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Kimchi Korean BBQ in Santa Barbara

4.2 (199) 3132 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, United States

Categories

Korean barbecue restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, US

Phone: +1 805-845-2889
Site: http://kimchikoreanbbq.dine.online/

Opening hours

Monday:12–3 PM
Tuesday:12–3 PM
Wednesday:12–3 PM
Thursday:12–3 PM
Friday:12–3 PM
Saturday:12–10 PM
Sunday:12–10 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for Kimchi Korean BBQ 2024:

Review №1

2023-09-13 01:19:29

This place is freaking tight! A bit small but their meat is grade A baby! No joke! The waygu is insanely good and they got it here. Cool vibe and music. My new spot when in santa barbara.

Review №2

2022-04-07 18:41:52

My family and I were looking for a quality place to eat Korean BBQ without having to go all the way to LA and we found it!Food is great and service is awesome. The only item we were not a fan was Miso soup, not authentic but everything else was delicious. Definitely going back soon.

Review №3

2023-08-03 10:10:14

We came back after a while discounting. Seems their ownership is changed. Food is still good. I love that they have beef tongue and seafood items on the menu options. We will be back soon!

Review №4

2023-07-17 05:10:21

Manager Joen! Thanks to the service, I was satisfied with the meat selection. The vegetables that came out with the side dishes went well with the unlimited meat service. Thank you for making Korean food feel ideal in Santa Barbara. And the webfoot octopus we ate at the end is really delicious!!!♡

Review №5

2023-09-11 21:32:44

This was my first time here. You kind of have to know what youre doing with the grill/stove. I thought the food was pretty good, although I did have a little gut bomb afterwards. The service was decent, but she didnt listen when we asked for the next round of meat to wait and be put on slowly not all at once since it was chicken. I get a little squeamish about undercooked chicken so it kind of ruined the experience a bit. I wont hold it against them though, the vibe is cool with the neon lights. Id go back. On the same strip as the thai place, uptown and tiburon

Review №6

2019-12-25 17:44:32

Plentiful food. Good service. If youre seeking a great culinary experience, however, look elsewhere. This restaurant is sort of a Korean take on a down-home BBQ, with an all-you-can-eat twist. Its a good deal for the budget conscious, but more of a system than an art.

Review №7

2023-08-20 04:54:09

Amazing kbbq, not only is the quality of meat outstanding but the service is really great. The waiters and staff were always around checking on us and changing the grills. Definitely recommend!

Review №8

2023-07-15 19:21:40

As we arrive we got sat right away. Hospitality is nice but very very loud environment for such a small restaurant. Delicious food. I definitely recommend the all you can eat.

Review №9

2018-08-23 21:38:12

I think they serve prime for first dish of each person. and next meat will be down grade. So, when you order first Meat, try your best...

Review №10

2023-12-09 18:03:41

I’d give this place 5 stars if they just turned the music down a little bit.

Review №11

2018-06-17 21:05:08

Always come out satisfied, dont order more than you can eat, can get kinda warm sometimes if its busy with all the table side grills

Review №12

2019-07-10 07:27:53

Just had birthday dinner in here with my friends for first time. The waiters were really nice and friendly, they kept checked on us if we need any refills. I really liked service. But the pork ribs, it feels like they used wrong marinated sauce. I couldn’t eat other bites after one. Other than that, everything was very good. Thank you.

Review №13

2023-05-08 03:01:35

A lot of the good reviews seem like they haven’t been to a kbbq place ever: this place is not a good example of a good kbbq place. only option is all you can eat for a $35 minimum plus an extra $10 for ANY unfinished plate. waiters put all the meat on the grill at the same time when they brought it out, rather than let us cook it ourselves at a slower pace. they are also very attentive, you can see them in the mirrors constantly looking over your shoulder/ checking on you/asking if you want more, which would be great if they didn’t charge you for unfinished food. meat was also kinda mid, and we ended up feeling sick from forcing ourselves to eat way too much and avoid an upcharge. also only one sauce was given to us, sides were very limited as well. the dubstep music also made for a very nerve racking environment. we didn’t have to wait but i can’t imagine waiting multiple hours for this. overall, if you’re craving kbbq, it’s just not worth it to spend $45 after tip for fatty meat that’s shoved onto the grill. i would have rather just driven to ventura

Review №14

2022-05-28 19:17:21

Awesome with some more awesome nice all you can eat friendly staff great atmosphere all around great time definitely will go back

Review №15

2022-11-27 04:11:41

I like the services so much! they are so helpful and kind. the food is also very delicious!

Review №16

2023-04-18 21:43:58

The staff here are very friendly and its always fun to grill your own meat. The food was what you would expect from a Korean BBQ, the only dish I didnt like was the Kimchi on the side.Its a small place so its a tight fit sometimes. The main issue ai have is the loud music, it made it impossible to have a conversation.

Review №17

2019-01-21 00:38:20

This restaurant was so fun. The waiter was very helpful in giving us tips about how to cook the meat, what order to cook them in, etc. He even stepped in and helped us when he saw us struggling with a more difficult meat. The house sauce was amazing... unfortunately the waiter would not tell us the recipe 😂 This was all-you-can-eat and that applied to the sides as well. For the amount of food we consumed, this was a really good bargain, too!

Review №18

2023-07-04 06:05:29

The best korean food place in Santa Barbara, have to come by, Fer is a great manager, thanks for the awesome service

Review №19

2023-01-22 15:01:44

They need to get their waitlist situation right. Waited 2 hours to eat here for the 1st time and wasted my time didn’t even go in because they gave my spot to someone else. Place was already packed and we were hungry af. Never coming here I’ll prefer Gen in Oxnard. Restaurant is 20 times bigger and they got the waitlist game on point.

Review №20

2020-02-26 03:28:26

The only Korean BBQ restaurant in town. So it.gets crowded sometimes in the evening. Give yourself a head start. Enjoy.

Review №21

2022-09-05 01:38:11

Youre paying premium at this KBBQ for a basic menu not to mention their workers dont know whats going on. We waited over 20 mins for our meets and asked out waiter who then told us that they were on their way. 15 mins later was ask another waiter and he apologizes saying that their system is down and that they need to get the orders manually. The place didnt have working A/C and it was over 100 today so we hard a terrible experience in their sauna of a restaurant waiting over 35 mins to begin eating. Half way through the meal one of the waiters gets our empty pitch of water and left with it, we assumed to refill it, and never came back with more water. They said their fridge was down so most of their drinks were warm and then my son had a bug crawl on his leg towards the end which was really disgusting to say the least. They didnt care and didnt offer any apologies. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone especially if youre coming with family. They have much to learn about clear consice communication and basic customer service skills.

Review №22

2023-06-05 00:01:45

Excellent service and food! My family and I had an awesome experience :)

Review №23

2022-06-01 01:32:07

Very weird dinning experience. Food was good, besides kimchi fried rice. You walk in and it feels like you are in a night club with ear deafening edm music. Felt very rushed by our server. And he then kept trying to push food, so they can charge you for unfinished food. Will not be back and do not recommend.

Review №24

2019-01-08 03:40:16

Pretty good, never been to a place where u get to bbq ur own food. Was pretty delicious and got real full

Review №25

2023-04-17 18:10:56

Staff was so kind. Food was good. Side dishes and veges were excellent. Its worthy to pay.

Review №26

2021-09-04 12:53:20

Horrible service! Attempted to eat here twice but both times I was refused service because I was a party of one and they were too busy to seat just one person, but they had multiple open tables right in front of me! I gave my business to the their next door neighbor, TAP Thai restaurant, which was very good. So if you want to enjoy a peaceful, solitary, nostalgic Korean food experience, dont go here.

Review №27

2020-04-29 03:08:45

I am a tourist who stopped in for takeout this evening. What an amazingly hospitable place! They labeled all the sauces that came with the meal. And wrote a thoughtful note. I was blown away by these gestures! Definitely unforgettable. I wish this business best of luck, especially during this quarantine. With their customer service, I am sure that they have a loyal fan base.

Review №28

2018-05-30 20:35:48

The food is so good. Well worth the price, you wont leave dissatisfied or hungry.

Review №29

2019-03-19 18:39:40

Pricey, but delicious! There were four of us, so we got to try several different meats. I dont think I would ever go with only two people because they dont scale back how much they bring out based on the number in your party, which doesnt make any sense to me. Service was great and we never had to wait for more food or drink refills. The only reason I didnt give a five star review is that the floor was extremely slippery (felt like it was covered in a layer of grease) and one in our party was on crutches, so it was quite dangerous for her.

Review №30

2022-09-02 02:36:42

The term hidden gem is way over used, but for Kimchi Korean BBQ its a perfect discription.Driving down upper state street in Santa Barbara you will find it hard to spot the place (hidden) but I happened to notice the little red Open sign and decided to spot and grab lunch.It was well worth it as the food was good and the service was great. Hibachi style cooked meats and varieties of freash seasoned veggies. Definitely a place you want to try (gem)... But go hungry. There are a lot of good choices.

Review №31

2018-06-29 21:41:47

Food is good but the prices are seriously ridiculous. Its + 30/person with tax & tip. They dont have any cheaper menu items, nor offer vegetarian options. We also had to wait over an hour to be seated (group of 12) since they have VERY limited seating. They have no bar nor good beer selection. The service is horrible. My wife is vegetarian and instead of offering her veg options, they wanted to charge full price for a meat buffet. Only after I argured with the manager for 2 minutes that they took off $2 and brought out some vegetables to grill. I dont like to leave bad reviews, but I just have to help out other like minded customers. If you want to spend this much money - do it on State Street proper, not an upper state strip mall restaurant.

Review №32

2020-12-19 23:34:19

Wow! It was my first time eating their garlic chicken today... and it was so good! So glad I went in and tried something new! Very good flavors and nice portions! So thankful I live so close so I can go back again soon! Wonderful service as well! Very professional!

Review №33

2022-02-16 20:47:16

I went there alone for a comfort food to cure my lonely heart on Valentines Day. However after waiting in the cold wind for 10 min, they told me that they do not accept the party of one on holiday. My loneliness went deeper.Anyway, most food here is good, but some food like beef tongue and chicken are not so good.

Review №34

2016-12-19 21:48:14

One of the most disappointing dining experiences I have ever had. Went there for lunch, 3 people at our table. There was only one other table that was filled with 2 people. There were 3 waitstaff, yet we received the worst service I have ever had in my life. Not once did the waiter come over without being called over by us. This is supposed to be an all you can eat restaurant, yet our sides were never refilled. We had many small empty dirty dishes piling up, which brought about 15-20 fruit flies to our table. They were landing on our food and drinks. We had to call the waiter over to clear them, while the waitstaff was laughing and joking in the bar area. After calling the waiter over for the menu, so we could order more food (supposed to be all you can eat), we had to call him over again to order the additional items we wanted. Three items were order, but only one came to the table, he said he forgot to put in the order in for the other two. I gave one star because the food was OK, although the meats and chicken had more fat on them than meat. I will never frequent this restaurant again and do not recommend it.

Review №35

2021-12-13 12:09:31

I understand that theres inflation due to pandemic, but increased by 30% and decreased in max orders per table for foods. HmmNow comes the food, Im the kind of person that eats the side dishes. Honestly speaking, any other Korean bbq places/restaurants have more and better side dishes. As for the meat, Jowl meat and marinated short rib are terrible.Now the service, I didnt get what I ordered a couple of times, I got brisket instead of wagyu beef belly(premium), but thats fine, I know theyre busy and I can order as many times as I want. Both the waiters are really nice.Conclusion, people still coming here to eat anyway, even if the owner charges $50 or more per person with that quality meat, as this is the only AYCE BBQ (just saying). I would rather drive to LA county to have some better AYCE charcoal bbq.Hoping for a competitor to appear.

Review №36

2022-07-18 02:54:05

Lady kept cooking for us. Didn’t care which meat we wanted, how much, and how we wanted it cooked. Keep taking away tools and cooking and mixing our food. Leave us alone the whole point of kbbq is we cook what we want…cooked too much of our items at once so meat was burn and cold. Would not come back.

Review №37

2022-01-02 22:43:55

First and last time going here. As a Korean, I am highly disappointed. The choice of sides was extremely limited and mediocre at best. The kimchi, despite being the restaurants namesake, was especially disappointing. The meat itself was fatty, just all right. And the short ribs (galbi), on the B menu, were only one order per person for your whole dining experience, even though its all you can eat. Soju was a pricey $14.50 per bottle. The only positive thing was the service, but still I am not coming back. Save yourself the disappointment (and the money) and go somewhere else.

Review №38

2019-04-08 00:36:24

Went In for an early dinner was waiting for over an hour with only one other party in front of us and out of no where they sit a party of 8 before us or the other party waiting. When asked about why they where seated before us considering they came in way after we did the waitress gives us attitude. They need to learn some serious customer service skills. To make matters worse the restaurant is super small which makes wait times incredibly long.

Review №39

2021-05-11 04:43:14

Feel good experience, great quality food, endless options, I love Korean BBQ, but some folks do the bare minimum, this place doesnt. Impeccable service, supa laid back. Our dog sat on the bench seat in the corner🤣 If you play your cards right, you can mack bbq next to your dog, sounds like heaven to me.

Review №40

2018-10-17 19:00:06

Popular spot, bit of a wait for our first time. But food was great!

Review №41

2017-08-12 19:08:41

My husband enjoyed his birthday dinner tremendously. The food and service are fabulous. You need not to be in a rush, there are lines at normal dinner times but they are worth the wait. I just wish their place was bigger and parking in Santa Barbara was easier. We will come back for sure.

Review №42

2023-11-29 02:47:24

Great flavors, lots of fun sides, and fantastic service. We left with full tummies! Cant wait to go back.

Review №43

2019-08-09 00:06:15

This was something new to me, I loved the freshness of the dipping sauce, cold cut veggies and large slices for the grill. Thinly sliced beef, two kinds, cooked quickly. Easy to over-eat here, its so fresh and tasty. My friend was right. Korean food goes well with beer. Staff is efficient but unobtrusive. Excellent value.

Review №44

2019-08-02 12:58:25

This place is amazing. Its a small space maybe 12 tables but the food is worth waiting for. You choose five different proteins or vegetables and then u cook it at ur table. They charge one price depending on what u chose and theyll keep bringing more. Everything we tried was delicious. Wait staff was superb. Highly recommended

Review №45

2023-02-14 22:29:08

Only one k bbq in sb, but the price did not over too much, so it is ok to eat one or twice a year. with tax about $50

Review №46

2022-08-08 15:28:49

We have been to many Korean BBQs and had high expectations for Kimchi based on the reviews. Food was almost inedible, service was almost nonexistent. Do not waste your time or $

Review №47

2017-06-04 05:18:51

Ive never been to a Korean BBQ, so I walked in knowing nothing. The whole restaurant is an all you can eat buffet where you order from a menu and they serve you. After the waiter realized that we didnt know what we were doing, he promptly came by and started cooking the meats for us. He was very helpful and even recommend which meats were better and how to use the equipment. The overall experience was fulfilling.

Review №48

2022-08-01 06:48:13

Waitor kept coming too close to my face. He said hi in Chinese to my friend when she’s Vietnamese. My friend laughed it off but that is extremely disrespectful. Music is way too loud. I can’t hear my friend at all. We had to yell. And they greet you in a very bad and cringe Korean accent.

Review №49

2018-06-22 13:57:05

It is amazing to finally have K-grill here. After living in Seoul for over a year this is a wonderful place here at home. The staff is good and they change out the grill often. The meat cuts are fresh and abundant. Youd be a fool to expect a vegetarian meal here though. Its like going to Indian food and expecting a steak.

Review №50

2019-10-30 22:11:57

Small restaurant serving the only Korean bbq in town - so you see the wait is a problem. They have a nice pre-ordering system, so you don’t have to wait for food to come once you get seated. AYCE for $18.95 and up is pretty decent! However watch out for ordering too much, as it’s $10 for each unfinished plate. Very attentive servers! Food is decent - pork and beef briskets are fresh, however the bulgogi marinade was off...somewhat sour? We ended up returning the plate to the kitchen. Strange that they don’t have much seafood options and don’t have beef tongue and beef short ribs.

Review №51

2019-03-30 03:19:24

Great spot for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. We spent 2 hours socializing while grilling up traditional Korean favorites plus a few more exotic choices. The side dishes were delicious as well. Its always a good time when you can turn a meal into an adventure.

Review №52

2019-04-24 11:40:19

My friends and I ate ourselves into a mad stupor here. My party of 3 got here at about 4pm on a Friday. We waited about 10mins before a table was ready for us. After 3pm on weekends they only offer courses B($27) and C($32), so we chose course B. The basic set of kbbq banchan sides are given. All the sides were good except the kimchi and the macaroni salad - they both tasted a bit off. We had a hard time picking which meats to start with so we just went down the menu in order, and so began our animalistic meat fest. We first ate our way through the beef section of the menu along with the baby octopus steamer. The baby octopus was really good, it was flavored with spicy chili paste and had vermicelli & tteokbokki in it. The selection of beef they have is all great especially the bulgolgi. Next came the pork section. The pork selection was all good too, my only gripe is that the ribs took too long to cook through. The miso pork belly was awesome. We started to feel full near the end of the pork section. We especially felt it when we got the pork jowl. It was way too rich and the texture was a bit unappetizing. The restaurant got a huge wave of patrons at around this time (~5:30pm) and there was a small line going out the door. Now onto the last section which was all chicken. We ordered five different plates of chicken and sort of regretted it since we were full by the time they arrived to the table. They charge $10 for every plate you dont finish, so me and the boys buckled down and got to work. The chicken selection was a bit plain. The garlic chicken had no taste really. The sweet and spicy chicken was really good though. It was here where I started getting an insane level of the meat sweats. The heat of the grill, the heat of being absolutely full, and the heat of the crowd made me sweat through my shirt. We had one more plate to finish and it was the chicken bulgolgi. It wasnt as good as the other bulgolgis offered because it didnt get as charred or caramelized as the beef or pork ones. We finally finished up, paid the bill, and left to enter a food coma at our respective hobbles. All in all this place is great. The staff was very attentive and worked really hard to get all the plates out in a timely fashion. I just wish they had more seafood options on the menu. My friend and I weighed ourselves before and after we went to the restaurant and each of us weighed 5lbs heavier. I felt like a big man showing this restaurant the meaning of pure, animalistic gluttony. I highly recommend this place for kbbq. Just remember to wear breathable and stretchy clothes so you can meat your true potential.

Review №53

2019-03-30 03:28:40

The food was good but they have a lot of rules which the wait staff tried to explain over loud music. The price displayed is actually multiplied by the number of people eating there, which was surprising since they didnt tell us and the serving sizes seemed small.

Review №54

2019-08-17 04:53:59

Great service, great food, great atmosphere. All the staff helped each other to make it smooth and flow easily. When a restaurant have a team like this place, the focus on food quality prevails.

Review №55

2019-09-09 13:34:34

It was a long wait which should be expected when you go for Korean bbq. The food was bland and there werent many options unless you wanted to upgrade to a higher level. Unfortunately, this place also made me sick. Right as we were finishing our meal, my stomach began to hurt severely. The stomach pain lasted several days.

Review №56

2019-05-23 04:27:32

They dont skimp on the meat, and the service is good despite the full house. I got there right when they opened and there was only one table left, and stayed full. Speaking of full, I was full and happy long before the 2hr time limit. Thicker meat make it better, but overall pretty good

Review №57

2018-01-05 22:10:11

This is a co-op review between my “expert” KBBQ girlfriend and me being a first-timer. I loved all the meats I tried, very fun and exciting experience! She says that some meats aren’t as top notch but still very tasteful. Will definitely be here again when I can afford it!

Review №58

2017-04-17 05:02:12

Perfect!! Waters are so kind. Everything was great.

Review №59

2021-06-12 04:54:40

Ur 100% better off taking the extra 45 min drive to Gen bbq in oxnard. We waited two hours here. Menu has different tiers instead of just one price point that includes everything.

Review №60

2021-12-29 10:23:38

High prices though service wasnt too bad. Many of the plates were shockingly mediocre to bad (especially the meatless or dishes not cooked by guests).

Review №61

2018-09-25 05:35:51

Nice Korean BBQ place in Santa Barbara....make sure you get there early because this place is always busy.

Review №62

2020-03-08 00:05:11

Kimchi was a very delicious experience and one of the better korean bbq places ive been to. We went with a large party and the wait wasnt very long, even with a large party. They let you preorder your food so that when you arrive to the table your plates of meat are ready to cook as well.My one issue with Kimchi is that while many kbbq places charge based on tiers of food, they neglected to mention this to our party, and our group was charged for a higher tier. We only had one or two dishes at this tier level, however, so they only charged half our group at the higher tier.I would definitely still recommend this place for groups!

Review №63

2018-08-03 22:18:26

The food is amazing and the people are even better. We walked in never having Korean BBQ before and they took their time to help navigate us through the menu and even cooked it to show us. You’ve got to try this place if you haven’t already.

Review №64

2020-12-05 04:01:00

Great little spot, a must stop for sure. The sides which include the kimchi and the jalapeño infused cucumbers are a must try. A little spicy but very crunchy and a lot of flavor. Don’t even get me started with the meats very juicy and flavorful. 👍🏻👍🏻💯

Review №65

2020-05-12 19:50:01

They take our time to serve next order of food good price for a Korean buffet but if you order a lot and you dont finished they charge extra for wasting food.That not happen to me but my told me.

Review №66

2021-06-12 04:08:15

Long wait, 40-60 min, but well worth it. The food was delicious, all you can eat, at a great price. And the staff were friendly and helpful.

Review №67

2016-07-21 03:42:22

The cook was amazing! Joking aside, it was fun cooking the meet ourselves at our table. Everything I tried was excellent... and with the all you can eat plan, I got to try a lot of things.

Review №68

2017-10-03 01:29:49

I really enjoyed the food. The girl, not so much. The place was extremely crowded and a pretty long wait to get in. I had a family staring at me while I finished up my meal. It was a little bit awkward, but I just rolled with it

Review №69

2019-11-11 01:21:41

Is good Korea BBQ. here

Review №70

2016-07-06 22:00:55

This was extremely disappointing. We went there thinking of all the good sounding items on their menu to choose from, which we looked up online before hand. After we were seated, we were only given a menu with ALL YOU CAN EAT menus. When asked for the ala carte menu, the waiter said, Oh, we only serve All You Can Eat. Then I said but we saw your other menu online! He then said, Oh, we get that a lot, and smiles. Well, if thats the case, put a banner outside the restaurant that says ALL YOU CAN EAT ONLY. OR.. UPDATE your website so youre not wasting potential customers time! So annoying. Thought I warn everyone who cares to read reviews.

Review №71

2019-02-17 04:28:31

First come first served, all you can eat and delicious! 3 menu tiers with additional choices at each level. Lowest/cheapest tier available only for lunch hours. Come hungry and leave super content.

Review №72

2016-09-03 18:22:35

The food is incredible. I believe this place is owned by the same people who run/own GEN kbbq, which I frequent, in Oxnard.Kimchi is very clean, and well maintained. The building is small, but because of the proximity of the tables to the kitchen area, service is 5 star I regards to speed. Accuracy is spot on, and all of the servers are very friendly and accommodating. whats more, each table has a call button that informs a waiter to address your table, if need be.If youre new to korean bbq, I suggest doing a quick Google search on how these reseraunts work, instead of going there and leaving a scathing, idiotic review based on your choice to stay in a place you find annoying. dont be an idiot and give a well deserving resteraunt a single star based solely on the fact you didnt know it was all you can eat - pro-tip: nobody forced you to stay.yes, its all you can eat, but its not buffet style. there is a good sized list of different types of meats, veggies, and even seafood you can order from. you pick a few plates, they kick on the grill, and when its brought out you cook it in front of you. aside from great flavor, its also a great experience to share with friends.one minor precaution: this is not a quiet dinner setting. its not blatantly loud either, but they play kpop (korean pop music) at a reasonable volume. the setting is more akin to a bar & grill than a traditional sit down setting. but, dont let that stop you from trying this place out.My girlfriend and I, and our friends, frequent kbbq places quite often. Kimchi is no exception, as we go here quite often, the most, considering its also the only place in town. Although, its well deserved: the food is great, the experience is great, and the service is top notch.If you still sit on the fence with trepidation, I suggest going there and simply asking your waiter what they suggest. Mention youve never been to kbbq before, and theyll be more than happy to refer you the best starting options and sides. You wont regret it.

Review №73

2017-10-05 02:23:37

The wait line is usually long during weekend, and it can be more expensive during weekend. However, I think its cheaper during weekdays. The service is really nice, and I really like how there are variety of foods more than just meat.

Review №74

2019-04-20 04:42:56

Even though we waited for 1 hour everything was amazing: food kept coming and coming, service was really fast and thoughtful. Also ability to cook our own food made us feel like we are at a BBQ party.

Review №75

2019-07-22 14:57:53

The place is a awesome. Plenty of selection if you pick the most expensive one. It has a limit on some items. Fresh food and the staff are friendly. Parking is limited and its a small place so prepare to wait.

Review №76

2017-08-04 04:16:27

Kimchi Korean BBQ was frankly a disappointment. Despite the relatively high reviews (4.1 as of this review) the food and atmosphere did not reflect it score at all. While the staff and waiters were polite at all times and provided excellent service, nearly all the food we ordered was terrible.The side dishes they offered was likely the worst Ive had at a Korean restaurant with the macaroni salad sickeningly sweet, the kimchi--their namesake--bland, and their seasoned bean sprouts were limp and poorly seasoned. While I could go on about the side dishes, the meat courses were worse. The pork neck (목살) was extremely salty and I was unable to eat more than a couple bites. The bulgogi (불고기) tasted as though it had been left in its marinade for a week. The marinated brisket (차돌배기) was likely the only meat I enjoyed from the selection. The spicy marinated chicken was overly sweet and cloying.Regarding the rest of the food we ordered, the soybean paste stew (된장찌개) was bland and watery, although the steamed egg (계란찜) wasnt bad. However, the rice, the foundation for Korean cuisine, was likely the biggest insult. There was no fluffy rice to be found here. The rice here was hard, dry and inedible.At $18 a person for the first selection of foods, it was definitely not worth it and I cant imagine the pricier selections being any diffferent. Perhaps those unfamiliar with KBBQ would enjoy it but anybody thats grown up eating Korean food, I advise them to steer clear.

Review №77

2016-12-25 22:20:12

Its great food and its fun to have it cooked in front of you but the menu at the lowest price point consists basically of just meat. I felt that I had a hard time filling up of thin slices of beef and pork.

Review №78

2023-02-21 16:11:03

Great food experience, you should goOn the other side the music is horrible and loud

Review №79

2017-06-01 22:49:57

Great service and great food! The staff are very accommodating and committed to making Kimchi a great experience for all customers. Overall fantastic! My only complaints are the music can be way too loud and I wish they took reservations.

Review №80

2021-06-10 04:15:59

Had about 3 families waiting outside in the sun for almost an hour after being open at 5pm because “something had to be fixed”. I ended up leaving after they told us it would be another 10 minute wait. I’m so disappointed this used to be my spot, I’m never coming back again.

Review №81

2021-05-04 04:23:40

Grubhub delivered hot and delicious Spicy Sweet Chicken with rice, cucumber and kimchi, dumplings, and spicy seafood soft tofu, I wanted more kimchi so I add extra $3. Its a real treat for me!

Review №82

2019-01-12 01:35:32

As far as AYCE korean bbq in the 805, this has to be one of thee best place to go. While not comparable to rowland heights area KBBQ, it was very close to get your fix. There are 3 tiers to chose from starting at $18/person and I seen that towards the weekend it only offers 2nd & 3rd there only. Restaurant feels cramped sitting but your going there for the food anyways right. I would most def visit again next time im in the SB area. FYI, parking in the back alley way. It tends to get full quick, another option is to go back towards the front of the restaurant and head towards the old radio shack/pool supplies complex for additional parking

Review №83

2021-06-15 18:01:33

I am of Korean descent, so I very well know what good Korean BBQ is because I have been exposed to so many KBBQ restaurants growing up. I give Kimchi a five star rating because their KBBQ is simply unrivaled!!

Review №84

2018-03-28 00:25:07

For the price left a lot more to desire from the taste of the food... they didnt match! Its also all that you can eat literally! 10 bucks if you leave meat om the plate

Review №85

2017-01-23 16:53:01

Great Korean BBQ place! Its small, intimate, and has great service! Worth going here if you live in Santa Barbara rather than driving to Oxnard for Gen.

Review №86

2021-04-19 10:17:11

We are here every time we decide to start a diet the following day- LOL! It is the one and only in town, so we have no choice. But we leave the place happy

Review №87

2022-02-09 04:09:41

This Korean BBQ was amazing!

Review №88

2016-04-19 08:23:04

Loved the food!! I think the price is high but that is a personal opinion. The staff was very friendly and helpful!! Will definitely go back!!

Review №89

2019-08-26 22:13:03

First time for me. Fun time, more than a good meal, it is a fantastic experience. The variety of meats was great.

Review №90

2020-01-17 03:46:26

Super fun place for the ultimate meat eating experience. Warning: You will smell like beef for days after. Also great date place 😎

Review №91

2015-12-27 08:44:48

Under new management. I left without ordering on a Saturday at lunchtime when they handed me a dinner menu with prices starting at $22 per plate. The place isnt worth those prices.

Review №92

2019-12-28 07:21:43

The food was delicious and had a fair price however the gas that comes from cooking the meat wasnt ventilated enough and was rather bothering.

Review №93

2022-03-30 01:11:34

It was too much on the bill. Also why do I have to cook my own food if I am already paying a lot.

Review №94

2019-12-24 06:31:49

Only all you can eat korean bbq place in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Good meat listings. My personal favourite are Galbi, beef belly, spicy tofu soup and kimchi fried rice.

Review №95

2017-11-24 21:21:50

Great food, friendly service, very clean. Music is a little loud. Fun for family. We will be back for sure.

Review №96

2022-07-07 04:03:32

First time here and we enjoyed it. Staff was super friendly and helpful.

Review №97

2021-05-25 04:08:53

Seems like an upgrade since before covid hit, not as good as some options in LA but for the only KBBQ in town Ill be back! 👌

Review №98

2020-03-14 03:05:11

Its a good price, high quality food, and amazing service although there can be a wait sometimes.

Review №99

2019-08-31 22:24:37

Three open tables four servers and no waiting parties before us. This used to be a five star review,.but the lack of attention is really detrimental to the experience.

Review №100

2018-03-01 06:08:51

I couldn’t breathe in that restaurant. Food could be ok if ventilation was existent. The waitress couldn’t care less about my issue even after I asked her twice to remove the grill because we were not using it anymore and it was smoking...

Review №101

2019-07-26 20:20:04

Great Korean BBQ for a reasonable price. The meat is flavorful and tender. The service is good and most workers speak Korean.

Review №102

2021-11-10 02:09:45

Absolutely, hands down, the best Korean in SB. The service is quick and the food is dope. Thank you, Kimchi, for existing.

Review №103

2019-08-05 17:29:09

The food taste great and the service was excellent. The only thing is that there’s no ventilator for the smell.

Review №104

2021-12-08 01:39:41

This was my first time being here and it was great and the lady that was serving us was super sweet.

Review №105

2020-10-18 12:48:22

Very good taste for international student like me. It is all you can eat so I got a good deal on it!

Review №106

2021-07-31 15:02:51

This place was busy, but so worth the wait! Kind staff and delicious food.

Review №107

2018-09-11 16:52:04

A bit much on $$ for KBBQ and their bulgogi was not as good as other places. Overall a little cramped but if you want kBBQ in SB this is the place

Review №108

2017-04-11 17:09:14

Better than Gen. Brisket was very good and selection was great. Not a top quality Korean BBQ place but a good one

Review №109

2016-08-03 19:02:42

Love this place, but leaving it to four stars as the last time I went, the next morning I felt like throwing up for a bit. Probably my fault for eating under-cooked meat.

Review №110

2022-09-10 04:39:59

The food is good but they have greatly increased their prices

Review №111

2019-05-26 02:10:17

They are unwilling to budge and accommodate their patrons. It’s unfortunate that they would turn away service of such a large group. Very disappointing!

Review №112

2020-02-28 21:50:13

After server explains the menu its great fun and lots of good food!

Review №113

2019-10-24 03:37:56

Place gets packed fast & long. Its a small space so plan ahead! Wait time long but worth it.

Review №114

2017-05-31 00:09:41

The food is good. but always full of people.AND! the whole place is so DIRTY!!! the floor is so sticky.

Review №115

2019-06-04 16:22:03

Good food, service and company made for a great experience! Cant wait to go back!

Review №116

2023-04-18 03:11:52

Amazing experienceHigh quality food

Review №117

2022-11-08 18:03:31

Great service but poor quality of meat.

Review №118

2019-09-13 05:23:52

Pretty darn good. Servers were attentive and there was little delay in getting more goodies.

Review №119

2017-06-10 20:18:40

The food is great! The staff was amazing!! I would definitely return.

Review №120

2023-04-16 02:20:42

Worst! Waste time!!Waitlist is useless

Review №121

2018-07-13 19:11:00

Great place! Super friendly and accommodating to a vegetarian and gluten-free couple!!

Review №122

2017-08-13 15:19:13

Great food. Great service. They even have gochujang and samjang available by request.

Review №123

2018-11-28 00:48:41

My first time getting Korean Bbq and it was so tasty! Perfect place for a fun date.

Review №124

2021-09-27 16:54:37

The only Asian buffet you can find in Santa Barbara and Goleta I guess

Review №125

2017-06-16 05:21:00

The wait can be a bit long depending on when you go but the food was delicious.

Review №126

2018-10-08 03:39:45

Good job to all staff! And thank you For serving delicious food!!!you need a bigger place!!

Review №127

2021-06-18 19:46:52

Good selection for the ayce options and the server was very attentive.

Review №128

2017-11-01 12:56:17

Favorite place. Food great, best chefs in the world, always a bit crowded

Review №129

2019-10-02 05:11:34

It was the best representative Korean hibachi grill in the central coast area. Loved it ❤️

Review №130

2022-04-09 13:10:12

Amazing food, fun and attentive service.

Review №131

2017-09-17 15:37:39

No wait time on a Saturday around 4pm. The server was very helpful, and courteous.

Review №132

2016-11-17 04:40:37

Extremely tasty, friendly service. Had a great meal!

Review №133

2019-06-29 03:19:25

My favorite location for quality Korean BBQ. Prices are fair I would say.

Review №134

2020-02-10 00:42:15

Love it! Great prices! Very convenient. Love the atmosphere.

Review №135

2019-11-26 05:37:37

My favorite place to eat. I really hope they open another location, this place is always packed

Review №136

2017-09-16 18:49:48

All you can eat! Nice service and reasonable pricing.

Review №137

2017-02-20 22:24:33

Great food, unique experience. Will visit again

Review №138

2018-04-15 01:53:26

Very tasty!! Awesome place for an awesome price!

Review №139

2018-04-02 17:40:24

Exceptional taste, one of the best Korean BBQs I know of.

Review №140

2018-06-20 22:07:40

Awesome place! Service and food was fabulous.

Review №141

2018-12-29 04:29:11

Very friendly and helpful staff. Generous servings

Review №142

2020-07-30 00:08:24

I absolutely love this place sesame chicken and bulgakhaki (?) is amazing

Review №143

2019-09-16 19:20:24

Real quality food in a buffet style, quality ingredients, with kimchi that is out of this world

Review №144

2019-01-01 21:56:50

Poor service, the food is served in tiny plates with small amounts of food

Review №145

2018-05-30 05:18:56

Oh hell ya! Great food and fun service!

Review №146

2021-06-13 22:20:22

First time. And it was GREAT. Well worth it.

Review №147

2021-09-30 02:54:21

Price went up 30%, crazy greedy businessmen.

Review №148

2019-01-09 09:51:49

Good kbbq. Their miso soup was amazing!

Review №149

2019-09-21 23:52:11

Loved the sides, variety and quality of the meats.

Review №150

2019-04-04 04:09:06

Staff was friendly and helpful. Owesome food

Review №151

2020-03-01 23:34:34

Awesome food! Great service!

Review №152

2020-01-29 07:37:40

Awesome food. Fun experience.

Review №153

2019-01-02 03:21:12

Really good food, good seasonings, and service

Review №154

2017-06-07 12:52:43

Good but its Korean cook it your self

Review №155

2019-09-02 20:44:45

Excellent food at a great price

Review №156

2017-10-02 13:01:45

Amazing kimchi, good meat, and mostly helpful staff

Review №157

2018-07-08 19:20:39

I love KBBQ no complaints༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

Review №158

2017-11-20 01:44:25

All you can eat for a good price.

Review №159

2019-12-15 05:35:59

Small and busy smells good

Review №160

2019-04-30 20:48:34

Bad customer service and food isnt that great

Review №161

2021-01-04 00:18:50

Great food and friendly service

Review №162

2017-08-23 06:32:51

OMG! I love this place, its worth it.

Review №163

2019-12-30 04:09:53

Tasty food and lots of fun with friends

Review №164

2019-04-20 06:12:36

Great experience, great service, great price.

Review №165

2018-07-29 18:33:29

Go hungry, leave stuffed. Cook your own food.

Review №166

2019-01-28 20:11:56

Always busy. But always good.

Review №167

2016-12-05 07:15:09

The food was very flavorful.

Review №168

2019-04-23 04:31:36

Can’t reserve and waited an hour

Review №169

2017-04-10 04:30:25

Crazy busy, but worth the wait.

Review №170

2019-07-05 19:41:46

Authentic Korean BBQ buffet!

Review №171

2016-12-22 17:24:19

Good foods and nice service!

Review №172

2017-04-17 15:14:15

The food is really good!

Review №173

2020-02-29 07:08:49

Best kbbq ever 👌

Review №174

2020-03-02 21:22:36

Good food but expensive

Review №175

2018-10-22 15:18:53

Very tasty and authentic!

Review №176

2020-06-17 05:36:53

Kimchi here is good grill

Review №177

2021-09-17 17:10:31

Mostly good yumz

Review №178

2018-01-17 05:42:00

Good place to eat Korean food

Review №179

2021-07-13 17:14:21

Best in SB area

Review №180

2017-03-13 22:54:33

Good food

Review №181

2021-11-13 05:35:45

Absolutely delicious!

Review №182

2017-03-26 05:32:39

Good fun cool Korean BBQ.

Review №183

2019-10-14 00:17:26

Definitely coming back

Review №184

2016-12-22 04:51:49

It good.

Review №185

2017-05-19 17:24:05

Great food!

Review №186

2020-05-23 22:10:47

Nice place for food

Review №187

2019-12-26 04:12:48

Got food poisoning

Review №188

2017-10-29 22:18:23

Yammy

Review №189

2018-07-20 04:34:02

Very Good !

Review №190

2017-07-05 01:14:05

Great experience

Review №191

2018-06-21 15:17:37

Fabulous KBBQ !!

Review №192

2016-05-22 02:45:39

Seaweed is okay

Review №193

2017-01-03 04:48:58

Nice place!!!

Review №194

2019-12-28 18:36:13

Great Korean bbq

Review №195

2023-03-17 13:00:06

While traveling in Santa Babara, I was hungry, so I searched on my smart phone, and the first place that came up was Kimchi, a name familiar to Koreans. Having lived in LA for 25 years, I thought that that was the place where all the Korean restaurants that popped up on my phone were. I drove about 15 miles to find it. But it wasnt there. I couldnt shake the thought that I had become accustomed to only LA where I lived. This trip is just before I give up my life in the United States and immigrate.While chatting with the manager, who seemed to be similar in age to me, I somehow felt like a friend, perhaps because we lived in the U.S. for a similar period of time. The Korean 7080 music played by Fernando made us feel like we were back in time. The manager kept giving me brisket, pork belly, and pork belly marinated in garlic, and it was tastier than any meat Ive tried in the United States. And the lettuce wrap that came with it was the best thing Ive ever had at a restaurant in 25 years of living in the United States. (At least in the restaurants in LA that I have experienced, I have never seen people working with a sense of ownership like the manager of “Kimchi.”) I will never forget “Kimchi,” a Korean restaurant that I stopped by during my last trip and felt like I was truly in Korea. Highly recommended. May you prosper!

Review №196

2023-03-18 16:14:52

A must visit place!!!! In particular, the soybean paste stew and sunbudu stew were really delicious! La galbi and garlic pork belly were fantastic!! The octopus tteokbokki and corn cheese that I ate after eating all the meat were also very delicious! The sauce used to dip the brisket is also a work of art. I definitely want to visit again~~! All the meat is really delicious and it tastes great when eaten with the sauce! The staff and owner are all really friendly. Highly recommended!!!!! I really enjoyed it.

Review №197

2018-08-29 03:12:41

Delicious and affordable.Korean is available, so even novice travelers can enjoy it comfortably.

Review №198

2020-01-03 04:29:13

Waiting time was 1h because it is all-you-can-eat and the place has only 10 tables. However the food and service were great. Although beef was a little frozen but the taste was awesome!It was unlimited refills and there were only 10 tables, so I waited for an hour. But the food and service were good. The beef was a little frozen, but there was no problem with the taste!

Review №199

2018-04-13 04:06:39

US$17.95/person, self-service Korean BBQ, up to 2 hours