SOT KOREAN BBQ

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SOT Korean BBQ is hands-down one of the best Korean BBQ experiences we've ever had! The quality of the meats was outstanding – beautifully marbled and incredibly fresh. What makes SOT stand out even more is the attentive staff who actually cook the food for you right at the table, ensuring everything is done to perfection so you get the best possible experience. They were incredibly friendly and took the time to explain each dish, guiding us on how to enjoy the various flavors and sides that complement the meal. It made the entire experience not only delicious but also educational and fun. If you're looking for an authentic, high-quality Korean BBQ with top-notch service, SOT is the place to go. We can't wait to come back!

I recently visited SOT BBQ for my husband's birthday, and it was a nice experience. This place is a newer addition to the KBBQ scene in San Diego, and it stands out in all the right ways. The ambiance is unique, with heavy cast-iron cauldrons. They focus on high-quality meats, and it's not your typical AYCE spot--which we loved because the quality truly shines through. We ordered the SOT Sampler Plate ($89), which came with Prime Short Rib, Prime Ribeye, and Beef Belly. The assortment of banchan was fresh and complemented the meal beautifully. The service was fantastic--the staff were so friendly and welcoming. They cooked our meat for us and engaged in warm, friendly conversation that made the experience even more enjoyable. A standout for me was the spicy cold noodles--absolutely delicious and quickly became my favorite part of the meal. Highly recommend SOT BBQ for a special occasion or if you're just in the mood for premium Korean BBQ.

One of, if not, the best Korean BBQ experience in San Diego. This is not AYCE(all you can eat), this place is for the "quality" over "quantity" crowd. SOT is not cheap, but the quality of the meat/food is great. The "samplers" is the way to go, the individual meat order's value is not as good. They also setup the grill with various vegetables on the side, and once grilled/heated, those are "tasty"! The service here is awesome, they come and cook every piece of your meat to perfection for you at table side, and they will also recommend you how/what to eat those different pieces of meat with (ask, if they didnt mention it). Although the meat plates are not cheap, they do give you unlimited rice, side dishes, and salad. And some orders like assorted vegetables (for wrapping your meat) are refillable. I am not a big fan of AYCE KBBQ as I had to work (grilling) and the meat quality is lower, so I really dont like to go; yet, for SOT, I will gladly come back.

Beautiful place, delicious food, excellent service. We thoroughly enjoyed the SOT sampler with the included rice, pickles, salad, etc. It was more than enough food for the both of us. Also very impressed with the details of this place. The grand wood and stainless design, the tableware, the grill. All the tables are spaced out enough to where we felt like we were dining alone.

Very spacious place. I love that we had someone to cook our meat for us. However, i felt that delayed in a lot of other things. We rarely got water refills, sides are brought out late. She was too busy cooking that she forgot some of our drinks and side. It wasn't busy at the time we went. So I was not sure why other workers didn't come and help. Besides having 1 server assigned to a sot, it made the server forget some of our orders which we would had to repeat it several times. Overall, meat quality was great! Better than most. Their kimchi was one of the better tasting kimchi I've had at korean BBQ.

I visited SOT and I was pleasantly impressed with this new restaurant. This is not all you can eat, they offer combos for their premium cuts which can include of up 5 different cuts and also offer a la carte. We wanted to try their Japanese A5 Wagyu and it was the best choice. They cook for you and they were very attentive. I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone and will be back. Great experience, great service, and most importantly great food!

This place has the yummiest meat. The service is incredible. I hardly ever leave reviews, they didn’t even ask us to. WE WILL BE VISITING HERE AGAIN WHAT A GEM. 💎 The please is gold, the staff is so so nice and welcoming. Definitely come here if you want delicious food, great service and vibes. You can see from our facial expressions how full and satisfied we were. We needed a long long walk after. It was great. Come here Now!!! Give them all of your money it’s worth it. (they have great prices for quality meat) 🥩 (kimchi pancakes sooooo soft and delicious 🤤- first time having them)

Decided to stop into this new korean bbq place that just opened since Menya Ultas line was pretty long. We got there around noon and the resturant was just opened. No issues getting a table. Service was excellent. Since it was our first time, our server helped us pick the appropiate dishes for our table. We had 4 adults and 3 kids in our party. We ended up ordering the sot sampler platter. It had a good amount of meat and came with rice, banchan, and 1 steamed egg. We also did order the fried rice on our servers recommendation. Our server helped cook all our meats to medium rare. Everyone enjoyed the meal and surprisingly the kiddos all ate multiple orders of the kimchi, pickled raddish, and spicy cucumbers. In both instances it wasn't very spicy and was quite balanced. Any extra kimchi we placed on the grill and after we were done with the meats, they grilled the fried rice and added the grilled kimchi as well. The kiddos ate all of that, so in the end we had to order another one for the adults. Everyone came out full and happy with the delicious meal. By the time we were done there was quite a line. Try to get here at opening as parking can be a little tight. If you cant find parking in the center there is street parking in the back.

Amazing service amazing food quality Not all u can eat so beware if that's what u want I love their alkaline fact that they are so helpful guiding u thru the menu my daughter and I got the premium beef there were 4 kinds of beef 2 marinated and 2 fresh meats All was alot for 2 people Also came with lotsa banchan And the servers takes turn in cooking for u all u have to do is eat Gonna be back soon to try the waygu plate

If you're looking for an amazing Korean BBQ experience, this is the spot. What really stood out to me was how the staff worked together--everyone helped each other, making sure the meat was cooked perfectly at every table. Our main waiter, James, was fantastic. He not only cooked everything with care but also took the time to explain each cut of meat, which made the experience even better. The quality of the meat was top-notch. We ordered the prime beef sampler, which was the perfect amount for two people. Every bite was flavorful, especially with the marinades and dipping sauces. I really loved the onions soaked in the brisket sauce and the simple but delicious salt they provided. Everything was cooked just right. The only thing I'd say could be improved was the steamed egg--it was decent, but not as great as the rest of the meal. Overall, this was a fantastic experience. The food was amazing, the service was beyond impressive, and I'll definitely be coming back!

Recently found out about Sot bbq. We went for lunch on a Sunday. No problem finding a parking spot. My husband and I shared the Sot sampler, which was a combination of beef and pork. The meats were delicious and enjoyed the variety of the side dishes. We were stuffed but the fried rice at the end of the meal was a happy ending. Great service.

Nothing more comforting than a kbbq on a cold day, it gets busy during dinner hours, recommend coming in early. The quality of the meat was awesome, we had the prime sampler, we enjoyed them all and the sides coming with. They have so many options from Radish kimchi to refreshing side Salad. Service is very fast, we don't even need to do all the grill like other AYCE kbbqs, leaving us focusing on enjoying the food. I would come nack again!

I've had better Korean bbq, but overall this place was decent. Out of the 4 meats we got, we enjoyed two of them. We ordered the SOT sampler plate. The pork belly was too chewy and the ribeye was just okay. We enjoyed the beef belly and short rib. The side dishes were all delicious. My boyfriend enjoyed the soybean soup he ordered.

Recommended by a friend and def worth the save as a place to try. Parking can be tough but we visited on a Friday night. Service was phenomenal. We had multiple servers who helped us and ensured we were taken care of. We shared a sampler platter and an additional pork jowl as a party of three and a half (toddler haha). It came with steamed egg and all the banchan. They also gave sesame oil when requested and their side seasonings were a matcha salt, red wine salt, and chili sauce. It is not all you can eat but this was plenty for roughly the same price. It was great having the service of the food being fresh and cooked in front of us without us having to monitor it the entire time. Although the tables were close together I still felt we had enough privacy that I didn't notice others as much but it is a lot going on around that the sound muffles between tables. I would definitely come here again.

I've been wanting to try this new Korean BBQ that is in the same plaza as Menya and Daiso. I've heard that this place can get quite busy and I was lucky to come here on a Thursday with no line :). However, parking was a little challenging. I was seated right away and I chose the Sot Sampler Plate. Before that came, I had delicious banchan. Two types of Kimchi - One is grilled and one is fresh. First time I had grilled kimchi and it delicious! Bean sprouts were also grilled! Never had it this way and it was so tasty! Salad with a light dressing Egg Soufflé - Light and delicious! They also have grilled veggies like mushrooms, asparagus, & onion. They also had two different types of salt to dip your meat into - Matcha and Red Wine. They both were so good with the proteins. Flavorful cuts of meat! I liked the combo of meat and pork with the Sot Sampler. Maybe one of these days I'll try the Wagyu, I'm sure it super tender and flavorful. Also liked that this place wasn't smoky due to good ventilation and cooking on a cast iron lid. I appreciated that I didn't smell like smoke when I left. They also cook the food for you, which is a nice touch. Definitely will return again. Staff were friendly and informative.

This place is a great addition to convoy! Amazing service, good variety of selection, and plenty of side dishes with a legit stone grill, this kbbq place is like no other! We got the prime beef combo and ordered a side of beef tartare and beef belly - way too much but definitely super yummy! I was impressed by the quality of the meat and the marbling of each cut, which made each piece of meat consumed feel like we went to heaven. The service was great and we barely even noticed when our servers switched out for shifts/breaks! Our server even offered us bibs without asking so our clothes wouldn't get splattered on. Also a great big plus for hot grilled kimchi and bean sprouts- an amazing side to the meat!

Been here 2x, the first time we had great attentive service and were recommended so many awesome items. And she cooked our food evenly and quickly. The 2nd time here the lady didn't speak much and kept leaving to help other tables cook their food, so we cooked our own. We are used to this anyway in most Korean places. Love the menu choices, and the beautiful looking meats. Their banchan is quite delicious too! For sure will come back but on a less busy night.

SOT is a new addition to San Diego's KBBQ scene but instead of AYCE, everything's a la carte and you can even do some set menus. While the prices are just the same as AYCE (higher sometimes depending on what you order), the quality of the meat is very high and you really get what you pay for. We made a reservation because we weren't sure how busy they could get but even at peak dinner time, the restaurant had a good amount of open tables still. The parking is terrible though so arrive early and give yourself some time to circle the lots or the side streets. Make sure you don't park in spots reserved for Cheetahs. We ordered the SOT Sampler Plate which comes with prime short rib, prime ribeye, pork belly, and beef belly. It also came with mushroom, asparagus, and onions. We also ordered an additional wagyu brisket and pork jowl. Everything is cooked in front of you so the servers are constantly walking between their tables. One downside of this is if you get neglected for even a couple minutes too long, your meat will start to overcook and dry out, which kind of happened to our ribeye. Out of all the meats, the wagyu brisket was everyone's favorite. For something known to be more lean at AYCE KBBQ restaurants, the wagyu brisket from SOT was incredibly delicious and had this beautiful marble. I would've thought it was beef belly if I tried it with my eyes closed. From the sampler, the short rib was my favorite because of how tender it was. The pork jowl was just alright and it could've been better if they allowed it to cook longer and get a little crunchier. Banchan is unlimited and comes with a variety of different pickled vegetables. There were radishes (cubed, strips), kimchi, salad, cucumbers, and bean sprouts. White rice is also unlimited too! We also tried the Steamed Egg and Korean Assorted Pancakes. The eggs were very silky but could've used more flavor. The pancakes were a great dish to share and we got to try so many new ones, beyond the typical seafood and kimchi pancakes. If you're in the mood for high-quality meats but not AYCE, then SOT is the right pick for you. Will be back to try their other meats!

Def wanted to try out this newer KBBQ spot. Def worth the hype. The meat quality was great. Different meat platters to choose from or mix and match a la cart. The service was great as they cook for you which is nice because I always tend to over cook my meats. The ambiance is nice, clean and I feel like they have a great vent system. But super chill not over the top with crazy blasting music. Just good food and good service.

I'm pretty sure we learned about this place from an IG post and went to check it out. It's located off of Clairemont Mesa Blvd and while it had a parking lot, it can get very crowded. Food and service here did not disappoint and I'll tell you why. First off this is a rather unique experience. It is KBBQ but uses a large cast iron type lid as the grilling surface and the staff pretty much cooks everything for you. They also put kimchee on the grill which was a first for me and wasn't too bad. On the menu, there are lots of good options and premium meats. This time we chose the Sot sampler platter consisting of short rib, ribeye, pork belly & beef belly. Of course they also give banchan, salad and the egg soup (unsure what it's called). Side note, love their gold plates and cups! As I mentioned the staff is very attentive and comes by regularly to cook everything for you, as well as cuts everything into bite-sized pieces. Especially for a new restaurant, the staff is great, very efficient and friendly. In all, while it's a little on the pricier side, this was a very satisfying experience with delicious meats and will return to try the waygu.

New kbbq spot in the same plaza as Daiso! This is not an AYCE kbbq restaurant. They sell by sets and a la carte also offering appetizers and small entrees. My boyfriend and I got the wagyu sampler. It was enough for the both of us! I love the different variety of banchan it came with. Kimchi and bean sprout on the grill was new to me and it was delicious! The staff here cooks the meat for you which was nice but I would prefer to do it myself. They don't have a dipping sauce like the regular kbbq sauce but instead came with a chili sauce, and 2 different salts that paired perfectly with the cuts of meat! A5 Japanese wagyu with a touch of wasabi was phenomenal! The place itself was very spacious with many tables. It wasn't too busy when I came on a Wednesday night for dinner. Staff was very kind and helpful as well! Looking forward to visiting again to get some of their appetizers and entrees. Must try!

Had a great time trying out one of the newer kbbq's to the area. Place was busy but was seated promptly at a table with their iconic cast iron grill. The menu is not AYCE, must choose a set menu. The set comes with the meats (we got the prime sampler $125), some banchan, salad, and a steamed egg. It was very filling for two people to share. The meats are high grade, nicely marbled, and very tasty. The dipping sauces lack though, only having a couple kinds of salt and a siracha type spicier sauce, which could use improvement in variety and taste. Prefer a place like fire spot in this regard with much better dipping options. The wait staff cook the meats for you, and were very friendly. Meats were cooked well I would return when craving a really high quality meat experience, but I think fire spot still takes the #1 spot for me personally in the area. The meat flavor gets a little much / too rich towards the end and having a little more variety in dipping sauces would help with this!

We ordered the SOT sampler. It came with a few different types of meat, pork and beef. This was a good amount for 2 people. It's not enough to get you really full but at least there's room for dessert! We got the ssam assorted vegetables which was nice because it came with different types of wraps. We also got the steamed egg and Korean assorted pancakes, which were pretty good as well. Although I wish the steamed egg was cheaper or a part of the samplers. They come by your table to cook your meat for you and they're super friendly and informative! You can also get a bib if you ask for one in case you want to be extra safe about stuff splashing on your clothes. Not your typical AYCE kbbq but still a great experience and good meats. It smelled like sewage by the restrooms though lol.

My brother took us here for lunch on Friday. I have heard of SOT from Instagram and it's been on my list of places to try so I'm glad I got to! This is not an all you can eat Korean BBQ spot. Rather than grill plates they use a cast iron cauldron-- which gets super hot (all over so be sure not to bump your hand against it). They have Sampler Menus, plus extra meats (like Wagyu/Beef/Pork/Seafood) you could order, sides, and drinks. In small lettering they mention that Barley Tea (and white rice) is always complementary-- just be sure to mention it if you do want the drink. They asked if we wanted it hot or cold which was nice! In addition, of course you have your banchan as well and they give a lot-- ranging from vinegary sliced onions, a pungent but not super spicy kimchi, 2 kinds of spicy radish kimchi, 2 vinegary - sesame oil type radishes, spicy cucumbers, ssamjang, etc! They have two dipping salts: red wine salt and matcha salt. We decided to go with the second choice on the menu which I believe was: SOT SAMPLER PLATE $89 - this consisted of Prime Short Rib, Prime Ribeye, Pork Belly, and Beef Belly. My brother ordered the Steamed Egg. It was super hot, but flavorful and fluffy. We also ordered the Kimchi Pancake. It came with 4 pancakes and they were cute in perfect circular shapes. It's not like other kimchi pancakes that I've had (texture wise)- but overall it was delicious. And I can't remember if we ordered the salad or it just came with the sides... The salad dressing was good and I liked that it wasn't spicy. It paired really well with the meat. To me the dressing tasted like white vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil. I enjoyed the meat sampler menu and what sets this place apart from other kbbq is that the servers cook the meats for you. But they can get busy so you might have different servers coming to your table every once in a while to tend to the meats. I found the Beef Belly was a bit over cooked as the servers got busy with a few other things. But during this time, I guess we could have took the initiative to remove it to the side as we noticed it was getting crispy! On the cast iron cauldron they first added oil, rosemary brushed, 1 asparagus, onion, king oyster mushrooms, kimchi, and some spicy beansprouts. My mom added our side of vinegary sliced onions on the cauldron and it cooked down and "caramelized" a bit which was super tasty! Overall, I'd recommend this spot! A bit of a splurge in prices than I was used to but to put into perspective-- they do cook it for you and give you high quality of the ingredients and meats. (: You can come here to eat solo, with friends, family, co-workers, etc! They have lots of tables available. I like the interior of the restaurant-- clean and modern. Even though the sampler menu didn't sound like a lot of meat, it was a fulfilling meal!

Group of 6 went to SOT on a Tuesday night. We had reservations, but would have been fine getting a table without. Nice interior/decor, but nothing extra ordinary (aside from the cast iron caldrons at each table I suppose). At first we ordered the Sot Sampler, Assorted Pancakes, Assorted Veggies, two White rices, Fried Rice (for the end!) and two steamed eggs. Waitress warned that may not be enough meat for 6, so we ended up adding Shrimp. I think that was unnecessary and we would've been fine without. (At this kind of place it seems easy to over order.) There's about a half dozen little kimchi/pickled sides you get with the meal. As others have noted it's a little tough for the staff to grill at a 6 person table, 4 person is probably a better group size, but they worked from the long end so not too awkward/with them leaning over any of us. Think I'd try out Menya Ultra, which is in the same strip mall and has been on my list a while, before I'd go back. But overall a good experience- 4/5.

Food was delicious. We ordered the ribeye bulgogi, spicy pork, shrimp, and assorted veggies for the 4 of us and it was more than enough. All the meat came with white rice per person and steamed eggs so we got both instead of having to choose and it was free. Also bonchon comes as a side and they were delicious. Only thing I wish they had more of was the fish cake bonchon and more authentic Korean soups and bibimbap. The waiters were all so nice. They cook the meat in front of us and had a rotation for each waiter to come around to check the meat for us so that was nice. Ambiance is great! We went in a Thurs night and we were able to get seated right ways. Everything tasted good. I would de finitely go back!

This place was as good as I thought it would be. I've been to 10 butchers in the Bay Area and that place was similar with Sot Bbq. We celebrated my husbands bday here and got the wagyu sampler. With all the sides and rice it's filling. The best cut was the short rib and the rest were alright. The Japanese wagyu was really thin and a little underwhelming bc it was cut so thinly it cooked way too fast on the grill. The banchan were great and I loved eating all of them as I think it's honestly the best part of any Korean meal. I do think it wasn't as unique as I would have expected a nicer place to be but I can say that they were made very well and had so much flavor and fresh. Our servers name was Khai and he was quick and very friendly. Overall, is good for a pricier meal if you're looking for higher quality meat. For my husbands birthday he got a free bottle of soju so that was a nice touch.

We went on a Saturday early evening following their 1st day of soft opening. I absolutely despise AYCE kbbq these days and prefer this a la carte method of ordering where meat quality is higher, not that crumbly, frozen garbage at the AYCE spots. No one knew about it yet, so our party of 6 was seated right away. I asked for water, but soon discovered it was cold barley tea! I do recall that they only serve bottled water, so bear that in mind. We ordered the Wagyu Sampler Plate ($150) and Pork Sampler Plate ($59). We additionally ordered Korean Assorted Pancakes ($19). I think the pancakes, in hindsight, were a hard pass, but that meat -- glorious! Marbling was abundantly evident and taste was *chefs kiss*. Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye was di-vine! Ordering this amount was perfect between the 6 of us and was ~$52 per person. We had a veteran from the LA restaurant cooking for us. Banchan was exceptional as well. The kimchi they give you in the banchan plates are different from the one that is placed on the grill. The one on the grill was fresher compared to the more fermented one in the banchan (I believe). The traditional grilling technique on the cone-shaped griddle/ lid of the cast-iron cauldron was quite different. My only complaint was that, being closest to the grill, my friend and I were getting peppered with hot oil when the grill was empty in between waves of meat grilling. Everyone kept laughing each time we flinched. Also, the table for 6 people does make it awkward for the worker to cook for you as they need to reach over the person sitting at the corner and just strain themselves, in general. Our girl cooked for us -- and quite professionally so -- but I imagine that workers have avoided this since the soft opening phase. Regardless, the owners did drop quite a bit of money on outfitting this place to host the grills so I imagine it will stay. It will be a welcomed addition to the Convoy area!

900th Review, just like all my 100s reviews has to be epic AF, so here it is!! Oh Gaaaaaavin, I told you I'd keep my pinky promise and post this before midnight, lol! =) Yes, we legit pinky promised! Bestie made a reservation for 5, and we came and conquered! She found it on the gram, sent me one of their reels, and the trip in question became a reality. We rolled in 2 deep, waiting on the other 3 in our party. Our 6:15 pm reservation had us seated right away. First of all, props to even being able to make reservations, because who even does that anymore?! Very few places do. Second, we weren't all there, but we still got seated, which we appreciated. I hate that whole "your entire party has to be here before we can seat you" deal. Let's keep it real: you're Filipino, someone is BOUND to be late!! Lol We ordered all of the banchan and rice for each of us. I will say, bestie and I were disappointed when Gavin said they DO NOT have Japchae, Potato Salad, or the Rice Paper Wraps!! We were like, "Oh whaaaaat?!" I mean.. dude, that's like going to a Filipino restaurant and not having rice or pancit, riiiiiight?! =/ If you're wondering why I rated this place with 5 stats, read on. We also ordered the Sot Sampler, as suggested by Gavin, our wonderful server. This guy is patient, friendly, professional, and so cute!! Hehe.. Anyways, he gave us the option to cook our own food, but we said we wanted him to take care of us, lol. He did an amazing job putting up with us! The sampler includes: Prime Short Rib Prime Ribeye Pork Belly & Beef Belly Since we weren't sure that would be enough for all 5 of us, we also ordered the Brisket a la carte, along with the Cold Dongchimi Noodle (which is very interesting, might I add). We also got a Steamed Egg, which was nice and fluffy. At $89 for the sampler, you'd think you were getting ripped off because this isn't an AYCE place. Believe me, it is worth its weight in gold!! The sides hit the spot, and Gavin brought us things as needed (extra napkins, water, spoon, etc.). He was hard at work, sweating a few beads as he cooked our food, but he was all smiles the entire time and even made polit conversation. You may not want to get too close to the sot, which is a Korean cast iron cauldron. That thing will spit the grease in your face, so be aware. I sat right in front of it and was thankful I didn't get any splashes. My phone got a few, lol. The ultimate test came when we reached the end of the meal. If we smelled like bbq when we left, then boo!! They get a pass for this because we only reeked slightly of the bbq smell when we left (hair and shirts were sniffed). The ventilation system is obviously new, so expect to full on smell lile bbq in a few months, lol! We also had a few banchan leftovers, so I asked if we could take them with us. Since you all know my motto is "don't waste," we packed up the goods and bounced! Gavin was nice enough to get us boxes so we could pack away! Yes, they lack certain staples in a Korean bbq restaurant, so for that, I took off a full star. Gavin came in clutch and pulled in 10 stars with his friendly demeanor, professionalism, and patience with us, haha!! Therefore, Sot BBQ gets a solid 5 stars from this Elite! Parking is rough, but if you know the area, you won't be surprised. Prices here are not cheap, but definitely worth it!

The service was great and the place is clean and well run. They will get you in and out in an hour if that is what you want. Otherwise, I would try to slow them down so you had more time to enjoy the food. We got the Wagyu set and it was good not great for the price. We saw the other sets that had pork and we would try that one next time.

Came here on a Tuesday for dinner with a party of 3. We did not have a reservation but were seated right away. We ordered the Wagyu sampler plate and it ended up being the perfect amount for our party. The meat was very tender and juicy. I loved having the wasabi available to eat with the meat. It definitely enhanced the flavor. I also enjoyed how they grilled the kimchi and bean sprouts. It gave it an extra crunch from the crispiness. We opted to do the fried rice at the end of our meal. They brought out rice with some additional ingredients mixed in and they grilled it with whatever extra bits we had leftover from the meat. It was very yummy. I would suggest doing this even if you're too full as you can still take it home. Overall I had a fantastic experience here. Our waitress was friendly and super helpful. They cooked the meat perfectly. The price also isn't that bad for Wagyu either. I will definitely be coming back.

Great experience! We went with the SOT sampler and added scallops and the assorted veggies. The veggie order was basically a bowl of different leafy veg to wrap the meat with. It was definitely more than we needed. Our favorite meat was the ribeye. I would pass on the scallops next time, very fishy and kept sticking to the pot. All of the kimchi was tasty! Our main server Gavin was the highlight of our visit, very friendly and informative.

Came to try out this new Korean BBQ, it was quite different than the norm as its NOT AYCE. Its a premium kind of place because the cooking is very unique and the only place I can think of that features this traditional cooking surface. Sot is a traditional cast iron cauldron, The lid for the sot cauldron has has been used to grill meats and veggies, so the cooking surface has a handle in the middle like a traditional sot lid. We ordered the Sot sampler plate ($89) which came with Prime short rib, prime ribeye, pork belly and beef belly. It seamed like a better deal than just ordering a few meats individually though I don't know the quantity of the individual servings. They came to the table with a bunch of banchan which was of very high quality. They put the beansprouts and the uncut kimchee on the grill and as the meats came they cooked them for you too. They started by seasoning the cast iron sot lid with a piece of beef fat this makes the surface more nonstick as it provides some oil but also adds beef flavor to all the meats. All of the meats were top quality, I think my favorite was the Prime short rib. This was probably the highest quality meat I've had at a Korean BBQ. All the barchan were delicious, I especially like the bean sprouts and the daikon radish. They gladly brought out more if you eat them all. We also ordered fried rice at the end, which was awesome! They bring out rice with kochugang, sesame oil and nori and add your left over barchan to it. I really liked this its pretty unique and a nice way to use up all the barchan and meat. I suggest you leave room in your stomach for this and any left over meat you want put into your fried rice. I liked the Sot cast iron lid, it was hot and there was no need to change out the cooking surface. Surface was excellent, they brought out more barchan as you finished them, cooked the meats for the most part. There is an option for a wagyu sample platter, which has both A5 Japanese wagyu, US wagyu short rib, beef tongue, beef belly and prime rib eye cap. That sounds awesome! I might have to come back and try that next time. Theres a large parking lot but they share it with Menya Ultra, the Bull pen, and Daiso, so it can get crowded. It's pricy but you get what you pay for. Easily the highest quality Korean BBQ in San Diego.

New owners have spent well over seven figures to update this space in the Kearny Plaza on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and create an upscale Korean BBQ restaurant featuring traditional cast-iron cauldron grilling. The cauldrons (sots) were each shaped like a short hut and imported from Korea. The concept was not all-you-can-eat but rather premium meats that were cooked for you by a staff member. The business is currently in a soft opening phase until the middle of August. I counted at least 30 tables which were only about 1/4 occupied when we arrived for dinner. One page of the menu listed the proteins which were beef, pork, and seafood. All of the beef was either prime, choice, or wagyu. The cheapest cuts were priced at $29 each. Three sampler plates were available with Pork, Sot, and Wagyu as the labels. We chose the Sot ($89) which consisted of Prime Short Rib, Prime Ribeye, Pork Belly, and Beef Belly. The other menu page featured the appetizers, sides, small entrees, and beverages. From these choices, we picked the Korean Assorted Pancakes and Fried Rice. As part of the soft opening, a Steamed Egg was provided as a complimentary item. The workers brought out the banchan rapidly as there were at least eight different types including two styles of kimchi with a fermented version that became sweet when grilled. Sesame oil, a red salt, and a green salt were provided for dipping the cooked meat. Although we didn't receive one, a basket of lettuce for making wraps was available. Our server did all of the preparation of the sot by greasing up the surface, adding a sprig of rosemary for scenting, and then cutting up the vegetables (mushrooms, onions) and meat before cooking them. The Beef Belly was a brisket and cooked first followed by the Prime Ribeye, Prime Short Rib, and Pork Belly. The sequence may have been from the leanest to the fattiest portions. The short rib was probably my favorite, however the quality was very good for each cut. Do note that oil does collect along the rim of the sot, and some of it may splatter if the heat is too high. If you have kids in your party, then you may want to be careful with the oil or touching the very hot cast iron. Not only was the banchan variety terrific, but you could get refills on any of the items. The focus was on fermented vegetables versus offerings like fish cakes or potato salad. As for the assorted pancakes, there was zucchini, jalapeno, and a potato mix that were each pan-fried. The fried rice at the end of the meal was probably unnecessary because we were quite full. The base consisted of rice, seaweed, and gochujang sauce. Our server took some of the banchan and leftover grilled meat and mixed it together with the rice. She told us to let it cook until a crust had formed on the rice. The cost will be reflective of the high quality proteins and top notch service. If you want a Korean BBQ experience that differs from the typical AYCE model, then try SOT BBQ as we graded our dinner at a five star level.

Food: 7/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Honestly.. nothing was wrong with the food but maybe I was expecting too much. The meat quality was good, but with the price, I think I would've preferred going to neary AYCE Kbbqs. The "sot" (where you cook your meat) isn't too hot so I personally couldn't get that crispy meat texture I wanted! Really good service and vibes tho!

Came here on a Friday afternoon after work. Parking was difficult. This place is in the same strip mall as Turners, Daiso, and Cheetahs. We didnt have reservations but we were seated right away as they just opened. Before we left, the restaurant was packed. We ordered the SOT sampler with an order of mixed veggies. Food was delicious. Meats were very good quality. They were all very tender. Our sampler included an egg soufflé. Their bonchons were very good. Servers cook for you, which was hard to not take over and cook myself. I would definitely come back here.

I am not a KBBQ regular AT ALL because AYCE is not my thing and if i'm going out to eat, I don't want to cook it myself. I heard that SOT was different- not AYCE and they cook for you. I wasn't even hungry but count me in to check it out! This is going to sound crazy... I loved that they cooked for us but I also hated that they cooked for us. It's partly my fault because I am positive that they would've cooked all the meats to my liking had I asked or said anything at all- but I just let them take the lead bc I was there for the experience. If I had one wish- they would've asked how I wanted my A5 wagyu cooked. Bonus points for the decor- call this a 4.5 star rating.. it's absolutely gorgeous inside! Everyone was so nice and accommodating. the servers explained the menu and even prevented us from ordering too much. We ordered the A5 wagyu and pork belly- as you can see from the photo- it was still a lot. We were able to box up our leftovers.

This place is a must-visit for Korean BBQ lovers! We came on a Tuesday evening when they opened and were seated right away. What sets this place apart from other kbbq places is the use of Korean cast iron cauldron lids ("sot-ttukeong") as grills for the food, hence the name Sot BBQ. It added a more traditional Korean twist to an otherwise modern kbbq restaurant atmosphere. Be aware that this is NOT AYCE, and there are signs that say this when you enter. That being said, prepare for a top-tier kbbq experience. We went with the Sot Sampler, which is $89 and includes prime short rib, prime ribeye, beef belly, and pork belly. The staff here cook the meat for you, and they were very friendly and attentive to make sure everything was cooked to our desired doneness. The quality of the meat here is excellent--every cut was fresh, tender, and flavorful with nice marbling in the fattier cuts. They provide matcha salt, wine salt, and a spicy sauce for dipping your meat. The flavors of each salt are very subtle, and I felt they were easily overpowered by the meat, though this was not necessarily a bad thing (even if it were plain salt I would've been perfectly fine). The sampler also included a serving of salad, a bowl of steamed egg, and mushrooms. For 2 people, the Sot Sampler was more than enough meat, and we took home some leftovers. We ordered cold noodles on the side as well (see below), but without the noodles, I think it would've been the perfect amount of food. I also ordered the cold dongchimi noodles on the side, which were actually some of the best I've had in SD. The noodles were cooked perfectly with just enough bite, and the broth was light, refreshing, and chilled with ice to just the right temperature. It paired well with the grilled meats (as it should, IYKYK). The banchan also enhanced the experience. There's a decent variety; most notable was the kimchi and bean sprouts they laid on the grill, and once cooked, paired nicely when eaten together with the meat. Sot BBQ is definitely on the pricier end, but overall, if you're looking for high-quality Korean BBQ with excellent service, I think the price is justified. I'm looking forward to trying the Prime Sampler or even the Wagyu Sampler in the future.

I've been to SOT twice now and it's great. Service is quick, high quality meat and sides. Highly recommend. Good for dining with kids too.

The entire experience here was amazing! It's not AYCE and it is on the pricier side. However, the price actually match the quality and experience that was given to us. They had a huge selection of banchan, the quality of the meats were top notch, and our server was amazing! I wish I got his name but he helped our group of 8 cooked each piece of meat and other sides to perfection. It was very nice to just be able to enjoy the food without the stress of cooking it ourselves. I will definitely be back here. Totally recommend for group settings.

Best quality meat, grilled kimchi is delicious, the grills cook everything so evenly, and the atmosphere and service leave nothing to be desired. Go here, you will love it.

We came here with a group of friends on a Saturday night. There was a long line outside, but I made a reservation for our large group and that was a smart choice with no wait time! The vibe of the place was awesome, K pop music playing and people enjoying their food with the group. SOT BBQ is not your typical Korean BBQ place. The use the special "sot-ttukeong," the lid of a cast-iron cauldron to cook the meat. Also, the service here is amazing. They cook for you, so all the meat was cooked just right. I love that they cook for us because that ensures our meat is cooked perfectly without burning and really showed how the high-quality meat should be cooked. Since we had a large group, we ordered the Wagyu sampler plate with additional Garlic Short Rib and Finger Rib. That was enough for 7 of us. Great deal to order the sampler when you have a group. I highly recommend the Wagyu here! It was amazing! Excellent cooking on the cast-iron. My other favorite was the beef tongue and garlic short rib. Ribeye is a bit dry. At the end, we had the Fried rice to soaked up all the meat juice, which was a perfect finish. This is one of my favorite Korean BBQ restaurants now. I can't wait to come back again!

I love the ban chan here. Everything was so fresh. Meat was also good. Have been back a couple of times already.

Went there with my family. Beef was very tender and delicious. Pork belly was good, but had the pork-y smell which is very common but I've had pork without it (not sure what makes the difference). The hot plate (I guess called "Sot" in Korean) was big, no one was fighting for real estate. Ambiance was good, modern and trendy. What set this place apart was the complimentary side dishes they serve. Kimchee was probably one of the best I've had, as well as many of their other dishes. Our server was great, had warm smile on his face entire time and friendly.

Has to be one of the best kbbq's in SD , Brittany and Beng made our dinner such an amazing experience! We ordered the prime sample as well as the pork jowl and it was prepared perfectly!

Honestly the best KBBQ restaurant in San Diego! Well worth the 45 min wait! This is not AYCE, but their sampler platter is more then enough to feed 2, with no room for anything else. It's not cheap, $120 for 2 people with a diet coke and a beer, quality meat and great service!

Let me just say this. Hands-down, best quality Korean barbecue in San Diego!! I've been there three times now and it has never disappointed. I used to go to Taegukgi when it was open but this has now replaced it and not disappointed at all . The great part is we never really wait but the place is packed. All of their sides are top quality like the warm kimchi and the steamed egg. It's not all you can eat but they have different meat set ups that you can order which are good for certain number of people. The standard or premium can easily feed 2 to 4 people and the sides are AYCE. Really good for a group as well. They have long tables with multiple grills and the place is pretty big . The inside is super modern and all of their decor is premium. Even the stainless steel cups and utensils were super cool This is our new Kbbq spot so we'll definitely be back !

I saw videos of this place on IG from friends so I was super excited to try it. The videos looked so promising so I expect it to be phenomenal...... It turns out this place is alright - the food is good and the service was spectacular! Sides were okay, not much selection compared to an all you can eat. Hence this place is order by meat type not ayce. This place use to be the olleh sushi then now it turned into SOT BBQ. There was parking in the plaza it was located at so it's not really a problem unless it's a busy weekend or around dinner time. They had different selection of meat to order from premium to sets with different cuts of meat. It comes with Japanese wagyu and US Wagyu. These portions aren't huge so if you had a large party might have to order more or extra. I like that they offer to cook it for you which is nice - they add thyme or rosemary on it so it smells good. It comes with the regular banchan sides so if you like bean sprouts and Kimchi there will be an abundant of it! This place is pricey though so be prepared so spend a little higher for bbq on date night.

decent meat but pricey! surprisingly filling but kind of a big spend compared to ayce. the meat is good quality but idk if I'd go again. I thought it was weird that the servers cook for you. it felt like it was ride to keep talking over her or to keep eating when she was standing so close to cook and eavesdrop. I would rather cook it myself tbh. banchan is ok, not much variety since everything they offered was pickled. Thursday night was busy but we didn't have to wait long for a table for 2

This was the kind of dining experience you never want to end. From the very first bite of meat to the last. The quality of the Wagyu set was wonderful. We ordered two sets for our group of four, and it was more than enough, especially with the generous banchan and the fluffy steamed egg. Grilling the vegetables alongside the meat elevated the meal even further--those bean sprouts, in particular, were delicious. We came on a Sunday night when it wasn't too busy. The servers were attentive and even cracked a few jokes with us towards the end! Good vibes, tall ceilings, lots of open air to breathe. The last thing I have to say is - that green tea matcha salt will change your life.

I felt like I am in Seoul restaurant- the best Korean BBQ in town! Service is excellent, meet is very good quality- even pork belly is soft and tasty. Beer served in a frosted glass- l loved it. Attention to details - they smear beef fat and rosemary leaves before they barbeque. And they barbeque for you!!!- you just sit back and relax.

I would highly recommend SOT BBQ. Located in Convoy next to Daiso, we decided to try this spot on a Saturday night. Sot BBQ is not an AYCE restaurant which is pretty different from most KBBQ spots in San Diego. They also do not use a traditional grill for their meat and use a Korean Cauldron Lid. You can either order all your meat A La Carte or you can choose between 4 different sets. We decided to go and choose the Sot Sampler Set which contained different cuts of beef and pork Belly and also steamed egg. It was really good, they do all the cooking for you and its nice to not have to worry about overcooking anything. They have 3 dipping sauces(2 salts and a chili sauce) and also did not charge us on the rice which was really nice of them. We also go the chive pancake and the fried rice to end off the meal. I really liked both of those and would highly recommend getting them. The quality of the meat was also great. The service was really nice and they were very attentive to the meat, flipping it when it needed to be flipped. The wait also was not long at all, which really surprised me on a Saturday night. The ambiance of the restaurant is also really nice. overall I would highly recommend going here, it was really tasty and the people were nice.

We love Korean BBQ but have never had it quite like this. Very high quality meat and very fresh side dishes made this an extra special treat. We usually don't mind cooking the meat ourselves but having the servers do it was really a nice touch, especially because our server was so wonderful and explained each side to us while she cooked. She told us how she would traditionally eat each meat or side and gave us some extra sauces and items to try when she saw we were up for trying new things. We were able to call and make a reservation so our table was waiting for us when we walked in. Really loved the overall feel of the place and will definitely be back.

Clean, open space, and good service. Delicious offerings of meat and combinations and pretty straightforward menu. The spicy cold noodles was surprisingly good for a restaurant focused on bbq. Service was courteous, but lacked a bit of warmth. However, they were busy and one can't fault the service having to run around and cook every tables meat for their customer. Would frequent again to try the other combinations of meat.

It was a mouthwatering Korean BBQ experience! The meats were fresh , the serving was large for each sampler. We ordered the SOT sampler and Pork sampler. They gave generous amounts of Banchan/Korean sides. The meats were tender . The staff grilled the meats for us and they were very friendly. A spotless ambiance await you! Perfect for gatherings and unforgettable meals! The parking is hard to find and you have to make reservations because it's a very popular KBBQ place in the area. It's a bit pricey too- I should say.

ate up everything in sight. The pork was so good Pork Jowl: 10/10 Pork Belly: 9/10 I think that the 김치찌개 I wouldn't it was kinda mid but the other noodle dish (cold smt) oh my god ate w that one.

Beautiful new upscale KBBQ place in Convoy. It is not AYCE and you can order a la carte or their combos. We tried the SOT platter which many reviewers recommended. The meat quality was great. The kimchi pancake was also delicious and they even offered to cut it up for us. The service was wonderful and the staff helped grilled our meat, and even dipped it in the green tea salt and put them on our plates. One thing did make me feel a little weirded out... It was so odd I don't even know what to feel LOL! When the meat is done, they put it at the side of the grill for you so it stays warm but doesn't overcook. They originally split the meat 50-50, half in a stack right on top of the onion in front of me and half in a stack front of my husband. However, I'm a much slower eater than my husband... So here I was, happily eating my piece of short rib, and next thing I know, the server grabbed 3 pieces of my meat and placed it on my husband's plate. I was so caught off guard. What the?!? Maybe she thought I didn't want it because I was eating it so slowly? I couldn't even comprehend what was going on. (My kind husband "returned" my pieces of meat back to me ) We thought it was a one-time thing but this later happened AGAIN with a different cut of meat. I don't know if she thought I didn't want it, or if she just assumed men should be eating more than women? Either way, that was super odd. We did opt for the fried rice at the end of the meal since it was so highly recommended. It's a great concept but wasn't as good as I expected, to be honest. It's not a lot of food (a lot gets stuck to the grill), and felt like it was missing protein. The cheese was also $3 extra and it was only a few spoonfuls of shredded cheese. The meat was the star here so next time we will try more of the different cuts. Overall it was a cool experience and delicious, high quality KBBQ.