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    Kotu Korean BBQ

    4.1 (189 reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Kotu Korean BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    KOTU KOREAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Kotu Korean BBQ

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    Kimchi Cream Pasta
    Sunny S.

    My 2nd time being here but my husbands first. Everything during this trip was amazing. The customer service was on point. They were checking in constantly for refills of drinks or placing orders. The food overall was good, the marinades had a lot of flavor. I tried some sides that I had not gotten last time I was there which was the fried shrimp, kimchi cream pasta and the grilled corn cheese (no photo). This is going to be my preferred spot for kbbq. The only other one I have tried is Taeguki. I like that Kotu has more options for sides and the they do not skimp on them. They also do not charge extra for the grilled cheese corn. I would highly recommend this place. We went with a stroller and the waiter took away 1 chair so the stroller could sit by the table without being in anyone's way. Given that this place is amazing I'm excited to eventually try the owners new restaurant Seoul Shi.

    Drink menu
    Tyra G.

    The food was so good. The restaurant was very clean and the table was set already for dinner with condiments. We bought the premium dinner for everyone. Everything was so good! I recommend going for lunch or weeknights.

    Pineapple w cinnamon, and butter caramelizing on the grill
    Kristen B.

    Yum, yum and yum! Fantastic experience tonight for dinner w my parents. We lucked out and we able to be seated right away. Which was totally luck as it was packed and there were some bigger groups waiting. But we got in and Peter, our server was fantastic, but everyone that worked there was great. Am a big, big fan of the radish wraps and was really happy to see they had them. We did bulgogi and kalbi. All the banchan was excellent and the steamed egg, kimchi fried rice, mandu/potstickers, were excellent. My mom really enjoyed the plain soju. Overall a fantastic experience and my parents were super happy. Thank you to the whole Kotu team from front of house to back. It was great. We will definitely be back and keep up the great work. Oh the pineapple at the end is heaven.

    Korean barbecue yum! Check out the yummy Corn cheese!
    Amy R.

    We went to celebrate a birthday, and we were not disappointed. Fantastic food, and service. The waiters were very friendly and helped us to decide our first round. The meat was delicious and good quality. The side choices were great too. We really like the Bulgogi rice, and the popcorn chicken. The restaurant was clean, and we were taking care of very well. Bathrooms were also clean. Thank you for taking care of us. We had a very good time and will be back.

    Christian A.

    Great Korean bbq!! And side options! Went here for the first time an was pleasantly surprised! Been to many Korean bbq spots and this one is definitely a top 3. The menu is not the hugest but the options they give are great. You can tell the quality of the meats are great. A lot of side options also! Great service and very attentive and fast Super friendly! Can't be happy enough with the people If you've ever been to Korean bbq then you know sometimes the grill changes can take a bit or ordering more can be tough but they were on top of it and never had to ask for someone Great lighting and the grills were very premium Oh also a very niche thing to like but the scissors they have are great too!! Only complaint would be the price It's probably on the pricier side of Korean bbq but still great non the less! All in all great food and people Would come again! Recommend if you can get past the price !

    Len L.

    We had the lunch menu and it was fantastic! The meats were well marinated and tasted wonderful. Shrimp was delicious and so was the chicken. Service was fast, kudos to the efficient wait staff. The dining room was a bit noisy as the music was too loud, but overall a great place for your meal.

    Spicy chicken, brisket, and pork belly
    Dayne D.

    What an amazing experience! Kotu is smaller than it appears from the outside so getting there early helped. When you get to your table it is already set up with kimchi, cucumber kimchi, fish cakes, glass noodles and a cabbage salad of sorts. The staff was very friendly and prompt. Our drink orders arrived quickly and our meat order was taken. We started off with the spicy brisket, spicy chicken, and the thick pork belly. Our sides when the pork dumplings and the cheese corn of which we ate three orders. So good and cheesy. Dessert was 6 pineapple rings covered in cinnamon sugar and a little butter. Now the cool part, you cook it all at the table on a little grill which is changed out every so often to keep the smoke down. All in all a great experience, a tad bit pricy if you don't eat a ton. Be sure not to leave any uncooked food on the table as it will cost you an additional $10 to cut down waste which IS disclosed on the menu.

    In my fevered pitch to grill and eat, I forgot to take photos of the food as it arrived.  As you can see, it was devoured
    Mark S.

    Tarrare: A French showman who could eat enormous quantities of food, including animals. His appetite was so extreme that he was documented as consuming his own weight in beef daily. He also reportedly had an unusual ability to digest food rapidly. Be prepared to channel your inner Tarrare as you enter Kotu BBQ. I should start off by sharing that my wife and I are not good candidates for the, "all you can eat" style of dining, as when we dine out, we often tend to share/split meals off the menu (Probably not endearing ourselves to the wait staff, proprietors, nor chefs). At very least we will almost always bring home food when we do order separately. But in our defense, portion-sizes when eating out in 'Merica often make one wonder if there might be a hidden camera somewhere hoping to capture reactions to the heaping mounds of food set before us...or perhaps "they" are hoping to secretly film some sort of "Tarrare type" food-porn video. Point being, my wife and I don't often feast like ancient Hawaiians in the season of Lono. (aka: Makahiki), but, feast like that we did, on this occasion. The price of admission starts at $39.99 for each patron (Lunch is $29. And you can go a, "step up" and order the premium cuts of meats at $49 per person). This may seem pricey, but the amount of food that was brought out during our two hour window of eating time actually made me wonder how the restaurant can afford to only charge that much. (We only stayed for about an hour--but I noted that other patrons were in for the long haul.) It really was so much food. And they share it generously. The vibe, seriously, is along the lines of what one could expect if you were a long-lost wayward prodigal son returning home to one's parents-- and they (the parents) are overjoyed to share and celebrate. Pro tip #1: We ordered 1/2 orders of each item so that we could share and "get a taste" of, "a little bit of everything". (*a band called, Dawes plays a haunting song with that same title). I would recommend this strategy (1/2 orders all around!) . We used it, and left with stomachs so full that I had to pause and hang onto the wall every few steps. (not really, but we were the opposite of famished as we signed the bill and thanked our wait staff). The food was really tasty. By my estimation, we ordered about 1/4 of the menu options (there are a ton of things to choose from). Once my stomach recovers from exertion of the feast, I would like to return and sample a few more items. I liked the uniqueness of cooking one's meats and vegetables on a grill in the middle of one's table. My favorites were the Beef Belgogi, spicy chicken, and pork belly. The wait staff guided us towards the sides of grilled corn, pork dumplings, ramen fried rice. Yum! The table next to us went with the premium option, and the slabs of meat that were bought out to their table reminded me of a past life experience when I dined with the Kublai Khan on the plains of Mongolia. Beautiful thick cuts of marbled steaks and fresh-looking burgundy colored filets were brought out. They seemed happier than a dead pig in the sunshine (that idiom comes from the idea that a dead pig's lips curl back in the heat, making it look like it is a'grinning and full of joy). If I were to go again, I would not re-order the octopus (partly because we recently watched My Octopus Teacher- and eating a highly sentient being seems a bit of a jerk-move.) Additionally, we accidentally over-cooked her and in doing so, the meat became a chewy /rubbery texture). Also on the list for, "not gonna order that again", was the ttukbokki (spicy ricecake). It's texture was a bit rubbery and it fish-flavor just didn't appeal my unsophisticated tastebuds. Even all-star Baseball players don't hit it out of the park with every swing of the bat. Despite those two, "swings and misses" Kotu BBQ's batting average was is still in the all-star category for me! The wait staff is wonderful. They are super-attentive, willing to offer advice and suggestions, and have a good energy. All were as pleasant as a sarsaparilla on a summer's day. One thing that I appreciated had to do with the grill that we were cooking on getting a little caked up with the blackened char of our meats. The wait staff replaced it twice for us during our stay. This is common practice, as they have special holders to take the smoldering used-up grills back for cleaning, but it is a nice touch none the less. In summary, this was a super-fun experience and we were more than satisfied with the taste of our food, the amount shared with us-- for the price, and we were treated to really-exceptional service by their staff. Oh, one final thing. Do try the grilled pineapple and cinnamon to cap off your meal. Despite being so full that I could barely breath-- and basically at the point of that Mr. Creosote was when he said, "Not Another bite." in Monty Python's the meaning of life, it was divine.

    Anthony N.

    I went here for lunch with a friend. It was both of our first time at a Korean BBQ. The staff was super attentive and gave us a few recommendations to start. We tried the short ribs, the beef bulgogi, the thin cut pork belly and a verity of sides. They offered a great verity of sides as well. The cheesy corn was the standout for us. We were also surprised on how mild some of the spicier dishes were including the kimchi, where it was very easy to eat and did not have that typical punch you would expect.

    Tina T.

    We were in the mood for Korean BBQ and came here for lunch. We did not know that everything is AYCE and I was not expecting to pay around $30 per person for my daughter and I, but we were there and hungry so we stayed. One of our servers was a little sparky with our questions but the other server was really friendly. There were alot of food options on the AYCE and we got to try lots of different things. Everything was tasty and I felt satisfied with all that we tried. I would definitely return.

    Banchan and grill set up
    Christina Z.

    Though a bit on the pricey side for dinner, the meat offerings, sides, and overall food at Kotu is solid and satisfying. We've been twice and tried both the classic and premium menus. The premium menu offers 4 additional beef options (angus beef long bone and boneless short ribs, ribeye steak, and beef tongue) on top of the classic menu offerings. Favorite items we've had: - Beef bulgogi: marinated well, solid portion size for two people - Spicy pork bulgogi: not too spicy but the right amount of kick and flavor - Beef brisket: thinly sliced, so good when you dip it in the salt/pepper and sauce - Ribeye steak: a whole steak - we were impressed with the portion size, but very filling - Fluffy steamed egg: highly recommend as a side, so fluffy living up to its name and goes really well with the kimchi fried rice side - All of the banchan but the salad, fish cakes, and cucumber are my favorites - Cinnamon pineapple: gets a delicious caramelization on the grill - good way to end the meal Dishes that were okay were the pork belly dishes (a bit too thick) and grilled corn cheese. Having tried both menus, I think I'd choose the classic menu if you have 2 people since we found the premium options to be large portion; we filled up quickly and wish we had more room to try more of the meat dishes. That being said, I would recommend trying the premium menu at least once - we later discovered that you can do quarter and half portions. Overall, Kotu definitely hits the spot when you're craving some quality KBBQ!

    Desiree B.

    Loved this spot, everyone who worked there was very friendly and asked if we needed anything and took care of us very well. The food was good, we loved the baby squid and the Cajun shrimp, but everything we had was really good. There was so much food and we wanted to try so much. If it is your first time my advice is go hungry to enjoy the many options and go slow, maybe order some soju and just sit back and graze. I felt bad because I went with my daughter and her boyfriend, we order so much food and couldn't eat it all because they are both trying to eat better. Booo But yeah a great place, give it a try for yourself.

    Menu
    Kate S.

    A fun experience with plenty of food. Every guest at the table pays the same price (for either the base or premium meats). You get to choose a few meats and sides to start out with but they will continue bringing you whatever you ask for. They also have back rooms that can be reserved for larger parties. The only downside was the customer service. The servers would disappear for long periods of time and came across as a little rude and short with us. When a piece of meat accidentally fell into a full bottle of soju. They refused to give us a new drink and still made us pay full price. For the amount of money we spent there I think they should have be a little more gracious.

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    Esther S.

    Very helpful tips here ! Thank you for the review :)

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    2 months ago

    So yummy. Great service with lots of choices. Slow dining for a family celebration or date night. If you are a meat lover it is worth a try.

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    Thank you so much for review :) Hope to have you back !

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    Thank you for the review! Yes, our Lunch deal is great ;)

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Kotu Korean BBQ

    Can you accommodate a party of 10-12?

    Yes we can ! We don’t take reservations but you can call us ahead of time on the day and let our crew know that you’re coming so we can get the table ready for you !

    Do they have fried rice or lettuce wraps?

    We have kimchi fried rice and cup noodle fried rice ! But no lettuce wraps :)

    Are prices the same for kids?

    Our kids prices are based on height! Under 42 inches is free, 42-54 inches is half price.

    Do they do anything for birthdays?

    No they don't

    Do they take reservations?

    they do not!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Time to go back and review. I like to revisit places after a few years and see what is different…read more Smoky Mo didn't disappoint. Places are successful because they stay the course and do what they do best. Today we went with the four meat platter, perfect amount for two people, brisket, pulled pork, turkey and sausage. With four side of coleslaw, mac and cheese, potato salad and cornbread. All meats are still sauced unless requested "on the side", but not so much to overwhelm the meat taste. Juicy flavorful pulled pork. Delicious smoked turkey. Brisket was just slightly dry but the sauce and nice bark made it enjoyable. The sausage was AMAZING, juicy and packed with flavor. Coleslaw in my opinion, could use a little more "wetness" but it was still delicious. What can I say about the mac and cheese and potato salad, people from the south, Texas to the Carolina's just know how to get it done. The "Texas Sweet Tea", if you are a diabetic do not drink, however this is a true southern tea, it's done the same all across the south, sugar with some tea thrown in. Four meats, four sides and two drinks with tip $50, not bad for two people, I've definitely spent more for food that didn't even come close to this. Once again Smoky Mo you did not disappoint. If you are a BBQ person this is STILL the best of Tucson. Get out and support this small local business!

    Got the fatty brisket and pork ribs…read more Falls off the bone ribs 7/10 And brisket 7/10 Will come back. Just gotta remember to ask for sauce on the side. Fair price and portion. Service is great and Ambiance is cozy.

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    We used to love this barbecue spot, but the service has become absolutely terrible. The posted…read moreclosing time is 8:00 PM, and while I understand it is posted that the dining room closes at 7:40 PM, it is not so serious that you should immediately turn away a family walking in right at that exact minute. Rejecting my wife and two kids and willfully losing out on revenue twenty minutes before the restaurant actually closes is completely unacceptable. I hope management starts paying closer attention to how their staff treats incoming patrons. Your food might be good, but you are not that special. Show some respect to your customers. We will never be coming back.

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    Lobby into dining room
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    The move to counter service completely changed the vibe of this restaurant, and not for the better…read more Service used to be the biggest highlight, and now it feels like you're paying the same prices for a much lower level of attention. As someone who frequented this restaurant for the last few years, I had a firsthand look at how things were run, and in my experience management operated very unprofessionally. It ultimately pushed me to stop supporting this business, and based on those experiences, I can no longer recommend it. There are far better BBQ options out there. From what I personally witnessed, the owner, David, was consistently disrespectful toward employees and created a company culture that I don't believe deserves support. Also important to note that there is something up with the drains/ sewer system in this building and about once a week the entire dining room smells like a sewer leak.. gross

    Photos
    From the Smoker - Family Style: Short Rib, Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs, Pickled Onion & Jalapeño, Texas Toast.
    From the Smoker - Family Style: Short Rib, Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs, Pickled Onion & Jalapeño, Texas Toast.
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