Stopped in after gassing up for our road trip. A good buy for all you can eat lunch. Not sure why we were sat at what seemed like the only torn up booth, but the food and service was good. read more

I wouldn't say they were number one because the food was bland. Meat was not marinated and over priced honestly. They pretty much rushed us out of there as we were still eating and put our meat on the grill then gave us the check before we were done with our unlimited bbq meal. Food sucked and wouldn't go back. Holes and dirt in the vents were gross. Don't go here. read more

We've lived in Lacey for 4 years and this was our first time here. The food was ok. We got short ribs (which my husband loved), pork belly and squid. The server also dropped off a bowl of brisket. The pork belly and brisket were not seasoned at all, which was weird. Maybe that's normal? It was a fun experience for the kids, but the prices were outrageous. $33 a person. Which is fine for adults, but for my 6 year old?! He barely ate anything. I would definitely not come back for family dinner. read more

#1 Korean BBQ? If you guys are setting the bar, then the rest of Lacey/Olympia area is doomed. A couple of friends were craving the food without having to drive up to Tacoma. I've seen this place but never realized it was an all you can eat establishment. Well, it kind of is.... it kind of isn't. They have 2 different selections for all you can eat. One that includes seafood and galbi at a higher price, and one with your standard meats for another price. We had 3 people and out of the 3, only 1 person wanted the galbi. Well, by their rules, if that 1 person wanted the galbi, then everyone had to order it even if they weren't eating it. This caused a lot of irritation at the table and the responses that were given to us were pretty lame. This entire situation could be avoided if a single price was given for everything.... you know... like normal places. We also ordered a side of geh-ran-jjim. The egg dish. What? A child could have made that in the microwave. It was not seasoned and way too watery. Just because we were 3 girls sitting at the table and ordering all you can eat does not mean to bring us 3 STRIPS of meat per order. We had to order about 25 plates. WE CAME TO EAT. FEED US. hahahahah. What a hassle. Won't be back. read more

I love this place. Family owned restaurant. Son remembers customers and he treats customers really good and very friendly. Since I was little busy , haven't been there for a while but can't wait to go back there soon!!!!' read more

# 1 Korean BBQ - You can make your own meat too but if it's trouble some for you, then you can just order a plate - Barbeque Near Me - Lacey, Washington

Fun AYCE korean bbq. Good banchan variety ans meat was well seasoned. Always busy, so get there early!

As my first foray into functional Korean cuisine, I chose #1 Korean BBQ to be the place to attempt to understand what so many of my other contemporaries had been raving about for so long. On an early-ish Saturday night, I rolled in with my sister and we were sat at one of the grill tables, and we ordered the sliced pork and the bulgoki. First however, arrived no less than four thousand small bowls containing various pickled things and side dishes, in-house kim-chi, a pot of spicy miso soup, and a large miso-laden salad to boot. Also a large basket of big green leaves of lettuce for us to make "Korean Burritos" with our freshly grilled meats. The bulgoki came first, marinated and what not, and we stirred it until completion. It was very tender, maybe a little underdone but that's my fault. The sliced pork was sold to us as pork belly, which it sort of was, but was plain. We had to add on the miso and sesame oil/salt concoction. It ended up being well balanced when prepared properly. The grand total for the heap of food for the two of us (no drinks) was $32 which didnt seem bad for the quantitiy, quality, and the general merriment that comes with a flaming pit in the middle of your table. The tables are a little weird, it felt like we were sitting far from where we wanted to be. All in all, this isn't going to be a weekly/monthly visit, but it's good. It'd be fun with a lot of people too. Avoid this place on any HS dance nights. read more

# 1 Korean BBQ - The onslaught - Barbeque Near Me - Lacey, Washington

Each time I visit this place, I have a different experience, but that is to be expected. I have to admit, this visit was much better than the last one in April. The girls and I arrived prior the restaurant opening and rather than have us stand outside and wait, they opened the door, seated us, had short conversation, then gave us the menus to order. We ordered the skillet items because we like how they come out sizzling. Two of us ordered beef, one ordered pork, and the other ordered chicken. As usual, all the items were flavored deliciously. I only wish they served these items automatically with lettuce, but you can always request it. The side items are great, but you get the same amount whether it's one person or 12. Again, you can always ask for more if they haven't already spotted the empty dishes and asked if you. Service was fast, friendly, and great this day. Just when I was ready to give up this place after my last visit, they've made me happy again. I'll be back! read more

Food was great. But service sucks. The two ladies were both rude. We asked one of the waitress for help and she literally said no no no. Never going back. read more

The place was alright. They have all you can eat but the service is slow and the boy let you order a certain amount at a time and will I charge you extra if you don't eat it all. Overall good food. Service was alright, but could be better. read more

It's a nice place to enjoy a good Korean BBQ food. The service is not bad, could be a little smoky from the place depends where you're sitting. The Price is reasonable, and we enjoy the food each time we're there. We look forward coming back very soon to enjoy more tasters food. read more

This place is hands down one of my favorite places in Lacey! Super cheap all you can eat Korean BBQ! Like no joke this place is so good I come here to often. The place is busy on the weekends but usually no wait during the week which makes this place the best week night treat! The service can be spotty, sometimes there's a lot of servers sometimes there's on, but when your ordering raw meat you get it pretty quickly. Super cool, cook it yourself and it always comes out amazing! There's also always the restaurant side where you can order already cooked food if you are going to be a buzz kill lol. Highly recommend this place, great for families or for date night! read more

# 1 Korean BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Lacey, Washington

Shouldn't be called "#1 Korean BBQ". Not only was their food bland, the workers are rude. Paid in cash and my change was $10 and I gave it to them it as tip. Then one of the workers ran to my car and asked me for MORE tip. Like who does that?! read more

Very disappointed in the customer service. Half way thru dinner the waitress turned off our grill and said there was too much smoke. When I asked what to do with the rest of our uncooked meat, she suggested I take it home to finish cooking it. She eventually took it back to cook in the kitchen, after a long exasperated sigh, but did not want to cook the uncooked meat that was left on the grill when she turned it off. read more

I didn't even wait till I was done eating to post this. Just opened under new ownership two days ago and they knocked it out of the park. This is my first visit to this place. The food is really good and there are so many great flavors. I have a strong appetite, and I had to get a to go box. The staff is very friendly. The only reason I didn't give a 5 star rating is because I had to ask for a refill on a drink. Very minor issue. You've got to get in here and try this place out. read more

Rotting flounder was so foul we had to throw it away and not eat it. Their beef was old and hard . The small cold side dishes were stale , had bad taste. The previous owner Gangnam is gone and the new owner is using outdated food and poor cooking technique. A total waste of $70. read more

I really want to like this place as it's the closest Korean BBQ to where I live but I just can't. The problem here isn't even the food as it's fairly average food. The major problem here is and will always be the service. There just never seems to be enough people working in the restaurant...ever. there are usually 2 people waitressing and I assume the staff in the back prepping food. The waitresses always seem overwhelmed and rarely check on you. Have been there many times and have been out of water for almost the entirety of the time at the table. Have had to go up to the main counter several times to find someone for basic things like spoons for soup. I think this place is average at best, maybe #1 in Lacey as it's the only of its kind. It is well served by a decent price point for all you can eat BBQ but you can get better service and quality food elsewhere. If your looking for a good korean BBQ experience definitely head towards Lakewood/Tacoma. read more

Went in as a single customer and was sent to separate seating because I wasn't with someone to eat Korean bbq with the grills. I've been to plenty of Vegas/ LA locations where I was able to go by myself. Singling out customers like that limits potential customers. I was sitting but just ended up walking out due to how it's setup. I was looking to spend a lot of money and give a generous tip. Would like to rate half a star, but I can't. read more

One of my favorite places in town to go to when i need my Korean food fix. I love the owners and they are such sweethearts and very friendly. I remember one of the times I had came into the restaurant looking for something different and I had decided that i would see if they would make something that wasn't on the menu. Dukbukki was what I had asked for, and to my surprise they made it and it was amazing! I'm so surprised that they didn't put it on the menu :) every experience here is always the best. read more

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Environment: Classic Korean BBQ restaurant. Lots of booths as well as dining tables. Dimmed lighting. Clean. Quality of food: Their spicy bulgogi was the best I have ever had. I could eat that all day long. In fact, they were in K5 for being one the best restaurants in town. If you haven't checked this place out yet, definitely make it your next destination. Quality of service: We got to talk to the owners and they were super friendly and funny. Talked about business, the importance of family, and their passion for making quality food. read more

# 1 Korean BBQ - Their infamous spicy bulgogi - Barbeque Near Me - Lacey, Washington

Terrible Terrible Im going to say it one more time Terrible. Please don't waste your time with this Korean BBQ. This was my first experience not only was the food thrown on the table with no explanation as to what Im looking at. I guess one of the cooks in the back were combing through their greys because I had hair in my food from the start. The waitress walked around like troll. I receive better service at McDonalds. The food when it did come was subpar and you better know how to cook because they won't tell you a thing. Enter at your own Risk! read more

I felt like I had broke into someone's house and told them I was hungry for the lackluster greeting we got. I went to the bathroom and when I came out my husband said we could have a bento box or soup the rest of the menu wasn't available at 1pm We're the only ones here at the moment but were told we had to move spots because the vent above us needed to be cleaned. They were the ones that sat us there originally. Food was ok. read more

Really fun place to eat. You can order the all you can eat and you get to cook it at your table. Teriyaki chicken cooked by them is also tender and good. read more

# 1 Korean BBQ - Lots of different food. - Barbeque Near Me - Lacey, Washington

When we were done and about to head out, the waitress stopped me and asked why we didn't tip her. They charged us 18% gratuity tip of 5 people or more. This was the last straw for us. Never coming back here again. After I told her the tip was counted in the bill she told me it wasn't and I told her to go get the receipt. She came back with another waitress and realized her mistake. For her to ask why we why I didn't tip and had the audacity to prove to me I didn't tip, which we did, just rubbed me the wrong way. No longer "#1 Korean BBQ" in our books! read more

They have all you can eat BBQ, and the hubby and I have honestly never tried it. We always get the mackerel and kal-bi or kalbitang soup. We really enjoy those dishes, and the consistency is great. There is a full bar, and the hubby enjoys his Long Island ice teas! We have our favorite waitress, which usually greets us and gets us seated quickly. read more

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I absolutely love this place!!! They're friendly, family owned and the food is delicious.

Great authentic Korean food! I always love coming here. They have large portions, and a great variety of side dishes! You won't be disappointed! read more

Watch out!! They alter your tip after you sign the receipt. It happened to both my daughter and I and numerous others. Unfortunately I did not take my copy so I have no way to dispute it. I would plan on paying cash or watching your charge closely. read more

amazing，went for a birth day and can say it's worth going. The works are very nice and the food is both great tasting and very filling. read more

We were literally the only Korean diners here! Everyone else was white or Latino, or something else distinctly non-Korean. Not even our waitress was Korean! This definitely raised a red flag for me, but the place up the street is closed on Mondays. Anyway, my fermented soybean paste soup (dwen jang jigae) was actually pretty good. Not exactly authentic, but still good in its own right. The kimchi and the other side dishes (ban chan) really sucked. Maybe their Korean BBQ is better.... read more

I came here with a friend last weekend. We drove from Centralia (we stayed over night as a girls trip.. almost 30 miles) just to eat here. The food was ok.. but service was horrible! It took almost 10 minutes for the wait staff to take our order and all we wanted was the all-you-can-eat yakiniku. Then it took another 10 minutes to bring our drinks & some banchans. They brought the banchans, but no chopsticks, and no rice. And the soda's we ordered were flat. It tasted like they gave us "couple days old 2 Liter drinks." I told the younger waitress that the soda tasted funny & then i ordered a different soda, thinking maybe it was just that flavor, but the next soda they brought was the same. So, DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A SOFT DRINK! Also, what kind of korean restaurant gives American style cole-slaw as part of banchan? It was disappointing to even see it come out as a banchan! The other banchan's were just "ok".. i think i could make better ones than that & i'm Japanese, not Korean. Before our meal, i asked for salt & pepper (to put it in my oil sauce) and i didnt get it till we were almost done eating! When our raw meat finally came, we still didnt have a grill to cook it on.. (and still no chopsticks!!) It took another couple of minutes to get our grill & our chopsticks. The kalbi was ok.. a little too salty to my liking. I heard the young waitress tell another table that they marinate it in salt, soy sauce, and pepper. Not a very good marinade! The bulgoki was pretty good and the other meats we ordered were alright too. A little bland, but ok. After we were done with our meal, I'm guessing it was the owner's son, came to check on us & i asked him for the check (he was very nice). It took maybe another 5-10 minutes to get our check.. in which the young waitress brought our check. I put my card in the check holder, and an older women came to pick it up. When she brought it back she put it down on the table and said, "People waiting!" I told her that it wasn't our fault & we were waiting on the staff!! But that just blew it. NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE!!!!! I would rather take my money & my hungry tummy else where!!! In fact, i'd rather drive to Tacoma or Federal Way for better food. But I DEFINATELY DO NOT RECOMMEND. Go there at your own risk. read more

I went there multiple times because I really like Korean food. First couple times, my wife and I went there, the service was horrible. I asked for a refill. 30 mins later. Nothing. I asked for a certain meat. This later comes to us cuz she got the wrong meat for a different table. So she decides to put it in ours. I decided to never go back tHere. Months later, decided to get menu food Togo for my wife. She can not eat pork since she's allergic. So I ordered beef sundoobu and not spicy. Went home and the food was red to my blood and there was pork intestines in the food! I tasted it just to see if it was not spicy. It was not edible! I'm Korean and I can handle spicy. But the soup just tasted like there just put pepper flakes in there and no other season. So I just threw it away without even taking a bite. My wife just ended up eating the rice and the side dish. Wish I took a picture of it before I threw it away. I normally never put reviews. But this place is horrible. read more

The food was about a 3 star but the service was terrible! WARNING: We sat at the large table in the corner. Under the tables are large metal boxes for the cooking unit. Be careful, I got a bruised knee and a grease spot on my pants. FOOD: My husband ordered the Spicy Pork with Vegetables, extra spice. When the waitress dropped it off she said chicken...when asking the owner she insisted it was pork, it was chicken. I ordered the spicy pork and beef bulgolgi skillet to share with my two kids. The owner said it wasn't spicy, just flavorful... It was spicy. My husband said it was spicier than his. The kids loved the beef. The pork was okay, a little gristly. My family that joined us ordered the mackerel and said it was good. SERVICE: It took quite some time to get our waters and even longer to get our food, which didn't come all at once. They brought 6 different little "sides"...for a table of 8 guests and they were out of some items when we asked for additional sides. We were ignored by our waitress who was busy fixing orders at other tables. I had high hopes for this place... My recommendation is: Order out and you should be fine. read more

So I came here the other day with a girlfriend because we were craving some Korean BBQ but didn't want to drive all the way to Tacoma or Federal Way to get it. Service: The service was pretty good. The ajumma (older lady) assisting us was pretty quick and attentive. There also was an ajusshi (older man) that checked in on us a lot. Compared to service I've had in other KBBQ joints, mainly in La the service here was amazing. Service is usually non existent in KBBQ places so I'm usually ignored, so it felt odd having them check in so much. Food: We ordered the unlimited KBBQ which came with bulgogi, beef brisket, spicy pork/chicken, and samgyupsal (pork belly). The banchan (side dishes) included the usual different kinds of kimchi, lettuce, and dwenjanjjigae (fermented soy bean paste stew). The meat didn't look frozen which was nice because the meat is usually 90% frozen when it gets to the table. The food overall was pretty good, not the best I've ever had but It was a satisfying meal. Overall good food, good service, and average price for KBBQ (19.99 per person). 4 stars because it's not the best I've had but my favorite place in Washington for the price. read more

Perhaps the place has changed since Summer...but my friend and I found the food to be somewhat bland. The rice wasn't cooked through and there wasn't much flavor in the dish. Not at all what I would expect. The kimchi was okay. My friend had bibimbap and she was similarly disappointed. We asked for hot tea with the lunch and it never came. The waitress came by a couple of times to apologize and say that they were "just making the tea" and it wasn't ready yet. It isn't hard to make tea. Hundreds of other restaurants serve tea fairly quickly. Anyway, it was CLEAR that they just didn't want to make the tea and so it generally felt unwelcoming. Too bad. There was an excellent Korean BBQ restaurant in this same complex over 10 years ago. It was so good. This one...not so much. read more

It is the only grill-it-yourself, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ for miles. It can fit large groups and opens until 10pm. It has decent food. Maybe that's enough for the good people of Lacey-Olympia. But not for me. The owner charged $2 for every extra tiny tin of rice (she even snatched the bill back from us just to add $2 in). Was that even worth the hassle? Maybe she didn't like us for eating a lot of side dishes. read more

I've only tried them twice and won't be back. The first time my husband and I had the BBQ and everything seemed so bland. It took a long time to get waited on, and when we finally did order, we had to wait a while for our sake. The waitress kept bringing us one thing at a time. Water, banchan, chopsticks, sake, lettuce, meat, then rice. Everything was brought in that order in 5 minute intervals. We didn't get our rice until our meat was already cooked. I thought I'd give them another try, but decided to call in a to go order. I ordered bibimbap. I forgot how bland their banchan was until I started eating. Thankfully there's a place very close by called Seoul and that place is awesome, Sorry #1 Korean BBQ, but your food reminds me of #2:( read more

With a name like this, I have high expectations. It's a pretty bold claim to be number 1 so I gave this place a shot. Four of us came in for lunch and we each got a lunch special: some bulgolgi, and some bi bim bap. The side dishes (appetizers) were OK, but there wasn't much variety. The pretty much all tasted the same. Meh. The bulgolgi was just alright. The flavors weren't there. The marinade they used just lacked the amazing flavor of bulgolgi I'm used to. The bi bim bap was pretty good, but again lacked the amazing Korean flavors that other Korean places use. Most of the food was under seasoned. Overall, this place is like a Korean Denny's, and most definitely NOT #1. read more

My husband and I have tried #1 Korean BBQ before a year ago and it was okay. We wanted to try it again. When a day the kids were at daycare arose, we decided to have a kid-free date. We entered the restaurant. It was deserted. Oh well. We thought. At least we won't have a hard time getting a table. We stood for a while and figured no one saw us. It got to the point where we were debating to leave or not. My husband tried to politely flag down a hostess. She looked straight at him and turned around to ignore him. I was horrified at the behavior. He was angry. I guess they don't want my money. I will not be back. read more

I have yet to understand how people give this place such high ratings. The food is bland, bland, bland and I have never been to a Korean restaurant where I have had to cook the food myself. I am from DC and we have a large presence of Koreans and plenty of Korean food there, so much so there is a part of the city called "Koreatown" where you can get authentic meals just as if you were in Korea. In each establishment I've been in (buffet or not) you get the little round grill to cook on and you pick out the meats you want from the buffet - unlike here where they give you what they want you to have. My husband and I ordered the buffet #2 so that he could have some brisket - I mentioned that I didn't like brisket and asked if I could have shrimp instead. Our waitress said that we both had to order the same thing. Wait - what?! Also, there would be an upcharge for the shrimp if she got approval for it which I was fine with. She said if she couldn't get the shrimp approved, would I like something else instead and I asked for extra bulgogi. When our plate came, there was absolutely NO brisket on it, which pissed my husband off which is what he specifically wanted. Service was slow to non-existant, rice was cold and dry, and side items were not very good. If I lived here I would never go back here. As a visitor, I regret going here. read more