Tong Tong Korean Restaurant
Southeast Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs
Bar in Colorado Springs, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Tong Tong is Colorado Springs' most accessible Korean restaurant and a practical first choice if you're after bibimbap or bulgogi in a city with limited Korean options. Booking is easy with no significant wait, the south-side location suits casual weeknight dining. Don't come expecting a polished setting or outdoor terrace, but do expect familiar Korean cooking at everyday prices.
About Tong Tong Korean Restaurant
Should You Book Tong Tong Korean Restaurant?
If you're looking for Korean food in Colorado Springs, Tong Tong on South Academy Boulevard is the address most locals point to first. The restaurant sits in a commercial stretch of the city's south side, for a first-timer, the honest verdict is this: it's a practical, accessible choice for Korean cuisine in a market that doesn't have a deep bench of options in this category. Booking is easy, walk-ins are generally feasible, you don't need to plan weeks ahead to get a table.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Colorado Springs sits at over 6,000 feet elevation, the city's dining scene reflects its geography: unpretentious, value-focused, built around neighbourhood regulars rather than destination diners. Tong Tong fits that profile. The address on South Academy puts it near a high-traffic commercial corridor, so don't expect a curated setting or a design-forward room. What you're coming for is the food and the familiarity of a Korean kitchen serving a community that knows the format.
On the question of outdoor seating: South Academy Boulevard is not a scenic terrace destination, there's no confirmed outdoor or rooftop space at this location. If al fresco dining is a priority for your visit, Colorado Springs has better-suited options. Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort and Cerberus Brewing Company both offer outdoor setups better matched to that brief.
Booking and Timing
Getting a table here is direct. There's no weeks-out reservation window to worry about, no complex booking system to navigate. For groups, calling ahead is the sensible move, but solo diners and pairs should have no trouble. If you're planning a visit around a specific evening, checking in a day or two in advance is sufficient. For broader dining options across the city, see our full Colorado Springs restaurants guide.
The Practical Case for Tong Tong
Korean cuisine at this price tier in Colorado Springs means you're likely looking at a solid everyday-dining proposition rather than a special-occasion destination. Think bibimbap, bulgogi, stew-based dishes in portions built for appetite rather than theatre. No verified awards data or critic recognition is on record so the case for booking rests on category scarcity: if Korean is what you want in this city, your options are limited, Tong Tong has the longevity and local reputation to suggest it's doing the fundamentals right. For a broader look at what else is happening in the city, our Colorado Springs bars guide, hotels guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide cover the full picture. If you're also considering cocktail-forward venues in other cities for comparison on what a higher-spec experience looks like, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, and Julep in Houston set a useful benchmark for the gap between neighbourhood dining and destination-level execution.
Planning details
- Location
- 2036 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916
- Website
- epipay.com/tongtong/en/WebOrder?STORE_CODE=MTAwMA%3D%3D&table_num=MTAwMA%3D%3D
- Phone
- +1 719 591 8585
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Tong Tong sits unassumingly on South Academy Boulevard and leans into the practical, neighborhood side of dining rather than staging itself as a food-media destination. The interior and service read as a full‑service, traditional Korean kitchen rather than a fast‑casual outpost: house-made banchan and long-simmered broths anchor the cooking. The result is an unpretentious, classic neighborhood spot that welcomes repeat customers and people who appreciate food rooted in technique and familiarity, rather than a stylized dining experience aimed at passing tourists.
Best For
This is a place for locals and diners seeking straightforward, traditionally minded Korean food. It suits groups who want to share plates and evening drinks, and anyone interested in a meal built around house-made banchan and carefully prepared broths. Because Tong Tong trades on neighborhood repeat business rather than foot-traffic novelty, it works well for casual hangouts, group outings and dinners where the focus is on the food and conviviality rather than atmosphere.
Ordering Tips
Expect to lean into shared dishes: the kitchen emphasizes house-made banchan and long-simmered broths, so plan to order multiple plates to pass. The description also highlights Korean beverage traditions — soju, makgeolli and Korean beer — and suggests a pairing logic that complements the food; ordering one of those classic pours helps round out the experience. Avoid treating it like a quick takeout stop and instead approach the meal as a relaxed, communal dinner.
Planning details
Location
2036 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916 · Directions
epipay.com/tongtong/en/WebOrder?STORE_CODE=MTAwMA%3D%3D&table_num=MTAwMA%3D%3D
Also consider
Also Consider
- Joey's NY Pizza; Notable alternative
- 503W; Notable alternative
- Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort; Notable alternative
- Burrowing Owl; Notable alternative
- Cerberus Brewing Company; Notable alternative
Bar context
Among the Colorado Springs venues Pearl tracks, Tong Tong occupies a distinct category; it's the only Korean restaurant in the current set, which makes direct quality comparisons difficult but the booking decision straightforward: if Korean cuisine is your goal, there's no meaningful local competitor to weigh it against. For everything else in the city, the comparison picture is clearer.
503W and Burrowing Owl are the better choices if your priority is drinks and atmosphere over a full Korean meal. Cerberus Brewing Company wins on outdoor space and group-friendly flexibility, making it the stronger pick if an al fresco setting matters to your evening. Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort is the call for a casual outdoor gathering with a different energy entirely.
For a straightforward, low-friction Korean dinner with no booking stress, Tong Tong is the practical default in Colorado Springs. It's not competing with the city's bar and brewery scene; it's serving a different need. If you want the full picture of what to eat, drink, do in the city, start with our Colorado Springs restaurants guide before committing to a single venue.
Explore Colorado Springs
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Tong Tong Korean Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Tong Tong Korean Restaurant
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Tong Tong Korean Restaurant | Easy | No published awards |
| Joey's NY Pizza | Unknown | No published awards |
| 503W | Unknown | No published awards |
| Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort | Unknown | No published awards |
| Burrowing Owl | Unknown | No published awards |
| Cerberus Brewing Company | Unknown | No published awards |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tong Tong Korean Restaurant have happy hour deals?
No happy hour details are on record for Tong Tong. Korean restaurants at this price tier in Colorado Springs tend to offer value through portion size and combo pricing rather than a formal happy hour structure. Call ahead or check in person on South Academy Blvd to confirm current specials.
What's the crowd like at Tong Tong Korean Restaurant?
Expect a local, neighborhood mix rather than a tourist-heavy room. South Academy Blvd draws a practical, value-conscious crowd, Tong Tong fits that mold: families, regulars, people who know what they want. It's not a scene-y spot, which is part of the appeal.
Is Tong Tong Korean Restaurant good for groups?
Yes, it's one of the stronger group options in this part of Colorado Springs. Korean cuisine formats naturally suit shared-table eating, without a demanding reservation system, coordinating a larger party is easier here than at many comparable spots in the city.
Is the food good at Tong Tong Korean Restaurant?
By local consensus, it's the first address Colorado Springs residents point to for Korean food, which is meaningful in a city where the Korean dining options are limited. It's positioned as an everyday-dining proposition rather than a special-occasion destination, so calibrate expectations accordingly.
Is Tong Tong Korean Restaurant good for a date?
It works for a casual, low-pressure date rather than a formal evening out. The South Academy Blvd location is unpretentious and the format is relaxed, so if your date appreciates good food over atmosphere, it's a solid call. For a more curated date-night setting, look elsewhere in Colorado Springs.
What's the signature drink at Tong Tong Korean Restaurant?
No drink menu details are documented for Tong Tong. Korean restaurants in this category typically carry soju and Korean beer alongside standard soft drinks. Confirm the drinks list directly with the restaurant at 2036 S Academy Blvd.
Does Tong Tong Korean Restaurant have outdoor seating?
No outdoor seating information is confirmed for Tong Tong. Given its strip-mall setting on South Academy Blvd, al fresco dining is unlikely but worth asking about when you book or arrive.
