YakiniQ Korean BBQ

We had a great time cooking our bbq, service was quick and ingredients full of flavor. We ordered a little bit of everything with our favorites being the marinated pork rib and beef. Ventilation could be better, if you come here you’ll be smelling like bbq.

My partner and I are big Korean BBQ fans and go often back home in NYC, so we were excited to try YakiniQ for the first time. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations. The food was just okay and lacked flavor, even on the premium plate. The beef bulgogi didn’t really taste like beef, and overall, nothing stood out. Service was also disappointing. After waiting an hour to be seated, it took another 10 minutes before anyone checked in to take our order, and the couple next to us (who arrived after) were served first. Even water took about 20 minutes to arrive…. I also didn’t realize it was self-cook, which might be fine for some, but the experience felt very “here’s your meat, good luck.” The ventilation could use improvement too; the smoke builds up quickly and makes your eyes sting. Overall, not the experience we were hoping for.

Brought in some out of town friends here after work since I've come to rely on a solid KBBQ experience here. The all you can eat setup is straightforward with a variety of freshly sliced meats that grill up nicely with that classic smokey flavor. Service was quick and attentive even when this spot gets packed. The marinated short rib and pork belly were my standouts; juicy with good char once they hit the grill. The beef bulgogi was solid sweet & savory balance which along with the japchae, spicy tteokbokki, and sweet cheese corn are all must gets when doing AYCE. Their banchan selection was fresh and refillable which is always a plus. A couple small things keep it from 5 stars for me. Some cuts like the brisket came out a bit chewy and the ventilation could be stronger so you wont definitely walk out smelling like the grill. It gets pretty loud and crowded during peak dinner hours and on weekends which is expected in Japantown but can feel a little chaotic. Parking in the area is the usual hunt street spots or nearby garage. Overall, it's still my reliable go to spot for KBBQ in the neighborhood. Good value for AYCE with consistently solid hit for my cravings. Been here a few times now and it stays in the rotation as my Japantown KBBQ go to.

We were seated pretty fast considering we went during dinner time (7pm) so that’s a plus. The menu selections were on the smaller but had the basic meats. Service was alright.

The experience was genuinely disappointing. The service was very slow from the start, and more concerning, even when it was clear the grill was burning, the staff did nothing about it, as if they didn’t care. At one point, I called a waiter and was completely ignored, which made the experience even worse. I understand that places can get busy, but that wasn’t the case here—there were only about seven tables occupied. Overall, the service left a lot to be desired. I’ve been to many Korean restaurants, and considering the value for the price, this experience was not good enough to make me want to come back.