Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

YakiniQ Korean BBQ in San Francisco

4.2 (199) 1640 Post St 2ND floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States

Categories

Korean barbecue restaurant
Barbecue restaurant
Korean restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

San Francisco, City and County of San Francisco, California, US

Phone: +1 415-441-9292
Site: https://yakiniq.net/

Opening hours

Monday:4–10 PM
Tuesday:4–10 PM
Wednesday:4–10 PM
Thursday:4–10 PM
Friday:4:30–11 PM
Saturday:4:30–11 PM
Sunday:4:30–11 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for YakiniQ Korean BBQ 2024:

Review №1

2024-06-03 00:59:29

The overall experience was fantastic for the group I was with. We had an allergy in the group, that they went above and beyond to accommodate for. They were very gracious, patient, and made a fantastic impression for many first timers to Korean BBQ amongst us!Their cuts of meat were just superb, and all their sides were just incredibly flavourful. There was not a single item that was not a hit!If you have people who are looking for a Korean BBQ experience then give this place a shot. Dont let the price put you off, because the service and food will be more than worth it.

Review №2

2024-04-22 20:20:10

The price is pretty high at $45 before tax and tip for the premium option. Almost twice what it was about 3-4 years ago (looking at older reviews). As others pointed out, it gets really smokey. It also can be fairly loud. The food was decent but not worth the price.The worst part was that the service was SLOW. We ordered our meat pretty much right when we sat down and didn’t receive it until about 15-20 minutes later. At another point, we ran out of meat and had nothing cooking on the grill, but no server came to help us for about 10 minutes and I had to get up and find a server. The server seemed pretty upset and rude we were asking for more food at an All You Can Eat place. We also ordered a beer that didn’t come for about 20 minutes and when we asked for it again, they didn’t believe us and tried to charge us for another beer. We were ultimately able to clear it up, but it felt odd that we were being so heavily interrogated for a $14 beer and had to go back up and ask them to remove it. I was at this establishment for 2 hours and left still hungry which is crazy for an All You Can Eat place. I actually went home and ate a meal.

Review №3

2023-11-30 07:11:00

This place was great! Tables and burners are a bit outdated, but definitely had a Korean vibe! The food was good, but for the price, they could have had more meat options. I would recommend it if youve never been. Lovely sunset after dinner, too! 🌇

Review №4

2023-07-03 21:34:15

Worst experience ever. Mushroom’s root is not cut. I can even see mud on it. The quality of beef makes me worried about. The smell and taste is unpleasant. The smoke extractor doesn’t work well. Sharp cooking smells.

Review №5

2024-04-14 15:38:03

I was hoping to try their food the other day, only to be turned away because I was by myself. Dining alone is a choice that should be respected, not a reason for exclusion. This experience made me feel unwelcome and diminished, as if my patronage mattered less. I hope you reevaluates its approach to ensure everyone feels valued, regardless of how many people they bring to the table. Singles are people too!!

Review №6

2024-05-14 05:37:15

Service was fine. It gets busy after 6pm. Love their beef briskets and LA kalbi.

Review №7

2023-11-06 19:54:07

My favorite spot for KBBQ in Japantown.Portions are smaller than other restaurants but I appreciate that as I feel able to order more variety and not worry about eating all of it.Service is attentive but not overly friendly. They do their job and is fine with me.The cake review cracked me up, not sure why but that’s hilarious.Can be a bit smokier than other places but if you just ask the many servers to switch your grill often it’s not a problem.

Review №8

2024-05-05 23:19:48

The food here is atrocious. If you are looking for korean bbq, go elsewhere. The meat is mediocre at best, the banchan is laughable, and the service is a joke. Literally the only redeeming quality about this place is the steamed egg, everything else was awful.We had a reservation for 10 people and we checked in 10minutes before, stepped out for a couple minutes to grab the rest of our party, and the host had already given away our table. When we finally got seated, the waiter we had was very rude and wouldn’t let us order the meat we wanted.It’s a fun vibe for groups though so atmosphere 3/5

Review №9

2020-06-11 23:42:16

$21.99 for all you can eat Korean BBQ in Japan town— very good! You can order three items on the menu at a time, & it’s all unlimited with sides. Extra $1.99 for a side of lettuce. The restaurant has signs at the entryway stating they only seat a minimum of two diners per table, the gentleman who sat me was kind enough to let me dine. I think that’s weird that there’s a minimum, cause a paying customer is a paying customer, but whatevs. I only ordered four things from the menu & didn’t get very far before getting full. The beef belly is flavorless, but fatty & delicious. The octopus is spicy! I didn’t think anything of the three chilies next to the menu item >. Review image

Review №10

2024-02-03 17:44:23

Nice place. A little pricey at $40 per person for the full dinner menu. Our server has trouble understanding our request for tea. They only bring out three dishes at a time on small plates. Other places are more generous for each serving. Lots of requests and waiting. They also changed our burner several times and once he was sloppy and dropped it on the table spilling tea all over me. Not a big deal as it was an accident but they should be more careful.

Review №11

2024-04-24 20:18:04

Such a mixed experience at this place, had to wait 2 hours for our table even though on the reservation app, it said our table was ready (and we called and the restaurant confirmed that it was ready, but when we arrived it wasnt and hence the 2hr wait). The food was pretty good but also expensive and it was super loud and crowded in there. Had to get our waiters attention several times, not sure I would go back, as its just not worth it.

Review №12

2021-07-25 23:59:39

Really fun experience! Great meat with a variety of choices. Spicy octopus and chicken both have a kick but were good! The garlic chicken was very good! We had a variety of beef items and they were all really yummy!!

Review №13

2022-10-28 16:12:15

THIS RESTAURANT DESTROYED OUR BIRTHDAY CAKE BECAUSE WE DECIDED NOT TO DINE WITH THEMWe dropped our birthday cake a few hours prior to our reservation. The place was packed and our reservation didnt go according to schedule. After waiting for about 30 minutes we all decided to dine next door at San Wang instead because of the birthday schedule. We went back to ask for our cake back and the manager was really upset. They gave us our cake back after giving us a hard time. Later when we pulled the box out of the bag, we were surprised and confused to find that the cake was destroyed. The box had a hole in it as if someone stomped on or punched the box. The cake was a nice cake from B Patisserie. This is totally unacceptable. I understand that the change in reservation may have inconvenienced the restaurant but destroying a potential customers property, in this case, someones birthday cake on their birthday is NEVER the right way to do business.Hopes this reaches out to people as their paid Yelp account filters bad reviews.

Review №14

2022-09-18 18:12:05

We always get Beef Bulgogi, Pork Belly and Spicy Chicken with all the accompaniments. I always use all my dipping sauces and need more, my daughter loves the Kimchi, for me its the Glass Noodles and the rice goes with everything. We always get all you can eat. My son has been coming here with his friends for years. Delicious food

Review №15

2018-04-03 06:58:15

Overall, my impression with YakiniQ BBQ is ok. Not the best place for Korean BBQ I have been to, but its definitely not the worst. Service was nice until rush hour came. It was so crowded that it was hard for us to get attention from the waiters.Food was good, at least to my taste. My recommendation would be Gal-bi (too bad each person is allowed to order this once). My most favorite would be Spicy Octopus. If you are into hot and spicy food, this one is for you.At the end of the meal I also ordered a bowl of tofu soup, which is not included in the All you can eat menu (I wish at least rice and soup were included). Nice place for hanging out.

Review №16

2024-02-02 04:55:59

Been here maybe a dozen times over the past 10 years. Great food. Unlimited meat.Got more expensive after pandemic, food still great.Get galbi and brisket. Pork is good. Big intestine good. Steamed egg is great. Unlimited sides delicious. Good kimchi.Cook everything properly.I had an issue one time where the burner kept going out, and it happened again when we got seated at the same burner another time.Will always come here. Unlimited meat.

Review №17

2022-10-15 22:34:10

Amazing food and the staff is very friendly and helpful.. the meat was delicious and juicy. We tried the Bulgogi and the rib eye steak.. I also loved the kimchi and the cold noodles... Definitely going there again

Review №18

2020-01-27 01:38:11

Decent KBBQ for the price, but the quality is just okay. The brisket is really chewy and the sides were salty.The best things were the salad, which had a creamy dressing, and the beef belly (however it was cut into smaller pieces which made it stick to the grill too much).

Review №19

2024-03-26 18:11:48

Very fresh meat and banchan. we really enjoyed the premium ayce option ($40pp). service was great. we went for sunday dinner at around 6:30pm and the wait wasn’t too long (~15 minutes). definitely beats the Daeho lines :-)my only complaint is that there are no vents at the tables, so we definitely left reeking of meat and garlic.그리고 한국어로 대하지 못하는것 같아요.. 참고하세요

Review №20

2021-05-30 02:15:22

Make sure to do wait-list on Yelp BEFOREHAND if you want to get in! We got lucky and did wait-list 7 minutes before opening and we got in pretty quickly (2 people). Is 3 stars because the food was r e a l l y salty. Even the unmarinated meats. Steamed egg was beyond salty too. Idk I had to drink a lot of water to wash it down. 🥴 The staff was nice though, came in ever so often to see if we want to order more.

Review №21

2019-08-20 01:59:10

A bit of a wait to get a seat even on a weekday and the waiter will rarely, if ever, stop by the table unless you call - probably because it was a full house! However, the food was great and it was not overprice. Will definitely visit again the next time I am in San Francisco!

Review №22

2024-02-27 19:36:01

I love this place. I could eat Korean BBQ for the rest of my life. Go a little earlier than usual. A line happens quickly, and you wanna be ahead of the game. Do not order rice. Just go for meat. All killer, no filler baby!

Review №23

2023-12-31 20:27:57

This was our first and last time visiting. The atmosphere is busy, and the tables are a bit outdated. For 40$, I thought the food would be delicious, but it wasnt very impressive. I had a better BBQ for less price.They charge a CA Employee benefit of 5$? And also they change the tip amount you left. They got 20$ more as a tip that we did not leave. Definitely be aware, the manager seems sus.

Review №24

2023-05-28 23:41:20

Very solid ayce kbbq. We opted for the premium option which included more meat variety and sides. Highly recommend the brisket, marinated short rib and pork belly. The steamed egg and cole slaw was also delicious. The staff was also very attentive and frequently changed our grill.

Review №25

2024-03-19 10:29:12

Very kind workers and nice setups, really enjoy going there! I constantly eat the kimchi! Only problem is, the smoke/burning and how we smell afterwards but i recommend going here for kbbq! Excellent service!

Review №26

2018-11-22 01:37:11

First time ever in a Korean BBQ and I definitely love it, they have good quality meet and plenty of options. A perfect place to enjoy cooking your food while having a good time with your friends. Definitely a must go.

Review №27

2024-06-23 03:36:29

Waitstaff was balling, food was great (somewhat disappointed bulgogi was only available on premium), extremely satisfied

Review №28

2024-05-27 04:29:33

The waiter who stand in the door had a very very bad attitude. His shop didnt have any notices prohibiting bringing in drinks, but when we finished dinner and were about to pay, he told me that I would be fined because I brought my own drinks. Why didnt he tell me in the beginning that I couldnt bring in drinks? I wont come again.

Review №29

2019-06-30 02:31:12

Busy, popular, trendy Korean BBQ in San Francisco. Little bit of a wait because its such good food. Cook it yourself and be careful not to overeat bc portions are above average. $50 out the door for two people. Tons of meat choices, beverages and large tables for groups.

Review №30

2023-06-29 07:19:46

Monday around 1pmFirst impression: the HOST did not say a word. He was not welcoming. We walked up the host was standing there.NOT A WORD. Ok, so we sign in on the. Little kiosk and wait.Looks at us and acts to be writing something idk. Mind y’all, Half the restaurant was empty.5ish minutes later after other guests also sign he uses his hands to show us to our table..WE ALMOST WALKED OUT.THE SERVERS were on point, came up to offer water or if we wanted to order more items. Changed our grill as needed, they really did have their customer service on point, only rang the bell once to order more items.. I appreciate the Hispanic/Latinos who worked that day, I know because they spoke Spanish to meThat HOST need to learn a few things.

Review №31

2019-07-12 22:29:02

We had a truly memorable and enjoyable all-you-can-eat lunch at the very reasonable price of $17.99 per person (plus tax + tip). They bring a few typical complimentary Korean side dishes to accompany the meal. So we started with a huge platter of spicy beef brisket, then fantastic spicy pork belly, followed by fire baby octopus, garlic butter chicken and marinated pork ribs plus rice cake wraps. Everything was delicious, and we literally could not eat any more! The service was really great -- the waitress very attentive and friendly. Will definitely go back!

Review №32

2020-01-09 08:28:57

Went for dinner while on business and I was shocked at how much food you can order for the price! Tried all the beef, a spicy pork, and even the spicy octopus. Staff was courteous, prompt, and quicky swapped grill tops Overall, great experience and would definitely recommend.

Review №33

2017-09-09 13:07:03

Health hazard with all the smoke? Definitely was coughing while eating and watching others cough. Food was really good though!Update: came here again on surprise with friends. Again smokey, coughing (and sneezing!) with poor ventilation. Food is really good. I just wish they invested in the infrastructure with respiratory wellness in mind.

Review №34

2023-12-29 05:58:44

Conclusion first: if you just want Korean bbq, this place is fine (but expensive). Want some Korean food? Not this place.Lets be brief with the downside:1. Horrible ventilation: ventilation only on the ceiling. Almost choked two of us dead cooking the spicy octopus2. Horrible sauce: soy sauce is better than any sauces provided3. Pricy: $32.99 or $39.99 options, around 45-50 with taxes and fees4. Mushrooms covered with dirt5. Dim lighting on some seats, so it’s not easy to tell if meat is cooked throughThe good things out of all the bad experiences:1. Meet is up to the quality: clean, authentic meet (not artificial)2. Some waiters were responsive3. Very keen on replacing the baking pan4. Lettuce was clean

Review №35

2016-11-23 01:05:41

Wonderful experience for a first timer at a Korean BBQ! LOL I might be the only one that they have asked (Are you finished eating because we have a reservation coming in? !) I ate 10 items Wooo!

Review №36

2024-05-10 00:45:03

Was great until we broke up since no more take out orders. I would recommend the garlic butter chicken, bulgogi and shrimp.

Review №37

2019-05-07 00:11:56

A Korean All you can eat BBQ joint that has all the flavors of an old school table grilled eatery in Japantown, San Francisco. Man this place is GOOD! The Kalbi beef is on point, the Bugogli has that sweet flavor and the kimchi is like ajummas back in Songton City. Bring you appetite because you will want to try as many meats as you can. Thirsty? Wash everything down with an OB Beer, which I havent seen since I was stationed in Korea. The staff is friendly, checks on you all the time and switches out the grill when it is needed. Make no mistake YOU COOK YOUR OWN FOOD Korean style if you order the all you can eat...so be prepared to sling some meats on the grill.

Review №38

2023-12-30 09:29:09

The meat quality is pretty good for an AYCE joint. Theres something fishy about the demographics of the servers and how the owner is the only one that handles payment. This place also charges random fees.

Review №39

2020-01-30 22:27:21

Cute space with tons of open area, free wifi but a little bit lacking in power outlets. Quiet space as well so I would definitely come back to studyI had the lavender iced latte and I asked for it not too sweet, came out really well and tasted just the right balance of sweetness, floral and espresso.

Review №40

2022-11-13 05:43:01

Eat all that you can, makes this Korean BBQ a restaurant that one is willing to wait even an hour to get seated.We tried the pork belly, tongue, octopus the beef and they were all delicious.The only minus point is that you need to wait to get seated.

Review №41

2023-12-31 03:20:20

If you register yourself for the waiting list in the Yelp, regardless how long the waiting time the yelp suggests, you must wait outside the restaurant. Your table may be ready within short time, and if you are still in the taxi or somewhere else, the restaurant will cancel your reservation and make you wait in the queue again! If the Yelp suggests the waiting time is 10 minutes, and you are actually stuck in the queue for 45 minutes outside the restaurant, well, that is your problem. You‘d better complaint that with Yelp. The restaurant don’t give a damn about it.

Review №42

2022-10-29 14:45:12

Early into the next morning, let’s say midnight, after I actually enjoyed my meal at this place, I woke up in stomach pains and found myself taking multiple bathroom trips. It was at those times that I realized I had food poisoning! I now question the quality of the meat, the sides (that were sitting there upon my arrival just past opening time, 5pm) and/or the freshness of everything. This sucks, because as I mentioned, I actually enjoyed my meal! No Bueno 😒

Review №43

2019-06-25 05:49:13

What an awesome place to eat, and eat a lot of food. The price is pretty simple, you can get a dinner all you can eat for $22 or a few more options for $26 per person. With that you can get as much as you can eat within two hours. They continuously replace the pan so it doesnt burn or char and are always bringing you more food. Waiters and waitresses continuously stop by and ask if you need anything like soju, beer, or soda. If you want to have an eating experience then check this place out, and I would recommend the beef belly its so good!

Review №44

2024-06-18 23:43:16

Sadly the quality has greatly deteriorated both in terms of food and service. This used to be my go to spot for Korean BBQ but after my most recent experience I would not recommend.

Review №45

2024-05-06 23:05:51

A place I will never go again.That Korean service young man is among the worst groups I have ever seen. Straight face, dont add water in time.The food is average, the premium selections are just ok.

Review №46

2019-12-18 16:56:45

We passed by lady night and the aroma from the street was amazing. We came up the staircase to a hip and happening place. The crowd is young and the energy was high. The wait was over and an hour and we were starving from a long day of moving. Several hours later we got a call from the owner, Tony. He apologized for the long wait. Now that is customer service. Who does that? That phone call and the smell made us know there was only one place in the city we were having dinner on our second night.We arrived around 10 PM. To my great surprise they were still busy and a line at the door. This time we waited. Great crowd once again. There were large groups, small groups and bday parties. As the guest get up to leave a crew comes out to clean the tables and everything is clean and tidy in what seemed to be about 60 seconds.We were seated and our Servers name was Moses What a great spirit and server. He took great care in guiding us through the evenings selection. He was so good that we ended up just letting him chose what came next. If you are new to the s type of food then ask for Moses. Rest assured you will be in the best of hands.The food was amazing. You cook all the meats on a grill in the middle of the table. The smell is intoxicating and your taste buds water while waiting for the first round to be ready. Make sure you bring a healthy Appetite. This is not a restaurant where you want to come and just pick a little.After our dinner was over, Tony came to the table and made sure our visit was good. Once again demonstrating great customer service and care for the guest. I look forward to attending this restaurant again in the near future.

Review №47

2019-06-30 01:59:18

Good Korean BBQ place. The Fire Baby Octopus was out of this world. Triple red chili pepper rating. Make sure your pitch of water is ready before you try.

Review №48

2019-08-02 20:01:05

This place has the good meats! The veggies leave something to be desired though. Really great atmosphere that is perfect for big groups.

Review №49

2023-12-16 22:05:52

The food was great, the service was ok, we had the all you can eat 40$ option and I recommend the same one for everyone because for few bucks extra you are getting better food options, the only bad thing about the food is they don’t offer any seasonings.The reason i gave this place 3 stars is because of the host, he is probably the worst host we ever had.

Review №50

2020-02-02 19:05:26

My first time here with the hubby and we both liked the place. Is small and i love it! Felt like hubby and i were both eating at home lol. Very good customer service, i really liked how we were served all night. Our waiter was so very polite. I would definitely come back again.

Review №51

2022-01-14 04:59:11

I’ve had Korean bbq at some places in Texas. This is fantastic. Makes the best I’ve had anywhere else seem bad.

Review №52

2023-02-05 02:15:36

I was there 2 times. It is a good priced nice and authentic Korean BBQ! I will definately come back next year!

Review №53

2024-04-01 06:34:41

Confusing menu, confusing service, low quality meats, cheap tho, but really long wait, not worth the long wait honestly, I have had way better

Review №54

2019-03-22 00:38:47

Nice and quiet here. It’s cozy and the staff are friendly. My caramel macchiato was great. There’s also a lot of wall outlets which I appreciate. -1 star because it’s a Little hard to find and has slow WiFi.

Review №55

2019-06-03 00:31:11

Amazing Japanese restaurant a different type of dining. Pls remember to book a table or else ur wait is minimum 90 mts on a week end.

Review №56

2021-07-18 08:07:14

Waitress joy kim wasn’t very helpful, she barely checked on us and when she did, she only walked by to make sure we were eating all of our food.There was hair found in my rice, she didn’t say sorry she just got me more rice. There was no accommodation, there was no apology… nothing.Thennnnnn they added a tip of 18% to my bill… yes it says 6 or more BUT my party of 7 was split into three groups (me and my child, my two little sisters on their own tab and my best friend and her two kids on another) joy kim definitely didn’t deserve a tip. Customer service was horrible. I wont Be coming back.

Review №57

2018-11-17 08:56:19

Typically at ayce bbq we never get great service. I am reluctant to go sometimes just to avoid the rude servers that cant keep up with their tables. This place was just ok, ive had better banchan, better (friendlier) service, better cuts of meat, and more choices at other ayce places than this. Not worth the wait if you see a line.

Review №58

2017-06-11 00:56:05

The best KBBQ place in San Francisco. The owner treats every customer with great service despite how busy this japan town mainstay is on just about every evening. Well worth the wait. Order the premium all you can eat selection. Well worth it! If you are scared of octopus be brave and try it! Marinaded perfectly and helpful staff make sure you dont overcook your food.

Review №59

2023-07-16 05:08:45

Overpriced, underwhelming food, abhorrent staff. Its becoming apparent that the Asian food scene in San Francisco is severely lacking due to lack of competition and exposure. Never been more thankful for the wide variety of options in the DMV and NYC than after the terrible experience here. Id truly rather go to the Korean Butcher back home and pay more than double per portion and get meat thats so much better and doesnt taste like its slowly spoiling than ever return to this spot.

Review №60

2016-12-27 18:52:47

Great Korean BBQ place. The meat is delicious. Bulgogi is my favorite. The price is really good for an all you can eat (for two hours). It is usually really packed so you may have to wait for a long time before you can get a table.

Review №61

2024-07-05 03:28:39

Great delicious buffet

Review №62

2017-02-14 00:57:36

We arrived at 4:45 p.m. on a Friday to line up for the 5:00 p.m. opening. By 5:30 p.m. the place was packed. You only have two hours to eat and one server reminded us of this an hour and twenty minutes into our meal by telling us to put in final orders (seemed a bit too diligent). Quick tips: Order a lot at once, bbq while you eat, and wave down a server as often as needed to change the grill. The environment is fast paced, but makes for a fun gathering.

Review №63

2022-07-21 15:09:54

Food is delicious. The drinks were not to bad ..

Review №64

2019-10-27 21:50:14

Loved this place. Korean BBQ is always great, and they had lots of meats to choose from. Grills didn’t heat up very quick but it was a good experience overall

Review №65

2019-08-10 00:36:24

We fortunately or unfortunately could not get into State Bird Provisions or their next door sister restaurant The Progress and wandered over to this upstairs gem. YakiniQs claim to fame is being the first Korean restaurant to offer all you can eat. The staff is very attentive changing the grill top and bringing out foods 3 at a time. The portions are HUGE! We usually have a tribe with us but came for a date night. Recommend you to bring a large group to try everything. The foods are marinated tastefully. They were out of the Rice Cake Wrap so we had the Steamed Egg... it was wonderfully light and flavorful. Now I am curious about the Wrap. The chairs double as hiding places for jackets and other things.

Review №66

2024-05-07 06:22:00

It charges extra 5% employee benefits without notice. The service was terrible. Not recommend

Review №67

2019-09-24 01:57:48

The food was amazing and service was fast and friendly. This is def going on my top ten fav restaurants list!

Review №68

2023-09-16 05:54:50

Excellent food and even better service. Henry is as an excellent host and was really accommodating to me coming in late and eating alone. Highly recommend, meat came out fast and the Galbi is very tasty. Will be coming back!

Review №69

2022-03-31 18:31:02

Good service, fun experience + good selection of food to cook + loads of sides.

Review №70

2023-07-03 11:12:27

Limited menu of items and kind of expensive (33 and 40 for their tiers). They charge the SF city tax too which is 5% on top of the bill.I went with my friend and we both got diarrhea for some reason. We also kind of got scolded/tip-shamed for not giving tip which is always uncalled for. The person taking our meat orders didnt understand English well and missed what we said sometimes, but they changed our hot plate often, which was good.

Review №71

2018-04-13 01:13:27

Great choice of meats!!! First time I was at a Korean BBQ restaraunt and not only was it delicious but very fun!! Servers are very attentive 😊

Review №72

2022-06-28 04:44:15

I suggest, order thin beef first (usually cook fast), then try seasoning chicken or pork or beef later👍

Review №73

2023-07-02 02:11:57

The restaurant was not happy with our tip and decided that that gave them carte blanche to harass us. They dropped off a bill with the tip section circled and told us not to leave until we had tipped. It is completely unacceptable to threaten customers who just paid more than $30 each for a few dollars worth of meat.Do not go here.

Review №74

2023-11-12 15:41:18

I think everything was good but the price of $32 per person is expensive if it was $25 or $27 it would be good and I really liked the selection. If it was $32 it should have been the selection with sides but the $32 option was enough if you wanted the simple options in Korean bbq

Review №75

2022-11-11 05:16:54

We have been regularly coming here when our wallets can allow a splurge & have always loved the fantastic customer service & especially the FOOD! The boys bustling around a busy room & never missing to cater to us! Always enjoy coming here! A great place to relax, have a hearty meal & share with family & friends 10/10 highly recommended!

Review №76

2022-11-21 01:27:24

As far as Korean BBQs go, this one was pretty standard. The space is enclosed and dimly lit, and the options for all you can eat are on the more limited side compared to previous restaurants I’ve frequented. The service is fairly prompt for it being so busy, and they frequently change out the cooking grills. Food quality is about average with a reasonable (for the Bay area) price tag.

Review №77

2019-03-12 19:57:38

While looking for a bite to eat, my friend and I stumbled on this place thinking it was a tiny Korean BBQ place but to our surprise the restaurant was huge and upstairs. Great service and the beef is magical

Review №78

2022-07-29 20:30:02

Service was friendly and efficient. My friends and I did have to wait for about 30 minutes for seating, but part of the delay was caused by another group of customers that refused to leave their table after the time limit was up (1.5 hour to order I believe). Since it is AYCE, make sure you order everything you want to eat in a prompt manner. Everything on the menu was so good. We opted for the 29.99 pp option and it did not disappoint. Great value and great vibes. I highly recommend it!

Review №79

2023-12-29 05:48:43

The food is very awful and the manager is very rude. The smoke is very heavy. If you are a Chinese, I guess you will not like the food there. The vegetable is not clean, you need to tell the servant to wash them again

Review №80

2023-04-15 22:35:40

Its pretty good with relatively fast service at the start that kind of gets slower as you approach your time limit. Good variety of meats and drinks. Some of the meats feel a bit unthawed. The vegetables / sides were great.

Review №81

2023-06-20 02:56:52

I know its Korean BBQ, but Im vegan, and I went for a work thing (big group)...I was able to get the veggie bibambop, which was great, but its $18 and you HAVE TO get the all-you-can-eat meat bbq for $33 IN ORDER TO ORDER THE bibambop. The 2 people who ate NO meat cost more than the guy who ate 3 servings of brisket. Ridiculous concept. Maybe have tables without the grill for people like me, but I was in at a table where the grill was being used. I get the sharing part in order to cheat the system, but theres gotta be a better way.

Review №82

2017-03-13 22:58:43

YakiniQ Cafe is ideal for studying or meeting up with friends over coffee or desserts. They have a wonderful variety of choices. My favorite is their Nutella Latte and affogato.

Review №83

2022-11-24 05:40:14

Delicious, affordable, and great service for how insanely crowded/crazy it was! Note: you have to cook the meat yourself, and it can get a little smoky towards one side of the table (fan not so great), so make sure to request to have your grill changed regularly!

Review №84

2019-05-02 06:09:36

$21 per person for all you can eat Korean bbq is such a great deal

Review №85

2022-10-02 03:29:33

The wait-list is entirely inaccurate. They dont factor in reservations in the timing so a 50min wait turns into 2hr plus if you are a walk-in. If wed known that the 50mins was going to be 150 wed have left and gone somewhere else a lot sooner.We also wouldnt have known if we didnt ask. That is just bad restaurant management to not leave enough seating for walk-ins that your entire dining room is filled with reservations. They seat ALL the reservations first. Period. So good luck without one.

Review №86

2022-12-30 21:04:29

Some of the best korean bbq in norcal. I feel clean after eating there, like the food went digested well without issues. $30 for all you can eat of amazing meat selections and rice, with unlimited complementary side dishes is a price not many can beat. great authentic environment. my favorite place to eat with friends. be sure to get there when they open though or leave a reservation on the waiting list, it is ALWAYS busy. worth every minute of the wait though

Review №87

2022-08-05 08:09:30

Great for large parties. Food is great and you cook your own food so you can make it how you like it. Lots of varieties of meats and sides. Gulp down your food with some cold Soju shots or beer. Meat plus Alcohol equals a great time. Only wish they were open later.

Review №88

2022-02-23 18:45:41

Very close to Japantown, so makes it relatively easy to find parking (albeit not for free). The spot is very cool, located on the second floor with spaced out tables and vents. Our servers were very accommodating and kind, and the food was great. The selection for halal/vegetarian could be better but overall it was a great experience.

Review №89

2024-06-25 07:36:58

Amazing experience

Review №90

2018-05-21 04:38:51

Well seasoned and prepared proteins, very clean environment, and friendly staff. If DIY BBQ is your game, check it out.

Review №91

2019-04-22 03:08:25

All you can eat Korean Barbecue.. Do I even need to say more ?! Service is fast and friendly but its very crowded so prepare to wait some time! Nevertheless awesome experience!

Review №92

2021-08-11 15:51:09

First time there with friends. Food was great. Fun to cook our own food

Review №93

2022-02-19 15:30:50

All you can eat in a very nice atmosphere. Staff are working really hard to serve the customers and they will come to your table to ask if you need anything. Delicious cuts of meat. I recommend reserving spot ahead before going because usually its packed.

Review №94

2023-01-26 03:45:22

They try to sneak extra charge to our bill. When we found the bill is off and questioned it the manager then said he miscalculated, while he literally checked the bill twice, when he is trying to imply us to leave. The waiters are great though.

Review №95

2022-04-13 02:53:46

Would have been four stars but the waitress (head woman in charge of the servers) is rude. Food was actually good and all the others servers seemed nice. I do think it was a bit noisy and the smoke could be ventilated better.

Review №96

2017-07-24 23:05:32

Great atmosphere, perfect decorations, and wide selection of baked goods!! I had the sweet potato latte and it was really good!

Review №97

2022-04-14 04:17:02

Sign yourself in at the tablet kiosk upstairs.Select the marinated meats.15 min wait turned out to be 45min wait.Cook the food yourselfAll you can eat in 2 hours.Skip the rice and request lettuce insteadVery tasty.

Review №98

2019-06-29 20:33:07

Delicious lunch. Make sure youre not going anywhere after though. The food smell will soak in

Review №99

2023-10-05 23:10:06

Great food and service. Not great drink options but it is what it is. Small little place and felt authentic.

Review №100

2019-12-16 03:41:48

Love this place! Have come here multiple times now and have never been disappointed. Very accommodating and even takes reservations ahead of time.Food here is consistent and tasty each time. For what you get it is fairly priced too. Great for social events! Can have all you possibly can stomach and crammed down your face hole.I give this the place the highest of thumbs up and as a bonus they play kpop in the background for the atmospheric appeal.

Review №101

2019-03-09 02:39:30

The food was excellent. $22 a person. $10 for my three year old, and free for my one year old. I especially enjoyed the butter garlic chicken. I did not like the spicy chicken. This would be a five star if they had changing stations in their bathrooms. The bathrooms were dirty and had no area to change diapers.

Review №102

2022-05-24 05:47:37

This place is amazing! Hands down best Korean bbq spot I have been too. This place is great. The wait can be a bit at times but that should tell you it’s worth it. It’s a whole experience! The staff is exceptional, the food is amazing.This place has withstood the rest of Covid. It’s hands down the best place to be in Japan Town. At full capacity this place get a little smokey/cook meat smell. The atmosphere has always been live.

Review №103

2017-01-24 19:29:22

Delicious all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue for a decent price. The cheaper tier offers more than enough options for most people, and all of it is delicious. This place gets pretty smoky but it makes for a really neat atmosphere. Service is great. Definitely plan on going back.

Review №104

2014-08-03 06:49:59

Awesome experience! They fry up the meat right on the table. Korean wine is a must. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Theres a call button at each table and servers come instantly.Dont wear nice clothes, youll stink after.

Review №105

2022-07-05 17:44:24

Took the guy Im trying to make my boyfriend when he asked me where I wanted to eat after Roe v Wade was overturned. (You know. For womens choice night)Always nervous introducing people to new places, but he loved it. I always do. Brisket and bulgogi were great. I ordered the spicy rice cake side. It comes with rice cakes in there and is probably my favorite Korean dish. Other than the meat of course.

Review №106

2022-08-19 04:02:24

The meats are very good and it’s a really fun experience to cook with your friends. I recommend the 29.99 per person option. The food is all you can eat, so make sure you eat as much as you can!

Review №107

2013-03-09 21:59:19

This review is for the cafe next to the restaurant. The cafe is tucked into the building and very easy to overlook. I highly recommend this adorable little cafe! The cafe itself is simply adorable with all the quirky little decorations. The staff is so nice and definitely contribute to the atmosphere. The coffee there is amazing and always fresh. You wont be disappointed!

Review №108

2023-09-04 02:18:43

Pretty decent place. The meat options are not enough, tho the steam egg is good. The sauce is fine.

Review №109

2018-03-10 00:09:55

Great tasting food. It is all you can eat and there are two menu options you can choose from. One 21.99 per person and 26.99 per person. Already great choices on the cheaper menu. You cook for yourself(most fun part) and they have free side dishes(typical for Korean restaurants). You are also able to order other dishes like steamed egg and rice.

Review №110

2020-03-04 21:30:15

Dont come here for the food, come for the convivial semi co-working aspect of the place, with great fast wi-fi, plenty of outlets and tables arranged almost like youre in the study hall of your school library. Tasty lattes and snacks keep you going -- the sweet potato one is weird but moreish -- and I recommend their amazing macaroons for a sweet and cheap sugar high. Good opening hours, a nice place to chill and a relaxed atmosphere where people dont get to noisy.

Review №111

2022-03-26 07:41:15

Korean bbq is one of my favorite things of all time. I have been to NY (jongro bbq), charlotte (lets meat), Atlanta (762 bbq and 9292 korean bbq), and many gyu kaku (its japanese i know). My point is, yakiniq has been average. I enjoyed the food. The quality and variety are not bad, but there are some things that left me wishing for more. I hope the owners reads this because i think there is room for improvement. San Francisco is one of the major cities and all the other places ive been have done a better job at k bbq in my opinion.What you guys did well:1) good miso marinate2)lots of variety3) maybe this is a bad thing for the people trying to eat every item on the menu but you guys give large portions of meats.4) fair prices, specially because this is an all you can eat restaurant.5) most items are fairly tastyWhat needs improvement? :1) only 2 sauces. You guys have one that is a spicy with a wasabi flavor (not bad). But the second sauce is just another extra spicy version of the first one. Where is the sesame oil with salt. Where is the Gochujang, or soybean paste, or a sweet and spicy. Only 2 sauces: one spicy and one extra spicy. This makes it really hard to eat non marinated meats.2) key side dishes missing. You guys have some good and tasty side dishes like potato salad, kimchi, the glass noodles, cabbage salad and others. But you dont have pickle radish, pickled onion, or a cucumber salad. In my opinion, having some pickled radish wrapped around some meat and kimchi would have made this much better. Lettuce leaves were too big and It took a very long time to refill the side dishes bur that is a minor problem.3) no oil or lemon for the grill. In many restaurants they oil the grill to prevent food from sticking and burning. And the lemon is to scrub the burned residue. This would have helped reduce how often we needed to change grills.4) our fan was not working. We were on the older side of the restaurant so i think our fan was just a bad one. Our neighbors had a good fan. Because of that and having to wait a long time for the waiter to come change the grill, we would find ourselves inhaling all the smoke. Not a lot of fun.5) music was little bit too loud.6) the place feels and looks old. The stair to the bathroom smells. Probably a renovation is needed but i understand it is a major project.7) the bulgogi marinate was really average. It wasnt salty or sweet.8) this is minor but Nothing we ordered had any garlic or green onions. These are typical korean aromatics and I think it would have added a extra layer of flavor to everything.I would probably given you a 3.5 out of 5 because of the need of a renovation, average ambiance, average bulgogi and the slow service; however, i think 4 out 5 is okay because of the price, the variety, the waiters are hard workers and most items were fairly tasty.Ultimately, this is an all you can eat korean bbq restaurant. Most ayce will skip on quality and focus on quantity. YakiniQ does some things well but it is not an exception to the ayce rule.if i had more sauces (at least the traditional kbbq sauces), lemon or oil to prevent food burning/sticking, 1 or 2 more side dishes, and fix the bulgogi, i think yall could be a 4.5 out of 5 or even a 5 out of 5 (if you over look the old building) when it comes to ayce korean bbq.

Review №112

2018-08-07 05:51:25

Usually I wouldnt bother giving a bad review. But we had such a terrible experience I feel obligated to do this. The staff service was very unfriendly, and not very helpful with helping us understand the menu. Also they brought us food we didnt even order at one point, but the kicker was what happened at the end of the meal. So me and some friends and family went to this place. However I had recently ate minutes before we arrived so I had only planned on drinking and entertaining our guest. However towards the end I did have 2 bights to try something I had never tested. (to see if I would like it and maybe come back). But the manager (or maybe owner) saw this and tried charging me a full meal. Keep in mind that it is an all you can eat type of place so paying around 27$ for 2 bights of food is insane. We tried to explain the situation but the man refused to listen. Not only that but he was very rude to us and very dismissive which is what bothered us most. We ended up paying, but we gave a bad tip and of course we will never go back there again.

Review №113

2023-01-03 03:57:35

Great kbbq place. all you can eat (for 2 hours) lots of options and friendly staff. highly recommend. put your name on the waitlist through yelp if you plan on getting there later than their opening time.

Review №114

2015-07-28 22:26:57

Finally I found an all you can Korean BBQ for a good price in SF and it opens late too!Winner!!! Came here late, at around 10:30 and we waited for about 20-25 min. The place was packed even so late at night. Lots of big groups there.The food was actually quite good, the beef brisket, marinated pork, spicy squid and beef intestine were great! The complimentary sides were good not a big variety, but the kimchi was great!We had 3 waiters come to our table, one was a little rude and trying to rush us but the other two were great, always smiling and helping us. Thank God the rude one only passed by once. The other two were very friendly.The price is the highlight of the evening $19.99 a person is a catch! The place definitely needs some serious ventilation renovation and some dusting behind the tv thats placed next to the staircase. The womens toilet needs a lot more attention though! It would have given it four stars even it was cleaner, because the food is good

Review №115

2017-06-25 05:56:51

Quite a wait, but it was Saturday during Pride Weekend, so it was expected. We were a group of 3 on a busy Friday night, and we had great service. Our waiter made recommendations and was attentive about when the grill needed changing. The bulgogi was delicious, and the pork belly was wonderful. I also really enjoyed the chicken gizzard. The banchan is okay, but its really all about the meat here.

Review №116

2019-08-04 06:39:49

This coffee shop had a charming atmosphere, and the lattes were fantastic. Our hotel was across the street, and YakiniQ Cafe was our morning coffee and breakfast spot.The quiche was delicious and served with a salad...w/ a light vinaigrette. The croissant with nutella was a great alternative when I wanted something sweet.It has a cozy atmosphere, with a couch and chairs to sit and chat, but also had tables for people to open their laptops to work, and outdoor seating on the sidewalk in front.

Review №117

2018-08-11 00:00:16

A really cute place, nice ambience. Good for a quick coffee/snack/light lunch or to get work done in the afternoon, since they have WiFi and plentiful seating (but only if you get there by noon or so, otherwise youll probably have trouble finding a table near an outlet). Coffee and food is kinda over-priced, but not enough to prevent me from buying something so I can camp out for a bit.

Review №118

2017-02-14 05:43:15

Great all you can eat Korean BBQ. I wouldnt say that the meat is the best in quality, but for the price and quantity, YakiniQ is a great restaurant to try!

Review №119

2017-05-17 01:41:13

Went at around 5:30pm on a Tuesday so definitely not so busy. Got great service, the waiters always changed the grills immediately after a round of meat, and the marinated meats were oh so yummy. XD Definitely try it if youre in the area, great experience, and nice people.

Review №120

2024-02-13 07:37:06

The best spot everJust get a reservation this place is crowded

Review №121

2020-01-21 04:43:59

This is more of a 3.5 stars review. Unlimited rounds of meat (3 items at a time). Its super rowdy and loud for dinner so I wouldnt recommend it for a young family. Service is mixed depending who you can catch. The Kalbi was pretty good, everything else we tried was ok and too much sauce. Id try a different place

Review №122

2019-08-26 18:30:28

Very quiet place to study, read, or get away from everything.The matcha latte was okay, maybe a little sweet, and the shortbread cookies need more match flavoring. The staff was plain, not really friendly, nor rude. Tipped them anticipating they would provide some service, but that wasnt the case. I thought when they werent busy, and there were two of them they would have brought out the drink, we were right there. Considering I tipped them close to 20%, I felt jipped.

Review №123

2018-06-15 14:48:07

The host started the whole great experience. The side dishes was amazing the authenticity of it. Then the variety of tasty meats filled my stomach. The place is exciting and the staff is helpful and plenty of It. What a great experience...the price was orth the all you can eat....enjoy😁

Review №124

2017-01-22 21:21:59

Love stopping here to work or study for a couple hours on the weekend. Its fairly quiet (not as deathly quiet as a library), but you are not disturbed by other patrons. Wonderful service, free WIFI, water and bathroom in the back. Cafe also has a nice unique selection of drinks and some eats. One of my favorite spots!

Review №125

2019-04-17 19:26:17

Good seating, not too cramped and spacious interior. This would ordinarily mean a great spot to read, get some work done, or just sit down for a relaxing conversation with a friend. Unfortunately, the music (modern pop, hip hop, etc) does not fit the interior and makes for a less pleasing than possible experience.

Review №126

2013-03-08 02:54:14

Everything is great about this place. The atmosphere, the people, and definitely the service. You will not leave happy. My only complaint would be that they leave the door open and it can get freezing cold at times. But I understand its for ventilation since its a gigantic BBQ in there. But regardless of the door open, the smoke still congests the area and can get a little bothersome but I understand that it is part of the eating experience of Korean BBQ.

Review №127

2020-03-12 03:39:37

Nice ambiance. ok coffee (good lattes, so-so mochas). friendly service. outlets are sparse and limited to the tables flushed to the wall, and it can be very busy so if youre trying to do work here make sure your devices are charged beforehand.

Review №128

2015-03-19 02:33:13

Best place I have ever had Korean BBQ!Ive been here with a large group of coworkers and the employees were very accommodating. Even as are table became more and more intoxicated. I even took my parents here because I liked it so much!The food is great and tastes fresh too.I do recommend making reservations in advance if you go at dinner time. Its nearly impossible to get in even if you have just 2 people. The max limit is 2 hours but, thats plenty of time to eat all you can eat!

Review №129

2022-11-05 03:51:52

Staff blamed customer for not making reservations correctly, (we called) then proceeded to forget about us (twice). Leaving us waiting forever. Apologetic and did not own to mistakes. The reviews check out. After pushing, they made it right. So edit (2 star) I hope they get their system fixed

Review №130

2021-02-10 23:03:06

Easily one of my most favorite places to frequent in the city. Its by far the best price to experience you can get. Cheap all you can eat prices, great menu, awesome service.In the pre-pandemic days this would be the best place to gather a group of friends on a Friday night before going out. Cant wait to do this again once Covid is over!

Review №131

2022-10-24 17:34:59

YaikiniQ has been around forever and might actually have been the first AYCE KBBQ place in San Francisco! I remember coming here with my friends over a decade ago. The cuts of meat are excellent and the salad is TO DIE FOR. I think its a cabbage salad and the dressing is absolutely fabulous.

Review №132

2017-10-16 01:24:25

This place is amazing. Great price for all you can eat the staff is so nice and super friendly. I loved how they can and help cut up the food for us when I apparently was struggling. Ha ha love it. Very conveniently located near the Japan Town Mall. Highly recommend go check then out when you are super hungry.

Review №133

2022-07-30 02:45:51

Food was great. No compromise whatsoever for all-you-can-eat restaurants. If you don’t want to wait, call them in-advance before they’re too busy that you’re coming in 15 mins.

Review №134

2022-01-23 20:46:34

I dont recommend going to this restaurant within an hour before it closes. we went at 8:50PM and it closes at 9:30PM not knowing its a all you can eat bbq. we had to rush really badly to finish eating 3 meat we ordered since they charge you for the left overs and they reminded us multiple times that they close at 9:30 and we will be asked to leave. they had good sides though

Review №135

2018-05-29 15:59:20

This was an amazing adventure for carnivores. My advice, when ordering the 3 meats - tell them small amount, so you can taste / experiment w/ other meats on the menu. Its a great experience. They change the grill when it get charred by all the various meats. Service was spot on. Get there early - it gets packed as soon as they open. Did I mention its in Japantown neighborhood? Yes. After eating all that food, you can burn calories by walking around.

Review №136

2016-06-24 23:16:13

This is my familys favorite Korean all-you-can-eat BBQ joint. Weve been returning to this restaurant since we found it 3 years prior. For the most part it looks like a family ran place, with the servers wearing shirts that announce how they are related (friend or family). The main item that makes this place is the marinades. If you like the sweeter flavors for Korean BBQ, this might not be the place for you. But for my family, who prefers the savory flavors, this is a top choice. You can order up to three plates of meat, made for a serving/person at the table, at a time. The drinks are pretty nice too, but we just think they complement the main meal. Definitely recommended for those meat lovers! Also, this is a great way to finish off a day in Japantown, San Francisco.

Review №137

2019-07-10 02:43:05

Food was great and service was solid. My issue is theres no wheelchair access and even though Im not handicapped myself I watched a teenager in a wheel chair (helped by two of his friends) basically pull himself up a flight of stairs. Then wasnt even offered a chair to sit in while waiting so he was propped and held up by his friends.

Review №138

2022-08-28 03:25:48

Edward, this guy, has no professionalism, behaves bad, calls himself a manager, and then goes onto tell that without having a tip policy, you have to pay a minimum of $30. Takes the food away, and also takes the money away, horribly tells you to leave.Absolute nonsense service, absolutely horrible customer response.

Review №139

2018-01-10 00:14:53

Very nice atmosphere cool vibe. The staff and owner are always very friendly, and the coffee is on spot every time I go. Pastries are made by the owner and some are brought in from other sources. They have salads and huge onigiris. Love the place. Always stop in when Im near by.

Review №140

2018-06-26 05:12:25

I went with a group of 5, and it was a pretty quick wait tine for a monday night. The meat was great and a selection of the basic meats for all you can eat was $21. There did seem to be some sort of limit of how many orders you can get, but in our case, it was just enough for all of us to be completely stuffed. I wished that they had flavored soju cocktails by the pitcher, but that would have been a nice extra.Overall, this is a pretty good kbbq place thats cheaper than Gen and has good quality meat for a cheaper price

Review №141

2020-02-11 02:34:46

Horrible place! Absolutely Need void it ! We come in because the waitlists of Daeho(popular Korea Restaurant),and there is no charger at all, I ask twice, the owner said no very coldly, and we ordered 2 macaroons (just so so:-(, and coffee(no flavor at all:-(, and my sister need a cup of hot water,she said need pay $1.00 for a cup of hot water?!!!! I never go to a cafe place they will charge your hot water! That’s just so mean and cheap! Never Never will come back!:-( serves suck so horrible!

Review №142

2013-03-07 00:59:03

I absolutely loved their cafe. its super nice and it reminds me of the cafes in Korea. unfortunately if you are a laptop camper, this place is not really for you. they have limited plugs for you to charge your laptop. The drinks are good, must try the sweet potato latte.

Review №143

2022-07-26 00:13:04

Super busy but the food is worth it.

Review №144

2018-05-10 02:36:16

Absolutely love this place — fantastic for a group meal. Great sides, good flavours, great selection (even just on the base all-you-can-eat menu). Just know that you will definitely smell like barbecue after you leave!

Review №145

2022-10-29 04:08:34

Had a bad experience last week because the establishment decided to destroy the birthday cake of our friend when we didn’t decide to dine in. We left the cake prior to our reservation and picked it up after we decided to cancel. Cake was destroyed when we received it and our friends were talked to rudely when getting it. Won’t be going back

Review №146

2017-05-29 18:54:52

Came in at around 9pm to put our name on the list, told us we are the last party and that the wait would be at least 30 min. We went down the street to wait since they said they would call us, which we thought was pretty cool. They call us around 10, and we arrive right away. They seated us in two separate booths, so our party was split up, even though they had big tables where we could sit together, but they just sat us where they could. We did the $21 all you can eat, but as we were ordering they failed to tell us the sides were extra cost to one group, and with the other group who asked if it was extra, they acted like we were dumb for asking. After our first round of food, they tell us last call on our second round 30 mins before closing time, even though we should have had fill service until their 11pm closing time. They also refused to let one group order more than 3 items for our last call, which now doesnt make this all you can eat. No more meat, no more sides. Not once did they offer to clean our grill. 10 mins after last call they bring us the bill, and rush us to pay. Gratuity was included in our bill for their RUDE SERVICE.Go somewhere else unless you want BAD service

Review №147

2016-08-03 21:50:52

Long waiting time, be sure to make a reservation.Unlimited Korean barbecue, you have 2 hours to eat all you can (except the best meats that are limited to two per table).The meats are good enough, but Ive had a lot better.

Review №148

2018-08-09 03:28:47

Best place ever if you have to feed hungry teenaged boys! Next time would not choose the premium menu because the boys just didnt appreciate the unique meat options offered (tongue, cheek etc).Food was plentiful, staff were very attentive and polite and the owner was great to talk to and very patient amongst the hungry droves waiting to be served.A definite must visit.

Review №149

2015-11-17 03:32:20

Really like both the coffee shop and BBQ. Beef Brisket and Beef rib fingers?! Yes please! Staff is great. Only downside is the wait, especially on Friday & Saturday night. Oh and if you sit on one of the stools in the middle, remember the top of the stool can come off and put your jacket in there to minimize it smelling like BBQ for the rest of the night.

Review №150

2018-04-08 05:57:57

We went around 5.30pm and waited for 5mins, it was okay. the staff are pretty friendly, but the food was okay. the beef short rib was really very good and the garlic butter chicken and the beef brisket was okay. quite smokey and the smell will linger on your cloth.

Review №151

2013-07-07 22:16:47

(This review is specifically for YakiniQ Cafe, not the restaurant)One of my favorite cafes in SF. This quiet little place offers my favorite sweet potato latte, french macaroons and great pastries. The service is excellent and it is nice and quiet for reading/studying. Lots of tables and chairs + outlets for laptops. Local artists display their artwork on the walls, which I think are also for sale. Love it! =)M

Review №152

2017-08-01 17:10:12

Food was very good and tasty, and service was fast (although slightly pushy). The meat was so well marinaded and tasted amazing. Even the sides were well priced (although pickles were free!). The only downsides was poor ventilation and lettuce wasnt free (or at least cheaper).

Review №153

2018-11-02 19:36:20

Really really pleasant Japantown cafe! The atmosphere is cozy and calm and the barista is great. The drinks are a little pricey but there are fun drinks like a lavender latte plus all the normal offerings to choose from. The service is also excellent!

Review №154

2019-03-05 17:21:46

Wasnt too impressed with Yakini. Understand that there arent many KBBQ restaurants in San Francisco and thus choice is very limited. They have a sitting time limit that wasnt explained to us and they squeezed 7 people around 1 grill. Thus the time limit and the size of the cooking area of the grill made it difficult to cook and eat at a good pace. Also, there were reviews that said service was good, but we didnt have that experience as not once did a server come up to us and ask if we wanted to order more food. Each time (no less than 6 times) did we have to flag down a server to ask for sides, meats, drinks, etc. The restaurant itself is grimmy too. The carpet is dirty and Im surprised a grease fire hasnt happened yet as the tables dont appear to be the cleanest. Sorry Yakini. Not trying to hate on your restaurant, but wanted to provide feedback for improvement so others have a better experience than me and my party.

Review №155

2020-06-01 02:28:51

Really good ! Even better when theres no line which doesnt happen often.Came a few times and were not disappointed. Please let us pre-book a time so we dont have to wait for 1 to 2 hours in the cold, and standing in the stairs.The food was excellent but the waiting time repelled us! We came back one day when there was no line.

Review №156

2024-01-21 05:12:29

Loved it!

Review №157

2016-11-08 14:54:27

Fun spot for all you can eat Korean Bbq. Some of the meat appeared frozen, but it was still tasty. Loved the spicy pork belly. Great sides, good prices, solid service. Arrived shortly after it opened for the day, so there was no wait. The downfall--disgusting bathrooms.

Review №158

2014-03-25 06:00:53

Price list, two options: $19.99 or $24.99. Eating time, two options, before 6PM or after 9PM (or up to 2 hours wait in between). Taste, one option only: great.I wish they offer more drink varieties. Get ready to eat in a very loud and exciting environment. Service is excellent.

Review №159

2014-08-06 23:43:38

My review is referring to the adjacent cafe that is also called YakiniQ. It is a cute shop for studying and working. Their sweet potato latte is a great drink to try. I have tried both with milk and with soy. I prefer the sweet potato latte with soy. It has a sweet soy taste that pairs well with the sweet potato. I have heard the baked goods are great too. Wonderful spot to try for your not so typical cafe drinks.

Review №160

2019-03-08 22:30:03

Randomly found in Japan Town!! Really worth it! Go there before 2pm than they have the lunch special. It’s an all you can eat for max. 17.99$ - and you can choose from 15 different dishes.

Review №161

2019-08-26 02:28:11

All-you-can-eat meat and five table sides, although other items can be ordered at extra cost. Beer selection is horrendous, though service is good: I saw some tables with clueless diners whose waitress showed them how to cook their food, and our waiter regularly checked in with us to see if we wanted to get more meat. Parking is on-street. I prefer Gyu-Kaku, but this is a close second. My parents, who are in their seventies and are not very adventurous with foreign cuisines, said they were pleasantly surprised and would probably eat there again.

Review №162

2022-06-23 16:50:52

Worst BBQ experience ever! If you like lazy waiters and VERY LOUD music, this is the perfect place... We waited for 2 hours, but were very disappointed. Food is good though.

Review №163

2018-09-03 05:45:35

Great price for quality of meat and service provided. Unlimited food, but will charge for leftovers. Bean paste and miso soup not available/included in banchan (small dishes served with rice and meal). Recommend calling ahead on weekends/peak hours.

Review №164

2014-11-07 07:09:49

The food was tasty. Place was loud and crowded and full of smoke. Somehow some of our cash mysteriously disappeared between when we gave it to the waiter and the cash register so we had to argue over how much cash we paid, so that was sketchy. Ok place for lots of meat with the guys. Not a good date or family spot.

Review №165

2018-11-06 20:59:51

Rare are cafes that have good coffee but are also dead silent. This cafe not only has many tables to work with, but also bathroom, water, couches, food, and wifi. People come here for work so dont expect to get chatty and loud here. I came here multiple times to study for my licensing exams and was able to fit in a great session each day. If a day of productivity is what you need, you can certainly find that here!

Review №166

2018-01-29 07:54:07

So so quiet here. If you need to get work done without distractions, this is a great option. Sandwich and matcha tea latte were great, though a little pricey. Outlets can be hard to come by, but communal seating is encouraged which helps.

Review №167

2018-04-27 01:52:57

Havent been here in some time... Previously had very good experience. That said, this Thurs early eve was disappointing. The very rude counter person (Perhaps Russian accent) should not be working in public service. Really bad attitude. And, the macaroons were old & soggy. New owner? Shame.

Review №168

2022-08-01 03:32:16

This place is for 20 something. Loud music and mediocre food that is perfect for the young and ignorant crowd. If you want authentic Korean bbq you will not have it here. By the way if you do not see many Korean people eating here, just ask yourself why that is.

Review №169

2016-09-11 16:34:14

Okay was told a 20 min wait ended up being a 45 min wait. I Love FOOD, how ever this was very low on my scale of good. We had to wait for everything, had to ask 2 times for rice, soda, and meats. Out of all Korean places Ive been too I would never go back.

Review №170

2018-04-21 04:17:47

Great food . A little wait, but it was worth it

Review №171

2017-12-08 15:44:40

I was passing by that BBQ while strolling through the Japanese quarter. Usually they do not allow a table for just one person but made an exception as it was not too crowded that evening. Food is very good you get for 22 or 26$ a variety of meat choices you can grill at your table. Beef brisket was one of my favorites but chicken or fish are available and very good as well

Review №172

2020-01-14 07:13:22

For a great price you can eat more meat here than you ever wanted to. Very delicious! Make sure you shower after to get the smoke smell out of your hair.

Review №173

2015-09-13 00:52:22

I would give this place 0⃣⭐️star if I could.It was my first time here and my friend has been there few times. We got here at 5:30p and only couple tables occupied. Food served so fast and the servers helped pour the meat on the grilled for us as if they were rushing us out the door. During the 1.5hrs there, the servers came by many times and asked if we were done eating?! The first order is big and second order on meat portion is smaller and poorer meat quality. By the time we left, only half the restaurants was occupied. I will not recommend this place and I will not go back for poor service and poor qualify meat ! 👎🏻

Review №174

2019-03-13 21:22:46

A quiet cafe serving coffee, tea and light bites. This was a great place to spend the afternoon working, reading, listening to music and grabbing a quick lunch. Im surprised it wasnt much busier, but I really appreciated the chilled out atmosphere.

Review №175

2017-01-03 19:31:59

They took my reservation, I drove 45 minutes to restaurant, turns out its closed. I tried going yesterday Jan 2. I called at 5pm when they open, and a man picked up my phone and hurriedly tried to take my reservation, and didnt even bother to ask for my name. After giving him my name, he confirmed my reservation for 8:30pm. I drove 45 min from San Jose to meet a friend for dinner and how shocked and embarassed I was when the restaurant was closed. Terrible terrible service, would not recommend. The food is decent but theres plenty of kbbq to choose from in town.

Review №176

2019-09-28 10:30:50

Visited this cosy KBBQ restaurant on the 8th September 2019 with my partner and friends. For $27pp, you get the choice of premium cuts (otherwise $22pp). In my opinion, the premium cuts are worth it! Our favourites would have been Bul-Go-Gi (marinated beef, premium cut), and Gal-Bi Boneless Short Rib (non-premium, although it is limited to one serving pp). Beef Rib Finger (premium) is also quite delicious.The waitstaff were friendly and approachable, which helped further set the restaurants mood to one thats warm, easygoing and relaxing. They also ensured all tables had their grills changed on a timely basis! All tables will also receive complimentary Korean side dishes such as kimchi, glass noodles, potato salad and a few others as well. If you ever need assistance, the booths have a buzzer so you can call for waitstaff.Overall, I would highly recommend this place, especially in groups as you cant go wrong pairing good food with good company! Looking forward to coming back here on a future visit to San Francisco.

Review №177

2020-03-07 15:51:12

Fantastic for the price which cant be beat in San Francisco. We do an outing at least once a year here with the company and always have a blast enjoying the BBQ and soju. The Kalbi in particular is some of the best I have had.

Review №178

2017-09-24 16:25:22

Great value for money, all you can eat! Meat quality is good, staff very helpful and always ready to get us more meats. Come early it can get busy really fast!

Review №179

2019-12-24 08:59:47

Amazing service and fun atmosphere.

Review №180

2014-09-19 19:58:41

Ve been here twice. The first time I was here I loved it so much I told all my friends they had to try the sweet potato latte here. And the girls who worked the counter were so cute and made my drink so perfect. They really do use real sweet potato, and its so hearty.Second time: I had a super rude cashier. Dunno what happened but this time around instead of two Japanese girls helping me, there were two hipsters who appeared to not be doing anything. Cashier was some tall white boy who gave me an attitude when I paid him the total. He didnt even mention the total plus tax, but when I handed him the total without tax all he said was Theres tax. And i was like whats the new total? And he seemed pissed. I dont know how they found this loser, or how he ended up getting a job here. Unfortunately he also made our drinks, and like his cashiering skills, the drinks were totally half assed. I brought my sister here and both our sweet potato lattes tasted different from each others. He barely put anything in there, it just tasted like sweet milk. Sorely disappointed. Wont be coming back.

Review №181

2020-01-04 21:17:54

Bad place. Came here for lunch on a Saturday and there were a bunch of open tables. Service was awful. The server dumped my entire first order of meat on the grill without asking. Had to ask for water three times before getting it halfway through my meal. The galbi is mediocre and you only get one small serving of it in the AYCE. Don’t come here.

Review №182

2022-04-10 09:35:20

I love this Korean style BBQ. Their all-you-can-eat is reasonable, so I’d like to visit frequently. Before going, I’d recommend to use Yelp waitlist to shorten waiting time.

Review №183

2018-11-27 23:47:03

Great selection in the all you can eat bbq, with two price levels (we opted for the more basic one). The gal-bi was best, the unmarinated pork belly was plain. Efficient and friendly service! Be warned, it’s very smoky inside and you will come out smelling like kbbq. Not vegetarian friendly.

Review №184

2017-11-02 05:01:02

Gotta love all you can eat. Although the portions on single items were huge so didnt get to test as many options as we would have liked. Maybe we could have ordered portions for just two although our party had four people in it?

Review №185

2014-08-06 23:50:41

* Food:o Presentation: Good! (3/5)o Temperature: Hot! (5/5)o Quality: You can tell they use real sweet potato. The latte wasnt too sweet either! Its quite tasty, Im a big fan. (5/5)o Dishes ordered: Sweet potato latte.o Tastiest dish: Sweet potato latte! Absolutely amazing! No other coffee shop serves this! (5/5)* Server:o Attentive: Yes! (4/5)o Knowledgeable: Yes! (4/5)o Friendliness: Yes! (4/5)* Restaurant:o Atmosphere: Lots of people! The restaurant was well-lit. (4/5)o Cleanliness: The restaurant looked organized and clean. (5/5)o Cost vs. value: Decent! ~$3 is not bad! (3/5)* Will I revisit restaurant? Yes, I will revisit! :)

Review №186

2023-08-28 03:56:53

Always an amazing experience here! Food Quality, customer Service and cleanliness of the restaurant, always love it

Review №187

2017-10-09 05:41:33

Felt like bait and switch - they tell you its all you can eat, but unless you pay close attention to the fine print on the menu, you wont realize that the galbi is limited to one serving per person. Considering that its the only beef item on the lower priced portion of the menu (thats not belly or intestines), and they dont cut the chicken into small enough pieces for it to cook well, wont give you a knife to cut it yourself, and the scissors they do have dont cut well at all... Youll need to spring for the higher cost version of things to get enough food. Also, many of the cuts were super fatty, far moreso than other Korean BBQ places Ive been to, and there were zero vegetables available. Definitely not one of the better Korean BBQ places Ive been to.

Review №188

2018-04-21 07:05:46

Tonight the staff tried to charge us for a bottle of rice wine that they never gave us, and then they refused to take it off the bill. We were kept hostage in the restaurant till they actually reviewed the security footage to see if we got the bottle. The footage proved they were wrong. Even with plain evidence in sight they refused to apologise. This place used to be the best kbbq place in the city. But the current management has completed ruined it. After being a regular here for years, this will be the last time I come here.

Review №189

2017-01-19 17:36:36

A dream come true joint for all meat lovers!!!!! Shout out to my GF for taking me to this joint.Got there on a stormy day around 7pm. Parking was a breeze. Not that crowded. Got seated in less than 5 mins.Loved the unlimited meatService was goodMy GF was sweet enough to do all the barbecuing & I was hungry enough to eat it all. :) Could barely move after I was done. Wishful thought - wish they had a rollaway bed to take a nap after the feast. LOLPlanning to go back after a bad ass workout for all u can eat protein!!!Get rdy to smell like barbecue after u r done.$50.00 for 2 pplWonder how they break even with what they r offering.

Review №190

2017-04-18 07:33:46

Its all you can eat, so thats nice, but you end up having to pay extra for lettuce and rice, which would be included in the price and given generously at other Korean BBQ places. Some things were very tasty while others were pretty sub par. I would stick with the basic BBQ option (the cheaper one), as nothing but the bulgoki was all that tasty on the more expensive part (and yes, I did try the intestines and what not; it was ok). Also, they charged $11 for a soju, which is absolutely ludicrous. Id rather go get a glass of whiskey at another bar or something. The staff was still very attentive despite how busy they were. Id come back here if I just wanted to drown myself in meat, but quality can be found elsewhere.

Review №191

2020-03-03 02:39:15

Reasonably priced! At around 21.99 per person you get to choose from a limited menu of meat that has all the usual k-bbq options such as beef brisket, pork belly, etc. Great atmosphere and good service as well. Definitely a great spot to fill ur k-bbq appetite!

Review №192

2019-05-29 17:54:09

Eastern Euro woman who works in the day time is consistently unnecessarily rude to customers. Including someone who appears to be handicap. Very mean and sharp .. makes customers feel unwelcome. Im sitting in the cafe now, watching her be mean to elderly woman.**Owners should change the staff .... she does not create a nice atmosphere and scares people off with her mean attitude.**** All of the 1 star reviews complaining about the same girl !!!

Review №193

2018-08-19 06:05:23

We arrived shortly after 5 PM and waited just over 30 minutes to get a table for two. The staff is very friendly, nice, and attentive despite being extremely busy. They accomplish this by working together - all the servers help all the tables. As a first-timer I appreciate it not only the suggestions, but also the assistance cooking the meats. YaqiniQ is a great place to go whether youre a beginner or a seasoned Korean BBQ aficionado.YaqiniQ is located next door to the Japan Center proper, which means you can park in Japan Center Parking Garage. as of this writing, San Francisco is still suffering from an auto brake and epidemic so I do not recommend parking outside. Be sure to bring layers for San Franciscos finicky weather. The restaurant does not accept reservations, so be prepared to wait! Theres plenty to see at the Japan Center so the time will go by quickly. Arrive as soon as they open or about an hour before they close if you want the shortest wait.

Review №194

2018-08-06 03:34:14

Great food, fast service. Best KBBQ Ive had. But the restaurant is a bit dirty when you look up, and the noise level and wait time are pretty bad. Overall its worth dealing with it all for the food (spicy pork belly), but there are definitely some screws to be tightened.

Review №195

2014-08-14 17:04:20

Yakiniq is both a Korean BBQ restaurant and a coffee shop side by side. I am reviewing the coffee shop. It is cozy inside with lots of places to sit and work or chat. They have homemade treats on the counter, all of which look really good. Perhaps the biggest draw to Yakiniq is the sweet potato latte. It has a very interesting flavor and is quit tasty although one large latte is a lot to drink.

Review №196

2013-10-29 04:39:58

My favorite cafe in Japantown. Super adorable and cozy. The cute, quiet, and relaxing atmosphere makes this the perfect place to sit and relax after a day of shopping. Ive also come here to study before since they have free wifi and lots of comfy seating. It usually gets pretty packed here though but its open seating all over!

Review №197

2013-01-22 21:23:42

I heard YakiniQ is known for their sweet potato latte, so I was super excited to try it. Maybe my expectations were too high.. or the sweet potato lattes I tried in the past were super amazing... but it wasnt as amazing as I had expected. It was good, but not phenomenal.LOOOVE the atmosphere though! Its a great place to chill with friends or spend time reading/studying/working.Next time I go, Im trying the hazelnut latte :)

Review №198

2021-09-28 05:12:33

First time going to KBBQ in the city, the meats were delicious and the service was impressively quick getting either new grill tops or food for the table. Was pleasantly surprised that they asked for proof of covid vaccination.

Review №199

2020-11-21 06:31:11

Theres not a day that I wouldnt mind literally eating at this ALL YOU CAN EAT korean bbq. The vibe is great friendly workers convenient bell to request more food so service would be efficient. I gotta also give to their sauce like why cant all the Korean bbq place have that orange sauce its so addictive its spicy sweet and tangy all at the same time its great. Honorable mention on their honey mustard sauce. But yeah overall food is great many options me and fam always get the same stuff brisket, beefbelly, porkbelly, galbi, and baby octopus. (Gotta try their Military Rice lit!)