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    Mapo BBQ

    3.5 (486 reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque
    Open 11:00 am - 10:30 pm

    Mapo BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    MAPO BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Mapo BBQ

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    Reviews With Photos

    Alvin Z.

    Got the lunch special where you can choose between a cold noodle or tofu stew, which both came with a plate of beef ribs. The stew was better than the cold noodle. The beef ribs and banchan were so delicious! There banchan were so plentiful and full of variety. The service was also so good and everyone was really nice. Would definitely come back for their kbbq and galbi!

    Amy M.

    This place was recommended to me by my Korean friends. This place is small and the wait staff don't speak much English. We can for lunch and they had good deals. I got grill galbi with tofu stew for 20.00. The sides were good but not as plentiful as Galbi Ma. When ordering it was a little difficult as waitress did not understand us even with pointing at the actual menu item. The place was not full so the waitresses were doing some side work like prepping take out bags. Our meals were grilled in the kitchen and brought out to us in a hot platter. Service was gruff and whenever we needed something felt like we were bothering them. The food here is decent but the lack of service would stop me from Coming back in the future unless I am with someone that speaks Korean fluently.

    Sharon L.

    I've always heard so many good things about the food at Mapo, and finally had a chance to try their KBBQ! The interior of the restaurant is much smaller than I actually anticipated, and it's absolutely packed in there. We were able to get a table relatively quickly around 7:30pm, but we had others cut us in line, and some diners are really pushy here. For 4, we ordered 2 orders of the galbi (one unmarinated and one marinated), 1 pork belly, and 1 seafood pancake. The charcoal grills are famous for a reason - it's blazing hot even when they bring the coals over. One things for sure though - your clothes will smell smoky after dining here. Our waitresses were a bit pushy and aggressive, which given the prime dinner time, was a bit understandable but still overwhelming. We were expected to order pretty much within 3 minutes of sitting down. That being said though, the food is delicious. Banchan is SUPER generous here - with about 9-10 plates, lettuce wraps, garlic & jalapenos, 2 steamed eggs, and 2 stews. The beef is good quality, and the marinade was delish. Overall, this came out to about $48pp after tax and tip, which is not too unreasonable for KBBQ. I was SO full, even without rice. Would come back again, but probably at a less busy time.

    Eunice Y.

    Ahhh... I would love to love this place, but not only is the price higher than Korean BBQ places in Manhattan, I also witnessed them reusing lettuce. meat and banchans are all delicious though.

    Natalie C.

    Trekked to Flushing just to try Mapo and I'm so glad we did. This is definitely the most authentic, cozy experience. They seem to be most known for their unmarinated kalbi, since the ahjumma was pushing us to order that. And she was right- it's probably the best kalbi I've had in NYC/NJ area. The meat is super marbled and they really let it speak for itself. The marinated kalbi is also really good, it doesn't taste overly marinated, where it's too sweet/salty, it was still well-balanced. They also don't skimp on their ban-chan here, AT ALL! I felt like I was transported to Korea with the number of ban-chan, and the quality of it all was great too. Service is your average Korean restaurant, nothing to complain nor write home about. For a great meal, I would highly recommend!

    Haemool Pajun
    Samantha J.

    Fast service. Staff were friendly. Ordered 2 orders of Kalbi and the seafood pancake. The honchon was good. Love the variety.

    Amy J.

    My experience at Mapo BBQ was confusing if I were to describe it in words, but I left feeling content and satisfied. This was my first time visiting Mapo BBQ. I came here w my boyfriend, and we were seated immediately. While the store was not packed, it had a decent amount of people inside, and the servers were booked and busy. We were seated, and it took up about 10 minutes to decide what we'd like to eat. We then spent about another 10 minutes waiting for someone to take our order. While we'd make eye contact constantly with the workers, no one approached us. My boyfriend had to really wave someone down before they finally paid us any attention. The service is extremely hit or miss here. While some workers were nice, others were extremely disengaged. I also wouldn't say that the nice servers were particularly nice either, they did what they needed to. Extremely straight to the point service. While we had high expectations for the meat, we were still pleasantly surprised. The portions sizes were much larger than what we expected to see, and what we normally pay for , for the standard price. My boyfriend and I ordered 2 meats from the charcoal grill section, and we struggled to finish between the two of us. The meat was extremely tender and soft. It had great flavor and there were so many side dishes to eat it with. I would say I've definitely had better eggs and tofu stew, those could use more work, but still a pleasant experience. We were pretty content with our experience. While the service was lackluster at best, the servers worked fast and efficiently. Definitely appreciated for when we are hungry and eager to eat. They get the job done, no frills attached. Definitely not the type of restaurant you'd come to for the service experience. We were extremely satisfied with the portion sizes, price, as well as the quality of food for everything. We would definitely be back. TLDR; servers get the job done, no frills attached, good food, prices and portion sizes. Recommended!

    Mapo Dweji Kalbi
    Patrick K.

    Delicious authentic Korean BBQ right at the Murray Hill LRR station. They specialize in Galbi (Shortrib) and use real charcoal for their grills which you don't see often anymore. In addition they give a great arrangement of side dishes (banchan). The service is ok, nothing fancy. The only complaint is the smoke. Not sure if it was an exception or if it's always like that.

    Nicole K.

    After the Mets game, we wanted to grab something to eat. We originally intended to dine at a different bbq spot but there was a wait time so decided to check this place out. We got seated right away. We ordered soju and beer and the waitress helped us order the right amount of meat. We got the marinated galbi and brisket. Love how they give you so much banchan, soup, and steamed eggs. We were so full and the service was great. The only downfall was how rushed we were to place our order and close our tab. We didn't ask for the check but the waitress brought it out. It seemed like they were closing soon which is why they probably were rushing but we were still eating and drinking and would've probably ordered more drinks. Otherwise, solid kbbq spot for galbi!

    Meat
    Da-Eun L.

    We visited Mapo as a group of five, under a 7pm reservation we made two weeks in advance. However, when we arrived at the establishment, they could not find my reservation; they claimed they forgot to write it down when I had called. We ended up waiting an additional 30 minutes before getting seated. The food was pretty authentic -- we got a variety of cuts and it came with an array of banchan, soups, and steamed egg. I was impressed by the quality of banchan (side dishes) here, and the server aunties were so nice too! The cold noodles were a highlight as well! My only qualm though is the *lack of ventilation* at the establishment. The moment you are sitting down, you are gassed by the smoke coming from your surrounding tables' grills and yours. When I came out after my meal, I felt like I smoked a pack of cigarettes... Overall, the food and the quality of meat is pretty good, authentic, and the service was nice as well (albeit a bit disorganized). However, you are in Murray Hill -- you can def find more kbbq places with meat of similar caliber and at a better price point (with better ventilation!!!)

    Mapo Dweji Kalbi
    Jane L.

    My husband and I have walked by Mapo BBQ so many times, as it's right across from the Murray Hill LIRR station, and we finally stopped in last night for dinner after hearing good things about it from my husband's friend (who lives in the neighborhood). It is definitely an authentic, no frills experience, but their BBQ is very tasty, and they have a solid banchan game. We got an order of Mapo Galbi and Dweji (pork) Galbi, and both were tender and flavorful. They brought out a small soondubu jigae, egg jjim, and cheese corn in addition to the rest of the banchan. I've read other reviews commenting on the service, and I will say that they are all business and focus on expediting the ordering/dining process. I can see how this could come across as rude or abrasive to non-Koreans, but it's kind of the Korean way for spots like this (I'm sure it's amplified by the fact that they're next to a train station and get a lot of foot traffic). I don't mind it, but for those looking for a more relaxed and leisurely dining experience, this may not be the right spot. My only critique would be that the vents above the grills don't seem strong enough to handle the smoke coming from the charcoal grills, so it was a bit intense, and our clothes and outerwear smelled very strongly of smoke and meat when we left. That being said, it's worth it since there are very few KBBQ joints still using charcoal these days.

    Hwe Naeng Myun, so refreshing!
    Yvonne M.

    Love Korean food and my favorite is Naengmyeon, so refreshing, it definitely helped after eating the grilled beef! The ban chan they gave were really good and so many options along with steamed eggs & zucchini soup. The beef was so tender and I love wrapping with lettuce, the sauce, Kim chi and garlic, perfect combo! Had soju too to celebrate a bday, the staff was very attentive and everything came out pretty quick! I'll be back cause the flavors were on point and really enjoyed the meal!

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    Ganblaze

    Ganblaze

    4.4
    (106 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    Overall 4.5/5: First time going to a dedicated skewer restaurant. It was a cool experience and…read moreenjoyed it, despite the music being too loud for my liking. There was a lot of energy in the place. The wait staff were friendly. Food was great but was pricey per skewer. Food 5/5: Delicious and tasted close to skewer cart (this is a win!). Would have loved to try more things but some skewers were up to $3 each so it got pricey fast. They did have a large selection of skewers to choose from. You get a wrist band with a QR code that tracks what skewers you order. Non-skewer items could be ordered using your phone. Everything was fresh. They had house-made spice and sauce packets at each table. Every table had a cheat sheet showing how long to barbecue each type of skewer. We tried the bbq scallops which were full of garlicky goodness and cold noodles which was a refreshing balance to the heat of the grill. Service 5/5: Friendly waiter. Gave us the run down on how things worked in the restaurant. Periodically checked in on us. No complaints. Ambiance 4/5: Prefacing that the high energy environment was not really my cup of tea but I know others may prefer it. Bright flashing lights and loud music playing over speakers drowned out conversation. That said, the tables were spaced well so every party had their own personal space and restaurant was clean.

    First off, I have to commend the servers. The raffle concept is genuinely fun and a creative idea…read morefor customers, but it honestly seemed like a nightmare for the staff. The machine kept jamming, and with only two servers on the floor from what I saw, they were constantly running back and forth to troubleshoot it on top of everything else they were already managing. As for the food, I felt it was overpriced for what you get. The place was so busy that there really wasn't much guidance or explanation. We had to ask twice just to understand how the raffle system worked, and there was also a small rack grill next to the skewer grill that no one explained, so we were left confused about its purpose. If you're going for the atmosphere, to hang out, chat, have a few beers, and snack, then sure, it works. But "snacks" is really the right word here because that's exactly how the skewers felt. The portions were small and expensive, and I honestly don't think two people could leave full without spending close to $100. I've been to places with larger selections and better value. (We bought a corn dog and pan fried dumplings after we left) That said, the raffle itself was a fun touch. My husband won a small stuffed capybara, which was cute. But when I played, I ended up waiting a long time because people ahead of me had 50 skewers' worth of raffle entries, and with the machine constantly jamming, the process dragged.

    Photos
    Ganblaze
    Ganblaze
    Ganblaze

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    Golden Pig

    Golden Pig

    4.8
    (30 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Food first, thoughts after... Overall this was a good choice…read morefor dinner. The service was amazing. They were very tentative to our need. Banchan was delicious and the meat was fresh. The Ajumma who cooked all our things was so friendly and funny. She also noticed I kept eating a particular banchan and got more for me without asking. Interior was spacious and lots of seating.

    Relatively new KBBQ replacing Jeong Yook, but the service here is UNMATCHED. The host & staff were…read moreall incredibly kind and attentive, and service was really well paced unlike most other KBBQ spots. We never felt rushed even though they were busy. It was a bit drafty at the table closest to the doors, but the host was super accommodating and willing to switch our table. He also provided us with some hot tea while we waited - so considerate! We decided on the Mixed Combo B for 2, which comes with pork belly, pork shoulder, brisket, and marinated short ribs. All of the meats are really good. I'm not the biggest fan of pork shoulder, but this was good here! Kimchi stew always hits different at BBQ spots, and Golden Pig's is delicious. We ordered an extra to go! They don't have a takeout menu yet, but the staff was kind enough to pack us some kimchi and rice anyway. Banchan here is simple but done really well. All orders are put in on the tablet at each table. While the layout of the restaurant is still very much similar to Jeong Yook and Baekjeong previously, it's definitely an upgrade. Ventilatation is pretty good but be prepared to still smell a bit after. Prices are super reasonable. Parking is doable but not always the easiest. Looking forward to coming back soon!

    Photos
    Golden Pig
    Wish they named it "Moira Rose Tteokbokki." :) RIP Catherine O'Hara.
    Wish they named it "Moira Rose Tteokbokki." :) RIP Catherine O'Hara.
    Golden Pig

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    Wagyu Place

    Wagyu Place

    3.7
    (138 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$$

    This was my third time back, and I still think this is the best option around if you're looking to…read moreindulge in quality meat. We went on a quiet Friday afternoon. There were several occupied tables, but we still received plenty of attention from the servers throughout the meal. I've tried a few similar places, and this one continues to stand out. The meat portions are generous, and they can handle high heat well enough to develop a great sear. One major change since my previous visits is the appetizer selection. The menu has shifted heavily toward sushi and sashimi offerings. If you're someone like me who enjoys both premium cuts of meat and fresh sashimi, this is pretty much the ideal combination. They now offer many more specialty rolls than before, and the quality of the salmon and tuna also seemed noticeably better. My husband, however, would disagree. Since he doesn't really care for sashimi and prefers not to fill up on rolls, he would have liked to see a stronger selection of traditional appetizers and sides. Another welcome change is that lobster is now unlimited instead of being restricted to a single serving. The lobsters themselves are smaller, which I didn't mind, but both the cheese lobster and the garlic butter lobster were incredibly salty. I'm not sure if it was the seasoning or the type of lobster being used, but the garlic butter version was "clog-my-arteries" salty. I mentioned it to the kitchen simply as feedback, although I wasn't planning on ordering any more regardless. The only items limited to one order per person were the Kumamoto oysters topped with uni and caviar, the sweet shrimp with caviar, and one other premium item that I can't quite remember. Everything else was unlimited, including their new sauce station and ice cream machine. I especially appreciated the expanded sauce selection. On my previous visits, they only offered their Asian spice blend, which is still my favorite. But when I saw they had A1 sauce available, I had to do it--I dipped the A5 in A1. I can't believe they offered it, but once I saw it there, it felt like a rite of passage. One disappointment was that they had run out of foie gras. I had my cash ready and everything. If you pay cash, you receive complimentary foie gras with the Wagyu and uni, so I was definitely looking forward to it. To their credit, they offered us a premium abalone appetizer as a substitute, but I politely declined and opted to pay by credit card instead. The servers were friendly, attentive, and incredibly efficient. There was never any concern about running out of time during the 90-minute dining window. In fact, by the time the 90 minutes were up, I couldn't imagine fitting in another bite. The manager, or at least who I assumed was the manager also stopped by to check on us, made conversation, and was very pleasant. One thing I especially appreciate about this place is that I've never felt rushed. Even when we've gone beyond the 90-minute mark, the staff still comes by to ask if we'd like to order anything else. There's no countdown or "last call" pressure like you often find at other ACYE spots. Overall, it was another very enjoyable meal. I left unbelievably stuffed and, despite a few minor criticisms, still felt it was absolutely worth it.

    Came here for the AYCE for $68 per person, which includes both wagyu, sushi, seafood, veggies, and…read moreother items. For two of us to eat our hearts content is $136, before tax, which is a pretty good deal. You are allow up to 2 hours however. The waiter/waitress does assist in cooking the meat and seafood when they're available. If you're feeling super adventurous, you can get the $159 plan, which includes the coveted Japanese A5 Miyazaki Wagyu. Best to come during the slower times so you can optimize the most of your 2 hours eating as much food as possible.

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    Wagyu Place
    Sushi
    Sushi
    Sushi omakase

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    Sushi omakase
    Jiu Hao

    Jiu Hao

    4.1
    (15 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Service was quick, and efficient If you're hungry and just…read morewant to eat good food, no bs, then this is an amazing spot. Great place to come in groups or as a couple, where the focus is the grilling and eating. The staff were very nice where we practically had a dedicated person grilling our food. Be aware they don't know much English, but the menu is in English or Chinese. The must have is the eel. Some of the best grilled eel I've had,

    First time having Northern style Chinese bbq like this and was very impressed! They use real hot…read morecoals, so the meat gets extra flavorful and charred. I love that they have a huge variety of flavors and seasonings: 3 sauces, korean ssamjang peppers and garlic, 3 spice blends for dipping. The servers were all very friendly and gave us some great recommendations on what to order, so we got a combination of beef and pork cuts, as well as veggies and eel. The eel is so fresh and juicy, the waitress told us they get their eels live and process it in their own kitchen. They cook everything right in front of you, unlike kbbq places where you cook meat yourself. I also appreciated the good ventilation, we didn't smell like meat at all after leaving the restaurant! Additional notes: - we thought it was funny that they put sprinkles in the potato salad, it may seem kind of odd but definitely very Chinese (compliment btw) - it ended up being almost $50 pp for 4 people - we got lucky and didn't have to wait, but I hear there's usually a line, so definitely call ahead to suss out the wait

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    Outside
    Outside
    Live Eel - slightly chewy unfortunately
    Live Eel - slightly chewy unfortunately
    Shrimp & Quail Egg

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    Shrimp & Quail Egg

    Mapo BBQ - korean - Updated June 2026

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