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My favorite Korean BBQ spot in Buena Park for this price range! It's not all-you-can-eat, but the seats are roomy, the meat is super flavorful, and the staff grills it for you. The side dishes like salad and soup are really fresh, and the steamed eggs are a must-try. Super fluffy!
Food Family and I came here after finding out this was Paik's restaurant(a judge from Culinary Class Wars). We've had our fair share of kbbq and this place really stood out on top for me. It's not an unlimited kbbq place, so we ordered the XL beef Special combo for our party of 6 and a green onion pancake. I believe that it was just the right portion for us wherein we were stuffed but not too full. The quality of the meat was top notch and we got pretty thick cuts and one of the servers cooked the meat for us. The green onion pancake was a fluffy pancake that just melted in my mouth accompanied by flavorful sauces. Overall, it's a bit more a premium place to go to but pretty worth it in my opinion. Service/Ambiance On Saturday lunch, we were surprised that there were barely any people inside. The vibe of the place was a bit more of an upscale casual kbbq place. The staff were nice and cooked the meat for us in our special combo.
Amazing Korean Barbeque! One of my favorites! The chef for Culinary Class Wars owns this spot. I like their meat quality, good services and yummy dishes! There are no reservations and it is NOT AYCE. They can accommodate bigger groups. We usually get there when it opens so we do not have to wait. The parking is busy!
Hubby & I've been here many times even before pre-covid. Their meat quality has always been consistently good & flavorful. We ordered the chadol & kkotsal this time & it was tender. Their side dishes are delicious as well. Service is friendly & attentive. I like that they cook the meat for you & they change the grill when necessary. It's not AYCE but I prefer quality over quantity & they serve just the right amount meat. At the end, we ordered neng myun & kimchi jjgae. The neng myun was just okay but the kimchi jigae mixed in with rice was pretty good. We left home feeling full & satisfied. There are a lot of Korean bbq restaurants in BP area but I rate this one the best in my opinion.
I could go lengthy into this restaurant, but a lot of what I'll mention will be easily experienced just by coming in yourself. Saemaeul is a Korean BBQ restaurant with some of the highest quality meats you can desire. Before even walking in you might notice the people who come here: they're almost all Korean. Just from the clientele you can tell this is going to be authentic AF. The staff are very kind. Obviously, if you speak Korean it'll be easier to order, but they do speak English and they are helpful. Because this is more traditional Korean BBQ and not an AYCE they will be cooking the meat for you, perfect for anyone who doesn't want to cook their own food. This means you benefit from their expertise and everything will be cooked perfectly for you to enjoy without the stress. The food is incredible in quality. For Korean cuisine it isn't just about the main dishes that make a meal. It also involves the quality of the side dishes and the ban chan here is incredibly fresh and vibrant in flavors. Saemaeul serves one of the best 된장찌개 I've had in America. A lot of places this fermented bean soup is either too watery or too salty, but here it is perfect and accentuates all the adjacent flavors. The meat is high quality with a butcher in the kitchen actually cutting the meats presented to you. Just writing this is making my mouth water. The price will be a bit higher. We got a beef combo that costs $138 but it was meant for 3 people so it made sense. Not to mention the quality is worth that much. Considering the high quality ingredients, the stress free eating experience, and an ambiance that would easily fit in any big city in South Korea Saemaeul is a perfect place to eat Korean BBQ where you'll leave not only full, but satisfied.
Came to Saemaeul for dinner and absolutely loved the experience! I always prefer KBBQ that isn't AYCE and the small beef combo was perfect for 3 of us, we even had leftover to take home. I really appreciate that non of the meats were marinated compared to similar KBBQ restaurant combos. The service was amazing and our waiter cooked our beef to perfection, changing out the grill after every type. We came on the early side and didn't have to wait, but the restaurant started getting busy closer to 6! I regret not getting the cheesy steamed egg and will definitely be back again to try it. Food: 5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 4/5
Of course we had to visit after watching Culinary Class Wars on Netflix! The restaurant is located off Beach Blvd in Buena Park, where a number of other well-established Korean restaurants are located. The place was quite empty on a Wednesday night for dinner but service was really good. All the servers were very attentive, seriously like a hawk watching your every move (and plate). Dishes came out quick and the servers assisted in cooking your meats. Overall, I thought the quality and items were relatively similar to other 'higher-end' Korean BBQ spots in the area. My group thought it was a little better, but not by much. I'd say my favorite items were the Yeoltan Bulgogi (which you can also get $0.01 soju if ordered) and the Rice Balls. The restroom is a bit run down. Things are kind of rusty and moldy. I don't know how effective the ventilation is since there were times when each table had plumes of smoke. The vents didnt seem to work too well.
This was my first time trying to location with my friend. We went here for my brother's birthday. It was 7pm on a Monday evening. It wasn't busy and we were seating right away. When we were first escorted to our table, we thought the table and grill was pretty small for a table of 6 people. It felt like everything was crammed onto the table. We ordered the large order of the beef special. We ended up ordering extra brisket, beef tongue, and boneless short rib. We were very full at the end! Some of the meat quality was very good, and others were just okay. Service was good! All of the servers continuously checked in on us, and they changed the grill regularly. I thought they cooked the food really fast though. I felt a little rushed at some points. I'm not sure the price matches the quality of the meat.
One of the favorite spot to dine KBBQ in Buena Park. Good quality meant, my nephews love cheeses steam eggs. The service is pretty great, they grilled us the meats. The wait line wasn't bad at that time. Each table wasn't crowded, They space out pretty good. We love going back soon.
Stopped by here in a Saturday around 4:45pm. We just came before the dinner rush, as the line quickly became long with families after us. Originally came for X Fish but we didn't pre add ourselves to the yelp waitlist which was almost 2 hours. For two people we got the beef set for 2. The servicer saved us a lot of wasted money when we almost ordered the set for 4+ people (make sure you pick the right size for your party). The meats were delicious, and well portioned. They were cooking the meat quite fast so I did feel a little pressured to eat quickly. I like my meat (pretty crispy) so because of the pace we were being served I couldn't get that. The banchan was yummy as well. They continuously filled our rice paper refills because we went through over 4 lol. I do wish they had potato salad, fish cake and corn included though. Interior was spacious bright and clean. Was giving modern traditional Korean. Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5
Another Korean bbq. I'm giving it 4 stars because of the consistently great service. Staff cooked the meat and changed the grill multiple times. I was a part of a large group of 13. No reservations, but we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant is not set up for large groups, so we were split up into 3 small round tables. It's a lot of food. The side dishes are a little bit on the boring side, so I mostly stuck to the salad. The meat was okay.
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, while enjoying Korean cuisine food, this is the restaurant for you. I will start out by saying that what this restaurant does is that it brings all the various meats, pork, vegetables, salads, and all that good stuff that is brought to your table in any good Korean restaurant, but instead of cooking your meat yourself, they do it for you. Making for a truly great experience. They have a large staff here. So, every table is very well watched over and taken care of. Thus, you never have to worry about whether your meats are going to be overcooked or under cooked or anything like that. The staff is very attentive and well-versed at what they do. That do a great job! This is medium sized restaurant that is very well designed. The tables are all well spaced so you can really enjoy your meal without feeling crowded. This restaurant has all of the food and drink you would expect from a modern restaurant focusing on Korean cuisine. Mostly, the staff here is great at their jobs. Great place to eat!
Their spread of banchan is plentiful in veggies and their meat is so tender and juicy! I love how they offer so many veggie side dishes because they all go very well with the meat. The meat is great quality and the servers were so attentive here. They refilled our banchan without us having to ask and we were really impressed by that. It's not often you find kbbq places that go out of their way like that. They also frequently switched out the grill so our meat was never burnt but cooked perfectly.
This place has been on my radar to try since I heard of the chef who owned/inspired. Came on a weekday for early dinner; as we got more into the dinner hours there was plenty of seats still, so it's surprising how lowkey it is--it might be because the area is so saturated with other KBBQ places. This isn't AYCE but as usual with these kinds of places, it's not a problem because the meat quality is so much better! For 2 moderately hungry people there was plenty of food with one of the Small combos--the beef combo came with a nice selection of meats, all really good quality tasting. The cheese steamed egg is probably what catches most peoples' eyes; I will say it tasted a lot more like I was eating a cheese omelette than a usual steamed egg at KBBQ as the cheese sort of overpowers the subtlety of the silky eggs that normally are center stage. It was tasty, but just don't expect quite the same thing as usual! Overall the inside is really nice looking and the service was very fast and attentive; very classy wood design in all the seating. Parking is pretty easy in this plaza. Would definitely come back to try their other sets! read more
1 year ago
This is one of the many Korean barbecue restaurants in a 1 mile radius. I've come here before and tried the beef combo and this time decided to try the pork. The pork belly was extremely dry, but it may just have been that we were amongst one of the last customers on a Friday night. I would return here to give it another try and maybe try ordering something different. read more
My favorite Korean BBQ spot in Buena Park for this price range! It's not all-you-can-eat, but the seats are roomy, the meat is super flavorful, and the staff grills it for you. The side dishes like salad and soup are really fresh, and the steamed eggs are a must-try. Super fluffy! read more
2 years ago
Food Family and I came here after finding out this was Paik's restaurant(a judge from Culinary Class Wars). We've had our fair share of kbbq and this place really stood out on top for me. It's not an unlimited kbbq place, so we ordered the XL beef Special combo for our party of 6 and a green onion pancake. I believe that it was just the right portion for us wherein we were stuffed but not too full. The quality of the meat was top notch and we got pretty thick cuts and one of the servers cooked the meat for us. The green onion pancake was a fluffy pancake that just melted in my mouth accompanied by flavorful sauces. Overall, it's a bit more a premium place to go to but pretty worth it in my opinion. Service/Ambiance On Saturday lunch, we were surprised that there were barely any people inside. The vibe of the place was a bit more of an upscale casual kbbq place. The staff were nice and cooked the meat for us in our special combo. read more
Amazing Korean Barbeque! One of my favorites! The chef for Culinary Class Wars owns this spot. I like their meat quality, good services and yummy dishes! There are no reservations and it is NOT AYCE. They can accommodate bigger groups. We usually get there when it opens so we do not have to wait. The parking is busy! read more
Hubby & I've been here many times even before pre-covid. Their meat quality has always been consistently good & flavorful. We ordered the chadol & kkotsal this time & it was tender. Their side dishes are delicious as well. Service is friendly & attentive. I like that they cook the meat for you & they change the grill when necessary. It's not AYCE but I prefer quality over quantity & they serve just the right amount meat. At the end, we ordered neng myun & kimchi jjgae. The neng myun was just okay but the kimchi jigae mixed in with rice was pretty good. We left home feeling full & satisfied. There are a lot of Korean bbq restaurants in BP area but I rate this one the best in my opinion. read more
I could go lengthy into this restaurant, but a lot of what I'll mention will be easily experienced just by coming in yourself. Saemaeul is a Korean BBQ restaurant with some of the highest quality meats you can desire. Before even walking in you might notice the people who come here: they're almost all Korean. Just from the clientele you can tell this is going to be authentic AF. The staff are very kind. Obviously, if you speak Korean it'll be easier to order, but they do speak English and they are helpful. Because this is more traditional Korean BBQ and not an AYCE they will be cooking the meat for you, perfect for anyone who doesn't want to cook their own food. This means you benefit from their expertise and everything will be cooked perfectly for you to enjoy without the stress. The food is incredible in quality. For Korean cuisine it isn't just about the main dishes that make a meal. It also involves the quality of the side dishes and the ban chan here is incredibly fresh and vibrant in flavors. Saemaeul serves one of the best 된장찌개 I've had in America. A lot of places this fermented bean soup is either too watery or too salty, but here it is perfect and accentuates all the adjacent flavors. The meat is high quality with a butcher in the kitchen actually cutting the meats presented to you. Just writing this is making my mouth water. The price will be a bit higher. We got a beef combo that costs $138 but it was meant for 3 people so it made sense. Not to mention the quality is worth that much. Considering the high quality ingredients, the stress free eating experience, and an ambiance that would easily fit in any big city in South Korea Saemaeul is a perfect place to eat Korean BBQ where you'll leave not only full, but satisfied. read more
2 years ago
Came to Saemaeul for dinner and absolutely loved the experience! I always prefer KBBQ that isn't AYCE and the small beef combo was perfect for 3 of us, we even had leftover to take home. I really appreciate that non of the meats were marinated compared to similar KBBQ restaurant combos. The service was amazing and our waiter cooked our beef to perfection, changing out the grill after every type. We came on the early side and didn't have to wait, but the restaurant started getting busy closer to 6! I regret not getting the cheesy steamed egg and will definitely be back again to try it. Food: 5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 4/5 read more
2 years ago
Of course we had to visit after watching Culinary Class Wars on Netflix! The restaurant is located off Beach Blvd in Buena Park, where a number of other well-established Korean restaurants are located. The place was quite empty on a Wednesday night for dinner but service was really good. All the servers were very attentive, seriously like a hawk watching your every move (and plate). Dishes came out quick and the servers assisted in cooking your meats. Overall, I thought the quality and items were relatively similar to other 'higher-end' Korean BBQ spots in the area. My group thought it was a little better, but not by much. I'd say my favorite items were the Yeoltan Bulgogi (which you can also get $0.01 soju if ordered) and the Rice Balls. The restroom is a bit run down. Things are kind of rusty and moldy. I don't know how effective the ventilation is since there were times when each table had plumes of smoke. The vents didnt seem to work too well. read more
2 years ago
This was my first time trying to location with my friend. We went here for my brother's birthday. It was 7pm on a Monday evening. It wasn't busy and we were seating right away. When we were first escorted to our table, we thought the table and grill was pretty small for a table of 6 people. It felt like everything was crammed onto the table. We ordered the large order of the beef special. We ended up ordering extra brisket, beef tongue, and boneless short rib. We were very full at the end! Some of the meat quality was very good, and others were just okay. Service was good! All of the servers continuously checked in on us, and they changed the grill regularly. I thought they cooked the food really fast though. I felt a little rushed at some points. I'm not sure the price matches the quality of the meat. read more
One of the favorite spot to dine KBBQ in Buena Park. Good quality meant, my nephews love cheeses steam eggs. The service is pretty great, they grilled us the meats. The wait line wasn't bad at that time. Each table wasn't crowded, They space out pretty good. We love going back soon. read more
3 years ago
Stopped by here in a Saturday around 4:45pm. We just came before the dinner rush, as the line quickly became long with families after us. Originally came for X Fish but we didn't pre add ourselves to the yelp waitlist which was almost 2 hours. For two people we got the beef set for 2. The servicer saved us a lot of wasted money when we almost ordered the set for 4+ people (make sure you pick the right size for your party). The meats were delicious, and well portioned. They were cooking the meat quite fast so I did feel a little pressured to eat quickly. I like my meat (pretty crispy) so because of the pace we were being served I couldn't get that. The banchan was yummy as well. They continuously filled our rice paper refills because we went through over 4 lol. I do wish they had potato salad, fish cake and corn included though. Interior was spacious bright and clean. Was giving modern traditional Korean. Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 read more
Another Korean bbq. I'm giving it 4 stars because of the consistently great service. Staff cooked the meat and changed the grill multiple times. I was a part of a large group of 13. No reservations, but we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant is not set up for large groups, so we were split up into 3 small round tables. It's a lot of food. The side dishes are a little bit on the boring side, so I mostly stuck to the salad. The meat was okay. read more
If you are looking for a truly unique experience, while enjoying Korean cuisine food, this is the restaurant for you. I will start out by saying that what this restaurant does is that it brings all the various meats, pork, vegetables, salads, and all that good stuff that is brought to your table in any good Korean restaurant, but instead of cooking your meat yourself, they do it for you. Making for a truly great experience. They have a large staff here. So, every table is very well watched over and taken care of. Thus, you never have to worry about whether your meats are going to be overcooked or under cooked or anything like that. The staff is very attentive and well-versed at what they do. That do a great job! This is medium sized restaurant that is very well designed. The tables are all well spaced so you can really enjoy your meal without feeling crowded. This restaurant has all of the food and drink you would expect from a modern restaurant focusing on Korean cuisine. Mostly, the staff here is great at their jobs. Great place to eat! read more
Their spread of banchan is plentiful in veggies and their meat is so tender and juicy! I love how they offer so many veggie side dishes because they all go very well with the meat. The meat is great quality and the servers were so attentive here. They refilled our banchan without us having to ask and we were really impressed by that. It's not often you find kbbq places that go out of their way like that. They also frequently switched out the grill so our meat was never burnt but cooked perfectly. read more
2 years ago
My friends and I visited SAEMAEUL Korean Traditional BBQ, and the restaurant was clean and refreshing. We ordered a BBQ platter for about $80, which included three plates of meat, soybean paste soup, and a variety of delicious side dishes. The meat was high quality and well-marinated, sizzling over the charcoal grill, releasing an irresistible aroma. With a crispy outside and juicy inside, every bite was bursting with flavor! Paired with authentic Korean side dishes and a special dipping sauce, it was an incredibly satisfying experience. One of the most unique dishes was the old-school lunchbox fried rice (see Image 3). The server first brought out the lunchbox for customers to take photos before shaking and mixing the ingredients inside (see Image 4). The final result was a hand-mixed kimchi fried rice full of rich flavors. The cheese steamed egg was another highlight! It contained onions and other vegetables, making it both nutritious and delicious. read more
2 years ago
Still the best Korean BBQ place in Orange County that I know. I never understood why people line up at Baekjeong. Their meat is absolutely disgusting. Anyhow the meat quality here is truly the best for the price around $50s per person. Also the staff here really knows how to cook your meat perfectly to keep the juicy part inside but render crispy part outside. I read some people complaining about the bland taste of meat. Ridiculous... Then how should the fresh meat taste as? Sweet? Salty?Peppery? They are probably talking about KBBQ marinated in lots of sugar and soy sauce. Trust me their meat quality here is excellent. Besides they provide the sauce and salt on the side. Just Make sure to order the beef combo. I think That's the best choice for the buck. Also I recommend steamed egg. That was also really good. One of the best ones I ever had. So creamy and buttery! read more
2 years ago
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! I hadn't had Korean BBQ in almost a month because of my diet, so my mouth was dancing with happiness! Honestly, it felt like one of the best K-BBQ experiences--not because it was super fancy, but because I had been seriously craving it. The combo was perfect for two people. At other places, we often end up with too much food--either having to waste it or stuff ourselves uncomfortably. But here, it was just right! The price was also a bit more affordable at $80 (we usually pay around $100 elsewhere), and the soybean paste stew was really delicious. The server was so kind and attentive, and we left feeling full and happy. Only downside: It's in Buena Park, which is pretty far from home. I really hope they open a location on the Westside someday! read more
Discovered another great Korean BBQ restaurant makes me so happy! Come with me. Highlights of the menu: 1. Doshirak - shaken rice 2. Steamed egg 3. Seaweed soup 4. Useol - beef tongue Beef special combo: 5. Kkotsal - prime short rib center 6. Sogalbisal - beef finger rib 7. Chadolbagi - cab beef brisket 8. Combo kimchi jjigae They grill the meat for customers which is amazing service. Casual ambiance. read more
It was my husband's birthday lunch with the family and all 7 of us were very satisfied with the service, ambiance and food as usual. It was over 1pm on Sunday, there weren't any parking spot and the restaurant was busy but it felt everything was in control and calm, which was so nice. We were seated and served immediately. Unfortunately, we only had one grill but we didn't feel any inconvenience due to our server being with us the whole time not only serving the food but also cooking the meat. He worked really hard and never lost his smile. We ordered two large beef special, two pork dishes, two cheese egg bombs, rice and cold noodles, which was plenty. This place will always have a special place in my heart and be my #1 Korean BBQ place. read more
I came here on a weekday and the restaurant was pretty busy but we were lucky to be seated quickly. We decided to try our the beef special combo with a side of KimchiJjigae and lunch box and all the food came out amazing. I was worried if the food would be enough for 2 people, but it was perfect. The meat was high quality and because the attentive staff was helping us cook, everything came out amazing and delicious. The meal was even better with a mango Makgeolli which felt like it was made with real mango or something because it was soooo good. I felt like the ventilation was also very good ! I would definitely come again !! read more
3 years ago
Flipping, sizzling, and KBBQ wizardry - we're turning up the heat for the ultimate Korean BBQ experience!! Marbling that's out of this world, cuts so tender they practically melt in your mouth, and flavors that'll leave you speechless - this Korean BBQ is perfection! Oh, and did I mention they grill it all for you? That means you can sit back, relax, and savor every delicious bite. Everything we tried: - Special Mix Combo X Large (bulgogi, pork belly, beef finger ribs, marinated skirt steak) - Beef Special Combo Small (boneless short ribs, beef finger ribs, brisket) - Doenjang Jjigae (soybean paste stew) - Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi stew) - Yetnal Dosirak (lunch box) - Cheese Gyeran Jjim (steamed egg with melted cheese) The Boneless Short Ribs was my favorite...Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection that's so good, it's almost sinful! If flavor had a megaphone, it would be screaming "TO DIE FOR!" read more
1 year ago
Meat quality was insane -- super marbled, tender, and just melts in your mouth. Not AYCE, but 100% worth it. The combos are super filling. We got the Large Beef Combo (perfect for 3-4 people) + 2 a la carte meats we wanted to try. The combo comes with a soup -- we picked the kimchi jjigae (so good). We also ordered the cheesy steamed egg (huge + great for sharing). They cook everything for you and every meat cut was on point. We only waited 5-10 mins, and the place was full of Korean families, so you know it's legit. Service was okay -- not super helpful for first-timers, and we had to ask questions ourselves. No one offered banchan or water refills either, but the food made up for it. read more
3 years ago
Service and offerings here are substandard. I asked for iced green tea, and they only have hot green tea. I take it that this place doesn't have ice. The offerings for the sides are lacking. The staff here cuts and cooks the meat for you, but near the end we had to ask our person to come back. We were willing to cook ourselves, but they set the expectation. Near the end of our stay, person was gone for about 10-15 minutes, and we had to flag him down. I'll acknowledge that it was busy, but looking around, other tables looked like they experienced more consistency. Lastly, while cooking the last set of meat, we asked our person for more rice paper. He left, came back finished cooking the meat, said we were good to go, and left. There was no interest at this point to repeat asking him for the rice paper, and we ended up eating the meat with our salad. There's a reason King Chang is ranked higher with an average 4.8 score. We wanted to try this place for something different, but it fell way short. King Chang offers more variety in terms of its sides as well. We had the combo package which was two beef and two pork. The pork belly and one of the beef were okay. The other two were average. This place isn't even worth a second shot in my estimation, and we'll be going back to King Chang to make up for the experience. Hard pass on this spot. read more
Quality of the meats here are spectacular and definitely worth a visit! What prompted my visit though was their unique steamed egg with cheese which was pretty solid. Their menu is a la carte and they have combo options available. My party of 2 came on a Saturday late afternoon and there was no wait with plenty of tables available. We ordered the small beef combo and the steamed egg with cheese. The beef combo comes with brisket, rib fingers, beef short rib, and a choice of kimchi or soybean stew which we chose kimchi. All 3 meats were of great quality and only got better as we ate. The brisket was good, the rib fingers were great, and the beef short ribs were spectacular all with just a dab of salt. The waiters cooked for us, but the only issue was that we felt a bit rushed in eating since the next meat was cooked right after the previous one was cooked and pushed to the side. The grill was changed between every meat though which was nice. The steamed egg with cheese has corn cheese mixed with the steamed egg and topped with a layer of mozzarella cheese and cheddar. I'm a huge fan of melted cheese so this was heavenly to me. However, the steamed egg itself wasn't that great since i felt it was too dense and not as fluffed as I liked. Overall I enjoyed my meal here and found the price to be quite reasonable for the quality you get. It is on par with more of an upscale restaurant like Baekjeong and I think their cheesy steamed egg was worth trying. Quality of the food and service of the staff were great. read more
It's a casual kbbq spot with pretty good quality meats and decent service - we got a beef combo for two and it was around $80. They come and cook the meats for you, so there isn't any work involved on your part. And they swap out the grill quite often, which is a plus. read more
ITS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR ME!!! We walked in and it on a Wednesday I think, and it was pretty nice on the inside. I love the statues in the front, it gives it a cute vibe. I am not sure what we got on the menu as our director ordered, but i love how they come and cut it up and somewhat cook it for you. It is super duper fancy and I would love to do it again!! I enjoyed all the meats, the cucumbers and the soup that comes in the beginning. I am sorry I dont know all the names, but if we had to go back, I WOULD GO TODAY!!! FOOD IS AWESOME AND STAFF IS GREAT!! read more
There is no shortage of good KBBQ in OC but this might just be one of my favorite spots. Came here on a Sunday evening for dinner, and it wasn't too crowded but just lively enough. I dined with two others got the Beef Combo with an order of the Yeoltan Bulgogi, which is like their specialty pork bulgogi. We also got the Yetnal Dosirak, another one of their must-order dishes. I absolutely LOVED this and really think this is what sets Saemaeul apart from other KBBQ spots. The lunch box is a nod to oldschool Korean lunch boxes and is rice and banchans shaken up in a box. So so good. As for the meat, every single item was delicious. The combos are definitely the way to go. From the Beef Combo, my favorite cut was the Kkotsal (short rib) but the Chadolbaegi (brisket) was a close second. I'd also highly recommend adding an order of the Yeoltan Bulgogi if you want another cut to try. This was so flavorful, tender, and the perfect cut of meat to end the meal on. Sides like the Steamed Egg (the cheese!!) and the Kimchi and Soybean Stews were also great, and made for such a great overall meal. Service was fantastic throughout, and they really cooked the meat so well for us. Definitely a spot I think I'll be back to! read more
3 years ago
Overall a very good KBBQ place. It is not AYCE and on the pricier side, but for four people we ordered a Small Beef Combo with a pork belly and steamed egg and it was just enough. They also cook for you here, which is nice. The best meet was the kkotsal. It was so tender, flavorful, and melted in your mouth. T_T. The steamed egg was something different and I liked that it had cheese and corn. But it was suuuper overcooked and on the firmer side. I don't think I have had one this cooked before and would rather have it soft. Service was overall fine but when the server came out with our tofu soup it was dripping all over the grill but he did not seem to notice and just asked if we wanted rice. We told him, the soup is spilling, but he ignored us and asked again if we wanted rice as it continued to spill. Didn't place it down until we said No Rice. So we did lose some soup there :/ . read more
2 years ago
First time coming here and it was great! The meats were really good- my personal favorites were the beef brisket and the beef sirloin. We got the large beef order and also added their spicy marinated pork that they are well known for. It was nice that they came and cooked the meat for you at your table. Had a lot of yummy side dishes and a good alcohol selection with beers and Soju. The staff was nice and attentive. Place was well lit and ventilated. Can't wait to go again! read more
4 years ago
Great KBBQ!!! What I love the most is that they grill it for you. I usually had trouble overgrilled or even burned the meat but here the servers did all the grilling so it's a perfect grilling for every piece. They changed the grilling plates, did all the changing trays and adjusted the fire too. We just sat and eat. The meat was not really seasoned but they gave us salt, kimchi and another 3-4 sides to season. I love it because US restaurants usually overseasoned and it's too salty, but definitely not here. Sides are great!! The shaking fried rice was my favorite. Cheese pull egg was very nice too. Small set will feed 2-3 ppl. Totally recommend!! read more
Business owner information
Sehee K.
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that…
4 years ago
Truly an experience to dine here. Coming from San Diego, it was refreshing to go to a kbbq restaurant that offers an extensive selection of quality meat that also has servers cook your kbbq for you. This was definitely a treat. The sides were fantastic and the restaurant was very well ventilated for kbbq. The interior seating was comfortable (in a booth) and the service was quick and fast. I would definitely come back here again! Worth the drive read more
Business owner information
Sehee K.
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that…
Man, this was one of the best KBBQ experiences I've had in a while. KBBQ really does bring people together because my friends and I had a great time eating quality cuts of meat and watching the server cook our food for us. We got the Beef Special Combo: short ribs, ribeye, brisket, marinated galbi, kimchi stew, and soybean paste stew. I'm a beef person so I loved every cut of the meat. However, I am human and do have favorites. Mine happened to be the marinated galbi with it nearly melting in my mouth from how tender and juicy it was. We also ordered the Pork Special Combo: marinated pork ribs, pork jowl, pork belly, pork neck. When something is marinated, I'll definitely love it so the marinated pork ribs were no exception. I would actually solely come here even just for the side dishes because those were phenomenal. I had my first dosirak, or Korean lunch box, which came in a gold, rectangular container. The waiter grandiosely showed us all the ingredients (sausage, fried egg, stir-fried kimchi and rice) before closing the lid and shaking it in front of us. Opening up that box and taking a bite of the rice was like heaven: a beautiful blend of flavors and textures. I also could not stop obsessing over the Steamed Eggs with Cheese because where else do you see that? Most Korean restaurants offer corn and cheese but they need to get to this level and add cheese to the steamed eggs too because it really elevated the dish. The service was so quick and the waiter who helped us was patient and kind which made the experience that much better. He grabbed us extra banchan and salad when we ran out and would keep an eye on our water to ensure that we didn't run out. We went for a late weekend lunch and there wasn't that many people so it was a great environment overall. read more
Business owner information
Sehee K.
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that…
Ok so the food here looked and tasted great. Location has decent parking and the service was excellent. The waiters had out dishes cooked as we ate and the kimchi was good. There was one salad that looked really old so we didn't touch it. Why the 2 stars? Because I've never had such an upset stomach after eating something before. I don't know what it was but I would not recommend because of how immediate my body reacted to this food. Not even AYCE makes my stomach upset the way this food did so unfortunately won't be coming back. read more
3 years ago
I came here a few weeks ago with two friends. When we got there, they said there would be a 40 min wait, but it was actually 20 min. We ordered the small beef combo which came with 3 meats - short rib, finger rib, and beef belly. It also came with a soup - kimchi or soybean paste. We picked the kimchi soup which tasted like normal kimchi soup. Like always, it came with a lot of side dishes. We didn't ask for any refills except for the rice paper. I notice that whenever I get Korean bbq, they always put a little bit of rice paper and when you ask for more they give a lot more. We also ordered the steamed egg with cheese. The reviews said it was not smooth and they were very accurate. I liked the cheese in the steamed egg, but it wasn't creamy enough. We were done with our food including waiting time in an hour, so it's pretty fast. The servers cooked the food for us. read more
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More info about Saemaeul Restaurant
5471 Beach Blvd
Buena Park, CA 90621
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(714) 562-0900
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Ask the Community - Saemaeul Restaurant
Can you still accept reservation for tonight for 4?
Sorry. We do not take any reservations.
Is there all you can eat?
No, but the quality of the beef is good for the price. If you are looking for AYCE, Thirsty Cow - Puente Hills, CA - Worth the drive…
Do you take reservations for 10 ppl?
When you order to go, is it cooked?
S this place all you can eat Korean BBQ?
How much does it cost to eat here?
It is not cheep. 2 people for dinner was a little over $80 with out any alcohol.
Do you take reservations for 8-13 people? Thanks!
Yes we do. You can call it in, we'll be able to assist you.…
Hello, I am looking for a restaurant for the birthday party. Do you accommodate a group of 15-20 people? Thanks
Hello! Yes we definately do. What day and time?
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31 reviews that are not currently recommended
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