A coworker recently told me about his visit to Kol; I was intrigued by its location and emphasis on charcoal grills, so I knew I'd have to pay a visit! Tucked just off Post Oak at the southwest corner of 610, it stands pretty far from similar establishments in Chinatown and Spring Branch. We walked in on a Friday night and fortunately didn't have to wait at all even though the place was quite busy. The server graciously took her time to answer our questions about the menu - the main draw is the meat, of course, which you can order in combination or à la carte. The small combos are sized for 2-3 people whereas the large ones feed 4-6. We ended up choosing the small pork special combo (including shaved pork belly, marinated pork ribs, pork jowl, and a spicy mixed tofu soup) and added on a seafood pancake and a bowl of cold, refreshing naeng myeon. A flood of banchan plates arrived shortly at our table - our server proactively doubled up on all the sides so that we could get to eating! We particularly enjoyed the marinated fish cakes and quail eggs, both delicious over rice. At the same time, the hot charcoal was placed into our grill and our server began cooking our meats for us. I really appreciated that she asked for our preferences on the cook of the meat since we didn't have to do it by ourselves. We then proceeded to enjoy the expertly fried seafood pancake while our pork finished cooking - once plated and divided, the barbecue meat was well received for its high baseline quality and its subtle smoky char. We finished off our meal with our cold, chewy noodles and a heaping cup of self-serve soft serve (truly the icing on the cake). I know that KBBQ restaurants are trending toward AYCE menus these days, but there's something to be said about quality over quantity when executed at a place like Kol. Is stuffing your face with freezer-burned pork belly really worth it when you can have an excellent, satisfying meal where you don't need to do the cooking yourself? Kol has reminded me that this is how all KBBQ used to be, and that if it ain't broke...well, you know. I'm excited to stop by again soon to try the raw marinated crab and the lunch specials - hope to see y'all here soon! read more

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Super friendly service. Cozy & comfortable dining area. More than tasty food, this place is an eating experience. Tried two appetizers: Seafood pancake & Fried Beef Dumplings. Both were good. The dumplings were fantastic. Then got a few meats. You select the meat and then they cook each one table side. Comes with variety of tasty sides. We enjoyed the meal, the flavors, the wonderful service, and the opportunity to have a fun experience with good friends. read more

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We came here to watch the Korea vs. Mexico match and had a really good time overall. The restaurant has a modern atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. We ordered a variety of meats and appetizers. Most of the food was good, but a couple of the meats were a little tough and underseasoned, and even the dipping sauces didn't add much flavor. It wasn't bad by any means, just not as memorable as some other Korean BBQ spots I've been to. They have a full bar with lots of beer options on tap. The drinks were delicious. One thing I was excited to try was the raw marinated crab. The flavor was delicious, but I was a little disappointed because most of the pieces we received didn't have much meat in them. I found myself digging through the shells for very little payoff. My favorite part of the meal was actually the soft serve ice cream at the end. It was a nice treat after all the barbecue. Overall, I'd still come back to try more of the menu, especially since it's a newer restaurant. I think it has a lot of potential, but there are a few dishes that could use a little improvement. read more

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Glad to have something in the Meyerland area! Nice and clean, good selection of meats, they cook for you, full bar (limited variety), not a lot of banchan but the ones they had were good. Soft serve was just the right creaminess and a great ending. Some of our faves: Spicy marinated pork belly Seafood pancake Raw marinated crab Bibim naeng myeon read more

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I was excited to see a Korean bbq spot open up so close to home. It's a smaller place. Each table has a vent which was nice so we won't leave smelling like bbq. We started off with the cheese corn and seafood pancake. I'd give it a 4/5. The cheese corn was ok. I prefer more of a cheese pull vs this one being more watery underneath the char. The seafood pancake was on the saltier side. It came with a sweeter chili dipping sauce but the saltiness was a little overwhelming A spicy mixed tofu soup came with the meat combo. This was also on the saltier side. Disappointing because this is one of my favorite soups. For our main, we ended up getting the Special Mix Combo (boneless marinated short ribs, pork belly ribs, beef tongue) The meats were delicious and marinated well. Our server was great! He cooked the meats for us and made sure to refill our banchan. I loved the banchan! Not sure if they make their own kimchi but that was probably my favorite. I also gravitated towards the green onion salad and pickled radish. Those gave a nice, fresh balance to the savoriness of the meats. If you're craving Korean bbq, I would recommend the meat combos here. read more

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This was not eating this was a whole experience All the sides are delightful- a bit spicy so be prepared. The open grill set up is really cool - the fan is helpful and makes a humming sound but nice not to be smoky when you leave. My 12 year old got the ribeye$38 ouch but delicious and cooked perfectly. He had so much fun with cooking it and our server answered all his questions. My fave was the gooey corn - I'm Mexican I can't help ! Then we ate our weight in soft serve. Heaven! read more

Kol Korean Bbq - They heat up your personal grill right outside. - Korean Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's not AYCE but they do have lunch specials and decent pricing. The waiter even cooks for you. The restaurant seems small but it does have a bar side of it. You don't get the fancy kbbq vibes here though more like a casual setting. They have a lot of the side dishes that I enjoyed and more of the spicy ones. I tried the lunch special combo 3 with bulgogi and I tried both of the cold noodles. There was a spicy one and a buckwheat one. The spicy one was my favorite out of the two. Both of them had eggs in it and some beef. The bulgogi was decent. Didn't stand out or anything I'd be interested in trying some of the other meats. read more

Kol Korean Bbq - Korean Near Me - Houston, Texas

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When I first started seeing signs for Kol pop up, I thought it was such a whimsical spin on "coal." I was mystified that a Korean barbecue place would pop up here, but at the same time cautiously optimistic. I finally had the opportunity to stop in this past Friday, and it definitely exceeded expectations. The inside was nice and spacious with bar service, and each table had its own charcoal grill. The vent system is the mobile kind that moves up and down, and it kept the smoke to a minimum. Servers will usually help cook the barbecue for you table side, though you can opt to cook for yourself. Banchan: These were legit. Delicious kimchi, perfectly seasoned and sliced green onion salad, nicely pickled garlic leaves. Corn cheese: I liked the sweet corn, but found the cheese slightly gloopy and would have preferred a softer cheese that stayed melty longer. S Beef Combo: We opted for the S beef combo, which came with brisket, boneless short ribs, and marinated rib fingers. This was surprisingly a lot of food, so much so that we couldn't finish everything and had to take some home. The brisket was thickly sliced and nicely fatty. The boneless short rib was tender and delicious. My favorite was the marinated rib fingers, which weren't too sweet (my usual gripe with Korean marinades). Our server helped cook all the meats and did a really good job, but there were other tables that opted to grill their own meat. Veggies: A small variety plate of veggies for grilling included zucchini, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms. I thought this was reasonably priced and was a good portion for two, but larger parties may need to order multiple. Spicy mixed tofu stew: A small size came with the combination, and it had really nice flavor. The beef in this stew was slightly chewy, but the tofu was soft and fragrant and the kimchi flavor really came through. I'd order this again on its own. Complimentary soft serve: This was a nice touch to the end of the meal. A soft serve machine by the door offers vanilla, chocolate, and swirl options. Out of the complimentary ice creams I've tried, this was one of the better ones. I'm so excited to not have to constantly drive to Chinatown and beyond for good Korean food! I'll definitely be back. read more

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The lunch specials were great . A lot of food and appetizers . We got the combo 3 , which had option to pick rice or noodles and the choice of two meats . read more

It's been some time since I've done a review and this is one I wanted write up for sometime. Every single time I am on my way to work I noticed a new restaurant was in the works and finally it is here. Kol Korean BBQ has caught my attention ever since taking over what used to be Fuzzy's Tacos in the area and I had to try it. Walking in over the weekend, I noticed it was fairly busy and had to wait a bit. But first thing was to look through the offerings of the menu and this is an al a carte/combo set selections. We ended up ordering the large beef special combo and all combos come with a stew to match the portion. The meats are a mix of: brisket, boneless short rib, ribeye, and garlic-marinated rib finger. Additionally we ordered a corn cheese as another dish and just what I expected with the just the right amount of cheese on top of buttery corn. One thing to note is the meat quality is definitely worth it. The sides dishes are great as well and just the right size for all of us to try it. The staff are very helpful and welcoming. At first our server was cooking for us but we ended up taking over after that since we all are familiar with Korean bbq. Overall I find Kol Korean Bbq a nice visit. I am used to the style of ayce (all you can eat) when we go out but this a nice traditional way of having it. Nothing went to the waste, the feel of the restaurant makes it local for people to try opposed to places where it is way to bright/neon lights and all, and the grill is a charcoal grill which is direct fire to meat which means faster cooking times. My note to mention is: you are paying for the quality and that should already be a given for the price offered. We had about 3 grill changes and that grill gets hot super quick so if you are not careful or used to grilling, you can have the staff assist if you are not comfortable. But all in all, a pleasant experience and nice change from being away from the Chinatown area for KBBQ and will consider more visits for a change of scenery. The owners are great, friendly, and always checked up on us throughout the meal. read more

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I moved to Houston about three weeks ago and have been trying various restaurants and thank goodness my friends invited me for lunch at Kol. The restaurant was bigger than it looked and we were greeted as soon as we walked in. We got there around opening time so we were seated quickly and our server came to our table shortly after. She went over the menu with us and gave us some recommendations of what to order for a party of 6 and everything she recommended was good! The ban chan was tasty and the kimchi jjigae that comes with the meal was delicious. All the meats were tender and cooked well by our server. There are televisions around the bar area and the tables are spaced out well so you could chat with your friends comfortably and it's a casual and comfortable restaurant. I know we will be back here soon. The food and service is excellent! read more

Kol Korean Bbq - Entrance - Korean Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The lunch specials are a good deal for 2 people. The stews are great. Flavor, simple, and filling. The staff were prompt and friendly. They booked our meat properly and quickly. The charcoal grills made the meat taste great. The meats were top quality. The sides were good. The kimchi was really good. Complimentary self serve soft serve machine was a nice touch. The inside is clean and vibrant. It's a place I'd come back to and try more stews and meats. It's rare to kind a kbbq that also has really good items other than meats melt read more

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This was our first visit to a Korean style bbq restaurant. There are two reasons we've neglected this cuisine, I don't go out to cook my own food and most are too pricy. Kol offers a lunch special for two people that's very reasonable and they cook it for you. We shared the combo #1- we chose the beef bulgogi over the spicy pork and the fried Galbi dumplings (we got to choose between fried or steamed) instead of the seafood pancake. The combo comes with a plethora of fresh vegetables, rice, jalapenos, etc. This is called banchan, we got ssamjang, sesame oil, soy sauce, scallion salad, pickled onions, soft boiled quail eggs, fish cakes, kimchi and potato salad....yum! We enjoyed the food and friendly service. Don't forget to try the free softserve ice cream. We brought home enough leftovers for another meal. We asked the young chef preparing to cook our food which dumpling he preferred and we're glad we went with the fried ....superb! read more

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Very good for location, nothing like it in the immediate area. The noodle dishes and bibimbap has very good portion size for their asking price. They offered to cook for me but I declined. read more

Kol Korean Bbq - Cold noodle bowl - Korean Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Ok I don't usually post twice on Yelp but you need to check out this place! The service and the food is amazing! It is truly the real coal-that makes a difference! read more

Kol Korean Bbq - Good food! - Korean Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great place for Korean food. We recently found this place and have been coming back many times since. Service is very friendly, food is very good, and good ambiance. read more

Food and service were outstanding. Our favorites were the sushi, marinated ribeye, and kimchi stew. Highly recommended.

Service and food were great! Food was delicious with very good service. The ambiance was nice and casual. The area needed a place like this! read more

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Where can you get good Korean food with quality meat and side dishes? I just found it. The owner was present and brought jokes with him too. Plenty of parking and even the free ice cream quality was bomb. When they said they do things a little differently, they meant we do it right. It's better than Chinatown Bellaire, Katy Chinatown and Long Point K-town. The restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating and quaint indoor sitting. Inside the loop area where no Korean food is, now filled nicely. read more

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As a Korean, I can say the food was just OK. Lacks the true Kalbi flavors (marinated short rib) that Korean BBQ is known for. My favorite soup Kalbi Tang had no flavor and I had a bone with no meat. Kimchi was not fresh. Definitely no Halmoni in the kitchen! Venue is nice and the bar area. Ideal if you want to go watch sports and have some drinks. read more

Visited Kol for the first time a few weeks ago and was very impressed. The restaurant was beautiful, clean and lively and the service was exceptional. Some colleagues and I shared an wide assortment of dishes and everything was on point. I will be back soon with my family. I know they will love it. read more

This was my second time here, and unfortunately it was a completely different experience from my first visit. Last week, we its our first time here and it was excellent. The food was amazing, my waiter was attentive, and he prepared the meat perfectly. The cold noodles were delicious, the meat was tender, and the banchan was great. I enjoyed every moment of that visit, which is why I decided to come back. My second visit was very disappointing. We were served by a young waitress who seemed rushed from the beginning. She asked, "Do you need me to grill it?" The previous server had simply taken care of it, so the question felt a little odd. I didn't mind either way, and she decided to grill it for us. The problems started after that. We waited about 10 minutes just to place our order. When she grilled the meat, she did it so quickly that we couldn't even keep up. As a result, the meat became burnt and black. It tasted extremely bitter, and I actually had to spit some of it out. Nearly all of the meat was overcooked and bitter. And yes she trying to hide it by flip it back so we wont see the burn?? ?? Considering this was a $78 meal, not a $7 meal, I didn't expect to be served what tasted like charcoal. Because of the experience, we asked for the check after only about 30 minutes. She placed the payment machine on the table and then walked away to talk with coworkers while we waited. I understand it was a busy Saturday night, and I try to be patient because I know serving isn't an easy job. However, she didn't appears busy and seemed to ignore us. I don't know why the service was so different this time. Maybe bc we are asian ? And she doesn't expect us going to tip her well? During our first visit, we tipped our server $30 because he provided outstanding service. Even after this disappointing experience, I still left a $15 tip because I know servers rely on tips. But honestly, the service did not deserve it. I won't be coming back. The only reason I might return is if a friend is really craving the cold noodles. Otherwise, I'll be spending my money elsewhere. And of course no ice cream for us this time ( which we being asked already last time), maybe we just not spend money enough to be their customer? read more

So good, we met the owner and she was the kindest lady. Definitely an authentic restaurant. I have eaten at a few Korean BBQ places Seoul, Korea and I can say this is true Korean BBQ. read more

My husband and i visited Kol Korean BBQ for the first time for lunch today. We heard it was tasty so we were excited to try it out for ourselves. When we walked in we were delighted on how nice the interior space was designed. The layout felt spacious, open and bright. The upbeat music in the background set the tone for an enjoyable meal. We ordered the Combo 1- spicy pork and the seafood pancake off the lunch menu. The seafood pancake was delicious and crispy and the spicy pork was flavorful dipped in the side condiment of sesame oil and salt. The banchans included were kimchi, mashed potatoes, fish cake, sliced onions and jalapenos, leek leaves in a vinegarette and a green onion salad. Megan was our server. She was so friendly and helpful in explaining the menu. She cooked our spicy pork on the charcoal grill for us and answered any questions we had with a sweet and professional disposition. Megan did an amazing job from beginning to end. All and all, my husband and I enjoyed our meal very much and plan on coming back with our kids. read more

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Kol is brand new to the area. The food was very good overall. We had the Mixed Small combo (beef/pork) and we added some veggies to be grilled. Our server, Carolina was very polite and helpful. For those unfamiliar with Korean bbq, there is a grill built into your table where meat and vegetables are cooked fresh. Your serve can do all the cooking or you can do it yourself. Best items we had: marinated beef, pork belly, kim chi stew. The least favorite of mine, but still good was the fried chicken appetizer (good crispy and flavor but not much chicken). You will get three small condiments to add flavor to your bites. The sesame oil with garlic was by far our favorite so we asked for more. The ambience is great and there is a nice bar area with some grill tables too. They have some frozen soft serve fro yo included in the meal when you are done. A nice touch. Note, the Small combo with two sides of veggies was plenty of food. you can always add à la carte items if you are still hungry. I'll be back to try other items on the menu. read more

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The food was amazing! Me and my friends ordered the beef combo and our favorite was the garlic marinated beef fingers. The service was very nice and always checked on us. And the ambiance was pleasant. The music wasn't too loud and everything was clean. Highly recommend and was very happy with my first time experience here! read more

Tammy is one of the BEST! Food and service is AMAZING!! Fresh and healthy options. This spot is definitely on my rotation to frequent. Very nice inside . read more

Delicious food, one of the first charcoal grill locations I've been to in the Houston area. Good prices, delicious meat, pretty cocktails. Feels like I'm back in Korea. Highly Recommend read more

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Excellent experience. The food is totally delicious. Atmosphere is nice. A true Korean food treat. The service was on point.

Delicious Korean food and the portions are sizeable. Its great for families to enjoy a meal together. We had the seafood soup and the beef rib soup, both were outstanding!!! We will be back to try the BBQ. Bear in mind the prices for BBQ are for multiple people, unless you are really really hungry. read more

My experience was actually good. I was welcomed in by an amazing host named liz i believe not too sure lol. But i only came in for a to go order and her attitude was on point and it was busy. She was extremely patient and she went out of her way to bring me my order to my car and the food was 10/10 ! read more

It's amazing in every way! The quality of the meat is excellent, and the service is great. The ice cream after the meal is also absolutely delicious! read more

Wonderful. The beef was great. Delicious food with wonderful service. Great family atmosphere. Tasty cocktails. Check them out.

So thrilled this place is open. Dined on a Sunday night. Short line but most folks were seated pretty quickly. Ordered the small combo and it was more than enough for the two of us. We both agreed that the garlic marinated rib fingers were amazing! Cocktails were beautiful and our waitress went all out. Place has a great vibe -- chic, but not informally stiff, and not crazy loud so you can actually have a convo. read more

This was my first experience with Korean food. My wife and I were totally blown away by this experience. We were warmly greeted by the friendly staff. Our waitress was Mariana . Between Mariana and the manager John the dining recommendations were terrific . Let's just say, your mouth will come alive. The food is delicious and the ambiance is great. We are definitely going back. read more

This is the real deal KBBQ. They grill for you at the table and it was done to perfection for us.