Jong Kak

I was looking for restaurants near MICA and this One showed up among the many choices. I clicked on them and checked out their website photos and other reviews. I was impressed so we decided to visit. What a fantastic experience. The kindness of the staff to the excellent meats. Everything was a success.

VERY good food. Eating here was my first time eating Korean barbecue and it did not disappoint. It was so good that I came again 2 weeks later. For a table of 3, the half plate was more than enough. The restaurant is smoky in the barbecue area which is to be expected and a bit chilly so bring a sweater.

I had the dumpling soup. And oh wow! It was delicious. The store is run by a very young team who are very attentive and kind. They also shared some interesting things about food in Korea. I tried some of the bbq my friends had, and it was delicious and fresh meat. Highly recommend this place. Also they have a parking lot!

Came in and the place was super dark and felt really old. Tables and chairs looked like they hadn’t been updated in decades. What bothered me most was the smoke—there’s barely any ventilation, and it honestly felt hard to breathe at times. Food-wise, the sundubu was alright, nothing special. But the marinated galbi? Total letdown. It looked like dog food and was so tough I could barely chew it. Tasted like they cooked frozen meat straight out of the freezer with the thawed water rubbery and just… off. I told the server, and she took it back, only to bring it right back and say it was “perfectly cooked.” You can decide for yourself (check the photo). Btw this was $38… Yeah, definitely not coming back.

Visited this Korean spot for the first time with friends. It's great for a quick bite, though the location feels a bit sketchy. Convenient parking lot next to the restaurant. Service was fast, but they brought out appetizers after some main dishes. Food was tasty, and they offer BBQ too. Might return to check out their karaoke room!

If you're looking for an authentic Korean food.. this is the place...served by real Korean people.. I've been to other Korean restaurants, but the side dishes in this place are tastier and fresher... When we first got in the place, I didn't like it right away because of a certain smell... but the food made up for it... we like everything we ate (choice#1 of their barbecue)... and oh... they used live coals in cooking... After we were full, they served us complimentary probiotic drinks, which i know is a Korean way after a hearty meal, and they're the only Korean restaurant I've been to that did that

Definitely an authentic Korean restaurant. The food is fresh and full of flavor. The service was amazing and they had great recommendations. It was pretty quiet for a Saturday afternoon which made it even better! I imagine it can get pretty loud when there’s more patrons! They offer traditional Korean bbq (where you cook the food at the table) or you can order off the menu.

The staff's politeness and the proprietor's warm reception would make even my harshest critic nod in approval. The culinary offerings here are a symphony of authenticity, reminiscent of my South Korean roots and daringly comparable to the most esteemed Korean BBQ establishments gracing the motherland. The masterful grill work over fragrant hardwood charcoal leads to an aromatic dance that bewitches the senses and culminates in flavors that border on the divine. Our host, a paragon of hospitality, forges connections with returning diners, turning them into cherished regulars. A mere trio of visits transforms you into a VIP, bestowing you with a treasure trove of gratis delights – from the sea-kissed Pajeon to effervescent quenchers and finger-licking fried indulgence, among other pleasures. Each dish unveiled before you possesses an eternal freshness, while an awe-inspiring medley of side dishes consistently astounds. The most astonishing part? These delightful complements are yours for the taking, bestowed without extra charge, permitting you to relish without restraint. I would give 5 stars!!!!

Love this place! They offer Korean style BBQ or regular dining. The food was amazing! The service was great and it was a quiet Saturday so it was a nice atmosphere. The location can be tricky but totally worth it!

Hands down the best best korean food in dare I say the DMV? It's for sure the best BBQ, and I've been to Annadale and Ellicott City. Jong Kak is in the former Koreatown of Baltimore and has such a long history in the city. It serves a lot of MICA kids and stays open quite late and offers karaoke in the evenings. I believe it's only Friday and Saturday. I've been here a handful of times, and the staff is always super friendly, and they bring you yakult as an after dinner service. I came here recently on a random Friday for lunch and the kimchi pancake was so good, the first time I had it, it was lacking but it's always dependent on what kimchi you use. It's very traditional in the side dishes they bring you, and they will bring you lettuce for the bbq. They have a lot of Korean dishes you don't get in a lot of places, and for that I am so grateful. Their takeout is also solid, I've gotten it delivered a handful of times. The area can get a little sketchy, but always worth a visit if you're craving Karaoke (eat to get a discount on the hourly rate), BBQ or just a good Korean meal.

Food was amazing and staff was friendly. Authentic charcoal Korean bbq. I think they have karaoke too

Would never have come across this place if it had not been for a word of mouth recommendation. I've been here twice now, once for their regular menu and the last time for the bbq. The bbq is what I would recommend! Meats are marinated well and I really enjoyed the charcoal concept. Staff were fantastic and always around, keeping an eye on things. The kimchi pancake was a total hit! And a great portion. Would definitely get it again. The tteokbokki was a little different to what I'm used to. Their dish had a lot of curry and rice cakes - no scallions and very little fish cakes, which was disappointing. Overall great experience and reasonable prices. Would come back for the BBQ.

Probably one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in the DMV and one of the few that uses charcoal for the grill. Makes a difference in t)3 flavor of the grilled meats vs. gas grill!!!

Korean bbq is one of my favorite foods and this place did not disappoint. All of the side dishes were great, we also got the steamed egg. The staff cook the meat for you. All of it tasted great. The kimchi pancake came with a nice sauce.

Jong Kak offers a solid karaoke experience in its private rooms upstairs. The couches are extra comfy and can easily fit six guests, and the $40/hour rate is fair. The song selection, including YouTube, ensures there's something for everyone. The upstairs bar is convenient, and the service is friendly, with reasonably priced soju to enjoy. While it's not the most upscale spot, it's a fun and casual option for a night out with friends.

I was craving jjajangmyeon which is why I stopped by here in the first place, and then visited a 2nd time w/ friends. seafood jjajangmyeon: 3.75/5 - normally I order plain jjajangmyeon but they didn't have a plain non-pork option so seafood it was kimchi jjigae 3/5 - slightly watery, I would have preferred a thicker more seasoned base

We were looking for a quick bite before a movie at the Charles Theater and came across Jong Kak. Man o man, I'm glad we did. This Korean barbecue spot is a gem! The barbecue bulgogi was perfect, just the right amount sweet to make you keep going back to it. I knew I needed the bibimbap when I saw it was in a hot stone pot. You could hear the rice crisping up on the bottom of the stone when they brought it out. That's how you know it's good! Super friendly and fast service too!

Jong kak is the best Korean food in the Baltimore area, hands down. Everything that I've eaten here from BBQ, to bibimbop, to fried chicken has been delicious and the servers are super nice. Yeah, the outside might seem a little sketchy, and the inside is nothing special but you come here for the food and karaoke upstairs. Private rooms are $45-55 per hour but you get $20 if you eat there. Overall, a great night out!

This a unique KBBQ experience in Baltimore! Unlike other kbbq, they use wood! We got the 1/2 combo set of different beefs 8/10 The banchan was more diverse and decent 8/10 The service and ambiance was a 10/10 They also gave us yogurt probiotic drinks at the end You do need to request the doenjang and lettuce leaves if you want them and wish I knew that we had to request them. They do still give the steamed egg(gyeranjjim) with the meal. If I had one wish it would be to have a bigger portion of sauce. Overall, a fun experience with good service!

Went to this spot for Korean bbq a few weeks back with some friends. Two of us shared an order of one of the sets while the other ordered an a la carte entree with sides. The meat was well seasoned and incredible. Our server was extremely attentive and helpful in making suggestions while we placed our order. My only real gripe is that the location was quite chilly and smoky when we went. One of the bbq's caught fire while we were there which likely contributed to this. All in all, I found this spot to be affordable for the amount of food we received. I would go back!

They stay open late on the weekends and have good food. I haven't been here in over 2 years. But I did frequent it and it's always good ressonbly priced late night food. The soups are always spot on.

We had a blast last night at Jong Kak. We wrote our name down and were told we could go upstairs to the bar to wait. We had strawberry soju and by the time we finished the bottle, a table was ready for us. You get to choose between BBQ or regular seating but we did BBQ. This was our first time being in a place where the grill is not flush against the table and heated from the bottom. They brought the charcoal and put it on the table, then started putting the meat on for us. We did combo 2 and the half portion for 2 people around with their boneless fried chicken. We got the banchan first before the meat and so many of them were right up my alley. The kimchi was very good as were the steamed eggs. We did end up asking for rice towards to end so we could finish up. We greatly appreciated the staff checking in on us and helping cook the meats. We will definitely be back especially for the karaoke that's upstairs and to try different things. We weren't disappointed at all and loved Jong Kak!

Portion sizes are good considering the prices. The bibimbap had the perfect rice crust at the bottom (if you know you know) and the kalbi tang is a must-try; the bone broth is SO savory and perfect for a chilly, rainy day. I wasn't a huge fan of the banchan here and they served less than usual (literally 3 leaves of kimchi). The makkeolli was sweet and refreshing and enough to share.

Love the food. Chicken hot pot is amazing. Get the Bulgogi and not be disappointed

Got the combo 2. Meat and marinade was fantastic!! Service was quick and attentive. Highly highly recommend.

What a fun experience! Food is great and the staff is friendly and helpful. And who doesn't love karaoke

My co-workers and I wanted to grab some Korean BBQ for lunch, so we went to check this place out. We decided to order cute combo #1! It was delicious!!! Bulgogi And the spicy chicken and spicy pork were amazing! I didn't know this, but if you run out of any of the Aidee you can order more. I also recommend ordering a side of rice. Overall such a great experience with delicious food! The only thing is that once we were done with our food, it took a while to get our check.

One star is for the charcoal grill. The rest: four us did bbq and a dish. Egg that came with was undercooked and submerged in water. The dwenjang jiggae was just brown water with 1 piece of tiny tofu. No vegetables unless you asked, which were like 5 pieces of lettuce each time we got tired of asking for refills. Side dishes were all empty yet no refills. Transition time between different meats on the grill took a while. Quality of food was just average. Building very old and rusty and bathroom area is dirty. If you want an authentic, decent kbbq experience then please do yourself a favor and drive to Ellicott city. This place is more for young college students who have no expectations with a Korean restaurant.

I stopped by her for lunch with work friends. It's located in bit shady area of Baltimore but had decent reviews so decided to give it a try. When we walked in, the place looked like typical traditional Korean restaurant. Their menu is all in English so took me some time to locate the dish I wanted. The server came by and took our drink order and came by later again to take our food order. I ordered cold buckwheat noodles and my friends ordered tofu clay pot mixed rice and pork potato soup. Once we ordered, they brought out 8 side dishes. They were all decent. My noodles were ok too but wish the noodles were little chewier. My friend enjoyed her tofu clay pot mixed rice dish. My other friend said her pork soup was good but didn't taste the way it was supposed to. It tasted more like kimchi soup. It was missing the perilla leaves that most pork potato soup usually have in most Korean restaurants. I would still come here for Korean food if I'm in the area and try other dishes.

Amaaaaazin kbbq. Good service. Nice restaurant. Fr amazing meat. Came with some friends and got seated right away! There's a little lot for parking. Restaurant was pretty nice and was giving good vibes. Food is AMAZING!!! Really good meat and kbbq. -- Jong Kak Combo 2: there were 4 of us and we got the full portion. It ended up being enough food and because we ordered two other entrees we were stuffed. Quality is wow. Def not like your all you can eat kbbq meats!! -- Stir fry octopus: Amazing!! Def recommend if you like octopus. -- Chilled buckwheat noodle soup: We decided to try this after seeing it so much on other Korean restaurant menus and on shows haha. It wasn't bad. Interesting because I've never tried anything like it before, including the taste and also chilled noodles in general. Also it's cold and has ice or frozen broth! HUGE portion!! Def would be refreshing in the hot summer. A fun try! Overall great experience! They have a good selection of soju there as well. Would def come back in the future.

An anchor to Baltimore's "tiny Korea". Very real Korean choices and BBQ too. I love the stews, soups, noodles and bibimbap. Lots of sides, pancakes (try the seafood one) and Korean drinks. A fav is kimchi soups with meats or seafood, a warm spicy bowl on a cold day is wonderful. A lil on the divey feel to the place but that gives it character imo.

I smelled like Korean barbecue when I came out of that dinner. we had a convention event near by, and it was my first time attending that restaurant. The review online was pretty good but I did not know the hood/exhaust fan does not work. the whole restaurant smell like Korean barbecue, the restaurant environment is shrouded in smoke. You can see the light fog floating with your eyes. Imagine yourself sitting next to a fire pit and the smoke is choking you while you were having dinner. Not a good experience at all. The food is average the servers was slow. I think they might be understaffed, which I'm OK with, but the environment really needs to get improved if they want the customer to have a nice dinning experience.

We hadn't had Korean food in a long time and heard that Jong Kak was the best in Baltimore. Common consensus is that you can get much better Korean food in Ellicott City but we wanted delivery and no one is delivery from Ellicott City to Baltimore City. So we ordered Jong Kak delivery via Doordash. First, the good. The Beef Bulgagi was delicious. I understand that in the restaurant this would cook in front of you on a tabletop grill but it was well cooked and delicious as takeout too. Unfortunately it is quite expensive, $26 for a normal but not overly large portion. The seafood pancake was very good and a hit with the kids as well, and at $9 it was reasonably priced. It's not spicy and not too greasy. Unfortunately, the meal came with at least 6 or 7 sauces and it was impossible to know which sauce went with which item. I would highly suggest the restaurant label this with a guide as to what goes with what. In fact, this was a problem throughout. It wasn't until after finishing that we realized what looked like a noodle dish was actually the buckwheat noodles, meat and veggies that were supposed to go in the chilled buckwheat soup broth and the more udon-like noodles were meant for the Jjamp Pong. If you look in the attached pictures you'll see that we put the wrong noodles in the wrong broth. Of course this is as much a commentary on our lack of knowledge of Korean food as anything, but it would be nice if the restaurant could label what goes where. The shumai were good, though quite tiny, maybe half the size of most shumai. The fried were better than the boiled, but both were good. The Jap Chae noodles were quite good, like a glass noodle dish in a sweet soy. The fried chicken was good, but VERY bony. Why not make these boneless? The Jjam Pong was okay, but lacked flavor and even lacked much in the way of spice which is strange for something labeled "spicy soup". The shrimp fried rice was good, but the shrimp were so tiny as to be almost invisible. At $15 it wasn't all that expensive, but come on, if you're going to advertise something as having shrimp in it those shrimp should be visible without a microscope. The chilled buckwheat soup had a nice flavor, and if we had known what went inside it it probably would have been a bigger hit. The noodles that went in the soups were basically welded into a brick mass and impossible to separate, even once in the soup. In the end it was fun to try some new food but on the whole a somewhat disappointing experience. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that takeout is probably not the best way to do this type of food. I'm sure in the restaurant the noodles would have been in the soup and not welded together, and we could have asked what went with what in terms of sauces. I wouldn't order takeout again but I might try going and eating inside one day.

I've been here a few times now and always leave feeling happy and full :) I love how their bbq is a charcoal bbq, I think it really adds to the flavor of the meat, although just note that your clothes will smell of charcoal for a while after you leave. The servers cook the meat for you which I appreciate because I never know how long to cook the different meats for and they always do it to perfection. My go-to is the combo #2 with Kalbi, joomoolluk, bulgogi, and brisket. Besides the bbq, I've been very happy with the other dishes I've tried here. Most recently I tried the seafood pancake which was absolutely amazing! The cold noodles are also really good, and I've also enjoyed the seafood jjam pong (note: I love spicy food but beware if you are sensitive to spice because when they say something is spicy, it's pretty dang spicy). The only thing I didn't really like were their shu mai and other dumpling appetizers, I'll probably stick to dim sum when I want dumplings. And to finish they give you a Yakult with your check, and what better way to finish your meal? And finally, if you have some time before your table is ready, be sure to head upstairs for karaoke!!

Very hurried experience. Rapid fire what do we want, meat wise. Servers rushing around. Then when cooking, the grill started to smoke due to the bulgogi marinade. Attention ensued, it was best for everyone if we stopped the cooking and set it aside. New grate, spicy pork was better, less smoke but still get it done before they appear at the table with a concerned look. The air vent just couldn't keep up. Stressful to cook your own meal quickly to avoid discomfort of others. Yes the pork was good. The condiments were good. You need to ask for lettuce and rice. Otherwise the flavor was great, just too much stress to complete the cooking before the meat was nice and charred because you are smoking the place up. We didn't take a single picture because of the urgency. Avoid the combos, just select two of what you'd like to try a la carte.

The meat marinades are always perfect, and the service is quick. For one or two people, it can be expensive, but if you go with a group and split the cost of the food, it's reasonable. The fact that the servers constantly check in to see how you're doing and to change the grill for you is another thing I like. They also generously refresh the side dishes, which is something that some other restaurants don't do. It features a cheerful, upbeat, and enjoyable vibe. When you arrive, the hosts instantly say hello.

I really wanted to like this place. Friends from Pa came down and were in Baltimore so we met them there. It has been decades since we have been at this restaurant. And it really has potential, just need some things to improve upon. The service was decent but they could have been a little bit more attentive in terms of water. This place is known for its wood fire brick grill at the table so this is a bit different than the usual gas grill tables. There are so many different Korean bbq's around and the meats are mostly similar. They don't marinate the meats too much, if at all. The flavor is added with the variety of sauces at the table. And this is where they need to up their game. The amount of sauces that came out were really small so need to keep asking. Also the banchan portions were quite small and somewhat bland. There were no seasoned thinly sliced scallions, not any sliced garlic and peppers. For 4 people, we received about 4 lettuce leaves so we had to keep asking for more. Indeed, it is these accoutrements that differentiate a good bbq from the others. I mean I can cook these at home much cheaper and have a lot more of what we enjoy. But once in awhile, it is the ambiance and camaraderie with friends over some soju that you want to enjoy without all the cooking and the cleaning. So I hope this reaches the owner and he/she takes it positively as a suggestion on improving what they have.

Best Korean food in baltimore by a landslide! They have such a fun energy and the Korean bbq is always a blast with groups. I especially love their soups and of course a great kimchi jiggae is wonderful for takeout and to cure sickness. Reasonably priced, fast service. Don't skip out on the seafood or jalapeño pancakes!

One of my favorite kbbq spots in baltimore. They use a actual fire grill here instead of a gas powered one, and you will taste the difference in the grilling. Large menu with plenty of options (everything here is ala carte, no ayce), excellent side dishes, and prompt and fast service here. Notably, this place closes at 2am, and you can order from the kitchen up to 1am, so this is a perfect late night food spot. There is a karaoke bar upstairs, and you will get a discounted rate here if you dine in first. You honestly won't find any better korean bbq in baltimore than from here!

Went on Friday night. It was not very busy, which made the subpar service even more shocking. Waited about 20 minutes before the waiter came out and I could flag him down to take our order. When we finally got the grill and meat, server out the food on using scissors instead of tongs. Asked for tongs, and had to turn the meat with chopsticks as we waited another 15 minutes for the waiter to return with tongs. Also, the men's bathroom was gross, the tables are beat up and the ceiling tiles are stained with water damage. The food was good though, but with everything else, probably never going back here. There are waaaaaay better spots for Korean BBQ. ‍

The employees were very helpful and the Bandhan was delicious. We got a 2-person meal for the grill and one person ordered bulgogi bibimbap. The food was great. The marinated meats were super soft and the pork belly was really tasty! I would highly recommend trying this place out. Lots of locals eating there, which was encouraging.

Service is completely gone down since I've been coming here for the last 17 years plus. is sad they come take ur order without properly greeting the table than they bring the food than they never come back til they come ask u if u need the check i understand when is busy but when there is only 3 tables in the whole restaurant is sad! Because the food is always been good. For this amount of money

Jong Kak serves a wonderful Korean bbq experience, but it is not my favorite in the Baltimore area. The food is great, I just think the restaurant itself is a bit dated and the service is less attentive here. However, I have ordered pork bulgogi for delivery on two occasions and been absolutely blown away by what I received. Not only was the meal delicious, but they packed up ALL the little sides and sauces, and paid attention to my notes on the order. I didn't want for anything once I opened my food and I feel like that's hard to come by nowadays. Not to mention the portion was huge and lasted me 3 meals. Get extra sweet & spicy sauce, it's so good!

Excellent visit to Jong Kak this past Saturday. The restaurant was fairly empty and we were seated quickly. We ordered a BBQ meal, big boy size, and it came with kalbi, spicy pork, spicy chicken, and bulgogi, I think. I also ordered a large sake. Before we knew it, the staff had set up a grill for us in the center of the table, and brought out all the sides and soups. Plus my sake, YUM! Shortly thereafter our waiter began piling meat on the grill, stopping by ever so often to flip the meat, and telling us when it was ready to consume. When there was no meat ready to eat, I was feasting on the sides and killing the soybean paste soup (so good)! I ate more than I should have, but the food was excellent per the norm, the sake too. Until I return, Jong Kak!

Took my boyfriend out for his birthday on 5/4. Service was terrible. Our server kept disappearing and we had to track her down several times for napkins, receiving the check, etc.. She also didn't want my boyfriend to cook his own food, but if he didn't, his food would've been burnt because she kept disappearing for long periods of time lol. Food was not good enough to want to come back..

An excellent Korean restaurant with atmosphere and ambiance of what one would find in Busan (as I did while in Korea on Navy deployment.) It has both regular seating and BBQ at your table seating. We sat in regular seating today for lunch, but just so you know, the exhaust system for each BBQ table seemed more than adequate and worked well for the one that was in use while we were here at Jong Kak. An extensive menu of traditional Korean dishes awaits the diner. We were able to select from dishes with beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and those that would be great for vegan and vegetarian diners as well. Our waiter was happy to answer questions about any of the particular items on the menu. Today, our party had three wonderful dishes (well, actually hot pots) of skillfully prepared Korean food. To begin the waiter brought a table full of small dishes containing an assortment of cold vegetables and egg in a variety of sauces to accompany just about anything on the menu. The Bulgogi (beef) Bim Bap comes in a blazing hot stone pot with rice topped with vegetables, beef bulgogi, a fried egg, and if you want, red pepper paste. The effect of the stone pot on the rice can't be matched at home! It becomes a crisp and crunchy accompaniment to the toppings with great flavor. The dish was perfectly seasoned and small bits of the cold dishes added nuances to every bite. The Kim Chi Jji Gar (Kim chi soup Kim-chee-gee-gay) was terrific! It contains thin sliced pork, tofu, and kimchi in a spicy soup. The spice lover amongst us really enjoyed this dish! And served in a hot pot it came to the table still bibbling around the edges. It had the real traditional red pepper paste, garlic, and cabbage combination that makes kimchi such a popular dish. The vegetarian Tofu Bi Bim Bap was also served in the hot stone pot and was a great lunch selection for the vegetarian in the group. It had the same wonderful crispness to the rice offered by the pot and the flavors were delectable. Our party of three dined for under $45. The restaurant was not too busy for dining in and had several to go orders ready for pickup at the front table. All restaurant staff wore facemasks and tables were cleaned and cleared after each party. Complimentary hand sanitizer was available at the cash register. When we were there, W 20th Street was closed in that block but parking was still available nearby. This restaurant is definitely worth seeking out if you are looking for great Korean food while in Baltimore. We would definitely return to enjoy this fine cuisine again.

Authentic Korean food and one of the best places in Baltimore to eat after midnight. After midnight the food is a bit more seasoned with sugars... you might want to drink a bit of soju with your meal. The Korean BBQ is cooked at the tabletop so no matter what time of day or night, it is yummy.

My go-to restaurant when I'm in Baltimore! There is both a barbeque side of the restaurant, which is great for KBBQ lovers, and there is also a normal sit-down dinner side (which is the side I most often frequent). The inside of the restaurant has a really nice ambiance, and the service has always been really quick and friendly. We always order hot tea when we visit, which is a really nice barley tea that comes for free. The last time we went, we got the soondubu jjigae with chicken (you can choose any protein or vegetables with this dish), the chicken hot pot soup, and shared a half-and-half K-fried chicken. The fried chicken was AMAZING and was also a great sharing size--probably splits best between 2-4 people. I've also gotten the boneless sweet and spicy chicken appetizer here which has also been delicious, and splits well between 2-3 people. My go-to order here has always been the chicken hot pot soup, which comes with potatoes, several pieces of chicken within the soup, and a bowl of rice on the side. It also comes in a black clay hot pot, which means the soup is still bubbling when it comes to the table! The banchan here is also always varied and delicious, and there are always tons of options, so you are sure to find something you would like--and the same goes for the menu, it's huge, so there are tons and tons of options. The BBQ side is also great with many options; I personally really enjoyed the spicy chicken barbeque. Probably thus far my favorite restaurant to visit near my college campus. Would recommend anyone come and give this place a try!

Wow, Jong Kak, you were really off your game last night and I am not sure why. Four of us came here for the delicious Korean BBQ. There were plenty of servers and it was busy but there is no excuse for the shenanigans that went on here last evening. We were seated right away. Then it took 10-15 minutes to place our order. We had to beg for our drinks, for napkins, for utensils, and for plates. The meat kept burning because the servers were so clearly disorganized, overwhelmed, and unprepared. We finally just started cooking our own meat. But the servers kept taking our charcoal away even though all of our meat was not cooked. It was really, really weird. We finally had to tackle someone to get the check. The food was amazing, as always, but the service was really unprofessional, disorganized, and chaotic. I will, of course, come back and hopefully, Jong Kak will be better prepared to provide mediocre to excellent service.

I give it two stars because the food does taste good but the service isn't good if you aren't Korean. My sister & I are AA & this was our first time to Korean BBQ & they did not explain anything when it comes to the process. We didn't know if we cook the food or if they cook it & when I tried to ask questions they didn't understand me at all. Which I love because it's authentic but it makes communicating difficult due to the language barrier. Overall I will not be back here but I will try Korean BBQ again for sure. Just somewhere else.

before i start my actual review... COME HERE! this is my ABSOLUTELY new favorite korean restaurant. i'm korean and i've grown up eating korean food since a baby, and let me tell u the food here is SOOO good. my family and i literally drive an hour away just to eat their jjam pong now it started w a random visit after getting vaccinated our family was looking for some korean food in baltimore and then i found this gem on yelp! initial thoughts- rlly great ambience and decor , loved the light kpop playing in the background the restaurant is opened for in-person!! the waitresses and hosts are so sweet and kind jjam pong 5/5 i will SWEAR by the jjam pong here it is literally so good. the serving size is HUGE. my dad and i shared one whole bowl and were so full after. the spicy seafood broth is so tasty and the veggies are cooked perfectly to eat. the seafood has the perfect portion and the noodles are the perfect size and texture it's just **chef's kiss** even going to korea for authentic jjam pong, hands down this is the BEST jjam pong i've ever eaten my entire life. my dad agrees (he's lived in korea for more than like 20 urs)!! pork tang soo yuk 4/5 wowowow super tasty and crispy and there was the option to pour the sweet and sour sauce separately so good! other korean restaurants tend to have their tang soo yuk turn soggy and not great to eat. but it stayed the same in my opinion and tasted great!! for those who never had, it's basically like breaded chicken or pork that usually has a sweet and tangy sauce poured on top! this is a recommendation for the owners, but one time the meat was over fried so then it turned crispy like the exterior and it just wasn't the very best, so just be careful!! i wld give it a 5/5 if it wasn't for that one time!!! pork fried rice 5/5 yumm it was so hot and warm. it was like a warm umami bowl of home and just everything good. just dancing in my mouth. couldnt finish all the food so enjoyed it home!! it stayed warm and tasty even hours later absolutely LOVE this place. it's a must.

Been a customer for 25 years and will not be returning after the last several visits. The decline in customer service has been appalling. There's some evidence the service reduction is intentional depending on the customers involved. Starting well before the pandemic the servers dramatically dropped in age and it was almost impossible to get their attention for simple items like refilling the water, missing sauces, and bringing the check. The last two visits have been ridiculous. On the penultimate visit I came in with a group of 6 folks and 5 of us ordered the BBQ - none of us Asian. No lettuce was brought to the table until we asked. No garlic and peppers was brought until asked. No rice was delivered at all. I watched the tables with Asians where all these items were delivered with no request whatsoever. On the last visit I came alone and ordered one of the Kalbi stone hot pot dishes which has always over the past 25 years been delivered with a small bowl of miso to pour over the dish. No miso was delivered so I asked. I was told by the young teenage looking woman it was no longer offered. I told her I would pay for it. I was handed a menu with a list of soups all over $10. You are telling me a Korean restaurant does not have a pot of miso on hand to use in preparing dishes in the kitchen?!! If not then the food isn't worth it at all. I told her to pack up my order and I would be leaving. I left her a 25 cent tip for going out of her way to bring me the menu. I will not be back. There have to be better Korean options in the city or western Baltimore/Howard County suburbs and if not I will cross the genre off my list entirely.

Great Korean spot if you want to do the BBQ or just order from the big menu. The area surrounding the restaurant is nothing special but they have a small parking lot and plenty of street parking around the block. The server and all the staff are very friendly and helpful with selecting menu items. I loved what I ordered but would like trying other things on the menu. In addition to the octopus bi bim bap, we got the kimchi pancake to share and it was delicious. I am wimpy with spicy food but the pancake and the bi bim bap wasn't too spicy. My friends both got meat dishes that they really liked also. Definitely would come back! Also tip - don't park in the big lot next to the restaurant next door because even when they're closed there's a potential to get towed according to the restaurant!

Great service, great array of banchan, delicious meat, our entire group had a fantastic time.

Pretty solid kbbq. Not all you can eat so it's pretty pricey. Banchan is dank tho. Would come here again

非常地道美味的韩国餐馆。 即使带着从纽约养刁的挑剔眼光来看，Jong Kak的菜也算非常正宗。小菜花样很多，做得都很精致。Kalbi牛肉烤得很嫩，味道很好，可惜没有豆瓣酱和生菜叶包肉。豆腐煲也很赞，Seafood Pancake也是一流。停车很方便，一定要停在餐馆自己的停车场，就在餐馆旁边。在Baltimore不多的好吃的亚餐里，这家是难得的菜色没有Americanized的一家。一定会再来。

나는 볼티모어에 사는 아들을 방문하기 위해 샌디에고에서 왔다. 한국 음식에 대한 갈망으로, 나는 "가기" 김치찌개와 매운 뼈 없는 치킨을 주문했다. 둘 다 푸짐하고 맛있는 식사였다.