Gaga Hoo Korean - Fort Dodge

Gaga Hoo was enchanting. Found it on a road trip. Best surprise! 1. We weren’t sure we were going the right way, as you have to drive through a residential area to get to it. The restaurant is in a slightly past its glory days country club facility. So it was a little quirky even on approach. 2. We arrived right at 11 AM, and it was deserted and the main dining room lights were off. It was like walking onto a movie set. The owner was in the kitchen and told us to sit wherever we wanted. He was lovely and told us about his son, who is currently a university student, and he is clearly proud of him. 3. My husband ordered tea, and it came in an awesome Death Star teapot/teacup set. 4. Most importantly, this was THE MOST DELICIOUS KOREAN FOOD I have ever eaten outside of Korea. It was so fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared. I lived in Seoul many years ago, and dangus! This food was outstanding. 5. Great value for the money. It was not very expensive. 6. I would say that this is one of the best restaurants in the entire state of Iowa. A hidden gem, and I would look for reasons to head back out that way to eat there again.

I had an amazing experience the atmosphere was perfect and the food was amazing. It was worth every penny and I was sure to leave a tip for the fine service

During my work trip to Ft. Dodge, Iowa in January 2020, I discovered this amazing restaurant through Yelp. My experience there was flawless. I'm really grateful to have stumbled upon such delicious food and exceptional service while in Ft. Dodge!

This restaurant truly excelled in creating the perfect ambiance with its lighting and music. You can tell that they genuinely care about the experience they provide, and their impressive creativity was a delightful surprise. The large TV took us on a visual journey through Korea, which added an exciting touch to the atmosphere. Both the robot server and my human server had exceptional courtesy and distinct personalities, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. The food was indulgent, and we were pleasantly surprised with complimentary Korean pickles and cabbage kimchi, which went above and beyond our expectations. This has quickly become my favorite spot to take out-of-town guests, as you can feel the soul within the establishment. I've heard many stories—besides my own—about their remarkable hospitality. I will definitely be returning often. I also took some time to explore the space; there is a wealth of information to read on the walls, and they have thoughtfully incorporated elements of Korea with plants and gardening decor, all beautifully arranged. I felt a sense of calm, enjoyed delicious flavors, and was mentally stimulated throughout the visit. Overall, I’d give it a perfect 10 out of 10.

Tipped off by a local person, we opted to try Gaga Hoo which is located at the local country club. We hadn 't expected to find wonderful Korean barbeque in northwest Iowa, but we 're glad we followed the tip. We started with the mandu (dumplings and a round of Soju (a Korean alcoholic drink typically made from rice or sweet potatoes , and we had o-jingeo-bakkeum (spicy stir-fried squid , and bibimbap (bulgogi beef with rice, mixed, vegetables, and an egg on top . Food arrived hot and fresh in lovely dishes. (By the way, the Soju was 13% ABV, so some people may want to split a bottle. The food was nicely presented, beautifully prepared, and a good reminder that you eat with your eyes. We were among the final diners of the evening, and one of the owners who is also the head chef came out, chatted with us briefly, and even played a little guitar before we left. Delightful! We 're not normally ones for wanting a TV on when enjoying a meal and the company of others, so at first glance we weren 't pleased to see a large TV on one wall. However, to our delight, the TV showed videos of street scenes from someone walking through Seoul, South Korea on rainy days. This gave the place a more exotic and romantic atmosphere in an unexpected way that wasn 't distracting and was instead complementary to the Korean fare. Our servers were prompt and cheerful too and seemed to want to be of service, all of which helps any restaurant visit be a pleasure. Though Gaga Hoo is a 75-minute trip from home, we 'll go back.