Elaine C.
Yelp
Wow--this was probably the best KBBQ I've had, and that's saying a lot considering how many spots there are in NoVa. Honest Grill stands out from traditional KBBQ places with its sleek, dark-toned interior, spacious booth seating, and overall elevated vibe.
Our server was incredibly sweet and attentive--she explained the menu thoroughly and cooked all the meats for us at the table, balancing attentiveness with discretion.
We ordered two beef guides and a cold buckwheat noodle dish to share among three people. While the meat portions aren't huge, I actually appreciated that--it allowed us to really enjoy the wide variety of banchan (side dishes) without feeling overwhelmed. Honest Grill clearly prioritizes quality over quantity, which suits my taste perfectly.
The beef brisket was average, but all the other cuts were excellent. The marinated rib finger was definitely my favorite cut: fatty, flavorful, and melt in your mouth tender.
The banchan was also a highlight. They offered a great mix of classics--pickled radish, cucumber and onion, kimchi--as well as two refreshing salads: a green onion and cabbage salad, and a spring mix with creamy dressing. As a veggie lover, I devoured both. From the special sides included with the meat guides, we picked the stir-fried brussels sprouts (amazing--especially with whole garlic cloves) and tofu kimchi (too salty; would not recommend).
One of the unexpected stars of the meal was the cold buckwheat noodles (bibim naengmyeon). The chewy noodles, paired with crisp red cabbage, daikon, and cucumber in a chilled broth with the spicy sauce was sooo satisfying--I kept going back for more. It was exactly what we needed to cut through the richness of the meat.
I was thoroughly impressed with my entire experience and am already looking forward to coming back to try their lunch sets.