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    Ilbunjee

    4.2 (359 reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque
    Open 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ilbunjee Photos

    Business Info

    ILBUNJEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ilbunjee

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    Vanessa T.

    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.

    Cold kimchee noodle
    Jennifer

    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 :)

    Set for 2
    Jin K.

    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.

    Eunice K.

    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.

    Inside
    Mina H.

    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

    Brisket, skirt steak y pork belly
    Leslie Q.

    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.

    Joanne L.

    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.

    Banchan
    Love K.

    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!

    Shinae K.

    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!!

    Trewen W.

    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.

    Jennifer Y.

    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~

    Meat quality
    Helen K.

    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

    Combination for two
    Maggie W.

    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.

    Soup

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    5 years ago

    Pricey but worth it. It isnt Ayce but cuts are delicious, owners/waiters are freindly and service is good.

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    Ilbunjee Reviews in Other Languages

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    Kunjip

    Kunjip

    4.1(2.4k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I came here with my husband and cousins at around 8pm, and there was still a wait but that wait was…read moreworth it. There wasn't much space inside if you're waiting for your table. Just a small corner of seats, so I waited in the car. It took around 45 minutes for us to get seated, but after ordering, the food came out relatively quickly. This is now my go-to spot for galbijjim. I remember thinking right after we left the restaurant that night that I was already looking forward to our next visit. The rice cakes in there were chunky compared to most places, which made it a more enjoyable eat. It was my first time having sooyuk and I loved the cuts of meat in there, especially the tendon. I might just have to come here again on my next visit to SJ.

    interesting experience today…read more.. most of the pieces of meat in my galbi tang had way more cartilage than usual. i tried to cut it off but did not really help much as it was very chewy. noodles were also overcooked and supeeerrrr chewy. banchan sizes were really small, especially for 2 people. I am really surprised at the portion we received being way smaller compared to what i typically get when i doordash or order for take-out... and i order take-out from here every week or two! my friend got hounded for a tip in the parking lot after paying which was really off putting. at first they said they couldnt read what he wrote. then, when he clarified- she took about 5 minutes begging for a tip in the hot sun... the thing is- he didn't want to tip as we didn't receive any service at all. all they did was just take our order and give us our food. no check-ins during our meal. they took away our water before they even took our card to pay.... it all felt super rushed near the end. out of all the times I've had take-out from here, this dine-in experience missed the mark for us. debating on if it is worth it to come back. very disappointing as this was my friend's first time trying this place and he drove all the way from east bay!

    Photos
    Kunjip - Interior

    Interior

    Kunjip - #13 Cheese maeun galbi jjim ($82)

    #13 Cheese maeun galbi jjim ($82)

    Kunjip - Mul naengmyeun/cold buckwheat noodles

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    Mul naengmyeun/cold buckwheat noodles

    Master Oh's - Gal Bak

    Master Oh's

    4.3(201 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    Free parking
    Free WiFi

    I'd been hearing Korean friends recommend Master Oh's for a while, so after they recently reopened…read morewith an updated menu, I finally decided to check it out. Honestly, it was a pleasant surprise. What makes this place stand out from most Korean restaurants is that you can enjoy so many classic Korean dishes in one meal--soy sauce marinated crab, fresh handmade cold noodles, stews, seafood hot pot, grilled intestines, stone pot bibimbap, and more--without having to visit multiple restaurants. Here are a few signature dishes we tried based on our server's recommendations: Bibim Naengmyeon (Handmade Spicy Cold Noodles) These noodles took a little longer to come out, and our server explained why--they don't start making the noodles until you place your order. The dough is pressed fresh in the kitchen before being served, giving the noodles a wonderfully chewy texture. Served with crushed ice, beef, cucumber, egg, and Korean pear, it was incredibly refreshing on a hot day. It's actually pretty rare to find restaurants in the Bay Area still making cold noodles fresh to order. Soy Sauce Marinated Crab I'd always heard that Korean soy sauce marinated crab is one of the country's most beloved seafood dishes and had seen it countless times in K-dramas, so I was excited to finally try it. The crab was well-marinated, with sweet, tender meat that was full of flavor, and even included quail eggs. If you love seafood, this is definitely worth ordering. Stone Bowl Bibimbap The stone bowl arrived still sizzling at the table. Mixed with beef, spinach, carrots, bean sprouts, fernbrake, and a sunny-side-up egg, every bite was delicious. My favorite part was the crispy golden rice that slowly formed at the bottom of the bowl. Gal Nak (Spicy Braised Beef Short Ribs with Octopus) (Mild Spice) This was perfect for sharing. The pot was filled with tender braised beef short ribs, octopus, tofu, rice cakes, enoki mushrooms, and vegetables. As everything simmered together, the rich broth soaked into every ingredient, making each bite even more flavorful. Every table receives a generous selection of Korean side dishes, including kimchi, japchae, fish cake, cucumber, pickled radish, seaweed, and more. Our server even came by to ask if we wanted free refills before we had to ask, which made the whole dining experience feel very welcoming. Besides the food, I also loved the atmosphere. Right at the entrance is a row of traditional Korean fermentation jars, and the restaurant is decorated with Korean-style ornaments throughout the space. The owner also stopped by to chat with guests and mentioned that he personally shops for fresh ingredients every morning to keep the food consistent in quality. The restaurant is conveniently located next to a Korean supermarket and has its own parking lot with plenty of parking spaces.

    Stopped by Master Oh's after work & will definitely be going back soon! Their evening service opens…read moreat 5 which was perfect timing & we were quickly sat even though we had a larger group. They have a solid amount of seating & more space than you'd think looking at the outside. The menu had a variety of Korean dishes, many which I haven't seen at other spots in South Bay so of course we had to try them! My favorites were the Spicy Raw Marinated Crab & the Tteokbokki w Ramyun.

    Photos
    Master Oh's - Inside

    Inside

    Master Oh's - Gamjatang: Pork Bone Soup ($22)

    Gamjatang: Pork Bone Soup ($22)

    Master Oh's - Soy sauce marinated crab

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    Soy sauce marinated crab

    ToBang

    ToBang

    4.1(3k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$
    Takes reservations
    14 years in business

    This is one of my fave places in this Korean plaza!…read more I always find service to be so friendly and kind. They are a small team but do their best to chat with you and make recommendations. We typically get a 1-meat combo which is more than enough for our 2-3 person family. The portions are huge and the banchan is refilled so unless you're craving tons of different meats, no need to order a ton more. I also love their tofu soup, it's not too oily and also keeps well if you have leftovers. The interior is clean and well kept so you'll be comfy with a group anywhere from 2-6 people. Larger groups might be harder to accomodate but I've never had to reserve for under 6.

    The foods were good but I do not like the services here at all…read more There are 4 Korean restaurants in the same plaza which kinda weird because they all serves almost the same atmosphere. We came here around 5:30PM so we did not wait for a table of 5 at all. We wanted to order the package B which comes with 3 protein of choice with add on ramen and cold noodles but they refused to let us order package B but insisted us to order package C which comes with 4 protein of choices. I and my niece don't eat meat so package B was good for us. There are 5 of us but 2 of us don't eat meat, we basically eat the banchan with the sauces. I do not like how they handle the situation at all! I clearly told them I don't eat meat so package B was good for us and they refused. We can not finished with 4 protein for package C which had a lot of left over afterward. The galbi was $9 add on more which the portion are small and over cooked! The grilled chicken was okay, the pork belly and the beef brisket overly thin slices below average quality. The best part of this was the banchan they were given, the potatoes salad was delicious. The hot sauce was very good. I just add all the banchan with white rice and hot sauce to make the best Bibimbap ever. The cold noodles were excellent just like how it tasted in Korea. When my daughter gets up to pay for the bill, they expected us to tip them 18% instead of 15% because there are were party 5 of us. You lucky that we even tip you 15% while we felt the services was horrible! Overall, I like the foods here but the service was not right!

    Photos
    ToBang
    ToBang - Summer Special  Soju $9.99 Beer $4.99 Seemed egg $4.  Bibim Naengmyun $10 (with Special combo)

    Summer Special Soju $9.99 Beer $4.99 Seemed egg $4. Bibim Naengmyun $10 (with Special combo)

    ToBang - Mushroom soup

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    Mushroom soup

    Jang Su Jang - Maeun Galbi Jjim ($75) Spicy Braised Beef Short Ribs

    Jang Su Jang

    3.8(2.3k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$$

    We had the budae jjigae and mul naengmyeon…read more The stew had lots of fermented kimchi flavor. If you like that, this is great. My preference is basically a shin ramyun which has a thicker broth. I loved how this had tteok, sausage, and spam. It's also wonderful that it comes out still boiling inside the stone pot. I love their fresh, sweet kimchi banchan. The place is nice and clean and the service is friendly. It's nice that they also have private rooms available. I liked it enough but if someone asked me a Korean place to eat, this isn't one that would come to the forefront of my mind. It's good but not mind blowing.

    Jang Su Jang is a solid Korean BBQ restaurant in Milpitas. While none of the dishes had any…read more"wow" factor, the food was above average and the prices were reasonable. The decor is a little dated. Service was efficient and met expectations. We ordered Wang Mandoo, LA Galbi, and a Cold Noodle Combo. The Wang Mandoo were described as king size boiled dumplings with beef, pork, and kimchi, and the sizes did not disappoint -- indeed very huge, even larger than the mandoo I've had in Korea. The meat was tender and overall very tasty. The LA Galbi came out as large slices of BBQ short ribs and were tender, juicy, and flavorful. The cold noodle combo came with cold noodles in broth plus bulgogi. You can pick other protein but that's what we chose. The cold noodles were refreshing and the noodles were chewy and bouncy. The portions were fairly large. The bulgogi was probably the most disappointing of all the dishes we had. It was tender beef but lacked some bbq flavor. I appreciated the wide variety of Banchans that were brought out to our table. They also gladly refilled the banchans as needed.

    Photos
    Jang Su Jang
    Jang Su Jang - Haemul Pajeon aka Seafood Pancake ($29), expensive

    Haemul Pajeon aka Seafood Pancake ($29), expensive

    Jang Su Jang - Jang Su Jang - inside bbq seating area

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    Jang Su Jang - inside bbq seating area

    Paik's Noodle - Stir-fried Noodle ($14)

    Paik's Noodle

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    I've been to Paik's Noodle several times and have also tried locations in other cities! I forgot…read morewho originally recommended this place to me, but I'm glad they did Their prices are super good and their food is consistently good. I get the jajangmyeon ($10.95 for a small) every time, mostly because the noodle texture is TOP TIER. The noodles are thick, chewy, and springy, and they pair really well with the jajang (black bean) sauce. There are also plenty of ingredients mixed into the sauce, although I find it a little salty sometimes. The tangsuyuk (sweet & sour pork, $15.95) is super crispy, and I really liked the tangy sauce with it. I personally prefer dipping the pieces in the sauce so they stay crispy, but you can also pour the sauce over if that's your preference! The restaurant can get pretty busy on weekend evenings, with waits usually around 10-30 minutes. There's plaza parking available nearby. Would definitely recommend if you like or want to try jajangmyeon!

    Paik's Noodle has multiple locations around the Bay Area and it's about the same experience at…read moreevery location I've visited. I ordered Jajangmyeon and Jjamppong. The noodles for both dishes have a pleasantly chewy bounce to them. They are thick, satisfying, and cooked perfectly right. The Jajangmyeon's black bean sauce was savory with a touch of sweetness and contains peas, onions, and pork. The Jjamppong has a spicy seafood broth with squid, mussels, pork, and veggies. Every meal comes with pickled yellow radish on the side to help cut through the richness of the meal. Service is not what you come here for. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated and a part of that was because they skipped our name on the waitlist. They claimed they called it, but we were standing less than 15 feet away from the front door and never heard a thing. The music the restaurant was playing outside didn't help. Once sat inside, it is a turn-and-burn operation. Food is ordered, dropped off, payment is collected, and nothing more. Again, don't go here for the service, go for the noodles. The atmosphere is casual and bit cramped. It has a cafeteria-like feel inside and can get a little noisy. Parking can be tricky especially when busy since they share a small parking lot with neighboring businesses. Bottomline, Paik's Noodle is good for a quick and solid bite but that's about it.

    Photos
    Paik's Noodle - Counter / cooking area

    Counter / cooking area

    Paik's Noodle - Fried Dumpling ($8.50/8)

    Fried Dumpling ($8.50/8)

    Paik's Noodle - Beef Jjamppong / Beef Noodle Soup

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    Beef Jjamppong / Beef Noodle Soup

    Ilbunjee - korean - Updated September 2026

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