Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi

The food was good 👍🏻, really yummy! the beef and sauces they use also yum. We each had different single bbq portions. The portion wasnt alot as i was expecting but we were able to get leftover for home. Total for two was around $80, pretty pricey id say

This restaurant has jumped to the top of my list, not only in Lincoln, but overall. The wait was quick (I’d recommend a reservation if you want to ensure you get a BBQ table). The drinks were delicious and the selection left little to be desired. The staff were all very friendly. We enjoyed our appetizers, nothing to be improved at all and they would have been a reason to go in their own right. The bathrooms were well decorated and well attended. We did spend quite a bit of money for our meal, but it was an anniversary dinner and the intent was not to dine on a budget. Absolutely will go again!

My fiance and I LOVE this place. We always come to celebrate special occasions. Highly recommend the BBQ. The marinated meat is phenomenal! I have yet to try something here that I didnt like. Its also quite the experience since you get to cook the food on a grill in the middle of the table. It was fun! The service is great too. Highly recommend Koen!!!

I came here with a large party of about 40 people. The restaurant was very accommodating and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious. We got the large platter for our table of 3. Good value consider it also comes with salad, soup, appetizers, and some of the best rice I have ever had. I have no idea which meat was which, but I liked them all. Only thing was a long delay in getting a server for first approach.

I’ve been here many times. This time we had the best service, our waiter An was super friendly and helpful, answered all of our questions and was so patient helping us with grilling. Thanks An, we’ll be back again :)

I called this restaurant an hour before closing to place a pickup order — no answer, even though Google showed they were open. I tried three times, then drove across town only to find out they stop taking orders at 8:30, even though they stay open until 9. I explained the situation to the man in the picture, showed him my call log, and even called again while standing there — the phone rang right next to them, and none of the staff even looked over. Instead of trying to make it right, he told me I had to leave. No apology, no sense of accountability, nothing. To make matters worse, he made a rude comment in Japanese to one of his employees, clearly thinking I wouldn’t understand — but I do. I lived in Tokyo for 8 years. When I responded in Japanese, he looked shocked. Completely unprofessional, rude, and disrespectful to customers. I won’t be returning, and I recommend avoiding this place if you value good service or basic respect.

Wonderful experience. Liked the atmosphere. Meats seemed very fresh. Our waiter took the time to explain the menu choices and a technique to grilling the veggies and meats. Please note: If you are over 5'11" you may have some difficulties with room while sitting at a booth. I recommend sitting at one of the tables with chairs as you will have the ability to adjust the chair and get more knee room.

I'm usually not the type to leave bad reviews but last Saturday I tried Koen for the first time with my boyfriend. We were seated pretty fast but waited for a long period of time before some one noticed we were there. A waiter noticed us off to the side and brought a waitress to our table. I had heard good things about Koen and was very excited to try it. We ended up ordering the Samurai package with drinks and an appetizer. I was very much impressed by the food. We ended up with a lot to take home which was good. However our waitress was very brief with us and I was very new to the grill experience. The service was bad considering we purchased the most expensive package from their menu. We also were missing several items (we only got two soups and we never got the rice that was part of the package). It was a lot of food but I would have definitely taken that home. Most of the other waiters in the restaurant brought back a receipt when cashing out people. Our waitress brought a card reader and cashed us out at our table which was a little odd. That could have been misinterpreted by me but it felt like she was intimidating us into tipping well.

Food and services were terrific . Easy to make reservations. Ambiance was very nice for any occasion.

This was my third time at Koen Japanese BBQ, and honestly, it never disappoints. Every time I bring friends or family visiting Lincoln, they leave impressed. It's easily one of the best spots I've been to in the city. The quality of the food, the attention from the staff, even during rush hour when the place is packed, they always make an effort to make your experience pleasant. The appetizers, the drinks, the combo options, everything feels well thought out. Also, shoutout to Kyle, who went out of his way to make the wait more enjoyable while the restaurant was full. That kind of service really makes a difference. I've heard people say it's fancy or expensive, but I think that's just perception. Coming from New York, I actually find the prices very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. A family of four can easily have dinner here, with drinks and tip included, for under $200 and that's not bad at all. Great food, great service, and always a good time.

This is an update review. As usual food is excellent. Service is also excellent I just have to add something... There is a secret menu and tako yaki is on it!! Tako yaki was deliciously crispy outside. But mine was still a touch cool inside. Might be better to keep it on the grill just a little longer. Next up is the fish bowl- I ordered blue lagoon. There was more syrup than alcohol in that. They should probably work on the proportions. Overall wonderful experience. We will be back.

Koen is as good as any Asian BBQ restaurant I've been to. The meats were high quality and well marinated, the atmosphere was nice, and our server, Dawson, was super friendly. We got the Koen Premium set and it was a great combination of meats - would definitely recommend that. I'll 100% be going back!

Love the food here and the service has always been great. We are big fans of going here for celebrations (mainly birthdays) and our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs! If you like to cook your own meats over a table centered grill, then you have come to the right place. The atmosphere is electric, especially when it's someone's birthday. Check it out, you won't regret it!

Went for a target run out in Lincoln and was looking for a restaurant near by to grab before heading back to Omaha. What I liked about the setting was how it was divided. One one side you had your regular dining, and on the other side you had your fancy dining for Japanese BBQ. I unfortunately was not able to try their Japanese BBQ, since there was wait time, but I really enjoyed their sushi and the unique names they had for them. My husband and I had their "Angry Wife," "Sugar Baby Roll," and their "Sugar Daddy Roll." Our server was amazing as well, each time he'd bring our food to the table we'd have a mini conversation. Overall experience was 10/10 and would definitely drive an 1 hour out to taste the food again.

Pro tip, get a reservation, this place is popular. And it is the only Japanese BBQ grill at your table restaurant I know of in NE. I was just driving through Lincoln on a Saturday, 5 pm, with no reservation, and the restaurant was one table shy of being at full capacity. Luckily that table had 30 min before the 6 pm reservation, so they sat me and I enjoyed my meal! . I got a mixed grill plate and an add-on galbi (marinated short ribs). The mixed grill came with gyoza, rice, soup and salad. This mixed grill meats had bulgogi, spicy pork, sirloin steak, and marinated chicken thigh. This in itself is more food than I could eat for dinner, and I feel it is well worth the $25 price tag. I did take home 1/2 and had a whole 2nd dinner the next day. . I really enjoyed my meal and kind service.

This is easily one of the best sushi places in Lincoln! I cannot wait to try the BBQ next time! The waiter was so polite and helpful with a great atmosphere, I will definitely be visiting again soon!

This type of Japanese BBQ is rare to find in NE. The flavors are delicious and I like that you can grill your meats to your liking! I've never had a bad experience so far but we are a little disappointed with the change to their menu and removing the beef tongue. But overall, service was great and we'll be back!

Food is great. We only did the sushi side, not the BBQ. Sushi rolls and appetizers are great. Very friendly staff that makes good recommendations.

Formerly great establishment seems to be in a slump right now -- mediocre or undertrained service, issues with building/environment unsolved (broken restroom paper towel dispensers and no hand dryer), items listed on menus that were no longer available (in addition to multiple crossed out by marker). Hope they can put in the elbow grease to get back to their former shine.

A definite decline in quality. The service was good, and food is good. But the environment! It was uncomfortably warm and so humid the floors were slick with condensation.

Horrible service, won't be coming back. Unfortunately only spot in Lincoln for kbbq but for sushi there's grey whale and blue sushi that are 100x better

On our road trip through Lincoln, my husband wanted steak for our anniversary dinner. But I wanted something fun and different since most steakhouses feel formal and stuffy which wasn't my road trip mood. So we ended up here to satisfy what we were both looking for. My husband got the beef platter, with so much meat, which included: Yaki - Shabu Beef, Filet Mignon and Kalbi Short Rib. And I got the Koen Kirin which included: Gyoza (3 pcs), Hanger Steak, Top Sirloin, Spicy Pork Belly, Chicken Bulgogi and Sweet Potato. Each table has a grill to cook your meats how you like and had 3 dipping sauces to add that tasty final touch. This was the perfect spot for our anniversary dinner.

The highlight of my meal was the 10 oz wagyu--tender, flavorful, and nicely marbled Every cut was fresh and expertly prepared, making for a delightful and authentic BBQ experience. Highly recommended

Had a wonderful time at Koen for our friends birthday. We got the Koen premium. Definitely worth every penny. Was enough for three of us! So happy a place like this is in the area. Worth the drive from Omaha! This restaurant is so clean! They have a bbq side and also just a dining side if you just want to order from the menu and not do Japanese bbq. Parking was easy and restrooms are available. Their birthday song is an experience. I won't give a spoiler! The sauce they have for their crab Rangoon is amazing. This is pretty similar to KBBQ, but for kbbq experienced peeps, keep in mind this isn't a thing in the area, so just remember that before setting an expectation. We will definitely be back!

What an experience! We spent about 20 minutes of our drive home talking about how great this place was! If you're looking for a unique date night eating experience, this is the place. We went during happy hour (all day Sunday) and got one of their Koen Happy Hour beef courses. It came with a house salad to share, miso soup for each, gyoza and tempura dipping sauce, and edamame beans. Then came the plate of 5 meats and one vegetable all marinated differently. They teach you how to grill the food, and viola: you are cooking your own food to your liking! It all ended with a scoop of ice cream! The price was perfect for two! Martin, our server was incredible. He was knowledgeable, nice, and dropped a funny joke here and there. 10/10 would recommend!

This is one of my family's go to restaurants! My kids also choose Koen for their birthday dinners. Although, we have been here on too many occasions to count, we have never had a bad experience. First of all, the servers are always great. I don't know how this happens but they have always been so enthusiastic and friendly. I'm Korean by background and grew up in Hawaii. My standards are very high for anything that resembles Korean BBQ. Koen's BBQ is not your standard Korean BBQ but it is a great variation of it. And somehow it won't break you wallet! We are such fans of Koen. I would also suggest going here for your birthday! If you want a whole restaurant singing "Happy Birthday" in a BTS-esque song version, this is your place!

i had only been to koen once prior and in the previous visit only got sushi. this time tried the grill and would highly recommend. fun experience cooking the different meats and veggies. service was great - attentive, kind, and helpful. you have the option of inside or outside reservations. the inside is very cute and evenly spaced.

Good food. Meat quality for the BBQ was nice, although it does make one wish that there was an all you can eat Korean BBQ restaurant around here. Can be unreasonably pricey if you order something that you aren't pleased with - we had this experience with the Flaming Panda. There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with it, it just wasn't right for us. Be aware that there are epileptic risks present. Flashing lights do appear for birthday celebrations, with little warning beforehand. Our waiter was friendly and helpful, he did well explaining how to use the in-table grill.

This is honestly, one of the most fun restaurants in towns The option to grill your own food at your table is a fun experience, that both my husband and I enjoyed - as well as the kids Every time we've been the servers have been so attentive, and have explained everything to everyone in the group. I've never had to ask for a refill here and the food all came out quickly. The meat is also so tasty, I love the marinades that they use. But, what I don't think is talked about enough is the sushi. This has got to be some of the best sushi in town. It literally melts in my mouth, especially the scallops.

The food is Amazing! Loved the Rice that came with our meal. The minute you walk into this restaurant; you get the feeling that you are walking into a VERY "classy" restaurant. The food was amazing! The quality tasted fantastic and fresh! If it isn't cooked correctly; that's on you as you do your own cooking. Service was excellent and we DEFINITELY will be back!!!

Quick update on review, went back the other night and our waiter Trey was amazing probably some of the best service we have ever had at a restaurant. Bump review to 5 stars just because of this guy.

Koen is a great newer restaurant in an area that doesn't have too many Asian BBQ restaurants. The vibe is great - great natural lighting during the day time. The food quality was great - I'd say it's worth the price. We ordered the Koen Premium from the BBQ course menu for a party of three and it was a good amount of food! The sweet/fruity sauce for the lobster & crab rangoon was a great addition in place of a traditional sweet & sour sauce. Restrooms were nice and clean, but I can only speak for the men's restroom. Parking was plentiful. Excited to try more items on our next visit!

I'm sure this is a 5* experience for most places in the country...but well I'm from Hawai'i and well we have REALLY good Sushi. This would be a 4* there...but hey we are in Lincoln so....5 it is. It's a beautiful restaurant, the staff were terrific, and the sushi was delicious. I actually like the smaller than usual rice blobs that make the fish slices seem massive. However, I prefer my nigiri sushi to be prepared with wasabi... which is usually the standard. The tiny 3 compartment dish (with wasabi and shoga) leaves little room to lightly dip your sushi in shoyu. I had the Salmon, Salmon belly, Hamachi, Hamachi Belly, and Albacore nigiri and a Spicy Tuna roll. It was beautifully prepared and tasted very good...but there was one unchewable bit in the Hamachi belly. Anyway...it was a beautifully presented meal, reasonably priced in a nice atmosphere. Not trying to be a snobby jerk face but servers in a Japanese restaurant should probably know what shoyu is....at a minimum. Anyway...thanks!

Just like any other BBQ experience. You can never go wrong. The sushi here are unique with fruity infused and sauces. The mixed drinks are absolutely great, they taste like juice!

This was such a good sushi place! We got takeout and waited at the bar. Super fast service! Way better than other places downtown. We'll definitely be back!

I thought this place was great. It's really fun to use the grill option and the sushi A+. Our server Trey was excellent. He couldn't have done a better job. Trey was very attentive and did a great job of explaining how everything works. I highly recommend this place and the waiter Trey. But if you have epilepsy and someone has a birthday, you run the risk of seizure because they dim the lights, and then they turn on strobe lights, so be mindful of that. But this place is truly great with great vibes and great food.

Truly a fun experience and the meats selection is good. Go with an open mind to order a wide variety of the cuts of beef. A carnivore's dream dinner.

I like this spot a lot! The only reason why i didn't give it five stars is because one of our smoking sushi rolls that came was super bitter and I'm guessing it's from the butane they use to light it up.. it really kills the sushi roll and make it inedible. It was interesting to see a fired up sushi roll but taste wise I don't recommend. Service was good and nice clean restaurant.

This place does not do Japanese food. Never have I ever had romaine lettuce in my roll. The udon soup base was too salty and had too much of whatever it was. They would not substitute the tempura shrimp for anything. The woman who served me was a delight. She was so kind and apologetic. The atmosphere is great. I just wanted a taste of my beloved Japan, and it was not here.

Not going to go back here, which sucks because I really liked this place. Our treatment tonight settled it for us It's my birthday and we have a newborn and wanted to find a place to eat to enjoy a night out as those are futile. Getting a newborn ready and working around a breastfeeding schedule is not easy. We live on the opposite side of town so we called and made a reservation tonight for 5:40pm. The gentleman on the phone took our name and ok'd our arrival time. We get there to be told that they're completely booked until 8:30pm and do not have our reservation. We are told "they'll see what they can do for us." Then they come back to say they can give us a table but only for 40 minutes. That's ridiculous. We spent that amount of time driving here practically. We turned down their "generous offer" and left devastated as most other places are booked tonight and I am now left with nothing to do on my birthday. Disappointing and unprofessional.

It's a little on the pricey side but food was good. I would have liked a slightly bigger/wider tuna tower + more tuna, but it was tasty (you can probably get a small or medium poke bowl for the same price if more fish is desired). My friends did the grill. Was definitely pricey and it says the platter is for 3 people but I think I could eat the whole thing myself, but the platter comes with miso soups, rice, and a large tempura fried ice cream. There are types of dipping sauces and the appetizers come with different tasty sauces too. Kinda disappointing that the chicken teriyaki is only made with chicken breast, because chicken thigh teriyaki is much better, it would be satisfactory to have a mix as well (but honestly I travel to Omaha to get the chicken teriyaki at the Oakview mall or teriyaki express if I want it spicy)

I loved the energy that this place brought! The moment we walked in it just felt like a fun place which is exactly what your looking for In Japanese bbq. Our server was fantastic and very helpful making sure we understood the menu and what we had to do. She also made some amazing sushi recommendations that were good enough to have alone.

i love koen! the food is great, the service is great and the ambiance is SO nice. great experience overall.

Went for dinner and the waitress didn't greet us for 20 minutes, then routinely didn't come to check on our waters throughout the night. In top of that, the restaurant plays LOUD birthday music over the speakers and turns on strobe lights for birthday celebrations. This happened 4 times during the 1 hour we were there. Ridiculous and ruin the date night atmosphere. We thought it was a nice place, but good lord we won't be returning for a meal there. The music was so loud I couldn't hear my husband talking from across the table even if he yelled.

This was a new and unique experience. You have a grill on the table and cook the meat you order to order! Want it rare you're the chef! Medium? You're the chef! The amount of food was overwhelming. If you leave hungry not sure what to say to that. Our server Trey was a rockstar. Attentive, fun and good help pointing us in the right direction. Delicious and fun. Recommend coming here.

I almost gave Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi five stars, but I just can't after one visit. I'll be back to Lincoln next week and plan to return. Maybe my next visit will elevate my review to five stars. I ordered the Sashimi Combo, 18 pieces of sashimi. The fish was very fresh and ooooh so tasty! I won't go into a piece by piece review. Instead I will mention this is the first time I've been offered fresh wasabi! It was nothing like I expected. It was not hot, rather mild and quite flavorful. Fresh wasabi has ruined the green horseradish mound of 'wasabi' for me forever! If you stop by Koen for sashimi or sushi... get it! A friend got a selection of beef to cook on the little grill thingy in the middle of the table. He said it was very good and, while it didn't seem like a lot of food when it arrived, the portion was completely satisfying. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The plum wine was perfect. I seriously can't wait to get back here next week!

This is an awesome date night choice. Interactive, yummy, huge variety. You can do the preselected dinner options that includes variety of meat and sides or do ala carte ordering, but be careful it's really easy to have eyes bigger than your stomach here! You cook your meal yourself at the table, order sushi, or some traditional Asian cuisine. You really can't miss here honestly

We went here as a change from my favorite Asian restaurant. It was not very busy Our server seemed okay and brought us our order quickly Then we never saw him again. There were two servers at the hostess stand but they studiously avoided looking at us, (in case they had to do something) Finally, one of the sushi chefs told one of the servers to find our guy. I am on my 2nd day back from the UK and I am off by 6 hr., so I am cranky. I probably won't go back to Koen because of this treatment or lack thereof My daughter after working at an Applebee's as a server told me the worst service is always when it is not busy. Our server fitted that description If you want to piss off customers, ignore them. It works every time. This was my 3rd visit to Koen. I live a mile away. I will continue to go to my favorite Asian restaurant. Koen is not my favorite.

This restaurant not only have great food, but it's an experience too. You get to choose your own sauce and grill your Japanese barbecue right in front of you. They have great options for group ordering that includes a variety of meats and sauces, sides, and appetizers that I highly recommend. Unfortunately, the heat from all the grills does make it a bit warm in the restaurant!

Phenomenal sushi, excellent BBQ, good bang for your buck if you visit during happy hour. Everything about this restaurant is impeccable, from hospitality, service, space, ambience, food. A gem of Lincoln. Trust me, you won't regret coming here. 5/5, would obviously return.

Go for the boxes! Excellent selection and variety. Drinks take a bit so order early and often. Food shows up quickly.

Service was awesome. Trey our server showed us the ropes and made great suggestions. We had the Koen Premium BBQ Course which was split between 3 people. It was fantastic. The meats were marinated perfectly, tender and juicy. The starters we also great. Lobster crab Rangoon, a meaty spring roll and soup plus salad. Lots of food! Tempura ice cream for dessert was also great. We also decided to spurge a bit on a sushi roll as well as some wagyu ribeye for the grill...no regrets. We loved Koen, it wasn't cheep, but everything was perfect and we definitely felt it was worth the price. My wife even declared it her new favorite restaurant.

Wonderful experience! The host was a little weird, but the food was phenomenal and the waiter was great. Looking forward to coming back to this restaurant again whenever I am in town!

Koen BBQ's Premium platter was incredible. A combination of different cuts of steak prepared in different Asian marinades, each offering was tender a different flavor experience. If you've never tried a restaurant where you BBQ the food yourself over the grill, you're in for a fun treat of an activity during your meal. Remember to use the tongs to put the meat on the grill/flip and your chopsticks or fork to remove so you don't contaminate your eating utensil with raw food. My only note was the the service was a bit slow. Having been to Japan and eaten some great Japanese BBQ all over the world, we left happily surprised with how good the experience was right here in Lincoln. We will be back!

Koen is hands down the best! The staff is always friendly and quick. Clean, nicely decorated and welcoming. The food is superb! Great sushi and ramen as well. My friends and I visit at least once a month!

This place is great because it's so nostalgic to me. It reminds me of so many of the dinners I had with my family when I was younger. We used to this kind of thing all the time at home. Likewise, it reminds me of all my trips to Asia. I need more of this in the US. I love the food and I love the atmosphere. I greatly enjoyed their original menu because they had a dish that was absolutely perfect for me. They recently revamped their entire menu. It's still very wonderful but not the same. I don't get to enjoy all the things I used to, but still good nevertheless. I give this place a 3-star though because it's very hit or miss depending on who your server is. The young white man, Asian girl, and black man are all so delightful. They are knowledgeable about the menu and always give us a good laugh. They are experienced and are continuously checking in and refilling our drinks. However, each and every single time I get the young Asian man, I know it's going to be a bad time. I will be seated and I won't receive even my waters for at least ten minutes. I will see guests that come in after me get their drinks, orders in, and served by their servers first before mine even gives me a passing glance. I will literally make eye contact with the young Asian man and nothing. He will get me my waters much too long after I sit down and then disappears for even longer before I can even order. And of course, he never refilled my water again till it's been empty for half of the meal. And when I order, he has little to no knowledge of the menu. He doesn't know the names or ingredients of any of the dishes. He will forget my rice. He will forget my sauces. He will then give a random sauce that does not come with my dish. He doesn't even know what sauces are what. And when he finally brings sauces, he brings one sauce tray for the entire table to share. He will then forget additional aspects of the order. Please, train him or he will drive your customers away! I will always ask for a different server. I gave him multiple chances and each time, he ruins the experience.

Great place for date night, so clean and modern inside, we went during happy hour and it's a little pricey--for the amount of food you get! Cool concept for a place in lincoln but I wasn't too impressed with the food, I would definitely come here again though, service is friendly!