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    Gen Korean BBQ House

    4.0 (3.6k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Waitlist - Gen Korean BBQ House

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    GEN KOREAN BBQ HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy

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    Cool interior
    Jerry H.

    Gen BBQ is a very nice, clean and relaxing place that is good for dinner with friends. The staff was friendly. They offer soju or beer but not a full bar. The premium menu upgrade has incredible cuts of meat like the marinated skirt steak and prime kalbi ribs. It was delcious. The only draw back is that ordered meats or drinks took a while to come out. Several times in our sitting, we were waiting around with empty plates, empty sides, and an empty grill. We had to ask for sauces for 2 people when they never got sauces. We had to ask for napkins twice. It all just lagged quite a bit. Overall, I liked the vibe of the restaurant and the cut of meats were exceptional. It's a good restaurant. However, get ready to wait and sit around between orders.

    Christina T.

    Service is so slow on a weekday afternoon. Things coming out slowly, no one walking by to ask for things, no water or side refills. When we arrived we stood at the front for a solid 10 minutes while various staff just glanced at us and kept going about their work, no greeting or acknowledgement or instruction to wait. I will say though the dinner shift staff coming in were much more attentive and friendly. Kimchi was both too sour and lacking in fermented flavor. The new bulgogi fries are pretty good if you already like how they marinate their bulgogi. The steak is my favorite. So tender and juicy. The woobaesal was also incredibly rich and fatty. Everything else is just okay in my opinion. They don't let you order dupes of the same meat per order so you have to play this game with the server of ordering the one thing you want, waiting a while, and asking for another one. Decidedly a worse overall experience this time. Also apparently last time's amazing free ice cream sundae was a one time thing. I don't expect the world of Gen but still found it a little lacking.

    Marion T.

    My family and I are regulars at Gen Korean BBQ--we probably visit once or twice a month, and it has become one of our favorite places to eat. We recently visited in June and noticed a few changes to the menu and ordering system. Previously, we could order multiple servings of the same meat in one order, but now they require different selections per round. While it took a little getting used to, it definitely didn't affect our overall experience. The food is still delicious, the quality remains consistent, and the service continues to be fast and attentive. We were also excited to see some new additions to the menu, including hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes) and other dessert options. Best of all, the macaroon ice cream is back! My kids and I were so happy to see it return. The ambiance is always pleasant, and the location is convenient for us. We usually visit during slower times, which makes for an even more relaxed dining experience. Overall, Gen Korean BBQ continues to be one of our go-to restaurants. Great food, quick service, and tasty desserts keep us coming back month after month. We'll definitely be back again soon!

    Anna V.

    A good spot for Korean BBQ. The meat tasted fresh, there was a nice selection, and everything was cooked right at the table. The service was good, and the overall experience was enjoyable. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the strong smell from the grills, which stays with you a bit after the meal. Other than that, it was a pleasant experience and a good place for BBQ.

    Gail U.

    We had a very classy looking server who I saw had so many tables to wait on. I like that our grill was changed twice. The radish leaves are always enjoyed. The KFC was not what I anticipated arriving. Wish they had lettuce leaves not just salad. I appreciate the runners who tell you what they are dropping off at our table. For some reason multiple dishes were brought to our table that we didn't order, even a drink. The employees work so hard here. Must be pretty stressful. I was enjoying the music tonight then it stopped and never came back on.

    WILLIAM P.

    I checked in and wrote my review there. Great Food, Fantastic Service but a little noisy. You will smell like BBQ when you leave. Too busy chatting with our travel buddies to take pictures. $23.99 for lunch menu. A bargain.

    Nikol P.

    GEN IS GEN. So if you're here for the food review just know it's the same as every other Gen. Solid, consistent, 5/5 across the board. Now for everything else that sets a place apart... The bathroom definitely needed some attention, but to be fair, we went late night during a busy rush. I try not to base my whole review on that because I get it, shift changes and dinner chaos. But service... that's where things fell off for us. We got seated with no utensils and no sides. We constantly had to ask for drink refills, plates, and chopsticks. It honestly felt like we were chasing basic things just to get started. It wasn't until my fiancé stood up to get someone's attention that things slightly improved and we finally got what we needed. Even then, it didn't last. Once we got our first round of meat, service dropped again. We were just waiting... and waiting... and waiting to place another order. Meanwhile, staff seemed more focused on birthday celebrations across the restaurant while we were just trying to get dinner on the table. And don't get me wrong, the happy birthday shout outs are fun when everyone is taken care of. But to be honest, I'm not trying to watch my waiter run around shouting happy birthday while I'm sitting there with my four year old, just trying to get dinner and make it back to our hotel. Priorities just felt a little off. (Mind you we were there celebrating his bday weekend too) We came here while out of town because Gen is usually a go to for us and always treats us well, but this San Diego location just didn't deliver the same experience

    Ordered second round of meat 30 minutes ago and still haven't arrived.
    Geronimo C.

    We came back to see if service has improved. Sadly this restaurant is extremely under staffed. There was only ONE server the whole lunch time we were there. Although Nathan tried his best to keep up there is NO way one server can provide the kind of service people should expect. Management needs to rectify this situation.

    They let us bring our cake out for our celebrant and the staff sang a short happy birthday to my Godchild too! So fun- all servers are nice!
    Francia K.

    Food was about 8/10 Service Liza our host was so kind and apologetic for they gave our seat to someone for they had a large reservation and Inigo our server was so kind and attentive to our needs. He was calm even if he had lots of demanding customers. He was very polite and efficient too. Kudos to all staff who are all working hard for there were many customers tonight. I enjoyed the kalbi and their garlic beef belly

    Delish-ish-ness!  Beverage:  Matcha and strawberry fruit tea both with boba!

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    19 hours ago

    A lot of quality food and fun dining expirence with 2 or more people. Great for meat heavy days

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    Page 1 of 91

    Gen Korean BBQ House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gen Korean BBQ House

    What time does the lunch special end and is it everyday?

    Are the appetizers included in the all you can eat prices?

    Yes it does!

    Is the ambient still loud?

    Yes, in my experience typically during dinner the music is turned up but during lunch it isn't as loud!

    How much does it cost for party of 8?

    It depends on the location and what you order. I believe the Mira Mesa location is around $28.99 for lunch, plus there are additional add-ons you can choose from. I believe there is an additional cost for parties over 6 as well.

    Isn't phone number that works to call the restaurant? Trying to find out if able to make a big reservation. Thank you in advance

    Yea but they have a habit of not answering

    Yall got steamed eggs?

    No, at least whenever we've been there

    Is it all you can eat?

    It is but there is a time limit (last time we were there they told us 90 min)

    Is gen korean bbq accept egift card?

    I don't think so. You might want to try or ask the employees to find out.

    Is gen Mira mesa open at 11:30am today? The website says 3pm

    They should be open. Call 8588001157

    Doesn't gen korean bbq house have a waitlist on yelp anymore?

    New management got rid of it.

    Can i go there and eat alone? can i use my debit card to pay?

    Yes you can !

    Do they have high chairs for kids?

    Yes, i'm sure i've seen some when we visit. I would call to confirm.

    Do you guys still require masks for customers?

    No, at least not when I went earlier this year

    How big of a party can you accommodate?

    Is the meat Halala?

    No it's not slaughtered that way

    Is there still outdoor patio seating?

    No, they are back to indoor only.

    Is the all-you-can-eat prices also applicable to young children? Is there a children's meal or portion suited to a child under 10? Thank you.

    There is no kids menu, kids are charged based on height. My child who is tall but barely eats, we have to pay full price for since he was 7. They do have fries and fried chicken so there are some things the kids may eat, but no special menu. Hope… 

    Kind of confused? Why is there an online waitlist on yelp if we have to be first come first serve at the restaurant? What's the point of the yelp waitlist?

    They told me once that they prioritize the people from the waitlist over walk ins, but ever since I've just walk in without joining the waitlist and had no problem.

    Is the corn cheese and kfc still individually portioned?

    Yes, the corn cheese comes in a small aluminum container about the diameter of a solo cup and 1/4 the height of one. Kfc is on a shared platter though.

    Taking reservations for 12 people?

    I believe you can, but your whole party has to be present when they call you. You also have to be within 15 miles of the restaurant to join the waitlist.

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    Mom Kitchen

    Mom Kitchen

    4.0
    (342 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Food was soo good. We got the bbq pork and i dont usually like pork but it was so soft without…read morebeing fatty. The spicy shrimp wontons was not spicy but it was still good. Egg fried rice with pork was decent. We got two fruit tea which was really good but one was more sour than the other so a little inconsistent. And the mango sago was not sweet which is a good thing in my opinion. It was just the right amount of sweetness. Its a pretty small cafe with some booth seatings but i wouldnt bring a party of more than 5. and the portions are shareables. The staff was pretty friendly and nice as well. I would def come back to try the duck.

    The food was nothing spectacular. It wasn't bad but nothing really stood out. The beef chow fun…read moremaybe needed to be cooked a little hotter, nothing really had a seared concentrated taste, just a little oily. It wasn't bad just sterile. The hainese chicken was similar - it really just felt like poached chicken. The custard buns were good but too runny. The best part was probably the fruit tea. Would love to try the full dimsum set next time. The staff were great though and everything was super clean and modern. Lots of seating nice and quiet with comfortable tables. No complaints there. The location is convenient, while that parking lot is often busy I've always been able to find a spot somewhere. It's a little hidden.

    Photos
    Mom Kitchen
    Crispy Roast Duck Hainanese Chicken
    Crispy Roast Duck Hainanese Chicken
    Curry pork chop over rice

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    Curry pork chop over rice
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    3.8
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    I've driven past Gyu-Kaku so many times, and I'm kicking myself for not stopping in sooner…read more It was my first visit, and by pure luck we showed up during happy hour. I was honestly shocked by how many menu items were included. Needless to say... we ordered way more than we probably should have. We started with the appetizers, and every single one was a hit. The Spicy Tuna Volcano had an awesome contrast between the crispy rice and the spicy tuna. The Spicy Addicting Cucumber lived up to its name and definitely didn't hold back on the spice. The Cheese Corn Butter is a classic comfort dish that never disappoints. But the real MVP of the appetizer round? The Yuzu Shishito Peppers. That bright citrusy yuzu sauce was incredible. It was so good that I started dipping everything else into it. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right. Then came the grill. The Toro Beef was a great way to start, with just the right amount of marbling. The Umakara Ribeye completely stole the show. Perfect cut, perfectly marinated, and easily my favorite bite of the night. We finished with the Filet Mignon, which was thick, tender, and a great way to wrap up the meat selections. The Sanchu lettuce wraps added a fresh crunch that balanced all the rich flavors, and I have to give a special shout-out to the Spicy Umami Mushroom Medley. I don't even know how to describe it... just order it. Trust me. Then dessert somehow managed to top an already amazing meal. The Boba Mochi absolutely blew my mind. I'd never had it before, and biting into mochi to discover ice cream filled with little boba pearls was one of the coolest dessert surprises I've had in a while. The Matcha Mochi was another winner and a perfect classic finish. This place instantly earned a spot on my list of favorites. Between the happy hour deals, interactive grilling, and fantastic food, I already can't wait to come back.

    I was a huge fan of Gyu-Kaku when I was a student in LA 16 years ago and used to frequent the Pico…read moreBlvd location all the time. So when I moved back to the West Coast after a decade away, I was pleasantly surprised to find a location just a couple of miles from our new home in Scripps Ranch. This place brings back so many great memories. Sometimes nostalgia can make you romanticize a place, only to be disappointed when you return--but that was absolutely not the case here. The quality and service were excellent, and the food was every bit as delicious as I remembered. I also think the pricing is absolutely on the money for the quality you're getting. It's definitely more of a hole-in-the-wall type of place - the experience is really about the food, and I think the whole cook-it-yourself BBQ concept makes for great conversation with friends. I think the location works out perfectly. That said, the last time I came, I was actually dining alone before doing some shopping at the nearby Trader Joe's, and I absolutely enjoyed the experience by myself. I generally love to cook, though, so perhaps that's the key! I had the beef tongue, garlic shrimp, beef sukiyaki, and kalbi steak. Everything was fantastic. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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    Kusina San Diego

    Kusina San Diego

    4.0
    (270 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    This was my second time coming here. This time I brought my wife's family for my birthday. They are…read moreFilipino and really wanted to try it. Everyone enjoyed it. Obviously there were things they have had differently or things they wished were served, but overall everyone was happy. The food was hot and delicious just like last time. I was happy to see they had different dishes this time around too. Although I enjoyed everything from last time, it was nice to try some new stuff too. The place was slam packed. Multiple birthday parties going on, so the atmosphere was very alive with conversation. It was like one big family picnic in there. Initially, they could not find my reservation, but they found it and accommodated us with a table right away and even threw in a Halo Halo for my birthday. The hostess was really nice and jovial. With the amount of people in there it got really warm and unfortunately with the door swinging open over and over there were flies, but there isn't much they could do to prevent that.

    I've dined at this location before it was Kusina San Diego and happy to return to try the AYCE…read moreSunday Brunch Buffet. It was affordable and great selections. It's from 9 am to 3 pm. Adults $26.99 and Children 10 and under $13.99. This is definately a meeting spot as I saw friends I haven't seen in a long time dining here too. NOTE: Be aware of where you park. DO NOT park in front of O'Riellys painted curb as they are towing vehicles. The buffet had ube pancakes which tasted good and I don't like Ube. Also, my favorites were: Tocino, Tapa and Longanesia. There's the regular items such as Kare Kare, Sunnyside Eggs, Garlic Rice and Rice. I tried the Jeprox and champarado and I was not a fan. It's just me as I did not grow up with these dishes so I didn't have a taste for it. I really enjoyed the Sisig topped with raw egg on top. We mixed it up and yummy. The best Sisig I have ever had. My friends enjoyed it very much too. Lastly, for dessert, we ordered the halo halo with ube ice cream. It was so refreshing. The ice was shaved perfectly to my liking. I don't like fine ice. Overall, great spot to gather with family and friends. It's a pretty good size restaurant too. We were a party of 12 and I would highly recommend making reservations. Thanks Tress and Staff for making my dining experience a memorable one.

    Photos
    Notice the ubiquitous folded tables right behind the plates/utensils area
    Notice the ubiquitous folded tables right behind the plates/utensils area
    Ceviche roll
    Ceviche roll
    Sizzling Sisig

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    Sizzling Sisig

    Gen Korean BBQ House - korean - Updated August 2026

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