The food quality and the staff's service are top notch. However, the pricing is way off. After spending $150 on two people I was hungry so went to H Mark down the street and got a pastry. I also ate a spare jerky that was left in my car. The tea was delicious as well.Next time, I'll probably go to the Korean BBQ in the same shopping center and the two of us will eat and be full for 1/3 the price.
Very quick service & good food! We ordered the wagyu & Kobe beef which was delicious. They source their Kobe beef from snake river farms which is one of my faves, high quality & very tender. Will continue to come back!
Kim M.
Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve date night here! My husband used the Japanese menu. We appreciated the Japanese-speaking staff. The atmosphere was cozy but bustling. The food we ordered was simple and delicious! The meat cuts were beautiful. Easy to grill. The two sauces provided were flavorful too. I shouldn't have ordered plain rice...I was eyeing the kimchi fried rice our neighbors got...it looked and smelled amazing. Will get that next time. Go hungry!!
Jean Tsou
Great Yakiniku BBQ plan in SD. They offer both Japanese and American Wagyu. Very good quality of meat selections. They also offer Korean style vegetable pickle combo, soon tofu soup and Bibimbap. Attentive service from the staff. Will come back here again next time when I am in town.
The meat was great but they didn't list the weight or how many pieces you got so it was deceptively small. We got 4 skinny strips of ribeye for $22. I guess I had expected the amount I typically see at KBBQ. But the quality of the meat was good. They charge for all the side dishes and rice. The beef tartare was also adorably (and sadly) very tiny. Between 2 of us, the total bill (before tip and without drinks) was $100 and we left still hungry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ayyyee Ns
Don’t seem to like people of color and they add a 20% gratitude to bill because they know you wouldn’t be tipping for the lack of service. Go to gyu kaku Japanese bbq instead much better more quality and bigger.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David H.
This place never disappoints, would be five stars if the value was there. Simple restaurant nothing to fancy where they do well is their cuts of fresh beef tongue and wagyu. Hands down the best you will find in this area. However don't expect to leave this place full, small portions spent over $100 for just three items and two people. Been both here and the Costa Mesa location it's a recommend.. just not a frequent repeat due to cost
Adrian A.
Hands down the best bbq experience on Convoy. The quality of the meat is top notch. It melts like butter in your mouth. The soup just warms your soul and the veggies are so fresh. When they say wagyu and kobe, it's like you're back dining in Japan without the air fare. They even have the wet towels prior to beginning your meal and flavorful hot tea. Service was great. Yum! Will always go back.
Kyle T.
I haven't been to this place since 2007-2008 when I used to live in San Diego. I came back for some great kimchi fried rice and others BBQ meat, still have excellent food with awesome customer service and very down to earth setting.
After hearing extremely good things, finally got an opportunity to try the fountain valley location. Being a diehard seikoen patron (prior to the ownership change and being from the south bay), was looking for something closer. Marinated harami (skirt) was the best. Other well marbled kalbi was good, but similar to other places. As with most smaller establishments, layout was not great for the bigger group we had but made due. Overall, good but not knock my socks off. Would I go back and wait in line again, maybe.
xinlu Liu
Food is too oily for this
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Wagyu
Calina N.
If you're looking to get your moneys worth and think this is all you can eat. Don't bother coming here. If you want to come out satisfied except to pay $300+ We ordered: - 1 plate of beef tongue (9 slices) - 1 combo meat plate (7 pieces of meat) - 1 plate of vegetables - 1 beer to share - 2 bowls of rice We paid $100....ended up getting fast food after. Everything here you have to pay for, even the rice. Nothing is provided except two sauces. I understand that the meat quality is "higher" but in my opinion the small pieces of meat and service did not make it seem worth it. To me it just doesn't make sense to pay this much for the mediocre experience. At least when you go to sushi omakase and spend $100+ dollars you can get an Japanese experience. Here the server just comes and dumps the plates of food and looks like every other bbq restaurant. Even Gyu-Kaku's service is better, has a more Japanese ambiance and they have a better value.
Gloria James
Only problem, it wasn't posted or was I told that a 23% was automatically added to the bill. I thought a 25 dollar tip was appropriate for a 195 dollar bill I wasn't informed that a 32 dollar tip was added to the bill.
Came here with my boyfriend on my birthday, got seated after 30mins waited. Food was nice, meat was good everything was good. But service could be better, the lady at the register wasn't friendly at all or care about customers; no servers were care until we waved them.
Really goood, pricey but worth it. Wagyu melts in your mouth.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kimchi Fried Rice, Wagyu, Kobe Gold Kalbi
The food quality and the staff's service are top notch. However, the pricing is way off. After spending $150 on two people I was hungry so went to H Mark down the street and got a pastry. I also ate a spare jerky that was left in my car. The tea was delicious as well.Next time, I'll probably go to the Korean BBQ in the same shopping center and the two of us will eat and be full for 1/3 the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soft Tofu Soup, Spicy Tofu Soup
Very quick service & good food! We ordered the wagyu & Kobe beef which was delicious. They source their Kobe beef from snake river farms which is one of my faves, high quality & very tender. Will continue to come back!
Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve date night here! My husband used the Japanese menu. We appreciated the Japanese-speaking staff. The atmosphere was cozy but bustling. The food we ordered was simple and delicious! The meat cuts were beautiful. Easy to grill. The two sauces provided were flavorful too. I shouldn't have ordered plain rice...I was eyeing the kimchi fried rice our neighbors got...it looked and smelled amazing. Will get that next time. Go hungry!!
Great Yakiniku BBQ plan in SD. They offer both Japanese and American Wagyu. Very good quality of meat selections. They also offer Korean style vegetable pickle combo, soon tofu soup and Bibimbap. Attentive service from the staff. Will come back here again next time when I am in town.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tongue, Kimchi Fried Rice, Bibimbap, Spicy Tofu Soup, Wagyu, Miso Chicken
The meat was great but they didn't list the weight or how many pieces you got so it was deceptively small. We got 4 skinny strips of ribeye for $22. I guess I had expected the amount I typically see at KBBQ. But the quality of the meat was good. They charge for all the side dishes and rice. The beef tartare was also adorably (and sadly) very tiny. Between 2 of us, the total bill (before tip and without drinks) was $100 and we left still hungry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t seem to like people of color and they add a 20% gratitude to bill because they know you wouldn’t be tipping for the lack of service. Go to gyu kaku Japanese bbq instead much better more quality and bigger.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This place never disappoints, would be five stars if the value was there. Simple restaurant nothing to fancy where they do well is their cuts of fresh beef tongue and wagyu. Hands down the best you will find in this area. However don't expect to leave this place full, small portions spent over $100 for just three items and two people. Been both here and the Costa Mesa location it's a recommend.. just not a frequent repeat due to cost
Hands down the best bbq experience on Convoy. The quality of the meat is top notch. It melts like butter in your mouth. The soup just warms your soul and the veggies are so fresh. When they say wagyu and kobe, it's like you're back dining in Japan without the air fare. They even have the wet towels prior to beginning your meal and flavorful hot tea. Service was great. Yum! Will always go back.
I haven't been to this place since 2007-2008 when I used to live in San Diego. I came back for some great kimchi fried rice and others BBQ meat, still have excellent food with awesome customer service and very down to earth setting.
Restaurantji Recommends
After hearing extremely good things, finally got an opportunity to try the fountain valley location. Being a diehard seikoen patron (prior to the ownership change and being from the south bay), was looking for something closer. Marinated harami (skirt) was the best. Other well marbled kalbi was good, but similar to other places. As with most smaller establishments, layout was not great for the bigger group we had but made due. Overall, good but not knock my socks off. Would I go back and wait in line again, maybe.
Food is too oily for this
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Wagyu
If you're looking to get your moneys worth and think this is all you can eat. Don't bother coming here. If you want to come out satisfied except to pay $300+ We ordered: - 1 plate of beef tongue (9 slices) - 1 combo meat plate (7 pieces of meat) - 1 plate of vegetables - 1 beer to share - 2 bowls of rice We paid $100....ended up getting fast food after. Everything here you have to pay for, even the rice. Nothing is provided except two sauces. I understand that the meat quality is "higher" but in my opinion the small pieces of meat and service did not make it seem worth it. To me it just doesn't make sense to pay this much for the mediocre experience. At least when you go to sushi omakase and spend $100+ dollars you can get an Japanese experience. Here the server just comes and dumps the plates of food and looks like every other bbq restaurant. Even Gyu-Kaku's service is better, has a more Japanese ambiance and they have a better value.
Only problem, it wasn't posted or was I told that a 23% was automatically added to the bill. I thought a 25 dollar tip was appropriate for a 195 dollar bill I wasn't informed that a 32 dollar tip was added to the bill.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Tongue, Kimchi Fried Rice, Mango Pudding
Came here with my boyfriend on my birthday, got seated after 30mins waited. Food was nice, meat was good everything was good. But service could be better, the lady at the register wasn't friendly at all or care about customers; no servers were care until we waved them.