Illbunjee has been around for decades, and a quick search would show it was one of the first KBBQ restaurants in the Bay Area. If you don't mind cooking yourself -- continue reading! WAIT My friend and I enjoy KBBQ cuisine, so we are always trying out new places. We chose Illbunjee and dined there for dinner. There was a wait of about 15-20 minutes; two parties ahead of us. The waiter came out to hand us menus and checked back to see what we wanted to order so the kitchen could prepare and staff could set the table. SERVICE The staff was very friendly, but could be more attentive during the dine-in experience. However, since you cook everything yourself and everything is brought to you, unless you need something, you have to wave someone down. INTERIOR The restaurant is cozy, with limited seating, so it makes sense that it fills up quickly and there's usually a wait during peak hours. PARKING There are several popular restaurants on the same strip. It's an older strip with barely any parking. Do yourself a favor and park in the neighborhood behind and walk over. FOOD The Premium Beef Combo includes prime beef brisket, beef tenderloin, and Wagyu strip loin. The quality was top-tier, and everything tasted delicious! There was so much food that we ended up packing leftovers. The seafood pancake was really good -- crispy and tasty! read more

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We're obsessed with this place! The atmosphere is great, staffs are friendly, fantastic food. Our favorite side dishes are fish cake and braised potato. We've been coming here at least once a week for two months, and we can't get enough. Highly recommended! PS: Parking in this area can be tricky due to the small space available. It's a good idea to look for spots on side streets read more

We ordered the combination set for four, which came with pork jowl, pork belly, brisket, and a choice of tenderloin or ribeye. We chose the tenderloin. Service was good and attentive, and they cook the meat for you, which makes the experience easy and enjoyable. The side dishes were great and they happily refilled them. The fish cake stood out the most, slightly spicy and super addictive. We refilled it multiple times because our group loved it. The meat presentation was really nice, and the ambience felt clean, modern, and comfortable without being too flashy. You get a free soda if you follow them on Instagram. They also had rice balls if you want to try something different from regular rice. read more

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We came hungry on a later Monday afternoon and left satiated and happy! I personally loved the kimchee cold noodles. The noodles were refreshing, chewy, and kimchee goodness. I would highly recommend you check it out! The parking is a little small but there's some neighborhood parking on the side if you're okay with a little walk :) read more

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If you want fancy decor and a quiet atmosphere, this probably isn't your spot--but if you want some of the best K-BBQ in Santa Clara, Ilbunjee is a total win. It's got that perfect, low-key "hole-in-the-wall" feel that makes it feel like a real neighborhood find. The staff is awesome too; they're fast and actually look out for you so you don't over-order. It can get pretty packed on the weekends, especially late at night, but that's just part of the charm. read more

Ilbunjee - Set for 2 - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Best Korean BBQ in the area, hands down. Fresh banchan every day, great quality meat, and the kimchi noodles with chadol are a must. Everyone who works here is so friendly, and the owners are always welcoming. Love this place. read more

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Came in with 3 other friends since it's been awhile. We ordered combo for 3 people and a side of cold noodles. No other places do cold noodles like them in this area. The place is small and tight. I recommend calling them for large parties. Meat is filling portions and sharable. Service is quick and efficient. Still my number one spot read more

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Came to Ilbunjee for dinner with friends and enjoyed our meal! Located in a dinky strip mall with hardly any parking, Ilbunjee is a hole in the wall, "feels like home" Korean bbq spot. The inside is quite small! The four of us snugly fit around a little round table and proceeded to order: Brisket Skirt steak Pork belly Fish cake soup - This was alright Cold noodles - Super refreshing, only wished it was even colder The meat was very good quality and the amount was perfect for our party size. The meal also came with banchan and a really well-dressed salad. Service was really nice too. We were checked on frequently and they even help cook the meat for you. Overall, we paid probably $60-ish per person which is a bit high for a non-AYCE spot. The price plus how cramped I felt sitting at our table trying to fit everything we ordered on it dinged some stars. read more

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We came here for a friend's birthday since she prefers it over 10 Butchers, but I personally found it to be pretty mid. We ordered the meat combo, and the quality didn't really stand out. My friends also raved about the rice balls, but to me they just tasted like mushy sesame oil rice with some crushed seaweed--nothing memorable. Overall, it's not a spot I'd put on my list to revisit. read more

Ilbunjee - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This really hit the spot after a long Saturday hike. The quality of the food was amazing. Definitely on the pricier side, but all of their meat portions are 1lb which is actually a lot. 5lb for 5 people was more than enough to fill our bellies. We ordered 2lb brisket, 1rib eye, 1lb pork jowl, and 1lb pork belly. Next time, I'll probably stixk to only brisket and pork jowl because these were amazing. The spot is small, but the right size to make you feel how authentic it is. No shade to the big AYCE Korean spots etc. This is where you would want to go for the most authentic Korean night. First time, but I will be back! Oh yeah, they give you free fish cake soup which was fire read more

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This place was recently recommended to my partner by a colleague who grew up in Korea and we were finally able to give it a try last night. It's very unassuming from the outside and the interior is also incredibly low key. The tables are reminiscent of pochas in Korea, small and round. The menu is simple but don't let that fool you. We shared the steamed egg, brisket and Berkshire pork belly. All of it was juicy, tender and fresh. The portions are also a lot bigger than other KBBQ restaurants in the area. Although it's incredibly low key, the food is *chefs kiss*. 11/10. Highly recommend if you're looking for an inexpensive and delicious KBBQ dinner. read more

Food is fresh every single time! Service is always on point, and the vibe is lit. If you want quality Korean food with top-notch meat, this is your spot. Easily one of the best in town! Make a reservation because it can get packed!! read more

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As small as this Korean BBQ spot may seem, it fits large parties nicely. Our party of 6 had a great dinner at Illbunjee. The meats and banchan were very flavorful. The restaurant is not cheap with their banchan; they are quick to refill plates when they were finished. With that said, our waiter was also our cook. Our friends asked to take over but the waiter insisted. He insisted so much that he over cooked a lot of our meats. Personally, I like my meats well done so I didn't mind but even I received some over-done pieces. Our platter felt like endless meats and we were stuffed at the end. All in all, I quite enjoyed it. A heads up, parking is horrible. You are lucky to find a spot in the complex. Otherwise, you will have to find street parking in the residential area. Cheers! read more

Ilbunjee - Banchan - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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In A Nutshell: -Ilbunjee #1is one of the older Korean restaurants in Santa Clara. -I like the modern look they upgraded the interior to. -If you come here to eat, I would get here by 5PM when they open due to the small parking lot. -The 2 person beef & pork combo was the perfect amount of food. -You get: Prime Ribeye, Sliced Prime Brisket, Berkshire Pork Jowl & Berkshire Pork Belly. -In addition to their delicious, reloadable banchan, salad & '99 fish cake soup. Overall, pair the delicious meal w/ their super cold Cass beer & makgeolli for an amazing experience! read more

Whenever we crave kbbq, we only think of this place. All the foods/meat are consistent high quality and staffs are always friendly and attentive. Only kbbq that truly satisfies. (Kimchi cold noodles are a must!) read more

Came to Ilbunjee on a Saturday right when they opened. We were a table of 5 so the seating arrangement was kind of weird with 2 circular tables. The grill was on the side instead of towards the middle. However, the staff were super friendly, and this place is probably my top 5 favorite Korean BBQ places in the Bay Area. We ordered their Combination for 4, and also added beef tongue to our order. It also came with these delicious rice balls, salad, and soup. And we also added an order of cold noodles too a must order when getting Korean bbq. The meat quality was really good, the meats were well marbled and not too fatty. The pork jowl, beef tongue, pork belly, and brisket are definitely the cuts you have to order. Especially with the cold noodles, after every bite was refreshing and you were ready to have another bite. This is definitely one of the places I will come back to when craving Korean bbq. read more

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I've tried a lot of KBBQ and Ilbunjee has to be THE BEST I've had in the Bay Area! The quality is amazing and the beef was perfectly marbled. We tried a new menu item (potato seafood pancake) and it was delicious! The potatoes had the crunch of hash browns and the flavor was savory from the seafood and green onions. Don't forget to order their KIMCHI NOODLES! It pairs perfectly with the grilled meats and the broth is so flavorful! To top off everything, the service was amazing! They refilled side dishes before we even needed to ask and even brought an extra pair of chopsticks within seconds after seeing one of us drop one! This is a great place to celebrate birthdays, have a date night, and get your KBBQ craving fixed. I'll definitely be back very soon~ read more

Ilbunjee - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This place gives total Itaewon Class vibes like warm, cozy, and a little hip, with food that completely hits the spot! The meat quality is incredible and the sides are all fresh and flavorful. You can tell everything's made with care. The owners are so kind and welcoming, it honestly feels like eating at a friend's place. Such a hidden gem in San Jose. I'm going back next week read more

Ilbunjee - Meat quality - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I came across Ilbunjee when I was trying the Thai restaurant next door and thought to myself that I'd want to revisit this! I came with an acquaintance who also expressed a similar affection for Korean barbecue and lived in the Santa Clara area. We ended up ordering a bottle of soju and combination order for two guests, so that came with prime ribeye, sliced prime brisket, Berkshire pork jowl, and Berkshire pork belly. I'm not the biggest fan of pork, but the price difference between a combination and ordering their minimum of two entrees was negligible enough in my mind. The banchan was good and they have a side table for when your meats arrive, which is great. The portable grill is also really cute! The waitress helped us cut the thicker cuts of pork jowl and pork belly when she saw that we were struggling to fully grill them. My heart was not particularly into drinking, but she also looked out for me when my acquaintance was about to order two bottles but recommended that we start with one and then purchase the next once we finished the first. However, the price is the primary reason why I would not come again. It ended up totaling to $140 after tax and tip, around $70 per person. I understand that the cost of living in South Bay is high and running a restaurant requires a lot of overhead and indirect expenses, but as a patron if I were to spend $70 at a place I'd pick somewhere that has more of a higher feel to it. read more

Ilbunjee - Combination for two - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Delicious! My fav were the cold noodles.. and the pork was also really good! Service was friendly and attentive as well. read more

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Ilbunjee is one of the best spots for Korean BBQ! The service is friendly and attentive, the staff makes sure everything runs smoothly. The quality meat is freshly cut and perfectly marbled. The stews are hearty and so comforting. The potato/squid pancake is crispy and the squid sashimi is super fresh! The staff is friendly and the vibe is easy and fun. I've been here so many times with friends, and we always leave full and happy. This restaurant is one of the original spots on El Camino that my parents frequented in the 90s and now I go all the time! The best place for home cooked Korean food. read more

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Fish Cake Soup 3 salty, slightly spicy, flavorful Waygu Short Rib 4 chewy, medium juicy Waygu Skirt Steak 4 chewy, medium juicy read more

Valentines Day. A day meant for couples in love. I was neither in a relationship nor in love, but regardless I went to this restaurant in a group of 8. We had called ahead and were able to secure a table very quickly. So, excited, we waited until they had set our table and entered when ready. We ended up doing 2 of the large combos they offer which was plenty of food for us(it did end up being 60 per person, because of a hefty service fee). Regardless, once the meat arrived I was excited to start. One of the servers started cooking for us, but I told her I'd be doing it, while the other people in the party needed more help. Luckily, because I already know how to cook Kbbq, everything was a breeze and the meat quality speaks for itself. Overall, it was a great experience and fun ambiance, but I marked atmosphere a little low because our tables didn't have vents. read more

Ilbunjee has been around for over 25 years and it's still run by the same amazing owners. It's a small mom and pop restaurant that serves some of the best quality meats you'll find anywhere. Honestly the quality rivals the high-end KBBQ places but the prices are super reasonable. I usually get the two person combo + wagyu and always add the cold kimchi noodles on the side. They are so good and worth every bite. The meat is always fresh and flavorful and you really get your money's worth here. If you want authentic Korean BBQ that feels like home and tastes incredible, Ilbunjee is the spot. read more

Hidden away in a corner of a plaza with no wait and authentic kbbq vibes. Relatively small interior with service as expected. Pictured: combination order with a variety of different meats to accommodate for a larger party. Brisket was the best item in my opinion with everything else being equally behind. The ban chan and sauces were similar to most other kbbq places but I do appreciate the unlimited refill on them. Wish the prices weren't as steep but still a good spot nonetheless. 8/10 will come once in a while! read more

Ilbunjee - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Really good food. Small tables and not enough parking, but the food makes up for it and the staff help you grill sometimes.

This was such a fun restaurant! It had been several years since I've eaten at Korean Bbq, but this one seemed better than the others in the past. The meal started with salad, and it was sooo good, loved the dressing. Then there were small plates of lots of yummy dishes like potato salad and fish cakes. Also all really good. Finally came the meat! We got the meal for 3-4, which came with two types of beef and two types of pork. I liked the beef a bit better than the pork personally, but it was fun to try them all. The waitstaff was very nice and answered my questions about all the food, so thank you so much to them. Ambiance is what you would expect but be warned that the parking situation might be tricky! We came early so had no trouble getting a spot, but when we left, there were cars waiting for spots to open. The restaurant is in a very tiny strip mall with very few spots and a couple of fairly popular restaurants. You might want to park on the side street instead if you come during the dinner rush. read more

My favorite kbbq place to go with the hubby. The combos are so good and everything from the side dishes to the soup and gawd damn the meat is so good I'm drooling writing this review. The workers are so helpful and friendly trying to get everyone situated when it's busy and really take their time to cook for you when it's not. read more

There used to be a kind lady that would cook the meat for you, but if she's not there, be prepared to cook your own food due to lazy servers. Might as well take your money and go to Gooyi Gooyi or Gaboja next door who would cook for you. read more

I really liked the overall vibe of this place. The staff were mostly friendly, though a bit slow at times. The seating was comfy enough, and the music was not too loud. Prices seemed reasonable for what you get. It wasnt perfect but definitely a solid choice if you want a casual outing. I would come back but maybe on a less busy day. read more

i've been here a total of two times - once recently and once a few years ago. i can't remb much about my first time but just remb food was not bad. second visit presently, i thought the steam egg was really good and beef tongue was elite but everything else is mid. i do feel like its super expensive for what it's worth. service is not bad but the space is quite cramped. read more

V v v surprised on how good their quality of meat is here!!! It's pretty expensive tho. We had 4 people and bill came out a little over $300. We ordered 3 diff meats and two soups. All very good. The fish cake soup that comes with the meal was unbelievable good, be careful, it's really hot! Don't touch the pot!!! The staff really didn't know English so it was hard to ask for things but i love that they are very authentic and it wasn't a big issue. I would def come back. The place is very small so not good for big parties. read more

Ilbunjee - You cook it yourself - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Always a solid time - good service, great food, and the ambiance reflects a casual KBBQ restaurant back in the day. I went here again recently as part of the team outing. The banchan is not as good as I remember, but the kimchi noodles were still onpoint. And maybe even the showstopper for us. read more

Ilbunjee is hands down the best KBBQ spot in the Bay. The meat quality is top notch, service is super friendly and fast, and the vibe with the metal BBQ tables feels so authentic. The kimchi cold noodles are a must try, and honestly the whole menu is solid. Portions are big, prices are fair, and you always leave happy and full. Definitely my go to spot for KBBQ! read more

Now, Ilbunjee is now my favorite Korean BBQ place in the South bay area. this restaurant is always packed, so I highly recommend to come super early or on off-days. I love the casual atmosphere, and my favorite thing is that you can cook the meat on your own so you can eat at your own pace. The meat quality is also superb. The pork belly is super thick and all the meat quality is super good and tasty. They don't have a lot of side-dishes but the meat covers it all. If you get the combo, it does come with fish cake soup, salad and rice balls. I just know I will definitely be back here often whenever I am craving some Korean BBQ. read more

Hole in the wall spot for some high quality kbbq? Say less!!! The restaurant is quite small for a bbq place but it gives a homey vibe! Just fyi although most kbbq places are ayce this one is not. I got the combo for 3 ppl and the portions are super big, I literally got a food coma :) The quality of everything is so good including the meat. The combo consists of 4 different meats, odeng (fish cake) soup, rice balls and side dishes. The worker told me that side dishes are made daily, no wonder it is so fresh and delicious! I kept asking for refills (I felt bad but it is quite yummy) kudos for good service! It gets busy around dinner time and there is 1-2 workers so be patient!! Parking is not good lol since the plaza is small w limited spots buttttt there is a residential area near by w/ street parking. :-) Overall will come back again 10/10! read more

Ilbunjee - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Amazing KBBQ place, would definitely come back again and again. I love Korean food, it's probably my number one favorite food. The parking lot is very small, so beware if you're coming in larger groups. Their menu is small and that's what I love about places like that. They know what's good and they stick to just that. We came on a regular week night for dinner for 3. I immediately liked that for a BBQ/grilling place, it wasn't smokey, nor was it stuffy. The ventilation was great! To keep it simple, we ordered the beef and pork combo for 3 and it was just the right amount of food. The combo came with brisket, short rib, pork belly and pork jowl. Side dishes were fresh and from what I hear, they're made daily! Always ask for extras. The fish cake soup that came with the combo was also really tasty. Meat quality was 10/10 The pork belly was scored/cut/sliced a way that made it super easy to grill and cut into small pieces. Lastly, we were recommended by one of the waitresses to try the Cold Kimchi Noodles. Let me tell you, we've seen and heard of cold Korean noodles from every kdrama we've ever watched but this was the first time ever trying it. SO FREAKING GOOD. Anyway, food was good, ambiance was good, we'll definitely have to add some alcohol next time read more

Ilbunjee - Pork and beef combo - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Good quality meats - delicious and tasty Basic but tasty and refillable bonchons - cucumbers, kimchi, sprouts, radish, fishcake Excellent customer service Casual atmosphere, good place for small group of friends to chill and unwind over good food and maekju. Simple menu that focuses on select cuts of meats, popular side dishes and appetizers We came here on a Thursday evening around 5:45 and were promptly seated. It was not crowded, but as 7:00pm approaches the tables filled up and there was a wait. Parking can be a challenge as their lot is small and shared with other business in the plaza. I saw street parking available on the smaller side street. Each metal table has a portable gas grill. You choose the meats and grill yourself. If they're not busy, the staff will grill for you. Depending on their shipment that day/week, they'll have special premium meat choices. We had the sirloin, Wagyu and pork belly - tasty goodness! Definitely one of my new favorite places for Korean bbq and small group gatherings. read more

My friends and I have always wanted to try this place, so we came around 7 pm on Monday. The owners are the sweetest! Service is amazing here, and on top of that the food is BOMB. Out of all the korean bbq spots in the area, this was the best korean bbq I've ever had. This will now be my new go - to spot. The meat here is top quality, side dishes are fresh and tasty (I had to order 2 cucumber side dishes and a mashed potato just for myself) and the sauces are so good! Here are my reviews for each item: all items receive a 5/5 rating. Wagyu brisket: this was the best brisket I've ever had. I don't even need sauce! Im picky when it comes to this. My friend grilled this one until it got slightly crisp, but it was still juicy and tender! At other places, the meat usually ends up being dry after barely grilling it. Wagyu beef short rib: This was the best wagyu short rib Ive ever had. This melts in your mouth and is best eaten rare/med rare. Steak: I wasn't sure which steak my friends ordered, but this was also good! As usual, all the meats here are juicy. Pork belly: I have to admit, I don't like eating pork belly at all. However this pork belly made me fall in love lol. It was so juicy!! Soo good, I will definitely order this one again Shrimp: the shrimps were pretty good! Im impressed with the quality. It was nice to eat this dish since we had a lot of meat! Definitely try it if you wanted a seafood option. Cold noodles: I've never had this before, but this was so unique and refreshing. The broth is slightly sweet and spicy. Definitely get this on a hot day:) Rice balls: SOO GOOD! I love the sesame oil flavor and thought this paired well with the meat. The rice balls are a must try. I will definitely be coming back and I have recommended this place to all of my friends and family. read more

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I came here with my boyfriend on Valentine's Day around 5:30pm and we were seated immediately. We ordered the brisket and kurobuta pork belly (1 lb each). I lived in LA for a few years and had kbbq countless times, and I've never been a huge fan of pork belly. However, the pork belly was delicious and better than I expected! Brisket was great too (you can never go wrong with that). The banchan, soup, and rice balls were all really good. The two of us were able to finish everything, except for the rice balls. The restaurant had a really good vibe and it seemed like the server knew every party that came in. Seems like a cute little family spot! Although it is a bit pricey, we will definitely be back for special occasions! read more

Ilbunjee - brisket and pork belly - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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