Daldongnae Korean BBQ - downtown Christie

Daldongnae at Christie is easily one of the most authentic Korean BBQ spots in Toronto. I tried the pork belly, boneless short ribs, pork skirt, and the spicy squid salad — everything was impressively fresh and well-cut. The quality of the meat speaks for itself; it didn’t need heavy marinades to shine. Each bite was juicy, tender, yet retained a satisfying texture — the kind of balance that comes from proper butchery and handling. One detail I really appreciated was the grill-side corn cheese and steamed egg — small touches that elevate the BBQ experience beyond just grilling meat. The spicy squid salad was also a highlight: bold, vibrant flavors with a pleasant heat and a generous portion perfect for sharing. The space itself feels like a retro Korean BBQ joint straight out of the 50s, with vintage signs and warm lighting. The ventilation is well-designed, so you don’t walk out smelling like smoke — a detail I always notice. Service was quick and friendly, though I’d recommend coming early or making a reservation since it gets busy. If you’re serious about Korean BBQ and appreciate good cuts and proper grilling, Daldongnae at Christie is absolutely worth it.

We ordered two meat portions: two types of pork and beef. The meat was a bit tough. When you order two meat portions, you get free side dishes (egg, kimchi, corn cheese, salads). We expected a more intense grilled flavor from the meat.

I’ve been to this Korean BBQ spot a few times around the city, and the food continues to impress—always flavorful and well-prepared. However, during my most recent visit, the service left something to be desired. Despite the restaurant being fairly quiet, it took quite a while before we could flag someone down to order more meat, get refills, or even ask for the bill. The lack of attention from the staff was disappointing, especially given how great the food was. Hopefully, the service catches up to the quality of the kitchen.

I visited this beautiful place twice and that’s the best Korean bbq I’ve ever tried! I love everything about this place, food and staff are amazing!!

The food is amazing. The atmosphere and the aesthetic feels like I’m in Korea and I love it! The experience is so fun grilling. The food looks like it’s little but it filled me and my friends belly a lot!

Had a good experience here overall. Service was attentive and everyone helps out even if they're not necessarily your designated server if you need anything. The dining room can be a bit tight specially when you're getting in and out of your booth, but it's okay once you're settled in I guess. It's good that they have hoods above each table to help with the smoke from the grills. The food was decent. They're pretty generous with their side dishes. The table was full of food even before we ordered anything. Side dishes get refilled too as you need. The quality of food I think is what you'd expect, and was a good time overall.

I had an extremely bad experience in this restaurant. The lady who served me didn’t respect me. At 3:58pm, I want to order a lunch special which ends at 5pm, the lady judged me, and said the lunch special is going to be end. Then I want to order a take out food for my friend, the lady said it’s not a to go restaurant. Okay fine, then I want to order only a spicy tofu soup, the lady said because it’s a BBQ restaurant, not sure if I can only order this one without ordering BBQ….. I won’t come to this restaurant anymore.

Absolutely awesome Korean BBQ experience and great pricing! Went here with my friend as we’ve been meaning to try it out, the food was amazing with plenty of sides. The decoration and the overall atmosphere were enjoyable! Each of the meat servings were 200g and about $20+. Me and my friend ordered the Pork Belly and the Beef Chuck Steak, and overall it was a great deal and was a lot for us already. Definitely plan on coming here again, service was great and always asked if we needed anything.

Bang on and super tasty. Everytime it's a hit and crowd pleaser. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Daldongnae just keeps on getting better and better. The service was kind and friendly and the food was amazing as per usual. I love how the beef hanging tender was in pieces that were not too big or small. The pork belly was also great, super fresh and not too fatty. I like how this time they served the complimentary soybean soup with a mini ladle and bowl so it's easier to share with other people. The only thing I wish is bigger tables since there are so many dishes on the table that take up so much space. I couldn't put my phone on the table. Love Daldongnae so much everything is fresh and delicious -- highly recommend it!

Great experience at KBBQ! Minimum one meat order per person, 2 orders per table minimum. Side dishes are complimentary! Including kimchi, lettuce, egg, corn cheese, garlic, sauces etc. Cook your own meat on the grill. Honestly it's a pretty good value for the amount of food you get, we ordered one extra soup to share. Servers were very efficient and helpful. We came in a large group and there was no wait on a Thursday evening Casual cozy BBQ vibes, I recommend that you don't wear nice clothes because they will smell after.

Tried this place out on a weekday night and it was really packed. Even though they were full house, our party was only on a waitlist for about 10 minutes before being seated. Normally, kbbq is well-known for its delicious meat and this place also had delicious side dishes. The seaweed in sweet spicy sauce, sweet pumpkin, cold jelly in spicy sauce, and marinated thin cut onion were season really well and were great to enjoy along with the meat. I also appreciate that they provided the kind of grill with four outer rings where you get steamed egg, grilled garlic, corn cheese and kimchi. Just like any other kbbq, we cooked out own meat to our liking. I did find that it was hard to flag down the waiters as it seemed like they were very busy so when we needed to order something or get a refill, we had to wait a while. I would definitely come back.

Fantastic Korean BBQ. Staff is quick and friendly, and the ambiance is great. It's a popular place so we like to reserve, but it's well worth the wait

Food was spectacular Service was quick Ambiance very warm welcoming and comfortable! First time trying Korean BBQ! Will definitely be coming more often!

This is my favourite KBBQ restaurant in all of Canada. They have the best kimchi I've had outside of Korea. The cuts of meat are all incredible and the side dishes are not lacking at all. Servers are attentive and I love the decor. Can't wait to be back.

Good quality Korean BBQ. Better than many other Daldongnae branches (based on their egg and corn cheese) although the best is the original Cummer branch. The meat is standard Daldongnae quality Service is efficient. No patio or outdoor area sadly. Free parking can be found at PAT supermarket or residential areas.

Fabulous experience! Great value for money. Efficient service and delicious food! Beef short rib was definitely the winner of the night but the prawns and tenderloin w tr also delicious. Kimchi pancake was crispy and delightful

Hands down one of my favorite korean bbq spots in the city! The meat is always so fresh and there's always a fantastic selection of pork and beef as well as other great korean dishes! There can be a waiting line but they have it set up where you put your name on a waiting list through yelp as soon as you get in and you get liv updates of your queue!

Issue is food itself. Service and restaurant are nice - but the beef is completely unseasoned. A little salt would go a long way. And almost all the pieces of meet we got were fatty.

Honesty I've been to multiple Daldongnae locations and loved the food, service, and ambiance. But at this location, I'm not sure if the cuts of meat were just bad or what, but I ordered the pork belly, which I've had before and enjoyed. But this cut was so tough and chewy I couldn't even bite through the meat that I had to spit it out. I notified the server and had the pork taken off my bill. I also got the beef rib finger meat and the beef chuck steak. These two cuts of meat were not as bad as the pork but still very hard to cut and chew. After the meal I felt very sick in my stomach and also disappointed as the total cost was over $60 for 2 meats. Overall while I normally would recommend Kbbq, this location or perhaps just this instance was not satisfactory.

Great food cool servers awesome tables, they give you all these sides that are sooo good! Then you cook the freshest meat ever!

Have been here before and a location in Scarborough. Never had a bad time before. Came here for dinner tonight and was served what seemed like all old food. The meat seemed old. The lettuce was definitely old. Everything felt like it had been left out for a while or was close to going bad. The only thing that was up to standard was the cheese corn but that's not very hard to mess up. Really disappointed and left feeling gross. Also the men's washroom had piss EVERYWHERE

Took a friend who has never had Korean food before. This place was very convinient & clean to introduce Korean table top cooking, all the side dishes, kimchi & Korean soybean stew all at once. They loved everything especially the quality of meats, soybean stew & kimchi. My Korean food introduction dinner was such a success. It was hard to get attention because they were way too busy and I heard if we go during the weekend it can be even worse. They also have 1.5 hours limited seating time due to the restaurant being so popular. For me I need minimum 2 hours to sit down and have a few drinks, chat, order more meats. If you have any friends who would like to experience Korean food for the first time, this place might be it!

Daldongnae Korean BBQ offers an immersive and delicious dining experience. With a diverse selection of quality meats and authentic Korean flavors, this BBQ spot in Christie is a must-try. The interactive grilling at the table, coupled with a vibrant atmosphere, makes it an excellent choice for those craving a memorable Korean BBQ experience. Service can be better as we had to keep calling for a server. Tip: to get the "unlimited sides" you have to have food on the grill. Once you finish eating all your grilled foods they will not serve you anymore sides. Also it wasn't "unlimited" - you can only get the complimentary sides two/three times with your orders.

Came here with a friend having Korean food for the first time! We had an awesome meal! It was a long awaited catch up sesh during lunch. I personally think bulgogi is the way to go for a newbie. I was correct! Great portion of beef, noodles, and mushrooms. The banchan was plentiful. A large variety of sides. We did not leave hungry, that's for sure! Service was attentive and accommodating. I'd definitely come back for dinner. So many meats to choose from!

Lively and very busy place. The food lacked flavor and the banchan was disappointing. The service was nice but they forget about the tables when they are busy.

Upon the advice of a fellow Yelper (shout-out Danielle S), we put Daldongnae on our Toronto list. We've had Americanized Korean BBQ before but this feels like the real deal. We took the Toronto Subway to get there but there is paid street parking. It's easy enough to find with Google Maps. It definitely felt like a local spot but we had no problem getting a table. The Korean Cheese Corn was a fav for all of us and not a side dish we can find at home. Service was prompt and efficient. If you're expecting the staff to stop and make conversation.. this isn't the place for you! Rice was surprisingly not included. We did get lettuce wraps and other various sides to go with the meal though. Definitely a spot we'll keep in mind for future trips.

I am afraid that I cannot give this restaurant a nicer score. I do not understand why there are so many good reviews and many people want to wait for an hour to have dinner there. 1. The seat space is narrow and uncomfortable. They just put too many seats in the store. 2. The food is not ok. I may not be a fan of Korean BBQ; however, it is in Korea Town which has many restaurants better than it. btw, Seafood pancake is crap. 3. Service is not good and they didn't allow us to split the bill which I had never had that experience in Toronto Believe me. If you want to taste good Korean food, there are better choices in Toronto, or even in Korea Town.

Great Korean BBQ place. Couple of things to note: The wait time is long and you need to show up to get on the list so budget time accordingly. You need to order at least two bbq items to get the bbq set up at your table. We got the pork belly (3/5) and the beef tenderloin (4/5). The side dishes were amazing. We also got the seafood pancake (5/5) and the cold noodles (4/5). Everything tasted good, the service was on point. It was overall a very enjoyable experience. Only negative was the state of the bathrooms. It smelled like the subway (urine) and the floor was sticky.

Food was really good, the cuts were fresh, juicy and all the sides are tasteful, the service was really good, everyone was kind and attentive, and the ambience is really comfortable with low light and wooden interiors

This is a happening place and the restaurant was packed. I enjoyed seeing so much interest in Korean food in Toronto from a wide audience. Service is pretty fast and they ask for your order pretty quickly so we ordered a couple of kalbis and a couple of pork bellies with a few bottles of flavoured soju. The meats were good quality but not super flavourful, you have to use the sauce they give you. Rice is not included but lettuce is. There is some banchan provided but no kimchi. My Korean wife was disappointed in that. We liked the funky wood retro village decor that makes this place look cozy and hip. There are fiberglass panels between booths for social distancing and privacy. All in all, we had a great time.

My favourite hands down KBBQ chain in Toronto. I was so excited when they moved downtown on Yonge. The lines can get really busy so make sure you plan ahead. We love ordering different cuts of the beef and pork belly. Unlimited refills on all sides including corn and egg. I take people here every single time! Ambiance is a bit loud but you get used to it and makes it feel like you're in Korea. Add a bottle of soju, and it'll perfect the experience. Service can be slow cause they're just so busy. But worth it imo.

this was the first restaurant i went to when i moved to Toronto. You have a good variety of meats to choose from alongside fresh sides. Service seems backed up due to busy times but everyone was super respectful and accommodating! A little bit in the pricier side than im used to with kbbq but nonetheless delicious.

Pretty good kbbq, but may be slightly overrated (might just be this location)... I had went to the location in North York and had an amazing experience so I was super excited when I saw there was a location in downtown. I ended up going with my family but the food was very sub par -- the corn and egg wasn't as good as it was before, and the meat was decent but not as good as I remember. We also ordered the seafood pancake but it was slightly soggy and had a lot of green onions that kind of overwhelmed the seafood. Overall, might go back because the overall vibe/music was good, but wouldn't go if you are looking for the best kbbq in the city.

I love to call this a happy accident! You know when you make plans and suddenly, you've got to choose something quick and have that why not attitude. This is what happened! I have to say, from the very beginning of walking into the door - the host was so kind and genuinely nice. We came at midday so we had plenty of choice. By the time we left, the place was full. I see why. I'm no Korean food specialist. In fact, far from it but I do know if food is tasty and customer service is spot on. I have gone to a few places in the blood street area that have been so far from what these guys have to offer. I was really impressed. We ordered from their menu which I did like that it was more streamlined than other places. See attached pictures! In fact, for me, the only thing I would add is maybe a couple more choices from food to drink. Everything - I mean everything I had was delicious so I highly recommend. There was a lot of new things I had never had before and was just blown away. Corn with cheese? Yes please! Kimchi pancake pizza ! Sure!! Try everything! It was very clean and organized. Loved the water in the stainless steel containers and even the flavour. Wow! I can't wait to go here again! Highly recommend!

Great service and fast refills in the sides! I've been to two locations and they were equally good!

Excellent consistent service & meals, easy to read menus, my Buddy & I always go to its many locations GTA to experience Korean BBQ at Daldongnae

I came here on a weekday afternoon, and we were able to get a table quickly. On weekends, I've had to wait 1-2 hours for a table for four using their Yelp waitlist at the door. We got the Seoul-style bulgogi, the special until 5 pm every day. We ordered two, as there is a minimum order of two per table. There were glass noodles, meat, and mushrooms filling the two of us. We enjoyed the banchan and other sides on top of the grill. It was my friend's first time grilling, and she enjoyed her experience and taste of the food. I recommend going during off-peak times, but if you find yourself waiting, there are many bubble tea options, snacks, nail salons, and a self-portrait studio (Mongraphy) in the area. Accessibility: no automatic door opener (two doors), floors can be slippery, washroom is located downstairs through a narrow staircase.

Came here for dinner on Saturday night, expect a long wait on the weekends since this place is quite popular. When you walk in, add your name to the Yelp waitlist, they will text you once your table is ready. We waited about 2 hours, we went to play pool nearby and walked back around the estimated time that our table would be ready by. Once seated, service was quick and prompt. There's a minimum order of 2 items for table BBQ. We got 2 orders of beef and some mushrooms, the meat was high quality and tender and mushrooms were fresh. It also came with free sides dishes as well as garlic, cheese corn, kimchi, and egg. We also got some complimentary tofu stew which was delicious and went well with the rest of the food. The ambiance is like other Korean bars- loud and lively! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to have a few drinks or soju over dinner with some good Korean BBQ.

I had a good dining experience here at Daldongnae. Me and my companion ordered 2 meat pieces which were more than enough between the 2 of us. The portion sizes for the 2 meat pieces can also be stretched out to even serve 3 people for those wondering how much to order. During dining, there were always a lot of available waiters or servers on standby so there was no problem with us asking for side dish refills. The servers were also attentive enough to adjust and regulate the grill temperature intensity, as well as clear out any empty plates we have. You get the usual fare of kimchi and assorted vegetables for their side dishes, but what I especially enjoyed was the cheesy corn they have available. It was such a tasty treat to have the corn with melted cheese. The barbecue itself with the lettuce was as good as it can be. Nothing outside the ordinary to say about the meat. What I feel lacking was that I was expecting something more than service water available right at the start. I am used to having some complimentary hot tea served before the meal specially for an oily meal such as this. Another thing is that I was hoping to have some sweets to be provided on the house at the end of the meal, similar to how Chinese restaurants give out fortune cookies or sesame seed balls, or how Japanese places sometimes serve ice cream popsicles.

Wasn't expecting to manage the grill myself. Usually in the US, the server cooks at the table for you. Taste was fine. Just not the best.

There are lots of kbbq places in toronto, and dalgongnae definitely is on the top of the list. However I have to address very questionable service from yesterday night which basically results in a 1 star experience. 1. We told them we have 3 people and they sat us in literally the smallest table in the restaurant, we were surrounded by 2 huge tables, one has two girls on it and another one became empty. We asked them if we could switch to that one politely and they told us it's a table for 4 so we can't go. Then they sat 2 people who speak Korean on it:) yup. They did. it's 100% not fair. I have Korean friends who joke to me before if I want to go to daldongnae I should go with them, but why does it have to be the case? We are in toronto, all customers deserve same service. We could barely order anything and for the whole dinner we were struggling with any movement since otherwise we would have knock over some bottles or bowls on our table, and the huge tables around us people have so much space. 2. They have NEVER communicated to us they would time us since we were seated, because of the table size we couldn't order much in one go, so we ordered by batches and they were already ready to ask us to pay and leave since we reached the time. Srsly tho, just mentioning that to us when u seated us, shouldn't be too hard? 3. Out of the entire time we were there, NO ONE, EVER, came to ask us about the food. However same waiter keeps asking other tables near us how's the food, how did they like it. What is this? I kept hearing about if u r Asian but doesn't speak Korean, chances for getting good service here is low. But I never expected in 2022 this would happen to me. Here I rest my case, there r a lot of great kbbq in toronto, and lots of them have way better service. I am not asking for Michelin start service, I am asking for a fair and reasonable service. Dalgongnae failed me for sure. This Will be my last time.

Loved this Korean bbq spot!! The food was delicious and all the sides were amazing. I especially loved the bean sprouts and the pumpkin salad. Was sad there was no pickled radish. We had pork belly and short ribs, the pork belly was my favourite . The service was stellar, there was a group being so loud no one else could even hear each other talk, and the servers told them to pls be quiet which was so thoughtful. Wish they had a larger drink menu with some cocktails or less expensive drinks that aren't beer. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely return.

Dined in June 2022 -- Had high expectations for this kbbq spot given local's recommendation, but the short ribs missed the mark, wait service was spotty and kinda underwhelming, esp since we have high expectations Highlights: - pork belly and pork jowl: these cuts of meat were substantial and so delish. - mushrooms to grill: we added this side and was good cooking on grill with the meat juices Less enthused: - marinaded short rib: portion was tiny and marinade flavor wasn't as on point as most Korean bbq spots. If you can't make it up north to Korean town and need to satisfy a craving, def go but not as good as I thought it should be.

Meat is tasty and well-marinated, although it doesn't beat KBBQ in Korea or LA. The servers are a bit stingy with the side dishes -- there's a policy that we can only get extra corn cheese, (super watered down) egg, and kimchi if we physically have meat on the grill. This incentivizes people to eat slowly and watch as their grills get dirty. Servers also wouldn't allow our group of six to have two sets of banchan, even though it was way too far for people to reach side dishes on the other side of the table (and despite the fact that banchan refills were free and unlimited). But it was fun with a group of friends, and I'd likely go again!

We walked in and immediately put our name down on the waitlist which is done through Yelp. Once you put your number down they text you to confirm your place in line and call/text when your table is ready. We waited a total of 20 minutes. To be honest the menu is a little difficult to read but we ended up ordering three different meats and two sides for four people. Everything came out quick! You get banchan which includes pickled vegetables, cheese corn, and tofu soup. I didn't realize we could order extra on these but would do that next time, they were so good and actually had a spicy kick. Our favorite items were the thin pork belly, kimchi fried rice & seafood pancake! We also ordered soju which was ok, very standard but overpriced. Lastly as others mentioned the bathroom is downstairs so be warned if you need accessibility support.

When introducing or taking friends to Korean BBQ, I always end up taking them here. And they love it!

I visited this location a couple of days ago. It was first time comin to this location as usually I would go to the ones near finch station. I chose this place to introduce kbbq to my good friend's parents, who had never tried it before. I realized that some things here are different from the other locations I've been to: one is the service quality and the other is banchan's taste, in my opinion. For the taste of food ordered I cannot complain, only hospitality was a bit lacking. I found the servers here gave out the rushed impression and not attentive, was only there at the beginning during the ordering and at the near end of the experience. The in-between checking was lacking that we had to flag them down for extra napkins. Our water was never checked nor refilled.

Hands down without question the best pork belly I have ever had! This place is always packed so come early for dinner. Make sure you try the Korean corn. Their miso soup with tofu is amazing. Don't even get me started on the service. I am spoiled now for Korean bbq. No one will measure up now!

The food was great and amazing. However, unlike other Korean restaurant, the BBQ is not unlimited. Only the side dish is unlimited. The restaurant was busy, it's hard to get a hold of their staff. The place was nice.

No matter the location, it is always so good. The restaurant was busy as usual, but my party was sat fairly quickly within 15-30 mins which isn't too bad. The service was excellent. And don't get me started on the food. I can't get enough of it. I'm constantly craving for it. It just sucks there's not a location in my area yet. This location is as well-kept as the others. The atmosphere is just as welcoming. I hope they do in the future! I'll definitely come very often.

Yummy food, pork belly & ribeye are my favorite. Soup was yummy also. Wonderful service, they're young but very nice & friendly. The play is very cozy, clean, love the music even though I can't understand

Awesome KBBQ. Quality of meat and sides were excellent. If I'm ever back in Toronto it definitely deserves another visit.

Don't get carried away when ordering. This place is worth wild with 3+ people and large group. My friends and I came here for dinner. We were going to order basically the lot thinking we'll need more food. But oddly enough that's not the case. We ordered the boneless short ribs and the beef short plate. You got lots of sides including, kimchi, onions, corn and cheese and a bunch of other things. The portions sizes are quite large. I called it quits nearing the end because I was full. It best to order a few things and order more later rather than ordering all at once. The main reason why I give this place 5 stars is because they were extremely friendly and extremely accommodating when I said I didn't eat pork. They originally bought a pork fat thing for us to spread around the grill, we did without realizing. When we did realize before placing the food on, one of the servers was nice enough to get us a new girl. That to me is quality customer service.

I really like this Korean BBQ place. I would say this is one of my favourite now since I basically tried every one on bloor street(Korean Town). I still vividly remember a really bad one on this street(Will try to find it later, opened by Korean couple, they provide outdoor in the tent but for some reason, their meat wasn't yummy and a bit old and thick... Anyways! I really like Daldongnae's BBQ place. I enjoy the cheese corn and egg on the side, and the portion of the meat just great! Basically one serving is good for one person. And unlimited side dishes just amazing Will definitely come more often once the covid is done done...(I almost always went during lunch hours which was super safe and no one in the store XD)

Although pricey, it's very delicious and worth the visit in comparison to some other korean bbq places

One of the best Korean BBQ I had. I prefer this location than their original. It's closer to me and on the Bloor subway line. Meat and food there were fresh and high quality, we got the beef short ribs, beef ribs eye roll and pork belly. Shared by 4 girls which was enough food. The servers were very nice and friendly when I asked for extra utensils and type of meats. They were generous on refill of the side dishes including the cheese corn+ egg! Usually other places they don't do refill on the corn and egg. So I was excited. The soup the came with it was delicious too. Definitely recommend this location/Korean BBQ! Best to do reservation in advance because they do get busy quickly.