Olhso House is a very fun experience. Our server Fiona was very kind and welcoming to my family. The food was amazing, she was working here for only two months yet she has made my experience incredible. She noticed her cooking skill improving, I agree because the she told us about what to pair with the variety of meats and it helped. The taste of the beef tongue was tender and juicy. The second meat which was ribeye does go really good with the salt given. As for the environment, it was welcoming and not too loud. Overall, this experience at Olhso House was the best out of the three. To the Owner of Olhso House, thanks for hiring her and always responding respectfully to the reviews. HEAR ME OUT, Fiona deserves a raise! Fiona, if you see this THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING :) read more

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Took the family out for a nice dinner on a Thursday evening. Was easy rsvp a couple weeks earlier. Arrived to an immaculate Korean table with water, sauces, the banchan side dishes neatly arranged waiting for us. Our waiter - Seymus was patient to explain the menu and mentioned a single child's plate was complementary with the meal (next time our kids will just 100% eat off the adult portions). We selected the $170 beef selection. Seymus was also our table cook, we didn't have to cook anything ourselves and again the service was always to our eating pace...no rushing which was very enjoyable experience for the entire family. Tried the Soju flights, but the korean lager was the perfect beverage with the meats. read more

bery accommodating staff and server was great Food and ambience the best to celebrate with family and friends!

We came here to celebrate my birthday, and from the moment we walked in, we were greeted so warmly. My son especially loved the beef tongue and said, "It was so delicious--it's a must-try!" My favorite was the pork collar. It was flavorful and very tender. Our server, Fiona, was amazing! She was incredibly interactive, funny, and made us feel so welcome throughout our meal. The atmosphere was nice, relaxing, and comfortable, with very few interruptions while we enjoyed our food. Everything we ordered was delicious, and Fiona really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. One of the biggest pros was how attentive and engaging Fiona was. She was also fantastic at cooking and made the experience even more enjoyable. The only con was that it got a little noisy at times, but honestly, that didn't take away from how awesome our overall experience was. I really hope Fiona gets to see this review! read more

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1 star - Very disappointing experience at OLHSO Korean BBQ House. We had a confirmed 9:30 PM reservation for 3 people. We arrived at around 8:50 PM, only to be told that the restaurant had already done its last call and would not serve us. This makes absolutely no sense. If your last call is before 8:50 PM, why are you accepting and confirming reservations for 9:30 PM? We drove there specifically because we had a confirmed reservation. On top of that, the staff's attitude was very rude and dismissive instead of apologizing or trying to explain the situation professionally. A restaurant should not confirm a 9:30 reservation and then refuse service 40 minutes before the reservation time because of "last call." Extremely unprofessional and a complete waste of our time. We left without eating and would not recommend this place. read more

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I'm a big fan of Korean food so trust me when I tell you that I have visited many places around the bay area! This place looks pretty upscale on Yelp so I decided to try this with my friends. The service was pretty great to be honest because they were very attentive, but the food was not worth the price/experience. I had high hopes for this place because it is on a very busy street in San Mateo, where it gets a lot of foot traffic. We decided to get a combination set and added a few other dishes on top. The combination set comes with two soups, and one of the soups was the soondubu. It turned out to have no flavor at all, I mean literally just tofu, beef, and water and spice. Did they leave the seasoning out? Where was the stock? The best thing there was the seafood pancake to be honest, super crunchy. The meat was OK. Our server was great. I honestly want to give this place another try, but I think this is a one-and-done for me. read more

Olhso House - Soondubu tofu soup - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

I came here for a weeknight girls' dinner, and we had a larger party, so we booked a few weeks ahead. I was surprised they have a full bar since many Asian places are only lower ABV. That said, the drinks did take a while and were just ok - maybe stick to beer and sool/soju? For the table grilling, they have a few options set for 2-3 or 3-4 people, so it makes the ordering pretty straight forward. They also have a regular a la carte menu with your usual classics, including a kids' plate option (free for one kid under age 7, with the rest of the proceeds donated to charity!) Banchan: we had maybe 8 items, but the highlights were the white kimchee and pickled radish with garlic. They were good about refilling these. Off the a la carte menu, we got the seafood pancake and the Mul-Naengmyeon, which had good flavor and texture. For meat, we had 8 people and got two of the OLHSO Signatures, which are supposed to serve 3-4 people, and we still had some meat leftover at the end. With the Signature menu, you can pick two stews for each set, so we got a mix of the doenjang (soybean) stew, soondubu, and kimchee stew. The meat comes nicely presented with little dishes for each type: beef tongue, wagyu "buter's steak," flat iron wagyu, outside skirt, chuck flap, rib finger, jin galbi, ribeye, skirt meat, sliced oxtail. The meat quality was good, and the staff cook the meat and accompanying vegetables for you tableside, so you don't need to manage your own meat. Some of the meat is marinated or pre-seasoned, and others may need some of the accompaniments. Accompaniments for the meats included trasitional ssamjang + jalapeno + raw garlic, Maldon sea salt, a yuzu wasabi, and two other house dipping sauces. I know it's not traditional, but I'll eat anything with yuzu, so the yuzu wasabi was a highlight for me. They changed out clean cooking plates for each course (usually 2 types of meat at a time), and the space was very well ventilated, so my clothes didn't smell at all after. The ambience was cool with the music and changing projection images on the walls. If you're in the San Mateo area and want some solid Korean bbq beef without the need to cook it yourself, Olhso is worth a try. read more

Had a great experience here. The ambiance is pretty unique, especially the large screens on the walls. Service was fast. We got the classic menu and added the marinated short rib. Everything was delicious! The marinated meats at the end like the rib finger and the skirt meat were so juicy and flavorful. I also like that they included a lot of banchan and dipping sauces, as well as salad so it didn't feel too heavy. The vanilla soft serve at the end was a nice and refreshing touch. read more

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Had a great dinner experience here! Didn't have to wait and they weren't very busy on a Friday evening. The butcher steak was phenomenal, super tender and perfectly cooked. I also really enjoyed the pork belly and the smoky flavor. I'd pass on the kimchi pancake. read more

Fun, upscale KBBQ. Quality cuts, and the room has a great mood for friends or family. We liked the short rib (packed with flavor), tofu stew, and seafood pancake (thicc). The ice cream at the end was a delightful surprise. Pricey though, so I'm not sure how often I'll be back. read more

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We were excited to try Olhso which brands itself as a premium korean bbq restaurant and made a reservation for a grill table. Between 2 people we got the Olhso classic set which comes with a variety of beef cuts including beef tongue, wagyu flat iron and rib finger, sliced oxtail, and a choice of stew. Overall it was just ok. The meat cuts varied on quality and I can't say the wagyu tasted that great. We have bought wagyu both American and A5 to grill at home and honestly the meat quality here lags behind what we were able to get online. The kimchi stew was yummy and the banchans were solid but for the price I really expected better quality meat since that's what kbbq is all about. THere are definitely better spots in South Bay for the price. read more

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Although it took some planning in advance, was excited to try Olhso House for a birthday celebration. (Didn't advertise this as a birthday btw, I think they can add some birthday flair if you do) All in all, though on the pricier side, it was a great experience. I expected more seafood based on other reels and information I saw but the selection was still good. Ambiance was great, very modern with a small bar out in the front section of the restaurant. This is a bbq spot, but you have the option of cooking yourself or have a designated waiter do the cooking. The presentation is impressive, definitely a lot of details. The bon chon was good but a bit underwhelming in my opinion. No japchae?! Apparently you have to order the actual dish if you want it. They have pre-set sets you can choose from as well as entrees, appetizers and soups. We ordered the 2nd set, it came with two soups (tofu) as well as a good selection of meats. The waitstaff is young but well trained, we had no issues with service. You get complimentary dole whip for dessert, the machine is quite finicky though so it can be hit or miss if you get to have it. We told it went out of service (after we saw everyone else get it) then luckily they got it to work right before we called it quits! Worth it!) Definitely a place to try at least once. read more

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One of the premier Korean BBQ spots in the Bay. We've dined at many kbbq restaurants at this point, and this place shines! They have the option for a grill or non-grill table. On the grill table, they have several sets to choose from - we chose the signature set, and each and every piece of meat was fantastic. The server helped to grill each cut to perfection, and explained the best sauces and condiments to pair with each. Definitely on the more expensive side but well worth it! Their seafood pancake is also *chefs kiss.* We most certainly will be coming back. read more

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My family and I had a reservation tonight at 5:30 pm and was seated right away. I heard mix reviews about this place and am sad to announce that this place is just okay and I probably won't come back. When we got seated, we were greeted by our server who I don't remember her name because I don't think she introduced herself to us but she was friendly! We ordered spicy naengmyun, brisket, bone in galbi, pork jowl and pork belly. We weren't sure how big the portions were so wanted to start off with that first before we added more things. The naengmyun was lacking the refreshing taste as there weren't much pears or cucumbers. Although our server is friendly, I felt she was very busy so the meat we ordered were burning cooking on the live fire grill so it made the experience not the best that some of the meat I ended up flipping. It was was fairly easy to flag someone down to refill our banchans which is also very limited selection but a bit disappointing that a lettuce wrap refill was $3 each serving considering the amount of meat we had wasn't enough for the wraps. We only found out after the second server we flagged down told us a refill is $3 when the others didn't. Overall for the 4 meats + naengmyun the bill was $180. Although my family was full, I felt this place didn't hit the spot and would've rather next time go to a KBBQ spot in South Bay :/ read more

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I thought the food was delicious! We liked the house short rib and beef tongue. Drinks were nice and strong too. The service was really great and super attentive. We actually sat outside - soooo idyllic and warm with the heaters. What a great atmosphere eating kbbq, with a cute garden, and listening to kpop haha read more

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This Korean BBQ spot offers two different dining styles. One features meats grilled by the kitchen and served to your table, while the other lets you grill everything yourself on a tabletop BBQ. The menus are slightly different, with the tabletop grilling option offering a wider selection. We tried the kitchen-grilled experience and ordered the beef short ribs, beef tongue, and pork cheek. My favorites were definitely the pork cheek and beef tongue--they were tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The accompanying dipping sauce was also a standout, with a light citrusy yuzu aroma that helped balance the richness of the meat. They also provide wasabi to pair with the beef. The side salad pairs nicely with the grilled meats, but if you prefer wrapping the meat in lettuce, you'll need to order the lettuce separately. To finish the meal, they even serve complimentary vanilla ice cream topped with honey yuzu sauce, which was light, refreshing, and the perfect ending. Overall, it's on the pricier side, but the quality of the ingredients and execution made it worthwhile. The service is very friendly and fast. I'd definitely come back to try the tabletop grilling experience next time, especially since it offers an even wider variety of meats and dishes. read more

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Recommend to make reservations. Attentive services. Meat quality is good. This place feels more like a fancier Korean bbq restaurant within DT San Mateo. I have to say food is good but not worth the price. read more

Olhso House - Beef rib - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I really enjoyed my meal here! Came with a few friends and got the Signature Set. Honestly my favorite dish was the soondubu soup - the tofu was so jelly-like and soft it felt like I was slurping fat. All the sauces that pair with the meats are super delicious! Will definitely be back! read more

Olhso House - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Overpriced! Don't get me wrong, the food was good, it was just a bit pricey for what it is. It has a really nice date night atmosphere. We came during lunch, so it was no problem getting a table. The wait staff informed us how everything worked which was helpful. The meat was very tasty and the produce was fresh and I always love tableside cooking. It was nice to try, but there are places that are just as good and not as pricey. Parking can be challenging in downtown. read more

Olhso House - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Celebrated my birthday here on a Friday evening and had a wonderful experience! Definitely recommend booking in advance and for the live grill experience, whereby they grill the meats to perfection for you. Service was fast and welcoming, with our server taking care of every cut and dish with care, ensuring our waters were full, banchan were refilled, and making sure we didn't need anything else. The seafood pancake was just ok; it was a bit crumbly although there was plenty of seafood bits. Meats were delicious and of great quality! Loved the seaweed soup on the house for celebrating birthdays here. I wish the banchan had more variety of flavors as majority were picked/sour and we were hoping for more savory or non-vinegary side dishes. Would consider coming back again for a special occasion! read more

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This place was pretty good. The meats were so soft and tasty. I think that the service was super sweet as the server was friendly and doing a nice job of talking to us and explaining the meats. The flavors were nice but this place is expensive so be ready to either share with friends or have an empty wallet after. The ban chan and the sauces they recommend go super well. The one thing that surprised me was the yuzu wasabi, that did not have the strong nasal effect that the normal one has. read more

Olhso House - Banchan - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here for an early dinner with friends. This is defiantly a get what you pay for place. You spend a lot of money but the quality of top tier. They do grill the meat for you. Waitstaff is extremely nice. This place is good for groups or defiantly date night vibes. Check them out read more

Very good Korean bbq. It's a bit on the pricey side and could be upwards of $100/person depending on how much you order. But I thought everything tasted excellent. I could not stop eating! The only dish I wasn't super thrilled about was the cold noodles (not flavorful enough?) but the meats and the sides were incredibly delicious. read more

While definitely on the pricier end for KBBQ, the quality of both the food and service speaks for itself. My family came here to celebrate Father's Day and managed to snag a 7:00 PM reservation with a grill table. We ordered the Olhso Signature Set and were pleasantly surprised to find that soondubu was included as a complimentary stew option with the combo. Since the set only included beef, we also added an order of pork belly to get the best of both worlds. One thing I really appreciated was how the staff recommended the best way to enjoy each cut of meat, including what sauces and accompaniments paired well with them. It elevated the entire dining experience and helped us appreciate the different flavors even more. My favorite cuts were probably the boneless short rib and the sliced oxtail (I've never had it like this before) but honestly I loved all the cuts we had haha. I also loved the yuzu wasabi they served - I wish they could give me a container of some to bring home! The restaurant is pretty spacey with large tables so that groups aren't all squished together like a can of sardines. It has a nice and relaxing feel to it which added to the experience. A special shoutout to Paul, who took incredible care of us throughout the evening. We never felt rushed and were able to take our time cooking, eating, and enjoying the meal together. His attentiveness and hospitality made our celebration dinner feel extra special. Thanks to Paul and the rest of the Olhso team for their stellar service! Great food, excellent service, and a memorable dining experience. We'd definitely come back for another special occasion! I definitely want to come back to try their lunch items sometime as well. read more

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Really good especially the soup. The setting was nice too, just a little loud. I liked the banchan especially the kimchi. The Olhso classic combo was great just a little pricey like the rest of the menu. read more

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Good was tasty because it had a real charcoal flavor smoke to it. BancHan was good, kimchi wasn't too fishy, would recommend the live fire menu if you want to get an easier reservation because for the kbbq option you need a dedicated server to grill the food for you. Ambiance was nice , low light , and had projections on the wall. Service was great. Super responsive read more

Olhso House - Pork - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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TBH I didn't expect to like Olhso as much as I did. It reminded me a lot of San Ho Won, which I love and have been to many times. We ordered the set menu that gets cooked in the kitchen and brought out. It's kept warm on the little dish thing. When it's fresh the meat is so good, but when it cools down it's definitely way less tasty. BUT you can reheat it with the stone, though we were too lazy to do it. Also really enjoyed the seafood pancake and free house salad. My only gripe is that the lettuce wraps cost extra. Service is really friendly yet professional and it definitely feels like a high-end place. Dim lighting with little lamps at each table and projections on the walls (which were slightly distracting). It would be great for an anniversary dinner or celebration. Excited to come back and try out the table grill. read more

Service was excellent. Seated right at our reservation time. From the hostesses to waiters all were great. Soju and beers were all bottles so nothing to add I was not that impressed with their meat, the presentation was great, setting and ambiance were great too, but taste was just mediocre especially at that price. read more

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Before you arrive, just throw out any previous KBBQ experiences you've had before. You might accidently walk right past the entrance to Olhso House but once you walk in, you're in Chef Han Sungil's world. This was the best Korean BBQ of my life, full stop. A special thank you to Andrew for making the birthday meal that proved it.   Inside: The atmosphere is unlike any KBBQ restaurant I have visited.  The dining room makes you recalibrate what a KBBQ place is supposed to be. More than 20 projectors work in concert to wash the walls in shifting, cinematic light of various scenes.  Ditching the fluorescent and exhaust fan aesthetic that defines your standard KBBQ experience. It's a theater built around the grill that only adds to the food you are about to experience. Service: The service was just as impressive as the food. This wasn't a crew reciting menu descriptions, they understood grain, fat content, and ideal timing on the grill for each cut, and they hovered with the quiet vigilance of people who've clearly been trained by someone who takes it personally. It felt less like being served and more like being guided, which is a rarer thing at a KBBQ table than it should be.   Food: The only downside is that this meal may have ruined every other KBBQ spot for me. After years of dining at well-known Korean BBQ restaurants in LA's Koreatown and trying several places throughout the Bay Area, this was easily the best quality I have encountered. We went with the Olhso Signature spread, and two cuts stood out: the Wagyu Ribeye, marbled in a way that you only see on photos in the menu, and the Beef Tongue, sliced thin and grilled to a perfect level. The Beef Tartare was its own quiet argument for the kitchen's range. There was no need to compete for the best piece of meat at the table because every bite delivered. The banchan was excellent as well, and I am still thinking about the kimchi stew. Olhso House isn't reinventing Korean BBQ.  It's reminding you what the form was always capable of when someone with a passion is behind it.  Some birthdays you remember for the cake. This one I'll remember for the ribeye. read more

Olhso House - Signature selection - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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AMAZING! Jaw dropping, drooling over culinary taste! We ordered all their specialties from their live fire menu. It's grilled in the back over Binchotan Emberhaus. Then they bring it to your table with a hot coal platter to warm up the meat! Amazing!!! The meat selections were out this world! Their short rib meat and the pork belly melted in your mouth! I cannot wait to go back! read more

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Super elevated KBBQ experience. This honestly has immaculate vibes and the service is great. Of course, it is on the pricier side. If this is your first time eating KBBQ, I'd recommend trying it elsewhere first because you may leave still hungry with an expensive bill. I do recommend trying this if you're willing to splurge for a special occasion. read more

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Just stopped for dinner this evening and enjoyed a delicious meal. We were promptly seated and were welcomed into a space with interactive projections on the wall. The ambiance and music were perfect. A great mix in r&b and hip hop and clean decor. Our table had a spread of banchan awaiting us and did not disappoint. We were greeted by our server/chef Seymus and after some deliberating we opted for the Ohlso Signature. Our selection of meats came out beautifully presented and Seymus moved quickly to be begin cooking (yes, if you're at a grill table, someone on their staff will cook your meats for you). You can also opt for the kitchen menu which has food prepared in the kitchen. Seymus was awesome with cooking and providing recommendations on what condiments/seasonings would best compliment the various meats. The selection was impressive and had some prime offerings. Above all we were impressed with the awesome customer care Seymus provided during our meal. We will definitely be back! read more

Olhso House - The signature Ohlso - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came on a weekend and it wasn't busy however they were unfortunately short staffed that day and so we had to wait a bit. The server cooks for you here and each piece is cooked perfectly according to cut. I loved the sides they provide: shiso, lettuce, radish, kimchi, bean sprouts, dipping sauce etc. We ordered one set of wagyu beef and one of pork and both sets were delicious. All the cuts were good and we didn't need to order additional. The soups were also very rich and so tasty! The server/owner was very nice and patient with us. The decor is so nice with the art projected on the walls. This restaurant is perfect for spending time talking on date night while slowly enjoying your food. read more

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My experience here was certainly a mixed bag. Made a dinner reservation and when we arrived on time were made to wait for 15 minutes before a table cleared for us which didn't really feel like we had a reservation. Compared to 10 Butchers, the banchans are definitely a bit lackluster but still decent. The meat presentation is top notch though and I've never had a kbbq experience where I was told what kind of sauce or condiment to pair with which type of meat which was a fun experience. Def a but pricey and a bit far from where I live, but good experience if just considering the food! Oh the portions are quite small :/ read more

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Really nice Korean BBQ place. All the food is high quality and presented beautifully. The prices are on the expensive side for what you're getting though, and taste-wise, the dishes fall short of cheaper, more authentic Korean versions at other restaurants in the Bay. We ordered the ribeye, which they grilled for you tableside, the japchae noodles, and the kimchi stew. The ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The kimchi stew was good but I wish the flavor was deeper, with more umami. And the japchae was pretty standard, also a bit light on flavor. Service was attentive although a bit awkward at times. read more

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Food- good (some of the beef cuts were great!). Service- great (very attentive, they stand there cooking for you.) Did it blow me away, no :/ but that's okay! A bit pricey for what it is. It's very fun if you're there to celebrate a birthday, holiday, people visiting from out of town. If someone invited me, would 100% say yes. I went with 5 other people, so 6 of us total. We did the pork platter and beef platter, we had everything! Again, food was good and some of it was even great (the beef, especially). It's not all you can eat, quantity was good for the 6 of us, but if we wanted to EAT, it wouldn't be enough. The quality of what you get for the price is what doesn't quite line up for me. read more

Olhso House - The sides. The thinly sliced radishes were delicious. And the side sauces. - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Don't go!!!!! We had a reservation today at 9:30pm, and their opening time is showing 9:30pm too, we went there at 8:56pm, they told us we can't sit and dine, also I asked when is the latest time we can sit, they told us 8:00pm is the latest. Why would they shows on google open to 9:30pm then????? Wasted my time and drove from Fremont about half an hour come and eat. Baaaaddd experience. If I can give a 0 star, I would give to them with no doubt! read more

Olhso House - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California

A pricy splurge for KBBQ but well worth the experience and quality. I love that the higher end KBBQ places really focus on the quality of the meat and also cook the meat for you. I'd skip the alcoholic drinks here as they're just ok and not a great value, but would definitely do the premium meat menus again as they were excellent. read more

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Finally was able to get a reservation here after being turned away for walk-in a few months ago. Food is of great quality and at a price that justifies it when compared to AYCE bbq places nearby that are charging basically the same. The classic set was quite filling for my party of 3! Their thin sliced oxtail is very unique, and it's so nice to find thick cut beef tongue here! I do want to take this chance to give a heads up to any new patrons though - Walk-ins are not frequently available. The first time I was here, my group was turned away despite the restaurant being...empty? lol This time we made a reservation not knowing that the non-grill tables are à la carte only with very limited options, and you NEED to reserve the grill tables to order the sets. Thankfully the manager onsite today was very understanding and went out of his way to help get us a table after we got here at 9 pm and found out the hard way. Thank you! For anyone making reservations though, make sure to choose the right one! read more

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I really wanted to like this place given the legendary Chef Ahn from culinary class wars has visited several times. The service is extremely slow and the servers don't explain the items or how to cook them. The meat is fresh but the sauces and soup are very one-note. I'm curious how their barbecue is like but at least their lunch menu leaves much to be desired especially at the premium price they charge. read more

Olhso House - Korean Near Me - San Mateo, California