Goku Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

I had a great time at Goku Korean BBQ! The atmosphere was cozy and modern, and the grill setup made the whole experience fun and interactive. The meat selection was fresh and high-quality — especially the short ribs, which were juicy and flavorful. The side dishes were delicious and varied, from kimchi to marinated vegetables, adding a perfect balance to the rich meats. Service was friendly and attentive, and the food came out quickly. Overall, it’s a great spot for anyone craving authentic and tasty Korean BBQ. Highly recommended!

as soon as i stepped in, i was like wow am i in sf? cause like what’s with all the fog (smoke). they have these huge vents but none of them seem to work lol… food was as expected for an ayce kbbq and service was good. but i think something is wrong with the management here… the smoke, cleanliness, and mushy old side dishes… the sauce bar is also very dirty… this is my second time here and wow what happened.. just became so dirty, greasy, and smoky

Food quality was proper AYCE quality. Everything tasted good, though it was fattier than the average kbbq joint. Service, unfortunately, was pretty bad. Called beforehand to let them know, showed up on time just to wait 30 minutes in the lobby. Anytime it was asked, they “just needed a minute to clear the table.” Now, I expected to walk into a busy restaurant given the time we had to wait, but half of the tables were clean and empty, so not sure why we needed to wait so long. It started to make sense as we sat at the table. Everything was slower than expected. Smoke constantly filled the room because they didn’t clear old grills for too long and there aren’t any vents above the middle set of tables. I can’t tell if employees were tired, lazy, or both. But given their faces, some looked real tired. Others seem to be trying hard to be personable and check on many tables as they were running around delivering meats and cleaning. My takeaway is that management has done a poor job of making the place enjoyable and streamlined for good service and dining experience. Potentially a bit understaffed on the waiting tables side. Food was coming out quick enough though, so the kitchen seemed to be doing well. I won’t be returning. Hopefully they figure out what’s not working for them. Bad start to 2026.

We had a party of 4, and we got the hotpot and BBQ. I’d never been to one before, and it was excellent. Beef bulgogi and Miso pork belly were my faves, but it was great to try out other ingredients such as lotus root, black fungus, blue crab, bamboo shoots, fish tofu, brisket, lamb, red wine pork belly. Many many options, and they arrived in very short order. The goku special was mine and it was very good 😁 Our ONLY concerns were: 1) the food wasn’t labelled, so when it all came at once we weren’t sure what was what 2) the iPad ordering system was hard for half the table to reach 3) the booth benches are NOT secured to the floor, so even scooching over slightly will disturb the people behind you. 93$ for two people with one drink each, however it was so worth it. Will come again another time 😁

Fastest service I've ever had at kbbq. They were quick with EVERYTHING and it was a great experience. Ordering is done with a tablet at the table so it's very efficient and you ask the waiter for drinks and sides and they're very quick with it. It's a cool spot and they also have a sauce bar which is very convenient. The meat was very good and price per person was about $35. We went for a birthday and it was a great experience. Amazing staff and operations with great food.

Great food for a super reasonable price! Was super fun, loved the fruit!! My only critique was the limited number of vegetarian options for barbecue but the zucchini was delicious!! I'd love to fry up some tofu too!

One of the worst KBBQ i’ve been to, service and food quality. We were there for over 2 hours and grill grate was replaced only ONCE. Used plates were basically left on the table. They came like 3 times to pick up 1 or 2 but left rest. Sauce area was super dirty with spills everywhere on the counter and the floor. This was on a Wednesday night, restaurant was at about 60% capacity. They did not seem short staffed either. Food quality was meh. It wasn’t terrible but i felt like it had no taste to it. The beef brisket was about 50% fat. Some of the Red Argentine Shrimps were mushy on the inside. And how are you suppose to grill oysters and clams on there? The sides tasted like something out of a cheap Chinese buffet. Staffs’ attitude were OK. The only interaction i had with them was at the beginning at seating and at the end for the bill, that’s it. Won’t be coming back.

Great food and sides. Service is fast and you can request meat quickly via tablet. Amazing weekday lunch prices. Docked a point because they charge slightly more if you use card.

Huge place and it's a nice experience with kids. Keep in mind you'd might get back stinky from smoke so a shower will be needed after. The food is good and arrives really fast. It was my nephew's birthday and the waiters were awesome, they all came to our table and the entire restaurant sang him happy birthday.

Starting with when you walk thru the door- it's extremely chaotic. Once you get called to sit down it gets very hazy and you can see it's from poor ventilation. The smell of smoke and burnt meat fills the air. Grade F customer service and no direction. You can hardly hear the waiter with how loud the music is. They sat us down and walked away. After 5 or so minutes someone came over and unlocked the tablet and explained ordering. The meat was plain, no flavor. We ordered the beef Bulgogi, and oysters- both looked very discolored. Almost as soon as it was put on the hot plate the meat was burnt to it. We left after half a round.

This place is going waaay down hill. It used to be clean and fresh. The floors have been dirty every time I go in. There's a good amount of staff in the restaurant, yet no one is keeping the floor clean. The men's bathroom was gross according to my bf and when I go into the woman's bathroom it's dirty and a random stall door on the side. The booths often have left over food over them too. The sides that they give aren't fresh and just sit in the check in area. They used to be fresh and delicious now it's just dry and gross. The cucumber kimchi no longer is spicy but sweet. Now the ordering machine makes you wait two mins after ordering 4 items. Not sure if management changed but they really need to keep the restaurant clean at least. With so many workers standing around it shouldn't be hard to make an attempt to keep Goku clean. Definitely no longer coming back incase the next time I spot a roach.

I made a reservation five days ahead for a table of eight and added two more people the day of, so we ended up with a party of ten. When we got there, they sat us at two separate tables, which was disappointing since we were celebrating two of my friends' birthdays. We asked if we could sit together, and our server checked with the hostess. They said they could move us, but we'd have to be done by 7:15 p.m. and our reservation was at 6 p.m. It didn't make sense for a group of ten to eat and finish in just an hour, so we were honestly thinking of leaving. One of my friends went to talk to the hostess again, and thankfully they moved us to a bigger table. We made sure to ask if we'd be rushed and they said no. The food was good, definitely better than GEN KBBQ but nothing super special. Just your typical KBBQ spot. The service could've been better though. The hostess wasn't very friendly, and our server barely checked in on us. We had to flag him down every time we needed something, and he mainly came by to drop off food or change the grill. I get that it was a Saturday night, but when we first came in, it wasn't that busy yet. Overall, food was decent but the service could use some improvement.

Stopped in here for the all you can eat hot pot and Korean bbq for dinner. It's been really cold at night, so having some warm hot pot and bbq is always the best to warm up our bodies. Order the meats, veggies, and your hot pot soup bases on the screen and wait for the staff to deliver the dishes to your table. While your food is cooking or you can get it before, grab your sauces, salad, onions, peppers, and your fruit. Or you can get it anytime you want. You have a 2 hour time limit to cook and eat your food. Eat up! Yum!

Service is fast and servers are very nice. Lots of seating inside What brings the score down is the food. There is nothing necessarily wrong. The food is just average is all. I feel like you can get better quality meats and selection at other kbbq places for around the same price. They have the classic brisket, belly, bulgogi, etc. but lack more varieties. Overall, I'd rate Goku a 5.5-6/10. Service is quick, but the food isn't the greatest option for the price. The best way to describe it is "average"

So I've eaten a ton of Korean BBQ, but I can confidently say they have the best quality meats and customer services! The reason I didn't give them five stars: My wife is ADA and their table spaces are very cramped for wheelchair users. So much so that she had to get out of her wheelchair and they had to store her wheelchair in the front. That was super nice, but I'd like to see the restaurant become more ADA friendly in that aspect. Two, the bathroom was a fucking mess and it didn't look like they checked it so often, to see it was clean. Paper towels were piled up over the trash can, the soap dispenser was broken and some joker busted the mirror. I hope that jackass enjoys having 7 years of bad luck for breaking that mirror, lol. Great Food, great service, but needs fine tuning to be an ADA establishment.

For AYCE, it was honestly pretty decent (we didn't have the hotpot). The banchan is just okay and the meat quality is decent, definitely on the fatty side but honestly that's kind of expected. Pretty expensive but we didn't feel like we had a time crunch and were able to eat till we were full.

Come here if you like to watch your empty soup broth boil with no meat inside. Meat service is slow af

I'm happy to have found this place because I am new to the area and haven't had much luck with Korean bbq. The best part about this place is you can also add on hot pot. So my husband and I get the best of both worlds. Service is on point, they bring you everything you need and things move fairly quickly. We came for lunch and it wasn't very crowded, no waiting for a table for two. Clean establishment, fresh ingredients and a very yummy broth selection. I think I am done looking for kbbq places, this one is it.

AYCE KBBQ! I love a good AYCE KBBQ experience and Goku certainly gave me that! The price and quality is reasonable. There's a good variety of proteins (meats and seafood) and vegetables you can choose from. The servers came pretty quickly with the food and my party left happily and full! The restaurant can get pretty busy.

Here is why I give one star. I called on a Tuesday, and I was quoted lunch price is $22.99 plus $5 if a hotpot is wanted. Three of us came in, and the check-in person said nothing but asked if we wanted the hotpot part as well. We said "Yes," meaning $27.99 per person plus tax. Goku's management/owner is somewhat sneaky. They will NOT tell you that short rib and oysters are NOT included for the lunch price. We didn't know. So, we ordered TWO orders of short ribs and oysters. Each order comes with two pieces. The first order of short rib and oysters arrived. The waiter then warned us that he would charge us dinner price, $32.99 plus $5 of hotpot broth for each person ($37.99 plus tax per person), if we would continue to order short rib and oyster. We defended ourselves that we were never told about that, even at check-in time or when we were seated down. I even called ahead that lunch price includes all meats, and the answer was "Yes!" So, they didn't charge the first order but told us not to order short rib and oyster again, including cancelling the 2nd order that we had placed. To the owner: Don't be so sneaky! Be up front with people (YOUR CUSTOMERS) what are included and not included in the lunch price! Don't expect people to read the fine prints (if any) that is buried in the menu of the tablet that you claimed to have. Your tablet should really put up a confirmation if people want to order these specific items and be charged as diner price instead of lunch price! Or put a separate menu (like Gen does) on the side to let people know. You know what's worse? Upon paying the owner circled the 22% tip option, which I gave ZERO tip for trying to nail customers with diner price for lunch. When they bring out your orders, they literally simply throw the dishes on the table, like you're begging for food! And they want 22% tips!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH RESTAURANTS IN THE USA NOW? I didn't let them play the guilt on giving a tip! It's not the waiter's fault, but he and the rest are surely "trained" by the owner not to be upfront with the customers! The first photo is the note I wrote AND gave to the owner when I paid at the register. The 2nd photo is the receipt with personal info, e.g., server name, removed. Ambiance -- The place's floor is dirty and can be slippery! Be careful when walking. You can get slipped! I am scared of going to the restrooms. Service -- The meat is slow to be brought out, and they literally slide the ordered dishes onto the table in a throwing manner, as if the customers are begging for food. The meat does take up to 10 minutes to arrive, and there is a 2 minutes wait on the table after each order is placed. Food -- It's decent. One more thing that Goku should REALLY stop doing is: When you go up to pay, the server (no doubt instructed by the owner), would literally come up right behind you (making sure to be seen) to make sure you tip! They play the guilt trip game. Do NOT tip if they do that to you!!! DON'T TIP, until they stop this disgusting practice of ruining a good dining experience!

Great value, good food, but long wait times. It's better to get there early. My husband and I like coming here to meet with friends, they offer something for everyone.

Smoke smell greeted us when we first entered. Ventilation seems to be poor as smoke constantly keeps filling the room as people keep burning their food. Not a pleasant dining experience at all. We started off with the chicken popcorn for appetizers, this was extremely disappointing as it was cold and very oily, it was drizzled with some sweet sauce which was not a great combo as well. We got shrimp, fish, chicken and lamb for cooking over the grill. Lamb and chicken were decent but the fish and shrimp were very fishy. The fried tofu for grilling was made with stale oil, I couldn't stomach it as well. The cheesy corn had way too much cheese and fat and barely edible. Japchae was passable. AYCE is definitely not worth it with small kids, Our 8 year old was charged full rate as they charge full rate for more than 4 feet. Overall, not worth the $130 spent for four of us with two small kids.

One of our fave hoptpot and kbbq spots! You can do either hotpot or kbbq or both! Favorite broths are creamy milk, thai, and korean. Always good service and consistent food. Pro-tip: come early because they do get packed. Your whole party must be present to get seated. Choose either kbbq/hotpot but not both. It can get overwhelming and it's $5 pp if you want to do both.

I've come here two times, an enjoyed my experience, each time I've been service wasn't the best maybe because they are so busy. Your given a time limit very understanding, but they don't seem to serve to quick. Food options are great for a do it yourself kinda experience this is the place for you. The feel of the place very fast pace.

All you can eat kbbq, pretty good. They also do hot pot. Some of the meat was a bit tough, and some were more tender. I'll be honest I don't fully remember which ones were good and which ones were bad, once you start there is a timer for AYCE, so you gotta eat eat eat! The radish in the banchan was so good, it was my favorite item. It was very acidic and paired with the meat super well. So crisp and refreshing. Wrap some lettuce and you got a delicious bite. The lettuce was well washed and fresh. The meat came in reasonable times, and you could order again after the timer resets. If you dine during busier hours it gets crazy smoky in the restaurant and it gets quite loud. I would recommend off peak hours imo. The grill change was somewhat often, good attention by staff.

Goku offers both KBBQ and you can add hotpot for an extra fee. You can choose either or but if at least one person at your table wants both then then the whole table will be charged the same. If you are a vegetarian then you alone can do hotpot. The grill is shared with the table but everyone gets an individual hotpot. You order all the items from a tablet, up to 6 BBQ meats and 15-20 hotpot items per table. While you wait for the food you can head over to the sauce/condiment and fruit bar. There is a whole variety of sauces. Some people create their own mixes. This is the third place I know which offers both bbq and hotpot. I discovered that I can only do one or the other. I could not focus on cooking my own hotpot and taking the meat off the grill at the same time. You always have the option to turn off your pot when not in use. And sometimes we got confused as to which meat cuts were for what. I think we accidentally cooked hotpot meat on the grill lol.

Shout out to our amazing server Minhtri for getting us our food so quickly, refilling our waters, and taking us as a table even though we came in at 8:45 and the kitchen closed at 9. Very friendly, quick on his feet, and professional. I do agree with other reviews that the kitchen closing time should be more publicized for the convenience of both the restaurant and the customers! The manager let us know we could order until 9:15. We ordered 3 rounds with 15 items each and got both the hot pot and Korean barbecue. The vegetables here are fresh and yummy and the meats are marinated very well and taste amazing. The wagyu for hot pot has really nice marbling. The ventilation is a little weak and We were super full at the end and left very satisfied.

My friends and I were supposed to go to another KBBQ spot, but the wait time was too long, so we ended up going to Goku instead. We visited on Sunday evening. The wait time was about 40 minutes; we put our names on the waitlist on our way there, so we didn't have to wait too long. When we entered the dining area, we were surprised by how big the restaurant is. They even have a sauce bar and a variety of fruits in the back corner. The price was reasonable except for the alcohol. It was $32.99 for BBQ or Hotpot, and an additional $5 for both. Ordering through the tablet was easy, but it was not movable; I had to get closer to it every time we wanted to order. They had a good selection of meat and broth flavors. The service was subpar. It was slow, and our server did not check on us unless we flagged him. They also did not take the dirty dishes, so our table was full and crowded. The cleanliness was not good either. Our tables were very sticky when we came in, and the sauce bar needed some wiping. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner. I recommend this place for its price and variety.

I came by for only kbbq recently (not hot pot). Quality has gone so downhill over the last few years. Meats were low quality and so hard/chewy no matter how long they were on the grill. Service is good and ordering on the tablet is super convenient. Also love the sauce bar. However, I do not recommend this place overall for AYCE kbbq because the options are limited compared to other nearby restaurants and the meats were just not good. If you do decide to swing by, note that there is an additional 3% charge for paying with card (no matter the total) which I found odd.

Oh how the mighty have fallen... Goku used to be my favorite AYCE KBBQ place 6ish years ago. I'd recommend it to every living soul and frequented often. Then COVID hit and the quality slowly took a turn for the worse. I've given them a few chances over the last few years, but tonight's dinner is the straw that broke the camel's back. Wait time isn't too bad if you join the waitlist. Roughly 30ish minutes and another 10 after you check in. Service is abysmal. Waited 10 mins after getting seated before our server came by to unlock the iPad for us to start ordering. Then he almost never came by again. Had to chase people down for grill changes and asks. Food and air quality was horrid. Zero intramuscular marbling on meats, some were straight up freezer burnt and greenish. Pork was definitely foul. You could smell its funkiness building as it was grilling from the jowl to the belly. Galbi and Sal Chi Sal were the two decent things but that's not saying much. As for the air quality, there's a visible cloudy haze that surrounded the restaurant. The ventilation was definitely not working. They gotta sell this place or find an investor to do an overhaul cuz mannnn has this place gone downhill. 1/5 for food and service. Extra 1 star bump only for the memories. End of an era. Sorry Goku, looks like you moved on to the afterlife.

I went on a weekday at around 4pm and it wasn't busy. I didn't have to wait for long and got seated immediately for a party of two. Service was fast and we got our food about 5 minutes after ordering. The food tasted great and all of the side dishes were fresh too. There's a lot of variety with the meat and vegetable options as well. I HIGHLY recommend the galbi short ribs! It was sweet and savory and tender. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the popcorn chicken. You can either choose it with sauce on it or sauce on the side. It was mid with or without the sauce, so I wouldn't bother ordering it. The cheese corn also tasted pretty sweet which is up to your taste preferences. The final cost for two people was around $77. The place is huge with lots of bright lights. The seats were like booths but weren't stable and when you sit down, they would move. The sauce station was also all the way to the back where the kitchen is located. The upside is that the bathroom looked clean.

Came about 20 minutes before last call from the kitchen with a friend to catch up after a Yelp Elite Event (YES!!!). Located in Cambrian Park in the same plaza as Jack Holder's restaurant, Goku does both AYCE KBBQ and Hot Pot. You can choose either/or both depending on how hungry you are. However, if one person chooses both, all members of the party also need to choose both. It makes sense so I won't knock them on that. The inside is what I would call "prison-chic" with LOTS of dark grey, fluorescent overhead lighting, and booths creating lots of sections almost like jail cells lolll. I really hope they remodel or something because it really wasn't too attractive. With it being our first time here, we were very impressed with the meat quality. Especially the short ribs, brisket and rib fingers. There is also a sauce bar that you can get up and get yourself. Give me ALL the Thai chili and sesame sauce!! Our server was great too! He brought out all our meats and sides with a quickness (although I'm sure to get us out faster lol). But he also was nice enough to chat with us since my friend recognized him from a previous KBBQ place. Overall, we left completely full to bursting, and had a wonderful meal! Wouldn't mind coming back - but please repaint or change the warmth of the lighting!!

I used the Yelp waitlist which helped on a Saturday evening. We were seated within 5 minutes. The place was really Smokey from the Korean bbq but we went there for the Hotpot. It smelled hella good though! You can get both for an additional price but the whole table has to get it. The server was nice and gave us the rundown and everything else is ordered on the iPad. Quick service, great selection on broths, meats, veggies and toppings. They also have a sauce bar along with a delicious salad with a miso vinaigrette, lychees and fresh cut fruit. I ordered- Thai Tom yum (spicy) with using noodles, waygu beef, brisket, Berkshire pork belly, seafood meatball, tofu skin, quail eggs, peashooter, woodear mushrooms, spinach and so much more. Skies the limit! Next time I'll try the Korean bbq! Check this place out yall!

All you can eat. This place was packed on a Friday and this was my first time. The meats were all good (got no chicken). They have a sauce bar so you can make your own. Service was fast every time we ordered on the table iPad the food came out in 5 minutes. The server was quick to change out our grill to a clean on. Ambiance is nice. It's a large establishment. I will be back.

They charge extra for paying card, they charge a "service fee" and don't provide a great service. The bbq was great quality but the hotpot was okay. I don't think I would come here again it was just an overall weird experience from the moment we walked in and the 2 ladies in the front just watched us until we went up to them. The smoke was pretty suffocating, usually kbbq places have vents/fans above but it was pretty smoky. We got constantly reminded of the last call at 9:15 but past that time a party who came in late were still getting meat brought to them. I had also ordered a few sesame balls and instead of telling us they ran out they just never came by and when asked THEN they told us they had no more. I liked the bbq portion just everything else was a mess.

This is my favorite hotpot place to visit. They have a delicious assortment of soup bases, my favorite being the "Spicy Tofu Soup" as it has a nice spice level but wont leave my mouth burning. Host service could be improved but they are never rude. I've been very lucky with the waiters i have had and they always make sure to check in and read the room for when to bring out our bill. There is usually a fun playlist of music playing with a mix of throwbacks, current pop, and classics. Lots of tables and booths are present, I'd recommend going before 3 as it tends to get super busy after then. There is a sauce bar with sauces, limes/lemons, fruit, and salt and pepper.

This used to be our go-to Korean AYCE in the South Bay. I was concerned when I read the unflattering recent reviews on Yelp but decided to give it a try anyway since they used to be quite good. Sorry to say that the recent reviews were accurate and the food is about average but since the price is high they get two stars. My eldest son loves Kalbi short ribs but the quality was terrible, perhaps less than choice quality cuts. Quite chewy and not great taste. The finger short ribs were better but still not great. Everything was just okay, including the service. The price is not cheap at $34 a person plus they automatically charged us 18% service fee for our party of five. WE WILL NOT BE BACK. There are much better choices. Too bad as they used to be quite good.

This place offers a very standard hot pot and BBQ experience and doesn't stand out from the crowd at all! The iPad ordering system is unique, but our multiple orders were delayed, requiring us to shout for our server's attention. There had to be multiple orders since they don't allow more selections to come to your table at a time. Seated at table D-1 on a Sunday night (last night), we encountered a disinterested server who seemed indifferent to our needs. He was basically never checking his ipad at all. My soup was boiling away as I waited for veggies, and the tom yum refill was disappointingly flavorless. Overall, the atmosphere felt more like a canteen than a dining experience. Unfortunately, this was our first and last visit; there are far better hot pot options in the city.

The food is always so good here--this is my favorite place to enjoy Korean BBQ. The ambiance was perfect on December 24th. After working that day, I decided to treat myself to Korean BBQ, and it was the perfect choice. Thank you, Marie, for taking such great care of us--your customer service was outstanding. Happy holidays, Goku, and thank you for being open during the holidays!

Came here on a Sat afternoon with my bf for a late lunch since it had both kbbq (for the bf) and hotpot (for me). There wasn't a line and we were seated right away. Since it was the first time there for both of us, our waitress went over the basics of ordering and then we got down to it. She was very friendly and helpful. I loved the fact that we could order from the display and didn't have to keep flagging someone down for more items. After ordering our first round, we went to get sauces and some of the side dishes from the self serve section. I forgot what meats we ordered (definitely galbi, brisket, etc), but it was all great. My bf commented on the quality of the meats as he was grilling. I got the tom yum soup base while he got the Japanese miso. I really enjoyed my soup and all the veggies/items that I could put into it. Our waitress came to check up on us and refill waters as needed. While we thought we were pretty hungry when we walked in, it turns out that we couldn't last that long with the kbbq. I was still going with my hotpot, but my bf was stuffed from the kbbq and barely touched his soup. While there was a good variety of meats and soup items, it didn't have everything that I would have hoped for in the hotpot section (unless I missed it somehow). Even then, I thought it was decently priced ($31.99 for kbbq, additional $5 for hotpot add-on; all parties must do the same thing) as you get both bbq and hotpot. We got excellent service and all our items came out quickly when ordered. The music was a little loud, and we couldn't hear each other clearly at times, but it wasn't to the point that we're shouting to be heard all the time and we could still have a conversation.

First few times coming here I enjoyed a lot and the ambiance. Came today and noticed quality has gone down. The meats seem cheap, funky tasting and old. They didn't have any flavor at all even with salt. Employees are also rude and never come check on you, you have to wing someone down and when you do they get moody as it isn't your server.

Order: * AYCE BBQ (I didn't have any hot pot) Pros: * Food came out fast and servers were attentive. * Steak was tender and flavorful. * All the meats were decent. Cons: * The tables seemed way too high for the chairs. I felt like a kid at the table. * It was almost like there was no ventilation in the entire dining area. I totally expect to smell like KBBQ after, but you could see the smoke throughout the restaurant. * You're pretty much always at risk of slipping on a greasy floor wherever you walk in the restaurant. * Many of the "clean" dipping sauce bowls you grab from had grains of rice that hadn't been washed off. I had to do a double take and ask another customer to confirm if the bin was of clean bowls. I checked an alternate bin and those bowls, too had rice or some kind of food particle that hadn't been washed off. Comments: * I don't want to be uppity, so I will just say this place is for the younger crowd.

First time here and it was 10/10! This place was great! Shout out to our server Tim! He was attentive, fast and gave great advice on what to order. The brisket was awesome, spicy pork belly was great, spicy beef bulgogi and short ribs were 10/10! A lot of sauce options also (brisket sauce with a little bit of soy sauce and cilantro - fire)

I came here with family and overall had a great time. The food is solid everything from the marinated meats to the sides came out fresh and flavorful. The grill kept up well, and portions were generous for the price. Service was attentive, with staff checking in regularly to swap out grill plates and refill sides without long waits, which really kept the meal flowing. The vibe is casual and lively, perfect for groups. It can get busy, but that's part of the energy here. The only thing I'd point out is that the restaurant could use a little more attention to cleaning in the dining area tables, floors, and corners could be fresher to match the quality of the food and service. All in all, Goku is a good spot for Korean BBQ in San Jose. If they step up the cleanliness a bit, it'd be an easy five stars.

4.75/5 I guess you could say this passes the BEST TEST. I came here after hosting an event for most of the day with 8 other people and they were able to accommodate us! Food: 3/3 Brisket: really good. I think this is the brisket they use for the shabu, but it was delicious for the kbbq. Beef belly: I've noticed that sometimes when the brisket is lean, I go towards beef belly, but since the brisket was good, the beef belly was almost a duplicate meat. Still good though! Jowel: delicious, period. Snappy, meaty, and just great. Pork belly: really good as well. Snappy, meaty. Slightly less fatty than the jowel, and a different texture, but just as good. Marinated kalbi: it was okay, but we only ordered it once. Texture was a little off, and compared to the other meats, it didnt stand up. Value: .75/1 Probably one of the better values ive been to in a while for kbbq. The quality of meat and options is more than enough. Highly recommend. Service/atmoshere: 1/1 Our server was very attentive considering that it was a saturday night and super busy. Filled waters and changed the grills very attentatively. Very well done.

As many others have said the food quality went down and the prices went up. The biggest issue is the cleanliness of the place. Bussing stations were gross with rags on the floor, floor felt greasy, and the vents were not working. The bathroom was disgusting and not kept well. The bathroom floor was flooded and the toilets were backed up. I also noticed behind the bar a commotion and the servers saying that there was toilet paper coming up from the drains, yet instead of closing down and addressing the issues they stayed open and kept seating people.

Get the best of both worlds: KBBQ and hotpot here! This all-you-can-eat spot offers both Korean BBQ and hotpot, letting you grill sumptuous meats like smoked garlic shrimp, pork belly, steak, and Galbi short ribs, while simmering up your own hotpot from a choice of broths like the creamy Goku special or spicy Thai Tom Yum. The AYCE lunch is such a great deal at $22.99 for BBQ or hotpot and $27.99 for both. Service was great too, our server kept checking up on us to see if we needed anything. Customize your feast with a variety of toppings, sides and your own mix of sauces from the sauce bar. And don't forget to cleanse your palate with some fresh fruit salad! Perfect for satisfying all your cravings in one go at the casual spot.

I went with a group of people at 11:30 and the place was basically empty so we got really fast service. I liked their finger steak as it was quite juicy with fat. Their pork cheek was great texture too. Once it got to around 1:00, more people started coming in and therefore service slowed down. Overall, good experience for $30.50 w/o hot pot

Goku is our go to spot for Korean bbq in San Jose. It has the best prices with the best quality of meat. However, it is worth to note that Friday through Sunday, they usually have dinner prices and don't have their cheaper lunch prices. Same for holidays, which makes sense! My favorite thing about this place is the sauce bar. I love making my own sauce for the meat to pair with our meal. Our favorite meats are the bulgogi and pork belly. I wouldn't recommend ordering any seafood. We tried the salmon and it was discolored on the inside and tasted bad. The shrimp tasted fishy and old, and the oysters had a silver sheen on them. None of it appeared fresh. The service is also incredibly fast. We always leave our plates by the end of the table and they're gone in a flash. The servers are very attentive and constantly change out the grills. The place itself is always the cleanest. The bathroom can get a little messy, and sometimes the floors are a bit oily. It can definitely improve its cleanliness.

*Visited on Wednesday Sept 18th, 2024 Came here with family; party of 7 and had made a reservation at 6:45pm. I've gone here a few times in the past couple of years and you honestly can't go wrong with coming here for kbbq & hot pot. The restaurant is quite large and spacious, though the tables seemed to be slightly crammed together. There is a sauce and sides bar at the end of the restaurant- it's self serve and fairly clean! The staff here are very kind and quick with service, and are very observant when it comes to any troubles/ needs. OKAY THE FOOD: We did kbbq only this time around, but their hotpot isn't bad at all - I usually get their healthy herb or their korean kimchi broth. * Pretty decent selection of different meats and cuts a well as seafood! * Not as many sides as some kbbq & hotpot restaurants, but has the essentials and you could always order extra sides! * Self serve sauce bar- you can't really go wrong with creating your own sauce, and they have plenty of different ingredients at their bar to help you accomplish a great sauce (or more) to go with your meal :-)

Amazing food and service every time I have come. One of my go to kbbq places. The staff is always friendly and attentive and the food comes out fast

Slowly I'm starting to prefer this location over their sister location Qpot. It's similar in ways but different in other ways. The lighting and decor here seem more spacious and open with brighter lighting. Before I didn't like ordering off the menu because you'll have to keep flagging down the waiter but now they have iPads for ordering. The sauces are the same, however I feel the quality of food is better here. I say that because the last two times I went to Qpot, it didn't end well later that night when your stomach hurts.

I went to Goku Korean BBQ House with three friends for the all-you-can-eat dinner, which is $34 per person. For the price, the food itself was fantastic. The meat quality was great, everything came out quickly, and the other servers who brought out our food were polite. On food alone, it's easily a 5/5. Unfortunately, the overall experience was ruined by the service we received from our main server, Gian. We went on a Tuesday night when it wasn't busy at all, and we were seated quickly. But from the moment we sat down, Gian felt dismissive and uninterested, almost like he didn't want to be there. It was strange, but we didn't think too much of it at first. About five to ten minutes into the meal, I asked him politely for some extra empty plates. He looked directly at me and snapped, "Can you?" I was confused and said, "Sorry?" and he responded again, almost challenging me, "Can you have some empty plates?" My friends and I were all shocked. We had done absolutely nothing to deserve that kind of attitude, and it completely threw off the mood of our dinner. After that moment, every time he came by to change the grill plate, it was extremely uncomfortable. None of us wanted to interact with him because the energy was just so unprofessional and off-putting. It honestly ruined what should have been a great meal. I would love to come back for the food, but the service we received made me seriously reconsider returning. Service is extremely important and the server can completely change an experience, and in this case, it did for the worse. Food 5/5 Other servers 5/5 Gian 0/5

Goku is located in the Hacienda Gardens Shopping Center on Meridian Ave, in the Cambrian Park neighborhood of San Jose. I came here with a small group of friends to celebrate a belated birthday on 11/29/2023. Majority of our group arrived at around 7pm. Since one of our friends was running late, we were advised by the staff that they couldn't seat us until his arrival. I checked out the interior while waiting. It was spacious and clean. Seating was made up of large booths and tables. There was a small sauce/salad bar near the kitchen area in the back. Our last friend finally arrived at around 7:15pm and we were seated immediately. One of the staff members came by to give us the lowdown on the AYCE rules and take our drink order. We chose the KBBQ + hot pot option ($36.99 per person). Ordering was simple. It was all done on a tablet. Overall, the quality and variety of the food were good. We tried a wide array of meat and seafood items and had no complaints. Aside from the usual stuff, we also got some items that you don't normally see at AYCE restaurants like this (i.e. fresh oysters, clams, pea tips...just to name a few). I thought that was a definite plus. The staff provided excellent service. They checked on us constantly to refill drinks and swap out grill plates. They also fulfilled our food orders with great efficiency and precision. For an AYCE restaurant, Goku is solid. As long as you don't compare them to premium KBBQ or hot pot restaurants, I think you will be happy here. 4 stars. BONUS MATERIAL: - Maximum two credit cards per party. - 2-hour dining time limit. - Amply parking on site.

For starters I Haven't gone to a Korean BBQ for around 15yrs. My Wife and I spent the weekend with my Brother and sister in law. I wanted to take them out for a special dinner and suggested we do Korean BBQ. They agreed and suggested Goku since they have been there before but suggested that being on a Friday, we get there right as they opened to avoid the crowd. We arrived and maybe 5-10 tables already had customers sitting but we were seated immediately at 5:30pm. They open at 5pm. We had a great primary server and got our orders for drinks and explained how their ordering system works. "For the BBQ, Order up to 6 proteins and as many sides as you want, for the Hot Pot, order your broth, proteins, and sides". This was to be ordered all on a tablet that was mounted on one side of the table. Problems with the tablet: 1. Being mounted stationary in the middle of one edge of the table, only one person could see the menu. 2. The fonts were too small to read. 3. There was no description on the 8 broths they offered for their Hot Pot. Ie. Health Herb, which my wife ordered, and Thai Tom Yum which I ordered. When it arrived, Health Herb was a very light, no flavored broth with Chinese herbs in it, as for my Thai Tom Yum broth it was sour tasting with a huge Huge Spicy Kick, We had no clue that their Goku Special broth was just a Tonkatsu broth. She didn't enjoyed hers and mine was mouth burning. We would have chosen other broths if we had descriptions to Really choose from, not just fancy names. 4. After finally choosing all the items we needed for our Four Up table, we couldn't even figure out how to submit our order. Waived down our server, "oh, just push on the teeny tiny shopping cart on the upper right hand corner of the tablet and hit submit". So 15 minutes later going through this process and we submitted our order, but of course going through this process, other tables were being filled, and those tables with all knowing, experts were already placing their orders so as ours was getting pushed back in line just figuring out their darn system. Now here comes the food, excitement on our table is building. Three servers come with all the fixings, just placing them Anywhere they can find a spot on our table, Six dishes of Bbq protein, 4 dishes of Hot Pot protein, sides of veggies, noodles etc. the problem was no one explained what was being placed in from of us. Yes, I can tell the difference between chicken and shrimp, but four plates of meat, is this the lamb? Or is it the beef?!many it's the pork? For the two orders of pork belly, is this garlic or miso? So my wife wanted sliced lamb., no clue which plate to take, I wanted sliced beef, no clue, brother wanted garlic pork belly, no clue. I'm assuming you are getting the picture. If you're just going to slap down dishes, servers, take a moment and present and explain your item. If the restaurant is too fasted paced to have the servers explain, put a label on the dish or, those silly flags or sticks you get at a steak house with the name of what's being presented. As for the ambience of the restaurant, tables were far apart enough to keep your dinners party to theirselves. There are Many Tables, this is a big restaurant. And lastly, my Bother in Law was correct, get there early. By 7pm the tables were packed. So to wrap it up: Food 3/5 service 4/5 Ambiance 3/5. Will I come back? Probably not for another 15yrs.

My go-to Korean bbq spot in San Jose! Consistently fast and reliable service, and the quality of the meat and vegetables are always on point! For dinner, it is $31.99/person and an additional $5 to do both. I typically only get the Korean bbq, but this time I decided to get their hotpot. I got their creamy milk broth and was not the biggest fan of it.. I'll stick to their Tom Yum or Miso next time. Hotpot veggies come in huge portions, so make sure not to over order! (One order of bokchoy, napa cabbage, and other veggies was enough for my boyfriend and I). Their galbi is perfectly marinated and tender, and I love ordering their brisket and getting it all crispy! Their corn cheese is also really yummy. This spot can get really busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly! All members within your party must be present in order to be seated.

Kimchi was great, brisket was great, Tom Yum unexpectedly had celery but it didn't impact my experience and the taste of it overall. The service was good, the boy in glasses.. he was kind. A little unfortunate that the iPad did not rotate horizontally, but the food came out amazing. The sauce bar had many options as well, like fruits, greens, and a variety of sauces to mix and match with. There's seafood options in the menu as well! The environment was great, although I don't quite remember if there was music playing.