Cherylynn N.
Yelp
After placing our order, I went inside to use the restroom and was surprised to find Kogi Goji BBQ PACKED with youngins...
At 5 pm.
I felt like that auntie in the club.
Kogi Gogi BBQ is an AYCE KBBQ spot that's open for indoor and outdoor dining (dog-friendly). We only visited out of convenience and because they're dog-friendly. I'm not into AYCE or buffets so take my review with a grain of gochugaru.
Arrived for an early dinner so there was no wait for outdoor seating at 5 pm opening but by the time we left around 5:40 pm, there was a crowd outside.
M E N U
AYCE KBBQ Menu w/ two tiers:
(Note: I visited before the price increase, the premium was $55 pp at the time.)
(1) "Special" $42 pp: Includes a selection of over 20 proteins (including seafood), banchan, apps, jjigae (soup/stews), etc.
(2) "Premium" $62 pp: Includes the above plus "premium" cuts, American wagyu, galbi, jumbo shrimp, etc.
Gas grills are used, no charcoal.
Beer, Korean wine, and soju only. No full bar.
2 persons minimum with a ***100 minute limit*** for all tables. 18% auto-gratuity for parties 4 or more.
F O O D
* Banchan: http://tinyurl.com/5b4favtn
IMO, banchan (side dishes) are an indicator of whether a Korean resto is good or not.
There were about 9 banchan which include kimchi, bean sprouts, japchae, potato salad, garden salad, broccoli, rice paper (noodle sheets), etc. They were subpar and didn't taste fresh. For example, the japchae noodles were firm and hella salty.
Lettuce and ssamjang (fermented soybean paste) seem to be by request (we had to ask for it).
* Premium AYCE - $62 pp (paid $55 pp before price increase): http://tinyurl.com/bdfzns3y
--Corn cheese: http://tinyurl.com/te8pn4vp
More like queso fundido with an 85:15 cheese to corn ratio. Where's the tortillas?
MEATS
--Beef Rib Finger Meat (regular menu)
--Beef Tongue (regular menu)
--Spicy Pork Jowl (regular menu)
--Prime Boneless Short Ribs (premium menu)
--Prime Ribeye (premium menu)
--Wagyu Beef (premium menu)
--Marinated Galbi (premium menu)
Decent quality is my only expectation for AYCE. I found the meat quality here quite poor, so the premium upgrade was not worth it to me. The cuts were either too chewy, tough, thick and/or too fatty. We mainly ordered unmarinated meat so there's no masking the quality.
The marinated meats were salty with an acrid aftertaste.
We didn't enjoy the food so 35 minutes in, we asked for bill. Not a fan of Gen and even then, I think Gen is much better.
S E R V I C E
Good customer service from the staff. They were quick to bring out our order and easy to flag down.
A M B I A N C E
Lively, young crowd with narrow indoor dining area (no ventilation hoods or chimneys) and several TVs. The outdoor parklet seating has four tables.
P A R K I N G
Very challenging street parking esp after 5 pm on the weekends.
Overall, I can see the appeal of Kogi Goji BBQ *if* meat sweats are your goal but I'm surprised by the high ratings. For $80+ pp after tax + tip, one could have easily have a better quality dinner elsewhere. While the food was 2 stars, keeping it at 3 stars because the city sorely lacks solid KBBQ joints (gotta drive to Santa Clara) and for the dog-friendly outdoor seating.