Enjoyed my meal. Loved how many options for ingredients were available. Staff was very helpful. Explained the process and cooked each meal well while keeping a clean cooking station. Plenty of seating inside and a few tables outside as well for guest with pets. Value is great for food quality. read more

Good selection of options for your stir fry. You get one pass through only. I saw the staff making to go plates and here's a pro tip. You get two bowls to put your food into. They would focus on filling one bowl and use the other bowl bottom to smash the contents down so you can fit more into the bowl. I'll definitely try that next time because the food amount shrinks when cooked. There is also soup, rice , wonton chips, and soft serve for dessert. Good value. Tables and food area were kept clean. read more

The food here was so delicious, and clearly there is some skill to stacking ingredients in the two bowls you're given. There's a strong array of ingredients to choose from. You pay for the two bowls as a set price. Great choice for people with big appetites, though you can do takeout. Free Ice cream and wonton chips. All delicious. The service was accommodating to new customers who are unfamiliar with how to serve themselves Mongolian barbecue. The ambiance was a nice casual setting, a popular spot for UC students it seems. The ingredients bar can be a bit messy, though I saw them clean all the surfaces regularly. read more

Santa Cruz has a new Mongolian BBQ restaurant. We stopped by while passing through downtown. Most of their guests were students. The atmosphere has a cafeteria feel to it. The staff work really hard! They were continually cleaning and maintaining the buffet. Here's how it works, the guest receives two bowls that you can load up with meat and veggies from the buffet. Add your sauces to the bowls and give them to the chef who cooks it as he revolves your ingredients around a circular grill. They have rice, soup and wontons with sweet-n-sour sauce in another section. Afterwards they offer vanilla and/or chocolate flavored soft serve. This is not an all-you-can-eat buffet. An additional trip to the buffet was an additional fee. Nice to stumble upon it and can see its popularity with the students, though we missed the smaller mom-n-pop versions. read more

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The food is always yummy, but it does sit out for quite a while. I've been there a few times and it doesn't seem like they replace/clean the load up area often, and the food is often spicier than expected since the grill can have left over spices on it. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Found them on Yelp of course while in the area. The info is a bit misleading because they are definitely not an AYCE. There is a system which the employee explains and you eat before you have to pay. They have complimentary rice, egg flower soup and hot sour soup. The soups looked good but were very bland and tasteless. The food depends on your tastebuds and the mix of sauces you decide to choose. The price is $19.99 per person so make sure you fill up the 2 bowls they give you to get the most for your buck! I will definitely be back when in the area. read more

Definitely worth stopping in here for lunch. Price is incredible for what you get. The team was very helpful and walk you through everything. You get to fill up two full bowls. Plus ice cream, soup and rice. Mind you, the food and the sauces are freaking delicious. The spicy mixture is definitely spicy!! I would recommend doubling up on the meat as the frozen rolls are much smaller than most Mongolian bbq spots so they essentially shrivel to nothing read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Love the service - the staff is kind and friendly! The food is yummy - fill up your bowls with a variety of different options + sauces and hand it to the person at the grill and he/she will grill to your liking. Super vegetarian and vegan friendly...tons of options. We are strict vegetarian's and the staff ensured the grill was thoroughly cleaned before our food was cooked on it. Love this place and I am definitely coming back! read more

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My hubby found this Gobi Mongolian BBQ in downtown Santa Cruz as he was looking for Mongolian BBQ for dinner, and Gobi Mongolian BBQ is an AYCE style. The price of their weekday lunch for $16.99/person, and their dinner or weekend/holiday price is $18.99/person. Kids' price for one bowl is only $8.99/person (must be 4.5 feet or 54" and under). Kids' height under 3.5 feet (or 42" and under) for $4.99/person. The price was very reasonable. Here's how things work: 1) Grab two bowls at one time (unless you are kids under 4.5 feet, then only grab one bowl) 2) Build your owl bowls with different food options 3) Add sauce to the bowls based on the suggested sauce recipe 4) Follow the line and give those two bowls to the chef to cook 5) Be patient for your food, take it then sit down and enjoy The price also includes hot white rice, fried wontons as an appetizer, egg soup or sweet & sour soup, and soft serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream. The protein choices were chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and shrimp (I missed seeing shrimp but hubby got it). We enjoyed our dining experiences at Gobi Mongolian BBQ, and the food was not bad, but don't expect high-quality meat. The quality was mediocre, but we enjoyed our dinner. read more

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Fast and easy dinner! Came here one night with my hubby. Hadn't had Mongolian BBQ in decades and we felt nostalgic. We were not disappointed! Selection was good and well stocked. The sauce recipes were helpful. I chose the curry and FYI, you gotta really stir it before scooping. All the spices sank to the bottom. The person cooking the food made quick work and before I knew it, my plate was ready! I really enjoyed my creation. The rice was actually sticky rice, which was much appreciated. The hot and sour soup lacked umami. I didn't try the fried wonton "chips" since I don't usually care for them. We enjoyed the chocolate soft serve. The employees were pleasant but I guess you have to go to the cashier for everything (like if you want a boba drink or anything off their menu). There's no table service that I could tell but I didn't get any extras (too full!). The restaurant was spacious, clean and bright. Definitely worth coming back if you need a quick easy meal that isn't your typical "fast food ". read more

I was pleasantly surprised here!! Interior isn't my favorite, service was friendly, portions were also good (depending on how you stack things). It's basically how much you can fit into 2 bowls and then someone uses a Mongolian grill to cook it in front of you. Yes, presentation-wise it looks like someone just dumped food on my plate. BUT the food is pretty good and it's a good creative activity to do with friends/family! There's also complimentary wontons, rice, soup, and ice cream, which was a nice touch. I recommend trying just once to see how you like it!! read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - interior - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Three times being here and same guy approached my partner and I rudely, he pushed us last time but this time approached us again "hoping to serve you well" as he hasn't done this to others and eyed us so badly Very rude workers and when asked about the manager , was told "he's out until September " disgusting customer service and learn to train your team properly , foul restaurant and never coming back. Should be addressed by THE OWNER ON VACATION UNTIL SEPTEMBER (disgusting lie) read more

I am a huge fan of Mongolian BBQ. It is always a fun and delicious experience. The concept of creating your own noodle dish from a variety of proteins, veggies, and sauces with the chef putting the finishing touch by grilling your meal is brilliant. Our family spent a beautiful Sunday in Santa Cruz. There we enjoyed a nice lunch at Gobi Mongolian BBQ. The restaurant is located in a very nice area in downtown Santa Cruz. Parking is accessible and easy from the garage or street parking. It was clean and large for a Mongolian BBQ spot. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Besides the usual grilled Mongolian BBQ, also included was 2 types of soups, rice, fried wontons, and ice cream. Everything was tasty and in large proportions. I was told from staff that they have been opened for almost 2 years now. Not sure why they would still have the large grand opening banner in the front if that's the case. Lol. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Gobi Mongolian BBQ. It is a great value for the price. read more

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Very fun concept, perfect if you're super hungry! Love the level of customizability here and the variety of fresh and frozen meat and veggie options -- really could satisfy any palate! They also have soups and rice on the side, and you can end with soft serve. Ends up being about $20, but if you're strategic with piling up your two designated bowls, you could probably bring home enough for a second meal. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The food was REALLY good. But the service and atmosphere was god awful. The host was super blunt and border line rude. First thing he said to us was literally "start over there". Plus the owner (I assume) was walking around like a hawk just watching patrons. Made us all feel SUPER uncomfortable. read more

Love this place!! First Mongolian bbq in Santa Cruz, and I couldn't be more excited. It's really good too. I have been a few times now and no complaints yet. They have large seating thru the whole building. They also do delivery and pick up. For eating in, piYou eat first and pay after. They keep an eye on you while you walk in, order, it's kind of a different system, but it works if you just briefly be patient and listen for literally less than a minute. No need to rush if you're eating in :) they are super friendly. You go down the line of food and fill 2 bowls as full as you can, without spilling, it cooks down a lot so make sure you pack it in. they have sauce suggestions at the end, and they will pour it for you if you'd like. For being the only place in Santa Cruz, it's a wonderful one! read more

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Been looking at this spot for the past three years, and after finally trying it, I loved it. Filling up my bowls does get me a bit anxious, but it's worth it every time when I'm able to sit and eat. Been looking at this spot for the past three years, and after finally trying it, I loved it. read more

Gobi is an outstanding value and the staff couldn't be more accommodating. The food quality is excellent and you won't leave hungry. Gobi will be a regular spot for us! read more

Yummm we decided to go two nights in a row. Everything is fresh good sauces and nice for everyone to make what they want! Service was wonderful explained everything. Lots of sitting it's nice inside. Can't wait to come back this will be dinner! Yum stop on by you won't be disappointed read more

One trip only (an extra trip is additional cost). Other Mongolian BBQs have unlimited trips. The ice cream bowl is the size of a dipping sauce dish. Tastes like any other Mongolian BBQ. You have to get your own utensils and water . Very friendly staff. Clean restaurant. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Tiny portions - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This place truely allowed me to unleash my inner big back. Two bowls will never be enough compared to how much food I could've slammed just sitting there. They cook it quickly and had lots of complimentary sides like unlimited rice and soup. My sigma alpha side truely developed in this restutaunt, because it took me 67 tries to open the bathroom door. I LOVE BUSSIN TOFU read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We visited on Friday the 24th of April. The service was exceptionally good. Everything is very clean and well maintained. We saw many very welcoming waiters working hard to keep everything clean. Huge portions and a lot of seasoning options to customize spice/ flavor levels and great for vegetarians as well! We had a very nice waiter help with our sauce choice (I believe he said his name was mannot). We also got a milk tea which was pleasant with fresh boba. Super fast, great value, great quality, and great service. read more

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Party of 4 for Sunday lunch. Everything went smoothly. Service was great and welcoming. Everything was super fresh and the price was good. I would definitely go back. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Damn good food, nice personal. Very clean. Don't miss out ! Only 18 and change.can't beat the food or price.

Great family run restaurant that is so family friendly. Included ice cream on top of the great food was a hit with the kids. You will not leave hungry. And kids pricing is a real deal. read more

First thing I noticed about this restaurant was that it was overall very clean and orderly. Big plus in my book. However when it came time to get food it was a little bit confusing. The signs can be hard to understand but the staff will be willing to assist you if you need help. Everyone gets two bowls to fill up as much or as little as they would like, and then everything gets cooked together on the black stone type grill and combined/served on a plate. I recommend doing one bowl for just noodles, and one for just toppings. That way you can get the most food and the best ratio of proteins to noodles. In the end the portions will be pretty big, but they have to-go boxes available if needed. Toppings wise, there are plenty of options to choose from and endless creativity options. There are also plenty of sauces to cook your food with, and a variety of spices/seasonings that you can add to your plate after everything has been cooked. And the meal price has soup, rice, wonton chips and ice cream built into the price. Overall you get a TON of food for the price you pay. However if you have any food allergies such as shell fish, be wary. The toppings stations allow for cross contamination to occur. And they do cook everything on the same stove top. While they do a quick clean to the top in between uses, if you have extremely sensitive allergies, this may be a bit of a risk. I recommend informing the staff, and they will be more than happy to help you. Overall, the food came out delicious, and the staff were very accommodating. My only complaint is that they were slightly curt with us as we tried to figure out the system, and while we were about to add sauces to our food a workers asked us if we wanted the noodles to be spicy or regular. When we responded with spicy the man proceeded to take our bowl out of our hands, add a bunch of sauces to the bowl and hand over the plate before we could say anything. While I'm sure this was meant to be a helpful gesture, we overall don't know what he added to the mixture and had no say in the outcome. Again, I'm sure he was just trying to be helpful as the staff are very knowledgeable about the best types of combinations for the food, but the situation made me feel a little frustrated and annoyed. Despite this, the plate came out tasting great, and the food quality was overall top notch. In addition the soup that comes with the meal was very tasty, and the rice was cooked perfectly. But in my opinion the star of the side dishes was by far the ice cream. It was very light and creamy, but still super flavorful. It didn't have any fake vanilla flavorings and was just the right way to end the meal. I would definitely recommend coming here if you are looking to try something new, or just want a different type of meal experience. The quality is good, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. read more

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Great family spot after long day at the boardwalk. Everyone was able to find a combo they liked.

Just tried this place. It's really good and has good boba teas! You can make your own bowls then they are cooked for you. Self serve rice and chips and soup. read more

The food was fresh and delicious-a lot of variety. The service was great; you just fill two bowls with whatever ingredients you wish. They then quickly heat the ingredients, and you are ready to eat. The staff were very friendly. read more

Really enjoyed the freedom of being able to create your own bowl. The prices were great and service is very fast. The ambiance is great and there's a lot of seating inside, but can get busy during peak hours. read more

It's a choose your amount of toppings, meat, and noddles style bar. Each person gets two bowls and can fill up as much ingredients as they want. They have a sauce bar and guide if you don't know what ratio to use. The service is very fast since they cook it on the grill right away and it only takes about 5 minutes to cook. They have complimentary appetizers such as fried wrappers (?), egg drop soup, rice, and ice cream. They're all included with the dine-in experience so you can grab as much as you want. The main dish was delicious and being able to customize it was a good touch. You can't go wrong with the ingredients but I would say for the sauce if you're not comfortable with concocting your own mix just follow the sauce guide - they're all yummy combos. All the appetizers were also delicious! They are quite filling though. The egg-drop soup was still hot but very flavorful and the ice cream had a nice and rich taste. Overall very good restaurant if you want a bang for your buck. Plus the staff is friendly and doesn't hover if you don't like being bothered during your meal or get nervous in restaurants. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Fried wrappers, egg drop soup, noodle dish - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Great food, good prices. I great deal for kids, only $5. Plus lots of other food included as well as a after dinner treat.

Good was good, many choices of meats, veggies and noodles. The line was short and went quick and the staff was very friendly. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Delicious food - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We read the reviews and decided we needed to try Gobi Mongolian BBQ and glad we did!! I filled my two bowls with what "I like" from all of the selections. Everything was fresh and appealing. The staff was very helpful and even made suggestions to match my likings. There is plenty of tables and even a small outdoor patio. Delicious and reasonably priced! We will definitely return! read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Great restaurant and amazing service! Not too often you find Mongolian bbq spots so this is a treat! The food was on point and I got to choose all my tasty ingredients! The restaurant is clean and the vibe is chill. Would definitely come back! read more

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Came in on a Friday night, a little crowded but got to come in and sit down right away. They have the two bowl one trip policy so it was $18 which I personally think is a good deal. With the price you get water of course, a full plate of food, however many puffy chips you desire (this is what i called them but i saw a review say they're wontons, i included a picture below), also as much vanilla soft serve ice cream you desire, and soup! This was my first time getting Mongolian and I loved the experience (except they do angrily ring the bell if you don't move your food out of the way ASAP!). I loved building my own plate and choosing my own sauce, there was lots to choose from and I believe I made such a yummy plate even if it looked a bit unsettling to my friends. The ambiance is nice, a little chaotic but I also thrive in chaos. I like the bustling energy, lots of different conversations and people to stare at. I feel I do have to mention to keep an eye on your plate. My friend built his plate including all protein and no noodles (typical gym bro, i know!!). Somebody fully took his plate and ate it, he got stuck with a plate he didn't enjoy which looked like it belonged to a pescatarian seeming there was little to no protein in it. I'm sure they would have been accommodating but he chose to stay quiet and try out this dish unpleased. This was not the restaurant's fault by any means but included more as an insight on the experience and a warning!! read more

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First time trying Mongolian barbecue and it's very similar to hibachi except the nice part is you get to pick your own ingredients. You get two bowls to add your ingredients there is me to vegetables and noodles. The service is really quick. They cook it on a huge grill right in front of you. Place is big and spacious. Good for the price. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We walked by this place on a Sunday afternoon and there was no wait so we gave it a shot! It was a fun experience building our own meals and having someone cook it all up for us. As we grazed on our creations people started coming in but it never got crowded. The meats are sliced thin, rolled up, and frozen. I think this is a form of portion control as it's basically a roll of air... That said the two bowl per person portion is just right. You also get soup, rice, fried wontons, and ice cream included in the $18 price (September 2013). A good deal these days especially for downtown Santa Cruz! I usually say what my favorite dish is about now but they really only have one, and that's exactly what you want, so that's my favorite and why I gave this place 5 stars! read more

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The place feels a bit antiseptic. Clean tile floors, clean tables, shiny serving table. They keep it clean. They have a good assortment. The shrimp is on the second table if you are looking for it. They have a "Two bowl One trip" policy. You can buy a second trip for an upcharge. I find this annoying since Mongolian BBQ has always been all you can eat - please don't waste - in my book This is on the mall in Santa Cruz. You will have to pay for parking. You will also see a diverse section of humanity on the street. The other reviews commenting on the soup are also accurate. Corn Water. I think it's a solid 4.5. Would be higher if all you can eat. read more

Gobi Mongolian Bbq - Gleaming service area - Mongolian Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We stopped here a couple weeks ago when we visited Santa Cruz from LA. The food was so delicious! The service was also amazing, very nice people! I can't wait to go back!! read more