Iris C.
Yelp
On a quest to try all the kbbq restaurants in ktown la, we came to ten-raku after reading reviews on the quality of the meat and how it may be better than other popular kbbq restaurants according to some.
We got the combo B for $132.99, which is 2-3 servings. This combo included Kobe style premium boneless short ribs, premium boneless short ribs, prime outside skirt steak, filet mignon, marinated beef premium short ribs OR beef tongue (your choice between the two), prime beef brisket, and pork belly. This combo also includes the choice of ONE soybean paste stew, ramen, or kimchi fried rice.
First of all, the service-- ten-raku is a full service kbbq restaurant that cooks the meat for you. Initially when we sat down, a female server was super attentive as she kept taking away any trash we had and even asked us how we liked our meat cooked. We appreciated that but started to notice that she was probably new and inexperienced because she ended up dropping a piece of brisket on the floor and not replacing it, as well as dropping the filet mignon on the table and eventually throwing that onto the grill. Later on, our female server switched out to a male server who definitely was more experienced but unfriendly and awkward which made it uncomfortable for us to eat and relax.
Second of all, the interior and ambiance-- when we walked in, it seemed like a club or bar because of the led lights and the type of music playing. The interior was a bit dark and the surfaces of the tables and chairs seemed dull and old. When I was pulling my chair forward with my hand, I touched something that stuck to my hand and had to wash my hands immediately. Adding to the club or bar vibe, the music actually DOUBLED in volume suddenly after the clock hit 7pm. It was too loud to hear each other speak. I guess this place might be nice if you come with a bunch of friends and want to get drunk??
Lastly, the food-- for those who were touting about the quality of the food here, I'm not sure if the quality of the meat decreased in such a short amount of time or what, but the meat quality here was one of the worst I've ever had so far in ktown la, and we've tried all the popular ones and a few new ones. I would say the quality of this meat was on par with or even worse than Hae Jang Chon, which is an ayce kbbq place lol. The brisket had no marbling or fat, as it was so tough and dry. The boneless short ribs did not have as much beef flavor as other kbbq spots we've had even though they're supposed to be premium quality. We've literally bought boneless short ribs from Costco and they taste the same as these with Costco being much cheaper. The other meats they included in the combo were just tough and our jaws started getting sore. I would say the best one was the filet mignon. I usually don't eat much of the sides with kbbq, but I really needed the assistance of the rice paper wraps and picked radish to help with the meal. Additionally, their salad was bitter and not that refreshing. This combo b was supposed to be for 2-3 servings, but it is really for 2 servings... We left not feeling satisfied, especially for the amount we paid (~$180 total, the most we've paid for kbbq for 2 people).
All in all, we will not be coming back.