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    Yama Kitchen

    4.2 (66 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Jeremy T.

    I visited for lunch since it's been open for a few months and probably has worked out most all of their kinks by now. Their lunch pricing has already been raised by $1 since it first opened and is now 20.99/pp for the basic option, or $5 more for both hot pot and bbq. I decided to go with ayce bbq. During lunch, they offer 13 protein options, five of which are beef. If you come during dinner, you can choose between an additional 8 protein options, with 6 of those being beef. They have the usual fried foods as snacks, sushi bar, fruit area, dessert cooler, and a sauce station. My main complaint is the dishes used for the sauces, as they are flat and not designed for liquid accumulation. Other Korean bbq restaurants in the Houston have bowls which are better. The sauce station is tricky and I hope customers know how to make their own sauces. I usually make sauces that turn out pretty well at these places, but my first sauce here was way too oily and I had to discard it. My 2nd one was much better. There are no instructions or go-by example sauces. There are a handful of pre-made sauces in the trays and in bottles at the end of the sauce station, though. From the buffet area, I ended up liking the boiled shrimp and the squid salad the best. The sushi were just ok at best. For the first round, I ordered all the beef dishes: spicy beef bulgogi, toro beef, finger steak, and prime brisket. The steak is actual steak and pretty good, just some pieces are chewy. For the 2nd round I ordered 2 orders of the steak, toro beef and brisket, since the latter 2 are sliced thin. During the cooking of the meat on the 2nd round...it took me a couple minutes to realize my grill had shut off by itself and was not sizzling like usual. I had to call over my server and have her re-start it. Kind of annoying. The one thing that was weird is the server doesn't assist you with the oil and putting the first round of meats on your grill. You'll be lucky if they even show you where the oil bottle is located on the table. During my weekday lunch visit, it was not very busy at all. Service was actually pretty good as they changed out my cooking grates several times,refilled my drink, and generally we're available to answer most questions I had in a timely manner.

    Galbi
    Patty C.

    I was pleasantly surprised to find that an AYCE Korean bbq and hot pot place had opened in Humble. I had been waiting for this day! I brought along a friend that had never had either hotpot or Korean bbq, so it was his first time. We arrived at prime time on Sunday, and it was a full house. Luckily we didn't have to wait long for a table. Our server didn't ask if it was first time here, which it was. I had to turn on the hotpot heating mechanism myself after noticing it wasn't on, and I had the oil on the table pointed out to me for using with the Korean BBQ grill after not noticing it before cooking. We went ahead and checked out the offerings. I was impressed by the hotpot station. They had a nice variety of seafood, noodles, and veggies. Not everything was labeled though, so there was a little guesswork involved. I was super impressed they had snow crab leg clusters to add to the hotpot as well as lamb, though they had to be ordered through the waiter. Don't forget to request shell crackers if you opt for the snow crabs. I appreciated the selection of broth as well. Both the sichuan beef and healthy pork broth were tasty, though the pork broth was a little on the salty side. The meat trays were on the small side, but that's fine. Just order more! As for the kbbq, the amount they bring out isn't a whole lot either, but it was perfect for the two of us. We got to try more items this way. The spicy pork belly and galbi were both excellent. The galbi was nice and meaty. The meat quality was good... not the best but not bad either. While they had delicious not sour kimchi available at the buffet station, I found myself missing some of the other typical banchan like fish cakes, bean sprouts, and cucumber. Also missed having ssamjang. I understand that the typical non Asian American might not crave these items though, which is why they aren't offered. The grill changes did come often, which I appreciated. I didn't have a lot of the sushi available on the buffet line, but the select sashimi pieces were nice and fat, and the nigiri had nice big pieces of seafood as well. The rolls looked lacklustre though. There's a small section for the little ones that don't like Asian food. You'll find mac and cheese, pizza, and French fries there. The baked desserts were the usual mass produced not appetising stuff . The ice cream was meh. The fresh fruit was nice and a great touch. My pro tip is to grill up some of that cut pineapple for an extra juicy dessert! Overall we had a good time. My dining partner was struggling a bit, but I was happy to guide him. Again, it would have been helpful to have a more attentive waiter for a first timer, but luckily this isn't my first rodeo with hotpot and kbbq. I would definitely return for mostly the hotpot because of the snow crab legs.

    Ashley B.

    It was OK because I ate alone and I felt like I needed help cooking the meat so I could enjoy my meal. Otherwise prepare to get busy while you're trying to eat. I was only able to eat three different meats because cooking the meats became overwhelming. Enjoy my photos below.

    Thuy P.

    We were her for lunch yesterday. Got excited to see another AYCE in Humble area. The restaurant is spacious. Food quality is not good. The meat quality is terrible , the beef is so chewy. The other kind is too fatty. The sushi quality is not good neither. Service was Ok

    Entrance
    Ana L. G.

    Hot pot night led us to Yama Kitchen in Humble and I'm glad we stopped in. Tons of options, everything super fresh, and the BBQ + hot pot combo was fun and perfect for family style. The vibe was very pleasant lots of joy around the experience!! Loved the Tom Yum and mushroom broths, great sushi, solid sides, and excellent proteins skirt steak, chicken, brisket, and all the fixings. Definitely coming back!

    Mom and me beginning our stellar dining experience of Korean BBQ and sushi.
    Andria E.

    Wow! What an amazing addition to Humble. My Mom and I came for lunch and were blown away by the cleanliness and cool atmosphere, fresh and prosperous food offerings, generous portions, friendly and accommodating staff, and stellar dining experience! All the items on the buffet were fresh and delicately arranged, with excellent teamwork by the folks servicing the dining area. The tables were cleverly laid out to allow patrons to enjoy sushi, Korean bbq, hot pot, and a variety of other food items from the delicious buffet without being crowded. Also the dedicated table ventilation system worked well so no matter what you enjoy you leave smelling fresh without any annoying noise interrupting your dialogue with guests. Nhiya was our server and she did a fantastic job explaining the offerings, checking on us, maintaining our bbq grill, keeping our drinks refilled, and removing our used dishes. Also she was just fun and enjoyable, which added to our delightful time. We will definitely be back with more members of our party now that we have testing it out. Even my Dad (who is not very adventurous) will love Yama Kitchen. The lunch pricing is especially reasonable, plus if you arrive at 11 everything is well stocked and beautifully arranged. Come hungry as there is limitless options. No complaints or suggestions for improvement as they've really outdone themselves!

    5 adults 2 kids. Should be a breeze to handle.
    Chris W.

    We went tonight with friends 7 of use. They sat us at a table that didn't have a server. We waited 45 minutes to get our drinks. Then another 15 minutes for some to come and take the order. Very unorganized. The Buffett was very small and limited. I not sure where the pic on website came from because the place didn't match. It took a long time to get our order then the gentleman that brought it out did t speak English so he couldn't tell what was what. He just placed everything in the middle and we had to figure it out. Very disappointed in this place for the cost. I don't see it lasting that long.

    Jenniffer I.

    I came here with my boyfriend to experience Korean bbq place all you can eat. To be honest the quality of the food was alright, I've been in an actual Korean bbq before and not just once a couple, so I wanted to give a chance to this one in Houston. If it's your first time trying Korean bbq you'll probably like it but if you already had it before you will find every single detail to it. I can say it's a great to bring your family or friends. Not all the waiters have a good attitude and also you have to call them to get your attention. The friendly environment is okay because you're able to talk to your people on your table.

    Drink menu
    Zach C.

    Finally we get Korean bbq and hot pot in the area. No more having to drive downtown! Huge place with plenty of tables. Went during lunch and it was only $20. Plenty of meat choices and a reasonably priced drink menu. Cant go wrong with some hot sake. Grill the meats up yourself right there at the table and they have a huge buffet style section with all the sauces and extras you might need. The manager came by the table twice to check on us. Our server was great. For sure would go back.

    Incredible meat selection including beautifully marbled wagyu, tender melt in your mouth lamb, and the softest hefty portions of scallops.
    Hailey C.

    This Saturday we decided to try a new restaurant in the area. I'm familiar with K-pot and GEN Bbq, but we decided to give Yama Kitchen a shot. This is our new spot. With exceptional prices, hefty portions, pleasant staff and an extremely clean kitchen and tables, I feel as if I've stumbled upon a hidden gem. Our server Haven was exceptionally attentive and very well mannered. He explained how to use the hot top and throughly read the menu answering any questions we had. We were brought our first round of lamb, tenderloin and sirloin within about five minutes of ordering. The beef cuts are hefty and tender, the lamb just melts in your mouth. The broth was flavorful and rich, the ambiance of the restaurant was Grade A. I could see the staff consistently making rounds and ensuring a clean environment. There are options for those with little ones or picky eaters including chicken nuggets, tenders, fries, etc. They have tables for small and large groups, so this is a great choice whether it's a first date, quick lunch, or a family dinner. The menu and cocktail prices are remarkable considering the portions provided. Yama kitchen is definitely a great place to try for yourself if you're in the Deerbrook area.

    Michelle O.

    A staff member said they can't/ don't know how to change grills with meat on it, which I found unusual. They said the grill needs to be changed, and I'm like "the meat isn't cooked, so can you move the meat onto the new grill", which is common in kbbq restaurants. The grilling tools weren't handed over until we asked about them, which was after the meats had been dropped off. There're raw vegetables and meats for hot pot, fried foods, cold seafood, salads, sushi and sashimi, kimchi tofu soup, tteokbokki, japchae, pastries, and ice cream. The fried foods were crispy and warm. The raw tuna tasted fine, though the mackerel (a little watery) and octopus (dry) didn't. The sushi rice was okay. The sushi (mostly kani mixes and shrimp tempura) tasted similar to each other. The marinated meats tasted okay though a little salty for some of the choices. The kimchi soup was on the more fermented and vinegary end, while the tteokbokki dish could have had softer rice cakes. The cold seasoned vegetables section with tripe salad (tasted a little dry), spicy cucumber (a little watery), seaweed salad, Napa cabbage kimchi, edamame, and octopus ceviche (okay) were cold and refreshing. I didn't eat any of the cold seafood (clams, shrimp, crawfish, mussels, oysters) as they were starting to dry out. The japchae's noodles were soft. The little pastries are typical of buffets. The bundt cake was soft and sweet (red velvet swirl flavor). The ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and green tea) only had cake cones nearby. For the buffet, the standard price includes the open food area and either bbq or hot pot. If you want to add the other option too, it's $5 extra.

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    14 days ago

    Great service. The food is served in small portions. But the bright side is that it is all you can eat.

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    3 months ago

    Gregory was amesome. First time there. Amazing experience. Food was fresh. Will be back.

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