My go-to no frills AYCE Korean bbq. You might not have the revolving plates of sides/meats, or a hotpot option, but you get great quality meat compared to other spots. You also have great sides and dipping options. You also have a great ambiance, the stools are short and the beers are tall. Really is a great place to feel chat and drink. read more

It was extremely disappointing. Will not go back and do not recommend. - Slow service - Missing food and drinks - Dirty bathroom - Uncomfortable seats Ordering was difficult and parts of order never came out. Servers were told about missing sodas, shrimp, beef, steamed eggs, and garlic. It wasn't corrected, still charged. The food that did make it to table was fine. read more

Definitely go when it's not a Friday/weekend. Wait time was 2-3 hours, so I joined around 5:30 PM on a Saturday and got seated at 8:15 PM for a party of 3. A lot of tables that could be for large or small parties. I think the biggest group I saw was around 10 people so I think they shared 2 tables. You pick your menu type at the beginning - we went with Premium and you order through the QR at the table. A lot of sides that you can request through the QR which I think is great instead of constantly asking staff for refills like other AYCE bbq spots. They're pretty attentive and bring orders out quickly. We never had to ask for grill changes either! Amazing; meat quality was pretty good, no complaints. read more

I was super intrigued by this place due to the super long waitlist and the many reviews! I added my name to the waitlist via Yelp and it said we have to wait ~2 hours so we just hung out around Valley Fair until it was our time. When we got to the place, I thought it was going to be super packed, but the parking lot was easy to find parking, and I guess, just like us, everyone waited elsewhere. We were seated immediately and decided to go with the regular plan which was $36/person. Quite reasonable nowadays for KBBQ. To order the food, there is a QR Code that you scan and order from there. I quite liked it because it was efficient! The sides were already set on our table before we sat down. They were all average. I think my bf and I only ate the kimchi mostly. For the meats, we got many items, including Brisket, Short Ribs, Bulgogi, Beef Belly, and we both got one of each Premium cut of Fresh Short Rib and Boneless Prime Short Rib. The best items were the premium cut ones for sure! They were perfect cuts to grill! For the regular menu items, I enjoyed the brisket the and short ribs the most. The bulgogi marinade was okay to me. The meats overall, were also average to me. Service-wise, I felt like they were pretty attentive with changing out the grills so I appreciate that. I also appreciated that the hoods we were under actually pulled the smoke and smell a lot better than other places. After eating all your food, they also offer a small scoop of ice cream which I really appreciated. Overall, good place for the money, if you are super hungry or want to enjoy KBBQ experience without breaking the bank. read more

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I've been here many times but haven't had the chance to review. It's definitely my top 3 kbbq in the bay for its price and quality! My friends and I came in around 2pm on a Sunday and there was already a waitlist, but we got a table right away. We got the regular menu $35/person. Meats were great, and they had a variety of banchan. Service was quick. I would only point out that their marinated short rib was more on the sweet side, a bit too sweet. I also got the seafood tofu soup and it was very hearty--would recommend. Ambiance here is nice, and it's always lively and crowded. I always recommend people to come here to try kbbq and of course, I'll be back. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Service was 10/10! Staff would check in with us and switch grills quickly. Everyone was super professional and helpful. Food was good especially for an unlimited menu as well! Pricing wasn't too out of line either for AYCE. The banchan were also really good! Love the store interior. It was bustling but not too loud where you had to be yelling. Wait time wasn't long at all, even though the store was packed. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Grill - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Amazing 10/10 Service!! The menu is amazing and the server was super chill and even talked with us for a while. The ONLY downside was the how juicy and filling meat was! Shoutout Ethan for the amazing service read more

yakiniQ SJ - My friend, the server, and I! - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

First time here in this location other than SF! Place definitely is smaller and has less seating. Waited about 1.5hr on a Sunday but glad they have a waitlist link to see our place in line! I did like the table and seat set up though! Service was very kind, super quick, and welcoming. I forgot to ask their names but pretty much everyone was nice. Got the regular option, plenty of variety to choose from. Endless sauces, soups, and sides. We enjoyed the steak most. Something though, the beef brisket was kind of bland. I feel like YakiniQ in SF has more flavorful beef brisket. But both still good! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Everything was so fresh and came quickly. I especially loved the cold noodles! The meats were sliced well. I like that the are generous with the bonchon/sides, and that the sauces are readily available. Service was also good. Staff were attentive in getting rid of the empty plates we had. I think the tables are a bit small so it's a bit uncomfortable to eat with if you have a larger group of ~4+. read more

Service is fast and attentive. We didn't really wait long for any dishes. I've been here many times, and usually the wait time can get pretty long (1 hour+) but for a Friday around 4 PM we didn't wait at all. We joined the waitlist 20 minutes before so we got there and got seated immediately. One thing I really like about this place are the serving sizes especially for the banchan dishes. They have some sauces and utensils ready in the side if needed. Noise level is usually loud if it's busy. Definitely would recommend this place for the price and service. The meat is decent and you get a scoop of ice cream at the end. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great AYCE spot! All the meats were good. Probably one of the best spots for ayce kbbq. There are a lot of options to choose from and some things are limited to one per person. Lots of side options too. Only complaint is the small tables. It was hard to eat when the table is filled with sides and meats. Good service though. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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My girlfriend and I had gone to YakiniQ for a Saturday night dinner and I can confirm that it is now my new favorite KBBQ spot. They also have a location in Livermore and it's just as good. The ambiance was very similar to being in an actually Korean BBQ spot in Korea. The service was quick and prompt, the waiters were friendly and always attentive to changing the grill. Everyone inside were talking, laughing, drinking, eating, and just enjoying their time there with the amazing food. The meat quality was also great for the price that you pay and we only got the regular AYCE option. The Banchan was also good and I loved the fact that they had sliced radish with rice noodle paper as well. I would 100% return and come back whenever I crave korean BBQ. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

A different AYCE KBBQ experience! Let me just say that you get your premium meats for premium plan and regular which is nice because price can vary depending what you and your group choose. There were 6 people in the group and we were seated at a round short table which I thought was giving Asian family style round table vibes. Did it fit all of our banchan and meats? Heck no! Lol we had to ask one of waiters to leave an extra table on the side to fit ALL of what we got. Service was busy and we did have to be a bit attention seekers for our waiter to notice that we wanted more meat or to take some plates away to preserve space. However, we did go on a Saturday evening for dinner. Yakini Q, you are a QT for the round tables and fun vibes! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Pork cheek, Pork Belly, Beef Brisket - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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Excellent and very attentive service, the servers are constantly changing out your grill and checking in on you, which is much appreciated at an AYCE joint like this one. Meats were delicious and decent quality for the price you pay. Generous portions and quick turnaround with orders. read more

Year over year this continues to be my favorite and go to spot. And as of late they've been killing it! Service has been the best it's ever been, and the quality of the meat has also been really exceptional, overall they've been really consistently great this year. We really appreciate all the staff here and have noticed from our visits the ppl who have the most issues don't understand the concept or are there during extremely busy times. I know exactly what to expect when I come here and I come here specifically to eat here, it's the overall ambiance! Like when u want in n out you don't just want burgers you want in n out. Yakini q is S tier read more

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My #1 spot for AYCE KBBQ in Bay Area! Great meat quality, have a variety of options to choose from fresh to marinated cut, delicious banchan and side dishes, also extremely quick and attentive service. Can get extremely busy on the weekend, the wait could be up to 2-3 hours but worth it, i'm always bring friends who love KBBQ to yakiniQ for the best experience. read more

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I've been to my fair share of KBBQ restaurants around the Bay, but YakiniQ has to be the best, hands down. My go-to spot for the perfect mix of value and quality. They have a huge selection of meats: all fresh, well-marbled, and lightly seasoned so you can actually taste the quality. My personal favorites are the short ribs, brisket, and finger ribs, all consistently tender, flavorful, and perfectly cut for grilling. One of my favorite parts about dining here is the banchan and sides. Everything tastes super fresh, and you can even order a variety of stews during or after your meal: each one packed with flavor and so comforting. Don't skip the lettuce wraps or rice paper either, they're perfect for balancing out the richness of the meats. Service here has always been consistently solid, even when the restaurant is packed (which is basically every night). The QR code ordering system is super convenient, you can order more meat, sides, grill changes, or even water without having to flag anyone down. The staff are friendly, quick, and attentive. Bonus: the stools have hidden storage underneath for your bags, which is a small but really thoughtful touch. Parking can be a little tricky since the lot is small and it gets busy fast. The wait times can be LONGGG (sometimes 2-3 hours for dinner), so definitely hop on the Yelp Waitlist as early as you can to save yourself the headache. For around $36-$40 per person, the amount and quality of food you get here is unbeatable. Highly recommend!! read more

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YakiniQ is our favorite go to spot for AYCE Korean BBQ in the Bay Area! The quality and variety of meat is so good and great value! Service is fast too. read more

One of the best ayce buffet in the bay area. Whenever I am craving for k-bbq, this is great spot to return with a group of friends or co-workers. They offered 2 menu one regular and one premium. I always choose premium because our group is meat eaters. The restaurant has wide variety of side dishes, meat and seafood selection. You can order throughout QR code and the food always gets serve very quick. The meat and intestine is super fresh. The seafood is well-seasoned. Also extra side dish like corn cheese and soup is phenomenal. To top it off, I love all the servers, they all are very attentive and friendly. Any server will change your grill without waving down. Especially, they are always smile and happy to offer you ice-cream for finishing your meal. The price is very resonable for ayce. The only thing that scared me out sometimes is the waiting time. So get there as soon as possible after they open so you don't have to wait 30mins-2hours to have table ready. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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A very long overdue review - YakiniQ is my ALL time favorite AYCE Korean bbq spot. I absolutely love how they have a large selection of different meats, sides, extras, and drinks. Regardless if it's AYCE, the meat quality is always fresh and consistently good - compared to most AYCE kbbq spots around the area! I appreciate how the service is always quick, every single time. There are days where the wait is over 2 hours but we got lucky today and got a seat right away. Checking in on yelp definitely helps as well! Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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We came here for a late lunch with friends on a Sunday since they open at 2 PM and we figured it would be easier to be one of the first few to be waiting in line rather than arriving for dinner and not knowing how long we would have to wait. I usually go to Goku for BBQ and think I will stick with Goku as my go to because everything was just better imo--aside from the fact that the staff is attentive in terms of when they should be changing out your grill. We opted for the "premium" option and I thought it was just okay. I probably should have done more research because all I like to eat is short-rib and I didn't realize they had a limit of 1 per person here. On the menu it says that you'll be charged extra if you order over the per person limit. ~~Parking: Located in a strip mall like plaza, but there's plenty of parking with most of the people going there for Yakini Q. ~~Service: Good. It's interesting because you order the items on your own phone based off of a QR code scanned from your receipt. The only good thing about the QR code based ordering is that everyone can place whatever they want but imo it's easier off of a tablet-BUT this is still better than having to hail a person down to order. ~~Worst Part: Tables are pretty small given that the banchan takes up nearly half the table. It's nice that they have the side trays for them to deliver the meat on, but it's just much different when it's a circle table versus a rectangular table. ~~Return: No. read more

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I'm honestly shocked by how we were treated. After sitting for about two hours, the girl who I assume is the manager, came to our table and threatened to charge us extra for "staying too long" without any prior warning. We had already paid and stopped ordering, yet there was still food on our table. The overall service was terrible, and her attitude was rude and unprofessional. After reading other negative reviews, it seems this same manager has caused problems for other customers. The restaurant needs to take responsibility and address her behavior. It's unbelievable that a restaurant would treat paying customers this way. read more

Been getting recommendations for this place for KBBQ in San Jose and decided to try it out. Regular starts at $36 and premium is $40. Opted for premium for the wagyu. Came here right before dinner rush and used the yelp waitlist. Crowed restaurant with not much space between tables. Ordered via iPad and started with the special cuts that were limited to one order per person. These were the only quality meats of the night. Tender and had good flavors. The rest of the meat was average or below. Steamed egg came out very hot but not as fluffy. Their side dishes were good. Some meats came out frozen like a rock. Service was meh, had to flag servers down multiple times for a grill change and refills. Meats came out not too long after being ordered. For this price point and quality of meat I'd go elsewhere. read more

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This is the best KBBQ AYCE in San Jose. We try other places and always get disappointed and we end up coming back here. The shop is small so you have to join the waitlist ahead. The plaza also doesn't have that much parking, but there's street parking and a plaza nearby you can park at. The quality of the meat selection here is just top tier. You are limited to one order per person for the premium items and there are some sides that are not included in AYCE. And they serve ice cream at the end of the meal! (: read more

My all time favorite AYCE KBBQ spot in the Bay Area! The prices can't be beat and the meat is so good. I love the fact that there are so many sides and that you can get other korean dishes like egg soup or tofu stew. But I'll say the best part is that you order just off of a QR code on the table! you can request more meat, service, sides, soups - it's so much better than flagging down a waiter. Obviously service won't always be timely - but I still like it much better than other places. It's generally pretty noisy inside, but that just adds to the lively vibe of the place. Would recommend! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Premium - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

If you want to go to YakiniQ, you'll need to be in the area and join the waitlist as soon as it opens up. Otherwise, be prepared for a loooooong wait. YakiniQ has pretty good value for AYCE. It's nothing crazy and their side dishes are actually pretty good. I found that hygiene isn't the greatest and also the ventilation is pretty bad. There were a couple times my utensils/cup/plates weren't clean, or the grill isn't super clean. Just an observation. You order everything on your phone so that's convenient since you don't have to try to flag someone down. So, if you want good value, affordable AYCE, this is the spot. If you care more about meat quality, this is not the place for you.... read more

I hate to say it but this was quite literally the first time I've gotten food poisoning this horribly. I've been to tons of KBBQ spots and while this place was pretty unassuming (and fairly average taste wise), I was feeling horrible not even 8 hours after we had eaten). This has never happened at any other KBBQ place I've been to, so it's safe to say I was shocked. We got the bulgogi, beef brisket, short rib (both bone in and boneless), and corn cheese (which we had to pay $2 for unfortunately). I didn't feel like the food was particularly fresh, so that should've been my first red flag lol. Parking was fine (lot parking), and the wait was okay since we joined the Yelp waitlist. So far I was the worst off of my party but posting this as a fair warning to other fellow sensitive-stomach foodies! read more

yakiniQ SJ - boneless short rib and galbi - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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For AYCE bbq, YakiniQ is good. Though with AYCE, you do have to give up a bit on quality and service. Came here with coworkers and though we were seated quickly felt like my experience with food quality and service was lacking compared to my last visit. The table felt cramped for our party of 5 and even with a requested side table for our meat and other dishes, everything felt like it was piling up. The raw meat plates stacked on top of each other, didn't sit well with me. The meat quality was fine for what we ordered, like the brisket, short ribs and the like. This is where quality control fell short ... the rice was not cooked and completely compressed into the rice bowl ... inedible. You could see it was raw in the middle. The rice paper wraps were completely stuck together and essentially a block. The side dishes like soup and cheese corn were okay, but not the best. It also did take a while for service to assist unless our grill was ready for a grill change and only came by drop off plates. There was a bit of a mishap of being charged for what our original party number was, but it was changed promptly and caught without an issue. I would say if you're looking for volume and not too picky about ordering sides with your bbq. The focus would be to just order the meats and enjoy the salads and banchan along with it. It is a good price for AYCE, but there are other places who do just as well if not better. read more

The food was yummy, the service was exceptional, and a fun atmosphere! Highly recommend.

Was craving some KBBQ and my cravings was decently satisfied. My party of two waited about 30 minutes for a table so always make sure to check the waitlist and add yourself on because it gets very busy and packed. My partner and I went with the regular AYCE meal. I found the assortments of banchan to be decent and could have been better. It came with potato, kimchi, japchae, bean sprouts & carrots, fishcake, and macaroni salad. I enjoyed the potato and kimchi mainly. I also ordered more radish paper on the side and I enjoyed that as well. My partner and I ordered the Marinated Beef Bulgogi, Thin Sliced Beef Brisket & Beef Belly, Spicy Pork Belly, and Pork Jowl. Hits: * Pork Jowl was delicious when cooked to where it's crispy. The meat is still tender and delicious. * Marinated Beef Bulgogi was seasoned well and delicious. I did wish they had a spicy version but they do not. Miss: * Macaroni Salad was mediocre. The pasta was still a bit hard and could have been seasoned better. Final Verdict: Solid 4/5. The meat, and banchan dishes have few good ones and other ones are kind of average. It gets very busy so there's not much of an interactive waitress or waiter but everything is mainly done through the app. My partner and I would like to try more meat dishes next time since we got full quickly. I think we would've also enjoyed it more if there were more sauce options as well but we'll stop by again in the future to try more meats that they have but so far the regular meal is a reasonable price for what it offers. read more

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For the price of this KBBQ, this place is definitely reasonable. At just under $35 pp, it's a decent spot to get all you can eat. We didn't wait more than 15 minutes after being on the yelp waitlist on a weekend for an early dinner. We loved the bulgogi. They refilled our meats quickly. I would not get again: the pork belly and the squid. The squid did not taste fresh. The banchan was just okay (the corn salad and the japchae didn't taste the best but we can't complain). read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

I don't take a lot of photos when I'm at Japanese/Korean bbq spots so sorry about that. But I do need to say that this is one of my favorites in San Jose. It's a bit smaller but then other bbq spots but I don't mind it. I come early enough where I don't worry for a wait. My favorite is the Daechang surprisingly as I don't like marinated meat. But this was great for me. The brisket is always a staple and the beef tongue is another favorite. Sometimes I wish I can go by myself but you definitely need a group of people for this. Alsoooo!!! Always be sure to get their steamed egg. It's another favorite of mine. read more

Bad: - the wait (not their fault but wish they would move to a bigger place) - didn't get all of the service/items we wanted (ordered a grill change and brisket sauce that never came, had to ask the server personally) - very tight eating space Good: - can order through a QR code - meat quality is great - chairs you can put your stuff in - sides are amazing and they don't give you small servings - good variety of wraps and sides (tortilla, rice paper, radish, lettuce) - dessert was the perfect way to end the meal! (strawberry ice cream with fried banana) read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

New go to spot for our kbbq cravings. They have the best meat quality and variety compared to other spots. Of the two times we've been right at opening, I feel like they've been slow with our orders. Orders are done through your phone and we're normally the last table to get our meats. Maybe we just need to put in the order right when we're seated to prevent delays. Hopefully third time is a charm and we won't be one of the last tables to get our food. read more

Went here on a Friday, the wait was about 2 hours but if you get on the waitlist about 2 hours prior then you can gauge a better time to come, however you need to be in range to join the list. Surprisingly this Friday wasn't as packed but still a full house. The food came out fast and was good quality as we got the premium selection so you know we had to get the wagyu option. I'd stay clear of all the marinated meets until you get everything else first. The reason why is because the marinated meat will crust of that cook top like no other and it will start to burn; then you'll have to get a grill change and start over. No hard but just a hassle. Plenty of seating and roomy as long as you sit down and don't move. The tables are shorter which gives you the closeness vibe to those you eat it. Will come again and again. read more

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Hands down one of the best kbbq spots because of their meat quality and banchans! BUT the only downside is their long wait time! The waitlist is incredibly long since anyone can join the waitlist on yelp as long as they are within 10 miles away. On a Friday night 7pm, I was 80th in line for a party of 2. We checked in and was about 5th in line for parties who are physically at the store and was told by the guy host that seating is around 10pm because if any parties on waitlist before me checks in after, they will still be sat before me. From previous visits, the wait was always faster than the estimated seating time so we went to the mall nearby to kill time. We got a text an hour later at 7:57pm telling us to head there soon as our table is almost ready. When we got there, it was the friendly girl host that helped me out in my previous visits letting us know our table will be ready soon. Shortly after, we got sat at 8:23pm. We got premium menu for $38.99 and it was worth it! The boneless short ribs, Wagyu beef brisket, and Wagyu beef belly were delicious and amazing quality. Everything can be ordered through the QR code which is convenient as you dont need to flag down servers. All their food runners are quick, friendly, and changes our grills right when they look a little charred. No bad experience here so far! I recommend coming early or putting yourself on the waitlist early to avoid the wait because this place is amazing! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Banchans - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Pro tip: ALWAYS check the waitlist here on Yelp before you go, it will save you so much time. I came here on a Friday evening after joining the waitlist prior (1.5 hrs wait at 5pm!). There was a huge crowd outside but, thankfully, our table was ready by the time we got there. When we stepped inside, the restaurant was PACKED. The interior and all the tables were small (almost sitting shoulder to shoulder), yet the energy of yakiniQ was big. The meat quality was outstanding! Considering it's hard to find a decent AYCE KBBQ here in the Bay, yakiniQ delivers on excellent meat quality for a fair price. With a 2-hour eating limit, we definitely got our money's worth. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be the Beef Prime Boneless Short Rib. My critique involves the banchan (sides) and the service. The sides were somewhat mediocre compared to the banchan I've had elsewhere. Also, the service itself was very inconsistent. For example, they were fast at changing the grill but slow with serving us water. On top of that, there were a couple of instances where they gave us the wrong item (asking them to correct our order would've cost us a lot of time). Despite the criticism, yakiniQ is easily the best KBBQ I've had here in the South Bay. I'd love to come again and would recommend others to try as well! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Came in at the tail end of service. The whole team was hospitable and took AMAZING care of us. Shoutout the Sunday crew :-) I will be back! read more

yakiniQ SJ - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Meat quality! I've been to a lot of AYCE kbbq places, there's always something the doesn't seem like it's the best quality. NOT here! The proteins were cut to the perfect thickness so it's not too thick, but not too thin where it just burns before caramelizing. We have our favs of the marinated meats and the ones to have plain and dip in sauces. Everything was just right. Service was good, constant grill changes to keep from being too Smokey. One of the things we liked most is how you order one their web menu and the items appear vs having to get someone's attention. Just remember to hit the SEND button after you've added it to the shopping cart. We really enjoyed our first visit and will definitely be back. read more

yakiniQ SJ - Beef belly, pork jowl, kalbi - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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I miss the seats where you're able to put your stuff under it :( Service was quick and effective - food came out fast and our tables were cleaned up quickly with dirty dishes and trays. I especially love the mobile order! My favorite is still the potato salad :) The tiered menu does allow different cuts of meat and I think for the environment, price point and selection is worth it. Small interior but definitely sends out fun vibes for a hang out or family dinner. Only con I think is the tables are small and is limited to what you can actually have, but the portable trays do help... just doesn't help when kiddos want more space than they're allowed lol. Wait time is accurate and they do require you to be at the window they tell you - otherwise your spot gets given to the next party that is ready and you're back at the waitlist as next available, depending on your party size, so I think it's fair. read more