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DJK Korean BBQ(Dae Jang Keum) in San Diego

4.3 (199) 7905 Engineer Rd, San Diego, CA 92111, United States

Categories

Korean barbecue restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

San Diego, San Diego County, California, US

Phone: +1 858-573-2585
Site: http://djkkoreanbbq.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–10 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–10 PM
Thursday:11 AM–10 PM
Friday:11 AM–10 PM
Saturday:11 AM–10 PM
Sunday:11 AM–10 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.3

199 Reviews for DJK Korean BBQ(Dae Jang Keum) 2024:

Review №1

2023-08-03 09:57:43

Stumbled upon this restaurant on a busy Friday night where all KBBQ restaurants have more than an hour wait.I called them and they dont have a wait probably because they do not offer AYCE. We ordered the combo A for 2-3 people for my friend and I. Theres plenty of meat already, we dont need AYCE option. Our banchans (side dishes) are constanly refilled. The lady changed our grill when they serve a different kind of meat.The quality of meat too is great! Their galbi was flavorful and delicious. We also asked for bibimbap and shared it. It was good too. They also served us with cold barley tea and it cleaned our palette.Overall, I an happy with the food and service. Will definetely be back.

Review №2

2023-06-18 22:24:41

Amazing KBBQ experience! We ordered Bibimbap and Combo B for 4 people, and it was the perfect amount of food! Service was wonderful, as they helped us grill all the beef. The bulgogi and marinated beef short rib were exceptional, and the soybean paste soup was so comforting!

Review №3

2023-07-15 02:07:01

Hands down one of the best Korean BBQ places. Expensive but worth it. Only place in SD that uses real charcoal. Youll end up smelling like BBQ but definitely worth it.

Review №4

2023-02-19 03:59:50

This place is seriously good. we came here party of 4 and ordered one of the combos. we got tons of bonchon and were surprised to find out that there are TWO soups in the combo along with the meat and everything. calbi jin was delicious and huge portions of it too!service was incredible! the ladies were so attentive to everything and they helped us cook.

Review №5

2023-09-02 03:43:30

What a wonderful experience. Not AYCE but this allows them to serve high quality meats knowing people cant abuse the system. We got combo B which feeds 3 to 4 people but we were full with 4 people. The first two meats were done on a grilling plate over the fire. The last two meats were done on an item grill directly the charcoal fire. This is the only way to go for us from now on. The service was friendly and attentive and a button to get the servers attention is a nice touch. Must experience and compare. You will love it!

Review №6

2023-03-14 23:08:01

Great spot. Korean barbecue over charcoal elevated to a whole another level. Just hits different! Its nice because they cook for you at your table which means you actually get to eat.

Review №7

2023-01-08 02:43:23

As much as I wanted to like this place, this Kbbq experience was amongst the most disappointing. Everything I read about this place sounded like a perfect recipe for quality Kbbq.One of the main appeals was their use of charcoal instead of gas. But they used a circular grill with no grates to allow the smoke to cook through the meat. This makes the meat taste no different than if it were cooked on gas.The other appeal was high praise on their meat quality. But the brisket served was the toughest, leanest brisket Ive had in a long time, and the pork belly ordered came out frozen. For the $30 charged for a single plate, you could go to an AYCE restaurant and get multiple plates of higher quality meat.Maybe I drew the short straw on this experience, but the price and quality were both worse than all the AYCE kbbq restaurants on Convoy. The service was friendly, but the most angelic of hosts wouldnt have saved this dining experience.

Review №8

2022-11-29 14:34:50

This is the best place to eat Bo Ssam with oysters in san diego! I am a regular here just for the Bo Ssam. You will NOT be disappointed.

Review №9

2023-05-28 16:05:55

My first time at a Korean style BBQ. Went with a group of 8. The server was amazing, with perfect timing between courses, and providing all the explanation necessary for newbies. The food was delicious and fun (the 8-person meal package). The atmosphere was great: a semi private, well decorated room. I wouldnt change a thing! Looking forward to bringing another party back there again soon!

Review №10

2023-07-04 01:29:52

Under-staffed, food was meh, sauces were meh, but the sides were good. Haven’t been to SD since 2016 and I used to go to Manna. I’m going to go check them out next. This place was certainly not one of the top 5 Korean BBQ places I’ve been. Not really set up for just one person either. $80 for two meats they could have easily given me half servings of and let me try 4 meats. Kind of just got the feeling they were shoveling people in and out as fast as possible. Sometimes I like the ladies putting the meat on the grill for me but this time I didn’t. I REALLY liked the bell though. That part is authentic. Waiting on my check for 15 min now…

Review №11

2023-07-17 14:12:12

The meat was delicious, and you could really taste the quality. Overall, food was delicious, truly. However, the waitress at the end, despite us giving a sizable tip for her ($30), had the AUDACITY to ask for a larger tip. She was being dead serious, too. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Honestly, although delicious, I feel it was overpriced as well. May come again when I feel like throwing away money.

Review №12

2022-01-28 02:07:38

BiBimBap was great! Good portions and the waitress was friendly. Best Korean food I have had since last trip to Busan. Cant wait to go back with company for some BBQ!

Review №13

2023-03-21 03:10:26

Not a bad place, some tables have charcoal grills and others are just regular tables so I just got the bulgogi bento and dumplings. Pretty tasty. Would come again.

Review №14

2023-10-17 18:00:49

Ban was very dry and lacking in flavor. Tofu Soup also not very good. Maybe Im spoiled having a lot of good Korean food in LA and Orange county as what Im accustomed to.

Review №15

2019-11-12 23:30:08

My favorite Korean BBQ joint in San Diego! It is one of few that are not all you can eat but the quality of meat is better. They use traditional coal /wood for the heat source and that adds to the flavor instead of gas.The service was excellent as well. The seafood pancake is one to order for the table

Review №16

2022-07-11 13:51:42

Favorite non-ayce kbbq! the charcoal and copper grills make it extra tasty. great quality and well marinated meat, yummy banchan side dishes. they’ll help cook for you if you don’t know what you’re doing 🤣

Review №17

2023-06-13 00:21:03

This the the second time we come back. The “ajummas” are super sweet and attentive. They kept an eye on our foods so we didn’t burn it. The meets and all the side dishes are well seasoned and were delicious. The portion is just right for the number of people indicated on the menu. We prefer this to “all you can eat” places where we feel like we have to stuff our face to make it worth it. Will frequent!

Review №18

2023-08-14 05:13:37

I had dinner with my son a few days ago. We ate on the non-bbq side. I had the beef rib bento box and he had cold noodles and bulgogi. The service was ok, the server was nice but it took a lot longer for my sons food to come out after mine. I wont go too deep into it but over all it was good and we will be back. I do also recommend.

Review №19

2023-06-28 05:42:02

Authentic Korean food at a very high price. They used to have very good Bento boxes as you can see in my old pictures, but now the contents have been reduced. The Banchan side dishes are no longer served with the Bento boxes. Instead the Bento box compartments that used to contain Seafood, Gyoza, Sushi Rolls, and Tempura, now have a few of the Banchan veggies in them. This was very disappointing. Our favorites were always the Bulgogi and Salmon Bento boxes. Along with the value of the Bento box contents being reduced, the prices have doubled. So now you are getting a quarter of the value. This is very sad, since this was one of our favorite authentic Korean restaurants. We had hoped this was a one time oversight, but confirmed with the server this is the new normal. This restaurant is no longer a good value.

Review №20

2023-06-26 21:38:53

Great option for kbbq with real wood coals.Place could use a facelift. Service is really friendly but I had to ask for another pair of chopsticks since there were 2 of us and sometimes I felt hurried when they dumped all the meat at once and started cooking it for us...but I guess they were in a rush.No wait to get in on a Sunday night.A bit expensive requiring 2 full meat platters minimum and not AYCE.

Review №21

2018-12-01 06:41:44

Ate in a private room. It was a little cold but the hot coals helped warm the room. The service was excellent. The ladies there work hard and are quick to bring you whatever you need.The sides were just average but the meats were really good. Lots of good cuts. We got 3 combos that feed 6-8 people. I wasnt completely full so Id say it wouldve fed 5 people. Youll need to over order a little to fill up.

Review №22

2023-02-12 23:07:27

One of my favorites in the area for all around authentic taste.All the side dishes were good too. A touch pricey but worth it.

Review №23

2023-06-29 21:09:05

Small portions of beef, waitresses gave me an attitude when I asked to switch chicken for pork belly . Much better selection of Resturants to choose from in this immediate area. 1st time here, Not a fan of this place

Review №24

2020-10-23 03:44:54

This place was outstanding. The food tasted great and fresh. We got three big meals that fed all of us. The only down side of this restaurant was that they basically cooked all the food for you on the grill. Other than that this restaurant was outstanding. I highly recommend this place if you want to come and have some Korean food with some of your friends.

Review №25

2020-02-27 01:59:42

Delicious! I had a spicy pork dish with all the sides. Well cooked, perfect amount of spice. I dont have enough experience with Korean BBQ to rate the side dishes, but I found them fun and interesting. I like that the restaurant is off of the main drag. No difficulty parking. I look forward to coming back with friends to try the table BBQ. Service was good and fast with a smile. Large portion allows you to take some home.

Review №26

2023-07-22 16:33:21

I hope the business will grow more and be successful! However, I would like to share my bad experience. A waitress stopped me when I was leaving, she seemed upset, and asked me for more tips straight to my face(I already paid $200 in total, foods were $176.62 and I put $23.38 as tips to make it to $200 in total). she held me there until I gave her some more cash tips. Then, she just walked away with money smiling without even saying thank you. I politely asked her before giving her more tips if she does not get to take the tips from card payment. She said she does take them all but its not enough. I feel like I just got robbed. Kinda funny that I went there with my white friends and I was the only Korean-American in my group. Then, she stopped me specifically and started asking for more tips in Korean and teaching me how much I need to tip in America(She said I must tip more than 20%). Im not just upset because of money. I went there to give my white friends some korean experience. I know that one korean worker cant generalize all korean people(again, Im Korean-American too), but It makes me very sad and upset that my friends got horrified by the korean workers rude attitude and are not willing to try out some more korean stuffs anymore. I believe I give tips in order to show how thankful I am for the service I get while I enjoy the foods, not being asked uncomfortably like taxes I need to pay.

Review №27

2022-09-05 03:20:11

So. I had my tonsils removed 8 days ago and havent been able to eat anything with substance or calories for a week. Also, Im from Arizona. DJK was our last meal before heading back to Phoenix. I ordered the Korean cold y and galbi. Finally! Something that didnt feel like the stabs of a million heated swords in my throat. Besides feeling so happy that I could eat something, the food itself was genuinely good. 😁

Review №28

2021-12-12 22:11:33

Food was fresh, portions were great and price was very reasonable. Definitely hit the spot after a morning hike!

Review №29

2020-02-18 18:25:27

A few things made this a 5 star:1. I went there on valentines day, no reservation, waited 15 minutes, where as other restaurants were 3-4 hour wait. Manna bbq was 2 hour wait. Quality of food is on par with other korean bbq Ive been to. Quality of service is way better than Manna.2. This is not all-you-can-eat. But they do have recommended servings based on your party size.3. Charcoal grill!! Oh so good4. The price turned out to be cheaper than the all-you-can-eat bbq places, and I was definitely full. So you dont have to have the mentality of gotta starve all day and be super hungry for korean bbq

Review №30

2021-08-22 23:28:04

Excellent food. Sever explained how to put the dishes together. Great experience will he back!

Review №31

2021-04-30 20:00:43

So Delicious!!! Definitely go here if you dont want to wait for Mana Korean BBQ as its just as good if not better! Get the combination bbq for 3-4 or 4-5 people as its a great deal in my opinion since it will come with either Soju or beer. The service was also fast and friendly!

Review №32

2021-07-13 04:58:29

DJK is quite busy and I feel like they could use a little more staff, but the food was great and I felt like the price was reasonable considering how much food we got. Ill definitely go back.

Review №33

2021-11-16 05:22:36

Great meat, great service. One of the few places that uses wood burning coals to cook the meat at your table. Highly recommended.

Review №34

2022-10-06 22:45:35

Fantastic place. Probably the best Korean restaurant in San Diego, and wife’s favorite. (She grew up in Korea for 26 years)We have been here many times and it’s always delicious. High quality ingredients. Amazing side dishes. Fast food service.They have 2 sections. A BBQ section and a normal restaurant section. We have never done the bbq as we prefer to order dishes that we can’t make at home but the smells from that side are enticing. I highly recommend this place.

Review №35

2019-03-05 19:37:12

The food was so delicious. The service is amazing. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Love it!!!

Review №36

2022-09-24 00:58:21

I was. Really hoping for all you can eat like the others in the area. This place is different they offer packages depending on what ingredients you want. I will say that i think the flavor is delicious! The meat is super tender and all the sides are delicious. I ordered a steak bento box and the portions were good and the flavor on point. The meat was tender succulent and flavorful. Staff was friendly the beer selection was limited but the Cass beer

Review №37

2018-03-29 17:48:57

My friends and I have been coming here since high school. I think its the best Korean barbecue in San Diego. They are the only one I know of that uses charcoal rather than gas grills and it shows. Personally favorites are the bulgogi, Sam kyp Sal, cha dol Bae gi, and origui. Some of the banchan are really good, especially the fish cakes. I definitely make a point of going here when visiting old friends in San Diego.

Review №38

2018-08-18 23:46:51

Excellent hot delicious dishes. Great banchan and they kept coming around with refills. Minimum 2 bbq customers if you want to do your own bbq at the table. Great service.

Review №39

2023-03-03 02:56:58

I LOVE eating here. The service and food is phenomenal. Feels similar to how they serve you in Korea! Highly recommend coming to this place. Feels like home.

Review №40

2018-12-13 20:59:34

Bulgolgi and brisket were really tasty on the BBQ! Service was very good and attentive. I loved all the banchan we got.

Review №41

2018-07-03 20:42:33

Awesome Bulgogi Bento Box lunch special, just for $9.99 - comes with Soup & 8 Side dishes!!!

Review №42

2022-07-18 04:04:42

I used to worship this place. I mean...its still great because they use charcoal!!! That means a world of difference in cooking the meat. However its the small things like they didnt give me any sauce (salt, sesame oil, and other sauce) that broke my heart. Its like missing your old crush and he/she isnt the same anymore. Still awesome but just not the same. The quality of meat is still superb!

Review №43

2023-08-07 15:56:37

Charcoal BBQ! Beef and Squid are good options. Friendly service.

Review №44

2022-07-17 01:09:38

Probably the best kbbq in town. Off the main strip of restaurants and easy parking. Grills are setup with coals, not propane. So much better in every way! Servers were very attentive and quick. Meats were very good and banchan selection tasty.

Review №45

2017-02-17 05:04:19

Great little Korean BBQ place. Food is very good if a little over priced for the portions.

Review №46

2023-01-04 21:11:39

Walked in and felt a weird vibe. Everyone at the restaurant acted like they didn’t understand English. After several attempts we decided to leave because clearly they didn’t want to serve us. I read several reviews and language was never an issue. I guess the owner didn’t want to serve us for other reasons.

Review №47

2022-10-06 02:59:28

We were here three days ago. Driving by on I-15 we could not but stop by there again and again we had a perfect dinner. Try their BarBQ for 2-3 for $59… well worth it with a quick efficient service…delicious!

Review №48

2022-09-01 23:25:44

My first Korean BBQ. It was good.

Review №49

2022-12-14 01:31:14

Awesome authentic Korean food. We sat at the regular tables because my Korean friend said the BBQ is more american style. Food was excellent and service was wonderful.

Review №50

2023-01-04 21:02:19

Arrived at the restaurant at 4:15 pm and stood at the door for 5 minutes before we even saw an employee as soon as they realized they sat us quickly. Food was great and perfect for a cold rainy night.

Review №51

2020-11-14 04:49:12

Very large portion, one dish maybe enough for 2 people. Great side dishes. Hot tea came on the table foe free. Very reasonable price for the food quality. Such a busy place. We are not really cooking people so we sat on the side of “not cooking”. Service was slow at first but once we ordered, things went smoothly.Definitely one of the better Korean food place that we have eaten. Lots of choices in San Diego btw.

Review №52

2021-09-08 07:15:25

Fun place, large portions!! Cook it your self !!

Review №53

2023-01-09 19:16:20

Went here with a group of friends and it was the best Korean BBQ Ive had in San Diego. Totally recommend.

Review №54

2021-05-04 05:49:11

Great quality meat but heads up, this is NOT all you can eat. However the option we went with was more then enough food for our group so we were happy with that. Also keep in mind, this place is very very busy. Wait was a long time and even when you get seated, they take a long time. Maybe they are understaffed? Plan to go early so you arent starving and hangry. ;)

Review №55

2022-12-27 07:00:15

Got food poisoning, called restaurant to inform and she said “go to hospital if you’re sick”. When I asked for the name of the employee “helping” us she diverted the question and kept saying to go to the hospital because you must have insurance. Unprofessional.Update: 2 days later was finally contacted by a manager after calling multiple times. Was told the only way to get a refund or any help was to go to a doctor and bring them a “sick note”.

Review №56

2019-04-22 15:10:48

This was our second time coming, but our friends come here frequently. The food was very tasty. We had a party of 6 adults and 3 teenagers and ordered the combo meats for 6-8 people. There were plenty of side dishes, salad, and soup along with the meats. If you have not experienced Korean BBQ before this is a great place to start. The waitress places the raw meat on the grill in center of table and you just take it off when done to your preference. Highly recommend!

Review №57

2021-05-17 05:17:02

First time here and I was very impressed. Our waitress cut up our meats and started putting them on the grill for us!?!? Id definitely say its a step above other KBBQ joints. Meats were fantastic. Even the chicken. Sides were on point! Kimchee bamboo? So good! I will be back again.

Review №58

2020-09-10 16:15:14

Prices are slightly more expensive than other kbbqs, but portion and taste definitely make it worth it. Their side dishes are abundant in variety. Food comes out fairly quick, if you decide to forgo the kbbq.

Review №59

2022-05-01 15:22:28

The quality of the food is good. It is not an all you can eat place. Their prices are a bit expensive.This is good place to eat if you want an intimate setting for dinner. Service is good as well.

Review №60

2019-08-04 22:50:13

Solid korean bbq. We had Combo #4.

Review №61

2020-12-09 19:51:56

This place is amazing. Korean bbq using charcoal. The little dishes that come with the bbq are delicious and plenty of choices. I would have given them five stars, but they used to have sesame leaves to eat with the meat. They stopped serving that. Now, just salad leaves.

Review №62

2018-06-12 15:49:22

Honestly the best place for Korean BBQ. They have authentic coal grills which make the meat so much better and tasty. If you dont want to eat BBQ, they have a decent selection of Korean dishes and still are relatively affordable prices for their portion sizes. The only thing bad about this place was the air, they need better ventilation.

Review №63

2020-01-18 10:44:45

I recently came here as part of a large private party. Though the circumstances were less than joyful, I enjoyed myself, nonetheless. The service was very warm attentive. It was almost as if we were house guests instead of patrons. The menu is extensive, with lots of interesting items to try.

Review №64

2023-03-18 00:46:34

Unsatisfactory service, they messed up our takeout order by giving us dinner entrees instead of lunch menu and didn’t fix the problem when we told them about it. Do not buy takeout from here. Will not return.

Review №65

2023-03-27 04:57:02

Great service and yummy bbq.

Review №66

2017-09-06 03:24:11

Great authentic Korean restaurant. Korean traditional BBQ right at your Table top. Plenty of other dishes beside BBQ if you dont feel like cooking. Many side dishes come with almost every dish they serve and they refill all of these constantly. Price is reasonable as well.

Review №67

2022-02-02 00:08:47

They use a charcoal grill and it tastes so much better. 4-5 person meal was more than enough for 5 people went I went! Good service too.

Review №68

2018-04-18 22:55:50

The meat quality here is great but its definitely on the pricey side. Id come back here for more of a special occassion if I were doing the grill again. But the experience is cool. You get to cook over charcoal! I would 100% recommend the short ribs, do not do the grill witjout getting the short ribs! The sides are plentiful and they give you a nice cinnamon cold tea at the end of your meal. Service can be a little slow at times, we had to ring our bell a few times to get some attention. But it is worth the experience at least once.

Review №69

2021-03-12 05:28:52

If youre used to all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, this is NOT the place for you. I asked for an extra side dish apparently beyond the set and the server FREAKED OUT like I asked her to murder her family, I was like chill, we can pau for it. Then she laughed. It was so cute. But yeah, it is NOT AN UNLIMITED place but many Koreans eat here so it must deserve 3 stars.

Review №70

2021-09-07 23:49:14

The food tasted great, not as many options as other korean bbq place but ok. I would have given it a better rating but our waitress was a bit pushy and at the end she complained that I didnt tip enough for the amount of work she did. Unfortunately I will not be returning to this place.

Review №71

2019-05-27 03:18:52

As far as I can tell, this is pretty authentic Korean food. However, I dont really care if it isnt authentic because I really like the food. Their kimchi is always good and the little side dishes have variety. Its a little expensive but the portions are generous

Review №72

2020-02-08 06:28:23

The waitress seemed bothered by our questions about menu. And unlike other Korean BBQ places Ive been, they charged $25 when we asked for more meat from the combination meal for 3 people. The waitress (same lady that seemed annoyed) never mentioned the extra charge upon ordering. We had already eaten what had been brought earlier. But live and learn. Wont be going back there.

Review №73

2023-05-29 20:08:02

Best service, super attentive staff. Great food.

Review №74

2016-08-13 22:31:01

This place is truly amazing. Well, my experience was anyway. I love this place. Remember Benihana? Theres no one flipping knives in front of you, but there are friendly and fun servers barbequeing fabulous food in front of you. Great on a cold day to warm yourselves by the hot coals.If you go, ask for Jane. Shes a sweetheart. My advice, your first time, go when its slow. When theyre busy, they wont have time to teach you how to eat all the dishes :)Happy eating.

Review №75

2022-08-01 04:41:47

It was alright nothing much that makes it stand out from the other korean bbq the side dishes were mediocre the meat was decent and so was the bento and bibimbap they were somehow a bit bland had a bit too high hopes for the place but if u wanna just hang out it aint too bad but if you wanna eat till your full there are other place

Review №76

2020-02-01 20:45:57

The food was amazing. However our waitress was extremely rude. She acted like it was a bother to ask for food, she never refilled anyones water. When I asked for water, I got the death glare. I would have given this 4 stars, but part of this dinner is the experience. Sad, we noticed we were being treated differently. There no may I help you. Again, the food waa great, but not worth bad service with an attitude

Review №77

2021-05-06 03:31:35

Quality seemed good and its great that they use real coals to cook by. However, their dipping sauces were a bit flavorless, so they should consider working on that.

Review №78

2018-04-01 02:04:38

Very cool experience, the BBQ was cooked over coals which is pretty unique for a Korean BBQ. Theres plenty of sides or Bon Chon and they have the perfect compliments to your meal Sochu and Beer. Their prices are pretty high and if your looking to eat on a budget or are looking for a lunch time staple this may be a bit too costly. Overall a pleasent meal with plenty of food.

Review №79

2022-01-14 19:02:50

Youll find more Coreans eating here than Buga and I think the flavor is little better.Buga is good as well and has more western style service and of you are ready for more authentic style of service and food try DJK. Authentic means poor sometimes 🤪🤪

Review №80

2017-01-02 21:52:55

My favorite kbbq in San Diego. The meat is good quality and I love their use of real wood coals. The wait is never too bad and I find it more affordable to pay by the dish here, then the flat rate prices at the all you can eat places nearby. Try the bbq squid, and the pork with cold noodle soup.

Review №81

2019-12-11 03:06:39

If you like old style BBQ with Charcoals and not gas then you will love this place. It gives it a great BBQ flavor and it’s very authentic, super nice and helpful staff that practically are cooking everything for you at your table. Can’t believe I hadn’t been there sooner (Thanks babe!)

Review №82

2021-03-19 21:56:43

Dont recommend this place unless you like salmonella. My wife and I ordered a combo that came with brisket, bulgogi, and chicken. Cooked the brisket first, then the bulgogi. Just as the bulgogi was finishing the lady comes and puts all the RAW chicken on with it soaking it in raw chicken juices! I was totally shocked. Then a few minutes later comes over and turns the chicken saying okay, its done. It was still pink! We didnt even touch the bulgogi or chicken. Was totally grossed out. Made my stomach hurt just looking at it.

Review №83

2020-10-21 14:45:57

Korean BBQ, yeah, super delicious. Great place to meet and catch up with friends. The staff was very kind and attentive. Prices are reasonable I would say.

Review №84

2020-02-08 00:20:30

One of the worst Korean bbq in my lifetime. Their air vacuum is very weak so you have to inhale a lot of fume not only from your meat but from many other customers. Customer service was absolute worst as they do not have the basic knowledge about how to cook Korean bbq. For example, they cooked the beef rib on the cold plate. Firstly, most Korean bbq has to be cooked very fast on the powerful fire. Secondly, if they were going to cook on the iron plate, why bother using the wooden charcoal? This is so wrong. Thirdly, their meat quality was absolute worst with the unprofessional diabetic marination. It was just way too sweet. Maybe it was done so to cover the bad quality? Dont bother to try this restaurant if you want to experience authentic Korean BBQ. It is so shame that somebody can operate the business like this. Do yourself a favor to try others.

Review №85

2022-02-13 01:56:15

Food was ok, meat were soft but lacked seasoning, customer service was 3/10 very serious and lacked friendly attitude. Over all it was good but would not recommend or go back personally

Review №86

2020-01-14 00:08:42

The soup was very refreshing, was like a cucumber water and noodles. The bolgolgi was good, very flavorful but a little tough (this happens when you over cook things). The unfortunate part was these were supposed to be sweet potato noodles, but did not have any of the flavor.

Review №87

2020-02-25 21:34:57

Just an OK place. I mean the ambiance is probably a step up from others and I think that plus the charcoal cooking is what makes this a 3. There was not much of a difference in meat quality and it is NOT AYCE. Just so you know, it is NOT NOT NOT AYCE. Korean BBQ all Up and Down Convoy are AYCE but this one is per plate. I dont think I will be back here. For what you get for the price it is not that big of a deal to go here. Nothing special, just the run of a mill Korean BBQ place minus the AYCE. I appreciate what they are trying to do with the charcoal but just not a big enough attraction to get me to pay that much extra.Salad - Not enough dressing. An abundance if you get it but still needs more dressingSpicy Tofu Soup - nothing special. Has a little spice to it but nothing to write home aboutSides - normal sides although rice was extra and it was not even white riceMeat - You can get the same thing at Manna and it will keep coming until you are done eating

Review №88

2018-07-21 12:28:24

Traditional charcoal, open grill. Good food for the price. We had 3 people, ordered combo A, substituted the chicken to thinly sliced pork and they were kind enough to do it.

Review №89

2021-02-14 02:48:24

Very slow service, they kept seating customers and ignoring the ones that where already seated. No organization when it came to serving the customers they already had. Waitresses where running around and it took forever to get seated and even longer even order our food. We kept getting ignored. Would not recommend.

Review №90

2022-09-05 06:44:59

Nothing like beating this awful summer heat by sitting your face in front of a flaming k-bbq for a few hours. I would do it again anyway though. Someone tell me who serves lotus root in their side dishes tho, had it once and am obsessed.

Review №91

2019-05-28 00:07:30

Service was very bad. Unfriendly and not even one smile. Thd octopus & beef casserole was different than described on the menu. Octopus super chewy and beef dry and overcooked. The side dishes and rice were great!

Review №92

2018-07-17 15:06:33

This is the only place in SD thats earned the (my) Korean Mom and Grandma seal of approval. If youre looking for authentic and high-quality Korean food then you have to come to DJK.You can choose to do BBQ, or non-BBQ dining. If you do BBQ, keep in mind, its not an AYCE joint. You can order meat by serving, or do a combo, which includes meat for a set amount of people (1-2, 2-3, etc), hot soup, and a bottle of soju. The BBQ is with coals, not gas/electric, so it gives the meat a great flavor. The quality of the meat is also way beyond anything Ive had in SD.The other dishes and banchan are also on point. Ive never had anything here that Ive thought meh after I ate it. It might be in my head, but I even if I stuff myself, I never feel that super-full sick feeling -- I attribute it to just being high-quality food.Service here is also great. Every time the meat is done cooking, a waitress magically appears to help set up the next meat on the grill.**Note: for people not accustomed to Korean dining, there is a call button on the wall next to the table that will let your waitress know you need service. They are usually running around setting up other customers and dont wait on tables like typical American restaurants (checking constantly if you need something). Usually they kind of just let you enjoy your meal, so if you do need something, they are not bothered by having you use the call button.**Overall, its a place I recommend to anyone looking for Korean food in SD. I would also consider it a top restaurant in SD.

Review №93

2018-05-17 04:34:52

OMG super good korean bbq. Youre going to break the bank going here though so keep that in mind. Even for a single dinner dish (if youre ordering a meat dish) is going to be like $25. Parking is super limited so youll likely have to park on the main road. Great place to go if you want to kick it with friends and family. Your waitress will normally put the meat on for you and they do it in a specific order, theyll move it off the grill too but take the liberty if it is cooked to a point you desire. They may give you the stink eye if you put meats on in the wrong order, better to just let them do it.

Review №94

2021-06-23 03:10:08

I’ve tried to order twice from this restaurant. First time they sent me a wrong order. I gave them another chance and completely regretted it. They confirmed my order, made me wait for 20 minutes and then just canceled it b/c they close at 8. Why to confirm my order and make me wait if they don’t want to spend several minutes after hours to complete the order? Irresponsible and irrespective to customers!

Review №95

2018-03-19 05:11:47

Lots of great foods, probably a good idea to know what kind of meats you like beforehand. Food came very fast, drinks not so fast. Other negatives is all your clothes stink and the tables were kinda unclean. You can reserve seats though which is a huge time saver.

Review №96

2021-05-24 04:04:49

Best Korean BBQ restaurant I have been to. They give you a lot of food for what you pay for, but the quality of the food is still there. Definitely recommend going there.

Review №97

2019-03-16 22:37:20

My favorite KBBQ spot in southern California. All KBBQ spots that are not AYCE always claim their quality is much higher than those that are. However this is one of the few spots that I feel truly does live up to their word. The quality of the meat is noticeably higher and the wood coals add a nice touch (to the flavo as well). Its not just the meat, but the side dishes and hot soups were all very authentic as well. The service was helpful and courteous and even allows certain substitutions. Highly recommend to anyone in the area or passing through.

Review №98

2019-11-01 09:47:14

Our date went there and it was so delicious! It’s authentic Korean BBQ. Services are friendly and quick bring your order food. This restaurant is so awesome!

Review №99

2018-03-23 03:18:23

We are from Seoul Korea & my mom is considered a very good cook by other Koreans. We lived in NYC for 23 years.Kimchee was amazing.Loved that the BBQ is wood, not gas.BUT tofu soup & yook geh jang were not tasty :(

Review №100

2019-02-19 02:00:54

Authentic Korean food with fresh and generous assortments of banchan.

Review №101

2018-09-21 21:30:17

Awesome place for lunch. $25 for two, for galbi and bulgogi lunch boxes which also included a lot of banchans which we werent expecting. Big portions, very full- will be back again. If you have to pick, get the galbi lunch box.

Review №102

2019-01-05 02:10:36

Authentic Korean food, enjoyable experienceWe have been there twice and would go back for more Korean food in the future. The service is wonderful. A bit pricy but very good food.

Review №103

2022-04-02 21:23:12

Very cool. They set up a charcoal gill in the middle of the table and barbecued the food right between us. Delicious meal.

Review №104

2018-12-19 04:21:48

The food was ok. They were extremely careless with the fire wood/coals for the table top bbq. They almost burned my husband and the fire starting popping violently throwing hot coals at our friends toddler and at the rest of us. They were apologetic but if they had allowed it to burn down a bit before bringing it to the table it wouldve been avoided. No one elses fires were popping like that. They need to use more care with their set up. Their table top bbq seating is not ideal for someone who cant sit in a booth either, they dont have tables only booths.

Review №105

2016-09-16 00:04:02

Really fun for a group. Excellent variety of Kim chi.

Review №106

2019-11-13 22:09:18

Very elegant and welcoming spot. They serve generous meals and for reasonable prices. We enjoyed the food very much and the waiters were super welcoming and chatty. Recommended.

Review №107

2022-12-08 06:12:03

Great food, great price, must go and try. You wont regret it.

Review №108

2019-04-14 23:55:59

This place was so thoughtful. The food was amazing but beyond that they paid attention to details. There was a doorbell at your table and the bathroom took all your needs into consideration like a table for your purse and a full length mirror. Excellent place.

Review №109

2020-01-19 04:42:15

I love that you can cook your own meat over charcoal... not gas... so much more delicious but the other day for lunch, the bi bim bap was boring and tasteless even with a lot of kochujung... bummer.. still i will go back and just not order the bi bim bap again...

Review №110

2017-04-02 16:56:01

This place is awesome due to the use of real coals. The taste of the bbq is greatly enhanced. Side dishes are really good. Little pricy, but no more that other bbq joints.

Review №111

2023-02-08 05:49:55

Good food served over hot charcoal grill at the table. Seems legit.

Review №112

2019-12-01 05:36:20

Authentic Korean BBQ. Including real charcoal grill in your tabletop. Great unique date spot. Parking is easy since its off Convoy. Lunch or dinner.

Review №113

2017-12-28 03:46:34

Unacceptable wait time and the side dishes are not very good. We have been sitting here for over 45 minutes and havent had any meat. This is a very bad and understaffed establishment. There is a service bell and they dont respond to it. I will never come back and I recommend you do the same.

Review №114

2023-10-01 15:03:54

Ban-chans need lots of improvement.

Review №115

2018-09-27 01:12:56

First of all, there was a bug in the food. It was trying to get out, but it couldnt. Secondly, the fire for the meat took about thirty minutes to come. Finally, we didnt really find the food that appetizing. I dont recommend this restaurant for you.

Review №116

2020-06-23 20:46:16

Food was so good! Everything was hands down delicious. Wish I had pictures but I was so hungry and just enjoyed my family time.

Review №117

2021-05-08 01:24:56

Very good food, the lunch special is a great deal and a ton of food. It felt like Cheers with my grandma. Everyone knew her name!

Review №118

2022-02-17 23:21:03

This place was so good. Very great frist time experiance for sure. The staff was nice but sometimes the service was slow. We did go at busy time so I understand.

Review №119

2018-04-14 13:54:44

Awesome charcoal BBQ at center of your table! Make sure to wrap the bulgogi with samjang sauce in the thinly sliced 3 white radish, and wrap the samgyeopsal with doenjang sauce in romaine lettuce leaves!

Review №120

2019-04-22 15:58:52

Food was good and people worked there were nice and kind. My family went there after visited Sea World. If it is close to our home not far like takes 2 hours from here, we would go there at least once a week.

Review №121

2019-02-19 04:32:00

Excellent Korean cuisine. My parents favorite in San Diego and they can get quite picky. Korean BBQ available as well.

Review №122

2017-05-21 11:44:43

Love this Korean BBQ place my husband and I have been coming to this place for some years now. they have a lot of good food and I LOVE their cinnamon tea at the end of dinner.

Review №123

2017-09-10 02:56:46

Best Korean BBQ in San Diego. Food is excellent and they use actual wood coals for the at table cooking.

Review №124

2018-12-05 09:41:25

Meh. Small restaurant and not really kid friendly. I suggest you go to another restaurant if you have a large group. The mild flavor was so spicy, it wasnt enjoyable to eat and I like spicy. I was not impressed with the food, service isnt great either.

Review №125

2021-11-29 09:39:02

The spicy Naengmyeon and beef galbi is delicious. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes.

Review №126

2022-07-25 23:44:03

Consistently solid Korean BBQ experience with real coal tabke side grills.

Review №127

2023-05-15 19:28:04

I love this place because they use wooden Charcoal my BBQ was better.

Review №128

2021-03-20 03:36:39

감사합니다 대장금 !!! 맛있었요!!! Thank you so much for the delicious food. And thank you for helping me and my party learn how to cook our food, haha. Everyone should go.

Review №129

2019-08-21 14:51:10

Love the food & that its cooked over charcoal. Big portions. Servers are friendly and sweet. Thank you Sophia :)

Review №130

2017-09-01 05:00:39

The Korean bbq is bomb. Meat quality is quite good. Its not all you can eat so its pay for what you order.

Review №131

2021-02-03 07:08:34

Best Korean BBQ on charcoal and affordable price. Professional kind servers. Always happy to visit.

Review №132

2021-05-11 00:22:54

Its not all you can eat but each order has so much meat that you dont need all you can rat. Amazing service and great food

Review №133

2021-11-26 16:31:37

Friendly wait staff and good food.

Review №134

2022-05-31 05:57:34

Goof place for KBBQ, however dont expect top notch service. If your just looking for food this is the place to go!

Review №135

2021-03-13 22:53:41

Delicious food, awesome customer service, and a really cute outdoor setup. Parking is a little bit limited, but other than that, it was an awesome experience!

Review №136

2021-06-12 14:35:00

We did non-bbq and everything was delicious. Really good banchan. Recommend the cold noodles.

Review №137

2021-03-07 02:04:05

They have a pretty nice set-up in the parking lot to dine outside. The staff is very friendly and the food was delicious.

Review №138

2019-12-08 04:03:25

Great place for Korean BBQ! Affordable prices, fantastic service, and delicious food. Well be back!

Review №139

2020-07-12 23:29:19

My chicken bulgogi was raw. Not coming here again. They get 2 stars just because the servers were nice.

Review №140

2021-02-12 03:48:33

My wife and I ate here once places started to open after covid restrictions. That same night we both had food poisoning. Be careful!!!

Review №141

2020-10-25 05:10:01

Kind waitresses and they are working so hard. Kind of chilly inside because keep opening their front door (coronavirus pandemic policy). Anyway its good place to visit

Review №142

2020-08-18 21:35:00

Covid outdoor dinning was cute..... but then got sat at some side table facing a wall. Food was ok a little sweet on some meat.

Review №143

2019-03-30 05:21:22

Good meat quality. But also high price. Would recommend all you can eat rather than this.

Review №144

2021-05-19 16:49:11

Lots of food! Great service and nice banchan selection. Loved the charcoal grill.

Review №145

2021-10-19 01:45:52

The food was amazing and they were ableto keep up with how fast my party was eating!

Review №146

2021-03-19 20:15:52

Wow this was my first time having Korean BBQ. Sphtia was super helpful helping me order because I didn’t know what to order.

Review №147

2017-11-23 03:16:08

Absolutely the best Korean BBQ joint in all of San Diego! Forget about all the ayce Korean bbqs in San Diego. DJK is the best!

Review №148

2020-03-08 04:50:20

I would say the best KBBQ in San Diego

Review №149

2017-11-05 10:08:40

Best Korean BBQ Ive ever had. Lots of side dishes. Reasonably priced.

Review №150

2018-05-12 22:19:10

Fast service, nice and clean inside, very tasty soups we ordered. Lots of side dishes is a great addition.

Review №151

2020-07-26 17:52:31

Very nice set up out in the parking lot for people to dine. Servers are very friendly and keeping COVID-19 regulations. Great Job!

Review №152

2018-03-11 06:19:38

Food tastes great! I just wish it was all you can eat like Manna because it is basically 25 bucks a person for a decent portion of food.

Review №153

2019-09-15 06:21:08

Delicious, fresh,tasty we order B a lot of food for 4 people..they switched alcohol for soda ...it was a choice..nice.

Review №154

2017-06-14 15:33:13

Not meant to be an AYCE Korean BBQ but the quality is superb. For a slightly lower price than AYCE, this is Korean BBQ at its finest.

Review №155

2018-03-07 20:14:51

We came here for lunch because the other places in the area were full and parking was terrible. Its a little pricier than most of the other places but the food was great and the experience even better.

Review №156

2017-10-10 03:26:30

I think this is the cheapest korean bbq restaurant Ive been to. To top it of, I enjoyed their small cup of cinnamon drink at the end of your meal

Review №157

2019-11-27 06:25:11

They use hardwood charcoal instead of gas was delicious can taste the Char on the meat it is a recommendation

Review №158

2019-04-06 04:12:30

Sometimes you get good service, sometimes you get bad service,. Lots of smoke in this restaurant with not enough ventilation. I have been here three times and each time the food has been consistently good.

Review №159

2023-02-09 04:36:41

Authentic Korean. Quality because it’s not All You Can Eat.

Review №160

2021-10-23 22:49:03

Food was excellent, food quality is great, great service. Cant wait to go back.

Review №161

2021-05-26 19:59:09

Very delicious variety meal is the bento lunch with bbq short ribs, salad, kimchi variety, rice.

Review №162

2021-07-25 09:59:49

A bit expensive and wait time is long due to limited staff, but food is delicious and authentic Korean.

Review №163

2021-12-21 21:44:28

Horrible customer service and meat was tough and smelled rotten…spend money elsewhere! Do not be a patron here!

Review №164

2017-12-31 03:54:39

First time here. Food and service were great. Friendly atmosphere. Wish I had taken pictures to share!

Review №165

2020-07-05 21:08:58

They were completely lost when I came to pick up my order. 10 mins later they decided to make it over. They should have been quicker to resolve the issue

Review №166

2022-04-02 03:44:14

Super nice seasonal banchan, friendly staff, great Korean home cooking. Always a hit!

Review №167

2017-04-09 06:18:18

There are a lot of Korean restaurants in convoy, but this is the place my family comes when we eat outside. My mom enjoys meuntang from this place.

Review №168

2020-07-29 03:55:08

Fantastic place! Great service and they smiling every time! Real Korean food!

Review №169

2021-02-02 21:21:01

Delicious and very clean! I will definitely be back very soon! So happy I found this place!

Review №170

2018-01-17 01:53:50

They have some really good Korean foods, very polite and mature people working there, they know what service people want.

Review №171

2023-03-30 20:11:54

Their marinated meats are very good

Review №172

2021-12-26 02:14:49

By far the best Korean BBQ I’ve ever visited.

Review №173

2017-12-08 03:28:10

Super tasty charcoal BBQ cooked at the table best plan is to go in a group so you can get a bigger selection

Review №174

2019-04-14 23:47:43

Delicious seafood soup dish; setup considered needs of customer which created an excellent experience!

Review №175

2019-05-06 03:32:01

The food is Amazing...Kim is the best server ever... Thank you Kim for Always taking such Great care of us

Review №176

2020-07-31 02:21:27

Friendly staff, the place is really clean, theyre following the CDC guidelines. I would definitely get more take outs from there

Review №177

2017-07-02 03:46:36

Good BBQGood sauce and side dishesVery polite and considerate staffIll come back again definitely

Review №178

2020-11-18 06:32:04

Service was great, food even better. Outdoor seating was very accommodating.

Review №179

2021-07-26 20:37:01

생갈비 was so good!!! I totally forgot myself to take photo during one hour banquet.

Review №180

2018-10-19 00:32:52

It is not such great Korean restaurant like LA Korean town, but it can be reasonable place to visit to enjoy Korean food

Review №181

2019-01-13 02:38:33

Excellent Korean BBQ, cooked on a charcoal flame! Seafood pancake was delicious too

Review №182

2020-07-23 04:33:55

Love their shredded beef soup. If you like spicy stuff, I recommend this.

Review №183

2019-10-24 01:20:50

Best Korean BBQ in the area! Cant beat the flavor of the charcoal...Mmmmm

Review №184

2017-12-06 08:00:15

If you are looking for a clean, friendly and delicious restaurant, you should never go to this restaurant . Especially if you go with your child, I recommend McDonalds nearby.

Review №185

2020-06-27 22:34:34

Love the fact this place uses charcoal to cook. Get the extra flavor on the food.

Review №186

2020-03-01 03:59:52

Awesome place. Korean food in my opinion is the healthiest food in the world

Review №187

2018-10-14 01:37:51

Its ok dont like to cook my food. Only side I like is the sea weed. The beef is good.

Review №188

2017-12-13 21:26:54

Great service and food. My experience was it was a great value for all the food I got too!

Review №189

2019-12-07 02:26:22

Good Korean BBQ place. Tasty food and reasonable prices.

Review №190

2016-10-25 16:16:07

Excellent Korean BBQ

Review №191

2021-12-26 20:56:16

Bad customer service,rude hostess.dont go there,food is good.

Review №192

2021-11-24 05:18:03

Excellent Korean BBQ. Will come back again for sure

Review №193

2020-02-29 03:12:25

What a feast! Authentic, amazing service, we got three times the food we expected for what we paid!

Review №194

2019-03-19 03:55:09

Excellent food prompt and friendly service, prices reflect the quality of food they serve.

Review №195

2021-06-09 02:27:40

Excellent service and the food was outstanding!! I highly recommend trying this place!

Review №196

2021-07-01 16:06:06

Great food, but a little expensive for not being all you can eat...

Review №197

2019-03-10 23:32:22

Delicious BBQ and so many sides to go with it. Highly recommend

Review №198

2017-06-08 04:54:45

This place has the best korean bbq in SD Ive had so far

Review №199

2017-02-21 02:45:44

Good Korean restaurant with good variety of dishes. They have real charcoal BBQ.