6/30/24 The story is a corner location next to a big bar. We accidentally went to the wrong door LoL It's right next to a train station so parking can be challenging. It's a small space with just a few tables. Since we didn't live in the area we opted to sit and eat. While we waited several people came into get takeout or pickup. There was just the chef and the server. Both were nice and helpful. We ordered the Korean BBQ Ribs and the Southern Ribs. Hubby liked the Korean and I preferred the Southern. But both were good, I just found the Southern saucier and more tender. The NYC XXX Bacon was amazing!!! Love love love so juicy and tender with a touch of spicy. Korean Slaw was another fav that we ordered an extra to take home. Collard Greens were not bad, a little spicy. Cornbread was way too dry... hubby was fine with it. We enjoyed our meal very much. Will come back to try other items. read more

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I came here for the chonut, and to my shock, they had it off the menu even though it was on the online menu. They are trying to figure out a new donut supplier, so it'll be off for a while. However, the owner was heading out for an errand, and offered to buy doughnuts ad-hoc if I still wanted the chonut and I took him up on it! What service. Chonut: he got a Paris Baguette maple donut, which was a good level of sweetness. It wasn't warmed up at all and the bottom donut got really soggy, so I wonder how it would compare to their normal donut. I loved the combination of sweetness and savory - I'd get this again to see what a full potential donut sandwich could look like. Cholander Fries: we ordered this while waiting, and a solid appetizer with lots of flavors. We got the BBQ Sampler box, and they allowed us to replace the 2 ribs with pork belly instead. The pork belly was the standout - it's both very crispy and fatty. They also gave us a gochujang glaze sauce because they said it paired well with the pork belly, and it did! The brisket was good too and certainly benefited from the sauces available, as well as the pork shoulder. I thought the Mac and cheese was standard but the kimchi slaw wasn't refreshing although interesting. read more

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For Super Bowl my friends and I decided instead of the usual potluck to get it catered from here. There were eight of us, some who tend to eat for two or three, so we decided to go with the large package that included: 2 pounds pork shoulder 2 pounds brisket Two racks of championship ribs 2 quarts of chili 2 quarts of slaw Cornbread We also decided to do half a tray of naked wings for appetizers. We had more than enough food and everyone went wild for it. The food tasted the same as it did on a regular Tuesday. So much time and attention is taken with his meals and it shows! read more

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Decent sandwiches. I felt like the portion of meat should be better considering the flavor was pretty mid. But the employees seemed very capable and kept a very clean restaurant. read more

I have been meaning to check this place out and I finally got to! A great Korean food spot that is closer to me and has amazing quality on the meats. There is plenty of portion size that will keep you full. I will be back to try the other,different options read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Austin Rice Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

I've been once when it was in Westwood and it's still a great spot after moving to Ridgewood. Brussels sprouts are great, nice to have some veggies after having so much meet. Brisket is juicy and fatty - did not have option of lean or fatty. Bacon aka pork belly was really good - my husband expected a thick cut bacon not giant pork belly slices. Ribs are tasty but a little small. Banana pudding was very good! Nila wafer still super crunchy, nice fresh slices of banana. It was difficult getting in bc there's 2 steps - no handicap/stroller access. We were able to pick up the stroller and the employee behind the counter helped us with the door when he saw us. Small spot - seating for 8-10 ppl Convenient parking lot for train station right in front, but you pay M-Sat. read more

Wow, what a great combo of flavors! Combining delicious traditional BBQ with kimchi really hits the spot. It's hard enough finding solid BBQ, but Smoke has nailed that along with creating tasty combinations. On this trip we tried their Texas BCS bowl. One with pulled pork and the other with brisket. The bowls contained Fatcho sauce, chili/cheese, kimchi and slaw over rice. The combination was amazing! Portion sizes were large and flavors bold.... we were impressed. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Loved the new spot for the Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack (previously Smoked). Mainly for takeout since it has a very small seating area, but we were able to snag a table. Food quality is consistent with the other location with some old favorites and new menu options I needed to try. I wanted half the menu, so it was a hard choice for me. Ended up getting the Cho burger, Manila chicharron, curry poutine, and the Chosenthal sandwich. The Cho burger was smashed with crispy edges all the way through. The proportions of toppings to meat to bread (potato bun) were just perfect - a solid burger I would definitely come back for. The crunch on the big hunks of Manila chicharron was ridiculous. The Chosenthal is a clever name for their version of a pastrami sandwich with a healthy helping of mustard on rye bread. The meats were all super tender and well seasoned. As for the curry poutine, it satisfied both my curry and poutine cravings. Tried a bite of the NYC XXX sandwich - classic Kimchi Smoke - it has kimchi slaw to cut the fat of the pork belly. Robert Cho was working that day and gave us a container of a new passionfruit slaw he was trying out which was really refreshing and light - I'm a huge passionfruit fan and I hope it gets added to the menu! Wishing him the best at this prime Ridgewood location! read more

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I love their ribs!!!!! This is my go to ribs place. I cannot find any other ribs in the area that are this good.

Ordered take out and it really hit the spot!! I tried the Korean bbq ribs, buttermilk corn bread, and the pulled pork sammie. I also ordered the kimchi to try but they forgot it in my order :( My favorite were the Korean bbq ribs!! There's a slight heat, little bit sweet, the right amount of tenderness. The pulled pork sammie would've been perfect if they drizzled a little bit of sauce on them. I ate the corn bread as dessert and it really rounded off the meal! Unfortunately forgot to take photos bc I was too excited but would definitely order from here again to try their other items! read more

It is mostly a takeout place. I don't think you would want to sit and eat here. The food was okay but not great. read more

I had this bookmarked for a while at a recommendation of a friend. I finally had a chance to stop by with a friend. I thought it was a sit down restaurant, but it's more of a takeout place with 3 small tables. Also couldn't help noticing how cluttered the restaurant looked (boxes of soda and water stacked up and other supplies. We had empanadas, chicken wings, and a BBQ platter (brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and a side of corn bread and kimchi). The empanadas were filled with smoked pastrami, these were tasty. These were deep fried. The chicken wings weren't what I expected, they were dry and covered with a lot of sauce. I don't like wasting food, but I ended up throwing 2 out, that's how bad they were. The BBQ plate was not great either, the ribs were dry, flavor was okay. The pork was also on the dry side. The brisket was decent, nice smoky flavor. It's more fatty, so probably the reason it wasn't as dry. Overall, it was underwhelming. Maybe the sandwiches are better. read more

I have been wanting to eat here for quite some time and this Friday night proved my to be the day! It's s small space located in the corner of a tight shopping mall. There is lots of parking around the store fronts if not there is s municipal log in front. The actual location is small in size s few tables to sit at. What they lack in size they made up for in huge flavor! The nachos with the brisket were great! Chips were Crispy, brisket tender and full of flavor. I also ordered the Pork belly on the donut sandwich. It was a random buy but I enjoyed it. The bottom donut got super soggy and by the end I just separated the parts. The pork belly is a problem! It was crunchy and the sauce!!! Not pictured is the BBQ sampler that was devoured before a picture was confided. Ribs are official, pulled pork and brisket are must buy. Nothing disappointed especially the ribs. They were fall of the bone not over cooked or under, just hit that nice level of tender, yet juicy. Im sure I haven't nuanced anything really beyond saying it's not hype they food is delicious combination off BBQ and Asian flavor, service is friendly and it was worth the drive. 5/5 stars read more

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Kimchi Smoke Barbecue is a proper Southern-style BBQ, offering proper sliced brisket, moist and juicy and full of flavor (and fat, where the flavor comes from). Ever since the Texas Smokehouse BBQ in Jefferson closed, we have been without a good sliced brisket BBQ place, but this place will be our new go-to. The Korean-influenced slaw is delicious with flavors of sesame, and the kimchi is pickled nicely and flavorful, and the gochujang glaze represents Korean cuisine nicely. Glad we decided to give them a try: well worth the trip. read more

Yum! I had the Pulled Pork Sammie. It's beautifully smoked pork shoulder with slaw on a soft roll. The sandwich is finished with "Fatcho BBQ Sauce". Honestly, the BBQ sauce is incredible, but there was not enough of it. I asked for a side of the sauce (sadly, after eating the sandwich) and confirmed it's amazingly smokey, sweet, and tangy. Next time, I'll order a side of the sauce with my meal. The restaurant is just hole-in-the-wall enough to present as a legit BBQ joint, yet clean and inviting enough that I wanted to dine in. The service was incredibly fast and polite. I will be back! read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Pulled Pork Sammie - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

What a great place! I'm bummed we just found a gem and it's closing soon (Westwood location). The pork belly is particularly incredible -- crisp, tender and savoury. The sides I loved were the Mac and cheese and Korean slaw. Banana pud for dessert ended the meal on a nostalgic and cheeky note. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Pork belly - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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Unfortunately, I didn't have a great second experience. Working at a doctor's office, we understand our orders are big and can be complicated and that's why we give the courtesy to call as soon as the restaurant opens to provide them with our order so they have ample time to prepare. One of my girls from the office called at a little before 11am to place an order (surprised someone pick up before 11am). 2:15pm comes around and we find that the restaurant still has our order, the driver was given the wrong location for pick up AND delivery, so by the time our food got to us, the food is cold, the containers that the food comes in, is soggy at the bottom and the moisture of the food has seeped through, two orders were missing, and when we called the restaurant, we were put on hold and transferred to the delivery service they use. The delivery service was the one to call us back letting us know the restaurant gave us a refund- which is insane...that no one from the restaurant reached out until I posted an IG story about the service..and that was only through IG DM. Very unfortunate and disappointing since the food is SO good..if you're getting food delivered, I would make sure that you're either really close to the restaurant or your address is easy to find- I'd would recommend picking up your own food for freshness... read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Austin Brisket BCS Rice Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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A lot of food! I think the loaded fries were my favorite. It felt like comfort food, I was stuffed afterwards. This obviously doesn't look and feel like a traditional BBQ spot but I came for the fusion and the meat sweats. The place was empty, its not super inviting--it still had the Covid barricade table when I visited...I think I'd rather take the food to go and eat it at home. I didn't see the the buns on the menu but the host/server/cashier/owner? was accommodating. Overall not a bad experience. Thumbs up. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Loaded fries, buns, brisket, pulled pork, cornbread, slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Make the trip, you will not be disappointed. And don't forget to save room for some banana\nilla wafer pudding. A classic BBQ joint staple, and done well here too. It was almost 5 years ago exactly that I gave it 3 Stars (I'd say a 4.5 now) and a lot has changed since then. First, nationally recognized and award winning BBQ chef Robert Cho has moved to a larger location in Westwood ( with plenty of parking). The larger kitchen means the menu has grown a lot. I consider myself more of a BBQ purist. I try not to use BBQ sauce too much since it's really about the dry seasoning and the smoke, and I try not to eat bread with my BBQ since it is too filling. So you really won't see my reviews of BBQ sandwiches. I also don't try smoked chicken anymore as I find it is usually too dry for me ( even the wings) Although I have tried a "Chonut" , ( BBQ on a doughnut is sacrilege to me) but hey, people love it so why not I guess. However Robert makes some killer brisket. Some of the best I've ever had, and I have had it all over the South in some very famous places. The huge beef rib ( when on the menu) is another home-run. His Korean BBQ wings are huge, perfectly cooked and glazed He even makes a simple hot dog or taco a new ( delicious) experience. BBQ Fries (Pork and Cheese, Scallions) are a thumbs up although I was not a fan of his Cholander Fries (Pork, Kimchi, Cheese, Scallions) He also makes some great Empanadas (of the Day) and "me loves empanadas" after trying many versions and styles, particularly in the Union City \ North Bergen area over the years. Make the trip, you will not be disappointed. And don't forget to save room for some banana\nilla wafer pudding. A classi BBQ joint staple, and done well here too. read more

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This was the best food combinations I've had by far. The poutine was absolutely amazing. The brisket was so tender. The empanadas were average, wouldn't get those again. The staff was amazing, they were kind and informative of the items. I like the esthetic and location of the place. I love how it's small and cozy, behind the train station. Some make thinks it's loud but it's just gives it a nice atmosphere. read more

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Bottom line: Texas BBQ in NJ. Can't go wrong. Love: - Brisket is awesome. Has a great crust and a tender cut. Portions are great for the price. Brisket Box is highly recommended! - I don't usually eat cornbread but this cornbread is delicious Like: - Pork shoulder is tender but definitely recommend the brisket read more

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Mouth watering!! I couldn't get enough! I purposefully drove to this area to try this place specifically. I never had anything like this before, Korean and southern Texas BBQ mixed together.. what a fascinating combo. I highly recommend the two entrees I ordered. I got the Austin Cho burger. Huge bite sides of brisket - check. Hot kimchi - check. Saucy goodness - check. We also ordered a side of cholander fries. The crispy fries were hidden underneath the melting pot that is cheese kimchi and another huge helping of meaty goodness. Eyes were rolling the entire time. 5/5 I must come back for more!! I wanted to try that chonut next. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Austin Cho 1.0 (Best Seller) - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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We were heading to the Five Dimes Brewery, and my boyfriend wanted to pick up some food to take with us. We came across Kimchi Smoke Barbecue, which seemed like the ideal meal provider with what was supposed to be good food in a quick-serve atmosphere. He ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich, which he enjoyed, while I opted for the side of Brussels Sprouts with Gochujang Sauce. The Korean-style veggies came in a huge portion; they were sweet, spicy, and flavorful. Based on my limited experience with Kimchi Smoke, I was surprisingly impressed. read more

Never had korean/american bbq fusion until this place. So many bbq options (on its own, in a bowl, on a sandwich). Featured for their chonut (bbq meat on a glazed donut?!) but it felt too heavy for me to try that day. Ordered NYC-XXX bacon (bbq pork belly) and brisket. Portions are pretty generous for the price. Meat is cooked well and super flavorful.The pork belly is on the fattier side. Texas bbq is not my go-to but I love korean bbq and this place blends the two together very well and is a super unique spot in the area. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Be warned, you must place your order and pay online prior to getting here. They prefer for their customers to just pick up their food and limit their interaction. They have a parking lot that is metered until 6PM and cost a quarter an hour prior to that. They have limited outdoor seating available, if you want to eat there. The staff there was friendly and they have a wide range of menu items. I ordered the NYC XXX Bacon on Ramen Buns, with fries and Korean BBQ Wings. The burger was unique and delicious. I highly recommend it. The bun was a ramen Patty.....mmmmmm and the pork belly was so flavorful. I also got a small Cajun fry and it was huge. It was more than enough for me. They were equally tasty. I bought the wings to eat later. I heard so much about them; i had to get them. They did not disappoint. Flavorful, flavorful, flavorful. This place has some very good Korean Q. They seem to be very active on social media, so they can keep their customers informed of restaurant happenings, specials and any other information. All in all I throughly enjoyed my meal and look forward to returning there soon. read more

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I visited this establishment at an NYC Blues & BBQ festival and it was . Although the line moved quickly, my pull pork sandwich was a bit of a waste. I had equal amounts of FAT and pork & so did my friend. The sauce was on the fat and not the meat so the meat lacked flavor. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Pulled pork sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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Well worth the drive to New Jersey. Korean BBQ meet Texas BBQ with mouth watering meals. This is definitely a treat yourself restaurant, and not something to eat regularly lol. Not one dish disappointed. I selected a few items off the menu brisket bao buns, pulled pork Mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwich, and the bowl that came with 2 sides and 3 meats which is good for sampling. End of with the banana pudding and tell ur belly that you won't eat with such gluttony for a while. There is limited seating inside for maybe 20 or 30 people so be mindful if you are dining in. read more

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4+. Been here 15 times now. This place is really good. Just dropped $130 for family take out and it's all good. Korean ribs, brisket and pork belly and some pork shoulder to round out. Mac/cheese slaw, cornbread and kimchi. I'll be back soon. Great food. Brisket was the highlight for me - really good. read more

I have ordered takeout a couple times from Kimchi Smoke and the food is always stellar. Most recently I went for a humble chicken sandwich. Fried chicken. With Fire Sauce. It never touched the plate again after I picked it up. Gone. The sandwich had a fierce spiciness that did not overshadow the flavor. Do not go for the fire sauce unless you like intense heat. If you do, it is well worth it. Alternatively you can order a plain version. If you're into that. I would also recommend the bowls. The bulgolgi bowl in particular is a hefty meal that satisfies. They run about $20 a pop but you get a huge serving. One of these days I need to dine in person. It will happen sooner rather than later! read more

Recently moved to NJ and luckily came upon this amazing place! Early dinner on a Saturday evening and the place was fully seated inside and out. The chef himself sat us, took orders, prepared and delivered the food. Started with the Korean BBQ cauliflower- delicately fried, perfectly sauced and spicy. Brisket was Smokey, tender, and generously portioned - perfect when dipped with house BBQ sauce. Coleslaw was crispy and well seasoned. Brisket rice bowl was tasty. Chonut was next level indulgent and delish! We loved it so much we bought the BBQ sauce and T-shirts! read more

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Great food. Creative.. delicious.. Brisket smoked to perfection.. Wishing Success in the new digs in Ridgewood read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Brisket in its glory - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Best pork shoulder in nj. Had the rice bowl with pork. Everything complimented each other. Fries were nice too. The customer service was very friendly too read more

I love BBQ and I really enjoy Korean food. Have been fortunate enough to have great meals of both types (BBQ in Austin/ Dallas & Korean in Socal). To me, the food here was pretty good. Not amazing enough to make me drive an hour to get here, but I wouldn't be opposed to visit if I were in the area. We ordered a few things: -Austin Cho -Korean ribs -Pork belly -fries Was not a fan of the Korean ribs. I expected at least some smoky taste due to the name of the restaurant, but there was no smoke taste AT ALL. In fact, I don't even know whether or not they had been smoked. Also personal taste, but I didn't really like the flavor versus pork dishes at traditional korean bbq. The pork belly was great... cooked well and tasty. Fries were way too salty. Star was Austin Cho. Many different flavors which went well together. I would recommend that people stick to the sandwiches rather than the BBQ items (go to a legit BBQ place for BBQ imo). Parking is pretty annoying... its meter parking even on the parking lot!! And it doesn't take credit card. I had to go to Starbucks to get some coins. read more

Kimchi Smoke BBQ Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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This place may be small but the flavors and quality are out of this world! Chef Rob and his team are putting out dynamite dishes packed with flavor and unusual combinations. Everything was topnotch and would 10000% order again we got the empanadas, Korean bbq ribs, pastrami, blue cheese burger, and the hotdogs. Everything was chef's kiss delicious. So good we even took a bottle of sauce home with us. Can't wait to visit again! read more

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Very cute and cozy location. Food was soulful and delish, great fusion of Korean and southern comfort flavors. Nice selection of sodas to complement meal. read more

it's takeout only their brisket is amazing one of the best around I wish they had a restaurant where I could go eat and have a beer

Went there on a cold wintry Saturday morning right as it opened. I never like to go to a restaurant right when it opens. But the wife was hungry and we had a matinee to catch. Having said that, our food was pretty good. We both ordered the brisket tacos and they were tender and flavorful. The sauce and toppings blended wonderfully with the meat. The pastrami empanada was just ok. We need to go back and try the other items. Just the BBQ meat without anything on it. read more

This place is amazing would totally recommend it to anybody who's a fan of the meats, a great fusion of Korean and Texan-styled meats. Ate here a few times so there's plenty of different things to eat depending on the person. I would definitely recommend if you're going for the first time to try any of their brisket items, either the Brisket Box or the Austin Brisket Bowl. Their Brisket is amazing, I don't eat red meats too often but this was definitely worth having. A great find that some might judge eating at a BBQ fusion joint known for their brisket/pork was the Dirty Bird. It's a fried chicken breast cutlet on a bun, really good. Wasn't expecting such a good chicken sandwich here but I would totally suggest this too if you wanted a chicken item! P.S. Their Korean Cole Slaw was really good and went well with the food, would recommend it to pair with your food. read more

The owner of kimchi smoke is so nice! My husband was craving some kimchi smoke for super bowl and I kept procrastinating and missed the deadline to put it my order. Well, I emailed the owner and he made it happen for us! The food was delicious. The wagyu beef brisket IS WORTH IT. I love their Korean cole slaw. I will say, I did not enjoy their pork belly as much because it was really greasy. I wish I lived closer, i would absolutely have it more often! read more

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This place is awesome. I finally got to pay a visit after first learning about this place from its Bergenfield days, and I enjoyed the experience. Place was airy and trendy, offers free drinking water and comfortable lounge-style seating along with traditional table seating. I ordered Austin Cho 1.0 after some deliberation and I was slightly underwhelmed. It was tasty, but with the sourness of kimchi and other pickle-y things in there it proved to be a "tastebud overkill", which I was already worried about. It was also greasy. I'm sure some would disagree but I'd prefer slightly less kimchi to find a better balance between sour & savory. If I was with a friend, a side of fries may have helped temper down the sour spikes perhaps. It was a satisfying meal, but a bit too overpowering for my palate. I would still urge every adventurous diner to go try it out themselves because they do have good stuff going on here. Better luck next time. read more

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