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    Jin Da Lai

    3.8 (51 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Barbeque, Chinese
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Jin Da Lai Photos

    Business Info

    JIN DA LAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Hot coal briquettes ready for cooking
    Gordon Y.

    Cuisine: 8 Service: 6 Decor: 3 Value: 7 Overall: 7 Where do you go for a beer and some late night Chinese bbq? If you haven't been to restaurant, then you should give this place a try. It may be the description of a dive, but my friends and I always have a good time whenever we eat here. So, what makes this restaurant special? At each table is a small fire pit where they lay down a pile of charcoal briquettes. You can order from over 30 different kinds of food on a stick and grill them to your liking. Then add some of their amazing seasoning and enjoy! The most popular choices are usually lamb, beef, and chicken ... ... you should definitely get them. They all taste great, especially the lamb, which is our group's favorite. However, if you are adventurous, go for some of the more odd items on the menu. By that, I don't mean squid legs or fish tofu, which are both delicious btw. I'm talking about chicken heart, beef tendon, lamb kidney, etc. May sound disgusting to some people, but music to my ears, and others who appreciates the unique textures of the food they sample. There is also a huge selection of cooked dishes that are quite good too. On this night, we ordered something resembling fried corn pancake, which was crispy and somewhat addicting. We were also given a yummy free dish made with vermicelli, shredded tofu and cabbage in a sweet & slightly spicy sauce. However, my favorite dish was the stir fried pork intestines w/ peppers. Absolutely fantastic! Anyway, if you have a late night craving for some Chinese BBQ, and don't mind a basement dive, then stop in for some awesome grub.

    corn pancake
    Amanda W.

    Expected a grilled your own skewer experience. But the initial walk in was awkward, so resulted in being too weirded out to ask about the grill. It was fine, we sat next to a table of six who was having a get together, and they turned to look at us when we walked in real quiet hahaha.... nervously we looked at the menu and decided on what to eat. I think downstairs is probably where you grill your own. Next time !! Gave 3 stars bc the food got cold fast, we tried eating fast but that didnt work. Server was also quite absent and mostly you do your own, that's pretty ok. Ambience is eh. Food tho, the food is good. Corn pancake is sooo crispy wow, impressed. Crispy pork was good too, just thought it would be crispier, an 8/10 tho. The sausage is the chinese childhood snack of WangZhongWang brand, such a throwback.

    Pig intestines skewers and chicken
    Vicky Q.

    If you aren't paying attention you will for sure miss this spot. They have grill your own skewers which are so amazing and the meat is so fresh. Its basically the street cart skewers with the same seasoning. The menu is mostly Chinese and Korean but google translate was really useful. We ordered the beef skewers, pork intestines skewers, chicken, lamb, and sausages. The beef, lamb, and sausages were (5/5) amazing , juicy and PACKED with flavor (MUST ORDER). The chicken was (4/5) a little dry because we weren't sure when they were done cooking and wanted to be safe. The pig intestines (3/5) It was very chewy even after grilling and the seasoning didn't hold too well so it wasn't too flavorful. We also got a freebie cold noodle salad dish which was delicious! Highly recommend getting rice on the side too! They make add pumpkin to it so its slightly sweet which goes so well with the salty and fatty meat. Cannot wait to go back! Must try their guabaoruo, we were too full to try but for sure next time!

    Lamb and beef skewers
    Tony P.

    We ordered the beef and lamb skewers which were seasoned well. The meat had a hint of spice and the meat was tender and cooked. They provided roasted peanuts and kimchi while we waited for our entrée. Although the staff had limited english, they were very polite and we were able to find a table/order food easily. The atmosphere of the other customers with the staff made the place feel very homey.

    Yang H.

    This is the place that's for "our own people" type of restaurant. The menu is in Chinese and Korean. The food is the Yanbian style, which is the Chinese-Korean form one of the 56 ethnicities officially recognized by the Chinese government. This makes the food very special, it is the combination of Korean food and North Chinese food. The must eat food in here is the DIY bbq, just make sure that you don't over cook your food. The beef and lamb are delicious and juicy. I personally feels that they tastes better than the cart in Flushing. The owner and the staffs are very friendly, they like to chat with you and teach you how not to burn your BBQ, but I guess it only happens if you speak Chinese or Korean. Definitely recommend.

    Ally L.

    Ok. A very hidden spot that may seem sketchy and probably is but still yummy and affordable! If you're in the mood for skewers and want to cook them yourself while enjoying some beer in a basement, come here! Communication barrier at its finest with the waiters and waitresses but nothing pointing at pictures and hand gestures can't fix. I opted for the chicken, beef, and lamb. I'd return if I'm in the mood for a sit down skewer spot

    I wish I can give a 0 star review the restaurant is the worst restaurant I've tried in my nyc trip. The staffs were really slow and rude, and argued with the costumer next to me, made really loud noice. The food tasted like a shit and expensive. Would never go there again.

    Lamb skewers

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    7 months ago

    Great vibe, friendly service good food. Brought the whole family and a good time was had by all.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    They dont let you cook your own skewers. The waiter doesn't not come by after serving food. Feels damp and smells like a basement.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing place lamb skewers next level and charcoal bbq. This place is a must go. Authentic experience

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    4 years ago

    Bad service and slow. I've had much better Korean food elsewhere. I came here based on the reviews and was greatly disappointed.

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    2 years ago

    great service great food chicken was the best at least u think that must try if u come near here

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    11 years ago

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    Jin Da Lai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jin Da Lai

    Would I be able to order if I don't speak or read Chinese?

    They are able to understand basic orders like beef, lamb and chicken the basic stuff you know they have on the menu. But as for other foods you'll be taking a chance. So your options are very limited.

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    Ganblaze

    Ganblaze

    4.5
    (105 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Overall 4.5/5: First time going to a dedicated skewer restaurant. It was a cool experience and…read moreenjoyed it, despite the music being too loud for my liking. There was a lot of energy in the place. The wait staff were friendly. Food was great but was pricey per skewer. Food 5/5: Delicious and tasted close to skewer cart (this is a win!). Would have loved to try more things but some skewers were up to $3 each so it got pricey fast. They did have a large selection of skewers to choose from. You get a wrist band with a QR code that tracks what skewers you order. Non-skewer items could be ordered using your phone. Everything was fresh. They had house-made spice and sauce packets at each table. Every table had a cheat sheet showing how long to barbecue each type of skewer. We tried the bbq scallops which were full of garlicky goodness and cold noodles which was a refreshing balance to the heat of the grill. Service 5/5: Friendly waiter. Gave us the run down on how things worked in the restaurant. Periodically checked in on us. No complaints. Ambiance 4/5: Prefacing that the high energy environment was not really my cup of tea but I know others may prefer it. Bright flashing lights and loud music playing over speakers drowned out conversation. That said, the tables were spaced well so every party had their own personal space and restaurant was clean.

    First off, I have to commend the servers. The raffle concept is genuinely fun and a creative idea…read morefor customers, but it honestly seemed like a nightmare for the staff. The machine kept jamming, and with only two servers on the floor from what I saw, they were constantly running back and forth to troubleshoot it on top of everything else they were already managing. As for the food, I felt it was overpriced for what you get. The place was so busy that there really wasn't much guidance or explanation. We had to ask twice just to understand how the raffle system worked, and there was also a small rack grill next to the skewer grill that no one explained, so we were left confused about its purpose. If you're going for the atmosphere, to hang out, chat, have a few beers, and snack, then sure, it works. But "snacks" is really the right word here because that's exactly how the skewers felt. The portions were small and expensive, and I honestly don't think two people could leave full without spending close to $100. I've been to places with larger selections and better value. (We bought a corn dog and pan fried dumplings after we left) That said, the raffle itself was a fun touch. My husband won a small stuffed capybara, which was cute. But when I played, I ended up waiting a long time because people ahead of me had 50 skewers' worth of raffle entries, and with the machine constantly jamming, the process dragged.

    Photos
    Ganblaze
    Ganblaze
    Ganblaze

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    Jiu Hao

    Jiu Hao

    4.1
    (15 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Service was quick, and efficient If you're hungry and just…read morewant to eat good food, no bs, then this is an amazing spot. Great place to come in groups or as a couple, where the focus is the grilling and eating. The staff were very nice where we practically had a dedicated person grilling our food. Be aware they don't know much English, but the menu is in English or Chinese. The must have is the eel. Some of the best grilled eel I've had,

    First time having Northern style Chinese bbq like this and was very impressed! They use real hot…read morecoals, so the meat gets extra flavorful and charred. I love that they have a huge variety of flavors and seasonings: 3 sauces, korean ssamjang peppers and garlic, 3 spice blends for dipping. The servers were all very friendly and gave us some great recommendations on what to order, so we got a combination of beef and pork cuts, as well as veggies and eel. The eel is so fresh and juicy, the waitress told us they get their eels live and process it in their own kitchen. They cook everything right in front of you, unlike kbbq places where you cook meat yourself. I also appreciated the good ventilation, we didn't smell like meat at all after leaving the restaurant! Additional notes: - we thought it was funny that they put sprinkles in the potato salad, it may seem kind of odd but definitely very Chinese (compliment btw) - it ended up being almost $50 pp for 4 people - we got lucky and didn't have to wait, but I hear there's usually a line, so definitely call ahead to suss out the wait

    Photos
    Outside
    Outside
    Live Eel - slightly chewy unfortunately
    Live Eel - slightly chewy unfortunately
    Shrimp & Quail Egg

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    Shrimp & Quail Egg
    Friendship Bbq

    Friendship Bbq

    3.9
    (400 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I came here for dinner recently and had a great time with friends! We ordered plenty of drinks to…read moreenjoy with our food and the service was quick. Super great vibe for hanging out with friends! We got a variety of the skewers here and I thought that all of the seasoning was great and that the portions were good; the pieces were big so the meat wasn't dry at all. I appreciated how you could customize your spice level for each and even whether you wanted it grilled or fried (for some). We also got a variety of their dishes and I enjoyed each. Amazing food to enjoy with drinks haha.

    Ordered pick up from this place the other day due to an ice rice cravings (my go to place is closed…read moreon Thursdays). So, my boyfriend and I decided to check out the ice rice from this place as well as a couple of other items. Firstly, I got deep fried rice cake skewers. They were just okay because I was expecting some kind of crunch after seeing deep fried. However, there was no crunch at all and it was a little lacking in flavor. I did enjoy it though because it still had a very chewy texture which was what I was looking for. The chicken skewers I liked a lot better. The chicken was tender and although also more lightly seasoned than places, I really enjoyed it! My boyfriend wanted to try the Udon Noodles from the menu as well which I was pleasantly surprised with. The udon noodles were perfectly bouncy and did not feel too oily. And for the star of the show, we got the Milk Tea Chilled Ice. It came with a lot of toppings on the rice varying from taro mochi to herbal jelly and watermelons which were all delicious. The milk tea base is a light Earl Grey Milk Tea and being someone who struggles with black tea sometimes, this black tea was really good! It was nicely floral from the earl grey but not bitter at all! I will definitely be back again to try out a couple more items since they do close pretty late as well. They have a huge fine in area so I will probably try dining in.

    Photos
    Friendship Bbq
    Friendship Bbq
    Friendship Bbq

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    Golden Pig

    Golden Pig

    4.8
    (30 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Food first, thoughts after... Overall this was a good choice…read morefor dinner. The service was amazing. They were very tentative to our need. Banchan was delicious and the meat was fresh. The Ajumma who cooked all our things was so friendly and funny. She also noticed I kept eating a particular banchan and got more for me without asking. Interior was spacious and lots of seating.

    Relatively new KBBQ replacing Jeong Yook, but the service here is UNMATCHED. The host & staff were…read moreall incredibly kind and attentive, and service was really well paced unlike most other KBBQ spots. We never felt rushed even though they were busy. It was a bit drafty at the table closest to the doors, but the host was super accommodating and willing to switch our table. He also provided us with some hot tea while we waited - so considerate! We decided on the Mixed Combo B for 2, which comes with pork belly, pork shoulder, brisket, and marinated short ribs. All of the meats are really good. I'm not the biggest fan of pork shoulder, but this was good here! Kimchi stew always hits different at BBQ spots, and Golden Pig's is delicious. We ordered an extra to go! They don't have a takeout menu yet, but the staff was kind enough to pack us some kimchi and rice anyway. Banchan here is simple but done really well. All orders are put in on the tablet at each table. While the layout of the restaurant is still very much similar to Jeong Yook and Baekjeong previously, it's definitely an upgrade. Ventilatation is pretty good but be prepared to still smell a bit after. Prices are super reasonable. Parking is doable but not always the easiest. Looking forward to coming back soon!

    Photos
    Golden Pig
    Wish they named it "Moira Rose Tteokbokki." :) RIP Catherine O'Hara.
    Wish they named it "Moira Rose Tteokbokki." :) RIP Catherine O'Hara.
    Golden Pig

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    Chill Tavern BBQ

    Chill Tavern BBQ

    5.0
    (1 review)
    0.1 mi

    For Chinese BBQ skewers they offer a very nice selection of perfectly cooked and seasoned skewers…read more Instead of cart standing cart style the inside is like a chill spot with a table for all your skewers. I called and spoke with owner. BEEF and LAMB is also HALAL!

    From the owner: Welcome to Chill Tavern BBQ Original Barbecue, where traditional Chinese barbecue meets the bold…read moreand spicy essence of Sichuan cuisine. Our restaurant is dedicated to bringing you an unforgettable dining experience filled with rich aromas, authentic flavors, and the warmth of handcrafted dishes. Signature Barbecue we use only fresh ingredients and our own secret marinades to create mouthwatering skewers grilled over real charcoal. Each bite delivers the perfect balance of smoky flavor and tender texture — from juicy lamb skewers and spicy chicken wings to perfectly seasoned vegetables. Our barbecue reflects the original taste of the street-style grilling culture, with an emphasis on freshness, aroma, and authentic craftsmanship. Authentic Sichuan Dishes Our menu celebrates the vibrant and fiery spirit of Sichuan cuisine. With signature dishes like Mapo Tofu, Spicy Boiled Fish, and Kung Pao Chicken, we bring out the deep flavors of Sichuan peppercorns and chili. Every dish is crafted to highlight the balance of spice, aroma, and numbing sensation that defines this beloved regional cuisine. Traditional Clay Pot Dishes For those seeking comfort and warmth, our clay pot dishes offer a rich, home-style experience. Slow-cooked to perfection, the clay pots lock in flavor and tenderness — whether it’s braised beef with potatoes, seafood tofu clay pot, or mushroom chicken stew. Each pot delivers deep, satisfying flavor in every spoonful.

    IYKYK

    IYKYK

    4.9
    (152 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    let's start with the bartender kurt,…read more the drinks were amazing so was the service. the fish tacos, the crispy rice, truffle fries and the oysters were so good. would i come again ? for sure. big thanks to kurt and IYKYK for the hospitality.

    It is pretty hard to find as I didnt see the name of the restaurant outside. I came by myself…read more Tonight was game 4, NY knicks swept the Cavs with a blowout. I watch the end of the game in here. Inside looks nice, booth is comfortable. Lively decoration with a spinning floating lightbulb in each table. The air is a bit stuffy though. I only ordered a burger as I heard from other reviewers that it is the best burger. It is quite tasty. Burger is on the smaller side, size of my palm. For $22, it also came with French fries. It is a bit more to the expensive side if I compare to what I will pay for a double burger and fries at Burger joint at 7th street burger. I guess i paid for the atmosphere. Service is ok. The waitress is very quiet. I dont think she spoke more than 20 words to me. Mostly nodding at my request. She did refill my water without me asking. However, she didnt bring me utensils. I had to use the toothpick that held the burger together to eat the leftover crumbs. My hands is a bit sticky and smell like barbecue sauce as a result of it. Thats why I deduct a star

    Photos
    Step inside ...
    Step inside ...
    IYKYK Double Smash Burger
dry-aged ground beef from the meat hook, bkln ny, american cheese, bbq onions w/ side of fries
    IYKYK Double Smash Burger dry-aged ground beef from the meat hook, bkln ny, american cheese, bbq onions w/ side of fries
    (left) truffle salt fries, (right) sweet potato fries

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    (left) truffle salt fries, (right) sweet potato fries

    Jin Da Lai - korean - Updated June 2026

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