10-15 mins.

If you want some decent korean bbq without feeling like you spent too much then this is the place. They supply all the necessary sides (more if you ask nicely) and their meals are top notch. This place can get pretty packed, though it's for good reason. If I ever want that cheap korean fix in the city, this is the place to come. My only complaint is the kimchi is more sour than other places I have been, but i'll still eat it like theres no tomorrow.

This place is always packed for lunch and dinner. This is usually my go-to Korean place if I'm near high street. The food is pretty good and so are the side dishes. I fricking love their soy braised potatoes so I usually ask for a second portion of that side dish

First time that I have not had kimchi as a side dish. That's strange to me <br/><br/>The seating is interesting where you could be literally back to back with someone,if you go you will see for yourself <br/><br/>My salmon rice was what I expected <br/><br/>The missus has the spicy beef and vegetable soup. She felt it was authentic <br/>I<br/>Food came out at a reasonable rate and prices are fair,I can see why this place is popular

We think Bannsang is one of the best Korean restaurants in Auckland! We loved their barbecued dishes and the soups are good too. Our favourites are the bulgogi, jaeyuk bokkeum and chicken chapssal gui. Prices and portions are reasonable and the side dishes are pretty good too. The only thing that I wish they would do is to include kimchi as part of the side dish too. Having korean food without kimchi is like missing something extremely important :)

Good Korean place to eat yummy food good service and it's cheap free side dish and it feels like your in Korea you should try it it's soo flavourful

Went there with my American born Korean friend,who recommended that place.the food was yum and fresh and service was surprisingly good.definitely recommend

Awesome authentic Korean atmosphere and style with decent variety of side dishes to compliment the main dishes. Had been craving yukhoe (raw beef) for a while and the yukhoe bibimbap delivered. Don't often go to Korean places but will likely visit again.

Great place to eat if you're craving Korean food.Service was fairly good and food came pretty fast despite being a bit busy.The food didn't taste out of this world but it's pretty good and very comforting, the side dishes are also a plus.I ordered the spicy chicken with rice, and it was good. Could've been a bit more flavourful and I asked for more spicy sauce to actually make it spicy. But if you don't like spice that much then you don't need to, just personal preference.I'd love to come back again to try their other food!<br/>Update: Everytime I go here, my go to is the Bibimbap, which you can either add tofu or beef. I love it because it's so simple but looks so beautiful with all the delicious veges, and you get to add as much spicy sauce as you want, and if you don't add any it's quite bland so don't be scared! It's also really affordable with how much you get.Their mandu is also very tasty!

Just came here as a random dinner, no planning. A nice little spot on high street.<br/><br/>The food was quite standard but very tasty. We ordered two BBQ dishes. The only fault I could find was that the spicy chicken was a little dry. Other than that, very moreish and it made me want to go back and try the other dishes. Another bonus: the food came out so fast. Seriously, faster than McDonald's. I'm not sure whether it's the fact that I find korean food lacking depth of flavor compared with other cuisines or what, but I felt like it could be a bit more complex or deep. Something to really push it to 5/5<br/><br/>I will definitely be coming back here. The only other issue was that when I was paying the guy accidentally put 30 extra on the bill... If I had had a few more bottles of soju I may have just paid but fortunately I noticed and asked him to recalculate. He was very apologetic and it was quite a laugh with the other staff. Mistakes happen and it was dealt with well. Great staff, great food, great spot.

It was a dark and stormy night..<br/><br/>Rain was pouring outside as we came to BannSang in search of a piping hot meal. Warmly greeted and promptly seated, we decided to order their bbq beef and bbq spicy chicken. The food came relatively quick and we dug in.<br/><br/>For presentation, the range of colors from the bulgogi to the side dishes looked amazing. Unfortunately, everything came on a big as tray which didn't leave room for much else on the table.<br/><br/>Food wise, the bbq meats came out hot but got cold very quickly as the hot plates weren't hot enough. Could be that the plates were stored in a warmer as opposed to being heated up properly. The rice was also luke warm which was a further let down. For taste, the chicken was very tender but wasn't particularly spicy. The bulgogi was tougher and fattier compared to other restaurants, and could've done with longer marination. As a final disappointment, they didn't even have kimchi as a side dish.<br/><br/>Overall, expected a lot more from BannSang. Judging from the other good reviews perhaps they are just inconsistent. Disappointing.<br/><br/>

This place has a high rating so I had high expectations which unfortunately wasn't met. My disappointment was mainly from their side dishes. They're so average and lacked variety, they didn't even have kimchi on that day -_- the mains were okay, they're delicious but not outstanding. Staff were just okay too, quite difficult to get their attention even though it wasn't busy that day.

Great food, Great service! All you could ask for on a Friday night. Had to wait a little longer because there was 4 of us but they were very polite. I had the beef soup, it was delicious! Portions wise it was good, and for the price, it's will worth it.

TL;DR: Small place. Don't get beef ribs - try something else! Filling food for its price. <br/>Came here this afternoon with a friend. Here's how it went:<br/><br/>-Food:<br/><br/>I ordered the "LA Galbi Gui" (beef ribs) while my friend ordered the "ojingo bulgogi" (spicy squid and marinated beef).<br/>Both meals came with four side dishes of potato, pickled radish, broccoli with sesame sauce, and seaweed. The side dishes were delicious and went well with the rice. However, my beef ribs were fairly unpleasant to eat and definitely not worth the price of $17. They were insanely sweet, and after one or two pieces, my entire mouth was numb and it was really hard to eat. The sweetness completely overwhelmed the taste of the beef and vegetables - all I could taste was sugar. I don't recommend this dish - the other rice and noodle dishes sound much more promising. <br/><br/>-Service:<br/>Service was fast, albeit underwhelming. Walking in, we waited for a bit as the staff were busy cleaning a table. When it seemed that they were finished, I gave them a heads up that there were two of us, to which one of the waitresses somewhat rudely replied "yeah, can you just wait a second" before walking off, which wasn't pleasant. Water was delivered swiftly after we sat down. <br/><br/>-Ambiance: <br/>The place is extremely 'cosy' as we described it, which is pretty much just a nicer word for 'small'. You constantly hear people saying "excuse me" as they line up to queue. It also seems like it gets really busy during lunch, so it would be best to come at a later time.

I love this place - so delicious! Word of warning - it's very often busy so booking is definitely a good way to deal with it. They serve up their bubbling dishes fast and flawlessly. I absolutely can't stop myself from smashing the whole bowl of food and all the little sides along with the perfectly cooked rice. My all time favourite recommendation if you're into sweet and salty flavours and melt-in-your-mouth meat: galbijjim (Number 28 I think). Those beef short ribs are so tender... perfect stewed veges and slippy glass noodles. This review wouldn't be complete without sharing my partner's favourite go to dish - a big, spicy bowl of Number 38. This one is super filling and tasty. The bulgogi is decent though a teensy bit dry, as is Number 30 marinated beef casserole since it is made of the same bulgogi meat. Other than that I want to try all the other things on the menu. I only wish that the sides changed sometimes then I could die happy. EDIT: I went back and tried the beef rib sizzling plate which was yummy, though not as tender as the soup version. It was served on raw cabbage which was a bit average - the plate wasn't sizzling enough to cook it if that was the intention. Soup version of the spicy pork was also nice but not so much of a charcoaly flavour as the dry, sizzling one.

Best Korean I've had so far around Auckland CBD area. Great spot for lunch - very busy but quick service. I had the pork kimchi stew and friend had spicy squid. Both super yummy. Can't wait to go back.

The food was average, we had 4 good meals out of 8 ordered. The restaurant is not catered to vegan, vegetarian or gluten free tastes so be aware before going if you have any requirements. Service was relatively slow but the restaurant was full so I can understand a bit of a wait. It is also mainly catered to groups of two in regards to seating so if your group is larger- book in advance or you will have to brave the Auckland weather outside.

A cozy place not much tables in a busy street. They don't offer buffet but their servings are pretty large. Their side dishes are good and you can ask for one more free top-up of the side dishes. One of the best Korean restaurant that offer authentic Korean food. If its your first time here, I recommend you try the bibimbap.

BannSang never disappoints! We went there for a girls diner tonight and we left feeling happy, full and contented. Their service is amazingly quick and their food are superb!<br/><br/>Tonight I ordered their bossam (marinated boiled pork belly) my friends ordered their al tang (fish roe soup) and spicy marinated chicken. They were so good! My pork belly was so soft and juicy, they were practically melt in your mouth. Their side sides were fresh and super tasty. Will definitely be back soon for some yummy korean food! <br/>

Tried out their traditional marinated pork with assorted vegetables. The flavours were so uplifting especially with the pork. The sweet potatoes and rice were the contribution to the satisfying meal.<br/><br/>The service was great, the person who served us offered water and we managed to get our order quite quickly.<br/><br/>The space is quite small. You kind have to ask people who are blocking your way to move aside so you can get through. It was quite hot at the time we were there, but that didn't put us off enjoying our meal.

Great range of food/combination dishes, great price, and fast service. One of our go to places for lunch or dinner. Definitely one of the best Korean food places I have been to.

My favorite Korean restaurant in Auckland so far. Used to go here often by myself and with a friend and take spicy pork casserole. It's an amazing soup, and they are the only (I guess) who serve it. I love that soup so much and want to learn how to cook it at home. Their service is also very good. Hope in the future they will have more restaurants or expand their place as they are getting very busy during the weekends and lunch time so have to wait in the line.<br/>

We came here for our anniversary dinner, the staff were very friendly and patient (because i'm quite picky with my food and always asking a million questions before ordering; asking about what's in it, portion of the meal, etc). Food was absolutely amazing, although my partners' meal was probably better because I thought that yellow sauce was mustard, squirted a generous amount of it, turns out it was wasabi... however, despite that, it was still a really well-made meal. One of the top restaurants we've been to thus far!

Came here for a work outing with my colleagues and we booked a table for 8 people. Staff are super friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our meals at all. The portions are super generous here and definitely great value for money. I ordered the beef sizzling plate. The beef was nice, sweet and succulent. Overall the most enjoyable part of the dish was the rice for me. It's very sticky and gluey and has a similar consistency to sushi rice.

We sighted BannSang after finishing our meal at Dong Demoon last month and we are eager to have a go this time at BannSang.  I had spicy fish roe soup with prawn, tofu & bean sprout & my wife had marinated beef & spicy octopus casserole.  Both came with 4 small side dishes & rice.  Casserole was tasty; fish roe soup was just average; side dishes did show some character in them. (Food - 4/5; Service - 3.5/5; Ambience - 3.5/5)

Ordered sizzling spicy pork and squid at around 11.10am.<br/>Friendly service and the food came out fast.<br/>Pork and the squid were moist melt in your mouth and a very generous serving.<br/>The rice was not overcooked.<br/>Flavour was great all round.<br/><br/>My only complaint is I find the sides a little boring compared to offerings elsewhere but a minor thing.

I've visited this place a few times and each time I have ordered something different- I have never been disappointed! The atmosphere is great- sometimes it can get a little busy. The staff are friendly and I think the food is decent but my boyfriend who has a tastebud for the finer things in life thinks this place is ok. Overall a suitable place to casually come for lunch or dinner- would like to come back sometime.

Great Korean restaurant in Auckland CBD. Can get quite busy on Friday evenings. Tried #1 (Bulgogi) and #7 (Pork Kimchi). Taste sometimes differ between my visits, but #7 is probably my favourite Korean dish in CBD. Servings are decent size, I usually leave with half of the portion as a takeaway. I love their side-dishes, the potatoes are my favourite.<br/>Servings time are usually very quick, and even if you had to wait, it's usually quite quick.

Always busy and always tasty<br/>Have been there four times, no.29 special chicken soup is my favorite dish. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the whole soup tastes so nice. <br/><br/>Place is a little bit crowded, but I still hope it can have some more seats so I don't need to wait XD

We order Bullak Jeongol: A spicy hot pot made with bulgogi(marinated beef in soy sauce) and octopus. Its was a medium size one and its alot of 2 people. Will be great for 3 people. Food is serve fast and very delicious

Heard alot about this place and finally tried it. We ordered the food to go and was told 10 minutes. We got number 1 and 41, and sure enough the order was ready when we arrived.#41 bibimbap was great, everything was fresh and i perosnally loved it. The sides were great as well (potato, broccoli, etc). As for #1, it was a little bit sweet for our taste- and probably will try something with more kick next time. Will definately go back there again.

Went their with my friends during uni break and the place was extremely busy but we managed to get a table. We ordered for Spicy chicken and Teriyaki. The dishes were really delicious, though I found them a little bland to my taste. The side dishes were nice as well. Will try to go back to try their other dishes. :)

■ In busy part of High Street<br/>■ Can be missed<br/>■ Reasonable prices<br/>■ Good Korean Fix<br/><br/>Perfect comfort food on a chilly afternoon. It was ridiculously busy when we arrived and we were so close to turning around and heading to Dong De Moon next door, but these guys kindly rushed and managed to find a nice, big table for us.<br/><br/>We all dove right in and ordered the Spicy Chicken and one person ordered the Teriyaki. We also later thought that the dishes could have been spicier. The free side dishes were great and I especially loved the broccoli and sweet potato! Everything arrived minutes after ordering as well. Id love to go back and try out the BBQ Squid and more of their spicy soups!

Amazing food nice service definately recommend it. The serving quantity was also quite good. The best Korean I have had in Auckland. Hope to go again.

Two thumbs up for the good service, flavorful dishes, and hefty serving. It's now my go-to place for Korean food. I would definitely recommend this place

It's a tough decision selecting where to dine when your in the mist of the CBD, especially with all the endless food options on a busy friday night. However, no regrets choosing BannSang.<br/><br/>Experience:<br/>Dined in last night with my partner and upon arrival there was a queue lined up outside the door which could only mean one thing - this place had to be good. We had at least 5 parties ahead of us, which is daunting when you're hungry haha but we decided to bite the bullet and wait. To our suprize we were seated within the next 5-10 minutes and promptly attended to. The server was friendly and provided some popular options to try upon request. The decor was mediocre.<br/><br/>Food:<br/>I ordered the Ojingo Bulgogi (spicy squid and marinated beef with assorted vegetables). I was skeptical at first as this was recommended by the server, but no regrets! Wouldn't say it was spicy - more borderline mild/spicy which for me is perfect. The squid wasn't tough which can always be a hit or miss and the mix of beef was a great addition to keep the "palette" fresh.<br/><br/>My partner ordered the Bulgogi (traditional marinated beef with assorted vegetables). The flavours was exquiste! The beef was tender and had well balanced flavours of sweet and savoury.<br/><br/>We both ordered, Gun-mando (fried dumplings) to share. Which was tasty, not overly greasy and an excellent side to add.<br/><br/>The mains both came with your standard sides as per most Korean BBQ restaurants which complemented well and the overall portion sizes was great<br/><br/>Food 5/5<br/>Ambience 3/5<br/>Service 4/5<br/>Value 4/5<br/><br/>Verdict:<br/>Definately one of the best Korean BBQ places I have tried, if you're in the mood for something of this sort - give Baansang a go.

Always so good to be here with my people. Good food, good service and good place. And the background songs are plus point 😁👌🏻❤️one of my favourite Korean restaurant. ❤️

Decided to come here for some lunch. <br/><br/> I ordered the cold noodles and a sizzling plate of pork and squid. <br/> The cold noodles. . Sure we're cold! There was a chuck on ice shavings in my dish, I didn't enjoy the noodles. It was slimy and lacked any flavour. It was more like noodles in a pool of ice. <br/><br/> The pork and squid however was much better, decent servings of meat. <br/>The side dishes were really good, that seaweed was amazingly good! And I enjoyed the radish.<br/><br/> Staff were okay, we were left unattended and had to remind staff to take our order, food was delivered pretty quickly however because I ordered two dishes, for myself the waitress removed my rice? I had to ask for it back 😒<br/><br/> Unfortunately I won't be back, I know where to go to get my Korean fix.

Portions are huge and authentic Korean taste. A little cramped for space but the food made up for it. The service was very attentive. I've been here a number of times now and have enjoyed it every time :)

Well it was something out of box for me, unplanned dine out with a Korean friend. We randomly decided to meetup in city and decide how to make our taste buds watery. She being a Korean suggested to go for Korean meal as it will be new for me and can have a feel of authentic Korean food.<br/><br/>We reached here after a 10 min wait which was expected on a Friday evening in and around Queen st. was well a wait. After a kind warm welcome on a rush hours staff was on the go, smiling faces, warmness of welcoming and giving a feel of the place. <br/><br/>Provided with the menu which was more like a normal menu design, but what attracted me the cultural feel of serving water in the steel glass, to his my friend confirmed they use steel crockery and cutlery for there meals. After taking some time and going through the menu along with moving my eyes around on what others are having to have a idea of what Korean food is like. She suggested after few discussion with me about my plate and ordered a chicken preparation for me and for herself she ordered a pork preparation. <br/><br/>The food was was served on a hot plate, with sides of 4 different portion of salads and a rice. After a small wait our food was served with perfect Korean attribute attached: Steel Chop Sticks and steel spoon; I was amazed by the use of authenticity shown all through from time we entered to the food served. After few food clicks it was time to enjoy the Meal, but it was getting difficult for me to enjoy my 1st with help of Chop Sticks so I asked for a fork. It was just wao, It was over expectation, I was thinking of a something like other east Asian cuisines but it was all together a different food, with spices and firm food preparation then those soupy preparations. <br/><br/>While enjoying each bite and talking around I was totally immersed in the food and the place which have been well designed to give a complete satisfaction especially for a tourist.

This is my new favourite Korean restaurant! I've only come here 3 times but it was an amazing 3 times! This restaurant was introduced to me by a really good friend of mine and the food is absolutely delicious every time I go.<br/>I do not have images of the first time I went by I do have images for the second and third time.<br/>The first time I went, I had ordered number 1 on the menu, Beef Bulgogi, and it was full of flavour! Sweet, savory, meaty, had heat (in terms of tempearture, not spiciness, since it was served on a hot plate), and the side dishes were a great accompaniment to the dish. The side dishes consisted of: potato, slightly pickled seaweed with radish, broccoli and more pickled radish. My friend had the number 19, Kimchi Jiggae, she let me try some and wow, it was hot and spicy, more hot than spicy, basically to the point that I burnt my tongue... but it was worth it.<br/>The second time I went, I had the same dish (since Beef Bulgogi is my favourite), my cousin had the number 29, Baekauk, the half-chicken soup. She let me try some of her soup and the soup was quite light and rich at the same time. The side dishes consisted of: potato, pickled radish, slightly pickled broccoli, and slightly pickled seaweed.<br/>The third time I went, my sister and I both ordered the same thing, which was number 9 on the menu, Ojingo Bulgogi, Spicy Squid mixed with Beef Bulgogi. This dish was actually recommended to me by my cousin, she doesn't usually eat spicy food but she absolutely loved that dish. I found it quite delicious and spicy! It was savory, meaty, hot and spicy. The side dishes consisted of pickled broccoli, pickled radish, potato and pickled seaweed mixed with radish.<br/>The only thing I wish for is perhaps different side dishes every now and again?<br/>Every time, I'm in city and I crave Korean food. Bansang is the place to go!

This place is great if you are looking for good Korean food at a good price. Came here during the week and shared a pork and tofu dish. Service was good and the flavours spot on.<br/>I like the location too - not too far from my apartment. I will definitely be back to try their other menu items.

I skipped breakfast today and my stomach was calling for food at 11.30am, I decided to try this place out. I was craving for Korean food as well. My friend ordered the spicy marinated pork with rice and I ordered the Dolsot Bibimbap! Service was quick and friendly, so I was happy with that. The food came out in five minutes! My sizzling bibimbap was so nice, I absolutely love how it had a variety of vegetables and meat and a reasonable amount of rice in the hot stone pot. It's fun when you mix it all up and add in the hot sauce that they give you! We also ordered a side dish of steamed dumplings as well. I'm glad to say that my stomach is now satisfied.

Very nice hidden gem in the CBD. the food here is very tasty and it is always a jam packed joint which speaks for itself. In terms of pricing, I think it's fair and I would definitely see this as a must - go if you are looking for great food at an reasonable price.

Food is very tasty here. This is one of my favourite Korean places. Unfortunately the prices have gone up so high that for the prices you pay, the food and the service is rather average.

Went here with a few friends, and despite coming a little after everyone else had ordered, they took my order quickly and served me my meal only a few minutes after my friends. The food was great, the kimchi pork was really good, I was sort of expecting the tofu to be cooked with it though haha....

Read many great reviews about this place and I can see why. For the amount of money you pay, you definitely get your money's worth. <br/><br/>For lunch the other day we got the BBQ squid and the pork belly (no.6). The food came with 4 side dishes each. Not to share. Each. Which is really great since other Korean restaurants are a bit stingy with their side dishes. Anyway, my squid unfortunately was chewy and a bit over. Flavour wise it was really good and tasty. The pork belly was delicious. Flavourful and tender and not too fatty. <br/><br/>We also got the dumplings which were pretty tasty. We were so full from our meals that we couldn't enjoy them properly. But oh well, now we know their portion sizes. Will definitely return in the future when we re craving some Korean :)

Great Korean budget eatout located at one corner of high street, but it's quite easy to find.<br/>The taste is original, managed by Korean & the chef, waiter, even the cashier are Korean.<br/>Had is for a quick lunch & I'm pretty satisfied with their fast service & food quality. <br/>Definitely very recommended.

Although was very busy our food came very fast and the service was great. The food was delicious with only remark that the squid was a bit too chewy. Loved the dumplings! Finally good size and good filling of a dumpling. Will definitely keep coming back.

One of my favourite places to get Korean BBQ these days and has always been a pleasant experience. Everything about the restaurant feels like you are dining somewhere in Seoul, however it does get quite busy to the point where you would have to wait outside for a while. They have recently installed a new little area around the back with more space to eat although it does feel a little claustrophobic and the lighting is fluorescent as compared to the dimly lit interior when you first enter. The food definitely surpasses all these circumstances though, and I love going here to get a fix of food. The staff there are ever so friendly, very accommodating and polite.

This place served great Korean food! Meals come with side dishes and are really tasty!<br/><br/>I literally am sick of this place because I've come so often.. <br/><br/>The place is always busy and full so it's really sad but it's a good sign of business.

Love this place!<br/>It's busy and always full - which to me is usually a good sign 👌🏼<br/>The staff are friendly and helpful and very accommodating!<br/>It's nice to be remembered after only being a few times and for them to remember your order as well!<br/><br/>I ordered the number 6 - spicy pork belly and it was delicious!<br/>Had that classic Korean bbq pork taste and the marinade was sweet and spicy all at once.<br/>The food came out pipping hot and super quickly for such a busy place. They change your sides on request as well 💕<br/>Generally you get broccoli, sweet potato, seaweed, pickled radish, but on request they can add or swap out for the classic kimchi 😁<br/><br/>The premise is warming friendly with an inviting atmosphere, and clean. The staff are great, the service is great, the food is great, the only thing that could make it better is to have kimchi as a standard side!<br/><br/>Will definitely be back to try more dishes 👌🏼👍🏼<br/>

The best Korean restaurant I know in Auckland. You can have delicious traditional Korean food with low price at BannSang.<br/><br/>It's a casual dining restaurant on High street. They have many kinds of dishes, such as bulgogi, naengmyon, subdubu jjigae.<br/><br/><br/>Their service is very speedy.

this is a good place for some nice Korean food. been here a few times, i'm quite satisfied with the food. big portions and reasonable prices. <br/><br/>the downside would be the environment which is very cramped and a bit too dark. <br/><br/>one other thing, the staff had trouble when I was paying. They had no idea what I just ate, even though they took my order!!! Sort this out please. They would obliviously say "what did you eat?"<br/><br/>this is a busy place so sometimes there are queues.

Good representation of traditional of Korean food, the meals arrived within 2 minutes of ordering. However being on high St there is a parking issue. The meals were generous portions and served on hotplates. I asked the staff a question about a dish but she didn't really seem to understand me.

Alright at most sums up this place pretty good. I'm not a big fan of Korean BBQ so I wasent expecting something to blow my mind. The bbq chicken was bland but the soup wasent half bad in fact I enjoyed the soup. The staff were nice and friendly, hence the 2.5 but the good part really stops there

The food is delicious, portion was generous. But i would not recommend coming here in summer, because it can get really and stuffy inside...

BannSang is probably the most popular Korean restaurant in city at the moment. I have been eating here quite regularly since their first days because one, it's so close to my place, and two, it offers good food for a good price. Unlike other Korean restaurants in town, you got your own set of small side dishes when you order, however those side dishes are not very generous and only average taste-wise. In The best dishes to have with rice in my opinion is the spicy chicken and the altang soup, very tasty and fulfilling. I also love their Dotso Bibimbap❤️ Service is fast and staff is friendly. The downside for me is the place is small and tables are too close together. All and all BannSang is still a great destination for Korean food lover, it may not be the best in the city but it has good hot spicy food, affordable prices and convenient location 😊

Ordered traditional marinated bbq beef with rice and 4 side dishes <br/>Beef = taste awesome . Slightly overcook and changed the texture. <br/>4 side dishes = taste good no doubt <br/>Quick delivery time.

Extremely oddly located.. The pricing is slightly more that the Korean combos and dishes from the food court or other restaurants.. However it's well worth it, their food comes with far less grease and quality is up their for cheap eats!<br/><br/>Food Quality: 4.5/5<br/>Food Quantity: 4/5<br/>Environment: 3.5/5<br/>Wait time: 3.5/5<br/>Price Range: $20pp

I love this korean restaurant... It is affordable and the food is delicious... The place is always jam-packed with people and you need to reserve seats at least...

BannSang is by far one of the most popular Korean restaurants in town. It's almost always full at prime lunch and dinner times! They are known for their bbq dishes and hot soup dishes. I would recommend their pork bone soup and white wine pork as well as the beef dishes! They also have a generous selection of free side dishes that accompany every main dish bought! I had the beef brisket soup with vegetables and bean sprouts. It was full of flavor and very filling. I would strongly recommend BannSang if you are keen for a hearty traditional Korean meal!

Positive thing: Food quality is superb & nice presentation staff is ok <br/>Negative : less seating area.<br/>always busy in lunch very hard to dine in.<br/>(Many times I m turned back because of getting no seat.) <br/><br/>Overall it's good place :)

Hidden away Korean place on High Street. Menu is extensive and food is really good. The place is small so you might feel a little crammed but the food makes up for this.

Place to go when I generally crave korean food or when I have no idea what I want to eat that day. Staff is pretty quick with orders and fast paced. Good for a quick casual korean food that is pretty close to authentic way of korean cooking.

This place is usually pretty busy especially around lunch so it pays to arrive a bit early. Their spicy squid is a lot better than other places Ive been too with a decent serving of squid tentacles cooked in a mildly spicy paste and served on a bed of cabbage. Worth a visit.

Have been a fan of there for a few years. There is the most tasty and high price effective Korean restaurant in CBD. Ordered tofu, kimchi and spicy pork belly this time. Yummy but there was a few kimchi only.

Heard many great things about BannSang, especially how you get individual side dishes, but those dishes are quite small (I've been to places where the shared onces are a lot more generous than the individual ones here). I ordered the Dolsot bibimbap which was nice but the stone bowl wasn't hot enough and my rice never crisped up (and that's usually the best part of the dish!). My partner ordered a BBQ dish, can't remember which one but it came sizzling hot and had good spiciness and flavour. I can see why BannSang is popular as it's a great place to hang out with a group of friends as the prices are reasonable but the portions are smaller than other Korean places out there.

I'd been meaning to try this spot for a while as it always seems busy. I'm a huge fan of Korean food and know my bibimbap from by bokumbap! We arrived just before the lunch rush, were shown to a table promptly and were given some ice cold water...a good start. The menu is regular Korean fare, nothing special or unique. We tried the osam bulgogi (squid and pork belly) and the bokumbap. The osam was really nothing to get excited about, the kind of thing you get in food courts all over the city. The bokumbap was a real let down. It was lacking in any flavour, like the kind of dish you'd cook at home but if you had run out of sesame oil, garlic pepper or anything else to give it some taste. Suffice to say the fried egg was the highlight of the dish. The manager who took our payment needs to learn some basic customer service skills beyond just telling you the total price. Essentially this place serves food court-standard dishes but at Faro-level prices. I don't think I'll bother going back; it just isn't good value for money.

One of the truly best korean restaurants in AKL<br/>Only downside is the size of the restaurant and maybe cleanness<br/>Tables are very close together and limited seating- you guys need to expand!<br/>Their nang-myun (cold korean noodles) are delicious and so are their meat dishes<br/>If you love korean food this is the place to try!<br/>Very reasonable price as well

I really like this korean resto. It's a quick fix when you crave korean foods. Food is cheap (13-16$) but really yummy. It's my second time eating here today. And will definitely come back again. Staffs are really friendly and accommodating.

Been here twice and both times have had the Spicy bbq Pork and Squid it is delicious and reasonable priced just was still hungry at the end of it.

This was the best korean restaurant i tried in akl!! If u go to akl u must try this.<br/>Well i'm a big fan of korean food esp samgyeopsal and seafood. So i ordered the ojingo samgyeopsal or fried squid with samgyeopsal. 오징어삼곂살

Very good Korean food here. The kimchi fried rice is delicious here and so are the hot stone dishes! The restaurant itself is pretty small and as a result the tables are a little squished together but that can either be a good thing in creating a homely feeling or a bad thing. The restaurant is pretty popular so if you're claustrophobic this is probably not the place for you

Been wanting to try this place for so long! I would say its one of the best Korean restaurants in town. Very clean and nice atmosphere and super friendly staff and quick service. They actually provide one set of side dishes per person which is really good since the other restaurants are really stingy and only serve one set despite the number of people. I ordered the chicken bbq. It was delicious and at a reasonable price of $14. Would definitely be going back for more!

There's usually a wait time at Bann Sang. And for good cause. Food is great here and it's quite reasonably priced too, with most dishes around the $14-15 mark.<br/><br/>I ordered their bulgogi, which was delicious. Also you can get refills of the sides that go with the dish. I actually like how this place gets busy - gives the place an authentic Asian feel.<br/><br/>Definitely one of my favourite Korean spots in the CBD.

One of the best Korean restaurants I have been to so far. This place is very cosy and I've always found the food consistently good. I got the bbq squid with beef and a side of fried dumplings. Both were cooked exceptionally well, especially the dumplings which I think is the best thing I've had at this restaurant. The service is pretty fast too. <br/><br/>My only complaint is it's a bit cramped. It's usually pretty full and wish it was a bit bigger so there would be more space between the tables. All in all, a good place to eat for a casual dinner/ lunch.

Semi hidden Korean place next to Gloria Jeans. Cosy place, not that fancy but very popular and it shows why from the food they present. Beautifully presented Korean food this place is one of the better Korean restaurants in the city. Did not have to wait long and the side dishes were very fresh. They give you your own side dishes so you don't have to share between the number of people eating with you like other Korean places which idea big plus. With - Trish Zafra

Such a popular korean place on High street. It's central location makes it ideal for a quick feed. The food is fantastic. The wait time is a pain in the ass. You practically have to wait in a queue to get in. I wouldn't go in a large group if I were you.

Always one of my go to Korean restaurant. Its quite packed sometimes because that means the food is good. The prices and sizes of the portions are reasonable. Although its quite a small restaurant it makes it feel more homey.<br/>My favourite dish from this restaurant is Bibimbap

I discovered this place about 3 years ago and visit it quite often since then. Love their traditional marinated pork and beef (#1 and #2). It's always soft and delicious and side dishes are quite big. It's definitely a must-go.

A good place for quick and reasonable price Korean restaurant in city. I know about this place from Korean friend and first time I visited, I could see many Korean customers here.<br/><br/>I really like the sizzling plate, spicy squid and beef (no.9). Beef was tender and squid was not that chewy. I also had spicy pork belly sizzling (no.7). It's pretty much the same but you can taste the good marinate from pork belly. <br/><br/>The service was so quick (if it's not full house) and friendly but when I visited second time the cup had chili on the edge (you know where you drink out of it) That was pretty gross me out about cleanliness in the kitchen. Oh well, I tried to ignore and focus on food more.

Always be my first choice when feeling to eat Korean food. The main food and side dishes all taste good, with a good price and quick cooks too! Love it.

This is my go-to Korean place to eat whenever I crave Korean food. Been coming here for at least 2-3 years now with a range of people but it was definitely nicer when it didn't become such a popular place xD Don't really go as now because it's always crowded unless you go at the non-typical lunch/dinner hours. <br/><br/>Anyway, the food is always yummy and at a great price too :) There's a wide selection of dishes and none of them have been disappointing.

I've been back and forth to BannSang for almost ten times in the last 6 months. My first time trying BannSang did not meet the recommendations and supposed standard of 'Best Korean Restaurant in Auckland City'. <br/><br/>However, every visit after the first time left me wanting more. It is now to me, the 'Best Korean Restaurant in Auckland City'. It would seem that many would agree, considering there's always usually a line outside. My favourite dishes to order are the $13 Kimchi pork (Gochujang Samgyupsal), the $13 wine pork (Wine Samgyupsal) and the $16 stew beef (Galbijjim).<br/><br/>(NOTE: The Gochujang Samgyupsal can be really spicy that it'll spike your tummy in an unusual way for some sensitive tummies or even be a bit too spicy for your liking, but you can ask them to reduce the spiciness. )<br/><br/>Consistency of quality is the only apparent downside I have to state. My rice isn't always fluffy and soft, it varies in the time that I go (lunch time, before dinner, during dinner time and after dinner). But the dish (meat) itself usually makes up for it.<br/><br/>The side dishes come with it, my personal favourite is usually the potato and seaweed. Kimchi on the side isn't exactly outstanding.<br/><br/>What's great about BannSang is the different varieties of food, the decent amount that matches the value, the friendly service and the reasonably good food. It's comfort food, and we keep coming back. The surrounding is clean, and even though I had to wait in line many times, I would get a table in an affordable time.<br/><br/>Ps - Does not have the best lighting for y'all foodporn photgraphers.

One of the best Korean restaurants in town, always busy. Food are nice and original. BBQ dishes are always a nice choice. A little hidden away and hard to find.

Was craving Korean and stumbled upon this hidden gem. Fantastic value for $13! I had the a spicy pork belly sizzling dish along with four side dishes. The kumara was my favourite. So sweet and moorish - wish I could get a plate of it! Would hugely recommend for anyone looking for a quick bite. One of the best spots on crowded Lorne St.

Another great place to have lunch : D dishes are reasonably priced and the soup combos are great for cold and wet days. I would recommend the beef short rib in soybean paste soup if you don't like bones and the pork back bone soup if you do. Both are a bit spicy;if you can't eat spicy food at all, then I'm not sure what to say,because I usually don't eat things that aren't spicy ;-) but they've got a mild seafood soup noodle that's pretty nice<br/>

It's my first time eating here and I must say that the food options is a great value for your money. I ordered Osam Bulgogi which is served with a bowl of rice and four side dishes. I really like my order which is a Spicy Pork Belly and Squid Combination in a medium size plate. The service was nice and they were happy to refill the side dishes as well. I just love the Kimchi! I will definitely be back and try other meal from the menu.

First time to try this place tonight with my partner and a friend. The place is hidden beside Gloria Jeans in Auckland's High Street. It's a small and cozy place, service was good. The food was also great and cheap. Big servings for dishes averaging between $12 to $13. I don't know the best dishes yet but I ordered #21 on the menu which I couldn't finish. Another bonus is that you can have your side dishes refilled. They're also part of Metro's Top 100 Cheap Eats.

I've been here multiple times now and tried nearly half the menu, and the food has been just as amazing every time. Portion sizes and good and most dishes come with four small sides as well. Everything is reasonably priced at around $12 a dish. The service is alright and wait times aren't too long considering they're fully packed every lunch time. Would recommend booking a table if you're going during peak times as there can be queues to get in or get food to takeaway.

Tasty food but always busy and packed. Food Proportion is alright here do recommend extra rice if you are a big eater like me. Selections of korean dishes are one of the reason I look forward to here as they have so many different options and most of the ones I have tried are very delicious.

You would think all I do is lurk around alleyways, but truth be told that many a great craving has been solved by more than one curious venture into the depths of the unknown. Here, your foray is validated by scores of previously enlightened Korean craving enthusiasts. For this place rewards your effort with flavoursome bulgogi and its sides. For something different, try the pork belly and tofu. Bring your appetite! Extra points for great service and price points. Get there early to beat the rush.

Really good Korean food here. Love the wine pork dish and I've been returning just for that! (Even to takeaway!) Not sure what that sauce that's included for that dish is, but its amazing!<br/><br/>It is quite difficult to get a table here if you do not get there around 530pm. We have had no trouble being seated when we arrived early, but any time after 6pm, you'd have to wait outside and stare at Gloria Jeans.

Average food quality, Utterly horrendous service. Ordered chicken bokkeum for takeaways. I sat in the bench in the side of the restaurant waiting for my food. The manager demanded me to go wait outside in the stairway because things were "bustling" ( it was night time and was cold outside) and told me "it's how things work here".  He was extremely impolite and i was very disappointed with the service, of course no apology from any of the workers nor the manger. I would sincerely give them 0 rating if it was possible

Very nice restaurant! Quite busy when my partner and I got here but tables had a quick turnover rate so the waiting times not long!<br/><br/>Food was very yum and super affordable with the serving sizes being very generous!<br/><br/>Definitely the best Korean food I have had in a long time! Very excited to be back!

It was amazing me and three friends ordered the medium Dak Galbi. It was made for two so we ordered an extra rice from an additional $2 the portion size was great and we all had an awesome time. There was a waiting line so be prepared to wait for around ten minutes in the busy days. Definitely coming here again

Been here quite a lot of times ever since my friend brought me here. Food tastes really good and customer service is superb. Will always be back for sure 👍

This has to be one of the best Korean bbq places for lunch as its so close to uni and so affordable, it really fills you up. I love their side dishes especially the broccoli as well as the spicy chicken bbq and pork belly. Can get really busy at lunch time as a line forms to get in though.

The restaurant is a bit cramped but the food certainly makes up for it! The service is quick and efficient. I recommend the pork belly with korean chilli paste and the rice cake with fish.... both amazing!

A Korean friend once brought me there to experience the fine dish. It is not easy to find the restaurant as they are pretty hidden and the room is not big but the dishes makes up for the rough journey. The Stone Bowl Fried Rice was only $13 and the Beef Bone Soup was $15. They accept split payment.

Felt like Korean and BannSang is one of my top three decent cheap Korean meals in Auckland. The atmosphere is melancholy yet casual. It's a fast-paced popular restaurant in the heart of the city. Their food is flavoursome and wholesome. Unlike many places in the city, you actually get what you pay for and what be disappointed and left hungry. I love their potato sides and how you get two sides refill. Great place to dine by yourself or even a large group of friends.

My friends and I had a satisfying lunch here. We ordered a large Dak Galbi for 4 of us (all girls) and all of us liked it! The Dak Galbi had chicken, kumara, cabbage, rice cake, and some veggies, served with spicy red gochujang sauce (besides the normal condiments). I love the combination of that spicy red sauce with chicken and kumara! They were soo yummy. Not really spicy for me but was spicy for some of us. They also gave us a really big chunk of cabbage but they shrank when we mixed that with the sauce.<br/><br/>The portion was enough to feed 4 of us. The price was a bit high for me but it was worth for the taste. Just be careful picking the time to come here - it might be quite full. The place is really small and the lights need to be more bright (it feels like being in the cafe here).

Everything you expect from a decent Korean joint, the sides were good and dishes well proportioned. Quick service and affordable pricing. A good option if you're craving Korean and in the area.

has never ever disappointed me once coming to this restaurant over and over again. great Korean food (taste wise and proportion wise), nice settings and service :)

There's really no wonder why this place is always so packed! My absolute favourite Korean restaurant in the CBD and I will always go back to it if I have no idea where else to eat - staff are friendly and the food is amazing. My favourite will have to be the four side dishes that you get to yourself in every meal - especially the broccoli! I always save the broccoli for last! As for actual meals; the Wine Samgyupsal is my favourite dish and is always on point - especially the sauce that accompanies it. Although it's a small space, it is still an easy favourite of mine.

My initial visit to this restaurant on a recommendation by one of my best friends was met with disappointment. <br/><br/>Like the reviews, my friends had raved about this place and I didn't understand why. <br/><br/>I ordered the BBQ beef and it just tasted .... Bland? From that experience, I didn't understand the hype of this new place, although it was nice to see everyone received their own serves of side dishes which is good as it prevents friends from fighting over the best side dish (the sweet potato) .... Unless it's just my friends that do that. <br/><br/>It wasn't until last weekend when I came here for dinner with a friend before work, that I appreciated the food. This time around I ordered the dolsot bibimbap and my friend ordered the fish roe soup. Both were served very quickly and it tasted great. It didn't taste as salty as most bibimbap's I've had but they added more mushroom than I like - next time I'll request none. The fish roe soup was piping hot and full of flavour, the portions of fish roe in the soup was decent as well! <br/><br/>The service was great, we were instantly greeted and seated and given water upon arrival even though it was busy. He came back to check if we were ready to order, and in between our meal to see if we needed anything else/if everything was ok. <br/><br/>The only downfall is that the place is fairly small and it gets filled up quickly, which also makes the atmosphere humid and claustrophobic. The prices are on point with other Korean restaurants. Located behind the Gloria Jeans, it's perfect place to go for dinner if you want a coffee or dessert after as Mellow is right across the road! <br/><br/>Sarah Reynolds #challenge

My favourite Korean restaurant in Auckland! Cheap and good food! They have friendly staffs and the service was quick every time.. I recommend the spicy pork belly no 6.

Korean cuisine in the back streets of Auckland. We popped into this little Korean restaurant hoping for some great tasting traditional food. I was however slightly let down with the small serving dishes one usually gets - Just below average I say. I ordered the pork belly kimchi bbq with tofu, yes it was yummy but the tofu was rather floury. Service was quick and the waitress was friendly. However I have had way better food at other Korean restaurants. So I wont be back in a hurry.

Still popular and keeps quality ! Food is so close to Korean standards : fresh, spicy, quick. We tried fried squids and dish was average but seafood soup was so delicious. Variety of traditional alcohol and beers. Will come back!!!

This is by far my favourite cheap korean restaurant in the CBD. Their dishes are full of authentic korean flavour and they also provide side dishes for each person. The side dishes vary from seaweed to kimchi to broccoli but there's usually 4 side dishes for every meal ordered. It'll be great to expand in the future as more and more people seem to come to this place. I recommend reserving tables if coming in to eat in groups as this place usually get quite crowded during lunch and dinner hours. The staff are quite attentive to people who aren't able to come in and dine yet and also to those who needs something. Overall, I love going back to this place whenever I feel like eating out and it's usually my no.1 choice.

This is definitely my favourite cheap eat korean go to!!<br/><br/>Their side dishes taste fresh and their kimchi is not too spicy bland or salty. <br/><br/>Their red wine pork belly is amazing! It comes with some kind of aioli sauce. <br/><br/>The prices are really good too!

The staffs are very meticulous and thoughtful to their customers. I've arrived there a couple of times when they were packed, but the staffs gave some menus to us while we waited, and tried their best to find us some seats. This place is very cozy, and the food is actually quite cheap compared to the others. The location is hard to find, but it's like a hidden gem in the city once you actually get to it.

I finally visited Bannsang with a friend about two weeks ago, after hearing great things about this place for almost a year. The restaurant itself is rather small and out of the way, but we were able to find a table immediately at 1 pm (this being a Saturday, the lunch crowd was likely much smaller than on a working day). I ordered the osam bulgogi (spicy pork belly with squid), and my friend ordered the ojingo bulgogi (spicy squid and marinated beef). I thoroughly enjoyed the pork and squid - it was very tasty, the quantity was decent, and the presentation on the wooden tray was quite pleasing. In addition, the side-dishes were all quite tasty, although I couldn't identify all of them, having little experience with Korean cuisine. The only negative for me was that there was too little rice for that much meat! But in any case, the food here is very affordable, and great value for money. Service is fast and efficient. I will definitely be adding BannSang to my lunch rotation in the future.

Popular Korean restaurant in cbd<br/>Price 3.5/5<br/>Food 3.5/5<br/>Service 4/5<br/>Atmosphere 3/5<br/>Friendly staff<br/>Favorite restaurant.

I quite like this place. I find the food good and filling. Portions are generous for the price and I always leave happy to know I got my money's worth.

Really popular place serving tasty albeit generic Korean food.<br/><br/>Ordered the Spicy Chicken, Marinated Spicy Pork Belly and Ddukbokki and everything was on point. The quantities were generous and side dishes quite addicting, but nothing made it stand out from the increasing number of Korean places around the CBD. Same mildly spicy chilli flavours with perhaps a touch too much sweetness for my liking. And once we started on our Ddukbokki, we quickly realised that it would've probably been better if we had chosen something else from the menu.<br/>Really could have whipped that up at home.<br/><br/>Pricing wise, it's fantastic value so would be perfect for lunch and students, however if you're hoping to taste some outstanding Korean, this is not the place for you.<br/><br/>

Cheap, fast and yummy! But this place is usually packed and might have to wait for a table. Also, I still find it difficult finding the place as it is so hidden. I have been there so many times but I still find it difficult to find it.

One of a few good Korean restaurants serving food in the affordable price range I must say. I have been to pretty much all the Korean restaurants in Auckland CBD and this place is one of the most clean and delicious restaurants. Each customer receives their main meal with side dishes on a tray which can be quite handy. The side dishes are delicious, however is always disappointed that 'kimchi' is not served as a side dish in a korean restaurant. I would recommend the red wine marinated pork belly, the spicy pork belly with kimchi (for those looking to fill the craving for kimchi) and the spicy pork casserole. For groups of 2-3, ordering the spicy grilled chicken is rather fitting. Normally recommend workmates and people on the streets looking for a good korean restaurant to this place.

Food was actually better than most Korean restaurants I've been to! They had a better selection of side dishes. Staff are quite friendly and service is really fast. Only downside would be the space since its a small place but other than that great Korean food!

My partner and I went here today. Food was amazing and the service was fast. We're both not Korean but I'm Filipino and love spicy food, so to 'spice' things up I bought him here to see if he would like Korean food and he did not only like it, he loved it. We both enjoyed having our lunch date here.<br/>Though the front house and servers we're not as engaging, they were still great with their customer service.

Amazing place loved it, a friend took me there because it's her go to place. Wide range of dishes to choose from all in all great food and great service. 10/10

Service is always excellent, food comes fast and is always consistent. The meat dishes are in my opinion the best options off the menu. The only negative is that the restaurant is quite small and has limited seating so during busy hours you'll have to wait for a table.

Went here today on a Wednesday for lunch with three mates and was able to get a table after around 10 minutes due to the restaurant being full. I actually found this place to be quite similar to every other korean place in terms of flavour with the exception of the sides ( these were really yum; especially the sweet potato cubes). Our table ordered the spicy squid and pork belly combination, the spicy pork, the rice powdered chicken and the ttukbaegi chicken. My dish was the ttuekbaegi chicken and I was actually super disappointed with it as it didnt have much flavour at all and it came with way too much chicken and hardly any veges or mushrooms it said it would come with. <br/><br/>I had tried all the other three dishes and can confirm they were all scrumptious especially the rice powdered chicken, which was quite different to what you normal find in a Korean restaurant. Both sizzling dishes were good too but nothing special from the standard korean place. The only dish that was a big let down was mine unfortunately :(<br/>Overall, service was good ( even though they had forgotten the mushrooms in my dish) and prices are affordable; especially for Auckland CBD. Would recommend if you were looking for a casual lunch spot with friends :)

Came here for the first time on Wednesday with a friend that recommended this place. It was so yummy and the food came fast! I like how they give you individual side dishes with any main that you order unlike other Korean restaurants that I've visited where they give you a larger portion of side dishes to share. The portions were generous and cheap as well! I would definitely recommend this to other people looking for an affordable Korean lunch in Auckland central!

I love this place. I've tried multiple Korean restaurants and BannSang along with one other restaurant have come up as my two favourites. The food is true to that authentic Korean taste and the atmosphere is always both up-beat and inviting. The staff is very warm and welcoming which makes the experience that much more memorable. Definitely a great restaurant that I would recommend everyone taking the time out to visit :-)

One of my favourite cheap uni lunches; cheap and fast and yummy. The portions are good and sides are quite good. I personally have only tried number 6; which is the chilli pork belly on BBQ plate and I'm happy to keep ordering it :)<br/><br/>Service is good; typical of asian restaurants<br/>

Solid, good Korean food in good location. It's normally very busy so they might make you wait in a line, but the wait is worth it. Any dish here are very good but especially recommend the Rice Wine Marinated Pork Belly.

<br/>I dined out here yesterday for dinner, ordered Korean Chilli Marinated Pork Belly ($13) and Red Wine Marinated Pork Belly ($13). Our food was served pretty quickly and the staff were friendly. Their side-dishes are always so nice and not overly salty like some other restaurants. <br/>

I came here without much expectation aside from the hype we heard from our friends and given that my knowledge of Korean food is limited to Bulgogi and Bibimbap (shame I know!) all I was looking for was a hearty meal that tasted good.<br/><br/>I ordered the Ojingo Bulgogi ($13) which is a mix of spicy squid and beef. The menu says it comes with assorted vegetables and it did come with a small amount of cabbage, carrots, and onions - which are almost absent but heck as long as I'm getting my protein I'll be fine. In saying that, the serving was generous, I wouldn't have been able to finish it if I wasn't so hungry. I liked how the squid was cooked perfectly (I'm finicky when it comes to squid) and the beef was nice and tender - not rubbery thankfully! The meal came with a bowl of rice and four side dishes, which included, Kimchi, potato in soy sauce, a nori salad, and broccoli in a garlicky sesame sauce (this one I liked the most!). <br/><br/>The sides are not refillable and this for sure is the biggest letdown. (I would want another serving of that broccoli!) I believe you'd have to pay an extra $0.50 to have it refilled which for me is too expensive for a small plate of any one side. <br/>The place is a bit small, I would imagine it would quickly be packed during peak hours, and it's a bit easy to miss if you're walking along High Street and don't have Maps open in your phone. So to people who will be looking for this place, it's located behind Gloria Jean's - there's a tiny corridor there that leads to Bannsang. :)<br/><br/>Will I come back? Yes.

Was recommended by a friend of a friend, was average by most Korean standards. Note that there are no side dish refills, and side dishes were quite small, the about the size of soy sauce dish. The side dishes I had were 2 kinds of pickled radish, a few stalks of broccoli and Korean sweet potato. Nothing too exciting, usual price of $12-13 per main. Because of the price and easiness of making the dishes from the same soy bean paste and soup base, in comparison with all the other Korean eateries out there, the bland service and side dishes let this place down. <br/><br/>Staff were excruciating uninterested in service, but handled the customers well when it came time to clean the tables immediately prompting us to get the bill. Would probably return if I'm in the need of some dull moments alone without having to talk to wait staff. There are better cheap Korean eateries around like Il Mee on upper Queen st and Bon Ga Ne which both offer a way larger, tastier and refillable selection of side dishes as well as a more versatile menu.

Food was great! Fave korean restaurant. The food always comes out quickly which always amazes me 'coz they make it so well. Will be returning soon. <br/>P.s. the staff seems really unapproachable, many of them looks really irritated. Doesn't make for a good customer service. . . .

Awesome food! Great fast service! Very tasteful food.. Highly recommend it. Would definitely come back to try some other traditional food..

The food was very good. It had taste and quantity. The staff was patient and the menu had a good variety of choices. <br/><br/>Only Down Side: the food was slightly spicy, and the small space, make it hard to get a table during Lunch and Dinner hours.

This place is pretty average...the food is quite tasty, portions rather small and no refills on the side dishes. But for the low price of the dishes, it's not bad. <br/><br/>I'd probably be more inclined to come here for lunch rather than dinner next time.

This place is amazing! It's the best Korean restaurant I've had and I've tried quite a few of them.<br/><br/>The first time I tried this place out, I went there three times that same week. I would recommend all the soup and stew pots, there has never been one that has failed me.<br/><br/>There are a few options that are not spicy, they are still very tasty. I recommend the one with sausages, pork, noodles, tofu and other things.<br/><br/>The portions are very big, all the soup and stews (even ones with noodles) come with a bowl of rice!<br/><br/>The sidedishes change every few days, it's all very exciting.<br/><br/>I visit this place at least once a week now! They have friendly service too, and great pricing for the portion they give you.

Koreaaaannn fooooodd!!<br/><br/>Being an Asian, my comfort food is Asian food. Nothing is more comforting than rice!! <br/><br/>I got the gochujang sangyeopsal, or red pepper pork belly. It comes with panchan or side dishes, and it was nice! The pork was in a sizzling dish and hot. The food came out relatively quickly and it was all tasty. And cheap! It was $13, which is cheaper than Faro's lunch deal and with more choices as well! But no soup or salad side dish like Faro. But the food is authentic Korean and flavourful, and it made me happy :) there is a lot of selection as well, but not for vegetarians maybe.<br/><br/>It was yummy! I would definitely go there again. Don't be scared if you're not Asian- tasty food is tasty! And the atmosphere is really warm, friendly and loud. I would go back there!

Bann Sang is a straightforward Korean eatery with minimal decor, busy atmosphere with wooden tables and chairs, tight seating space in a closed area that make you smell smokey when you leave the premise. It's been around since I can remember, and for my quick Korean fix I tend to come here instead of others in town (Faro's lunch being an exception but they're smaller in portion compared to Bann Sang if I'm feeling particularly hungry).<br/><br/>They have really delicious samgyeopsal (pork belly) stirfry that I always get, in a choice of red wine marinated samgyeopsal (eaten with homemade mayo that has a hit of sesame in it, I think) or kimchi; and from my memory of tasting other people's dishes through the time their kimchi soup is warming and delicious, and they also have decent stirfries of other choices. Service is quick, although sometimes you can find they're a bit short of staff on the floor and have to fight for their attention to get served!

One of my local favorites, the food is cheap, there's lots of variety on the menu and staff are friendly and attentive. This is a place to come to if you just want something cheap and easy, not fancy. The average meal is about $12 and the service is quick. The only down side is the place is quite small so sometimes it can be really hard to get a table.

EDIT: I've updated the rating since I went back again as promised. While it is still understaffed, I think my last experience was just a case of ordering the wrong kind of dish. That dish has since been removed from the menu. They are much better with their hot dishes and the side dishes were again excellently flavoured and presented.<br/><br/>They have since made it that all noodles orders are coming with 4 side dishes, although staff can be reluctant to admit you are allowed refills. While it is definitely a cheap eats place, I'm reluctant to say its food is above average. The sizzling plates can have quite tough meat, and the noodles are well portioned but quite generic. It can also get quite stuffy and uncomfortable eating in the main area, so if possible I would recommend trying to eat in the side area which is more airy than the main area with its white walls and wooden shelves and an open door to let fresh air in.<br/><br/>ORIGINAL REVIEW:<br/><br/>I really didn't have a positive experience here. It's a really small and busy place, and we were seated in a corner where the sloping roof touched my head when I stood up from the seat (and I'm not very tall). I wandered in here for dinner and ignored the dirty table and tried out the buckwheat noodles with beef slices in a cold broth, which came to about $12.<br/><br/>The menu is definitely wallet-friendly, with dishes averaging around $15 and all coming with usually four side dishes but mine came with just two: broccoli in sesame oil, and these starchy cubes that had been marinated in soy sauce which I'm not really sure is vegetable or flour. The side dishes were probably the highlight of the evening and far more delicious than the noodles.<br/><br/>Noodles were sorely disappointing. I guess probably because when they said cold broth, I didn't expect it to be as cold as if it had come out of the fridge. It was positively icy, something I've never experienced before. Unless you really like cold soups and it's a super hot day, steer clear of their cold dishes. I've heard poor feedback on them since. The noodles were clearish like vermicelli but much thicker and very tough, which is why the tray came with some scissors to cut them up. I have also never seen scissors come with a plate of food, and was a bit taken aback. Steer clear of my order if you're dining with children! Unfortunately, the noodles didn't have any flavour nor did its cold broth, so that was disappointing. There was also this fiery red sauce sort of permeating everything that was also flavourless but had a gross sludgy texture. I ended up spooning the sauce on a napkin and attacking the noodles afterwards. The sauce looked spicy, but it wasn't, however most of the menu did involve spicy items.<br/><br/>What disappointed me more than an unexpectedly tasteless broth and tough noodles was that there wasn't "beef slices". It's just beef slice. One. Singular. About the size of a third of my palm and the only flavoursome thing in the entire bowl.<br/><br/>If you go for hot dishes it seems to be what BannSang does better. The side dishes were good though, on a brighter note. The low rating is because of the one beef slice fiasco, tasteless broth and noodles, and bits of lumpy spilled soup from the previous eaters still being on the table.