Food was awesome! Will definitely be coming back. Service is great & owner is super nice!

I ate so much meat. 반찬 galore. One could say I'm an omnivore. Delicious. Did it feel like Korea? A little. read more

This place is a refreshing break from the overpriced, pretentious, and underwhelming food scene of cannery row. I eat KBBQ in other places, quite frequently. I would say that their banchan and meat were comparable to what you would find in more populated Bay Area's. The service was so kind and friendly. My baby slept through dinner, but since we were from out of town, we were worried what he would eat late at night at the hotel. The owners very kindly gave us japchae to take with us so that he could eat later. Overall, our experience was very good. The sole constructive feedback that I have is to make the cuts of meat more consistent. Otherwise, we were very happy with our dinner :) read more

I'm visiting from out of town and had to leave a review because this Korean BBQ spot was amazing! I loved how homey it felt. Everything about this place exceeded my expectations the food, the price, and the quality were all incredible, especially compared to a lot of KBBQ I've had in San Diego. It's all-you-can-eat and more of a help-yourself style, which I really liked. Everything was fresh and constantly stocked. All of the banchan were delicious, but my absolute favorite was the cucumber kimchi. It was so crisp, flavorful, and refreshing. For the price, the quality of everything was seriously impressive. I had such a great experience here and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in town. Highly recommend! read more

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Good food, AYCE, clean establishment, very nice owner lady and great service. Can't beat the price either. read more

Had to give this place a try after seeing it on social media. Definitely not your typical Korean bbq restaurant that you'd see in the Bay or LA but good nonetheless. The self serve bar was pretty awesome. So many good sides that you can try and get full off of. There were some meats that you can self service as well such as pork belly and bulgolgi. There were a couple other things that you have to order off the menu (specific meats). Overall, good experience. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area and craving Korean food. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

We came here last Thursday for our 27th Anniversary. This place use to be the Japanese restaurant...funny thing is it's the same owners. Food: Fresh, delicious and tasty. Service: Friendly & knowledgeable staff Ambiance: Love the decor and feel of the place. I was surprised hubby enjoyed the food. I've been to many Korean BBQ places and this place was more subtle and cozy. The food wasn't overly marinated and salty. I know this because I hardly drank anything to wash down my food-which is a good sign. Overall, we will definitely be coming back. read more

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음식이 매우 맛있고 주인이 너무 친절하고 재미 있다 Very good food and owners are very sweet! Lights are very pretty as well. read more

I was really excited to visit Little Korea, and it does seem like a good value with the all you can eat. Service was friendly and prompt. The vibe is laid back buffet, but our booth benches kept sliding around whenever we got up or sat down which was a little awkward, and the flow of the restaurant is a little off. It feels like you're frequently in someone's way as you get to where you're trying to go. Soft drink is included in the price, which is amazing for AYCE. We arrived right as they opened for dinner and were the first people to come in. Service was really quick. Kimchee was good, but a lot of the other banchan was a little disappointing. Japchae was a little hard in the noodles. Tteokbokki was overcooked and gooey. Some of the other banchan I had never seen before (I am part Korean). Lots of fried items. Few fresh banchan items I was hoping to find. The flavors of those chosen didn't really seem to go together. Trays didn't really support multiple banchan either. Sauces for the meat were lacking too, and none of the meat seemed very marinated in flavor, even basics like bulgogi. They also kept turning our grill down so we couldn't get any caramelization or char on the meat, and when we asked to keep it up the guy basically said no. There was no grill sizzle and it took forever to cook the meat because of this. The best way that I can describe the food experience: It felt like a Korean restaurant trying cater to an American who had never had Korean food. So maybe that's why I keep hearing so many good things. That seems to be a trend locally. If you are looking for large portions of Korean-esque food, this is a great spot. If you're hoping to eat a meal that feels like Auntie is spoiling you, you're out of luck. They are still in the opening phase, so I hope to try again once they are more established, but for now I'm a little sad that this was not the AYCE KBBQ place to rival those in San Jose. I will have to keep buying my Banchan from local Korean stores or making it myself for now. read more

Little Korea - Banchan and table grill. - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Who said there was a Korean bbq place in Marina?? Well my cousin and I just discovered it! Nom nom! The price for AYCE KBBQ was really affordable. Lunch Time on a weekend: $30 + tax (um, excuse me yes please) You got the meats, the cuts! All your KBBQ staples (beef brisket, pork belly, marinated steak, short rib)! + different ones I don't normally see like cow tongue. Don't expect the meats to be high up there in quality..- expect to be FULL though lol. Now.. for the main attraction imo: the Banchan that you carry on the gold plates. There is a legit bar place where you can get all the banchan and some other meats, plus soup! I liked how you can get up and readily get your sides without having to wait! That's a bonus! Plus meat comes out faast so you're gucci. Little Korea, I'll be back again with more "optimistic" things to say about you! read more

Little Korea - Banchan: japchae, corn, rice cakes, daikon, kimchi, fish cakes - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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TL;DR: Decent KBBQ option if you don't want to drive to San Jose for such an experience. About $40 per person for dinner, good service, and fresher sides/meats if you go earlier in the day. Grill can run uneven, and it gets hot inside, but for the price and location it's not bad. I've been here three times now, and as a local I was really excited to have a Korean BBQ spot close by instead of always heading up to San Jose - where I love Gens. For the area, I'd say it's a pretty good deal. If you're looking for truly top-tier Korean BBQ, you'll probably still want to go north, but for Monterey this place is currently I believe the only proper BBQ place. When they first opened, the prices felt a little steep for what you got, but they've since adjusted. Now it's about $40 per person for dinner on the weekends - their highest pricing per person from what I remember, which I think is much more reasonable. You do need at least two people in your party, and there's a two-hour time limit. The grills work ok - though every time I've been there one side of the grill seems hotter than the other. The grill space is also smaller than some places I've been, but it works. They have a self-serve station for sides and some marinated meats (like bulgogi), and you order other cuts--like brisket, pork belly, and short ribs--through your phone, usually three at a time. That setup feels pretty standard for KBBQ. I do recommend going earlier in the day if you can. At opening (or even midday), the sides are fresher and the selection is fuller. By late evening, it's clear they're winding down for the night and working with what's left. Service has always been good each time I've visited. The staff are attentive, quick to replace tongs, swap out the grill, or check in if you need anything. Tonight, Ignacio and Richard helped us and were both super pleasant--even though we stayed really late (about 9:40, close to closing) due to a late start. They were accommodating and didn't make us feel rushed, which I really appreciated. Non-alcoholic drinks are self-serve, and I can't speak to their alcoholic options since I haven't tried them. Expect to spend about $40 per person with drinks, sides, and meat, and you'll definitely leave full. One note: it can get pretty hot inside. I noticed tonight there weren't any windows open, which made it stuffy, though that might just be because we came later in the evening. Overall, for a local spot, this is a solid choice if you're craving Korean BBQ without the long drive. Fair prices, good service, and a convenient location make it worth it. read more

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Ugh I was hoping for more from this spot but the low ratings were accurate, unfortunately. Very thin kalbi, none of the meat from the mobile selections were premarinaded, only 1 order PER person (2 kalbis) with additional charge if you desire more kalbi, musical chairs that slide, sauce holders that can easily tip over (which it did for me), bland taste compared to so many other KBBQ spots I've been to, and here's the kicker - DO NOT bring your young kids with you to this restaurant. $20 for kids younger than 9, which includes 3 and 4 year old! $20 for the very small amount they eat?? Gotta be kidding me. Oh and be sure not to go past 90 minutes or you'll be asked to leave. Service was great, location is prestine in the mall with plenty of parking nearby, and ambience was fantastic. Order from the QR code the server gives you so your orders placed are directed for your table. Thing is, when you go to KBBQ you go for the food. This spot isn't it and is a far cry from other restaurants like Blue House, Red Castle, and Gen. Hard pass from my wife and I, definitely won't return unless plenty of much needed improvements are implemented. Highly doubt it! read more

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Had lunch here today. Absolutely delicious. The host even made what he called "Korean tacos". They were lettuce wraps with rice, fermented bean paste, spicy beef bulgogi, grilled jalapeños, and grilled garlic cloves. Nothing like having all you can eat constantly fresh cooked, hot meat where you can eat it right off the grill. By the way, you get two hours to eat. I recommend getting some meat cooking then grabbing some sides and premade food while you wait. read more

PROS: - It's AYCE, can't go wrong with AYCE when you're starving - The meats were decent. - Self serve banchan and rice. I actually prefer this rather than having to flag someone down, and then the wait staff brings you a little morsel of banchan for a table of 8. - The prices were not bad or overpriced. - Plenty of parking as this restaurant is located at a mall. - Plenty of seating inside the location as well. CONS: - This is the weakest link for this place. The grill, even on high heat, would take FOREVER to cook even the thinnest pieces of meat. This is how they getcha. FINAL THOUGHTS: - Overall, if you're craving some Korean food, this is a decent option in this area. - Don't forget to beat the big Korean drum outside before you leave. read more

Food and service are great. We really enjoyed our time here. I wish we lived closer so we could come here more often! 10/10!!

Dirty place, lousy quality meats and surly, robotic service. One and done, will definitely not return.

Delicious lunch at this new all-you-can-eat buffet. The owner makes the side dishes from her recipes and there are lots of options. Drinks comes with unlimited meats, crispy appetizers, sides, soup and drinks. We will come back for sure read more

Little Korea - Lunch $19.99 M-F - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

This is what I'm used to seeing in Korea for BBQ buffet. I was really happy with the side dishes! My favorite things: Tteok-bokki, fried chicken, Japchae... Most places don't get the flavor right on those things, but they nailed it here. The owner came out and chatted with me and she's such a nice lady. 10/10 will come back for all my scuba trips. read more

Little Korea - Entry - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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A really solid new-ish Korean BBQ option. Price: Adult prices are reasonable for what's on offer; a bit steep for young kids. Food: Meat quality is generally quite good. Sides are good to great. Two quibbles: Japchae ran out early evening and it took at least twenty minutes, maybe half an hour, for a new batch to appear in the buffet. This is a standard, cold noodle dish, my expectation is that it would be immediately replenished, especially early in the evening. And there were never any shrimp in the buffet. If the restaurant just doesn't have any one evening, I'd take the sign down. Service: Friendly and responsive. No offer to swap out the grill in between, which Korean BBQ places often do. Infrastructure: Atmosphere is solid. Grills are decent, but heat distribution doesn't seem to be as even as at some places. It can get pretty hot at the table, ventilation could perhaps be improved. I'll definitely be back. read more

A hidden gem. We have had countless Korean food and this place gives us one of the best experiences ever. Really enjoy the freshly made quality kimchi and side dishes that you can grab on your own. We could definitely feel the love the owner put into everything when she spoke to us. The service is amazing too. We are still not done eating but I just have to share our great experience. Nice, clean, and tasty. Highly recommended and we will definitely be back next time we are in town! The only con is the electric grill that is relatively slower. Not a big deal for us. read more

Absolutely incredible. I've been dying for a buffet to open up in town, I couldn't even dream of a Korean BBQ buffet!! Yet here it is!! The staff were super helpful and made sure everything was taken care of. They answered all my questions and guided us through the process..which by the way, was WAY more simple than I thought it would be. Scan the QR code at the table and they take care of the rest! Self serve rice and other sides with delicious fresh meats available along with the meats you order for your table. My favorite was the beef brisket, I was told that's a fan favorite..I can see why! The bulgogi in the buffet area was divine too. Definitely recommend trying this place out. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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This is undeniably the best KBBQ in monterey, the service was excellent and the price is reasonable, good sauce and buffet choices. the highlight though was when we were trying this place out later in the night when they were closing (the kitchen would be closed in 50 mins) and we didn't want to rush so we began to leave, the owner came out and said "no, I want your business, we don't close until you're done" and let us have the full given 120 mins (with the stipulation that the kitchen would still close in 50 mins so we couldn't order from the kitchen after). The decor was good too, the restrooms were clean and smelled like citrus, and even had a citrus themed wallpaper. I would give this place a 6/5 if I could. read more

TL;DR- low quality meat, buffet style replenishment is slow, ordering meats is slow and the quantity is baffling, slow grill, minimal service, poor overall hygiene. Go somewhere else, seriously. My family has tried all kinds of KBBQ spots, in and out of the area. We are from the Bay Area, where there are different options to choose from. As we were in the Monterey area and craving KBBQ, we decided to try this place on Saturday during lunch time. The buffet style was pretty unique, there were many side dishes to choose from. Japchae, fried gimbap, kimchi fried rice, tteokbokki, corn cheese, etc. Also were typical serving sides such as pickled radish, kimchi, cucumber salad, bean sprouts. They had soups as well, and a soda machine that you could visit as much as you liked. You could also grab select meats from the buffet, such as pork belly, squid, and marinated meats. Everything at the buffet corner was at room temperature, pretty much. Ordering other meats was done through your phone, and you could order 3 meats every 10 minutes. They had several meat options that were different from those at the buffet such as beef brisket, short rib, sirloin, and tongue. The complaint we have here with the system is that the meats come in ridiculously small portions. We are a family of 5, but they (time and time again) gave us 3-5 pieces MAXIMUM of meats on a plate. The fulfillment speed was also so slow, and we basically got full from eating side dishes.. Please review the photos I uploaded, and you can understand how baffled we were. At a price of $35.99 per person with the sole goal to feed customers and make them happy and full, serving them such a limited amount, at a restrictive policy, is CRAZY! We also asked for the meats at the buffet to be replenished at the start of our meal, and it took them 45 minutes for it to be replenished (with two toggles). That defeats the whole purpose of a buffet.. Service was minimal, and our empty and dirty plates would stack up until we asked them to bring them to the back. In terms of restaurant cleanliness, the tables and floors were often sticky. We also saw workers wacking flies with fly swatters near the buffet, which appalled us. That is a food safety violation, for sure. Overall, if you are in the area and craving KBBQ, I would say to make the drive to San Jose if you have the choice. There are plenty of options, and you at least get a bang for your buck, with better quality meats and service. read more

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If you're a meat lover, you must check out this Korean barbecue spot--it's an absolute hidden gem! My friend and I left in the best kind of food coma because everything was so good. Not only do they have an incredible grill selection, but their mini buffet is packed with delicious sides--do yourself a favor and try the beef dumplings, Japchae glass noodles, and Tteokbokki spicy rice cakes. Trust me, you won't regret it. We loaded our table with chicken and steak (we're not pork eaters) and still couldn't stop talking about the flavors. The beef brisket? Hands down my all-time favorite--tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. We tried this Korean alcohol drink (see picture), and it was smooth and delicious. The service is fantastic, and I even had the pleasure of meeting the owners. They're originally from Korea and bring such an authentic touch to the whole experience--it truly feels like you're dining in Korea. I'm already planning my next visit. If you love great food, warm hospitality, and an authentic Korean BBQ experience, this is the place to go. read more

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Really yummy AYCE here in the Monterey area! Service was really good, especially Richard and Eddie, super quick and kind! We had some issues with the grill, but the servers and I think manager(?) came and apologized and fixed it quick! Very comfortable vibe for dinner and would come back here for sure. read more

Servers were polite, and informative. Came before closing and the music was turned off. Setting a very quiet scene with four othet tables speaking quietly, like silent library. Marinated dishes are self serve with brisket and thin sliced sirloin able to order on a QR code every 10 minutes. Brisket was thick, and the sirloin was tough. No brisket sauce. Overall a good experience. came out to $84 for a couple (inc. tip) read more

The most honest review of this restaurant, in hopes the owner makes improvements! We went on a Thursday evening. We were sat down and the server explained the entire menu and rules. Afterwards, proceeded to turn the grill on. They start the 90 minute time limit the moment you sit down before the grill is even warmed. The food bar is all you can eat. Multiple great choices on the bar; except the food is very old and cold. They do not rotate the food until the bin is completely empty. The corn was so hard from sitting there so long, and the batter on their fried foods was mushy from sitting there so long. I do not know how long the food was there prior to us arriving, but for the two hours we were there, they never replaced the food on the bar, even let bins sit empty without filling them. It took exactly 36 minutes for the grill to start warming up, and 51 minutes for it to cook the first round of meat. They have certain meats not in the self bar that you have to order, but they make you wait 10 minutes between each order, and they take 15 minutes to even bring those meats to your table and don't start the 10 minute timer until you receive the order. They also do not give the same amount for each order, sometimes they bring 6 pieces others 1 piece. It's not distributed fairly at all. Yet, they charge you if you waste food, but do not know the amount they're going to bring to your table on the meats they require you to order. It's not fair at all. They should have a set amount for each order that way the table knows whether they can eat it or not before ordering. With improvements, this restaurant could be so much better! The food flavor was there, but the quality was so bad. No one wants old stale food. All you can eat $40 with hot tea and soda included, 90 minute timer, the grill takes a long time to warm up, in hopes you fill up on their sides first, and the server will constantly turn down your grill every time they walk by, and told us because the owner will yell at him if it is on high. The food does not cook at all unless on high, that is no exaggeration. I suggest the owner has the grill warming up on high the moment the customer walks in to ensure it's ready to be used, and does not start the timer until it is hot enough to cook the meat. I also suggest rotating the bar food to allow customers a fresh food experience without having to eat old food. You can look at my pictures provided to see the quality of food, and the grill still not cooking the meat after half an hour. read more

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While the gentleman that worked with us was very pleasant, the meal was a disaster. We were advised that the grill at our table would take 5 minutes to heart up for grilling. No problem. We gathered our food choices and returned to our table. Well, the grill never heated up sufficiently and we could not eat the under cooked chicken we had selected. The shrimp and veggies were also questionable. The gentleman I mentioned above kept returning to our table expressing his concern and dissatisfaction with our grill, but never offered us another table and did not discount our meal to compensate us for a completely unsatisfactory experience. We left still feeling hungry and having wasted a lot of time. We will not return. read more

I've tried maybe 5 different KBBQs, and they were all great. However, this one? The meat was so chewy and rubbery.. bland too. We came in at 9pm, closing was at 10. "Last call" was at 9:30 but even at 9pm, they didn't make any more fried sides (egg rolls, etc.) We won't be coming back. read more

Egg soup by the way, and they charged us 10 dollars. The customer service was very hard to endure read more

Little Korea - Egg soup by the way. It said $3 but they charged us $10. - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

I don't know if I went to a restaurant or a social experiment testing how much disappointment a human can endure in one sitting. The food showed up looking like it had already given up on life--lukewarm, confused, and somehow both overcooked and undercooked at the same time. The service? I've had deeper, more meaningful interactions with a loading screen. I asked for water and had enough time to reflect on my life choices, graduate, and start a family before it arrived. And the price?? I've been robbed with more respect. At this point, the only thing cooked properly was my patience. Would I come back? I'd rather eat a napkin and call it a day. read more

I recently discovered Little Korea and it has quickly become my go-to Korean restaurant in Monterey! The quality of the meats at their all-you-can-eat buffet is excellent - everything is fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection right at your table. They also have an incredible variety of side dishes (banchan) that complement the BBQ beautifully, and there's always something new and delicious to try. Food: read more

My husband and I ate here yesterday. The service was outstanding, our waiter was so nice and friendly and very helpful. The food was great, we will definitely be eating here again. The owner car and talked to us. She is very knowledgeable and brings her families history in cooking to all the food, spices and authenticity of the restaurant. She talked about her grandmother and the things she was taught. It was a wonderful lunch experience. read more

I am so thankful we finally have an AYCE Korean BBQ restaurant in Monterey! I've been back several times and each time it gets better. Yes, the electric grills are not as strong as gas grills (and some tables are better than others) but if you take your time cooking and enjoy the fresh cooked meat off the grill with all the other hot and cold sides, sauces, vegetables, rice, soup and included soda... it's awesome! The meats are marinated well and they have pork cheek! The Tofu soup and Korean chicken wings are yummy! It's definitely a more of a mom and pop AYCE Korean Bbq as compared to the Bay Area, but it's a GOOD AYCE Korean BBQ in Monterey and we should support it! read more

Little Korea - I asked for a Smedium shirt. Haha - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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Found this place about 5 mins away from the hotel and decided to give it a try. It being self service for about 31 dollars, it was definitely a bang for my buck. The meat was pretty good and marinated very nicely. The ambience is very calming and relaxing. I would definitely comeback if I ever comeback to the area! read more

Pretty good for the area, might be the only place with an open grill. There are no overhead vents, so you will smell like Korean bbq afterwards. Decent amount of meat variety for the grill, and sides were alright too. Not sure why but the booth we were sitting on must've been made of something light, it kept shifting every time we got up until someone sat behind us. Overall not a bad experience. read more

I went to this lovely restaurant today for dinner. We had the dinner buffet and it was fantastic! The place is located at the Del Monte Mall and you can feel the warmth when you enter. I spoke with the owner, Ms. Kim about her experience here. She cooks the food in the back herself (as shown in the video). The ingredients come directly from Korea and the hot pot was bussin bussin! read more

The new little Korea restaurant in DelMonte Center Violates California Civil Rights Act. I'm at the restaurant right now they refused to serve me because I'm by myself. California civil rights act prohibits discrimination based on marital status. After drawing the managers attention to that, he took the sign down, and allows me to be seated. Five minutes later he came to my table and asked me to leave because they only serve couples and that's the restaurant policy. read more

Little Korea - Sign only accepting couples. - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

hopped on a flight from LAX and landed at Monterey airport. Found this really cute AYCE Korean spot by the Tesla chargers and you can really tell the food is homemade. Try the kimchi! The lady was very sweet and the workers were very on it!!.Ask for Richard, he'll help you out. Thank you Little Korea :) read more

Food was great! Kimchi and side dishes were all so amazing and fresh and the meat quality was delicious :) came straight from the airport for a warm and amazing AYCE meal! Owner was so awesome too! read more