Little Korea

Our third time eating here! I am so happy to have a good Korean bbq on the peninsula! Yay!! No MSG. The owner only uses healthy ingredients! The grill is electric and does take longer to heat up, but if you’re an asthma or COPD sufferer you will appreciate electric over gas. Just better for your wellbeing. The staff is on it! Table space is critical when you have a grill at your table so they are very attentive to your needs. They were pretty busy Friday night and they kept pace with it. They have beer and soju as well as soda and tea. So grab some Korean fried chicken while you wait for your meal to cook and have a great meal and a good time!

You can tell the owners love what they do. The food was amazing, there was a variety to choose from and incredibly affordable . Although we went in after 7pm, they continue to bring fresh sides and meats. We are truly impressed. The staff were attentive and friendly. The owners are very humble people who pour their heart into making this new restaurant as delicious as their previous one. I would definitely recommend.

Excellent. This is real Korean barbecue. Ms. K the owner is amazing and nice . (She is very generous and gave my wife a gift) If you are a student at NPS or DLi missing authentic Korean BBQ this is your place. Highly recommend. The grills are electric so turn that on right away, pro tip cook smaller amounts instead of crowding the grill.

FINALLY!! A great K-BBQ restaurant in Monterey! The food was so fresh and authentic. Aside from the bbq, It’s also a buffet style for bonchans and other meats, which is an awesome idea imo. Makes it easy to refill everything quickly. The service was excellent and the owners are so nice! Will definitely be returning for more. 🫶👍

I went here with my wife, the food is absolutely amazing. Every side dish has its own unique and delicious flavors, the variety of flavor blew me away. The marinated and un-marinated meats are of great quality and are very tender, just be sure to use the provided scissors to cut it down to bite size pieces. You can order drinks and specialty items to be brought to the table through your phone using the QR code they give you when you sit down. Great food and can’t wait to go again!

Stopped by for weekday lunch. Reasonably priced and everything was self serve, even drinks! Staff was friendly and helpful. The fried gimbap was a delicious surprise. The miyukguk too was so good. I will be back. No LA galbi for weekday lunch I was told. The atmosphere is casual, good for family and friend meals, not very romantic or upscale type. The banchan was top notch and meat quality great. 5 stars because somebody finally has the courage and drive to open AYCE kbbq in Monterey!

The Food and Atmosphere was absolutely amazing! We loved the shrimp and soju! My husband decided he could make a glaze with it, so creative. It was an amazing change of pace, we spent about 2 hours in here eating great and the price was very reasonable for such delicacies !

This place was excellent. Kim the owner stopped by our table and made sure are food was perfect. We talked about the restaurant and the surrounding area. The food and atmosphere was perfect. I will have to come back again.

this place is the bomb the atmosphere is great meats are good and goes well with the soju. come to this place it is soooo good had so much fun with my friends here

Had to give this place a try after seeing it on social media. Definitely not your typical Korean bbq restaurant that you'd see in the Bay or LA but good nonetheless. The self serve bar was pretty awesome. So many good sides that you can try and get full off of. There were some meats that you can self service as well such as pork belly and bulgolgi. There were a couple other things that you have to order off the menu (specific meats). Overall, good experience. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area and craving Korean food.

I was really excited to visit Little Korea, and it does seem like a good value with the all you can eat. Service was friendly and prompt. The vibe is laid back buffet, but our booth benches kept sliding around whenever we got up or sat down which was a little awkward, and the flow of the restaurant is a little off. It feels like you're frequently in someone's way as you get to where you're trying to go. Soft drink is included in the price, which is amazing for AYCE. We arrived right as they opened for dinner and were the first people to come in. Service was really quick. Kimchee was good, but a lot of the other banchan was a little disappointing. Japchae was a little hard in the noodles. Tteokbokki was overcooked and gooey. Some of the other banchan I had never seen before (I am part Korean). Lots of fried items. Few fresh banchan items I was hoping to find. The flavors of those chosen didn't really seem to go together. Trays didn't really support multiple banchan either. Sauces for the meat were lacking too, and none of the meat seemed very marinated in flavor, even basics like bulgogi. They also kept turning our grill down so we couldn't get any caramelization or char on the meat, and when we asked to keep it up the guy basically said no. There was no grill sizzle and it took forever to cook the meat because of this. The best way that I can describe the food experience: It felt like a Korean restaurant trying cater to an American who had never had Korean food. So maybe that's why I keep hearing so many good things. That seems to be a trend locally. If you are looking for large portions of Korean-esque food, this is a great spot. If you're hoping to eat a meal that feels like Auntie is spoiling you, you're out of luck. They are still in the opening phase, so I hope to try again once they are more established, but for now I'm a little sad that this was not the AYCE KBBQ place to rival those in San Jose. I will have to keep buying my Banchan from local Korean stores or making it myself for now.

Who said there was a Korean bbq place in Marina?? Well my cousin and I just discovered it! Nom nom! The price for AYCE KBBQ was really affordable. Lunch Time on a weekend: $30 + tax (um, excuse me yes please) You got the meats, the cuts! All your KBBQ staples (beef brisket, pork belly, marinated steak, short rib)! + different ones I don't normally see like cow tongue. Don't expect the meats to be high up there in quality..- expect to be FULL though lol. Now.. for the main attraction imo: the Banchan that you carry on the gold plates. There is a legit bar place where you can get all the banchan and some other meats, plus soup! I liked how you can get up and readily get your sides without having to wait! That's a bonus! Plus meat comes out faast so you're gucci. Little Korea, I'll be back again with more "optimistic" things to say about you!

TL;DR: Decent KBBQ option if you don't want to drive to San Jose for such an experience. About $40 per person for dinner, good service, and fresher sides/meats if you go earlier in the day. Grill can run uneven, and it gets hot inside, but for the price and location it's not bad. I've been here three times now, and as a local I was really excited to have a Korean BBQ spot close by instead of always heading up to San Jose - where I love Gens. For the area, I'd say it's a pretty good deal. If you're looking for truly top-tier Korean BBQ, you'll probably still want to go north, but for Monterey this place is currently I believe the only proper BBQ place. When they first opened, the prices felt a little steep for what you got, but they've since adjusted. Now it's about $40 per person for dinner on the weekends - their highest pricing per person from what I remember, which I think is much more reasonable. You do need at least two people in your party, and there's a two-hour time limit. The grills work ok - though every time I've been there one side of the grill seems hotter than the other. The grill space is also smaller than some places I've been, but it works. They have a self-serve station for sides and some marinated meats (like bulgogi), and you order other cuts--like brisket, pork belly, and short ribs--through your phone, usually three at a time. That setup feels pretty standard for KBBQ. I do recommend going earlier in the day if you can. At opening (or even midday), the sides are fresher and the selection is fuller. By late evening, it's clear they're winding down for the night and working with what's left. Service has always been good each time I've visited. The staff are attentive, quick to replace tongs, swap out the grill, or check in if you need anything. Tonight, Ignacio and Richard helped us and were both super pleasant--even though we stayed really late (about 9:40, close to closing) due to a late start. They were accommodating and didn't make us feel rushed, which I really appreciated. Non-alcoholic drinks are self-serve, and I can't speak to their alcoholic options since I haven't tried them. Expect to spend about $40 per person with drinks, sides, and meat, and you'll definitely leave full. One note: it can get pretty hot inside. I noticed tonight there weren't any windows open, which made it stuffy, though that might just be because we came later in the evening. Overall, for a local spot, this is a solid choice if you're craving Korean BBQ without the long drive. Fair prices, good service, and a convenient location make it worth it.

If you're a meat lover, you must check out this Korean barbecue spot--it's an absolute hidden gem! My friend and I left in the best kind of food coma because everything was so good. Not only do they have an incredible grill selection, but their mini buffet is packed with delicious sides--do yourself a favor and try the beef dumplings, Japchae glass noodles, and Tteokbokki spicy rice cakes. Trust me, you won't regret it. We loaded our table with chicken and steak (we're not pork eaters) and still couldn't stop talking about the flavors. The beef brisket? Hands down my all-time favorite--tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. We tried this Korean alcohol drink (see picture), and it was smooth and delicious. The service is fantastic, and I even had the pleasure of meeting the owners. They're originally from Korea and bring such an authentic touch to the whole experience--it truly feels like you're dining in Korea. I'm already planning my next visit. If you love great food, warm hospitality, and an authentic Korean BBQ experience, this is the place to go.

PROS: - It's AYCE, can't go wrong with AYCE when you're starving - The meats were decent. - Self serve banchan and rice. I actually prefer this rather than having to flag someone down, and then the wait staff brings you a little morsel of banchan for a table of 8. - The prices were not bad or overpriced. - Plenty of parking as this restaurant is located at a mall. - Plenty of seating inside the location as well. CONS: - This is the weakest link for this place. The grill, even on high heat, would take FOREVER to cook even the thinnest pieces of meat. This is how they getcha. FINAL THOUGHTS: - Overall, if you're craving some Korean food, this is a decent option in this area. - Don't forget to beat the big Korean drum outside before you leave.

Ugh I was hoping for more from this spot but the low ratings were accurate, unfortunately. Very thin kalbi, none of the meat from the mobile selections were premarinaded, only 1 order PER person (2 kalbis) with additional charge if you desire more kalbi, musical chairs that slide, sauce holders that can easily tip over (which it did for me), bland taste compared to so many other KBBQ spots I've been to, and here's the kicker - DO NOT bring your young kids with you to this restaurant. $20 for kids younger than 9, which includes 3 and 4 year old! $20 for the very small amount they eat?? Gotta be kidding me. Oh and be sure not to go past 90 minutes or you'll be asked to leave. Service was great, location is prestine in the mall with plenty of parking nearby, and ambience was fantastic. Order from the QR code the server gives you so your orders placed are directed for your table. Thing is, when you go to KBBQ you go for the food. This spot isn't it and is a far cry from other restaurants like Blue House, Red Castle, and Gen. Hard pass from my wife and I, definitely won't return unless plenty of much needed improvements are implemented. Highly doubt it!

Delicious lunch at this new all-you-can-eat buffet. The owner makes the side dishes from her recipes and there are lots of options. Drinks comes with unlimited meats, crispy appetizers, sides, soup and drinks. We will come back for sure

Most of the kind I have ever had. It was a great experience that I encourage you to at least try and get over here. If you do they have great treats in store for you in addition to a WHOLE BUFFET. Who could ask for anything more ?!

While the gentleman that worked with us was very pleasant, the meal was a disaster. We were advised that the grill at our table would take 5 minutes to heart up for grilling. No problem. We gathered our food choices and returned to our table. Well, the grill never heated up sufficiently and we could not eat the under cooked chicken we had selected. The shrimp and veggies were also questionable. The gentleman I mentioned above kept returning to our table expressing his concern and dissatisfaction with our grill, but never offered us another table and did not discount our meal to compensate us for a completely unsatisfactory experience. We left still feeling hungry and having wasted a lot of time. We will not return.

The self-serve bar at this place is amazing! Everything is always fresh, clean, and fully stocked, which makes the whole dining experience so convenient. I loved that I could grab more sides, veggies, and sauces anytime without having to wait. For a buffet-style restaurant, the quality of the self-serve bar is truly impressive. It's well-organized, constantly maintained, and has a great variety of options. The self-serve bar alone makes this place stand out from other all-you-can-eat BBQ spots. Definitely coming back! --- ---

Pretty good for the area, might be the only place with an open grill. There are no overhead vents, so you will smell like Korean bbq afterwards. Decent amount of meat variety for the grill, and sides were alright too. Not sure why but the booth we were sitting on must've been made of something light, it kept shifting every time we got up until someone sat behind us. Overall not a bad experience.

A really solid new-ish Korean BBQ option. Price: Adult prices are reasonable for what's on offer; a bit steep for young kids. Food: Meat quality is generally quite good. Sides are good to great. Two quibbles: Japchae ran out early evening and it took at least twenty minutes, maybe half an hour, for a new batch to appear in the buffet. This is a standard, cold noodle dish, my expectation is that it would be immediately replenished, especially early in the evening. And there were never any shrimp in the buffet. If the restaurant just doesn't have any one evening, I'd take the sign down. Service: Friendly and responsive. No offer to swap out the grill in between, which Korean BBQ places often do. Infrastructure: Atmosphere is solid. Grills are decent, but heat distribution doesn't seem to be as even as at some places. It can get pretty hot at the table, ventilation could perhaps be improved. I'll definitely be back.

So poorly done, if you call that Korean food I feel so sorry for your tastebuds. 70$ for two people and the best thing we ate was the fried chicken... most inexpensive meat on the menu, SERIOUSLY just go to KFC for chicken and for actual Korean food anywhere in Marina!

Unless you're absolutely desperate for Korean BBQ, do yourself a favor and don't eat here. Where do I even begin? It's advertised as all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, but there's no real fire power to cook the meat. We waited nearly 15 minutes just to get our first batch of beef, and when I mentioned it to the owner, he told me to remove the meat from the grill--which made no sense at all. Eventually, the waitress moved us to another table, but by then we were done waiting. The grills are electric, not gas, so the meat never cooks properly, and that smoky BBQ flavor is completely missing. We spent more time waiting for the meat to cook than actually eating. After the first batch, we'd had enough and left. I don't recommend this place--save your time, money, and appetite.

TL;DR- low quality meat, buffet style replenishment is slow, ordering meats is slow and the quantity is baffling, slow grill, minimal service, poor overall hygiene. Go somewhere else, seriously. My family has tried all kinds of KBBQ spots, in and out of the area. We are from the Bay Area, where there are different options to choose from. As we were in the Monterey area and craving KBBQ, we decided to try this place on Saturday during lunch time. The buffet style was pretty unique, there were many side dishes to choose from. Japchae, fried gimbap, kimchi fried rice, tteokbokki, corn cheese, etc. Also were typical serving sides such as pickled radish, kimchi, cucumber salad, bean sprouts. They had soups as well, and a soda machine that you could visit as much as you liked. You could also grab select meats from the buffet, such as pork belly, squid, and marinated meats. Everything at the buffet corner was at room temperature, pretty much. Ordering other meats was done through your phone, and you could order 3 meats every 10 minutes. They had several meat options that were different from those at the buffet such as beef brisket, short rib, sirloin, and tongue. The complaint we have here with the system is that the meats come in ridiculously small portions. We are a family of 5, but they (time and time again) gave us 3-5 pieces MAXIMUM of meats on a plate. The fulfillment speed was also so slow, and we basically got full from eating side dishes.. Please review the photos I uploaded, and you can understand how baffled we were. At a price of $35.99 per person with the sole goal to feed customers and make them happy and full, serving them such a limited amount, at a restrictive policy, is CRAZY! We also asked for the meats at the buffet to be replenished at the start of our meal, and it took them 45 minutes for it to be replenished (with two toggles). That defeats the whole purpose of a buffet.. Service was minimal, and our empty and dirty plates would stack up until we asked them to bring them to the back. In terms of restaurant cleanliness, the tables and floors were often sticky. We also saw workers wacking flies with fly swatters near the buffet, which appalled us. That is a food safety violation, for sure. Overall, if you are in the area and craving KBBQ, I would say to make the drive to San Jose if you have the choice. There are plenty of options, and you at least get a bang for your buck, with better quality meats and service.

I went to this lovely restaurant today for dinner. We had the dinner buffet and it was fantastic! The place is located at the Del Monte Mall and you can feel the warmth when you enter. I spoke with the owner, Ms. Kim about her experience here. She cooks the food in the back herself (as shown in the video). The ingredients come directly from Korea and the hot pot was bussin bussin!

Gross all the meat was sitting in some kind of marinade. Low-grade meat rice was dry. Don't recommend.

S/O to Richard & Suri (hopefully I spell his name correctly) for being the best server ever! Very great with checking up on us to make sure we were good all the time. Very great customer service, explaining everything & making sure we were being taken care of. Thank you for everything!

This place was once a sushi restaurant before Covid. My husband is familiar with the owner. We decided to try this restaurant twice just to give them the proper review. Our first visitation occurred an hour before an evening closing. Before sitting, we were immediately notified by the waiter that the self-served area and order stops 30 minutes before closure. He also laid out a one page paper stating the house order process and procedures. The food is an all you can eat and cook restaurant. You cook the meats over an electric bbq grill. Most of the marinated proteins: chicken, beef, pork, and seafood are self-served. Short ribs are available only during dinner and by request from the kitchen. Fountain drinks are also all you can drink and self-served. On this night, most of the appetizers and food were gone or put away because of closing time. We cooked and ate what was left. We decided to return a second time to give the restaurant a better review. This time, we came for their lunch. All the Korean appetizers, sauces, marinated meats, and drinks were present in the self-served area. We were able to take our time and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. The atmosphere was charming and cultured. It's not one of those loud and smoky all-you-can eat and cook place. Bathrooms were clean. Service was polite. This is a great place to bring family and friends or craving something different. After you eat, you all can shop at the outdoor mall. If you're not into the grilling your own proteins, you can still enjoy the self-served area. They have fried chicken wings and japchae noodles with all the Korean sides dishes and sauces. I gave the restaurant a 4 star based on the taste of the dishes and the price. The fried chicken could be a bit better. I'm a soup-lover but I laid off the soups based on the previous experience. Both soups were a bit bland and on the cold side.

Very good food overall. Good service. Would recommend coming here with friends and family.

I took my daughter and granddaughter to lunch at this restaurant. It was buffet style. We loved the variety of side dishes offered and the meat selection was good too which you could grill at your table. The service was also good. The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming. If there is a con, it was with us not understanding how the serving plates were charged. It got a tad pricey. However, I would definitely go back again.

Located in Monterey nicely decorated all you can eat Korean BBQ place located across from Anthropology inside the mall. I was very happy to find Korean restaurant at Monterey. I see Hanbok, Ja-ge ham furnitures and Korean dance face masks decorations are super cute and oriented. AYCE for 120 minutes. Sauce bars, decent side dishes and two soups available. Decent size with friendly staffs however meat takes forever to cook since it's electric. Maybe because I'm Korean, their kimchi is Chinese style kimchi that only add chili powder with not much of flavor, simple but less effort and another bad thing is cooking samgypsal takes about 20 minutes.. I'm literally filling up myself with rice, beer, and steam egg that I have ordered for extra charge. Still waiting to taste my meat. It's taking forever.. literally I'm not even exaggerating. Overall Food is just OK. Try to order or get thin sliced meats if you want to eat. Servers are super nice, overall sides are very blend taste but other non-Korean customers seem to be happy about all the selections of sides because there's no place like this in Monterey near by main cannery road area. P.S owner is Korean though.

I am so thankful we finally have an AYCE Korean BBQ restaurant in Monterey! I've been back several times and each time it gets better. Yes, the electric grills are not as strong as gas grills (and some tables are better than others) but if you take your time cooking and enjoy the fresh cooked meat off the grill with all the other hot and cold sides, sauces, vegetables, rice, soup and included soda... it's awesome! The meats are marinated well and they have pork cheek! The Tofu soup and Korean chicken wings are yummy! It's definitely a more of a mom and pop AYCE Korean Bbq as compared to the Bay Area, but it's a GOOD AYCE Korean BBQ in Monterey and we should support it!

Food and service was great!! The bulgogi, spicy bulgogi, short rib, pork belly was all delish! The owner was very sweet and helpful. I would definitely come back.

Great value for $35 per person. Lots of different korean food to try at the buffet. Everything tastes great especially the galbi. Also there is a rule that you can't stay for more than 2 hours but we were stuffed in an hour without rushing at all. Great service. Would definitely come here again!

Listen, it's KKBQ, you come there for one reason and one reason only. But let me get something straight with you. The managers/owners who ever they were who catered to myself and my partner were beyond exceptional. Truly Korean hospitality and honestly that's the reason why I will keep coming back. Yes it wasn't glamour and glitter like some places. But they have the service to make this feel more upscale. Just be patient and you'll be able to eat more than your fair share in 2 hours. That's LK I'll see you next time I want some KKBQ.

We stopped by Little Korea around 3 PM on a Sunday and were seated right away. We've been wanting to check this place out since it opened. The food was excellent, especially for the price. Everything we tried was fresh and flavorful, and the variety of meats and sides kept things exciting throughout the meal. A big bonus: non-alcoholic drinks are included in the AYCE price - something you don't always get at other KBBQ places. One of my favorite parts was the self-serve banchan (side dishes); you can grab as much as you want from the buffet area, and everything tastes amazing! There was a great variety, from pickled veggies to mandu and several types of kimchi, plus two types of soup and plenty of rice. My husband especially loved the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and I couldn't get enough of the japchae (glass noodles) - so good! The ambiance was perfectly themed. There's a beautiful Korean mural on one wall and hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) displayed on another. There was also Korean music playing at just the right volume, loud enough to add to the experience, but not so loud that it interrupted conversation. The restaurant itself was also very clean and well-maintained. The service was top-notch. Servers were attentive, friendly, and quick with everything; from refills to grill changes, we never felt neglected. And to top it all off, the owner came out to speak with us, and she was so warm and welcoming. It really made the whole experience feel personal and memorable. I highly recommend if you're in the area and craving KBBQ. Great food, great service, and a thoughtfully designed space. We'll definitely be back!

The new little Korea restaurant in DelMonte Center Violates California Civil Rights Act. I'm at the restaurant right now they refused to serve me because I'm by myself. California civil rights act prohibits discrimination based on marital status. After drawing the managers attention to that, he took the sign down, and allows me to be seated. Five minutes later he came to my table and asked me to leave because they only serve couples and that's the restaurant policy.

Just had lunch here at little Korea. They do not disappoint. All the meat was tender but without MSG. The trick to cooking is not to overcook and do not cross contaminate. If you keep your tongs as shown in this picture you will never have to worry about food poisoning. Those reviewers who had a problem with it was because of mishandling their food. Ps. You must try the Korean fried chicken. Grab some while you wait for the meet to cook. Your tummy will be happy!

Wonderful experience! Great service. Everything is so fresh. The side dishes are so good and the sauces so flavorful. Will definitely be back!

Service was so friendly and attentive. We came from Fresno to celebrate some birthdays and we had a great time here :) Favorite meat here was the Galbi and the sides were delicious too.

Great deal. Their was alot of selections. the soup was authentic. good food. Staff very friendly. Allstate insurance agent Michelle adams

I enjoyed it! I came here for my birthday with my dad and had a good time. Everything I had was good, though I am by no means an expert. The guy who seated us was nice and polite as he explained how everything worked. The man, who I assume is the owner, came by and greeted us and was very friendly too. People are complaining about the 90 min limit, but friends I don't know how that's a problem... I was stuffed well before we reached the time. The inside decor is clean and I enjoyed the music.

Amazing choices of food. The owner makes all the Banchan from scratch. Most of all she makes you feel like at home as she's very friendly. The place is well lighted with nice decor on the ceiling and on the wall, pretty clean, too. Ajumma- I miss your Korean toast with Cinnamon dusted with sugar. She made this one time during lunch.

The level of service provided was minimal, with most aspects being self-service, excluding grill changes and napkin requests. While grill changes required staff assistance, the overall service model was limited. The pricing structure is set at approximately $38 per adult and $18 for children under nine years of age. Despite this, both children in our party were charged the children's rate, which is not ideal, particularly considering the limited consumption of one child. Furthermore, the dining environment was compromised by inadequate air circulation and high temperatures. I don't recommend this restaurant unless you want foods with no service. They don't have large table for big parties, yet they charged you mandatory 18% for big group.

Great atmosphere!!! lots of food selection!!! Good food!!! Good soup and kimchi! My favorite. Kids friendly.

I will say that the staff are very attentive and present. From telling you their policies to clearing the table once in a while, they were very helpful. However, as a Korean BBQ frequenter, this place still has a lot to improve on. As the other reviews have stated, the quality in buffet food and meats are not the best. I didn't expect the best from the $35 price tag but the meats were *almost* good. Like there's something missing or something off. The sides were ok. I've been to kbbq places where the sides have been really good too but I think I've been spoiled from Sacramento. But I do see this place improving since it's pretty new. The place looks clean and the strip mall it is in is nice. Hope to see this establishment do better.

Absolutely incredible. I've been dying for a buffet to open up in town, I couldn't even dream of a Korean BBQ buffet!! Yet here it is!! The staff were super helpful and made sure everything was taken care of. They answered all my questions and guided us through the process..which by the way, was WAY more simple than I thought it would be. Scan the QR code at the table and they take care of the rest! Self serve rice and other sides with delicious fresh meats available along with the meats you order for your table. My favorite was the beef brisket, I was told that's a fan favorite..I can see why! The bulgogi in the buffet area was divine too. Definitely recommend trying this place out.

My friends and I came here to catch up, and it was a very nice place to chat. The servers were great, and the owner was very friendly and checked on us personally.

The food and the service is amazing for the location. No more driving hours for KBBQ. The ambiance is family friendly. I highly recommend this location.

Such a great restaurant to bring the family and enjoy great quality cuts of meat. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the staff was exceptional , the place was clean and well stocked on food and utensils all around great experience. I would bring my family back again for sure two thumbs up ! Thank you Little Korea !

My first time here and I was surprised, I like it. The customer service is on point. The meat was good, the soups were good and the bonchon are good. Good spot to eat and enjoy. I will come back again.

Its unacceptable standards for koreans and Korean food lovers. If you never had kbbq before, then it might be a cheap introduction to something that resembles kbbq little bit. We ate few pieces, paid and left to get food at a different restaurant.

One of the Worst Korean BBQ Experiences We've Had As locals who love to try Korean barbecue when we are out of town, we were incredibly disappointed by our experience at Little Korea. This was, without exaggeration, one of the worst KBBQ meals we've ever had. Bummer as we were excited to get a BBQ place in Monterey. The biggest issue was the grills--completely ineffective. Our food wouldn't cook, even after sitting there for a long time, leaving us hungry, frustrated, and eventually just walking out. the grills were clearly subpar, which is likely the root of the problem. Even though we didn't get to try to meet, it did not look like it was going to be very flavorful. Despite not eating anything more than a cup of rice and no meat, we were still charged full price for every single person at the table. Four people was $150. On top of that, gratuity was automatically included--even though this is a self-service buffet with no table service and self serve drinks. Most restaurants would have made some effort to make things right in this situation, but not here. We left disappointed, hungry, and shocked at the lack of customer consideration. Because of this, it's an only one star review(zero of possible). This is one restaurant that I can truly say that I do not find one redeeming quality to report. We will not be returning and will certainly not recommend this place to friends or family. I do not see this place making it long-term in a small town like this.

A Hidden Gem in Monterey - Little Korea is Big on Flavor! From the moment we walked into Little Korea, we knew we were in for something special. Tucked away in Monterey, this cozy, family-run spot delivers some of the most authentic and satisfying Korean food we've had on the Central Coast. We started with the kimchi pancake--crispy on the edges, savory, and perfectly balanced in spice. Then came the main event: the bulgogi was tender and flavorful and the banchan (side dishes) were fresh, generous, and constantly replenished. What really set this place apart was the warm hospitality. The staff made us feel right at home, taking time to explain dishes and check in with genuine smiles--not rushed or rehearsed, but real, attentive care. The vibe is casual but clean and comfortable--great for a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends. Parking was easy, and prices were more than fair considering the portions and quality. If you're craving Korean food done right or just looking to try something new, Little Korea is a must-visit. We left full, happy, and already planning our next trip back. Thank you for such a wonderful experience

I had the chance to go try the little Korea restaurant at the mall. Here is my experience.... My husband and I were seated to a table of closest to the front. It was a table where we had to sit side by side. We asked for another table cuz we both are pretty tall and the table looked like it would be hard to get in and out of due to its legs being awkwardly placed. I knew my knees and shins would continuously hit it and it did. But the host told me there was only that one table for 2 people. It was 5:10 when we walked in. Throughout our meal, there were many 2 diners who were sat at tables that were more spacious and could accommodate 2-4 people. The chap chae was probably the most flavorful of the items offered in the salad bar. The kimchi was average. Not spicy nor vinegary. It seemed like it was just mixed in with the sauce and not given time to marinate. The marinated raw meats were good. However, the galbi (limit 2) were flavorless. After grilling them, they were tough and chewy. The flavors was basically a hint of sweetness and sesame oil. Didn't taste any garlic flavor. My husband is a chef so grilling the meats was no problem. They were pretty thick so it took a bit longer to cook and we ended up having to use the scissors to cut them into thin strips just to be able to chew and swallow. The server also kept telling us to keep the grill on at low but it seemed like it wasn't cooking as fast as it should be so we would turn it up to high and the server would come and turn it down. How odd. Just a heads up... you have 90 min to eat. However, they start the clock the second you sit down. It takes a bit to listen to their spiel. And you can't order more than 3 items from the menu every 10 min. But by the time you order and have them ring up the order, it's another 5-8 min. The grill takes a while to warm up so even if they tell you to start it at low, turn that baby to high or your going to end up not able to get to your second or third round. There is also no prepared sauce for those diners who do not know how to make a sauce. I saw many people confused and looking for soy sauce or some sort of sauce to use. They had a bottle of sesame oil, sliced garlic , a paste, sliced fresh jalapeños and a container of salt and a container with some liquid with onions in it. People were asking if these ingredients were to be mixed together. They offered a Mayo for the chicken wings and a red sauce for the dumplings. They do provide rice as well. All in all, we left full due to not wanting to leave any uneaten food and be charged for it. The server never came to check on us. Only the busser came to to remove plates but the server did go to other tables around us asking how everything was and if there was anything else they needed. Don't know why they ignored us. I don't know if it's still in the new beginning phase as with all new restaurants they need to get into their groove but myself being a restaurant owner and now in the hospitality business, first impressions are vital to a customer wanting to come back. Not sure if I'd go back. I think I'd rather make the drive to Sunnyvale or San Fran to go to seapot AYCE!

Little Korea is right around the corner from my house and we are so lucky to finally have a Korean buffet in Monterey. No longer do you have to drive all the way to South Bay to get all you can eat Korean BBQ. The best feature of this restaurant is the fact that they have cooked chicken wings Korean glass noodles and extra side dishes all included in the buffet. Free drinks are included as well. The meet is high quality and the service is great. We will definitely be back and highly recommend