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    Yakiniq

    3.3 (1.8k reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque
    Closed 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Waitlist - Yakiniq

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    YAKINIQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Yakiniq

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    Chris R.

    Came here recently and they super updated the menu at YakiniQ. The vibe is still the same. They just added more lights and everything. I think new ownership as well. Staff is super friendly and reliable.

    Happy hour AYCE
    Melissa P.

    Food is pretty good, sides are big and lunch special price is good! Service is good, they're good at switching the grill consistently. They give ample amount of food too!!

    Beef Brisket
    Matthew B.

    I've been coming to YakiniQ for years and at this point I genuinely consider it an AYCE KBBQ staple in SF. In a city where spots constantly change, that kind of consistency matters. My family always orders the Premium option, and the Premium plate alone gets us completely full every time. The portions are generous and actually feel worth the price. Service has always been friendly and efficient. Refills come quickly, grills get swapped without asking, and the pacing of the meal feels smooth. Ambiance is always cozy and has a family feeling to it. The banchan selection is fresh and well balanced, and everything pairs well with the meats, especially the coleslaw ! Pork Belly Thick cut, grills up beautifully crisp with a rich, savory bite. Beef Brisket Well marbled, tender, and satisfying straight off the grill. Cheese Corn Creamy, slightly sweet, and always a comforting side between bites of meat. (My Top 5 in the City) Soy Brisket Rice Savory, hearty, and the perfect way to round out the meal w/ carbs. YakiniQ might not be flashy, but it is dependable, filling, and still one of my go to AYCE KBBQ spots in SF after all these years.

    Jessica F.

    In terms of ADA friendly, this place unfortunately isn't. You have to walk up a lot of stairs and there isn't space for waiting especially if there's a lot of people. To use the restroom it's bad too since there restrooms are downstairs. The restrooms are also small with only two stalls. I will say the meat and food is fresh very delicious! I just wish it was ADA friendly. They also ask to change your grill but the bad thing is it does get smokey in there since there isn't much air ventilation.

    Athina L.

    A japantown staple! This has been the first time I've been here in such a long time, maybe even before Covid. The menu was a little different but overall still a good choice if you're going to Japantown and craving Korean bbq. The hours on Google map vs yelp are different so it's good to double check- we thought it opened at 5 but it turns out they opened at 530- I think yelp said 5 when google said 530. The service is great- servers are so nice. You will smell of kbbq so prepare for that!!

    Charline T.

    Came by on New Years Eve and was surprised they'd be open. I had tried calling ahead to confirm that they were open, but their phone answering machine informs you of their open times automatically and you can't reach a live person till they open. I was able to add a table of two to the waitlist via Yelp and got a notification that our table that was set to be ready in 40 minutes was actually ready after 10. We left the waitlist and rejoined to give us time to walk back to the spot from japantowns east mall. A packed spot, but we were seated quickly. The space can get smoky and a bit loud, but staff were friendly and quick. Our grill was changed regularly and we were checked in on often. The bathrooms are down the stairs toward the back, and one of the stalls was locked and out of order. They immediately gave us banchan and the table had assorted salt/pepper/soy sauce/sesame oil/spicy sauce. The spicy peanut butter sauce wasn't bad! Kimchi fried rice was also pretty good. Unfortunately what made it 3/5 stars was the value and quality of meats. We ordered the more expensive AYCE because the more basic option charged for side dishes ($3 per corn cheese plate!). Once you order a type of meat from the premium section, you can't change your choice. There also seemed to be more side options than solid meats, as we stuck to beef belly, pork neck, and brisket. Unfortunately the rib eye steak wasn't great. We also ordered the $20 deal for 3 highballs, and we liked the lime and lemon, but not really the yuzu. Very light alcohol content and it felt like we were drinking sprites, which wasn't a bad thing. Overall for $50 a person, I wished the food quality and value was a bit better.

    Anıl Ş.

    Idk why this place got 3.3star but its was good.We got premium AYCE but i guess not necessary.i can truly recommend. Enjoyed.

    Steamed egg
    Annie L.

    If you're hungry and not looking to spend a lot..Yakiniq's BASIC AYCE $39.99, is a great deal! For that, you get Marinated Beef Short Rib (1 serving per guest) as well as unlimited other meats like beef belly, brisket, spicy chicken, octopus, shrimp etc. There are many unlimited sides including steamed egg, rice cakes, Jap-Chae, etc. We arrived at opening at 4:30PM, seated right away. Great service from beginning to end. We did not feel rushed at all and servers came to check in several times to see if we wanted to add on more food. The reason for the 3 stars, is the quality of the food is low. Everything from the banchans were cheap (radishes, macaroni, bean sprouts) instead of spicy cucumbers, fish cake, potato salad like some places serve. Quality of the meat is low as well. You get what you pay for but at the same time, is it really AYCE when they limit the short rib (for basic) and the rib eye cuts for Premium AYCE. Lastly for the 3 stars, the environment is disgusting. Everything from STICKY tables to STICKY benches (we were seated in a booth) to TORN and DUCK TAPED benches. You know they don't care for cleaning nor the look of the restaurant. Everything feels old, dated and dirty. I definitely did not feel at ease eating at this location. The air flow was lacking, the whole place smelled so keep in mind if you don't want your nice clothes to smell afterwards. Also, something about their bbq grills which Im glad they change out frequently. The oils jump at your skin and burns you. This has never happened at any Kbbq locations before. I would recommend, wear clothes you dont mind getting smells and oils on, in fact, best to come here with long sleeves.

    Mitchell S.

    The place definitely looks a lot nicer after remodeling. There are parking structures within japantown which made the location convenient. Service was smooth as we were seated earlier than the estimated time. The place was mildly busy but not busy to the point I kept getting waved off for small requests and refills. Sorry had to say it. The food was decent. The short rib was the highlight and the pork belly was the low light. The top piece of the pork belly was traditional with its marbling of fat and pork. Thought the pieces under it appeared to be straight pork shoulder??? I'm not trippin but damn I'm fallin. Loved the apps, but not a fan with how the menu keeps shrinking for the basic menu am I right broke king and queens?

    Premium Plate
    Jackie O.

    This is the only AYCE KBBQ place I ever go to in San Francisco. I've tried so many KBBQ spots in the Bay Area, and none of them compare to this spot. If you're going to come, you must get the premium option. The basic menu will not give you the full experience or do this place justice. The premium plate meat quality is phenomenal. The meat has an incredible marbling, and it's just melts in your mouth. The boneless short rib is the best! After the premium plate, I always get the beef bulgogi and marinated beef short rib. If I had more room in my stomach, the beef brisket, prime beef tongue, and miso pork belly are my next picks. And the sides are just as good as the meat. I always get their green onion salad to help wash down the fatty meat, and the spicy tofu soup is the perfect way to end the meal. Whenever I go, I never manage to try all the sides / meats because I'm always too full by the end. The service is quick, the lines can be long, and the place will make your clothes smell, but the quality, variety, and experience make the place well worth it. Also, shout out to Jay for being an amazing server / host. He always makes me feel so welcomed whenever I go. Definitely well deserving of 5/5 stars.

    Short ribs
    Jocelyn C.

    Solid AYCE kbbq! They have two choices of menu Basic and Premium. We opted for Basic since it already included the beef and pork short ribs and was quite satisfied! All the cuts of meats were pretty yummy even the marinated cuts felt like good quality. Our fave was definitely the pork short rib, had a handful of plates that night! Came with a big group on Thursday night and it was really busy with the line all the way to the door. You can do a reservation with bigger which makes it great for parties. Restaurant setting was casual and lively. Service was quick and on point! Would come back for my kbbq craving!

    Green (???) daikon radish
    Jewelia C.

    We actually were waiting to eat at another restaurant in Japantown but the wait was SO long we decided to just eat here because there was no wait LOL. It was super empty when we first got there but the service started good and food was okay! Not the best kbbq I've had but also not the worst?? It got much busier towards the end of our meal and the staff got super swamped so service was pretty terrible then. Wouldn't seek out this restaurant to go again but if I'm in the area I'd give it another try.

    Ina N.

    Loved the prime meat. Understandably, you can only order it once. Rest of the meat options & side dishes were great. Kimchi jjigae was really good & authentic. For $49.99 for prime ayce in SF, it's a deal!

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    Page 1 of 47

    Yakiniq Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Yakiniq

    Is there a create your own sauce bar?

    Unfortunately No. we offer house made sauces

    Are allergy friendly options on the menu? (Dairy, egg, peanuts free)

    Can you eat solo now?

    I don't know any KBBQ that lets people eat solo - they're all 4+ person tables with a waitlist of people out the door

    Can my friend and I order two different types/prices of AYCE deals?

    Not really, everyone has to get the same type!

    I want to know how much is for 5 years and 3 years old?

    3-8yrs are on Kids price witch is $13.99

    Are they still asking for proof of Covid Vaccine?

    No need to show proof of vaccine card

    Are you still allowing people to eat free on their birthday?

    We allowing free dinner for birthday guest Birthday guest must dine in with other three or more guest

    Can I eat alone?

    They require two people for dine in eating unless their policy has changed since COVID

    FOR TAKE OUT ORDERS: Does Yakiniq cook the meat for take out orders or do they give you raw meat to cook at home?

    They give you raw meat to take home, packaged and sealed very nicely.

    Have the lunch menu/opening hours been discontinued?

    Currently open only dinner time

    What is the price for kids that are 2 and 3 years old?

    3-9 yrs old we charge kids prices as $13.99

    As of July 8, 2021, are y'all open during lunch time?

    No. They open at 5pm.

    Hi Do you guys open at noon ? How much per person ? And what time is it?

    Currently we open only dinner time

    Is there indoor dining? How much is per person? Can someone upload the menu thanks!

    Yes, there is indoor dining. There are multiple pictures of the menu in the Photo section.

    Is indoor dining back and can you make reservations?

    You may make reservations but I believe it requires a party size of 8 or more

    ? Is there a time limit for the all you can eat for a party of 4?

    Regardless of the party it's a 2 hour time limit

    Would a party of 2 be able to seat at a booth?

    Sure. It depends on the availability but you could requested upon the arrival of the restaurant or you could mention it on the note when you sign up for waitlist on yelp.

    Do they do anything special for birthdays?

    Party of 4 or more, the birthday person eat for free. Must present ID and only valid the day of the birthday. Limit to 1 free dinner per party.

    Can I dine alone?

    Yes but they typically like to seat the big parties first even if you arrived first... when me and my boyfriend came early like right when they opened a group of four came in and they sat them down first. Even though our name was on the list, we… Read more

    How much is it per person?

    Lunch starts at $15.99 Dinner starts at $21.99

    View All 31 Questions

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    We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday and everything tasted amazing!…read more We almost ordered everything on the menu and shared family style. The portions were on the smaller side so had we ordered an extra dish or two, I think we would've been very full. We ordered about 3 appetizers, 3 mains and 3 desserts and it was just about perfect. All of the dishes had well rounded flavors and super tasty. The matcha dessert was my favorite! I do have a natural sweet tooth but the presentation and overall execution was cool.

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    San Wang Rest, San Francisco 2026 Feb 9 (4.29 of 5)…read more This restaurant wasn't on our radar, but we're glad we stopped and ate here. The food is excellent to okay, but the service is first rate. Once seated, we were offered a couple of complimentary dishes - kimchi and soup. Their food is decent and their service is great. Every table has white linen, even for lunch hour crowd. The price is awesome - the lunch menu includes a starter, a soup, and a hot pot of tea. (4.75 of 5) Kimchi: This complimentary dish is an excellent start before our lunch order. The delicious taste of tangy, savory, spicy, and sour, together with a complex, pungent, and, crunchy profile is the perfect start before our lunch selection. Its fermented cabbage has a strong, aromatic notes of garlic, ginger, and chili powder, which marries perfectly with our set lunch. (4.5 of 5) Soup: The soup of the day is a mild clear soup with bits of prawns and vegetables. This is lovely when paired with the boisterous kimchi. (4 of 5) Our orders from their Lunch Special: Vegetable Deluxe: A great selection of vegetables, though they're mostly semi-done to near raw. The wontons were really good though. (3 of 5) Broccoli Chicken: The chicken pieces are tender and the broccoli in this dish is cooked well. (4.5 of 5) Braised Tofu: This is my top dish. It's flavour-packed in a savoury, aromatic sauce. The tender, chewy texture acts like a sponge, absorbing the deeply flavourful sauce. Superb! (5 of 5)

    San Wang is one of Japantown's oldest and finest restaurants. While some might find it ironic to…read moreeat Chinese food while in Japantown, it's one of the best places you could choose for a meal while visiting the neighborhood. The ambience is warm and family friendly and great for big groups. The staff are incredible and lovely individuals that care very much about the patrons. If you need a break while traversing Japantown, take a seat at San Wang and enjoy the lunch menu if you can. The Sweet and Sour Shrimp is my favorite! If you're a local to the neighborhood like me and craving Chinese food, this is the best option. Try to catch them during lunch time! Everything is tasty and the staff are incredible!

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    Mashita Galbi Jjim

    4.6(160 reviews)
    0.8 miRussian Hill

    We came to Mashita Galbi Jim on a Sunday and were the first in line. We were anticipating long wait…read moretimes after having tried to eat here a few times before. If you're not able to squeeze into the first wave, the wait is upwards of 2 hours! FOOD: We ordered one galbi jim with extra noodles and rice cakes and a separate garlic noodles for a party of 5. While we initially thought we could finish two galbi jims, our server cautioned us against it, referencing the healthy portion size. We were glad we took her advice because everyone was stuffed by the end of our meal. Their galbi jim was flavorful, with extremely tender beef and chewy rice cakes. We ordered the lowest level of spiciness and while there was still a kick, it was extremely manageable. SERVICE: We were the first to be seated and our galbi jim took almost 20 minutes to come out while others waited even longer. However, they comped our garlic noodles and apologized for turning waits. Overall, I'd definitely return if I'm able to get into the first wave of seating.

    Came here on a Friday night at 7:30. Had to wait about 30-40 min for 2 seats. The restaurant is…read moresmall so unless you have a 4-6 person party, expect to be seated side by side other parties. Typically what I saw was they do waves of seating and ordering so if you aren't there right at open/when they fill up, plan to write your name down and grab a drink nearby. Once we got seated, they were pretty prompt to give us utensils, napkins, cups, and water. The two of us shared the Braise Beef Galbi Stew. It's more than enough for 2 people to go home in food comas (with some food remaining) and for 3 to be sufficiently full. If you have big eaters, order an app alongside if you have 3 people. The Galbi stew was exceptional. I liked that they had various levels of spiciness. We went with spicy and it had a nice kick that elevated the dish for me. The beef was very tender and flavorful and the veggies and rice cakes soaked up all the juices. And the cheese was so stretchy! I'd actually rank this place slightly above Daeho given the shorter wait, the quality, and the price. I'll be back for sure.

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