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Illbunjee has been around for decades, and a quick search would show it was one of the first KBBQ restaurants in the Bay Area. If you don't mind cooking yourself -- continue reading! WAIT My friend and I enjoy KBBQ cuisine, so we are always trying out new places. We chose Illbunjee and dined there for dinner. There was a wait of about 15-20 minutes; two parties ahead of us. The waiter came out to hand us menus and checked back to see what we wanted to order so the kitchen could prepare and staff could set the table. SERVICE The staff was very friendly, but could be more attentive during the dine-in experience. However, since you cook everything yourself and everything is brought to you, unless you need something, you have to wave someone down. INTERIOR The restaurant is cozy, with limited seating, so it makes sense that it fills up quickly and there's usually a wait during peak hours. PARKING There are several popular restaurants on the same strip. It's an older strip with barely any parking. Do yourself a favor and park in the neighborhood behind and walk over. FOOD The Premium Beef Combo includes prime beef brisket, beef tenderloin, and Wagyu strip loin. The quality was top-tier, and everything tasted delicious! There was so much food that we ended up packing leftovers. The seafood pancake was really good -- crispy and tasty!
Solid kbbq option on El Camino. Has a more authentic Korean bbq feel. Not a fancy spot but meat quality is good. Service is good as well.
We ordered the combination set for four, which came with pork jowl, pork belly, brisket, and a choice of tenderloin or ribeye. We chose the tenderloin. Service was good and attentive, and they cook the meat for you, which makes the experience easy and enjoyable. The side dishes were great and they happily refilled them. The fish cake stood out the most, slightly spicy and super addictive. We refilled it multiple times because our group loved it. The meat presentation was really nice, and the ambience felt clean, modern, and comfortable without being too flashy. You get a free soda if you follow them on Instagram. They also had rice balls if you want to try something different from regular rice.
We came hungry on a later Monday afternoon and left satiated and happy! I personally loved the kimchee cold noodles. The noodles were refreshing, chewy, and kimchee goodness. I would highly recommend you check it out! The parking is a little small but there's some neighborhood parking on the side if you're okay with a little walk :)
Restaurant changed my tip. Will report it to the police. This is fraudulent activity, i have my receipt picture and im now going to file a complaint to the state attorney general. Update - the restaurant admitted that they did indeed change my tip due to an "accident from data entry" did not offer any sort of explanation or proof. will proceed with filing this report too business commission.
If you want fancy decor and a quiet atmosphere, this probably isn't your spot--but if you want some of the best K-BBQ in Santa Clara, Ilbunjee is a total win. It's got that perfect, low-key "hole-in-the-wall" feel that makes it feel like a real neighborhood find. The staff is awesome too; they're fast and actually look out for you so you don't over-order. It can get pretty packed on the weekends, especially late at night, but that's just part of the charm.
Best Korean BBQ in the area, hands down. Fresh banchan every day, great quality meat, and the kimchi noodles with chadol are a must. Everyone who works here is so friendly, and the owners are always welcoming. Love this place.
Came in with 3 other friends since it's been awhile. We ordered combo for 3 people and a side of cold noodles. No other places do cold noodles like them in this area. The place is small and tight. I recommend calling them for large parties. Meat is filling portions and sharable. Service is quick and efficient. Still my number one spot
Came to Ilbunjee for dinner with friends and enjoyed our meal! Located in a dinky strip mall with hardly any parking, Ilbunjee is a hole in the wall, "feels like home" Korean bbq spot. The inside is quite small! The four of us snugly fit around a little round table and proceeded to order: Brisket Skirt steak Pork belly Fish cake soup - This was alright Cold noodles - Super refreshing, only wished it was even colder The meat was very good quality and the amount was perfect for our party size. The meal also came with banchan and a really well-dressed salad. Service was really nice too. We were checked on frequently and they even help cook the meat for you. Overall, we paid probably $60-ish per person which is a bit high for a non-AYCE spot. The price plus how cramped I felt sitting at our table trying to fit everything we ordered on it dinged some stars.
We came here for a friend's birthday since she prefers it over 10 Butchers, but I personally found it to be pretty mid. We ordered the meat combo, and the quality didn't really stand out. My friends also raved about the rice balls, but to me they just tasted like mushy sesame oil rice with some crushed seaweed--nothing memorable. Overall, it's not a spot I'd put on my list to revisit.
As small as this Korean BBQ spot may seem, it fits large parties nicely. Our party of 6 had a great dinner at Illbunjee. The meats and banchan were very flavorful. The restaurant is not cheap with their banchan; they are quick to refill plates when they were finished. With that said, our waiter was also our cook. Our friends asked to take over but the waiter insisted. He insisted so much that he over cooked a lot of our meats. Personally, I like my meats well done so I didn't mind but even I received some over-done pieces. Our platter felt like endless meats and we were stuffed at the end. All in all, I quite enjoyed it. A heads up, parking is horrible. You are lucky to find a spot in the complex. Otherwise, you will have to find street parking in the residential area. Cheers!
Food is fresh every single time! Service is always on point, and the vibe is lit. If you want quality Korean food with top-notch meat, this is your spot. Easily one of the best in town! Make a reservation because it can get packed!!
Came to Ilbunjee on a Saturday right when they opened. We were a table of 5 so the seating arrangement was kind of weird with 2 circular tables. The grill was on the side instead of towards the middle. However, the staff were super friendly, and this place is probably my top 5 favorite Korean BBQ places in the Bay Area. We ordered their Combination for 4, and also added beef tongue to our order. It also came with these delicious rice balls, salad, and soup. And we also added an order of cold noodles too a must order when getting Korean bbq. The meat quality was really good, the meats were well marbled and not too fatty. The pork jowl, beef tongue, pork belly, and brisket are definitely the cuts you have to order. Especially with the cold noodles, after every bite was refreshing and you were ready to have another bite. This is definitely one of the places I will come back to when craving Korean bbq.
Hole in the wall spot for some high quality kbbq? Say less!!! The restaurant is quite small for a bbq place but it gives a homey vibe! Just fyi although most kbbq places are ayce this one is not. I got the combo for 3 ppl and the portions are super big, I literally got a food coma :) The quality of everything is so good including the meat. The combo consists of 4 different meats, odeng (fish cake) soup, rice balls and side dishes. The worker told me that side dishes are made daily, no wonder it is so fresh and delicious! I kept asking for refills (I felt bad but it is quite yummy) kudos for good service! It gets busy around dinner time and there is 1-2 workers so be patient!! Parking is not good lol since the plaza is small w limited spots buttttt there is a residential area near by w/ street parking. :-) Overall will come back again 10/10! read more
Amazing KBBQ place, would definitely come back again and again. I love Korean food, it's probably my number one favorite food. The parking lot is very small, so beware if you're coming in larger groups. Their menu is small and that's what I love about places like that. They know what's good and they stick to just that. We came on a regular week night for dinner for 3. I immediately liked that for a BBQ/grilling place, it wasn't smokey, nor was it stuffy. The ventilation was great! To keep it simple, we ordered the beef and pork combo for 3 and it was just the right amount of food. The combo came with brisket, short rib, pork belly and pork jowl. Side dishes were fresh and from what I hear, they're made daily! Always ask for extras. The fish cake soup that came with the combo was also really tasty. Meat quality was 10/10 The pork belly was scored/cut/sliced a way that made it super easy to grill and cut into small pieces. Lastly, we were recommended by one of the waitresses to try the Cold Kimchi Noodles. Let me tell you, we've seen and heard of cold Korean noodles from every kdrama we've ever watched but this was the first time ever trying it. SO FREAKING GOOD. Anyway, food was good, ambiance was good, we'll definitely have to add some alcohol next time read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
My friends and I have always wanted to try this place, so we came around 7 pm on Monday. The owners are the sweetest! Service is amazing here, and on top of that the food is BOMB. Out of all the korean bbq spots in the area, this was the best korean bbq I've ever had. This will now be my new go - to spot. The meat here is top quality, side dishes are fresh and tasty (I had to order 2 cucumber side dishes and a mashed potato just for myself) and the sauces are so good! Here are my reviews for each item: all items receive a 5/5 rating. Wagyu brisket: this was the best brisket I've ever had. I don't even need sauce! Im picky when it comes to this. My friend grilled this one until it got slightly crisp, but it was still juicy and tender! At other places, the meat usually ends up being dry after barely grilling it. Wagyu beef short rib: This was the best wagyu short rib Ive ever had. This melts in your mouth and is best eaten rare/med rare. Steak: I wasn't sure which steak my friends ordered, but this was also good! As usual, all the meats here are juicy. Pork belly: I have to admit, I don't like eating pork belly at all. However this pork belly made me fall in love lol. It was so juicy!! Soo good, I will definitely order this one again Shrimp: the shrimps were pretty good! Im impressed with the quality. It was nice to eat this dish since we had a lot of meat! Definitely try it if you wanted a seafood option. Cold noodles: I've never had this before, but this was so unique and refreshing. The broth is slightly sweet and spicy. Definitely get this on a hot day:) Rice balls: SOO GOOD! I love the sesame oil flavor and thought this paired well with the meat. The rice balls are a must try. I will definitely be coming back and I have recommended this place to all of my friends and family. read more
4 years ago
I came here with my boyfriend on Valentine's Day around 5:30pm and we were seated immediately. We ordered the brisket and kurobuta pork belly (1 lb each). I lived in LA for a few years and had kbbq countless times, and I've never been a huge fan of pork belly. However, the pork belly was delicious and better than I expected! Brisket was great too (you can never go wrong with that). The banchan, soup, and rice balls were all really good. The two of us were able to finish everything, except for the rice balls. The restaurant had a really good vibe and it seemed like the server knew every party that came in. Seems like a cute little family spot! Although it is a bit pricey, we will definitely be back for special occasions! read more
2 years ago
Best kbbq in santa clara They open late until 12 so I always go there after work since my work ends late. Their service is great and I love their fish cake soup which comes with the meat read more
Went with a group of friends yesterday and this time will be my second time going here ! You can choose sitting for dine ins or outdoor seatings ! It was so hot that I was sweating as I was grilling inside because of all the steams but luckily they opened the door and there was a little breeze . The meat quality is amazing and everything melts in your mouth . Everyone seemed to enjoyed it a lot !! We got a combo meal for 4 people and there was plenty of meat and side dishes to get everyone full !! I love the dipping sauces it comes with and you can choose between rice balls or steamed rice . They're known for their rice balls so I highly recommend ! Quality over quantity for sure !! For parking situation the plaza has limited parking spots so I recommend either parking on the side of the streets. This place is definitely a gem read more
2 years ago
Yo, if you're a fan of Korean BBQ, you have to check out this spot I stumbled upon. The place is a hidden gem. They've got authentic kimchi cold noodles that are just next-level, super tangy and refreshing. The fishcake soup that comes out as starters is legit too--satisfying and full of flavor. But the real MVP here is the variety of side dishes. You get 5 different ones with and each one is on point. They really know how to balance flavors and textures. And to top it all off, the riceballs that come with the meat orders? Absolute game-changer. Perfect for scooping up all that delicious BBQ goodness. The vibe of the place makes it even better which makes like I am in korea.If you're craving some Korean BBQ with a side of authentic Korean flavor, this spot should be at the top of your list. It is located in a plaza and might be slightly tough to find parking ,but trust me. Its worth the effort and you won't be disappointed. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
makes me feel like I'm in koreaaa (check) good quality meat (check) delicious banchan (check) you know it's authentic when you're drinking makgeolli out of mini bowls everything that came out was delicious!! Salad had an amazing dressing with wasabi/ horseradish, yummyyy fishcake soup (appetizer), and unique rice balls (I LOVE!). Cant forget the banchan -- that potato salad was something else, authentic homemade kimchi, fish cakes, cucumber kimchi, and daikon. For meats, we got a la carte: - brisket - wagyu short rib (THE STAR, definitely recommend) - kurobuta pork belly *combo seems good if you want more meat selections to try It is quite priceyyy. That's pretty standard now for the high quality kbbq spots in the bay, however -1 star cause those places actually cook for you (nice service) and nicer ambiance too. Also a con or recommendation would be please allow unlimited banchan :( this was the first ever experience where banchan wasn't unlimited. People only really get 1 re-fill anyways, we just love the side dishes. Definitely almost 5 stars tho, I'll be back and with friends :) Also learned they opened in late 1990s and say they're the 1st KBBQ restaurant to specialize in non-marinated meat cuts. "Ilbunjee" (ill-bunjee) translates to "first on the block." Ambiance is very casual and cozy-hole-in-the-wall. Love how it's still going strong and in the family, support local businesses everyone :) read more
This cute little place is a little bit hard to find, but the big white tent does stand out from the parking lot. My brother and sister in law wanted to go Korean bbq and this place looked very promising from what she read. As you go inside, they are strict when it comes to Covid precautions, asking if everyone in the party lives in the same household and checking your temperatures. The staff work masks and gloves and heavily encouraged social distancing. They have small tables set up outside and some can sit inside. The grill looks to be cast iron and has a drip area for the oil. The starting appetizers include their fish soup, salad, and five selections of: Kimchi, Pickled radish/daikon, bean sprouts, fish cake, and potato like salad. The meats we ordered were wagyu brisket, pork belly, and wagyu short rib. We also placed an order for Tofu Soup as well. You also get a choice of Rice Ball or Bowl of Rice (I heavily recommend Rice Ball). The soup was alright. I love tofu soup and it was a bit on the bland side. However, it was still tasty and spicy. The meat selections were really good. The brisket and the short ribs were the amazing and flavorful. They cook fast, so be sure to watch it and make sure you don't make it well done. The pork belly was a bit on the dry side. It did need a marinate of some sort. However, it was crispy and paired well with the dipping sauce. Overall, I love this cute small area. I would see myself coming back here again. read more
4 years ago
I'm from LA so good Korean bbq that met my standards in the Bay was so hard to find. Ilbunjee is literally the only place we go to for YEARS. It's not the cheapest because they only use the best quality meat. And when you use the best quality meat, you don't marinate it to "mask" anything. Their banchan is freshly made each day, not store bought and the cold kimchi noodles is a MUST. The owners and all staff are super nice, always take care of you make sure you go home with a full heart and stomach. If you're craving kbbq, go here. You won't regret it. read more
3 years ago
We visited on a Friday night and the parking lot is very small so we parked a little far in the neighbourhood behind the plaza. The light salad was good, saucy, and spicy tasted of horseradish, I enjoyed it. The fish cake soup was spicy and delicious as well. The banchan was also really good, I liked the fish cake and potato salad, and the pickled cucumber was extra spicy. I enjoyed the rice balls were unique and I enjoyed the umami flavors. We also got the Sundubu-jjigae, tofu soup, which was pleasantly light to balance with the heaviness of the meat. The meat was very delicious, we got pork jowl, pork belly, brisket, and beef tongue (some of the beef tongue was chewy as I was expecting but also was pleasantly surprised by the tender texture and taste); all were 5/5! The staff was nice and they were generous with the banchan. The ambiance was loud and lively; great for groups! Definitely recommend and would return when I'm craving Kbbq! read more
7 years ago
Parking is tough in the small plaza but this place is so good. I parked at the next door plaza, be careful to not park in the designated spots for the liquor store or adult store. My car was still there after dinner so I'm guessing the store owners in the next door plaza don't mind. My bf and I tried their beef and pork combo and a big teapot of hot sake. They ran out of large tea pots, so the owner deducted $2 for the medium pot she gave us (came out to be a good amount of hot sake to share between the two of us). The beef and pork combo came was brisket, prime rib eye steak, pork jowl and pork belly. The brisket was awesome. The pork jowl was my favorite, the fattiness was sandwiched between the lean meat so each bite had the perfect amount of fat to meat. Pork belly was good and the rib eye was soft and buttery. The beef and pork combo is a lot of food! It might be wise to split between 3/4 people than just 2 like we did haha. I appreciate that the pork jowl and pork belly were slightly sliced so I had a measure of how big to cut the pieces. Banchan = pickled cucumbers, pickled Daikon, fish cake seaweed soup, kimchi, salted dried shrimp. This place is pretty small compared to other a la carte kbbq (tobang, etc). Full capacity seemed like 40 people, but this place is dope. Would come again. read more
5 years ago
Horrible meat quality. It's either all fat or all meat, but mostly all fat. I've never had beef briskets that came with this much fat in any restaurant or stores. I could not get past 3 pieces because of all the grease. If you enjoy eating straight up fat then this place is great. Otherwise don't bother with this overpriced horrible meat. read more
I love this spot because of the owners of this place. They are the kindest, friendliest people, and they really feel like your mom and pop feeding you a delicious meal. The fish cake soup here is so good. Probably one of the best I've had - it's fishy but a fresh fishy! The banchan is also yummy. And grilling the meat to the side of your table with a bottle of soju is always just such a joy. You grill it yourself here by the way. Ordered pork belly and one of their beef options, and although the quality is subpar, it was comforting and delicious. Honestly you might be able to buy this meat quality from the supermarket, but I love coming here for the vibe. read more
4 years ago
I can't believe I never posted a review for this place! This is seriously such a gem... the meat quality is great and service is so friendly! If you are craving some delicious short ribs or just don't want to wait in line for all you can eat KBBQ, this is the place for you! Their combos have great value but we also like to splurge a little with their short rib plates as well. The side dishes are made with love and every one of them is absolutely delicious. It's definitely more of a mom and pop kinda short but I have never had to wait and they are super attentive here. One of my favorites! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Went to this restaurant with a couple of friends and really enjoyed it so had to come back with the family. The ambiance here offers a charming, homely atmosphere that feels like a traditional Korean mom-and-pop establishment. We selected a family meal for three and it was a feast. The banchan, with their variety and quality, were excellent and complemented the meal beautifully. The meat choices were great, delivering a delightful flavor. Definitely try the pork jowl. All in all, this hidden gem outshines many of the well-known Korean restaurants out there. read more
We had no idea this place existed. First time here and we loved it. The side dishes were really good, they give you a fish cake soup I thought was so unique and not like any other place I've had before. We ordered pork and beef and none of it was marinated but that's when you can tell the quality of the meat. It was tasty. The rice they gave was really unique as well and my fiance whos korean was even impressed how homey this rice was. It's like a Korean version of onigiri with daikon and sesame oil. It was super tasty! We'll definitely be back. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
The food is allways awesome in which they have some unipue orders that other korean restaurants have such askimchi cold noodles(best cold noodles i had till now),qute riceballs(differnt from other riceballs that are just seaweed and rice). They have a very authentic vibe as they are one of the oldest kbbq areas in the area of 25+ years, and whenever i come here, i never get disappointed. read more
2 years ago
This place is a hidden gem! I've been to so many kbbq restaurants before but this place is definitely my #1 go to restaurant in the Bay Area! First, if you are new to this place, the combo set (brisket, pork belly, pork jowl, tenderloin) would be the best choice to try. All meat are soft and tender but my favorite is brisket which is so soft that would make you feel like melting in your mouth! I also ordered kimchi cold noodles and cheese steamed egg which tasted yummy and authentic as well. It might feel little pricey, but definitely worth the money and you won't be disappointed read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
The name literary means " # 1 . True to its name, it's a gut feeling mine .. Korean bbq place. This is it .. ( potato salad The taste I always ate at home ) Let's bring back the appetite that left home. Those who want to know the real meats read more
3/6/20 So, to be clear, the actual meat here isn't great. And to be EXTRA CLEAR, there is really only 1.5 reasons to come here... The #1 reason: You come here to get f'in DRUNK. Korean style. #0.5 reason: You come here to eat really Korean WTF food that's REALLY hard to find (as in I've never seen it myself). So, let's talk about this getting drunk thing. As you all know, Koreans have one of the highest alcohol consumption per capita in the entire world (depending on how you measure, perhaps not so much on pure volume as their beer consumption isn't the highest, but more so on the good stuff). So drinking is on a whole other stratosphere compared to how we do things here. The reason we came here this night?--my Korean friend said he feels more at home here, cause the atmosphere reminds him most of the outdoors KBBQ places in Korea (despite being indoors). The tables are cheap. Ventilation isn't great. The tables themselves are small, so if you got more than 2 people sitting together you will be crammed. But it all is part of the fun... Cause you're not here to eat the KBBQ (I hope you're not, cause you'll be sorely disappointed)... you're here to get CRAP FACED! But we did eat, and here's a SMALL sample of what we had, just the highlights... 1. Premium Hwayo Soju $28 "23deg": So we're drinking right? Well, good thing they have pretty good poison here. The flavor was really rich and delicious. We went to another spot after this, and so since the flavor was fresh in my mind, I can tell you the "premium soju" we had at the other place was like cheap vodka compared to this! 8/10 2. Banchan: And well, though their meat isn't great, their banchan actually is quite decent! For Asians, they love to eat snacks while they drink, so this makes sense. I especially loved the chewier, almost-dried squid in sauce. Good stuff. ALSO, their kimchi is REMARKABLY AMAZING! It was so light and crunchy, so fresh, yet with great flavor. Hard to pull off. 8/10 3. BeonDaegi $14 "silkworm pupae": Yes. Worms. In America. To put in your mouth. So........... I ain't gonna say nothing. Feel free to message me if you want details. But you're just gonna have to try this for yourself. 4. Rice Balls (I couldn't find this on the menu): So DELICIOUS we got 2nds and 3rds!!! Just packed with all kinds of goodies. I think it was one of the best rice balls I've ever had (among Japanese, Chinese, and Korean). 10/10 Notice I make no remark about the meat above. Most of it was okay, some kinda tougher than normal (like the brisket strangely enough.) But anyway... Worms. Good soju. That legit Korean vibe. LET'S DRINK! 4/5 #truekorean #koreancuisine #koreanfood #kbbq #koreanbbq #santaclara ... [spoiler alert]... (......okkkaaaaay... since many people asked... How does it feel to your tongue? Imagine plump flesh underneath a small crustacean's thin shell, somewhere between squishy and a not-quite dry staleness. How does it taste to your tongue? Like dirt. Soggy, slightly gritty fine dirt, after an animal died on top, decomposed, but not completely because the bacteria decided the remaining flesh did not taste good anymore and left it, sauntering away but somewhat dissatisfied.) read more
5 years ago
Order: -Wagyu -Pork Belly -Steak If you never ate wagyu before, here is a warning - you will not like eating regular beef for six months. I did not believe my brother... but after I ate it, beef tasted like cardboard. Crazy huh... Ilbunjee is the bomb :) awesome service and great quality meat. Enjoy it with your family and friends read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
What makes me love this place is the adorable staff. The restaurant is family-owned. They barely speak English, but their hospitality is incredible. The BBQ combo is just about enough for 2 people. But it's just putting meat on the pan so there's not much to say. The side dishes are really delicious! They seasoned it perfectly! For Korean food, side dishes are just as important as the main dish. The rice ball is sooooooo goooooooood. The rice is fresh-cooked, and the seasoning can't be any better. The owner shared with me that they've been in business for 23 years. I love this place, will definitely come back! read more
5 years ago
More info about Ilbunjee
2325 El Camino Real
Ste 103
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Newhall
Directions
(408) 241-9658
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http://ilbunjee-santa-clara.top-cafes.com
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