Gen Korean BBQ House

pretty good! went on odd hours on a sunday (got there 2:45 left 4:15). expect to spend a while there bc that’s how kbbq is. good meats and definitely hit the spot. only minor complaint was the service was a tad bit slow probably because most of the staff was on break due to us being one of the only parties in the restaurant at the time. highly recommend the calamari steak and galbi.

Came in for lunch, service was great but meats didn’t match. Ordered premium pork belly, received some kind of pork? The beef bulgogi was so sweet it tasted like maple sausages made with Splenda. Don’t think we will give this place another shot with so many other choices

We’ve been to tons of korean bbq spots back in Chicago where we are from, but Gen BBQ was by far the best we’ve ever had. The food was amazing and all had really good flavor. They also had interesting menu options that we would’ve never tried if not for this place. Our server Jason looked like he was the only server tonight but his service was extraordinary! He checked up on our table multiple times and gave good recommendations on food and drinks. Will definitely come back if we come back to Austin and look forward to a location opening up by us!

The restaurant looks very nice and the service is good; however, the food did not meet my expectations. Although it is considered a buffet, it is difficult not being able to directly choose the ingredients, which limits the overall experience. The quality and quantity of the meats left much to be desired. Additionally, the drinks are quite overpriced. The wait time to receive each order is long, so it’s not a good place if you’re looking for a quick meal or if you prefer not to cook your own food. If it is presented as a buffet, I believe customers should be able to choose their own ingredients to better assess the quality. Perhaps my lack of familiarity with this type of restaurant influenced my experience, but personally, it’s not a place I would return to.

The cuts of meat are good and well flavored. It was quiet since we went around 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.

We've been here many times before, but since our recent visits, the quality has declined. The meat appears stale, and they didn't have fresh options available. The management needs to resolve this issue, or perhaps the problem lies with the management itself.

I know new Korean all you can eat open by IG. Restaurant was clean. I pick premium set. Meat was good I like beef belly, spicy pork belly.Also side dish was good and not too much. I like it because I can try everything.Hotteok was very delicious. Service was very good and attention they are good team work and friendly. Price reasonable. I recommend for everyone to lover all you can eat style. 😊

⸻ Extremely Disappointed – Worst GEN BBQ Experience Ever (Austin Location) I’ve been a loyal customer of GEN BBQ for nearly a decade, frequently dining at locations in Dallas, Houston, and Pflugerville. Today, I decided to try the new Austin location, and unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst GEN experience I’ve ever had. Despite being a brand-new restaurant with very few customers, the entire front-of-house staff seemed to consist of just one receptionist, one server, and one manager (possibly with an additional team lead). Service was painfully slow from the start — it took forever to take our order and even longer to bring the food out. Knowing there was only one server, I tried to be efficient by ordering multiple items at once to save them repeated trips. Even so, the young Asian server was clearly overwhelmed and extremely inexperienced. He was slow with everything and even forgot to bring us water while we waited over 20 minutes for food. No dipping sauces were brought out, no grill change was offered even though ours had burned completely black, and several items we ordered were missing entirely. To make things worse, during this frustrating wait, a young white female staff member brought over two complimentary sample plates to “try out” some dishes. But how are we supposed to enjoy any food when the grill is burnt, there’s no water, no sauces, and half our original order hasn’t arrived? It was honestly such a buzzkill. We finally decided to just pay and leave. I asked to speak to a manager, and the same young woman who brought the sampler came over, offering a half-hearted apology and a vague promise to do better next time. Still, we were given a full bill — $69 for two people to eat a few pieces of meat and leave frustrated. I didn’t mind paying, but what I do mind is the complete lack of professionalism and the terrible customer service from a brand I’ve supported for nearly 10 years. This location needs serious staff training and management oversight before it can carry the GEN BBQ name with pride.

Kayla is the best server I've ever had at any restaurant, get her a raise immediately! Service was great, food was good too. Will be back here again!

Turned down the premium meat upgrade and was treated like shit after. I had to flag down the waitress for more meat every time. It was very slow right after opening so there was no excuse. On top of that no rice. How tf u don't have any rice on opening at 11am on a Thursday. I only gave it two stars cause the meat and food was actually good. Plus the music playing was a vibe. This the 3rd time coming here and all 3 times no rice.. and all 3 times I was given a stank face and attitude after declining the premium meat.

Should out to server Taylor was so super helpful And proved excellent customer service. Constantly checked in to see if I had everything I needed and was super professional too.

Kayla was an amazing waitress. Food was amazing and the quality was great! Service was fast as well.

I liked Gen KBBQ at another location so thought I'd try it here too, but unfortunately my experience here was very different. The Premium Chadol(brisket) was way too dry, it was hard to chew and swallow, and felt like it was a bit old. The Garlic Samgyupsal and Honey soy beef belly were too salty. Also, the Soon Dooboo jjigae was an entirely different dish that tasted a bit weird to me. "Soon dooboo" is the name of a specific type of tofu that's more soft and silky, but they use regular tofu here. The broth pallet is completely off too, it tastes like a tomato soup and you can see small pieces of tomato in it, which is a very bazaar ingredient that you would never see in any other typical Soon dooboo jjigae.

I've been to quite a few Korean bbq places and this one was super extensive with their meat menu! You can't beat the price and what they offer. The service is prompt and the atmosphere is very nice. I do like their side dishes but would have to say one dessert option if a red bean pancake is not enough for me, maybe add a soft serve ice cream machine would be simple and nice.

I've been to other Gen locations in TX and also in other states but it was our first time at this location of i35 this weekend. Similar vibes and interior decor. Our server was very informative and friendly and food was fresh. We opted for standard dinner menu this time which is $31.95 per person AYCE and Galbi (short ribs bone in) is included. Great for the price but has a bit more fat than we'd like. We tried their beef belly for the first time and wow, it's incredible! Our little one loves their Cheese corn. Wish there was more cheese but that's a kids friendly item. Stay away the squid steak. It was spongy and rubbery. I almost think it's fake meat. Sadly the menu only offers 1 dessert and it's not good! We didn't get to try their alcoholic drinks today but it seems pricey or colorful sweet drinks.

Gen is a well known kbbq chain. The menu is large and has a good variety for everyone. I think they are consistent and set a good standard for kbbq. Their sides are good, my favorites are the cucumber kimchi, radish wraps, and garlic to add the to the grill! Their lunch price is good! We've had both quick and slower service, I guess it just depends on the day haha. It feels casual but the interior looks nice so could easily be a dress up/date type of spot too.

What can I say... I'm back! We decided to give this spot another try, hoping for a better experience -- and while it still wasn't perfect, there were definitely some bright spots. We came in around 9 PM and, once again, only one server was covering the entire floor -- about 5 to 6 tables, all by himself. ( big parties) But shoutout to Fabian, who handled it like a pro. He was patient, kind, and kept his cool the entire time. Now for the odd part... no sesame oil. At a Korean BBQ? That's a tough one. It's a basic staple, and it really threw off the full experience. Hopefully just a temporary supply issue, but it's definitely worth noting. The space itself has a laid-back, modern vibe -- nothing too flashy, but clean and comfortable. The late-night ambiance is actually really nice: low lighting, mellow energy, and a chill crowd that's clearly there for the food and the vibes. Perfect for those post-evening cravings. Parking was a breeze thanks to the shopping center, and overall, the place was decently clean, especially for a busy late-night shift. Bottom line? There's potential here -- but management really needs to step up. Hire more staff, especially during night shifts. People love a good late-night KBBQ spot, but not when service is stretched thin.

I'd had lunch at Gen's Pflugerville location and enjoyed it, so when my siblings suggested lunch at the Highland location, I agreed, even though $20 plus tip is a splurge on my budget these days. So, we met today, ordered lunch for three, squinted at all the fine print on the menu detailing the different selections available, and started ordering. The first few meats we had ordered came long before the appetizers we asked for, which was weird. We had ordered all at once, remembering how slow the service had been in Pflugerville. The waiter apologized for that, then disappeared for a long time. Eventually, we got our appetizers. We requested more kimchi, which never arrived. We had to ask multiple times for more napkins. My glass sat unfilled for a long time, with no waiter to be seen, even though the place was not at all busy. When a manager came by and asked if we needed anything more, that order got scrambled on the way to the kitchen, and some strange thing we'd never ordered got delivered to the table, and it took a good while to get the correct item. But the food was good and the conversation was good and everything seemed OK, until the bill came--for nearly twice what we had counted on--$35 instead of $20. We had come for LUNCH. We had ordered exclusively off the lunch menu, never even looking at the more expensive dinner menu. Yet, unlike every other restaurant that I know of, "lunch" is only served Monday through Thursday, and Friday is a dinner-only menu, the waiter explained. No one had mentioned this. No one had pointed out that we could order from the dinner side of the menu. When we asked to see the manager, she just said, "it had always been like that." Yes, if we had read the small print on *that* page of the menu, "Monday through Thursday" *was* specified in fine print--on a menu that obviously has lots of fine print to deal with. We were all annoyed. I know of no other restaurants whose lunch menus and prices are other than Monday through Friday, and if that is your policy, it should be stated clearly--maybe even emphasized for those of us who are fairly new as customers. There are just too many great places to eat in Austin to put up with that level of service and transparency.

I have no idea why Gen is seemingly always empty because in Dallas, it's almost impossible to get seated without a super long wait. The meat quality isn't the best you've ever seen, but for AYCE pricing, it's pretty good. I love their side dishes, and this location even has a bunch of appetizers and stews that are part of the menu. LA Galbi is also part of the base AYCE price, and that's my favorite KBBQ meat to order. Service was not great this night, but most of KBBQ is you cooking yourself anyways. I felt really satisfied and full after coming here, and I love the vibes of Gen. I would definitely come back again!

I definitely enjoyed this location more than the one in Pflugerville! The brisket didn't stick to the pan and tasted much fresher. The galbi was marinated perfectly--so flavorful. I also loved the hotteok for dessert; such a nice touch to end the meal. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The only thing I didn't love was the japchae--it leaned a bit too sweet for my taste, as I usually prefer it more savory. Overall, great quality for the price, and I would definitely come back!

Came here on a Sunday and it turns out that they only offer the lunch menu on weekdays but I guess $32 for AYCE isn't a bad deal either. The meat selection was pretty decent and I really enjoyed the galbi and pork belly. The side dishes were not good though. I felt that every side dish was lacking. The tofu stew has no meat, japchea has no egg strips or beef and spicy rice cakes is not real spicy rice cake at all. However they have these fish bowl cocktails call Itaewon punch for $17 and it's an amazing deal. Overall it's a pretty good AYCE KBBQ for amazing price. Just don't bother with the side dishes.

Last night was our second time at Gen Korean BBQ and it was even better than the last time we went! We are located more south and often go to Gangnam Korean BBQ, when we first came to Gen the quality and flavor of the meat stood out to us (I'll put our favorites at the end!), but the appetizers were lacking. This time however they had brought in some new apps/ lowered them to the regular dining from the premium menu and we were SOLD. The dragon shrimp were so good, kimchi fried rice with cheese was great, and the dumplings were good (nothing special but still good!). The meat is definitely still where this place shines, our favs: honey soy beef belly, beef bulgogi, Hawaiian bacon pork, yangyum galbi! Things that we wouldn't order again: tonkatsu, calamari, or rice cakes. We tried the the calamari and rice cakes the first time and they both were not properly cooked and were over tough. However since the shrimp came out so good this time it may be worth trying the calamari again. They were having issues with their ordering system when we went, that didn't bother us, but we did have to check in with items multiple times. Pictured: Hawiian bacon pork

Their stock price is $3 down from their IPO price of $18. So if that isn't a sign then idk. Service is sooooooooooooo slow. I mean I would suggest shorting the hell out of the stock but it's already so low.

I love this place! Super quick and has a lot of options, and lunch is a really good deal. Definitely worth checking out!

I went with my family last night and it was a terrible experience. We arrived around 9pm and they were almost out of everything (including rice). It was never communicated what they were out of and they only had one server. The server was kind and genuinely was trying his best, but it was slow and took a while to get any orders placed. This is probably a problem related to management. This location is semi-new but at this point it still needs a lot of work.

This afternoon, my family decided to eat at GEN located in the Linc plaza off I-35. We've dined at this location before a few times but today we really had an amazing experience. Our server Fabian was attentive, funny and patient with our family and we were super stoked to have a server that seems to really love what they do. The food was high grade as always. The Steak and bulgogi are my go-to's and never disappoint. The Mandu is also a top choice. Overall, I would highly recommend GEN to anyone looking to get great quality food and unmatched service!

I've been to many Gen Korean BBQ locations all around the country and this one was one of the better ones. My only complaint really is that they have the AC blasting by some of the tables and so when you're cooking the meat and you take it off the grill by the time it's on your plate, it's super cold. Other than that the meat portions were good and I really enjoyed the ambiance. It isn't super big and I did go on a busy day but it didn't feel like it was too busy or crowded.

Not only was the food delicious, but the service was phenomenal. Our server, Jennifer, went above and beyond and was so pleasant :) we will be back to just to see her!

Service was slow. Only one server with 5ish tables. Manager and 2 others just stood around talking. You'd think if the one server is overwhelmed the manager would step up and help but no the manager didn't help. It looked like our server was serving tables and getting the meats himself. Only saw one person in the kitchen but no idea what they were doing. This location doesn't seem like it was ready to open. I'm not blaming our server. He did his best to serve us and the other tables. He had a lot on his plate and did his best to balance everyone. I believe that the manager could've stepped up to help serve tables if he noticed his only server was in need of help.

First time going to a Korean BBQ and it was amazing. Our waitress was the best. The ambiance was perfect. No real wait time. Drinks were really good, I definitely recommend the Itaewon Punch Bowls.

Great quality meat for reasonable price. I recommend the Premium choice: all you can eat premium meat. Great service as well

Service is incredibly slow. I see how they want to make money. Ycu can't eat if the food isn't delivered. Ayce, at a snail's pace.

Service is terrible. My 3rd time here and all 3 times they were out of rice, rice steam sheets, garlic? That should sum it up. It's worth the drive to Dallas or Houston for some Korean bbq.

Kayla was really sweet and she answered every question we had. It was my first time going to this location and Kayla was an absolute doll. The restaurant was very clean and played really good music. I would definitely come to this location, theyre very welcoming.

The people who served us were very nice but very slow. The meat was mid and when gotten the appetizer it was sold from it sitting there. Needs more staff and to be faster.

Had an amazing time at Gen Korean BBQ! The food was delicious and fresh, and Fabian provided excellent service that made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend!"

I LOVE GEN! I've been to a few locations and this new location at the Linc is the best GEN I've ever been to! I came in for dinner and upgraded to the premium menu and it was so worth it! Food was delicious and my server Kayla gave great recommendations and amazing service. They also just got boba on their menu which is absolutely delicious and worth a try!!!! Will most definitely come back again!!!!

It was my husband bornday Kayla took such great care of us , she was the only server but she handled it very well still had everything served in a timely manner. We shall return.. Thank you Kayla

Had an amazing visit at Gen Korean today! It had such an assortment to eat from, so many different cuts of meat, pork, chicken, and seafood I may have to be rolled out of this place. The price was great the service was awesome as well. Kathryn was an amazing and welcoming manager who checked on us often and made sure we felt taken care of. Jason was a great, attentive serve very on point and professional, especially good with his personal recommendations. The drinks were very tasty as well. With service this good, I'm surprised the place wasn't more poppin'. It's probably due to the location being kinda of under the cross point of 2 major highways. The restaurant was very clean and well kept, the music helped to create the perfect vibe, I do wish that the place had more windows for natural light but other than that no complaints. My friend and I left full and satisfied, with out the pain of a pricey bill. I will definitely recommend this place to my friends and family.

Great food. Great vibes. Great people. What more can I say? Heard GEN was coming to Austin so I had to give it a try. Host sat us quickly when we arrived but it wasn't terribly busy so didn't expect to wait long. Food came out quick and our server was very personable. Had a blast and will be back soon. Thanks GEN!

Food was horrible. I did not know that anyone could destroy rice. It was slimy and sticky. We were too scared to order any of their dishes. We ultimately ended up with food poisoning. I called the next day for a refund. Was told I get one in 3-5 business days. I am not seeing it. But oh well opened a dispute with my cc. Also I have it recorded that Richard said we would get a refund. So sad that this one is the worst one.

Highly recommend this place for anyone craving authentic and high-quality Korean BBQ. We'll definitely be back!

Awesome food and great service. I would definitely come back again. I'd recommend the all you can eat premium if you like The Beef.

Food was amazing, especially the Premium Ribeye and the Premium Center Cut Marbling, ambiance was great, it was dark but the tables lit up like a night club, service was super fast and really attentive! Would definitely come back again!

Great food, better service! Got so much food in the premium all you can eat, such a steal! 10/10 recommend

The bulgogi and steaks were amazing! The appetizers were great and loved all the little sides. If I were to recommend one of the meats it defiantly would be the bulgogi. Thank you Alex so much for making my 18 birthday special and delicious!!

So good. I love Korean bbp. Short rip is amazing taste. All you can eat price is not bad.

Food was incredible. Portions were large. Price is good. Drinks were huge. Music is current and diverse. Our server Kayla was amazing. Overall enjoyable experience. Would recommend!

Kayla was great! Super attentive and friendly, even though it was right before closing. She didn't make us feel rushed at all and took really good care of us.

I've been to a couple of gens and this one does not disappoint! Hayley was my server and she was very nice and gave great service. I've had both premium and regular but I really enjoy splurging on the premium when I can. The marble and long bone short rib are both some of my favs and the ribeye is much better than the premium steak. I like that they have a good amount of appetizers options that come already cooked from the kitchen and the spicy tofu soup and pork gyoza are the best ones. If you're getting the regular the garlic or spicy pork belly, spicy pork bulgogi, beef bulgogi, Hawaiian steak, honey soy beef belly, pork cheek and galbi are all good. One of the best deals you can find in Austin for AYCE galbi

Loved gen kbbq! i was super excited to see a a couple locations open up around austin! Kayla is the best I can't wait to go back!

I used to go to a location in Vegas regularly so the reviews on here were concerning. Glad I went despite the reviews because it was awesome! The food was delicious as per usual and our server was so kind and personable even though she definitely had a very busy section. 10/10 will return

Let me start off by saying I love Korean barbecue. I have got it down to the perfect meat to side ratio. I knew gen before they were bought out by a different company and remodeled. I miss the old gen. That's a Kanye reference. I didn't think that you could get any more cheaper than the lowest quality rice you can serve. But the rice was clearly old and chewy, but also dry. The meats that we ordered or mediocre. The sides that we ordered were extremely big proportions. The only thing I really liked as far as the meats were the marinated short rib that was chewy. They had a smoked pork belly that was horrendous. I think we got their Angus prime. But it was thinly sliced marbled meat, and it was freezer burned. As far as the service. They frequently checked up on me, asked me how the food was. It was fine service. And I feel bad for the waiters because they're just doing their jobs but the food was absolutely below average. My thing is if you wanna charge me $20 extra for prime meat but you can't even get the basics figured out. Why would I wanna spend an extra $20 if you're giving me shit Food. The KFC was a massive proportion, was really crispy, but flavorless. The Japchae was given to you in a big bowl, but also flavorless. The Hawaiian steak which used to be my favorite was extremely thin and brown. Let me not forget to add it was extremely chewy. I think I ordered thinly sliced meat that had jalapeño and sesame sauce on it. That one was OK, but very poor quality. Alcoholic drinks standard price were $16-$17. Those are crazy prices first of all. Crazy prices for poor quality food. They gave me a side of potatoes and it was obvious at that potato purée was from instant potato box. Bring back the old gen. I will never be eating hair again, and I was so disappointed because the reviews looked good. But I have been utterly gutted that one of my favorite places to eat has gone down the drain. I love going to Korean barbecue because it's such a beautiful experience to be with family friends sharing food but this isn't an environment. I would like to be in. It was cold and unwelcoming. It was also empty and lackluster. I think the word I'm looking for is cheap down. I am never one to ask for a refund, especially because the actual service was fine but I regret paying for it. I regret spending money there and I regrets ever going there. It was a waste of money. I'm new to Austin area so I wanted something that I knew I could trust in and this was the furthest thing from a great experience. Do not come eat at this place.

dude, best cut of meats i've ever had in my entire life!!! if i'm lying, then god strike me down ‍

First time going to a Gen KBBQ and had a great experience. The food quality was amazing and the service was outstanding. The staff were attentive and personable. Can't wait to go back!

My wife and I dined here recently upon recommendation, and I gotta say we were not disappointed! So much on the menu looked (and smelled) great. Thankfully the manager there, Kat, was so helpful with food and drink recommendations. (Thanks again, Kat!!!) Will definitely drop by again. Just a bit of heads up that some may find it a tad pricy here, but let me just say: Treat yourself, it's SO worth it!

Was in town this past weekend for graduation. Came across this restaurant while driving in. The plaza was lively, the host greeted us and the wait was not too long since we arrived just before the dinner rush. Food came out quick and the servers were all very informative. Had a great experience, looking forward to coming back next time we are in town.