Top Korean Restaurant in Thousand Oaks
Janchi Korean BBQ & Bar
165 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, United States
The service here for weekday lunch is top notch. September 2022, there was a lovely and friendly Latina woman who was our waitress. She was on it, checked in on us quite often, and made some suggestions off the menu to try.Its your typical Korean barbecue place, where you cook the meat yourself on a grill.I have to say that this is one of the rare places where their Grill actually pulls the smoke back into itself. So its not a smokey restaurant like most of the Korean barbecue places are.For the price, its a great value. You want the best deal? Go for lunch, and get the lunch price!Its a tradeoff though... they keep their prices low by having a limited menu. So if you want to spend the extra money and go all out to have more choices, you have to pay the extra dollars and get the dinner priced stuff.Parking situation: There is tons of parking available for free in the surrounding lot.Notes:1. For what this place is, in the area that its in, its definitely worth it. Otherwise, youd have to spend all that money and gas, and sit in traffic to go to the San Fernando valley, or down to Koreatown in downtown LA.2. With the exception of a few items on the menu (the fatty Bulgogi), most of the meat that you will order comes without any seasoning. If you want to enhance the flavor, ask your server for some salt, and sprinkle it on during the cooking process.3. Speaking of bulgogi, I think its one of the best things on the menu at any Korean barbecue place in general. It comes marinated, and the extra fat helps to keep the meat juicy and tender.In summary, this is a great place to bring family to, or out of town visitors. Its a different experience then your typical sit-down restaurant. The flavor profile at most Korean BBQ places is usually sweet with the little hint of sour. So if youre into that kind of thing, give this place a try.
Yama San
370 Via Las Brisas #120, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, United States
I just got home from my first visit to Yama San. I was skeptical about the fusion of Korean and Japanese food, but they dont seem to have fusion dishes, just separate sections of the menu. I had dolsot bibimbap and was pleasantly surprised. It was very good. The banchan was pretty decent. We got kimchi, cucumber kimchi, pickled pearl onions, fish cakes, potato salad... And I think Im missing something. It was definitely priced higher than most Korean restaurants ($60+ tip for two people), but Id say thats the price of Korean food in Newbury Park, particularly in DV. Sorry, I wouldve taken a couple pics.
Heat KBBQ By MGD Hollywood
1714 Newbury Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, United States
We’ve tried every iteration of a KBBQ restaurant this space has held over the years. While we were really excited to have “an LA based KBBQ place” so close to home, I have to say this was one of the most mediocre meals I’ve had in a while.On the plus side, the staff and the service were fantastic. Everything came out fast, everyone was friendly, and we felt like the service saved the night for us.As for the bad stuff…No liquor license yet which surprised us given how long the location took to open (and the seemingly minimal renovations they had to do). It’s part of the KBBQ experience to have some soju along with your meal and we were bummed to miss out on that.The meat quality was honestly so mediocre. Not very thin, not very flavorful. The pork belly was the highlight but unfortunately all of the beef we ordered fell really short on flavor and texture. Hot sides/apps were only okay with the exception of the Korean fried chicken which was made to order and came out hot, fresh, and juicy. The side of fried rice was particularly bad. It seemed like it had been sitting out for a long time. Super stale and almost crunchy? The rice paper seemed stale and basically disintegrated as soon I tried to construct a bite. The tortillas for the taco kit were also ice cold and crumbled very easily.The ventilation system didn’t seem to be working super well. We experienced a LOT of smoke from surrounding tables. throughout our meal. The noise level was also a bit much with loud music combined with the general volume of conversation/cooking.All in all, I’d choose nearby Janchi or Gen over Heat. Neither of those places are fantastic, but the meat is simply better and the menus at those restaurants seem more focused on BBQ and less on miscellaneous sides or apps like tater tots.
Top other services in Thousand Oaks:
All Fired Up Mongolian Grill
2691 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, United States
If youre Korean, please dont visit this restaurant. I went to this restaurant with my two boys on Nov 4, 2020; the manager asked me if I was Korean. He said the owner was Korean. We expected a lot because the manager was so kind. We came back home with expectations. However, he gave us food somebody left. The dumplings were hard and dry, only noodles without any choices we made. He succeeded in giving terrible memory. Do you hate Korean? Even if you hate someone, please dont do that. I paid money. My friend recommended this restaurant, but we all never went again. Still, Im so sad and cant forget the memory of passing the restaurant.
Mendocino Farms
966 S Westlake Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361, United States
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mendocino Farms, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience that left a lasting impression. From the moment I walked in, the warm and inviting ambiance set the stage for what turned out to be a culinary adventure like no other.The menu boasted a wide array of fresh, locally sourced ingredients that catered to a variety of tastes and preferences. As a food enthusiast, I appreciated their commitment to using high-quality, seasonal produce, which was evident in every dish I tried. The farm-to-table concept truly shined through in each bite.One of the highlights was their selection of artisanal sandwiches. I opted for the Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi and was blown away by the explosion of flavors in every mouthful. The tender pork belly paired perfectly with the tangy pickled vegetables and the kick of Sriracha aioli. It was a true gastronomic delight that had me savoring every last bite.Equally impressive was their range of fresh salads. The Mendos Market Salad was a refreshing medley of mixed greens, ripe avocados, quinoa, and a delightful champagne vinaigrette that danced on the taste buds. It was evident that they took great care in crafting each dish with a perfect balance of textures and tastes.Moreover, the staff at Mendocino Farms were incredibly attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall dining experience. They were more than happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions, ensuring that every guest felt welcomed and valued.As if the fantastic food and outstanding service werent enough, the restaurants commitment to sustainability and community support was commendable. Knowing that the ingredients were sourced ethically and locally only added to the pleasure of the meal.In conclusion, Mendocino Farms Restaurants exceeded my expectations in every way. Whether youre a food connoisseur or just looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, this place has it all. I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Mendocino Farms and indulging in their delightful offerings. Its an experience that will leave you craving more.
Nori Japanese Grill - Thousand Oaks
2871 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, United States
Restaurant is great but leave it to the health department to ding them for not allowing patrons to use their restroom which you can't but Nori didn't make arrangements either for their loyal patrons to use a restroom somewhere else in the strip mall they are located in. For this reason alone we won't be returning until they rectify this problem. Unsanitary hands of people who have access to their soda fountain and water and hot tea cups is gross!
Rise Southern Biscuits Righteous Chicken
1408 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, United States
Good food but there are some rough edges that should be buffed out over time.The good: Most of the biscuit sandwiches are very tasty and of decent size. The cinnamon buns are very good and are sold out a lot of the time for a reason. The other baked goods are also pretty excellent. This location is exceptionally clean and well maintained. The owner is exceptionally nice and helpful.The bad: The food is very expensive for what you get. The standard chicken biscuit sandwich is nearly $8 alone. The sides are not worth getting at all. The fries and tots are seemingly undercooked. There is only one, single kiosk to place orders. 5 or 6 people ahead of you in a line at most other restaurants is no big deal but that same number of people could take more than 20 minutes. A couple ahead of me easily took over 10 minutes to place an order while the just grew. They absolutely need to either open a traditional register to place orders faster or install more kiosks.
Pedals & Pints Brewing Company
156 W Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, United States
We visited Pedals and Pints for the first time for my birthday. They have part of their parking lot cordoned off and partially covered for outdoor seating. Tables are spaced at least 8 feet apart.They have their own brew to satisfy any taste, from a light, American-style lager, to pale ales and IPAs, to a medium-bodied Irish red, and the full-bodied stout. I ordered the Irish Red and my wife ordered the light lager, which were both very good.They have an appetizer menu full of tots that will suit any taste: Thai, Mexican, or Italian. We had the garlic tots with parmesan, and they were delicious! I highly recommend them.For our main meals, we ordered pizza--3, in fact: a vegetarian, a 3-cheese and a kids cheese. The crust was perfectly charred, chewey and thin, but without being soggy. They were generously sauced, and the vegetable toppings where perfectly tender-crisp. This was unexpectedly good pizza! They had to have been made in a wood-fired oven to give that smokey flavor to the crust. I thought the pizzas were a single serving each, but one pizza can feed two people. If you want leftovers, then go with a pizza per person.We enjoyed our first visit to Pedals and Pints, and I recommend you give them a try, too. You wont be disappointed. Were definitely going back!