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Dongbu Korean BBQ

4.0 (92 reviews)

Order Dongbu Korean BBQ Takeout or Delivery

Dongbu Korean BBQ Photos

Business Info

DONGBU KOREAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Dongbu Korean BBQ

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Reviews With Photos

The Heartbreaker
Sarai L.

Came in Saturday evening for dinner. A very delightful dinner after a day trip at the safari Park. All staff were welcoming and friendly. Fast service. All the food was delicious and fresh. My favorite was the heartbreaker. It's a must try if you're around! Bonus ( they have a Tesla charging station )

Combo #3 Korean bbq shrimp, spicy chicken, short rib
Amy K.

This place is a good value KBQ. They don't force you to pay $30-$40 for all you can eat. You can buy all you can eat for $30 with a 2 hour limit or you can buy preset quantity meals, 1 item for $14.95, 2 items for $17.95, 3 items for $19.95. As a grand opening deal, when you buy two meals, you will get a free meal the next time you come. Amazing! We both got the 3 item combo meals. Honestly, it was too much food for me and I will get 2 items next time, as I am on a diet and have been losing weight for 8 months. 3 items for my fiance was just right but he was really full cuz he helped me with my food. We ordered the rib eye, short rib, garlic pepper shrimp, Korean spicy shrimp, spicy pork bulgogi, spicy chicken. Rib eye 9/10 Short rib 6/10 kind of fatty Garlic pepper shrimp 9/10 Korean spicy shrimp 9/10 Spicy pork bulgogi 10/10 Spicy chicken 9/10 Our meal came with banchan, white rice and soup. The radish soup was so freaking good! The beer is $19 a pitcher, which comes out to less than $5 a mug, great deal. Soju is $12, which is good price since places charge $11-14. We came on Saturday night around 7:15, and there was no wait. They have tables for parties of 2-8. Limited number of tables for 6-8 persons. There is plenty of parking.

Over cooked rice
Daniela A.

Was excited to try this place because there isn't any Korean bbq in Escondido. And I ordered a Combo #3 instead of doing all you can eat. Got the beef brisket, beef finger meat and premium pork belly. I'll be honest, the meats were low quality.. the pork belly was cut too thin to be called premium. The finger meats were covred in a sweet sauce that was too sweet and made the grill burn up. Side of rice was over cooked. And the bonchon, or sides, were super limited compared to other kbbq places. The combo also came with a soup that was cold and looked thrown together, I was sick and excited for the soup so that was a bummer. The server was very nice and sat me quickly. I asked for a side of ssamjang and she brought a small amount so I asked for another one. But it wasn't needed because the ssamjang was way too pasty, lacked salty and was pretty spicy. The restaurant was nice inside but it was a hot day and there was no AC on in the place so the restaurant smelled like mop water when I walked in, but I pushed passed it because I really wanted to try this place. I hate to give a bad review but there is better kbbq out there in terms of getting quality meats for your money and with prices being so high for food these days, I think it's important to get good quality foods when you're out.

Becky C.

i'm so sad they sold to a pho place . just came in to eat some bomb korean bbq!!!! where did u guys go!!!

pork belly and corn cheese on the grill from top to bottom we have the brisket, beef rib finger meat, and beef tongue
Joshua H.

Absolutely stellar service and meat! Finally an AYCE Korean BBQ spot in Escondido at a good price 29 dollars all day, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Meat quality was good and the sauces, service, drinks, and selection from the menu was great. If you ever had to travel to Mira Mesa or just San Marcos for Korean BBQ living in Escondido, you no longer have to. It's got everything we wanted without the loud club vibe of GEN or the crowded parkig lot of Manna. They just opened up this year, and is definitely worth a try and a place to come back to in the area.

Balls
Sydney S.

10/10 Neighborhood, comfort food kkbBq gem!! Must go! Also BOGO deal rn. My boyfriend and I just went by for ayce for the 2nd time and we're blown away. The quality of the meats and the sides was phenomenal! Also, the service was so fast! The waiter was attentive and the food came out fresh. I LOVE the portion sizing, they run a bit on the smaller side which is great for trying everything or even tripling up on an order. Plus you can order exactly what you want without wasting food or having to eat loads of something you hate. Get the Heartbreaker (spicy), corn cheese (1 per person or more, my fav), finger meat and brisket (my boyfs fav). The parking lot is massive and so convenient and the grill fans were really nice. The vibe is casual and relaxed and all the food feels like it's homemade with love.

banchan!!
D M.

New kbbq spot in escondido!! FINALLY!! Greeted by Danny, he was sooo awesome and he's the one who recommended us trying the combo #3 - you can pick 3 different meats, comes with banchan, rice AND salad for $19, so my husband and I ordered 2 of them!! IT WAS THE PERFECT serving size for us too! We were super full from it, and didn't have to worry about being charged leftovers lol That's what was the best part, danny did not try to upcharge us into getting the AYCE, aaand you can still try the different types of meat! He was super patient while we were trying to figure out what to eat still. He always checked in with us and made sure we got our extra sauces to try, and kimchi refilled right when we finished our servings. The meat was DELICIOUS!!! I ordered the short ribs, brisket, garlic shrimp (THE BESTTT flavor shrimp I've had in my life) Prime rib, beef brisket, teriyaki beef. marination was SOOOO good, I didn't even need to add extra sauce ontop. And the quality of meat was great, it was tender and easy to eat. Thank you so much for allowing us to experience this place, and thank you Danny being the best server!

Food and beers
Nury S.

Really is good place to come back! We went to celebrate my birthday and it was a pleasure. The customer service was really good and the food was delicious. This place was clean, quiet and not crowd like used to be in Korean BBQ places. Thank you so much for the experience. We'll come back soon.

Spicy Beef Bulgogi
Mike D.

Staff are super friendly and informative if you don't know how to do the cooking the food is perfect. Well marinated and the flavors are fantastic. The interior has a nice laid-back feeling and well lit.

Sides, beef finger meat, beef tongue, beef brisket
Anabella G.

Tried this place with my siblings because we love kbbq and glad there's one in Esco! It wasn't the best, but not bad either, especially for being new! I think they're just still experimenting and getting the hang of it. I recommend the beef brisket (this one is fatty so it's GOOD!), and beef tongue. If you get both of these, you get your money's worth. The beef finger meat is marinated and slightly sweet (too sweet for me) . Ribeye was not great, the regular pork belly was still pretty thin. Hopefully in the future, we can see some beef belly on the menu! For sides, the kimchi and cucumber kimchi were both pretty good. I always eat the radish with my meat along with steamed rice. For the rice paper, it was not was I expecting and is different from other kbbq's, they give you the rice paper that's used for spring rolls. I would not recommend the spicy tofu soup, the house salad, or the "Heartbreaker" jalapeno side. The soup was bland, the house salad was just basic-- not like the traditional korean salad. The steamed egg was also very bland and the corn cheese was bland and the corn tasted old. The gyoza and korean fried chicken were pretty delicious and Japchae was decent. Service was a bit slow, but only two of them so I understand. Inside was clean, but also very hot and can't feel much AC. Also, each time the portion is VERY small, we had to keep ordering double orders. Each time they brought out meat, it would only be like 2 pieces for each of us. Overall, I'd come again but maybe after a few months after they tweak the menu a bit, add more and find their flow. As of now, quality of meat overall is poor and much of the banchan sides have no flavor.

My rice paper softened with water and sauce

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Amazing hidden spot! Will be coming back time and time again. So cheap and many options AYCE with no wait lines.

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Ask the Community - Dongbu Korean BBQ

Is it all you can eat or order by combo? I see both on menu? Or do we get to choose once we are there?

They offer both options and you can select once you are seated. Thankfully they offer both options!

My wife is a veggie/ no meat, any mix veggie to grill?

They have a veggie mix. They also have lettuce rolls, so probably wouldn't go hungry but is mainly just meat.

Are sides included/unlimited with meal? See things like "gyoza" printed on the menu under sides, but then see other mentions of "combos come with kimchi side and choice of ___"...…

Yes! They're unlimited. You order 6 items at once and you pick from meat/sides. They also have take out combos where you can pick sides/meat.

View All 4 Questions

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Seoul Korean Corndog & Fried Chicken

4.5
(84 reviews)
4.2 mi

I really like this place. The food is seriously so good. The corn dogs are always hot and…read moredelicious, and the quality is great every time. That said, I work in the mall and timing is a big factor. When you order, it takes at least about 10 minutes for the food to be ready, which is why my coworkers and I relied on DoorDash pickup. It made it possible for us to order ahead during short breaks, pick it up, and still be able to enjoy it while supporting the business. We recently noticed the topping options were removed from DoorDash, which is a big downside. The toppings are kind of the whole point, like the sugar coating and sauces. Without that, there is no way to customize in the app. When we pick up, we have to ask in person, and even then they usually just give the toppings on the side instead of putting them on the corn dogs, which is not the same experience. We really do love this place and hope the topping options get added back soon, because otherwise it is hard for us to keep ordering

Customer service was nice, the tteokbokki is not bad I gave 7/10 because the rice cake is chewy I…read morelike the texture but is too watery and plain they need to make the sauce more thicken. Don't get me wrong the sauce is good and decent spicy. Loved it! I wish they could make extra topping like egg or cheese optional else it just Tteok and some fish cake with tons of sauce on it. The spicy garlic gyoza is ok I gave 7.2/10. Loved the spicy sauce!! The issue is the utensils. They need to change the plastic spoon size because it's way too small and can't even scoop the sauce on Tteokbokki. The container by itself is good it just the utensils need to be changed at least size up. Is located in the 3rd floor of Escondido Mall next to escalator, inside the food court right on the left side of the food court number 2. You can go from back door next to 24h Fitness. Places is clean and there always cleaning lady or man to clean the food court or dining area, this are open space.

Photos
It's a very nice setting and the food is great
It's a very nice setting and the food is great
Mozz and sausage dog (#15)
Mozz and sausage dog (#15)
Seoul Korean Corndog & Fried Chicken

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Pan Asia Buffet

Pan Asia Buffet

3.3
(797 reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

Aloha gang! Thought it was time to revisit Pan Asia Buffet. I was coming back from a Sunday…read moreafternoon at the casino in Temecula and was in the mood for an all you can eat buffet. When I arrived, the restaurant was packed. I had to check in and take a number, but they managed to seat us in under 10 minutes. If you're not into crowds, I would definitely avoid Sunday's. My usual visits are during the weekdays when they open first thing for lunch. You get first pick of the buffet offerings and it's much more enjoyable without the crowd. My faves are the Chow Mein, Teriyaki Beef, Fried Rice and Honey Walnut Shrimp. So....if you have a craving for AYCE buffet, check it out!

It's a BIG NO from me dogg…read more.. "I hate to do it, just as bad as you hate to see it done, now calm your boys" As a a non-seafoodie, I entered with trepidation...as soon as I stepped in, the stench of seafood hit me in the face, oh no...I had a strong inkling of what was to come. Disclaimer: Had I not been part of a large gathering that was coming here, I doubt I ever would have come to this buffet. Pros: They had the World Cup playing on a "2017 New" 36ish inch TV with the tags still on it The food was mostly hot The cream cheese wontons were delicious, creamy, and crispy Cons: I tried like 11 items, and only the cream cheese wontons were hittin'. Out of the 11 items I tried, only 3-4 items were passable as decent The food was salty The black pepper chicken tasted like fish The food ended up giving my bubble guts the bubble guts-SHEESH! While there were loads of offerings, which I appreciate, the organization of said offerings were a bit strange. The hibachi was set-up going left to right, while the food stations on either side of it were going right to left, creating this crazy clash of people heading in opposite directions. It just wasn't for me.

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Pan Asia Buffet
Pan Asia Buffet
Main entrance

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Main entrance
Akita Japanese Restaurant

Akita Japanese Restaurant

4.3
(522 reviews)
1.8 mi
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We came for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, and it was a great choice. The ambiance was relaxed and…read morepretty quiet, and the staff were fast and attentive, and very helpful answering our questions about the menu. We got the garlic edamame, which was a nice and generous appetizers to split for 2-3 people. We also got the dragon roll, spicy tuna roll (which was ACTUALLY spicy), and the salmon avocado rolls, as well as the salmon nigiri. All of the food was delicious and very reasonably priced, and worth the trip. Additionally, a huge thank you and kudos to the staff for being so kind and warm about our excitement watching the World Cup matches that we're playing while we were eating. They were very sweet and understanding, and didn't rush us at all, which made it much more enjoyable to take our time and savour the food and the game. Overall this is a great spot to grab sushi and enjoy some quality time with friends or family, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a good Japanese and sushi restaurant!

We have ordered delivery from this overrated place before, so I figured maybe dining in would…read morechange my mind. Nope. Big mistake. It was Sunday night and we were driving back to Escondido from Anaheim. GPS says they close at 9:30 PM. We roll in at exactly 9:05 PM. Place still had customers inside, open tables, and two hostesses literally started walking us to a table. The male host said, "Last call is in 10 minutes." Cool. I jokingly ask, "For alcohol?" because I wanted TWO damn sushi rolls, not a 12-course feast. He says with a smile, "No. Last call for food and everything else." Okay... easy day. We already knew exactly what we wanted. Simple order. In and out. No biggy. Then came the look. You know the look. The "damn it, I want to go home, why did customers show up during business hours?" look from management and the sushi chefs. Next thing you know, manager says we cannot be served. Wait... what happened to "last call in 10 minutes?" Suddenly now it is, "You missed last call at 9:00 PM." It was 9:06 PM. So your establishment closes at 9:30 PM... but actually closes at 9:00 PM... but also has a last call in 10 minutes... but also refuses service? Got it. Crystal clear. Listen, if y'all want to leave at 9:00, then change the damn hours to 9:00. Do not advertise 9:30 and have people driving 70 miles just to get hit with attitude and false hope. So we walked out and went somewhere else. Being turned away wasn't the problem. The problem was being treated like customers showing up during YOUR posted business hours was somehow our fault. Change your damn hours to 9:00 pm then. Do better!

Photos
Akita Japanese Restaurant
Spicy tuna cut roll and salmon avacado cut roll
Spicy tuna cut roll and salmon avacado cut roll
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Umami Japanese

Umami Japanese

4.4
(877 reviews)
4.2 mi
$$

On previous visit(s) experience(s): Food always fresh,…read morevisually pleasing, great tasting, served by attending and great staff. Pleasant atmosphere and vibe. Outdoor seating. My favorites, Kama, Sashimi, Steamed Veggies. Friday nights can be busy because there's a weekly farmers market venue that includes outdoor vendors, and music. (4pm - 8pm). Wish the restaurant operators would put grilled Tako on the menu.

Decided to stop by on a whim while we were in the city. They are located within apartment complex's…read moreright on the street where the San Marcos Farmer market takes place. Our party of two waited about 20 minutes on a Friday night with no reservation. It was quite busy that day with many other tables waiting to be sat. There are a lot of options on the menu, ranging from cooked items to sushi and rolls. After placing our order, it took only about 10 minutes before we received the first dish and everything else followed. We ordered a roll the sashimi set a hand roll and also a bowl of ramen. Their salmon and engawa was tasty, but I wouldn't say their fish is the freshest or have much flavor to them. Unfortunately, we had an issue with our spicy tuna roll (there was a piece of metal found inside). I'm sure it was just overlooked. But service was very friendly and accommodating. They immediately remade our roll and also provided some complementary dessert. The service here was quick and friendly. I appreciated it given how busy the restaurant was.

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Hawaiian roll
Hawaiian roll
Umami Japanese at San Marcos
Umami Japanese at San Marcos
Platinum plate

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Platinum plate

Dongbu Korean BBQ - korean - Updated July 2026

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