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    Steve's Korean Bbq

    3.6 (538 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Barbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Steve's Korean Bbq Takeout or Delivery

    Steve's Korean Bbq Photos

    STEVE'S KOREAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

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    BBQ ribs
    Si Si L.

    I used to come here all the time when I was going to school at Cal 25 years ago. I was in the area today, so I looked up whether it was still there, and it was! The place looked about the same. I asked the guy at the register if the place was still under the same ownership from 25 years ago, and he said yes. I remembered from college that this place gave generous portions and the taste was pretty good. But with Covid and that 25 years have passed, my expectations were not too high that it would be the same. I ordered the BBQ short ribs with a double order of the bean sprout salad instead of kimchi. The portions were as generous as I remembered, and the taste was as good as I remembered as well. The price was also cheap compared to other Korean restaurants. $20 for a generous order of BBQ short ribs. That's at least $35 else where. If you are looking for a no frills, cheap but good Korean bbq, look no further. This was one of my go-to places when I was in college, and it's just as good as I remembered going back 25 years later.

    Sometimes, everything you need is a Kim Chi stew. The soup here is r really good. Thank you for the meal!

    17. Grilled Glassy Noodle Over Rice Specialty -- with picked out "mushrooms" aka tofu
    Emily D.

    Ordered the grilled glass noodle with BEEF, but also got a special surprise of tofu mixed in with my beef. Which would be fine if I wasn't allergic to soy. I called and I was told that there was no tofu in it just black mushrooms. Idk how they were so certain without even asking the person who made it. See pics and tell me that's not tofu? Even google image search said tofu.

    1. BBQ Beef
    James B.

    The food was pretty standard and solid. The beef was seasoned nicely, I enjoyed the bean sprouts, and portion size was good (though I think merited given the price). I'd go here for a quick meal with friends if already around, but if I want some real tasty Korean food I will certainly go elsewhere (perhaps Oakland). I don't think the restaurant claims to be any more than it is either, so on the whole as expected.

    Barbecue Short Rib
    Alice H.

    It is my go-to spot for quick and tasty KBBQ. I love their Barbecue Short Rib, and here's why it's great - it's seasoned just right and super tender. The sides, like kimchi and bean sprout salad, add extra zing and freshness to the meal. These sides not only complement the short rib beautifully but also refresh your palate. Plus, you get a generous portion of rice to enjoy with everything.

    Montage of images from Steve's Korean Bar-B-Que
    Ed U.

    I don't believe UC Berkeley has a sumo wrestling team, but this would be the place they'd go to chow down because I've never seen such gluttonous portions of Korean BBQ in my life. Now if this spot was around back when I was an impoverished, calorifically insensitive undergrad way back when, I would've been excited and become a regular customer full stop. Despite my hardening arteries, what's still consistent about me is that I still like a good deal, and let's face it, Steve offers a good deal. I ordered the $19.55 Barbecue Chicken (photo: https://bit.ly/3soHEO8), while Jamie W. had the $20.75 Barbecue Pork Thick Cut (photo: https://bit.ly/3Hhjx8n). Both plates were beyond generous when it came to the meat marinated in whatever soy-based sauce they make in-house. They both rested on a huge bed of white rice which weighed down the plastic takeout tray considerably. The kimchi and bean sprout salad were almost incidental in quantity, but the offsetting crunch was most welcome in the meal. Moreover, given the quantity of food, I appreciated the student pricing. We had the food delivered, but I know their location on Durant all too well from my starving student days. King Pin Donuts, anyone? Ah, memories. FOOD - 4 stars...gut-busting meat that happens to be pretty tasty AMBIANCE - n/a...ours was a delivery but yeah, I know the place SERVICE - 4 stars...delivery has been quick from this place TOTAL - 4 stars...barbecue for the really starving student...and the rest of us RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

    ows a plastic container filled with meat and rice
    Kyle M.

    As a KBBQ enthusiast, I was super excited to try out this local Korean barbecue spot. I queued up an UberEats order at about 9 pm and it arrived super fast (in under 20 minutes). Unfortunately, my experience left me wanting more. My spicy pork plate ($20ish) lacked the bold flavors that I have come to expect from Korean dishes. The portion size was solid, just very dry and average tastewise. At that price point, I expected more. Might just be a fluke or off night.

    Ban Chan was bland but plentiful
    Craig Y.

    Quality versus quantity. That is the eternal question. If you are looking for quantity, Steve's BBQ is the place to go. You really can't go wrong for the amount of food you get for the price. It cost us about $20 per plate which seems pretty high for a quick service joint, but you really get two full meals for that price. So if you are a hungry Cal student this is a great deal for you. However, if you were looking for quality Korean BBQ food, there are so many places to go. FOOD: We ordered two different plates. The soft tofu stew and a barbecue beef plate. Both were just mediocre in flavor. You do get a huge quantity of food but it's kind of like the medium place where it's kind of bland. But if you're looking to bulk up on food this is a great place to go. The food is not bad at all it's just not good either. SERVICE: since we ordered through DoorDash, it's hard to rate the service. They packaged everything up well and all the food came to our door nice and warm. That being said, there wasn't anything extraordinary about the packaging to make it really stand out. On the barbecue plate, the meat covered all of the rice and all of the Bonchon so it was difficult to get unless you dug through the meat first. COST: they shine on cost. At least when you compare it to the amount of food. $20 for a plate is pretty high, but part of that is because of DoorDash fees and Berkeley surcharge. So really at about $15-$16 per plate, hard to go wrong. Still the lack of flavor means we won't be coming back.

    1. BBQ Beef and bbq 3. Barbecue Pork Thick Cut
    Patrick L.

    Used to frequent this place when I was still on college. It appears to have changed owners, but the food is just as good. Service is quick and the portions are huge. I got the kalbi and the bbq pork dishes. Each comes with a healthy dose of rice, kimchi, and pickled sprouts. The kalbi is cooked as good as they come. I got to thick cut bbq, it's somewhat tougher than your normal pork bulgogi, but the flavoring is good.

    Outside - same location after 30 years!

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Large portions. Food is not refined and not authentic. Good place if you want the portion but not the taste.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    A great place for a quick bite. The bbq chicken lunch special is a good deal. And tasty too. The comes up quickly.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Been around for decades and is still just as good. Fantastic quick Korean bbq, best in the area

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Tasty w/good portion sizes. Has Decent prices. Have delivery so can't speak to ambiance but comes neatly packaged.

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    Page 1 of 14

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    Smokin Woods BBQ

    Smokin Woods BBQ

    3.8
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I can't speak to the ambiance of the establishment as I had take out…read more There was a wait, but not extremely long. The brisket was delicious albeit a little fatty. The BBQ sauce was phenomenal. The baked beans were fine. The Mac and cheese was OK. I would go back and try something different like links and collards. Overall good.

    Food is EXCELLENT however, trying to order from them is a nightmare. They always have to close…read moreordering because they get so busy. I tried ordering yesterday and the ordering was closed at about 11:30 a.m. Because of this I ordered a day early (through Uber Eats). I keep getting updates but wanted to call the store to confirm. Glad I did because they didn't have the order and now at noon the ordering is closed for two hours. They should hire a couple of people just for take out orders for an order for four. After this it will be a while before I order again if at all. Update: at 1:00 they cancelled the order I placed at approximately 11:30 am. Second day in a row- you can't pay me to order from here again. Bad services ruins good food. Update two: I called them to express my frustration and sheer disappointment she listen said she would check on it - took my number and said she would call me back within 10 minutes. If I got a call the person reading this got one as well!!! If I wasn't done with them I definitely am now.

    Photos
    Blackberry Lemonade
    Blackberry Lemonade
    Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed
    Dry, overcooked, pork ribs. Disappointed
    Cool looking bar inside

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    Cool looking bar inside
    Pig in a Pickle

    Pig in a Pickle

    4.0
    (309 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    I don't usually crave BBQ but this place has my dolla every time I come into the Public Market…read more Having several BBQs around the Bay Area, I like this one the best. Their brisket is so money, they don't even know it. It ain't cheap but SuperDuper next door is chargin' $12 for a cheeseburger now. Thanks [insert president from the opposing political party].

    After hearing so many people rave about Pig in a Pickle, I finally made the trip over to…read moreEmeryville, and I'm glad I did. This place is located in a food hall, so there are plenty of other choices. If you're looking for barbecue that focuses on the meat first and doesn't rely on drowning everything in sauce, this place deserves a visit. I ordered a plate with brisket, a pork rib, hot link, collard greens, a side of BBQ sauce, and a drink for Super Duper. Brisket Without question, this was the star of the meal. I specifically asked for the fatty point, and it absolutely delivered. The brisket was incredibly tender with a beautiful bark, plenty of rendered fat, and a deep smoky flavor throughout. It had just the right balance of salt, pepper, and smoke without any one flavor overpowering the others. Honestly, this is the kind of brisket you don't even need sauce for, but I couldn't resist trying it with their BBQ sauce anyway. Pork Rib I ended up with an end piece, which can sometimes be a little dry, but that wasn't the case here. It was surprisingly tender and packed with flavor. The smoke came through nicely, and the seasoning had a great balance of pepper and salt. It wasn't falling off the bone--which, in my opinion, is exactly how properly cooked barbecue should be--but it pulled cleanly with each bite. I'd absolutely order the ribs again. Hot Link I've had plenty of hot links that were overly dense or aggressively spicy. These weren't. The casing had that satisfying snap when you bit into it, and the sausage itself was juicy and flavorful. The heat level was very approachable--enough to notice but never overwhelming--allowing the smoky, seasoned meat to remain the focus. A really well-made sausage. BBQ Sauce I mixed the mild and hot BBQ sauces together, and that ended up being the perfect combination for my taste. The mild sauce added sweetness and tang while the hot sauce contributed just enough kick without masking the flavor of the meat. That combination complemented everything on the tray exceptionally well. Collard Greens The collard greens were another pleasant surprise. They were well-seasoned, flavorful, and not overly spicy. The greens still had some texture without being tough. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more smoked meat mixed in. The flavor was definitely there--I just wanted a bit more of the meaty goodness. Overall, Pig in a Pickle impressed me from start to finish. The quality of the smoked meats really stands out, especially the brisket, which was easily one of the better briskets I've had in the Bay Area. The rib was excellent, the hot links were flavorful without being overly heavy, and even the sides held their own. I'll definitely be making the drive back to Emeryville to work my way through more of the menu. If the rest of their offerings are anywhere near as good as this tray, I can see why they've built such a strong reputation. Highly recommended--especially if you're a brisket lover. Simply Wonderful!!

    Photos
    Pig in a Pickle
    Beef brisket
    Beef brisket
    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg

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    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg
    Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen

    Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen

    4.1
    (5.2k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Angeline's absolutely delivered. I stopped in around 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday, and I was surprised…read moreby how empty it was. No complaints though--it made for a relaxed meal and the service was attentive. I ordered the fried chicken and beignets with gravy, and it was excellent. I'm usually someone who prefers bone-in fried chicken, but this version won me over. The chicken was juicy with perfectly seasoned, crispy breading, and the savory gravy paired surprisingly well with the beignets. Everything on the plate complemented each other without feeling too heavy. The only miss for me was the orange juice--it was pretty forgettable. But honestly, the rest of the meal more than made up for it. I'd happily come back for the fried chicken.

    I am not new to Angeline's. This restaurant has been in business for YEARS & I am happy to see they…read moreare still booked and busy. I am happy to see the menu has never changed (if it ain't broke don't fix it). The customer service has and still is great. The ambiance is nice and clean while sprinkling as much Louisiana vibes as possible (mardi Gra mask, beads, music, etc). My go to is catfish and hush puppies I am not a spicy girl when it comes to my food so FYI the gumbo has a spicy kick to it. 3 bites and I had to stop eating it but sure it's flavorful The only items they still have that I do not like is the potato salad. Would I go back? Well of course. I never stopped going.

    Photos
    Jambalaya
    Jambalaya
    Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen
    Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen

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    Hidden Spot - Emeryville

    Hidden Spot - Emeryville

    4.5
    (435 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Found this spot on tiktok and decided to try it out with my favorite cousin. The rating was decent…read moreand the food looked good so we made our way over. We sat inside originally, but then decided to go sit outside because it was a beautiful day. The inside was clean and very quiet, the patio was full of people. Ambiance gets a 4/5. We were immediately met by a pleasant waitress, and when we moved she just came and found us. She was very informative, engaging, and knowledgeable, great service all around 4.8/5. I ordered the strength & my cousin the garlic wings and a margarita. The wings were some of the best I've ever had, fried to perfection and seasoned just right. A huge punch of garlic, which I really enjoy, so wings were 4.9/5. The vegetarian sandwich I ordered was so delicious, the pesto and garlic aioli really added flavor and the fresh warm bread really set it apart 4.8/9, only because the jalapeño was more spicy than pickled. Overall; I rate this place a 4.7/5

    A hidden secret is the Hidden Spot. Right on the corner with easy ramp up walkway or stairs. It has…read moreoutside eating or inside with big screen tv's and a bar. All the food sounded good on the menu. I had the sapphire which was supposed to be hot but it wasn't at all for me. The gem was almost like a Philly cheese steak. Both were really good. The fries seasoning is really good and the onion rings were good as well. I got a mango lemonade drink that I really enjoyed. Cool place to watch sports and grab a good bite to eat. Now go and enjoy, you can thank me later.

    Photos
    Hidden Spot - Emeryville
    Buffalo Sauce (Spicy) OTS
    Buffalo Sauce (Spicy) OTS
    The hills sandwich - provolone, pesto, veggies, shredded chicken, grilled mushroom on Dutch crunch

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    The hills sandwich - provolone, pesto, veggies, shredded chicken, grilled mushroom on Dutch crunch
    Don Blanc

    Don Blanc

    4.4
    (302 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$$

    Have come here twice in the last two weeks because it's so good. I don't usually like going out for…read moreKorean food because I can cook most things at home, but my partner and I were really craving meat on these occasions and wanted to go out. We've gotten the monster short rib, pork collar and butt, and daechang (large beef intestine), which I've always wanted to try. Servers cook the meat for you (though they're also cool with you taking the tongs to cook on your own) and it's a really nice experience. Nice array of tasty banchan, too. We'll probably be back again soon!!

    Won't be our last time at Don Blanc! We came for lunch yesterday and was impressed with the quality…read moreof meats and found the price to be reasonable as well. My party ordered the Supreme Combo which came with 4 types of meat with cuts of pork and beef. The banchan was also great, I love when spots give some sort of onion mixture to cut the greasiness of the meat. I also love the fact that you were able to order half orders of the cold noodles. I saw that they have gopchang on the menu which I'm excited to try next time, I know it's hard to find in the area! Our server was great, I didn't catch his name but he was extremely friendly and was on top of refilling our waters. The restaurant was quiet when we came, but was in very clean conditions.

    Photos
    It was great to have a professional to cook the meat for us -- everything was cooked to juicy perfection!
    It was great to have a professional to cook the meat for us -- everything was cooked to juicy perfection!
    Pork Collar Butt (up close) | IG @christinesnomz
    Pork Collar Butt (up close) | IG @christinesnomz
    Pork butt

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    Pork butt

    Steve's Korean Bbq - korean - Updated August 2026

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