Ahhh, Steve's, the poor man's KBBQ. Read: cheap Korean food for college students. Let me just say that I've been here enough times that the sweet Korean lady upfront started to recognize me, so READ ON, my dears! Overall, Steve's is... well, the first sentence kind of said it all! While the quality isn't up to par as some places you'll visit in Oakland, for the price that you're paying, it's more than worth it. As a small Asian girl & self-proclaimed carnivore, I usually order the BBQ short ribs because (1) it's literally a bunch of meat and rice & (2) it's enough meat & rice to last me 2 meals-- 3 if I'm not too hungry. DEFINITELY worth the value. And as for the meat quality? It's not "too" bad, but maybe that's because my college takeout food standards are low? tl;dr: get the BBQ short ribs. Enjoy. read more

Okay, this is the best Korean Barbecue that I think that I will ever have on the place of the planet. They've been existing since 1981!!!! I ALWAYS GET MY ORDER TO-GO because I feel like the proportions are 10x as much, but it's probably because I never dine there. I always just go there, order it and get it within minutes. It's amazing how fast you get it (7 minutes max). I ALWAY ALWAYS ALWAYS GET THE BBQ short rib and I can live off of that for 2-3 days, because they just give you so so so so much. It's obviously not healthy to eat it everyday, so I get it once in a blue moon when my cravings are high, but it always hit the spot!!! It's $13.50 (around there), BUT IT IS WORTH IT. It's the best short rib I have ever had, and I go to L.A to eat short ribs very often, like Gen and stuff, but omg this just owns it. I also don't like Kim Chi in general, so I always get all bean sprouts and the rice and MAKE SURE to always get the black (soy sauce?) and red sauce (chili sauce). The taste of it isn't that strong, but it's satisfying to eat after you get all the grease and oil in your mouth. But overall, this place is amazing and I'm craving it right now as I type this, but you just need to go here. read more

I'm giving this place 4 stars because for the amount of food they give you. The price is so cheap! You get a heaping load of short ribs, rice, and kimchi! I can barely finish it! It's cool because they have indoor and outdoor options. They have water cups that they don't charge you for. They are usually pretty quick. They rarely have a line. The only thing I wish they could improve on is the quality of ribs. They tend to be on the fattier side. Other than that, they are a great spot to grub at! read more

Wonderful customer service with welcoming workers and staff. The owner was incredibly nice and welcoming. Serving sizes were incredibly large. read more

I still haven't reviewed a bunch of Berkeley eats/places but this was on my GOTTA REVIEW list. I LOVE THIS PLACE but minus one star for getting more and more expensive! I remember when a bunch of the plates used be $5.49 or something. The short ribs and bbq pork are the best! I've also tried the bibimbap and MMM SO GOOD! I'm not really a fan of kimchi (I know sad) so I tell them "No Kimchi" and they pile on tons more of those sprouts. MMM MMM! I wish they'd start serving some brown rice though because they put A LOT of white rice. You get a great ratio of meat:rice, if not more meat than rice, which is good. read more

I generally am not a fan of the asian ghetto, but Steve delivers. A plate costs about $7 and comes with A LOT of meat and is pretty quick. Broke Student Tip: Order a plate, eat half the meat with all the rice... Save the rest of the meat for a second meal when you make rice @ home. read more

Korean? I don't think I've ever seen a Korean employee here. Tons of meat with rice. No veggie. A full double meal for me. Loved this place when I was still in school. read more

I'm going to rate this by the college student's perspective, not by the rest of the free world's. Steve's is one of the few places in the "Asian Ghetto" that accepts credit cards, so that's always a plus if you just came up from class and don't want to walk to your ATM. The menu is pretty simple and has everything you'd expect. The food isn't all that bad; it certainly fulfills the most important requirement for college students: the most food for the least money. You'll leave with a full stomach and content taste buds. read more

If youre looking for good korean bbq, I'd recommend you go down telegraph more into oakland in the korean area there. Steve's provides just the simple standard of what korean bbq is. The meat quality isnt the best, but it'll get by if you simply just want something a little reminiscent of korean bbq, since asian ghetto covers the other countries of asia =P Personally, i hit this place up after a workout at the RSF for some quick protein, because they do give you alot of meat for sure, compared to all the other places in the area. The kimchi is not too good or fresh tasting either...but youll most likely get pretty filled with everything else and wont have to resort to picking at the kimchi post-meal =P read more

Not the most authentic...if at all. Korean food cooked by non-Koreans. Maybe the cooks specialized in Korean food....Yeaabuddy. Located in the Asian Ghetto, it's one of my go-to places if I just need something meaty and filling. Meat portions are typically plentiful and come with some bean sprouts and kim chi and a good amount of rice. I say typically because there's always those occasional times when I take the box out of the bag and see a scant amount of meat and I get a little bit sad. Prices have risen a little bit the past few years I've been here, and now it's about the standard 7-8 bucks. But at least you'll be full of good ol' protein. read more

I imagine that if you're looking this place up, that you may go to school around the area. And I don't know about you, but I will be in massive debt when I'm done with grad school especially paying the interest on the loans. That being said, I HATE spending money on bad food and small portions. Also, I have no time (or skills) to cook. I got the beef tofu soup to go, pretty good compared to some of the places I've tried in SF. Came with kimchi (meh), bean sprouts(nom) and rice. I think seriously the portions could have lasted me 3 meals. That's like $3+ a meal. What freaking costs $3 a meal in the Bay Area these days? My standard Trader Joe's salad sets me back about $4. And soup...nomnom. I was pretty happy to stumble upon this place for lunch. Super fast on the meat plates, and from what I saw they were huge as well like other yelpers are saying. I will go back to try the meats later, and if it's true what others are saying that the ribs are more fat than meat well...fat does take longer to digest. You won't be hungry at least, right? read more

3.5 stars Food: Short Ribs, Spicy Pork, Spicy Chicken ALL REALLY GOOD. Huge portions good for two meals. Perfect for meat lovers. Includes plenty of rice, bean sprout salad, and kimchi. Plain, simple, and delicious. Food takes about 10-15 mins. I come for the short ribs! Service: Mostly self serve. Order at cashier. Get your own napkins. Atmosphere: Lots of space. Good for single eaters to big groups. People mainly do to-go. Some Korean decor. Fluorescent lighting. Get in get out. read more

The 2-meat combo is a great deal--includes plenty of rice, kimchi, and meat of course. Delicious + perfect if you're craving Korean short ribs/beef. Owner + workers were kind, food came in 5-7 min. read more

Obviously, this isn't real Korean BBQ. I heard people critiquing Steve's for that...no shizz! I'm sure Steve isn't trying to play the image either. The most "Korean" thing about Steve's is the kimchi. It's spicy and tangy the way it's supposed to be. I'm actually surprised that Steve's of all places in Berkeley has my favorite kimchi. + Quick food, bbq the way you like it - Hygiene is an issue here; not so clean kitchen and seating area Munchies: 1. BBQ Chicken + If you dig kimchi, you can sub your bean sprouts for more kimchi + Hot off the grill, it's yummy 2. Spicy Vegetables + Veggies are spiced to a good level, sauce covers the rice Final Call: If I were to visit the Durant Food Court again, it'd probably be only for Steve's. read more

This spot is pretty damn good, my sis and I used to eat here like 10 years ago... gotta say it's pretty damn good still. My fav is the bbq chicken with rice! Delish read more

Steve's Korean Bbq - BBQ chicken - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

My wife and I are both Bears and she loves this place. I think it is just okay. The meat is often overcooked and the kimchi is too Americanized. The best thing about Steves though is the quantity of food and the bang for the buck. Great place to get enough food for dinner and lunch the next day. read more

This has been one of my key staple Berkeley Eaterys for the last 15 years. It is a small restaurant with seating for maybe 60 patrons with additional outdoor seating. The dishes are fairly simple but they just work. My favorite is the BBQ Short Rib that comes with Short Rib, Rice, Sprouts and Kimchi. Nice and simple. The pricing has gone up in the last few years but it is still a great deal considering how large the portions are. The décor has been updated in the last few years as well. The staff is friendly and are always busy working. This is not a fancy restaurant that I would hold any type of banquet at, but whenever I eat here I always leave happy. read more

Do you need a pile of no-nonsense Korean- esque meat? These guys have got you covered. The flavors are middle of the road, but the nice heaping portion gets them another star. Om nom short ribs for days! read more

Steve's Korean Bbq - Spare rib plate. - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Let's get to the basics. Quality: It's not bad at all. I'm not sure what people's expectations are. It's not authentic Korean BBQ, but its good none the less. Price: The price has gone up since renovation, but it's still not bad. I believe it's like $7.50 now for a plate. Atmosphere: The area is called the Asian Ghetto and there's an apparent reason for this. It's not bad at all. Overall: If you're looking for a quick place with a rice plate. This is it. The Asian Ghetto and its restaurants cater toward students who usually are in between classes, meeting, and busy doing something else. read more

The only reason why I go to the asian ghetto... and I still do. When I end up going to Newman Hall's 10pm'er, I make sure I pass by this joint for some good old BBQ beef or chicken. Some things never change... read more

The grilled shrimp with vegetables was alright! Can't really mess up an easy dish. As for the Spicy Beef Soup, it must have been great because the two girls that went with me completely finished it, with smiles! How often do you see skinny asian girls finish their meal. WOW, this place is a must ! Price isn't that bad either at under ten dollars a person! They should change the soundtrack though...How bout some genuine korean tunes instead of the mexican radio!!!! !@#$%^ read more

Food - 3 Service - 3 Atmosphere - 3.5 Overall - 3 Well here goes nothing. Meat. Meat. Meat. Meat. If you just finished a workout and don't have anything in the fridge, don't even bother thinking of any other place for a protein boost but Steve's. Ironic how it's called Korean BBQ because there really isn't anything korean about it. But nonetheless, the portions for your meals are huge. It'll fill you up. Don't bother with that Chipotle bowl or Thai basil. You're not going to get your proteins there. It's deliciously grilled meat with a hearty serving of rice (not brown..) right in front of your eyes! If you're craving veggies, or not feeling the meat, then go somewhere else. This isn't the place for you. read more

Deal with the devil: Good food, unauthentic, but have a lot of meats; however, found fly's eggs in my take-out that results in diarrhea! Not recommended read more

Steve's is awesome for those of us who crave home korean food, and will take anything that tastes slightly korean. Steve's is also awesome because it's close to campus and relatively cheap. Steve's is particularly awesome because you can ask for "a dollar extra meat" and they almost double the amount of meat that they give you. I think you can ask for "two dollar extra meat" but i've never tried it... I don't even know how much meat that would be. I'd recommend No. 2 the bbq pork, or the bi bim bap. Both of these seem the most authentically korean to me. No 3 short ribs (galbi) is also okay, but I usually find that there's not enough meat, or it's too fatty to be appetizing The two reasons why this place deserves way less stars than I gave it are 1. the kimchi (it's not kimchi) and 2. The No 1, bbq beef (bul go gi). They cut the meat in the wrong direction with the grain instead of against the grain so it's tough and almost not edible. but then occasionally, as soon as you get used to the idea of having to tear to meat with your chopsticks and your teeth with force, you get the one piece that was cut correctly. yeah. not good. read more

No matter how much I think I'm going to order something besides the bbq short ribs, I always end up getting the short ribs! They are so deliciously amazing in their messy goodness. You will not go hungry eating at Steve's. The portions are rather incredible, many people pack the leftovers up in a to go box. I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical with the name "Steve's Korean Bar-B-Q". But then on the suggestion of a friend whom I trusted, I gave it a go. I have actually tried all of the bbq options, pork, chicken and beef and none of them come close to the short ribs. They are so good. Their spicy sauce is amazing and the kimchi (sp?) that comes with the bbq combo plate accommodates the rice and meat well. I have never had a problem getting a seat here. It is reasonably clean by multi-ethnic grotto standards (that's what my friends and I call that food court!) and despite non-Koreans working behind the counter, the food is consistently solid and satisfying. I'm not sure this is a great place for vegetarian options but fortunately there are many choices for non-meat eaters in the vicinity. I have eaten at most of the places in the grotto and I consistently return to Steve's. Occasionally I'll make the mistake and think I want some chow mein. I always end up regretting it because it's never as good as the short ribs at Steve's!! read more

Had an order of Bi Bimbap (~$7): rice & raw vegetables (lettuce, carrot, cucumber, radish, and zucchini) topped with egg and Kimchi. Food was delicious, staff was quick, and the ambiance is like an oasis (metaphorically, not literally). NOTE: The egg is prepared on a grill which is used for other orders as well; one could ask for the egg to be withheld were it to be a concern. read more

18 years after going to Cal and now taking my kids here because they too are addicted to #5!!!

Their prices rose since the last time I've been there.. The food is good, and the portions are large. It's great to share a dish with someone at times when you cannot finish it all by yourself, making it under 4 dollars a person. It isn't really authentic korean bbq, but oh well read more

Simple Korean BBQ place, though I've had better. I probably wouldn't come here that often, since there are so many more flavorful options nearby. I will say that the portions are generous though. They give lots of rice and meat, with a side of kimchi and bean sprouts. read more

I've been a fan of Steve's BBQ since I was in college (a loooong time ago) and it was around when my hubby was in college (even looonger time ago), and aside from the prices having gone up $3-4 over the last decade or so and the change in employees, the food still tastes the same! The portions are generous (I can split one entree into two meals so it is cost-effective) and they give you plenty of kimchi and beansprouts on the side (you can also request no kimchi and extra beansprouts if you prefer that instead). We always make it a point to stop by when we're in Berkeley and get the bbq chicken plate and the bibimbap. Beware the hot sauce if you're not into super-spicy! I tend to dip my meat pieces into the sauce rather than put the sauce on top of the dish. Hubby likes to mix it into his bibimbap directly. We've also tried the short ribs plate, but found it a bit dry and more bone than meat. Yes, it's not the most authentic Korean food or I'm sure even the best cuts of meat, but it sure hits the spot! Something about how they marinate the chicken makes it super tasty. I recently brought home a to-go order of the bbq chicken for my mom and now she is hooked as well! You heard it here first - Steve's BBQ is mom-approved! read more

Best kbbq around campus, although meat quality could be a little better. Also this place is kinda pricey and you should expect to pay over $10 for this fast food. read more

Food: This was probably my favorite restaurant in the "Durant Food Court" (Asian Ghetto) back when I was an undergrad at Cal. The food here is solid, you can't go wrong with the chicken, beef, or pork dishes here. Service: Service is what you'd expect from a restaurant inside of a plaza nicknamed "Asian Ghetto." That being said, the turnaround time from placing the order to the dish being ready to serve was fairly quick each time I came in here. I'd gladly recommend this place to anyone who's unfortunate enough to live in Berkeley. read more

Short and sweet tidbits... -- It's cheap -- I ate here hella times as a Cal undergrad, and still do all these years after graduating -- Tons of meat and rice (I always get short rib) -- I admittedly have slightly lower standards than others, thus the 5 Stars And now I'm hungry. Off to get another short rib plate. read more

We end up going to Steve's a couple of times every couple of years. Objectively, I should probably give it two stars, but hey, I go back there, don't I? I usually order the bibimbap or the grilled chicken. Prices are fair, especially for the portions. They give you a lot of food, although a lot amount of the quantity is rice. Spices and sauces a generous enough to last the whole dish, and the sides of sprouts and kimchi are ok-ish. I guess I just like that this place has absolutely no pretensions. You pay, they cook, you eat. Interiors are pretty much from the discount section at home depot. The best things about the atmosphere are the bbq smoke (if you're in, you're in), and the constant stream of students who make it lively. On the down side, my biggest complaint is that they could do a much better job keeping the customer area clean, with not too much effort. How hard would it be to have someone wipe down the tables with a hot rag every ten minutes or so? We will be back, but not too often. read more

I just ate here tonight after being hungover all day and only having eaten toast. It was late, around 9:30pm so I knew most of my options for good food were limited. I needed carbs and meat. This is essentially what Steve's is. But it's amazing. There's a lot to be said for the huge portions, but the tastiness of the meat was what stood out for me. I had the chicken plate. It made me wish I'd discovered this place sooner. It's great for those who are seriously hungry but don't want to break the bank. I guess it's not authentic or anything but it tastes amazing so I'm really not going to complain read more

Small spot (about 12 tables) in the back of the Asian Ghetto (a few doors down from King-Pin Donuts). Small menu, built for speed and covers the basics. Bi Bim Bap, BBQ short ribs, noodles, kimchi, etc. It's fantastic for what it is and for who they're catering to (college kids). As for flavor, it's awesome! The short ribs are meaty (for short ribs) and delicious! The stir fried noodles with beef comes with lots of beef and lots of flavor in the noodles, on top of rice with kimchi and pickled bean sprouts. And the Bi Bim Bap with beef was filled with lots of veggies, beef, and rice (pretty darn healthy actually). Everything has really great flavor! The portions are huge! So share between two, or be prepared to take some home! read more

Steve's is absolutely the best place to eat at any time......PERIOD. Not only does this place have a comical atmosphere ( The Mexican workers and the loud Mexican Music) but it also has the greatest B.B.Q Chicken and Beef (Those two are my favorite) ever to touch mankind's lips (I kid you not!) My friends and I go to Steve's on a regular basis (Its that good!). We usually go to Steve's when we are based after a nice long dro session. Sometimes we get a little loud but the Mexican workers don't really seem to mind because they are listening to their accordion and trumpet playing music. When its packed no matter where you turn you will see happy Cal students munching on delicious Korean meals. I highly recommend this place to those who are constantly based (You know who you are!) and need a relatively cheap place to go to and still enjoy a great meal. read more

I had the No-Carb chicken plate for lunch every day for 10 weeks and (along with regular walks around campus) I lost 40 lbs. it's so good that I keep coming back after hitting my goal weight. It's my favorite lunch on campus. read more

Awesome Korean Fast Food! Their spicy sauce is the bomb! They definitely should make the Hawaii style Korean meat jun!

If Steve is real, I'm gonna punch him in the face The food here was terrible, I hated every second of it. I'm one hunna korean and this place was an abomination. I ordered the galbi and it was PURE fat, after 5 bites I couldn't eat it. Even my white friend (Joe Dorfman) was unable to eat this perpetration of korean food! The food here is inedible and I would not recommend anybody coming here. I should have known not to come here, this place was completely empty on a Friday night. WHERE YOU AT STEVE?! WHERE YOU AT MOTHERFUCKER read more