Overall
Our experience at this restaurant as a whole | I first tried Minsok near the end of my previous incarnation. It was pretty much right across the street from my office. Many years before I had lived in the area. At that time, the site was a kosher Chinese restaurant that I never, ever even thought of trying on the advice of numerous neighbors. Ten years later, upon finding myself in the neighborhood and without a bag lunch for the day, I decided to give it a shot. I was hooked! I soon began turning to Minsok for frequent lunches. The staff was kindly and friendly, and the food comforted me for the difficulties of my job. It seems a little silly writing a review, since there's no way I could possibly be objective, but I guess this isn't a journalism site so I don't have to be objective. So there. Tthhpptt! Anyway, one of the things that I miss about that previous incarnation was Minsok. The other is the many friends I left at that job. I had the opportunity to mix them both for a recent lunch, and it is this experience that I will review here. |
Food
The food we ordered while eating at the restaurant. 
Pork Bento Special 
Closeup - Pork Bento Special 
Bibimbap | I haven't tried anything at Minsok that I haven't been happy with, but I'll cheerfully admit that I fell into the habit of getting one of two dishes from the lunch menu. One was a spicy beef soup. The other is the Pork Bento. The Pork Bento is what I ordered for my most recent visit. The pork is cooked in a delicious, slightly spicy sauce and served with an ever-changing variety of sides. The only constant with the sides is the miso soup, which I love.
Other patrons ordered other dishes. One friend got the chicken bento, which she let me try. It was delicious - not as spicy as my pork dish, but very flavorful. The chicken was not at all dry. Another of my friends ordered the japchae, which I did not try but smelled delightful. The remaining two companions both ordered the bibimbap, a delicious rice-based dish that both thoroughly enjoyed. |
Bar
n/a
The variety and quality of beer, wine, and/or liquor available at the restaurant | Sad to say, I've never taken much note of the bar. I've always gone here for lunch, either while I was on the clock or with people who were. I can tell you that they do at least have a beer and wine license and offer sake. |
Menu
The variety and originality of items on the menu | Minsok specializes in Japanese and Korean cuisine. They offer a lot of sushi items, and I've been pretty happy with the sushi when I've ordered it. There is a good variety of dishes on the menu from both cultures, and you should be able to bring your vegetarian friends here without a problem. The lunch menu is what I'm most familiar with, but it does offer many options. I've heard a few complaints that the menu isn't "authentic" Korean food, but I'm not in a position to pass judgement on that. It tastes good. |
Service
The service received while dining at the restaurant
| I've generally been pretty happy with the service at Minsok. I think that they might have been late with a take-out order once, but honestly I got take-out from them so often that I think they're batting something like .998. |
Atmosphere
The experience of eating at the restaurant, including decor, comfort, and dress code | The atmosphere is generally pretty good and mellow. As I mentioned, I've only ever gone here for lunch, so the crowd is probably a little different. I was particularly pleased to note, when I arrived early the last time, that the big-screen tv in my dining area was showing ESPN. |
Ease of Access
How easy it was to get to and get into the restaurant, including parking and wait duration | I'm basing this entirely on location - I've never had a problem getting in. Minsok is located on Harvard Ave in Brookline, between the Brookline Village (D line) and Coolidge Corner (C line) T stops. Parking is on the street and I can assure you from personal experience that the Brookline traffic and parking department is zealous. The 66 bus does stop right in front. |
Value for Money
Our assessment of whether the dining experience at this restaurant was worth the price of the meal. | Again, I'm basing this entirely on my lunchtime experiences. The dishes on the regular menu seem a little steep, but I don't know what comes with them.
The lunch specials are probably one of the best values for money in the area. Most of the lunch specials are under $11 and come with a wide variety of sides. You will not leave hungry. Even the lunch soups come with sides. Furthermore, the side dishes change every time you go, which gives you the opportunity to try several new treats. |
| Location and contact information | 92 Harvard St
Brookline, MA
617-783-8702 |
| Menu available? | No |
| Reservations | Various dining sites suggest reservations are accepted. I've never tried or needed them. |
| Hours | Monday - Saturday 11:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM - 11:00 PM |
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