Food quality is excellent. So is the service. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the price. But if that doesn't bother you, it's amazing. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean barbecue yum! Check out the yummy Corn cheese! - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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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 ! read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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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. read more

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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. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Pineapple w cinnamon, and butter caramelizing on the grill - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Banchan and grill set up - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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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. read more

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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. read more

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They would not seat me because apparently they have a rule no solo diners???? Never heard of such a thing and pretty absurd considering it wasn't even full inside read more

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.

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures. Maybe it was because of how amazing the food was. First of all the options of meat, and the fact that there are seafood. We were very pleased with. Everything tasted amazing. I will say the egg soufflé dish is usually a little more watery would have liked more broth. I do like that they did not serve rice to us. I'm not sure if that was a mistake but my preference is always going to be a lettuce wrap. I was a little upset that they did not have my beef stew but overall all the sides were delicious. The tables were nice. The ventilation was amazing. In fact it was a little cold in there, which is rare.. i'll take cold over hot and smoky any day. A definite must visit for AYCe Korean BBq! read more

This is a traditional Korean barbecue. The table is pre-sat with two kinds of kimchi and fish cakes. The kimchi has a refreshing slice. You pay a flat price $40 for all you can eat not including drinks (lunch is $30). You order 3 meats and 3 sides per round. I liked the side dish options and everything had good flavor. They let you know up front that leftover meat will result in a charge but this doesn't apply to sides. You can order half or quarter portions of meat to adjust to your appetite or help try more variety. It was not too busy when we went Saturday night and we got right in at 5:30pm. Service was really intense and we had several servers check on us several times toward the beginning and it was a little overwhelming at first. Food came out pretty quickly. The meats were good and the pork belly and bulgogis were both flavorful. They will change your grill plate when you need it. The place was decorated for the holidays but not much about the ambiance stuck out to me. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I've wanted to try this place for a few months now, but couldn't get folks together to try it out and they were closed for a bit due to a car running into the restaurant. The space is pretty clean and has a lot of cool things like the vintage looking beer fridge. I thought the ventilation systems above the larger tables were pretty cool. The food was excellent and well prepared. The marinated meats had great flavor. Definitely a good Korean BBQ spot. read more

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Normally not a fan of going home smelling like I was engulfed in the smoke of my dinner but for Korean food? Worth it even though the AYCE establishments always make money off me (I can never eat enough to say I left winning in terms of out-eating the restaurant). Ate dinner here with a friend on a Sunday night. There were some large birthday parties happening but we were able to be seated right away. We ordered the Classic, 3 meat choice menu and chose shrimp, pork belly, and thinly sliced short ribs. My shrimp was fine but my friend didn't find the meats flavored enough for her liking. I also ordered the Bulgogi Sot Bab. Why this is a side, not quite sure. It was basically a beef bowl which I guess could be more like a lunch entree. But it was delicious and both of our faves of our meal. The house tea is, of course, a hearty barley tea which is my favorite kind. We finished off our meal with it and the grilled cinnamon pineapple. The vibe is definitely festive and noisy. Great for big parties. On a Sunday, most of the businesses adjacent to it are closed so parking is not an issue. I know that AYCE generally don't offer to-go containers s but we had leftovers of one round of food and it was a shame and disappointment that we couldn't bring any of it home. Our kind and attentive server let us know that one day soon they will have to-go boxes hopefully for those instances, but for now, not an option. I would return here, definitely a value and great eats. read more

We came to eat here since we recently moved to town and we love Korean bbq. We enjoy some of the meats but we mainly stuck to the spicy pork bulgogi. Staff was friendly but service was ok. The place was on a smaller size probably will be back. read more

Overall, we had a good time here at Kotu. We did the classic menu which has a lot of options. They also had a special running for wagyu beef included in the classic menu at no additional charge, so we tried that as well. The food was tasty, except we didn't like the chicken very much. The chicken was a bit too fatty and grisly, which was very off-putting. The beef dishes and side dishes were very good, however. The atmosphere was a little stressful to both my husband and I. It's already very loud and noisy inside with the people and grilling, but they play very loud K-pop music on top of all of that. It was tough to hear each other talking along with the wait staff. Maybe we will try again when it's a bit quieter or has fewer people. We will definitely be back! read more

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Tried them out and so glad we did! The restaurant had a cool casual vibe to it. Lots of people there but there was no wait to get seated. We started off by ordering beef and made our way down to chicken/pork. My favorite was the Angus beef and spicy BBQ chicken. My son enjoyed the grill aspect of it and I loved how many sides also came with. Our server was great and overall we got plenty to eat while also trying something different! Fave sides were the kimchi rice and kimchi stew as well and the cheese corn. It's pricey but worth the money since we ate so much! read more

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Travelled across Tucson to try it out on a Sunday. There were 3 tables with people. They would not seat me because I was by myself. I could see it on a busy day or time but they had plenty of open seats. I have never had this problem ever. read more

Good service, everything came out timely and staff are very nice. Everything inside was clean and it's nice they have a more secluded area if needed for reservation. I love pork jowl and I was so happy to see it on the menu - it was delicious!! You have to really let it cook and crisp up so I recommend cooking it first. The kimchi soup and steamed egg were delicious. The corn cheese was okay, not bad but not great. The bulgogi however really upset my boyfriend's stomach. I'm not sure if we got a bad batch or what. He was the only one that wasn't feeling well and the only thing I didn't eat that he did was the bulgogi. Hoping it was just a fluke and nothing was spoiled. The rice was also consistently dry. I wish they also offered other banchan like the bean sprouts and potato salad. Considering everything, I don't know if it's worth the price. It's quite expensive in my opinion. There are other Korean bbq places in Phoenix that are cheaper and serve more than this. Excited to see another kbbq location in Tucson though! Excited to see them grow read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - LA ribs and Pork Jowl - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I've gone here with friends probably 10 times now so I feel confident in saying this is the best Korean BBQ in town. There is always a line but they cycle through people pretty quickly and I think the longest we ever waited was 25 minutes. They don't take reservations. They are located pretty nicely in central Tucson by the Tucson Mall so it's equally located for those in northern and eastern Tucson. Inside is clean, modern and loud. In the best way. Everyone is enjoying themselves and laughter is everywhere. Now, the food. It's a one price point tier experience there's the standard one and the premium. Me and my group only stay with the standard because everything we want is in that tier. We can even get Australian waygu which makes it perfect. I love the sides that come with the food! Not just the kimchi and bean sprouts sided they automatically bring out but the extended menu sides. My favorite is the kimchi soup. It can be shared but I get it for myself haha. I have previously enjoyed the other places in town that had provided the service prior to Kotu, but sometimes the offerings and the pricing just didn't match up to be the better experiences. read more

Our first time here, and we didn't regret coming. We love Korean barbecue, and this place is amazingly good! They have Wagyu beef on their meat selection today. And they're not stingy with their portions of meat. One thing: their service is fast, and it was probably the owner who was helping us cut the meat for us. They really take care of their customers. I hope they will stay this way all the time. Their food is good, flavorful, and the meats are tender. I don't mind paying more for excellent service and quality food. read more

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They won't seat a singular person even when it's slow. I've tried finding random people to join me but I just don't have friends.

Went to the soft opening for Kotu last Friday. I am ecstatic to have a second all-you-can-eat Korean bbq place in Tucson. The meats were tasty, and I had the honor of meeting who I believe is the owner of Kotu, Ms. Yuha. She cooked our meats for us and shared with us that she is an LA Native who lived in Mesa then came to Tucson. The short rib and marinated short ribs are delicious. Excellent side dishes, including a cup of noodles with rice mixed with sauce. Service was excellent. It is spacious inside as well. Ms. Yuha was very kind. Definitely will be returning here! read more

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Kotu was our dinner after a 2 hour drive and we were starving! Fortunately, it hit the spot in every way! We were quickly seated and, to our delight, the side dishes (kimchi, cucumber kimchi, fishcakes, and salad) were already at our table, which preggo me was ecstatic to see. We ordered the Beef Brisket, Short Ribs, and Boneless Short Ribs. The short ribs with bones was our favorite! The portions were not too big or too small - you could definitely tell the meat was good quality. For our sides, we had two orders of the grilled corn cheese, which was piping hot. Dessert was the cinnamon pineapple, which tasted like a warm apple pie. At the end of our meal, we were given a plum juice to help with digestion. We definitely paid more than we normally would for AYCE, but we thought the quality of the food and the service justified it! Speaking of service, it was exceptional. We noticed that even though we had a main server, someone was always checking on us to clear plates or put in our orders. It was really nice and ensured we weren't waiting too long in between orders. Overall, my husband and I agreed that we would definitely come back if we're ever in Tucson again! read more

Went for my birthday and this may have been my favorite meal ever! Very attentive service- constantly asking if you want more orders or a grill switched out. Food was absolutely amazing. Loved that the lighting was bright enough to see what we were cooking. 10/10 would definitely recommend to everyone. read more

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I have only the best things to say about Kotu. Everything about Kotus is amazing, the food is delicious and you get to have so many different dishes, under the price of your meal. I think you could even eat, only sides, and have a delicious experience there. My favorite, and must tries would be: The steamed egg, so good! (next time I go I'll try to remember to take pics of all the different foods), the braised short ribs are delicious, and their japchae is perfectly prepared. I love their bulgogi and their chicken thighs are marinated really nicely. And it is fantastic that you can order just a steak to bbq there. When you go, don't forget dessert, the pineapple is delicious! And don't be shy about asking for new grill plates. They're really great at bringing new ones but if you feel like you need a new one they're always happy to bring another. Everyone there seems committed to you have a great experience. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Qr menu code - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Overall, it was a good experience--especially if you're going for the food. I went with the classic menu, and while it's the more basic option, the meat quality was surprisingly good for the price. Everything was well-marbled, and flavorful--definitely worth the price. The sides were solid, and a nice compliment to the meal. One standout was the soybean paste soup--unexpectedly delicious and comforting, with a savory depth that made it more than just a filler dish. The braised beef short ribs also deserve a special mention--tender, flavorful, and truly satisfying. Where Koto falls short, unfortunately, is in the service department. The staff was a bit inattentive, and everything from seating to getting our food and refills felt slow and somewhat disorganized. It didn't ruin the night, but it definitely impacted the overall experience. If you're looking for a place with quality meats and satisfying flavors Koto is a solid option. Just be prepared to wait a bit and have a little patience when it comes to service. read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I'm serious when I say this is the best KBBQ experience in all of Tucson. All you can eat ranges from $29.99-$49.99 with a wide variety of hot prepared side dishes as well as high quality meats. The staff was amazing Jake, Justin, Esther, and soo yung were extremely attentive and knowledgeable extremely comforting environment with great music playing and their dry meats on display. My favorite items included the corn cheese, cup ramen fried rice and of course their brisket is amazing. If you like KBBQ or if it's your first time or just visiting town with family or friends I think you should try this place out. Worth every penny and I'm so glad to support a local business! read more

I came here the first time and this place is officially one of my fav spot in Tucson. Service: great, fast and attentive service. They even help you cook the meat like any other legit Korean bbq spot so you can eat in peace Food: their meat quality is wayyyyy better than Taegukgi and their small dishes with side dishes also taste wayyyy better with higher quality. I love their kimchi tofu soup and cup ramen fried rice. Made to perfection. They also got my fav pork jowl. Restuarant itself is very well ventilated and not filled with smoke like taegukgi kbbq. Everything is clean and food is efficiently served. I am def returning here in near future. I wish I can give it 4.5 star read more

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We came for lunch. They had a great lunch deal so I do recommend. Meat was well marinated. The fried shrimp was not edible. LA ribs were the best, followed by the bogolgi. Drink is included! All the servers were friendly and helpful. Cool stop. read more

Second time coming here and had another amazing experience! Our servers name was Andy and he was extremely attentive and friendly. All the workers were on top of it and everyone made sure everything was good. The meat quality is excellent! I believe this was recently under renovations and they did great. Everything is clean and well kept. Great atmosphere and vibe. I'm originally from LA so it's amazing to find a great kbbq place. I found my go to read more

Best Korean BBQ in Tucson hands down Great quality, fun cocktails, attentive staff Always a great experience read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Great sides, premium cuts and banchan - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Nice to find options for AYCE outside of Los Angeles. Bulgogi was excellent. Everything was really good. Will be back! read more

Kotu Korean BBQ - Korean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Was in Tucson for my birthday this year and I decided I still wanted my all time fav KBBQ! Searched up the interwebs when we came across Kotu! Saw some items I've never heard of and items i was excited to try. The marinated meats are the most flavorful with the LA short ribs being the table favorite. The yogurt soju added the right amount "spice" to really elevate our dining experience. The menu was really packed with tons of options to meet everyone's tastes. The Staff was SUPER friendly. The environment was clean and before i could even ask we were getting our cooking plate swapped out. The bathrooms are very nice and clean. All in all we were all extremely happy with our experience and can't wait to come back again soon. Pro Tip: Don't over crowd the cooking plate and cover all the vent holes! 10/10 Highly Recommend read more

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