Dam Da

The food was really good and flavourful. Overall the restaurant is really good, the only thing I have to critique is first of all, the floor was really dirty and I had to wait for a long time to be serviced but tbf she was a trainee so I don’t take it too harsh but overall it was nontheless really good.

- Henry Luttmann -

Figured that me and some friends would try out some Korean while we were at Tauranga. Broth of the soups were authentic and very flavourful. Spice levels were just right. Fried chicken with Spicy Korean sauce was tender in the inside and still crispy on the outside. Sides were all complimentary. Staff were super friendly (family owned). And you have got to try the Korean coffee. So good.

- Andrew Wu -

It was drizzly and very windy when we visited downtown Tauranga, and my wife and I thought it would be nice to have hot and spicy soup. So we went to this restaurant and ordered pork backbone soup and seafood noodle soup. Both of them were really delicious. It took a while for the food to come out, but it was worth the wait. The restaurant was busy, and I noticed that some customers were local people, not just tourists, which was a good sign. The surface was friendly as well. I definitely recommend this restaurant.

- Rubianto S -

First time trying this place and was so impressed! The service was great, I have two children under 2 so I was feeling a little anxious (as a parent you would get it lol) So welcoming and that made my family and I extremely comfortable! The food was delicious also! I would definitely come back here and try some other yummy looking dishes I saw on the menu tonight! Thank you so much!

- Ashleigh Salanoa -

Saw the good reviews here so decided to give it a try during our trip. Ordered the pork belly soup and the spicy tofu stew for mains. We also ordered a side of seafood pancake. The pancake nice and crispy on the edges and tasted really good. The sauce dip could be improved though to elevate this dish. The soup were pretty good too. Side dishes was just average but despite that, very enjoyed our meal here in Tauranga.

- Wilson Shum -

The food was really good! The staff were super friendly and the place was really clean. Everything was just delicious!

- Lou -

A friend (I still have one which is nothing short of miraculous) recommended Dam Da. I respect said friend’s culinary expertise so announced to the Favourite Husband that rather than the routine Saturday takeaways we were off on an adventure and to pack snacks; traffic and parking being what it is in “coneucopia.” I don’t recall having had Korean food before. Possibly fried chicken, but that’s kind of everywhere and I find it generally tastes the same wherever you go. Well, turns out that’s not actually true. We had the Korean spiced, sticky fried chicken. And it’s a lot. It also comes with fried noodles and chips. Health food this is not. It was absolutely delicious. The sauce was sweet and sticky with a hint of spice and the chicken was melt in the mouth. It would be great if there was a smaller portion size as this was too rich even shared between us. Following my friend’s recommendation we went with the seafood hot pot. We love trying new and what we hope to be, authentic cuisines. What we liked was the explanations and instructions from the super friendly staff. The Favourite Husband absolutely loved this dish. He was chomping on down, shells flying across the table, broth a-slurping. I really enjoyed it too but obviously in a far more ladylike manner. But you have to get down and dirty with those crab legs. I wouldn’t have the seafood again, that’s just me as I found the seafood smell overpowering. But I’d go back and try several different things on the menu. The steamed pork looks amazing. Good job Dam Da. Any chance you’ll be getting a liquor licence anytime soon?!

- Caroline Cameron -

lThe wait was definitely on the longer side, but it was 100% worth it. Every dish tasted incredibly authentic, with flavours that felt true to Korean cuisine rather than toned down or westernised. The food was unique, comforting, and clearly made with a lot of care and attention. Once the meals arrived, we completely forgot about the wait. If you’re looking for genuine Korean food and don’t mind being a little patient, this place is absolutely worth visiting.

- Sarina Tang -