KOGI Korean BBQ
Korean barbecue restaurant · San Diego ·

KOGI Korean BBQ

Korean barbecue restaurant · San Diego ·

Premium AYCE Korean BBQ with quality meats, banchan, beer & soju

all you can eat
beef belly
friendly service
great value
fast service
corn cheese
kimchi fried rice
happy hour
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null
KOGI Korean BBQ by null

Information

5447 Kearny Villa Rd A, San Diego, CA 92123 Get directions

$30–50

Usually a wait
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner

Information

Static Map

5447 Kearny Villa Rd A, San Diego, CA 92123 Get directions

+1 858 505 0611
instagram.com
@kogi_bbq

$30–50

Features

•Usually a wait
•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Trendy

Last updated

Jan 12, 2026

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@infatuation
132,814 Postcards · 3,234 Cities

The 11 Best Food Trucks in Los Angeles - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Kogi BBQ is like an old friend: familiar, reliable, and comforting. For the last 15 years, the Korean-Mexican street food truck has been serving tacos and burritos filled with things like tender galbi-style beef topped with a sweet-tangy slaw that will instantly transport you to a Korean BBQ spot. Another standout is its kimchi quesadillas slathered in a salsa roja and toasted sesame seeds. Gone are the old days of chasing down the truck on Twitter, as things are much more streamlined now with schedules listed on its website and its fleet of trucks roving everywhere from Northridge to Pasadena and Long Beach." - jean trinh 1, sylvio martins

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/best-food-trucks-los-angeles
KOGI Korean BBQ
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

The Best Burritos in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"The spicy pork burrito at Kogi BBQ’s food trucks is filling, delicious, and only $10 — no small feat in a city like Los Angeles. Short rib is also available of course, as are tofu and chicken, making this a one-stop shop for just about any Angeleno that wants to be bowled over by this enduring Korean Mexican flavor bomb. Head to the truck set up in Palms to also check out Roy Choi’s taco stand, Tacos Por Vida, which is serving up burritos alongside tacos." - Rebecca Roland

https://la.eater.com/maps/best-burritos-los-angeles-mexican
KOGI Korean BBQ

Erika B.

Google
I had to flag down staff multiple times just to get service at our table. The waitresses kept bringing items we didn’t order, which raised our bill unnecessarily though we didn’t really mind at first. Our table was also left cluttered with dirty dishes for far too long. I understand that an automatic 18% gratuity is added for parties of 8 or more, but our group was 5 adults, a baby, and my grandmother. It felt unreasonable to be charged this fee, especially when I had to constantly flag down staff. One waitress in particular clearly didn’t want to be working. When she did come over, she placed and removed dishes aggressively, which left a negative impression. (Petite lady with shorts) In the end, we spent almost $300 for poor service. Unfortunately, I won’t be recommending this place, nor will we be returning. We came in at 4pm the place wasn't necessary packed. I dont understand the reason of providing poor service. The only one who did his job was the younger gentleman. I have worked in the customer service industry for a long time and I wouldn't want to work there either with some lady being unnecessarily rude.

Cero G.

Google
Was very excited to come back here for my second time, And it was spectacular as the first time I came here. Came here with my buddy and we loved it. Service was great and fast, which is always nice at Korean barbecue restaurants. We got the premium menu because we wanted to try a little bit of everything. Our favorite beef items were the beef, Bulgogi and the Korean short rib bone in. The beef brisket and beef belly were also yummy. Our favorite chicken item was the spicy and barbecue chicken. For seafood, we got shrimp and octopus, and it was tasty. We got a strawberry drink. I forgot the name of it, but it looked like it was mixed with strawberry and milk, and it was insane. Restaurant was clean and staff was friendly and helpful

Ben

Google
This place gets packed and chaotic fast. It’s super loud, cold afffff, and slow, with hit or miss meats and sides. If you're patient, happy hour can save you a few bucks, but otherwise it's kind of a grind. Beef Belly: Get Easily my favorite. Tender, flavorful, and cooked up nicely. The rest of the meats and sides were whatever. Some sides come out in weird portions or cut strangely. They’re also not self-serve, so you have to ask for everything which slows things down. It’s seriously loud in here. Like, yelling across the table loud. If you’ve got soft spoken people in your group, it’s going to be rough. The place is also freezing and super drafty, so bring a jacket... but just know that jacket is going to end up smelling like smoke and meat by the end. Service is slow and inconsistent. Best move is to order your meats all at once instead of waiting between rounds. Food: 6/10 Atmosphere: 3/10 Service: 4/10 Value: 5/10

David S.

Google
Bad experience for me and will not go back: 1) table has a large water spill from placing a water container which I didn't think much of it until I had to clean it myself. 2) I asked for rib fingers which came out. Some peice were all fat, most other pieces about 80% fat. I asked for leaner peices, and at this point, I should have left but I made the mistake of staying. The waiter then took them to the back and brought a smaller plate of it that were still extremely fatty. 2) the brisket we ordered was 80% fat! Almost all fat with a small stip of red meat. At this point I wanted to leave so back but my GF insisted we already ordered so we have to pay and so we should stay. 3) you must flag down waiters any time you need anything, its annoying. And you can tell they get annoyed by people asking for anything. 4) Tipping starts at 16% and they hold the machine over you while you chose so it made us feel uncomfortable alittle. 4) They never chnged the gill cover so we kept frying out food on burnt stove-top. Other places continues changes when it become black. 4) not sure if the vent was working properly or we have had a burn stove-top and so more smoke but we smelled like kbbq smoke more than ever before. Go here if you want KBBQ fat as all their meats here is nothing but fat and very little actual meat.

Nancy D.

Google
We came here for the late night AYCE special and everything was delicious! There are a wide variety of options for meats and sides, making it such a great value. Do be prepared to wait though, but the waitlist goes by pretty fast!

rodmanllew

Google
Amazing for such a hidden gem. The door and front of the restaurant appear like a hole-in-the-wall, but the inside is deceptively gigantic. Food service and food itself is ideal, as the dining experience is not entirely about the food, but rather a social experience. Cuts of meat were primarily excellent, only a few pieces with unsatisfactory cuts - but that is typical of all Korean BBQ restaurants. Rice temperature could have been much more hot rather than warm. Sauce is a bit limited, offering a general flavor, but getting creative with the ratios makes the difference - that is where the surprise happens with the cooking and final flavors. Overall, it's a fantastic dining spot, and I will be returning for more. The chicken portion is more than healthy, and the cheese corn is welcoming before the meal begins. Don't forget about ordering Kim chee as it perfectly accompanies the meal.

Jade D.

Google
Best Korean BBQ we’ve been too since being here, the meats are amazing and flavorful, the amount of meat they bring out is more than I expected, the sides are also top tier. The staff is for the most part pretty quick, we went around 6pm on a Saturday so it was busy but never waited more than 10 minutes for someone to come back around ask if we wanted the plate changed out or if we were ready to order more meat or drinks. Parking is a little rough, you either need to get lucky with a parking spot behind the building or find street parking. Pricing was great, we did the premium selection and order drinks and still spent less than what I expected. 10/10 would recommend!

yuna

Google
As a korean or even as a person who is not picky about their food, i would def NOT recommend this place. For starters: 1. they advertise “LATE night eats” but their kitchen closes pretty early @11pm • we were told in advance that last call is in 5mins and asked if that was okay. we said that was fine so we just decided to order everything all at once. • we were almost done with our food, but our drinks and appetizer was still not out. they never changed the grill plate. they didn’t even check on us once. *I understand that we came in late however, they could’ve easily refused service if they knew they couldn’t give us the same full quality of service. Instead they chose to make more money, and give crappy service. 2. the food was terrible. • As a korean who’s been to multiple Kbbq’s this has to be TOP WORST. The marinate is terrible in all the meats we tried (premium set). • No 반찬 (side dishes). The server (maybe manager) asked “oh…would you like the side dishes or..?” when usually in all korean restaurants they come out as a given regardless of the customers asking for it or not. Seemed like “oh since you guys are last call do you really need it?”. it seemed lazy. • No 양념장s (sauces/salt/dippers) whatsoever. like what kind of KOREAN bbq place doesn’t give it? *The ONLY pro i can say of this place food wise was that the 된장찌개 was the best. Definitely flavorful and good.

Ningyuan Z.

Yelp
This is Great! Really like the vibe, service, and atmosphere. Finally, thanks for Chris (the big Asian guy) with wonderful service!
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Susan P.

Yelp
Came in from Austin and was craving some good Korean BBQ + hot pot, so we decided to give this spot a try around 7:30 PM. As expected, there was already a line, and we ended up waiting about an hour--but honestly, it was worth it. Once seated, the food came out quickly, portions were solid, and everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Service was attentive and fast, even though the place was packed. Parking was definitely a little tricky since it gets busy, but we managed to find a spot eventually. Overall, great experience with good food, friendly service, and an energetic vibe--definitely recommend if you don't mind a bit of a wait!
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Sevly S.

Yelp
Me and my two friends came early, like starting at 5pm, right when they opened. The good: The meats were tasty, I felt it was quality meat and we got several rounds of brisket, the pork kalbi, thinly sliced pork, spicy pork belly, and bulgogi! We enjoyed all the meats, the side salad good, kimchi pancake was yummy and had more fluff! Server was sweet and consistent. We did have a younger buck that helped occasionally because they were getting packed. He wasn't my fav because he would whisper or not be clearly communicative, like we asked for some hot/spicy sauce, he walks away and we are like, ?????? But he did bring us the sauce lol, seemed like he didn't want to be there, but he did his job!! I liked our main server cause he was fast with switching the grill and asking what we needed. The bad: Okay, the sides were a little disrespectful....the kimchi was so sad, looked dry, tasted dry, had no flavour. It was pale looking like Casper the friendly ghost, except, it wasn't friendly. The rice paper was even more vile, it was so dried out. I had suspected it because I saw them microwave something and I was like, plz not be the rice paper lol. It was def leftover frozen rice paper and they were reheating it. I wish they at least microwaved it with a wet napkin to keep the moisture, but it was a hard block and I said no thanks. If I came, I would probably come later, so they can actually use their good rice paper and hopefully better kimchi. However, I do wonder if you come later, you run the risk of lower quality meat? I'd def come back for their late night special. The ambiance was def loud and busy, but I had lovely chats with my friend! It was a bit cold, but we were sitting further in, which is how I peeped the microwaving rice paper lol. Overall, they get three stars!
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Ben H.

Yelp
This place gets packed and chaotic fast. It's super loud, cold afffff, and slow, with hit or miss meats and sides. If you're patient, happy hour can save you a few bucks, but otherwise it's kind of a grind. Beef Belly: Get Easily my favorite. Tender, flavorful, and cooked up nicely. The rest of the meats and sides were whatever. Some sides come out in weird portions or cut strangely. They're also not self-serve, so you have to ask for everything which slows things down. It's seriously loud in here. Like, yelling across the table loud. If you've got soft spoken people in your group, it's going to be rough. The place is also freezing and super drafty, so bring a jacket... but just know that jacket is going to end up smelling like smoke and meat by the end. Service is slow and inconsistent. Best move is to order your meats all at once instead of waiting between rounds. Food: 6/10 Atmosphere: 3/10 Service: 4/10 Value: 5/10
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Kimme F.

Yelp
My go to KBBQ spot because it's pretty affordable for everything I want plus it taste good. Quality meats & sides. Love the corn cheese and salad. Service is quick and everyone is really friendly. The wait isn't so bad every time I come here. Kids under 10 is always a good price because it's pretty much half price for them. I always get the beef belly but the rib meat, brisket, kalbi and beef tongue is always a must. Happy they have egg soup, pickled radish, rice paper and cheese fondue. Great spot for all you can eat KBBQ.
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Cirwan S.

Yelp
Was very excited to come back here for my second time, And it was spectacular as the first time I came here. Came here with my buddy and we loved it. Service was great and fast, which is always nice at Korean barbecue restaurants. We got the premium menu because we wanted to try a little bit of everything. Our favorite beef items were the beef, Bulgogi and the Korean short rib bone in. The beef brisket and beef belly were also yummy. Our favorite chicken item was the spicy and barbecue chicken. For seafood, we got shrimp and octopus, and it was tasty. We got a strawberry drink. I forgot the name of it, but it looked like it was mixed with strawberry and milk, and it was insane. Restaurant was clean and staff was friendly and helpful

Jimmy F.

Yelp
One word -- JANICA. After a wonderful experience with great food, fun drinks, and casual ambiance, one thing stands out above the rest -- our server JANICA. She is so sweet and friendly and just a pleasure. @ADRIAN if you're reading this, give this young woman a raise :)
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Susie T.

Yelp
Holy snickers! This is the worst korean bbq place I've ever been to. Let's put this aside first. The place is like a maze inside. There are extra seats on the right side. It just feels tight and it's dimly lit. The outside, the sign isn't even on, so you may not notice it at night. It was packed when I went. The service is excellent. The workers here are super nice and just on it!. They have a button you press and they actually show up. Its cute and funny. Why 1 star? Well simply the food sucks. Everything here is made to be cost efficient. They have this after hour menu after 9pm. Its a pretty terrible menu of choices for almost 30$. The flavor and quality just tanked for me. I just cant get over the disgusting to literally ZERO flavor sides. I've eaten probably over 40 bbq places, and for me to say the flavoring is all wrong, is just gotta be that bad for me. The salad was too sour for me. The corn cheese had little to almost no cheese. You cant taste mayo or any cream or just anything really. They really skimp you out on quality. The pickle radish is super bitter, the kimchi was extremely bitter and bad tasting. Not enjoyable. The steamed egg was made from more water ratio and had 0 flavor. The pancakes was soggy and disgusting in flavor. The bean paste soups tasted like spoiled milk. The sides should be banished. The only thing that was OK, was the the beef belly. The pork belly was pork belly and the cow intestines arr.not pleasing. The options were little as far as meat and the quality was so displeasing. You can go to orange county and get a fuller menu for the exact price and you don't even have to wait for after hours. I'd never come again, but it seems they have plenty of customers, so they don't need my patronage.
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Shea S.

Yelp
If you are looking for a cute, casual date night that brings you into a traditional feel kbbq place...this is it!! The food was amazing, sauces, flavors were fresh and tasty, 1000x better than Gen (don't even waste your time trying their lunch) just head over to Kogi and ask for Aji. He is the best server we've ever had, came in hot with the sauces and meat recommendations for the best kbbq experience in San Diego 5

Alyssa H.

Yelp
Meat quality is great but every time I come here they're always out of something. First two times it was rice paper then the third time was radish paper... they don't tell you untill you order either. If they had told me before I sat down I would've probably went to a different restaurant since those are deal breakers for me.
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Vivian T.

Yelp
Although I don't frequent as often, Kogi is a staple KBBQ spot for my friend group. The service is always quick, I can control how much portions to order, and they have great sides! I love the kimchi pancake and corn cheese! The meats are shaved neatly and presented nicely. They offered to do half portions since it was just me and my friend dining, so we didn't waste anything. I find Kogi my go-to spot for KBBQ and have not had a bad experience here ever. I also rarely encounter extreme wait times compared to other kbbq spots, but it will depend on what time you go. I usually go when it's their HH after 9PM! Sure, it's a late dinner, but I enjoy the late-night vibes and atmosphere of the restaurant! Never got around to writing a review but after a handful of times of dining here I find that Kogi BBQ is one of my favorite Korean barbecues restaurants that's worth the value and quality!
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Lancy N.

Yelp
Kogi BBQ was a good experience overall. I came as a party of 4 for my sister's birthday. There's plenty of parking in the back, which was convenient. There's a warning sign not to park in the Denny's lot next door so it's good to keep that in mind. The wait to be seated took a while, but once we got to our table, service was quick and consistent. They refilled our sauces without being stingy, and the staff were attentive throughout our dinner. They gave us large portions for the sides that we liked when we asked (kimchi and potato salad). Theres a sweet server named Jeyna (hope I'm spelling that right) that took care of us. She was patient, efficient, and checked in on us regularly which we really appreciated. We also tried their soybean stew, corn cheese, beef belly, house salad, intestines, and kalbi. The proteins were all solid choices. I'm not a fan of marinated meats so I can't really put my thoughts on that for this review. The soybean stew was good but slightly too salty so I used it to dip my cooked meat in. The corn cheese was good as always. Beef belly was fatty and portion size was huge. Plus they plated it very beautifully. The intestines were good flavor wise but very chewy. We got the kalbi at the end and it was good! Everyone loved it! The salad was a nice touch to every bite. Helped wash out the oil if that makes sense. Overall the restaurant looked clean. Servers were attentive and doing their best to set up/buss tables while serving at the same time. Kudos to them :)
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Billy P.

Yelp
This is the spot my friends and I usually go to when we want KBBQ on a whim. Their wait times aren't that bad (usually 10-45 minutes) and their service is relatively decent. They'll check in on you, get you grill changes, and make sure you're all set even when they're busy. Their meat quality is alright for the most part. Nothing mind blowing, and there are definitely better places out there with better meat quality for the same price, but this place is open late, and you can always count on going here if you need a place to eat at for your last minute plans.
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vanessa c.

Yelp
My second time at Kogi and it is such a great option for KBBQ! It is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is nice and spacious, we came in Friday night and the wait was only about 25 minutes but they have an awesome late night happy hour after 9pm that I'm sure gets busy!! They have great side options as well and as a no rice girl I enjoyed the pickled radish, steamed egg, and kimchi the most!
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Lunar W.

Yelp
You know how you can tell if a Korean BBQ place is gonna be good by their kimchi? This does not apply to this restaurant. The meat was actually pretty decent! Not the best quality, I wouldn't recommend the thinly sliced pork and stick to the thick cut pork pieces. Meat overall like the Brisket was okay, but the kimchi was not good. Idk if they make it in house or outsource it but there was way too much fish sauce and sugar. Service was nice and attentive.
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Ourmedspa T.

Yelp
We love this place and we go there a lot. Amazing food and we definitely recommend it to all our friends and family
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Alexys -.

Yelp
First time here. No wait time, however starting at 845-9p the restaurant filled up. They offer a happy hour for a couple dollars off their different tiers. Meats were delish. They offer a good variety of sides - Kimchi, potato salad, salad, kimchi soups, egg, rice, kimchi rice etc BEWARE of the misleading information that is shared with you. Needless to say, I will not be returning and would love going to Fire Spot and/Manna instead.
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Maggie O.

Yelp
I have come here a few times and it is always great when I come with friends! Great for large groups and a good selection. Meats are also good and not bad in quality. Service is great as well ans they check in with you often enough. Will continue to come here!
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Lizzie Y.

Yelp
I had KBBQ last night at another restaurant and was craving KBBQ again, so we decided to give Kogi a try. Kogi is located in Kearny Mesa, a neighborhood in San Diego known for having lots of yummy Asian restaurants. Kogi caught my eye because of their late night special AYCE deal, $28.99/person daily after 9pm. They also have two other AYCE options, which offer more meat selections. We opted for the $28.99/person x 4 people. This option has limited meat selection but we ordered two orders of everything, and cheese corn, pancake, steamed egg, and soybean stew with brisket for sides. I think that the meats are not well marinated honestly. The spicy meats, like spicy pork belly, have the spicy look but not actually spicy & quite bland. Having tried another KBBQ spot while being out in SD, there are better options for KBBQ & for similar, affordable AYCE prices.
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Summer B.

Yelp
This was my first KBBQ experience ever and it was so awesome! The Bulgogi meat was definitely a favorite at our table and the staff was very friendly and helpful since I was new and had a lot of questions. We got the late night special which was really decently priced at under $30 a person, for 4 people plus multiple drinks the bill was under $200 which I was quite impressed with since this place is advertised as the 3 dollar signs ($$$). Another plus is unlimited sides!! The cheesy corn is yummy and the rice cakes they have are thinly sliced and go paired well with most of the meats. The tables are intimate for each party nothing too crammed next to other parties which I enjoy for dining setting like this. Overall a lovely first KBBQ experience!
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Kaylee O.

Yelp
While there's a lot of options for KBBQ in San Diego, Koggi will always stand out as top tier for me. Meat selections are fire. Absolute best cheesey corn. Try to get there early if you're hungry hungry. Have waited an hour for a table. Totally worth the wait though. They're on top of checking up & changing out plates. Continuing to be my spot until someone can be better than them!
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Nadine W.

Yelp
It's good to try. Fun atmosphere. You have to wait a while. Everything was good except the shrimp was mushy so we didn't eat it. Was old.

Kelsey M.

Yelp
It's a pretty good KBBQ spot. Service is a bit slow when we've gone in but it mostly just seemed like they're a little shot staffed. The food is good and the Kimchi Fried rice is a nice change of pace from a lot of other spots.
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Ash D.

Yelp
The meat and sides were average but the service was absolutely the worst. We had to beg every time we needed something. No one would stop by our table or ask if we needed anything. The servers avoided us the entire night and we had to try our best to get their attention whenever we needed meat sides or a water refill. Some of the worst service I've ever had

Angela K.

Yelp
Best value Korean BBQ in San Diego! This is hands down the best all-you-can-eat BBQ spot for the price. It really reminded me of the restaurants I used to visit back in Korea -- great atmosphere and authentic flavors. The brisket (chadolbaegi) was high quality, and the kimchi pancake was delicious. I just wish they had kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae) on the menu! The staff were friendly and attentive, and overall it was such a pleasant dining experience. If you're in the Convoy area, this is definitely the place to go for both quality and value. A must-try Korean BBQ spot in Convoy!

Cody C.

Yelp
When walking in the entrance one of the servers kicked the door open and almost hit my pregnant wife. Continued to be rude while eating inside.
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Johnny N.

Yelp
Kogi is one of my favorite UCSD throwbacks, so visiting every so often post-grad is always an experience. There isn't too much of a wait to get in anymore, but parking is still a struggle. Be careful not to park at Denny's! My favorite thing here is of course the brisket, but their side dishes are great, like the potato salad and kimchi pancake. My only suggestion would to make all of the meat servings smaller to reduce waste and encourage folks to try more stuff. Service is great, where the servers are always super quick to bring stuff out, and change grills. Nostalgia aside, this is an awesome spot.
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Nancy H.

Yelp
This is the place to go when you're craving KBBQ after drinking or want a spot with cheap eats and drinks. The place had a nice vibe to it with it being super loud and the servers were even taking shots with parties! We came on a Monday at 9 PM as a party of 2. The Happy Hour Special was $28.99, which is their cheapest menu. Unfortunately, the meats tasted like cardboard, were poorly seasoned, dry, and the fat did not render off properly. The only edible meats were beef belly and spicy pork. The vibe is nice, but I would recommend going elsewhere if you're looking for better quality meat.
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Katelyn P.

Yelp
A great place for late-night happy hour, but you can tell that the workers are absolutely miserable by the end of the night. They close pretty late (either at 12 AM or 1 AM) but advertise that they close at 11:15 PM or 12 AM because the last call for ordering is 15-20 minutes before that. Expect to come out stinking of meat because their vents are broken, and there is absolutely no ventilation when I went on a Thursday night. It looked hotboxed, and I was choking on fumes by the time my party sat down. Management seems to not care about good customer service or training because our first server was rude, rushing us and treating us as if we were stupid if they were out of an item, like we're supposed to know, and our second server (sadly the nicer one and probably newer) started a grease fire with our grill and almost burnt the place down lol. If you're fine with bad service and okay prices, this is the place to be! Late-night happy hour is $28.99 with an 18% gratuity. Feel free to do the math.
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Daniel L.

Yelp
The restaurant has expanded since the last time I went. The ambiance is great, the air flow system may need a bit improvement. I love their beef tongue which is a bit thicker compared to other ayce kbbq. Service is attentive and friendly.
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Carlos D.

Yelp
I decided to come back to Kogi BBQ because they have great specials and quality cut meats. We were a group of three arriving and the wait time was approximately 25-30 mins. My party of three unfortunately wasn't seated until an hour later of our arrival. We decided to order a variety of meats. You can never go wrong with their prime brisket and beef belly. These two meats are so flavorful and juicy to enjoy. Their thin sliced pork belly is amazing and cut perfectly. I love that they still offer their three sauces to marinate your choose of meats. The corn-cheese is great as well as their steamed rice. The kimchi this time was extremely dry and wasn't properly fermented. Unfortunately, the service was not as good as my last time visiting. Our servers seemed to forget a few of the items we ordered along with our drinks. It seemed to be a busy Friday night which is understandable, but it was disappointing having to grab the attention of our servers.
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Mark M.

Yelp
My first time a couple weeks ago, my daughter and son in law took me. It was amazing... the ambiance was so festive and I felt really secluded and relaxed in our booth. The service was great, so friendly and always attentive to our needs, and the food was 10/10. No additional flavors added during cooking it, everything was perfect!!

Kathi S.

Yelp
Everything was delicious! Service was great. I am glad we were able to go there. I will definitely go there again!

Corey R.

Yelp
I fear this is the WORST KBBQ IN SAN DIEGO! Do not come here if you want good kbbq. We paid 100 dollars for MID meat with so much FAT you could barely eat it.
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Derreck C.

Yelp
Kogi BBQ was a nice experience especially because I was eating as a vegetarian. Wild, I know, but they do have a "vegetarian" bbq option for those who want to be able to hang out with their loved ones and not eat meat. Their vegetarian option is $16 and it's unlimited sides and they do have some veggies for you to grill. It was nice and I had a great time at Kogi. I think it was very worth considering how many sides I ate. Their service is very quick and attentive, you'll get your dishes pretty quick.

Jr R.

Yelp
If you're going to Kogi, ask for Jonathan. He turns a great meal into an outstanding experience. Definitely one of the best servers I've ever had Kogi is lucky to have him! He was efficient, focused, and genuinely made the experience smooth and enjoyable. No wasted time, no missed details just excellent, professional service from start to finish. If you want your KBBQ done right, ask for Jonathan. He knows what he's doing, and it shows.
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Jennifer N.

Yelp
In all of my years having lived in san diego, i can't believe i've never been til now as a out of towner. The service and quality of the meats are pretty good! We waited 40min on friday night for our party of 5. Highly recommend: Beef belly Rib finger meat Galbi Brisket Corn cheese
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Tiger F.

Yelp
First time here, was a busy Saturday night. Wait time 20 minutes. Lots of small fenced off spaces with not very comfortable seating. Service was fast and mostly responsive. It was loud so maybe we misheard alot of what they were saying. Meat was mostly flavorless hence the three dipping sauces. Cuts of meat had nice marbling. No banchan to speak of except for sour kim chee. Soup was without seasoning that could be detected. Price was not worth it. For 4 people (regular menu) and 4 beers and 2 soju's was north of $250. Seemed like patrons were enjoying themselves. This is not a traditional Korean bbq, but it seems to scratch an itch for some people.

Jose V.

Yelp
Great food, Happy hour after 9 pm is where it at . Service is okay it does get really packed so your order may take longer to wait
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Emily J.

Yelp
Not a ton of meat options but the side dishes are very good! The space is crowded but not in an uncomfortable way and the noise level is to be expected of a BBQ restaurant! The drinks are decent but it is a fun place to share a meal with friends
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Jarrod S.

Yelp
Make sure you bring your appetite. This all you can eat bbq gives you what you need. Delicious menu items to choose from. Service is fast to get you your meats/veggies. Server always made sure we were fine. Clean environment and they always came to change out the grille. Definitely must try if you havent!
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Jenny Y.

Yelp
This place was recommended by someone online. I was not disappointed. It reminds me of a lot of the places I used to frequent in K-town in LA when I worked there. The meat quality is great for AYCE. They were super fast with their service which is actually rare in a AYCE place. And the price is amazing for how much restaurants are charging nowadays. We opted for the premium menu which was $43pp because I love beef tongue and short ribs. But honestly, the thing we ordered the most was actually the prime brisket because the quality of that meat was superb. We probably could've just ordered the regular menu which is $35 and be just as satisfied. The only thing I wished they had on their prime menu is the regular short rib, not just the LA galbi. Also just be warned, there's always a wait.
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Athena P.

Yelp
They have great food and excellent service! All of the staff are amazing and the vibe of the restaurant is very nice.

Abraham R.

Yelp
Very delicious! And the service there was great! Speedy food! I definitely recommend
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Ayshia V.

Yelp
Was able to place a reservation ahead, and service was quick and friendly. Lots of good options to choose from, including a happy hour option which our server kindly recommended. Our grills were changed quickly and consistently when it started to burn.
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Jasper C.

Yelp
One of the stoves was leaking grease oil and it dripped on to my friend's white shoes without noticing. Once we did notice, immediately notified the server and they in turn grabbed the manager, who then attempted to resolve the issue. They said that they are "not sure why this happened as it has never happened before but all we could do is take off the sodas for the inconvenience." Don't get me wrong, all the staff were friendly and attentive. However, we expected more than just $2 Pepsi and handing us some dry napkins. At least some soda water would have helped us with the stains or taking care of more on our bill. Would like a comped meal next time or something. Would also like shoe repair reimbursement. This is unacceptable.
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Lotus S.

Yelp
Been coming here since freshman year of college (2013) when my now husband introduced it to me. Over a decade later and still on list to go to whenever friends are in town. Bomb corn cheese and kimchi fried rice. My favorite steamed egg is here!!! So good I get cravings every other month. They have great service and are very fast with orders. Always see large groups celebrating their birthdays or occasions with drinks. Overall very fun vibe and always a good time here, leaving with happy fully bellies!
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Jane A.

Yelp
MEAT SWEATS (4 stars) - FOOD: good - SERVICE: very good - PRICE: decent for what you get - AMBIANCE: loud af Hard to hold a conversation so if you are here to eat, drink, and listen to music (while screaming at each other)... THIS PLACE IS FOR YOU! Good kbbq but not my favorite. Arrived at 6:15p hoping to get a seat by 6:30p. Restaurant was half full yet the line was idling. Waited an additional 15-20 minutes before being seated although there were tables wide open. We ordered the Regular $32.99 and felt that the selection was decent to average. But some items were limited to 2 orders only (the kalbi and beef tongue). Had we went for the prime menu for $6 more no limit on kalbi and more offerings. Next time I come here I'm going for prime! :: FOOD AND DRINK :: STRAWBERRY SOJU - same soju brand you see at all the other kbbq restaurants. I like the strawberry a lot. BANCHAN - kimchi sucks. It was sweet. Corn cheese was a hit, came on a sizzling hot plate. STEAM EGG - typical but always delicious. BEEF BELLY - not all kbbq's offer this and I usually only go to kbbq's that offer this. If it's on the menu I am ordering multiple platters of this. PRIME BRISKET - my regular order and I will order ~2-3 platters of this meat. THIN SLICE PORK BELLY - aka Korean bacon and less salty. I don't know why this seems to always be ordered. I don't really care for it yet I always order it. BULKOGI - aka bulgogi. Uhm cute. They changed the game to match the restaurant. This was better bulgogi than most bulgogi I've tasted in SD area. The marinade was sweet but not that extra too sweet marinade. BONELESS MARINADE SHORT RIB - aka kalbi. I love kabli so much it doesn't matter if it's boneless or not. First time having boneless, kind of nice not having to pick out the bone. Quality meat, the cut didn't have a lot of tough fat and it was nice and meaty. MARINATED SHORT RIB - aka kalbi. Something about the bone extracting some extra flavor when cooking! Love me some kabli. Quality cut, no tough fat and meaty! BEEF TONGUE - I don't eat this. Again, I don't eat this!!! It was ordered and I was convince to try it. It looked like pepperoni and I heard it taste like beef. It does BUT way chewier. Not for me. :: SERVICE :: Great service. Servers always checking on us and quick with the orders and changing out the grills. I always appreciate good service. Tip them well! I'd def come back. Until the next review...
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Dan D.

Yelp
Kogi is a busy spot. Fast service, fair pricing and lots of options. Our group of four all went the premium route. Lots of meat cuts to choose from though only a few marinated. The marinated options were group favorites - beef bulgogi and spicy pork. Most of the other meats were a bit lacking in flavor. The sauces & banchan helped but I would have hoped for more flavor from the proteins. Many side items were great and once ordered arrived quickly at the table. Favorites were kimchi, kimchi fried rice, daikon radish and cheese corn. Was fun and satisfying but plan on washing clothes when you get home.