Yakini Q SJ

Went here on a Friday, the wait was about 2 hours but if you get on the waitlist about 2 hours prior then you can gauge a better time to come, however you need to be in range to join the list. Surprisingly this Friday wasn’t as packed but still a full house. The food came out fast and was good quality as we got the premium selection so you know we had to get the wagyu option. I’d stay clear of all the marinated meets until you get everything else first. The reason why is because the marinated meat will crust of that cook top like no other and it will start to burn; then you’ll have to get a grill change and start over. No hard but just a hassle. Plenty of seating and roomy as long as you sit down and don’t move. The tables are shorter which gives you the closeness vibe to those you eat it. Will come again and again.

Overall Very good, meats were ok better than Gen but -1 star because why was the front receptionist was answering the phone and talking for so long while there was a line of people waiting. I feel like customers there should be prioritized and the caller should be left on hold first. Didnt really like this kind of grill because it was ‘sticky’ if you know what i mean didnt really give the best charr compare to other type of kbbq grill Table was quite small but its ok not a big deal to me Still had a good meal, would come back again bc its good for price compared to other kbbq

Very yummy all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ! They were consistent with changing the grill tops to ensure you always had a clean one. You order whatever you want on your phone, and they bring it out quickly to the table. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because short ribs are extra after your first order and we waited 1 hour for a table. Went with 4 people, and our total was $170 after beer and all-you-can-eat. Would definitely come back!

Came on a Friday since they open early Fri-Sun but otherwise 5 PM. So off the bat they are pretty solid, sides aren't that great but it's fine but the meats are all above average. Going with premium is the way to go if you've never visited. Overall price and quality it's solid so would recommend if their hours are workable with you.

Finally got to try this place! The restaurant isn’t particularly spacious, with tables packed close together. The moment you step in, your shoes immediately stick to the greasy floor. With no exhaust fans running, the whole place feels like a no-frills street-side food stall. We reserved a spot online an hour ahead and ordered by scanning the QR code—super convenient since it skips the wait for servers to take your order. Dishes arrived pretty quickly. The servers worked swiftly, though the food placement areas weren’t the cleanest. All sauces, napkins, and chopsticks were stocked on a wall shelf for self-service—a true DIY setup. Portions here are massive, so resist the urge to order too much initially—just add more if something hits the spot. Their kimchi is a standout (and refill portions stay just as generous!). At the end they offer a strawberry ice cream for free. That’s nice!Overall, it's a solid experience, but consider this a heads-up: You might want to plan a post-meal bathroom detour.**

Our first time here, really busy and very accommodating. And the food is so delicious! We had chicken Shrimp Brisket Short rib Premium boneless short rib The marinades were all so tasty The employees are amazing, hard working and all in sync. I would recommend highly

I visited this restaurant recently and had a pretty chilly experience—literally. The kitchen door was left open the entire time, and the cold wind just kept blowing inside, making it uncomfortably cold. On top of that, the service was quite slow. We had to ask three or four times just to get a pair of tongs for the meat, and they never actually brought them. Also, the beef strangely had a bit of a porky taste to it, which was kind of odd

This place is not too big so wait time can be long during peak hour, make sure you join waiting list before. The atmosphere is great and I love that they left all the sauce on each table so you can refill yourself. Also like an idea of ordering through your phone so you don't have to wave or looking for a waiter/ waitress but that too creat a small problem. Employees are not really friendly or make contact with customers, some of them are not even speak English. When they bring us dessert the waitress just like shovel it into our face without saying anything and wait for us to take it from her, quite unprofessional in my opinion. Put that aside I think foods are very decent and the good sauce have made our meal better. The variety of sides order also gave us more flavor. Your order also quickly delivered to the table. In overall we love the place, just hope for the employees will be more lively and friendly. Definitely coming back for more.

Service is fast and attentive. We didn't really wait long for any dishes. I've been here many times, and usually the wait time can get pretty long (1 hour+) but for a Friday around 4 PM we didn't wait at all. We joined the waitlist 20 minutes before so we got there and got seated immediately. One thing I really like about this place are the serving sizes especially for the banchan dishes. They have some sauces and utensils ready in the side if needed. Noise level is usually loud if it's busy. Definitely would recommend this place for the price and service. The meat is decent and you get a scoop of ice cream at the end.

Great AYCE spot! All the meats were good. Probably one of the best spots for ayce kbbq. There are a lot of options to choose from and some things are limited to one per person. Lots of side options too. Only complaint is the small tables. It was hard to eat when the table is filled with sides and meats. Good service though.

This is the best KBBQ AYCE in San Jose. We try other places and always get disappointed and we end up coming back here. The shop is small so you have to join the waitlist ahead. The plaza also doesn't have that much parking, but there's street parking and a plaza nearby you can park at. The quality of the meat selection here is just top tier. You are limited to one order per person for the premium items and there are some sides that are not included in AYCE. And they serve ice cream at the end of the meal! (:

Year over year this continues to be my favorite and go to spot. And as of late they've been killing it! Service has been the best it's ever been, and the quality of the meat has also been really exceptional, overall they've been really consistently great this year. We really appreciate all the staff here and have noticed from our visits the ppl who have the most issues don't understand the concept or are there during extremely busy times. I know exactly what to expect when I come here and I come here specifically to eat here, it's the overall ambiance! Like when u want in n out you don't just want burgers you want in n out. Yakini q is S tier

My all time favorite AYCE KBBQ spot in the Bay Area! The prices can't be beat and the meat is so good. I love the fact that there are so many sides and that you can get other korean dishes like egg soup or tofu stew. But I'll say the best part is that you order just off of a QR code on the table! you can request more meat, service, sides, soups - it's so much better than flagging down a waiter. Obviously service won't always be timely - but I still like it much better than other places. It's generally pretty noisy inside, but that just adds to the lively vibe of the place. Would recommend!

My #1 spot for AYCE KBBQ in Bay Area! Great meat quality, have a variety of options to choose from fresh to marinated cut, delicious banchan and side dishes, also extremely quick and attentive service. Can get extremely busy on the weekend, the wait could be up to 2-3 hours but worth it, i'm always bring friends who love KBBQ to yakiniQ for the best experience.

I've been to my fair share of KBBQ restaurants around the Bay, but YakiniQ has to be the best, hands down. My go-to spot for the perfect mix of value and quality. They have a huge selection of meats: all fresh, well-marbled, and lightly seasoned so you can actually taste the quality. My personal favorites are the short ribs, brisket, and finger ribs, all consistently tender, flavorful, and perfectly cut for grilling. One of my favorite parts about dining here is the banchan and sides. Everything tastes super fresh, and you can even order a variety of stews during or after your meal: each one packed with flavor and so comforting. Don't skip the lettuce wraps or rice paper either, they're perfect for balancing out the richness of the meats. Service here has always been consistently solid, even when the restaurant is packed (which is basically every night). The QR code ordering system is super convenient, you can order more meat, sides, grill changes, or even water without having to flag anyone down. The staff are friendly, quick, and attentive. Bonus: the stools have hidden storage underneath for your bags, which is a small but really thoughtful touch. Parking can be a little tricky since the lot is small and it gets busy fast. The wait times can be LONGGG (sometimes 2-3 hours for dinner), so definitely hop on the Yelp Waitlist as early as you can to save yourself the headache. For around $36-$40 per person, the amount and quality of food you get here is unbeatable. Highly recommend!!

For AYCE bbq, YakiniQ is good. Though with AYCE, you do have to give up a bit on quality and service. Came here with coworkers and though we were seated quickly felt like my experience with food quality and service was lacking compared to my last visit. The table felt cramped for our party of 5 and even with a requested side table for our meat and other dishes, everything felt like it was piling up. The raw meat plates stacked on top of each other, didn't sit well with me. The meat quality was fine for what we ordered, like the brisket, short ribs and the like. This is where quality control fell short ... the rice was not cooked and completely compressed into the rice bowl ... inedible. You could see it was raw in the middle. The rice paper wraps were completely stuck together and essentially a block. The side dishes like soup and cheese corn were okay, but not the best. It also did take a while for service to assist unless our grill was ready for a grill change and only came by drop off plates. There was a bit of a mishap of being charged for what our original party number was, but it was changed promptly and caught without an issue. I would say if you're looking for volume and not too picky about ordering sides with your bbq. The focus would be to just order the meats and enjoy the salads and banchan along with it. It is a good price for AYCE, but there are other places who do just as well if not better.

New go to spot for our kbbq cravings. They have the best meat quality and variety compared to other spots. Of the two times we've been right at opening, I feel like they've been slow with our orders. Orders are done through your phone and we're normally the last table to get our meats. Maybe we just need to put in the order right when we're seated to prevent delays. Hopefully third time is a charm and we won't be one of the last tables to get our food.

I don't take a lot of photos when I'm at Japanese/Korean bbq spots so sorry about that. But I do need to say that this is one of my favorites in San Jose. It's a bit smaller but then other bbq spots but I don't mind it. I come early enough where I don't worry for a wait. My favorite is the Daechang surprisingly as I don't like marinated meat. But this was great for me. The brisket is always a staple and the beef tongue is another favorite. Sometimes I wish I can go by myself but you definitely need a group of people for this. Alsoooo!!! Always be sure to get their steamed egg. It's another favorite of mine.

A different AYCE KBBQ experience! Let me just say that you get your premium meats for premium plan and regular which is nice because price can vary depending what you and your group choose. There were 6 people in the group and we were seated at a round short table which I thought was giving Asian family style round table vibes. Did it fit all of our banchan and meats? Heck no! Lol we had to ask one of waiters to leave an extra table on the side to fit ALL of what we got. Service was busy and we did have to be a bit attention seekers for our waiter to notice that we wanted more meat or to take some plates away to preserve space. However, we did go on a Saturday evening for dinner. Yakini Q, you are a QT for the round tables and fun vibes!

We came here for a late lunch with friends on a Sunday since they open at 2 PM and we figured it would be easier to be one of the first few to be waiting in line rather than arriving for dinner and not knowing how long we would have to wait. I usually go to Goku for BBQ and think I will stick with Goku as my go to because everything was just better imo--aside from the fact that the staff is attentive in terms of when they should be changing out your grill. We opted for the "premium" option and I thought it was just okay. I probably should have done more research because all I like to eat is short-rib and I didn't realize they had a limit of 1 per person here. On the menu it says that you'll be charged extra if you order over the per person limit. ~~Parking: Located in a strip mall like plaza, but there's plenty of parking with most of the people going there for Yakini Q. ~~Service: Good. It's interesting because you order the items on your own phone based off of a QR code scanned from your receipt. The only good thing about the QR code based ordering is that everyone can place whatever they want but imo it's easier off of a tablet-BUT this is still better than having to hail a person down to order. ~~Worst Part: Tables are pretty small given that the banchan takes up nearly half the table. It's nice that they have the side trays for them to deliver the meat on, but it's just much different when it's a circle table versus a rectangular table. ~~Return: No.

Went here on a Friday, the wait was about 2 hours but if you get on the waitlist about 2 hours prior then you can gauge a better time to come, however you need to be in range to join the list. Surprisingly this Friday wasn't as packed but still a full house. The food came out fast and was good quality as we got the premium selection so you know we had to get the wagyu option. I'd stay clear of all the marinated meets until you get everything else first. The reason why is because the marinated meat will crust of that cook top like no other and it will start to burn; then you'll have to get a grill change and start over. No hard but just a hassle. Plenty of seating and roomy as long as you sit down and don't move. The tables are shorter which gives you the closeness vibe to those you eat it. Will come again and again.

Amazing Korean BBQ! High-quality meats, incredible flavors, and delicious sides. Every bite was perfect. clean, welcoming environment. Highly recommend!

I go here with my college buddies frequently. We made it a habit when in college in LA to go to our favorite KBBQ spots after midterms and finals. Now that we've all moved to the Bay Area for work, finding a new spot was critical. Safe to say, this has been our go to. Service is wonderful. Food is amazing. The short rib is 12/10. And the beef belly is quick to cook and easy to eat. Selections are plentiful, steamed egg is mando, and the price is reasonable. I would 100% go here again. Have been here like 7 times since coming home from college.

Been getting recommendations for this place for KBBQ in San Jose and decided to try it out. Regular starts at $36 and premium is $40. Opted for premium for the wagyu. Came here right before dinner rush and used the yelp waitlist. Crowed restaurant with not much space between tables. Ordered via iPad and started with the special cuts that were limited to one order per person. These were the only quality meats of the night. Tender and had good flavors. The rest of the meat was average or below. Steamed egg came out very hot but not as fluffy. Their side dishes were good. Some meats came out frozen like a rock. Service was meh, had to flag servers down multiple times for a grill change and refills. Meats came out not too long after being ordered. For this price point and quality of meat I'd go elsewhere.

yakiniQ SJ needs to improve a lot. We used to come here often until the recent experience. Service: - good service and quickly fixed if they missed serving items or grille change - still have ice cream to serve after the meal Food: - Missing a lot of items that it used to be (saladq, pickle, corn cheese... - Seafood cajun shrimp and marinated squid gone bad hope you pay attention what you are serving as ayce business, we are sad to see it going downhill because of not matching the previous experience and expectations

A very long overdue review - YakiniQ is my ALL time favorite AYCE Korean bbq spot. I absolutely love how they have a large selection of different meats, sides, extras, and drinks. Regardless if it's AYCE, the meat quality is always fresh and consistently good - compared to most AYCE kbbq spots around the area! I appreciate how the service is always quick, every single time. There are days where the wait is over 2 hours but we got lucky today and got a seat right away. Checking in on yelp definitely helps as well! Can't wait to come back again soon!

I hate to say it but this was quite literally the first time I've gotten food poisoning this horribly. I've been to tons of KBBQ spots and while this place was pretty unassuming (and fairly average taste wise), I was feeling horrible not even 8 hours after we had eaten). This has never happened at any other KBBQ place I've been to, so it's safe to say I was shocked. We got the bulgogi, beef brisket, short rib (both bone in and boneless), and corn cheese (which we had to pay $2 for unfortunately). I didn't feel like the food was particularly fresh, so that should've been my first red flag lol. Parking was fine (lot parking), and the wait was okay since we joined the Yelp waitlist. So far I was the worst off of my party but posting this as a fair warning to other fellow sensitive-stomach foodies!

Was craving some KBBQ and my cravings was decently satisfied. My party of two waited about 30 minutes for a table so always make sure to check the waitlist and add yourself on because it gets very busy and packed. My partner and I went with the regular AYCE meal. I found the assortments of banchan to be decent and could have been better. It came with potato, kimchi, japchae, bean sprouts & carrots, fishcake, and macaroni salad. I enjoyed the potato and kimchi mainly. I also ordered more radish paper on the side and I enjoyed that as well. My partner and I ordered the Marinated Beef Bulgogi, Thin Sliced Beef Brisket & Beef Belly, Spicy Pork Belly, and Pork Jowl. Hits: * Pork Jowl was delicious when cooked to where it's crispy. The meat is still tender and delicious. * Marinated Beef Bulgogi was seasoned well and delicious. I did wish they had a spicy version but they do not. Miss: * Macaroni Salad was mediocre. The pasta was still a bit hard and could have been seasoned better. Final Verdict: Solid 4/5. The meat, and banchan dishes have few good ones and other ones are kind of average. It gets very busy so there's not much of an interactive waitress or waiter but everything is mainly done through the app. My partner and I would like to try more meat dishes next time since we got full quickly. I think we would've also enjoyed it more if there were more sauce options as well but we'll stop by again in the future to try more meats that they have but so far the regular meal is a reasonable price for what it offers.

For the price of this KBBQ, this place is definitely reasonable. At just under $35 pp, it's a decent spot to get all you can eat. We didn't wait more than 15 minutes after being on the yelp waitlist on a weekend for an early dinner. We loved the bulgogi. They refilled our meats quickly. I would not get again: the pork belly and the squid. The squid did not taste fresh. The banchan was just okay (the corn salad and the japchae didn't taste the best but we can't complain).

I loved the ambiance and the setting of this place. Food came out fast, and the employees were friendly.

Bad: - the wait (not their fault but wish they would move to a bigger place) - didn't get all of the service/items we wanted (ordered a grill change and brisket sauce that never came, had to ask the server personally) - very tight eating space Good: - can order through a QR code - meat quality is great - chairs you can put your stuff in - sides are amazing and they don't give you small servings - good variety of wraps and sides (tortilla, rice paper, radish, lettuce) - dessert was the perfect way to end the meal! (strawberry ice cream with fried banana)

I miss the seats where you're able to put your stuff under it :( Service was quick and effective - food came out fast and our tables were cleaned up quickly with dirty dishes and trays. I especially love the mobile order! My favorite is still the potato salad :) The tiered menu does allow different cuts of meat and I think for the environment, price point and selection is worth it. Small interior but definitely sends out fun vibes for a hang out or family dinner. Only con I think is the tables are small and is limited to what you can actually have, but the portable trays do help... just doesn't help when kiddos want more space than they're allowed lol. Wait time is accurate and they do require you to be at the window they tell you - otherwise your spot gets given to the next party that is ready and you're back at the waitlist as next available, depending on your party size, so I think it's fair.

Pro tip: ALWAYS check the waitlist here on Yelp before you go, it will save you so much time. I came here on a Friday evening after joining the waitlist prior (1.5 hrs wait at 5pm!). There was a huge crowd outside but, thankfully, our table was ready by the time we got there. When we stepped inside, the restaurant was PACKED. The interior and all the tables were small (almost sitting shoulder to shoulder), yet the energy of yakiniQ was big. The meat quality was outstanding! Considering it's hard to find a decent AYCE KBBQ here in the Bay, yakiniQ delivers on excellent meat quality for a fair price. With a 2-hour eating limit, we definitely got our money's worth. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be the Beef Prime Boneless Short Rib. My critique involves the banchan (sides) and the service. The sides were somewhat mediocre compared to the banchan I've had elsewhere. Also, the service itself was very inconsistent. For example, they were fast at changing the grill but slow with serving us water. On top of that, there were a couple of instances where they gave us the wrong item (asking them to correct our order would've cost us a lot of time). Despite the criticism, yakiniQ is easily the best KBBQ I've had here in the South Bay. I'd love to come again and would recommend others to try as well!

Hands down one of the best kbbq spots because of their meat quality and banchans! BUT the only downside is their long wait time! The waitlist is incredibly long since anyone can join the waitlist on yelp as long as they are within 10 miles away. On a Friday night 7pm, I was 80th in line for a party of 2. We checked in and was about 5th in line for parties who are physically at the store and was told by the guy host that seating is around 10pm because if any parties on waitlist before me checks in after, they will still be sat before me. From previous visits, the wait was always faster than the estimated seating time so we went to the mall nearby to kill time. We got a text an hour later at 7:57pm telling us to head there soon as our table is almost ready. When we got there, it was the friendly girl host that helped me out in my previous visits letting us know our table will be ready soon. Shortly after, we got sat at 8:23pm. We got premium menu for $38.99 and it was worth it! The boneless short ribs, Wagyu beef brisket, and Wagyu beef belly were delicious and amazing quality. Everything can be ordered through the QR code which is convenient as you dont need to flag down servers. All their food runners are quick, friendly, and changes our grills right when they look a little charred. No bad experience here so far! I recommend coming early or putting yourself on the waitlist early to avoid the wait because this place is amazing!

Food: The meats are solid. Short ribs, finger ribs, and brisket are all worth ordering. There's also special cuts you can only order one per person, which makes it feel special. Dipping sauces are limited compared to other KBBQ spots, but the ones they have are tasty: the soybean sauce is really flavorful, and the sesame oil with salt pairs perfectly with the meat. The steamed egg is terrific. Fluffy and comforting. Sides are hit or miss: potato salad and kimchi are good, but the mac salad was hard. The rice was disappointing (hard and seemed old and not hot), and the kimchi stew was way too sour and bland for my taste. Service: Grill changes are a nice touch, though sometimes a bit slow. Definitely a good spot for a friend gathering, but expect it to be loud. The chairs double as storage since you can lift the seats to stash your bags. Handy, but not the most comfortable to sit on. The restaurant looks big at first glance, but because it's always crowded, it feels cramped with limited table space. Pro tips: * Add yourself to the Yelp Waitlist before coming or you'll be waiting forever. * You will smell like KBBQ after; wash your clothes and hair ASAP!

Meat quality! I've been to a lot of AYCE kbbq places, there's always something the doesn't seem like it's the best quality. NOT here! The proteins were cut to the perfect thickness so it's not too thick, but not too thin where it just burns before caramelizing. We have our favs of the marinated meats and the ones to have plain and dip in sauces. Everything was just right. Service was good, constant grill changes to keep from being too Smokey. One of the things we liked most is how you order one their web menu and the items appear vs having to get someone's attention. Just remember to hit the SEND button after you've added it to the shopping cart. We really enjoyed our first visit and will definitely be back.

Food is great but the wait times is horrible. Been here plenty of times but prefer other bbq restaurants. Ambiance is casual and loud.

My only main complaint is the long wait time. 2-3 hours of wait. For this place, you gotta plan to come here. I loved the cold noodles here as they are included into the price. And honestly I loved the seating arrangements, I feel like it invites more of engagement and friendlier tones for conversations whether you have a big or small group. The staff were friendly as well and understanding when we had questions about the menu item. Business: I think you guys are doing to well, expand? Lol.

This is a great Korean bbq restaurant and I'm super glad my wife told me about this place! It's packed with lots of people on the waiting list and based on my experience on trying to get on twice, the average wait time is 2 hrs!! First off the place isn't that big and the parking lot is small so good luck finding one. I'm impressed by so many things here but the main ones are their online order app! You can select the meats, sides, and drinks from their app and select to order! Someone from the staff immediately comes to bring the food. It's not all perfect though; it can take a while for water to come, etc. we had trouble getting our waters refilled. Tables are pretty close together and the seats are sometimes tough to eat on. I do like the large tray for empty dishes to go but if your party is big like ours, your elbow can hit the tray and it's annoying. I really like the array of condiments such as the sauces, bon chon sides, etc. the quality of the meats are pretty solid too; thin slices with a good amount of fat trim on them. I highly recommend their pork jowl, beef belly, and beef tongue. This is a solid place for Korean bbq but if you're looking for a faster seating time, head to Gen Korean BBQ which is about 12 mins away. If you're looking for quality, head to Baekjeong at Valleyfair mall which is 5 mins away. I'd definitely come back again!!

Very good food! All you can eat styles, meats are fresh and services are fast and great. The vibe is good for group of friends coming together because lots of ppl.

Delicious, fast, and a wide variety of options. The brisket sauce and steamed egg in particular are 10/10. The side dishes are also really delicious. I love that they have so many different meats and side dishes like soups/stews, vegetables, etc. to choose from. The air is thick with oil and not super well ventilated. The floor is also a bit slippery from all the oil. I like the vibe of the place - it's very authentic and similar to bbq places in Korea.

CK & I are roaming around SJ and wanted kbbq. We've always overlooked this spot on yelp because there's one in SF (and we've been there plenty of times). One day we questioned why this one has 4 stars with over 1200 reviews, so we've attempted to drive here twice - both with 1.5+ hr wait times! Now we're thinking ok, something must be up if there's a long wait time both times. There's a Yelp waitlist and they also close off the waitlist a couple hours before closing due to the number of people on the waitlist. 3rd times the charm, cause we came on a random Thurs night and the wait was still about 1 hr. We put our name on the waitlist and went about our day till it was time. Worth the 1 hr wait!! First off, YakiniQ SJ isn't affiliated with the SF location even though the logo looks exactly the same, but they do have another location in Livermore. YakiniQ SJ offers AYCE for a fair price of $33.99 regular/$37.99 premium (4 additional types of meat). The meat quality here is way better than other places, and you get a lot of delicious banchan. They also have condiment bottles at each table, so you don't have to keep asking them to refill your sauce tray. Their chili sauce is my favorite, and what's interesting is that it's the same as the SF location even though they're affiliated with one another. Favorites from the premium menu was the wagyu beef belly because it's more fatty. The wagyu beef brisket was also good, but didn't have much fat to balance it out. Definitely one of the better kbbq spots in SJ. Can't wait to come back again, and hopefully earlier so we can make the waitlist!

Expect to pay $45 per person. Went on a Wednesday evening and no wait. Meat was good but expect more japanese style than korean. Lettuce and other sides were free with the AYCE. Kimchi, radish, and cucumber salad banchan were great. Same for the steamed egg and kimchi soup.

This is amazing. I brought my daughter and friends with us to Q i oh ya a hit. The server are very accommodating and attentive to our needs. In order to order, you do need to scan a QR code for your table to get started. Don't forget. lol! It gets busy so I recommend making a reservation. I've heard others walk in and wait 3 hrs. But I will say it's worth the wait!!!

Wowow lives up to the hype. Pro tip: turn your heat down slightly, lest you fill the entire restaurant with smoke. Can you believe YakiniQ has been around for at least 10 years? I was baffled, since it only recently went viral on Tik Tok. Meats 9/10: On the regular plan, you get access to a variety of beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp. My favorites were the beef brisket, regular short-rib (not the fancy, fatty one), and the marinated short ribs. The pork belly was quite good too. In a rare occurrence, I preferred the regular fatty pork belly over the thin sliced version. As a Korean, I'm sometimes skeptical about the side dishes and nuances at all-you-can-eat KBBQ restaurants, but they did superb! Also, the setting feels rather private, with staff hardly interacting with you apart from serving new orders and bussing plates. I'd easily give 5 stars, but unfortunately have to take 1 off for having my order ignored 3-4 times before I had to flag a server down.

If you've ever driven by this place or tried to join the waitlist you might be deterred because the wait is crazy long but it think it's totally worth it! If you can plan ahead and join the waitlist like I did it all works out. I took a couple friends with me because kbbq is always better shared. The sides were all very good and the perfect started to the meal. The ordering is through a QR code and all the dishes come out very quickly. The quality of the meat appeared very fresh and tasted great. The marinated dishes were my favorite! Along with the reasonable price for premium AYCE this is the spot for kbbq!

This spot has been my family's go-to KBBQ spot in the Bay Area! The quality of meats for the price is why we coming back. Be prepared to either go early when they open or check the yelp waitlist an hour or two beforehand. It definitely gets packed around peak dinner times. We always order the regular kbbq sets. They recently switched over from physical menus to QR code ordering so the experience is pretty seamless and fast. We make sure to order the short ribs first since they're limited to 1 order per person. The meats are plated beautifully upon their platters and there are plenty of appetizers / sides to choose from. I'd recommend the lettuce leaves & rice paper to wrap your meats in -- and don't forget the samjjang! It gets pretty loud and busy inside so be prepared to shout a little if you're a larger party. Also I'd recommend bringing a jacket since it gets quite cold inside especially if you're sitting next to the ac. Service is great, they're always very attentive at changing the grills when they get too burnt. Prices have went up since we first started going here, from $25 to $33 but we will keep coming back! Can't beat YakiniQ's quality ayce meats. Stay for a complimentary dessert too -- a scoop of ice cream & fried banana to finish off the night!

This place can have a long wait, but they offer Yelp Waitlist. We pulled up and they have a parking lot, but it was a bit busy since there are multiple restaurants in that same center. They have round tables with 4-5 stools around each table - it's casual and not great for large parties. For about $40/pp - this place is hard to beat. You order meat and sides through a QR code and service was solid. All the meat we tried was pretty good - and I love that their proteins aren't soaked in sauce (they offer sauces tableside). Their sides were great - we ordered lettuce and radishes to wrap the different proteins in, and loved their tofu soup, japchae, and kimchi. Overall, solid casual spot with good variety and selection. I will be coming back!

My go to ayce kbbq! A wide range of meat choices and bonchon. My favorites are the brisket and pork belly! Make sure to join the waitlist ahead of time because wait times are long during dinner time. The restaurant is the closest to authentic kbbq in Korea. The round tables and the packed tables make it very crowded and smoky. There is also no back support and you are sitting on stools, which is not a problem for me. Definitely has the best quality meat in sj for ayce kbbq. They also give complimentary ice cream when you're done with your meal!

Never been here on a Friday, Saturday where the wait wasn't 90+ min. There's a reason for the waitlist though because the overall value you get is top tier. For under $40 pretax the quality of the meat and the selection is definitely worth it. I also really like the sides. My favorite sides were the kimchi jigae and steamed egg. Definitely get the brisket sauce. The vibe in the restaurant and the layout of the tables/chairs also reminds me of Korea.

Food: There's a regular menu and premium menu. We got the premium which includes a few fattier cuts. Meat: high quality and fresh. The marinated meats were well seasoned, and there's an assortment of sauces at the table. Our favorite was the boneless short ribs. Banchan: pretty nice spread with generous portions. Appetizers : they had tofu soup and a few other dishes, but we wish there was more variety. Service: Scan to order. It gets pretty busy but we were always tended to. Our grill was changed a minimum of 7 times. Everyone was friendly and quick to help. In terms of getting a table, make sure you join the Yelp waitlist as it gets crowded. Ambiance: Clean and organized. The seating situation makes sense, but it felt cramped since the tables are right next to each other. We could hear everything our neighbors were saying and vice versa. Parking: lots of parking in a lot. TLDR: good food, get the bones-less short rib, a little cramped, join the waitlist,

My favorite AYCE KBBQ in the Bay Area because of the meat quality and banchan (side dishes). However, I wish the service was a little bit better. The restrooms are also gross every time I come, which makes the food less appetizing... Overall, it's a solid 3.5 stars because the meats are melt-in-your-mouth quality for an AYCE, though! It helped me out a lot a few days ago when I was hungry and low on iron.

During one of the grill change, hot oil dripped on to my bare skin. We tried to flag down a waiter, but no one seemed to care. Employees had minimal interaction with customers. The waiter who did this didn't even notice me jolting in pain and I didn't see him again. A different waiter came and drop off the check at the fastest pace. The atmosphere was so overwhelming (plus my pain) that it was impossible to receive any help from the staff. Gross negligence! The spot bubbled immediately so this is a second degree burn. Food was good but the place was too overpacked for decent service. I wouldn't want to come again.

Great meat quality for the price! Got the regular for $33.99/pp. We were able to put our name down by signing up on their Yelp Waitlist around 5:15 pm, and waited 30 minutes until they called us. I recommend signing up this way on busy nights and around the holiday season. Their ordering system was through a QR code. Very fast service and our grills were replaced without having to ask. Ordered: - Beef Belly - Beef Tongue - Brisket - Short Rib - Pork Belly My favorite was the beef belly! So fatty. They also have corn cheese and cold noodles for an extra $1.99. Definitely can skip out on the cold noodles. Not that much flavor. Brisket sauce is amazing too!

Amazing food, but in my opinion, I think there should be more service to help out on busy days! When we arrived at our seat, the cups were not fully cleaned since there were black and orange specks of food stuck inside our cups.

YakiniQ is one of our go-to KBBQ spots. We live nearby, so we typically join the waitlist on Yelp then head over when our table is almost ready. We find that the wait is usually longer than what Yelp estimates. We love that you can order through a QR code so you don't have to wait for a server to take your order. Our favorites are the boneless short rib, which is always perfectly marbled, and the corn cheese. The only downsides of this place are it can get a little crowded inside and you have to pay extra for some of the sides.

Best quality in kbbq meats! The meats are marbled and all were juicy and delicious! As an Asian, I love my carbs - the moist, soft rice paper was hands-down the best one I've had. A couple drawbacks: meats tend to stick to the grill easily. The wait can be a nightmare. Went from 28 to 6 in line after 2 hours. I suggest putting yourself on the Yelp waitlist prior.