I have visited BBQ21 four times now and have been consistently impressed. One of the biggest perks is the ample parking, which makes stopping by stress free! The restaurant is always clean, and I appreciate that the staff is welcoming and friendly! So far, every dish I have tried has been great. The donkatsu comes in a very generous serving size, and both the bulgogi and donkatsu kimbap are delicious. I love that the kimbap is made fresh to order. They were even kind enough to accomodate my request to leave out the burdock. I also tried the rose ddukbokki, which had great flavor! I just wish there were a few more rice cakes. The highlight for me is definitely the strawberry bingsoo. It's honestly one of the best I've ever had in Virginia. Just a quick tip: there is an extra fee if you want to add red beans! read more

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dolsot spicy pork bibimbap - pretty decent! But wish it had more rice and had to ask for more sauce 3.5/5 cream donpas - had a nice mushroom flavor throughout the sauce and wasn't overly just cream but the katsu is pounded super thin so it's more crust than meat 3/5 Ddeokbokki rice cakes - didn't have much flavor and weren't that good but I liked the dumplings and fishcakes were standard 1.75/5 lemon sugar coated salt bread - actually pretty decent and they have half off after 8pm 3.5/5 read more

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Such a hidden gem! This place offers yummy korean food and delicious sweets. A good place to do some work or catch up with some friends. My friend and I shared the rose tteokbokki and kimbap and it was pretty standard. We also shared the cheese dessert and this was quite interesting! It had a faint flavor of cheese but the rest was like vanilla-like mousse. I also got some salt bread to try at home. The original was ok but the corn bread was amazing! I loved the filling because it was sweet and salty. I do recommend microwaving it just a little bit so it fluffs up the bread more. I saw that they offered bingsoo layered with fruit which I feel like that is hard to come by in this area so I would definitely come back to try the bingsoo and the other dishes. read more

BBQ 21 - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

My friend suggested going here after dinner and I looked at her funny. The name is misleading, this place is half cafe half Korean boonshik with adorable cafe vibes. Great place to catch up with a friend, study, or just eat. They offer bunshik (Korean fast casual food like dumplings, tteokbokki, fish cake soup, etc), pastries and all the things a cafe would have, as well as a full self serve ramen bar in the back. Ordered tea, salt bread, corn creme bread (which is salt bread filled with corn cream. Salt bread sucked. It wasn't even buttery. Corn creme bread sounds weird, but it weirdly worked. It's sweet but not too sweet. Service was good. Loved the ambiance more than anything! read more

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Have been here many years ago but just recently tried it again and was very pleasantly surprised by all the additions to the menu. My friend and I came by on a Saturday afternoon after a hike and it wasn't too crowded so we got a table pretty easily. We enjoyed all the items we ordered donpas, tornado omurice and a mango cheesecake bingsoo to top it off. Portions were big and everything tasted amazing. Will definitely be coming back! read more

BBQ 21 - Mango cheesecake bingsoo - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We are a food hunting family and my daughter found this on our way home from Potomac Mills Town Center. It's an awesome setup and very welcoming when you first walk in. The immediate entry had a few row of tables but to the left of the mini wall supported parties of 4 and more. Tables were also set up for on da spot BBQ but we went for something different. We ordered the Spicy Jumbo Cheese Don Katsu (with extra cheese) and it was huge!! The sauce was on the side and this was great. It allowed us to jump between original and some spice. The sauce was tangy and a good hint of spicy, but not over bearing. The presentation was just like the pictures. It also had a lil dome of rice and a light salad with a creamy sauce. We also ordered the Volcano Ramen and it was FULL OF FLAVOR. Not too many places can hit the nail on the head when it comes to Ramen but this place was amazing. The spice for the "volcano" was blotted in case you wanted to take some off but it was just perfect. My wife mixed in the entire spice. The Tornado Omurice's presentation was perfect as well. Covering a bacon fried rice, the egg was laid on top with a tangy bbq style sauce. I'm not much for a tangy bbq sauce but to some, it can be delicious. So this is just me. The egg was perfectly cooked and creamy and the rice was flavorful as well. My daughter ordered the Coin Cheese and my other daughter ordered the make your own loaded ramen option. Sorry no pics for these two. Overall, it was an amazing experience and there was a small bar as well if you want to indulge in some cocktails with your food. The place was "poppin" and I kind of felt bad for the cashier/host; he was working everything without any flaws out deficiencies. Mad kudos to that guy!! Definitely hit this place up!! We'll be back for sure. read more

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Amazing family owned excellent food and such friendly people! Can't wait to come back! read more

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Went for dessert, not food but plan to go back. The Korean shaved ice dessert was HUGE! Two adults and one toddler shared it and it took us some time. Despite being $20 (so more of a special occasion thing) it was good! Not overwhelming sweet and enough mango to not fight over a bite. read more

BBQ 21 - Mango shaved ice - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Don't let the name fool you! They're not a BBQ restaurant. This is essentially a bakery cafe that serves not only bread, cakes and coffee. They have all kinds of Korean food and even a DIY ramen section. The staff are always very helpful and everything comes out fairly quickly usually. The interior is still very much a BBQ set up but the new owners decorated the place to be more cozy like a cafe. Def give this place a try! Everything I've ordered here is amazing. Highly recommend! read more

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I had a very positive experience at BBQ 21. While the name is a bit misleading (it functions more like a general Korean food hall), the overall value and unique concept definitely make it worth a visit. I ordered the Katsu, and it was hands-down the largest katsu I've ever seen! At $20.95, it's a bit pricier than average, but I think it was well worth it because the portion lasted me for three separate meals. The quality was good, and the sheer size offers great value. I also really enjoyed the food hall concept. It provides a fantastic variety of meal options and access to desserts, making it a great place for a group with varied tastes. Plenty of seating on a weekday evening, making it a nice spot to hang out. Overall, I would definitely go back. It's nothing out of the ordinary that blew me away, but for huge portions and a reliable, diverse meal, this is a solid choice. read more

BBQ 21 - Jumbo Don Katsu - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Honestly, the food is okay. Not bad, but nothing amazing. Pretty average Korean food overall. That said, the donkatsu was actually pretty good, especially the spicy one. Warning though, the spicy donkatsu is actually spicy. I'd say it's just a bit less intense than buldak, but I was definitely in pain after eating it... but the flavor was so good I couldn't stop eating. I'm giving it 4 stars mostly because I really like the concept of the food hall. It's a great spot to come with a group, especially when everyone wants something different. Plus, having dessert and drinks all in the same place is super convenient. It's also very clean and pretty spacious inside. read more

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I came in here for both the bakery and the The BBQ 21 component of the restaurant so here's my review on this. First off, I think the name is misleading because while in the past it was once a KBBQ place where you could get food, it is now rebranded to a food hall style area where you can order food or dessert up at the corner and then pick up your order when your buzzer goes off. There's also a newly added Ramyun section where you pick the Ramyun you want and then use one of the self ramyun noodle cookers to cook your noodles to the perfect temperature/texture along with the ingredients you pick. I personally haven't tried it out in this place but I'm sure it's the same process I hope. I ended up Medium wings with Soy Garlic and Fries. While they did take a bit of time for it to come out, I found the Wings to be crispy and crunchy. If there's anything I love about Korean Fried Chicken, the wings will always have good sauce with a nice hint of sweetness and spice to balance it out. I can't say much about the fries, because they are just regular fries. They were good and you do get alot but it's nothing to write home about. Overall, the place was pretty empty when I went so perhaps on a weekend I'm sure it gets packed full of many people. The atmosphere would be a lot louder than my visit to the place! Check it out if you like to discover a new Food Hall! read more

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I came here for the strawberry bingsoo so not sure if the breads/food is good but this place has a cool street food type of ambiance with a self service ramen bar in the back. Strawberry bingsoo: serving size is smaller than what I'm use to compared to other Korean cafes but it tasted good. It didn't come with a lot of toppings like cereal/mochi. This is a very simple bingsoo which was good. read more

BBQ 21 - Strawberry bingsoo - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Did not expect this place to be a "food hall" type establishment. The name of the restaurant is very misleading. I thought we were going to a Korean bbq place but when we walked inside, the setting had a "food hall" feel. They had a bakery that served pastries and bingsoo. And then they had a section where you can order savory foods. I'm so glad I discovered this place because I was looking for a place that served mul-naengmyon (cold noodle soup) and it was one of the best I've had! The servers were very nice and the food came out very quick. The flavor of the broth was very delicious. It had an excellent proportion of meat and noodles. The broth was the best part. Mul-naengmyon is the best thing to eat after a hot day. The bingsoo was delicious as well. Not too sweet. They also have a melon bingsoo that they serve in a melon. Highly recommend this place! read more

BBQ 21 - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Very yummy and filling! The donkatsu was very crispy, and it paired well with the pasta. Personally, I wish the pasta was a bit more flavorful, but it wasn't bad at all. This place also has ramen and a cafe with drinks and desserts, so variety is great. I'd definitely want to come back more and try other dishes and drinks! read more

BBQ 21 - Don Pas - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Their DIY Ramyon (Korean Instant Noodle) was enjoyable, but the Shoyu ramen lacked flavor, and the ramen noodles were overcooked despite their appearance. The gimbap that accompanied the instant noodles was tasty and had a homemade feel. The yogurt smoothie was unexpectedly delicious. However, the service was poor; the counter staff was unfriendly and rude. Since it was our first time trying DIY ramyon and the signage only said "pay here," which we followed, she then yelled at us to select the instant noodle first. It would have helped if the signage or the ordering process had been clearer. read more

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The kimbap and tteokbokki here are so good! I dont recommend the drinks but this is hands down my favorite spot for kimbap and tteokbokki. They have some pre made ones by the cashier but I always ask them to make it fresh! The service is mediocre but since I always have it to go so it's not a big deal. read more

The Tornado Omurice was delicious and probably the dish that would bring us back! We wished we would have tried a few different options instead of the Bulgogi. It was good, just not a WOW! The ramen bar looked super cool, and had loads of options to choose from, but was a bit on the expensive side for us. The layout/decor is very nice inside (kind of has a cozy vibe with the mix of Gateau, the bakery side). Overall a great place that I'm sure gets super popular on weekends! read more

Bbq 21 with new concept. Food was good .. but definitely on the pricier side. They have a full ramen bar with kimbab combo, a lot of Korean street food menu items mixed with a cafe/bakery. read more

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The name is misleading but I was pleasantly surprised by this spot in Fairfax. They have a cute setup that includes a bakery, plentiful seating, self serve ramen bar, and main counter. We ordered the cold noodles (mul nangmyeon) and kimbap. Both were great! We also ordered the red bean bingsu which had red bean, toasted rice powder, and mochi. If my partner weren't allergic, we would've ordered the melon bing su which seemed to be pretty popular. It comes served in a half cantaloupe which was pretty cool to see. We didn't try the ramen bar but they had a large selection and some toppings as well. read more

BBQ 21 - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We came here before when they used to be a full service Korean restaurant. Seems like they switched over to self serve ramen & French-Korean pastries. Ordered a latte and red bean coin for $11. It was good but way too expensive. Ramen is $6.50 for regular packet ramen, they do have some toppings like green onions and beansprout, but not egg or pork to justify the added cost, especially since you can pop into Great Wall supermarket next door and get the same ramen packet for 99 cents. They have things that sounds good and we'd like to try from the menu but everything needs to drop $1-2 in price to be competitive with other Korean bakeries in the area. I want this bakery to succeed since it is the closest one to us but without dropping the price I don't think this location will last long read more

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The restaurant got revamped. Includes desserts and drinks. It's very delicious - try the Tom ane Jerry cake. Also had the fruit smoothies that are different - really good. The staff is very welcoming. read more

BBQ 21 - Plum smoothie - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We will be back soon! Our gracious host recommend the Dolsat bowls --Fabulous choice. We had the Bulgogi and Spicy Pork. Both were excellent. Wonderful vibe. Go early because I bet this place is popular! read more

Very tasty udon noodles and wings! We also had a couple of the desserts and we were impressed. Lots of unique items and they also have a ramen bar. Service was kind and attentive. read more

Popped in to check it out because the place we wanted to go was closed. Did not regret this at all. What a great surprise to find a cute place with the best Donkatsu I've tried in the area. Also bonus- baked goods. read more

BBQ 21 - Tteokbokki w/ mandu and cheese. Mandu was good. Should've ordered the spicier version. Tteok was nice & chewy. - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Don't be fooled by that it wasn't crowded or that it could use some modernization, BBQ 21 serve one of the best kalbi (korean bbq short ribs) in this area where there are a lot of Korean restaurants. Service was great and treated you like family. The mandu (korean dumplings) were served hot and crispy and highly recommended. Minus is there were only six to a serving so we had to order two. There were only three sides served for banchan (side dishes) but were perfectly fine. Seafood pancake was big and tasted great. As mentioned earlier, the kalbi was great - tender and well marinated. Our server cooked it great and served it. I usually eat korean bbq but the other korean dishes ordered were enjoyed by other korean folks with me. Was a little concerned at how restaurant was a bit empty when I arrived at first but left puzzled why it wasn't more crowded due to the great food and service. read more

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The food way SUPER yummy! Omg EVER single item was amazing and I want to come back just to try every other item they have. Workers were super nice and explained everything and I can tell they love working here. Plus place is super comfy and cute. A great date night spot ! read more

BBQ 21 - B2. Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Good food and the service is fantastic. The staff is very friendly and help me how to so the self ramen bar service read more

BBQ 21 - My order for unlimited ramen - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Great staff, great food, good vibes, love the set up. They are very friendly and welcoming here. Will be back!! read more

BBQ 21 - Beef B2. Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Really nice place!! The setup is clean, casual, and cozy, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal with friends. The food comes out fresh and fast, and the self-serve station for water and utensils makes everything convenient. Prices are affordable, portions are generous, and the overall experience is smooth and enjoyable. Whether you're dining in or grabbing takeout, they keep things efficient without feeling rushed. Highly recommend for a quick and delicious taste of Korean street food! read more

My partner loves this place. He secretly hopes this spot doesn't get too popular so he can have it all to himself. here's what he thinks when i asked. Galbi / Kalbi: wonderful char, grilled to medium rare, and a perfect pairing for their tasty and plentiful naengmyun. Mul Naengmyeon: older people will say that's it's close to "classic naengmyun" in virginia. it's got a really clean flavor profile, and their hot mustard is STRONG. they use some kind of underlying flavor i can't place my finger on, some kind of herb. rosemary maybe? Banchan (sides): perfect. they're so great. every single one of them, absolutely delicious. read more

BBQ 21 - Galbi / Kalbi - wonderful char, grilled to medium rare, and a perfect pairing for their tasty and plentiful naengmyun. - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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One comment. Galbi MulNangmyun. That is all. Best combo here. We also ordered the seafood pancake (good but not the best I've ever had). read more

BBQ 21 - a table full of asian food - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Highly recommend this place! Most people come from their ddukbokki, but I recommend their authentic Korean food. The dishes I ordered with my mom was called daegu moom tong jjim and a fish soup. Both were fantastic! The first dish is a little spicy, and portion size is huge. It's also worth a pretty penny, but that's due to the portion size and good fish they use. Their side dishes are amazing and service is great. Highly recommend! read more

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Such a cute place and the employees are SO nice. The pastries are incredible also, highly recommend!

The staff was very nice, had a wide variety of ramens, would recommend and come again.

Such a cool spot to come! So many ramen flavors to choose from, I am definitely coming back!!!

This review is mainly for the cheesy ribs. They gave us 2 options - spicy and nonspicy. The ribs were literally just slabbed with american bbq sauce. I was hoping and thinking that the ribs would be an asian influenced flavor since I was in a korean restaurant. The sauce was just straight up bbq sauce. I felt like i was eating those microwavable bbq ribs from any grocery store.. or i could go to tgi fridays and get cheaper ribs. If you're looking for american style bbq ribs with a side of melted mozz, then maybe this place will hit the spot for you Also the dukkboki that came with it was flavored with the same bbq sauce as the ribs. Service was good. I'd never order those ribs again though read more

BBQ 21 - Korean Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This location is very pleasant and spacious, I really liked how all the noodles are placed out for us to pick out.

Had just arrived in town and was super hungry. We arrived just after lunch but before dinner so had the place to ourselves. When the waitress spoke little but good English I knew we were in for an authentic treat and the place did not disappoint. We call 2 other friends of ours to come right over and try it. They loved it also, on our way out of the door literally two more friends arrived asking if it was good. I showed them the pictures and said definitely give it a try!! And they did!! read more

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I'll admit, this isn't the best korean spot in town. BUT it hits the spot if you're looking for cheesy, korean-style fondue. I love getting a cheese platter with BBQ ribs and indulging in all the gooey, mozzarella-slathered food (aside from the ribs, you get rice cakes and corn in your platter). The nengmyun was also pretty good, though note: galbi nengmyun is literally just nengmyun with a plate of galbi on the side. I envisioned something much more magical. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. BBQ 21 is definitely one of those places where you have to know what to order. They try to do a lot, and based on the reviews, some things are hit or miss. Fyi, in terms of the restaurant itself, it gets kind of smoky when multiple tables are grilling bbq. I'm not fully convinced that all of the grill vents work.. read more