MOA is a great addition to the food scene in Columbia and I love the Main Street location. It's right in the heart of everything. Fabulous selection and excellent service from the moment we walked in until we finished our goat cheesecake.
Nicole M.
I was excited for this place. Booked it for a birthday for my partner. It was a pretty devastating let down across the board. Some of this is just their policies to be aware of and some of it was just utterly poor service. I booked a table about 2 months in advance on open table. They only allow you to book up to 6, because more than that, you have to pay a deposit. I reserved a table for 10. They request a $100 deposit and if less than 75% of your party does not show, the deposit is non-refundable, no grace. We had a couple who had a family emergency with one of their children and lost the entire deposit with zero grace from the restaurant. As with all downtown locations parking is an issue, there is nothing close but street parking and a paid garage. The hostess staff was the nicest interaction of my entire experience with everyone at this location. They put us in the party room, which makes sense, however, the "party room" is just two really long tables that seat 10 each. We didn't have that many in our party but I had thought we would have the space to ourselves. Much to my chagrin, we did not. They put an entire other party in the room, right on top of us. For the prices and the process and the deposit--I was really disappointed. Our server himself was an absolute utter catastrophe. The menu is large, hard to understand, expensive, and it can be challenging to decide what to order especially if it is your first time. He was completely unhelpful, unknowledgeable, unaware of any of the answers to our questions and just very unprepared to be a server. We tried to get drinks several times but had to keep waiting for him to take care of us, I did finally get my order to him but he never put it in, he was really inconsistent to check on us, and he put in an order different than what I specifically ordered, pointed too on the menu and asked for. When we realized the mistake after the food arrived, his only solution was to up charge us for the difference. When the final bills came, he had put all of the party gratuity service charges on just one persons bill instead of splitting it up so it would be even, and then he didn't know how to fix it. I had brought birthday treats and they were clearly wrapped for travel. I would hope any normal restaurant professional would be aware that presentation is key, especially at a party, but not this guy. I had to get up and open everything up, just to be able to display dessert. Just another thing to be disappointed about- he did bring small plates but we had to ask him for them. . The food was good but nothing different that what you can find at any other Korean restaurant around Columbia. Absolutely not worth the price point for the service, the policies, and the location. Once we learned of the large group policy my partner really did not want us to go to this place. I really thought it would be amazing and special. After all is said and done, I wish I had just trusted him. We will not be back. I wish them luck here in Columbia. We are not Charlotte and this really isn't the kind of treatment we are used to and the price point is steep for this community. If they can get better more attentive staff that is well trained and have more customer centric policies, it might serve them well in the future.
Gfam
This establishment is NOT FOR CHILDREN. Do not come here if you have kids with you. We were in Columbia on a special occasion and wanted to have the experience of a nice dinner/cooking on the table. I have a toddler and it was just too much. Trying to feed my toddler while cooking/serving myself was enough, much less the owner STARING at us disapprovingly the whole time. Not to mention the food was not even that good for the price we paid. The ambiance was great for date night but not for a general night out with the family. Felt like I wasted $150.
Jane Y.
That was some of the best lunch we've had in a while. The food is excellent. The portion is large and the prices reasonable. Although we did only lunch, it was very enjoyable. Service is excellent.
My wife and I decided to try MOA for dinner Saturday evening and the overall experience was very nice. The quality of food was much better than the other Korean BBQ restaurants in the area and we were very surprised they offered to cook our food at the table or in the kitchen as well. The quality and quantity of the banchan was above and beyond the local Korean restaurants we have been to in Columbia as well. Perfect evening to celebrate our anniversary.
KevGez
Service and attention to detail was spot on. The amount of meat on the combos is definitely worth the price. Side dishes had great flavor and were fresh. Dessert was out of this world. Loved it
Lawrence Langdale
Came in on a Tuesday and had one of the best nights of my life. Lillie blew us away with her patient drink recommendations and enthusiasm; Liz is the kind of veteran steady-hand that should be in every establishment. Whoever is running the bar knows how to make a place special and keep it running smoothly.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Kay Jay
Ahhhmazing experience! From the time we entered to leaving, we received top notch service. I love how the servers do a wonderful job of juggling multiple tables to make sure food is prepared to your liking. It seemed like a lot initially but the young man handled it effortlessly. I just wish I could remember his name. The classic was ordered for 2 but could easily serve 4 as we had plenty of leftovers. I highly recommend this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kathleen Davis
Got some coffees from Nibles, and they were excellent. Then sat at the bar and had a drink. Everything was wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
MOA offers an elevated Korean BBQ experience. The staff were accommodating and even provided assistance with the grill, which was nice. The meat and banchans were top quality and our food came out quickly. Will return in the near future to try the A5 wagyu.
Fun atmosphere with class! The combos are the way to go! The staff are always attentive and professional.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melvin Brown
I can tell everybody that liz,and Lilly is the best...Hit them u on Wednesday
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crepe Cake
Kat Paraschos
10/16/23We had a wonderful time at MOA. The staff greeted us with a smile and the interior was modern and elegant, with touches of Korean culture. Some of my favorite were the traditional onggi pots on display. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We loved the quality of the meat and the fun of grilling it. I also tried soju pear, which was brilliant. The banchan sides were flavorful and satisfying. We finished with Vietnamese coffee and hotteok, a sweet pancake that was to die for. Mr Kim, the owner, came to our table and asked if everything was good. He was very attentive and friendly. It was a delightful evening and an unforgettable experience. Bravo Mr Kim, congratulations, and best wishes for your success and health.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Korean Chicken Wings, Marinated Prime Moa Galbi, Hotteok with Ice Cream, Bibimbap
Steven Johnson
If you are in the area and looking for a place to find good drinks with knowledgeable and friendly staff this is a must visit. Our Bartender, Hunter, was very courteous and friendly, he made spot on drink recommendations based on our preferences and prepared our cocktails expeditiously with beautiful presentation. Definitely grab a seat at the bar if Hunter is working, you won’t be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amy W.
Came here for our anniversary dinner. Service was extremely fast and the food was absolutely amazing.
MOA is a great addition to the food scene in Columbia and I love the Main Street location. It's right in the heart of everything. Fabulous selection and excellent service from the moment we walked in until we finished our goat cheesecake.
I was excited for this place. Booked it for a birthday for my partner. It was a pretty devastating let down across the board. Some of this is just their policies to be aware of and some of it was just utterly poor service. I booked a table about 2 months in advance on open table. They only allow you to book up to 6, because more than that, you have to pay a deposit. I reserved a table for 10. They request a $100 deposit and if less than 75% of your party does not show, the deposit is non-refundable, no grace. We had a couple who had a family emergency with one of their children and lost the entire deposit with zero grace from the restaurant. As with all downtown locations parking is an issue, there is nothing close but street parking and a paid garage. The hostess staff was the nicest interaction of my entire experience with everyone at this location. They put us in the party room, which makes sense, however, the "party room" is just two really long tables that seat 10 each. We didn't have that many in our party but I had thought we would have the space to ourselves. Much to my chagrin, we did not. They put an entire other party in the room, right on top of us. For the prices and the process and the deposit--I was really disappointed. Our server himself was an absolute utter catastrophe. The menu is large, hard to understand, expensive, and it can be challenging to decide what to order especially if it is your first time. He was completely unhelpful, unknowledgeable, unaware of any of the answers to our questions and just very unprepared to be a server. We tried to get drinks several times but had to keep waiting for him to take care of us, I did finally get my order to him but he never put it in, he was really inconsistent to check on us, and he put in an order different than what I specifically ordered, pointed too on the menu and asked for. When we realized the mistake after the food arrived, his only solution was to up charge us for the difference. When the final bills came, he had put all of the party gratuity service charges on just one persons bill instead of splitting it up so it would be even, and then he didn't know how to fix it. I had brought birthday treats and they were clearly wrapped for travel. I would hope any normal restaurant professional would be aware that presentation is key, especially at a party, but not this guy. I had to get up and open everything up, just to be able to display dessert. Just another thing to be disappointed about- he did bring small plates but we had to ask him for them. . The food was good but nothing different that what you can find at any other Korean restaurant around Columbia. Absolutely not worth the price point for the service, the policies, and the location. Once we learned of the large group policy my partner really did not want us to go to this place. I really thought it would be amazing and special. After all is said and done, I wish I had just trusted him. We will not be back. I wish them luck here in Columbia. We are not Charlotte and this really isn't the kind of treatment we are used to and the price point is steep for this community. If they can get better more attentive staff that is well trained and have more customer centric policies, it might serve them well in the future.
This establishment is NOT FOR CHILDREN. Do not come here if you have kids with you. We were in Columbia on a special occasion and wanted to have the experience of a nice dinner/cooking on the table. I have a toddler and it was just too much. Trying to feed my toddler while cooking/serving myself was enough, much less the owner STARING at us disapprovingly the whole time. Not to mention the food was not even that good for the price we paid. The ambiance was great for date night but not for a general night out with the family. Felt like I wasted $150.
That was some of the best lunch we've had in a while. The food is excellent. The portion is large and the prices reasonable. Although we did only lunch, it was very enjoyable. Service is excellent.
My wife and I decided to try MOA for dinner Saturday evening and the overall experience was very nice. The quality of food was much better than the other Korean BBQ restaurants in the area and we were very surprised they offered to cook our food at the table or in the kitchen as well. The quality and quantity of the banchan was above and beyond the local Korean restaurants we have been to in Columbia as well. Perfect evening to celebrate our anniversary.
Service and attention to detail was spot on. The amount of meat on the combos is definitely worth the price. Side dishes had great flavor and were fresh. Dessert was out of this world. Loved it
Came in on a Tuesday and had one of the best nights of my life. Lillie blew us away with her patient drink recommendations and enthusiasm; Liz is the kind of veteran steady-hand that should be in every establishment. Whoever is running the bar knows how to make a place special and keep it running smoothly.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Ahhhmazing experience! From the time we entered to leaving, we received top notch service. I love how the servers do a wonderful job of juggling multiple tables to make sure food is prepared to your liking. It seemed like a lot initially but the young man handled it effortlessly. I just wish I could remember his name. The classic was ordered for 2 but could easily serve 4 as we had plenty of leftovers. I highly recommend this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got some coffees from Nibles, and they were excellent. Then sat at the bar and had a drink. Everything was wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
MOA offers an elevated Korean BBQ experience. The staff were accommodating and even provided assistance with the grill, which was nice. The meat and banchans were top quality and our food came out quickly. Will return in the near future to try the A5 wagyu.
Restaurantji Recommends
Fun atmosphere with class! The combos are the way to go! The staff are always attentive and professional.
Food: 5
Service: 5
I can tell everybody that liz,and Lilly is the best...Hit them u on Wednesday
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crepe Cake
10/16/23We had a wonderful time at MOA. The staff greeted us with a smile and the interior was modern and elegant, with touches of Korean culture. Some of my favorite were the traditional onggi pots on display. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We loved the quality of the meat and the fun of grilling it. I also tried soju pear, which was brilliant. The banchan sides were flavorful and satisfying. We finished with Vietnamese coffee and hotteok, a sweet pancake that was to die for. Mr Kim, the owner, came to our table and asked if everything was good. He was very attentive and friendly. It was a delightful evening and an unforgettable experience. Bravo Mr Kim, congratulations, and best wishes for your success and health.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Korean Chicken Wings, Marinated Prime Moa Galbi, Hotteok with Ice Cream, Bibimbap
If you are in the area and looking for a place to find good drinks with knowledgeable and friendly staff this is a must visit. Our Bartender, Hunter, was very courteous and friendly, he made spot on drink recommendations based on our preferences and prepared our cocktails expeditiously with beautiful presentation. Definitely grab a seat at the bar if Hunter is working, you won’t be disappointed
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here for our anniversary dinner. Service was extremely fast and the food was absolutely amazing.