Den Den Café Asiana in Providence - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I found Den Den to be more of a 3.5 but not quite a 4. The Hot Stone Bi Bim Bap with spicy pork contained high quality ingredients. I didn’t find the zucchini and kale(?) to be typical to other Korean food I’ve eaten. It wasn’t spicy. And there were no Ban Chan served other than a tiny container of kimchi. I’m more used to julienned cucumber, sprouts, and a salty baby spinach on this dish. Maybe mushrooms. The carrot was typical. I felt like this was Korean food catered to white hipsters. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t good…. It just means it wasn’t what I expected. The Japchae looked amazing and huge portion - maybe that’s more authentic. I’d say go because it’s tasty, but not with expectations of traditional food!

Craving Korean & Japanese comfort food? Den Den is legit. Located steps from RISD & Brown, contemporary, casual, neighborhood Asian eatery serving familiar casual dishes, well prepared, authentic flavors, fresh ingredients, non-shrinkflation portions, reasonably priced. Friendly, prompt service even during peak hours. Downside: limited street parking & one unisex restroom. Overall, definitely recommended. Support your local small businesses & restaurants 👍 😋

Ordered Bibimbop, Gyu-don, and spicy pork bbq. They were the worst Korean food and Japanese I ever had in my life. Terrible beef and pork quality. Wrong cut of the meat and funk smell and elastic texture combined with mismatched flavor profile too. Disaster, disaster, disaster!!! This place can NOT be 4.6 stars! No way! It’s NOT Korean nor Japanese. It’s disgrace to those countries.

First time visiting & wow - what a great find! Fast service, fresh food and great hospitality by the staff & Chef Lee! Thank you & will be back again - super yummy!

Great food. Honestly the best Korean food I've had in a while.

Loved the service and the food was delicious will be back soon

The bimibop with chicken and fried egg was delicious and satisfying. As another review stated, service was slow because the kitchen was busy with many orders. The server was gracious and helpful. We could not finish our generous servings and took home enough for two more meals.

We ordered chicken karaage and yaki soba for take out. The food was disappointing. In both the dishes, the chicken tasted stale. The karaage had little to no seasoning. Although we asked for spicy, the yaki soba was not spicy at all but more sour.

Their bento is a fake one. It's all the ingredients shoved in a bowl. Why call it a bento? Just call it a food mix bowl.

Service is good, the wooden tones are an area-correct vibe, the food was okay - they put tons of onion in both the Kim chi and also the soon dobu, which did not appeal.

This is a great place to take a foreign friend who wants to try Korean food. The Korean menu seems closer to a fusion restaurant targeting foreign customers rather than a restaurant targeting Koreans or Asians. Since none of the Spicy menu is spicy, I think it would be better for Koreans to just eat the non-spicy menu. For example, a menu item like simple stone pot bibimbap tastes better to my taste than stir-fried pork, which is not spicy at all! The atmosphere is nice and friendly, and the food itself doesn't seem to be bad, but if you go there thinking it's Korean food or home-cooked food, you might be a little disappointed, so keep that in mind! Overall nice place to try Korean food for foreigners. Not quite authentic but more like toned down Korean food. Spicy menus are not spicy so if you are looking for a spicy food, may not be the right place. If you are not good with spicy food, then this would be a perfect place to try spicy(style) Korean food. If the owner reads this post, I would like to suggest that there be an option to increase the spiciness level for the occasional customer who wants spicy food! I think just adding a little red pepper powder or a drop or two of capsaicin will make it spicy in no time!

Not what we were expecting. The chicken smelled very gamey and the quality was just not it. It’s a very casual atmosphere. The veg dumplings were a 2/5, the chicken karaoge was 3/5, hot stone chicken bibamap was the only thing good 4/5, the udon chicken noodles were no bueno 1/5. For the price, the food and atmosphere were below standards.

Seafood was old (the shrimp in the yaki udon has an unpleasant dry texture in contrast to everything else) and the mushroom bento's main sauce was too salty. The pickled food, rice, and the vegetables were great though.

Awesome bibimbop and have big portion sizes. Highly recommend!

Great food I enjoy their food , very tasty

The rice bowl (bibimbap) is crispy and delicious! The beef is a bit too sweet though. Tofu hot pot is good.

Amazing food and very polite and helpful staff. Forgot a bag after the meal and returned the next day to collect it. Amazing service and kind people

On Saturday July 6th 2024 I visited Den Den Asiana in Providence. I arrived there at 1:00 pm in the afternoon and was lucky to find a table in the front room. I didn't realize at first they didn't have table service for ordering when I sat down.I soon realized you had to get your own menus from the counter, decide what you want and then go back to the counter order and pay for everything first. Then someone would bring your order to your table for you. A little getting used to but not a big deal. I ordered a delicious charred Seafood scallion pancake for an appetizer. The pancake was just right size for a light appetizer. It was conveniently already cut into about a dozen pieces you could pick up with your chopsticks. The char on them was great with nice pieces of scallion and vegetables and squid. It had great flavor and crust. Makes me wish they were next door so I could order more often. For entrees I ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap Bulgogi with soy marinated beef and a fried egg. It came in a nice sizzling clay pot like it's supposed to. I did order the egg on top which was great but wish it were more on the runny side so I could blend it into my rice. Flavor overall was great and couldn't have asked for any better. I did order the hot house sake and it was a nice warming addition to a dreary, rainy Saturday afternoon. The atmosphere was nice and lively without being overly noisy. nice decor and ambiance. I would definitely go back when in the area and drag a friend along with me so I can try some more dishes. :)

Really good Korean food. I was excited about the spicy rice but was somewhat disappointed. It tasted too much of onion, not spicy, and not enough actual rice cake. The hot stone bim bim bap was excellent. It is worth a stop for some good Korean food.

Whenever someone wants a dinner recommendation, Den Den is my go-to answer. It has great food, fulfilling service, and a variety of options for everyone. I usually go at odd hours, but on the occasion that I go at peak dinner time there is usually a wait, but that speaks to the popularity of the establishment. My go-to is the bibimbap, which is always nourishing with a variety of vegetables. I always feel good after eating here, ready to take on the world.

Squid hotpot bibimbop and chicken teriyaki bento were pretty delicious. Spicy pork bbq didn’t have much meat. It’s just sauce and onion and no decent size pieces of meat. I think I got all the sauce and veggies and whatever left meat in the pot. Spicy pork sauce was ok but too salty and strong to my liking. Maybe it’s because it’s missing decent amount of meat in my dish.

The bibimbap was delicious and flavorful! I ate there around 3pm and service was super quick after ordering, and the vibe was relaxed and comfortable. Great place to grab a bite!

The place was very crowded. We waited for 40 mins for a place in the restaurant. Monkey balls were out of the world. I would strongly recommend that for starters. The hot stone entree was greattt !!! The pork bbq was good too. We ordered 2 of those, but they gave diff ones, and they confused us about that and gave a silly reason that they changed pan when they prepared the second pork bbq. It did not taste good. But the first pork bbq was good. Anyways, we had decent lunch on the 4th of July at Providence.

Food was delicious, good vibes, and the staff, especially Jasmine, delivered excellent service in a packed house.

Very good Korean food. We got there at lunchtime and it did take a bit longer than expected to get our food from the kitchen. Also I don’t understand why the side of kimchi is so small served in a tiny condiment cup. The bbq pork belly and squid is fantastic. We also order the bbq short ribs and fish katsu. Portions are all big enough to share.

Their bibimbap is pretty good, you can give it a try, but the udon is too sweet, so I don’t recommend it. The main reason for the low rating is that there is no service. Customers go to the front desk to order and pay (including tips) before eating. There is no service including providing water (there are two idle ladies at the front desk, and the food seems to be served by the kitchen). I am worried about who I gave my tip to (it feels like the kitchen is more dedicated to it). In addition, there are no side dishes in his restaurant (although I mainly stay in the United States and the West, I have never seen a Korean restaurant that does not provide side dishes)

I disliked the food here. It had zero flavor and it was very overpriced for the taste. I ordered the soft tofu stew and it left a weird aftertaste after each bite. The service and atmosphere were decent though.

Foods tasted pretty good, but a little bit too salty for my taste.

Incredible food. You haven't lived until you've tried their bibimbap. This may be the only restaurant I've ever been to that I actually have recurring dreams about. That's how good this place is. The way the rice gets all crispy on the edge of the hot metal bowl. The flavor profiles. The quality of the proteins they have. Amazing place and an awesome atomosphere. Listen to that sizzle!

This place was such a lovely surprise. I was expecting it to be good as I frequent Den Den Korean fried chicken. It exceeded my expectations. The food was so delicious. I loved the cafe atmosphere and the servers were really engaging. It really felt like they cared about the food they were serving and it showed. I wish they had cocktails but I honestly didn't mind not having it. Soju, sake, and beer really fits the vibe of this place. All in all, my whole group loved this place and we can't wait to come back

Overall: 4/5 Food: 4/5 - I came here with my bf and I got the soft tofu stew with seafood and he got the bibimbap with terriyaki chicken. Although my bf was not that impressed with the bibimbap, I liked my soft tofu stew! Great flavor and taste. Service : 4/5 - There is not that much service here given you are ordering at the counter and there were no water refills, etc. But I still liked the vibe and the food came out fast. Value: 4/5 - Pretty standard for what is in the area. Overall, this place was pretty good and I think I would come back to try something else on the menu!

Okay, go off Den den! We got the chicken bento box and the clay pot/hot stone bibimbap. Great place to get Korean/japanese fusion food. Highly recommend the bento box because of the sauce 🤤🤤. Great paired with their beer!

Super great Food ! Very very kind and friendly staff. Owner was great ! Food was great! Portions very good size! good wine and beer selection. Best in town !

Great atmosphere. You order upfront and sit down where they bring it to you which I love because I hate the little dance at the end where the server walks back and forth 3 times to pay for your meal then you have to do MATH on a full stomach. I gave 4 stars because everything is too sweet or too oily or both. The flavors are all overpowered by the intense sweetness of the food. If the food has less sweet and less oily I'd give it a ten.

Great food at a great price. Casual and simple.

Great Korean food. Friendly staff. I like

One of my favorite restaurants in Providence. I always bring visitors here, and love trying something new each time. Favorites include the jap chae and the kimbop - they’re easily made vegetarian which is fantastic. I have never had a long wait here despite coming at busy times - they’re really on top of it!

Enjoyed their pork katsu & scallion pancake with seafood mixed into the batter.

We did a college visit to Brown and stopped on the way back home to Den Den. The food was amazing. We ordered the seafood pancake appetizer and it was delicious. Hot and fast service. We all ordered different Bibimbap, I had the seafood one (see below) with the garlic soy sauce. The food so good that it rivaled the food we eat in K-town, NYC. Don't give this place a second thought and eat there.

2024 update— went again when I visited pvd. Ordered short rib bbq. Large portion. My friends like it a lot. I am not a big fan of Korean food, but I think this one is the best Korean food I have tried in pvd. Tried katsu last time, but not crispy when I ate it. So I would not recommend katsu, but the tofu soup and stone pot are recommended.

There aren't too many affordable places around Providence to eat if you don't make the pilgrimage to Thayer, and Den Den used to be an exception. Good food, nice place. Service can be a bit slow at times, but they're always busy so I really can't blame them. I get why they raised prices on their menu, but it makes me a little sad because I liked going here and I feel like I can't really do that anymore.

Went in during the dinner rush (restaurant was FULL with people waiting for tables) to get an order of kimbap. I asked how long it would take, my server at the counter went to the kitchen to ask, and came back with a chef who personally took my order and had it out in about five minutes flat. During the busiest part of the night tensions can be high and service quality can slip, but the heat of the moment the Den Den crew had their service set to eleven.

So flavorful! Good portions especially if you get a starter! Great quick service vibe.

Recommend the place: the food is wonderful, with varied flavors; The service is very kind and flowing. It is very pleasant to sit in a warm atmosphere.

Excellent Tofu stew with seafood

Like a Chef Gusto of Providence. Food is well served and plated. Service is polite and on-time as can be. The atmosphere is friendly, inviting, and that of a dreamy writer aesthetic. Highly Recommend. Go on a busy Weekend or Relax on a Thursday for some nice cafe feels. (Reviewer is bodily 25)

I've been to the location both in the weekday and on a busy weekend. Food did not disappoint at all both times.

Amazing amazing! If you come here definitely get the japchae , I would definitely say that’s the best thing on the menu. I also got the beef bulgogi soup. Definitely tasty but the portions are smaller.

Un lugar exótico, tranquilo y de comida coreana auténtica. Recomiendo el Kimchi pancake y el bibimbap

Went for lunch and the food was delicious!! Loved the spicy ramen which they made a little less spicy for me!! The pork dumplings were delicious as well!! Servers were polite and prompt

The food is too sweet and with too many onions, but except that it's good.

Great menu selection, awesome location. I like the more casual vibe with order at the counter. My bento bowl was delicious, I just wish there was more sauce.

We had Korean Fried Chicken (small 8 pieces) and an appetizer and that was plenty of food for us (although a little messy). Like a lot of contemporary restaurants it was noisy. But the food and good service make it worthwhile.

I have mixed feelings about [Restaurant Name]. While I thoroughly enjoy their food offerings, there are certain aspects of the service that have left me feeling disappointed. Firstly, let me start with the positives. The food at [Restaurant Name] is consistently delicious, and I always look forward to indulging in their menu options. Additionally, I appreciate the convenience of being able to add tips when paying at the kiosk. However, my experiences with the service have been inconsistent, particularly over the past couple of years. Previously, I found the manager to be attentive, and the staff were diligent in fulfilling their responsibilities. Unfortunately, this level of service seems to have declined. During my most recent visit, I encountered several issues. Despite requesting chopsticks after receiving my food, they were not provided promptly. Moreover, I noticed that the staff appeared overwhelmed and distracted, with one individual who resembled a new manager socializing with friends during the lunch rush. What was most disappointing was the lack of attention to customer satisfaction. No one approached me to inquire about the food or to inquire if I needed anything else. Overall, while I continue to enjoy the food at [Restaurant Name], the declining standard of service has detracted from my overall dining experience. I hope that the management takes steps to address these issues and restore the quality of service to its former level.

Really good food and excellent service.

The food was not bad but it is definitely not Korean spices. The state was below than average, the Kimchi definitively not home made and the rice not cooked correctly. Moreover it took forever to get our food.

Tried the Den Den Hot Pot Bulgogi Beef one of their specials. For the price ridiculously small portion. Good but not worth going out of your way for. Atmosphere is like college mess hall. Meh.

I love this place! They never disappoint. One of the best Korean places to eat in providence!!!

We absolutely love this place. The location is convenient, the servers are friendly (and highly efficient), and the food is to die for. My favorite dishes are the kimbap and japchae.

Great spot for lunch during the workday. Quick ordering and service. Try the monkey balls, veggie gyoza, or the tuna bowl. It's also located in a nice area of PVD, within walking distance of the river, pedestrian bridge and a bunch of bars.

Our first time here, good variety of dishes. The service was great and the food tasted fresh. Can’t wait to go back :)

Food was good, and the staff was great. Atmosphere was cozy. May be a bit hard to find parking though.

Food was very good! Service was decent but wish they would have checked in with us for refills of water at least once. Good prices and portion sizes as well!

One of my favorite Korean spots to hit up whenever I visit Providence. I like to try something new each time I dine here and they never disappoint on flavors. The casual counter service makes it easy to take your time when ordering and the food comes out relatively quick. Feels like a hole in the wall gem, but it seems to be a popular spot! Will continue to go back.

The food is good. We have dined here twice and enjoyed their dishes. The ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous. Although the preparation of their Bipbambop lacks crunch. I have eaten better Bipbambop dishes elsewhere. The rice lacks the crispy crunch so important to this dish. I would give a higher rating but only if the management-owner take care of their rodent problem. We sat there one afternoon and watch a mouse run across the service area near the counter. This happened twice. ~tiaotse~

I’ve eaten here roughly 5 times in the past year. It’s one of my favorite places to get lunch. The taste, quality, and presentation of the food is very consistent. I love that the menu isn’t too large and overwhelming. The atmosphere is cozy and has a lot of seating for how small it looks. The service is only okay, but it’s intended that way. It’s not a typical sit-down restaurant. You order at the counter and pay first, sit, then they bring out the food. The Korean ramen, bibimbap, pork tonkatsu, bulgogi, and pork gyoza are all great!

Food was beautifully presented and had rich flavors. My only complaint was that the prices for both the chicken karaage and seafood scallion pancakes were quite high for the portion sizes.

Food was good and quick. Get seated and then order at the counter. Would go again.

Very kind staff, lovely atmosphere, great food. Definitely recommend!

The food here is amazing. The spicy pork bibimbap won't make you cry but the spicy pork plate will (pictured). Service is great, they all spoke Spanish too :)

Best, most spectacular veggie fried rice I've ever had in my life. I can't wait to go back and have more. Absolutely delicious!

This was our first time to Den Den and it won't be our last. Great food and a some choices for beers on tap. Started out with an appetizer called Den Den monkey balls. As unappetizing as that sounds, it was very delicious, deep fried mushrooms and spicy tuna. When you think deep fried, you something with heavy batter, this was far from it. Very light. Then it was Den Den soft tofu stew and Hot stone Bibimbap. Service was great too.

I have visited Den Den on numerous occasions and consistently find it to be an enjoyable experience. The cuisine is both abundant and delectable, offering a pleasing variety. The venue's ambiance is well-designed, providing a comfortable space. Although parking poses a slight challenge, the restaurant's location along Historical Benefit Street compensates for it. I particularly appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the large ivy adorning the side of the building and the retaining walls surrounding the parking area.

My daughter and I had lunch here while walking around Providence before heading out of town. Very busy at lunch time. Food took a while, but just because there was so many orders for the small kitchen. When we did receive our food it was still steaming hot. Very flavorable and spicy. If I were in the area again and in the mood for Korean, I would return.

All the food was great,great job 😋😋😋😋😋😋

An old favorite of mine. The food is so good that now that I don't even live in the area anymore, I still go to Den Den whenever I'm visiting. A solid A+ for the past 7 years and still going strong! I highly recommend the seafood pancakes. And pretty much everything else on the menu, too. But seriously, trust me on the seafood pancakes. It can get quite crowded, so I recommend going on a weeknight or for lunch. It's an old brick building so it's got a fun sort of hipster vibe. Order at the counter! They'll give you a tag and then bring you your food. Which hopefully includes the seafood pancakes if you've been paying attention. Enjoy.

Love, love, love den den! I've had many delicious meals here. The atmosphere is casual and laid back.

I’m so frustrated that I have to give this place 1 star. Prior to today, I would give Den Den a 5. My experience today has totally changed that. Friday Night, 6:45pm. Dinner rush, I understand. We ordered and sat. No one came over to give us water. I had to ask them for it 20 minutes into sitting. It took 35 minutes before the gyoza came out. Our entrees didn’t follow for another 15 minutes… And then I looked, and it was the wrong order! I got Pork Tonkatsu instead of Chicken Katsu. That’s 50+ minutes for the WRONG order to be placed in front of me. I went back to the register to have them fix my order and I’m still sitting here, 15 minutes later without my food. Why a mistake made by the staff wouldn’t have been put at the front of the line doesn’t make sense to me. No apologies, no offer to make it right. I will have to rethink coming here next time.

Even though the menu states some dishes are vegetarian, they actually contain beef powder. The cashier helped me pick items without it. The food looks divine. I tried the tofu stew with added mushrooms (omitted the beef powder and raw egg) and it was fantastic. Slightly on the pricey side but reasonably priced.

We’ve been frequenting den den for more than 3years now. Great food always! The dip that comes with chicken karage is my favorite. But during my latest visit, my menu favourite Potato twister came out soggy & oily. They immediately replaced it. Great service, highly recommend!

Great spot for Korean eats, super casual and cool vibe. Loved the Chicken Karaage, would go again often if we lived in Providence!

Good food. Interesting experience. Prices are reasonable.

Delicious and flavorful Korean food!

A lot of tasty options on the menu, both apps and entrees. I ordered the Tonkatsu which came with a miso soup, rice, and a side salad with a delicious peanut dressing. Next time, I would ordered something that’s a bit more unique to Asian flavor, however.

From the outside, Den Den looks like a typical college spot to grab a quick bite. This is anything but that. The food is amazing and incredibly flavorful. There are many choices- you simply can’t go wrong. The kimchi pancakes are incredible and always a hit. I wish I was in PVD more frequently as this would be a regular spot. Delicious!!

Wonderful Korean food. Every dish is custom prepared and served fresh and hot. Plenty of indoor seating and two dining rooms.

Label me overentitled, but if I am going to spend a fair amount for a meal I seek a modicum of warmth and welcome from the person taking my order. Not receiving any, and somewhat pressed for time in any event, I decided to take my business elsewhere. Wanted to leave this feedback but didn’t want to ding the business with less than 4 star review in relaying my subjective experience.

I had an interesting experience ordering Monkey balls because of the name, but let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious! The meal I chose would've been decent, but unfortunately, the teriyaki chicken tasted a bit off, like it was old and reheated (not exactly sure what happened there). It was difficult for me to fully enjoy it. On a positive note, the veggies were incredibly fresh and delightful. Another downside was having to pay a tip before the meal, which can be a little unpleasant.

Heard good stuff from my friends. They preferred this one for Sushi and the one in East Providence for the chicken. I did a Kimbap as an appetizer, and one of their Japanese entree Den Den Tonkatsu. I actually enjoyed their sea food, note, not a seafood person. Their fried dish was yummy… I really really liked the sauce on that salad and the dip (red and white colors). So worth going, its a cafe, and it serves alcohol, and it such a nice rustic vibe (wooden mix with brick decor). Parking is tricky because of location Not as crowded and more spacious then the other Den Den (can be by your lonesome and feel comfortable but also bring a small group and still feel pretty good)

Highly recommend: diverse food, outstanding and personable service, and spacious tables.

Nice Korean fusion food, vibe for hang out with the gang, more for self service 👍

Really very nice Korean cuisine

Took my mom here when I went home to visit! One of my must go to when I go home to Rhode Island! I love the kimchi pancakes and the gyoza! They are so flavorful and delicious! My favorite is the bibimpop with the builgogi beef! Must go !

Vegetarians, PLEASE READ: Mixed feelings about this place. We went here because they claim (and the reviews also suggest) that they have a bunch of vegetarian options. We ordered our tofu meal with this consideration - when we received it and tasted it, we went back and asked the server if the broth was vegetarian. They didn’t seem sure - three servers later we were told that the broth is in fact not vegetarian. I don’t understand how something that claims to be vegetarian on the menu can have meat/fish in the broth, and we never would have found out if we hadn’t asked. They did bring us a new version, but I am still quite surprised by and disappointed by this negligent behavior. I would strongly advise the restaurant to be more considerate about this, and add notes to the menu.

Everything about this place was amazing, food, staff and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend if you’re in the area. Fantastic place, good prices and even better food!!

Loved the food, was incredible and so was the service and atmosphere. Will definitely be back!

Great food. Thanks for the help picking out the dishes.

I've had better karage but still good overall. You pay first including tip before you get your food though

Amazing fresh food!! This seems to be our go to place for birthday dinners. Food tonight was amazing as always and the staff that work there are incredibly nice! Can't wait to go back.

I prefer places with servers but their style is alright. Food was alright. Thayer street location is better. They don’t have the wings here and that was a downer. I’d give em 3.5 stars if I could.