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    Kogi BBQ

    4.1 (1.6k reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque
    Open 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kogi BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    KOGI BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Kogi BBQ

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    Visit May 2026: Use the rice noodle/paper thingy to make wraps
    Jeff R.

    Visit May 2026 I'm not the greatest authority on K-BBQ. That would be my daughters. They both like this place more than other sites singling out meat quality and space as wining attributes. The meat quality was indeed really good and I got my belly full by the end of the night. Again, I'm not an expert...we stuck with pork and beef. Been my experience that chicken and any seafood tends to be a downer anyways. Traditional sides like corn cheese (gooey goodness), steamed egg, and kimchi. I tried their kimchi fried rice and it wasn't too flavorful. I liked the rice noodle paper side used to make little wraps with your meat. Sliced radish same thing. Service was okay. Take order. Bring order. There were dipping sauces placed in front of us but no explanation given which I thought lacking in terms of service. And while they were steady in terms of refreshing grill plates and clearing dishes we did have to wave down for more water which is a pet peeve of mine. The place is pretty standard in terms of decor. Dark wood. They sorta have two sides with one having a long section of grill tables used for large parties like 20. Surrounding them were almost bar lounge chairs with their own low rise grills meant more for two or three. We were in a normal booth. Parking seems daunting at first but they have spots behind. Don't park at the Denny's or Shogun next door or you'll get towed. Would I visit again? Yes though my doctor will shake his finger at me for it.

    Kimchi fried rice, potato salad
    Michaela I.

    Went for the lunch special and it was much more pleasant compared to last time I went. The menu was more limited, but that the basics you would get at kbbq. My favorite thing was the kimchi fried rice, something I haven't seen at other kbbq spots. The staff was attentive and friendly. Overall, i think as it compares to other kbbq spots, this place is okay, the regular menu pricing with the menu selections you have available are smaller. I think this place seems to shine moreso for their late night specials/drinks, which isn't for me, but i can see the appeal.

    Maya H.

    The meat is okay.. the fondue is awesome!! The corn cheese, egg, and kimchi is delicious. You have to order the side dish like kimchi separate. They don't give it to you automatically. The drinks is pretty good. I order monster with soju and hot green tea. The place is pretty spacious with lots of seat. Service is pretty quick but we also went when they first open. At the end of our dinner, the server was looking at the pos and not paying attention to where he was walking. He accidentally kick my leg really hard and we heard a loud crack. I just had a knee replacement surgery. The pain was intense and I started to sweat so my daughter took me outside. The waiter asked if I was okay but I was in so much pain. I just wanted to go outside before I started saying something I would regret. My doctor called to check on my knee and was concerned by my pain being worse after it was kicked at the restaurant. They did an x ray and discovered the healing scar tissue cracked from the impact, and my doctor informed me my pain would be more intense and the healing process would extended by it. I hope the staff look up when they are walking and be more careful around guest.

    Pedro G.

    Kogi BBQ never disappoints! I decided to go for my birthday dinner and not to brag but everything from the dining experience, customer service and the food (of course) did not disappoint. We showed up not long after they opened on a Wednesday so there wasn't a wait. Decided to do their regular AYCE. My favorite cuts of meat are their bulgogi, marinated bone in short rib, and the prime brisket. My go-to sides without fail are favorite the corn cheese, salad, pickled raddish, and their kimchi pancake. Waiters are attentive and change the roasting plates a few times throughout the meal. If in the Kearny Mesa area, visit Kogi if you're looking to try some delicious Korean barbecue.

    Ben H.

    This place gets packed and chaotic fast. It's super loud, cold afffff, and slow, with hit or miss meats and sides. If you're patient, happy hour can save you a few bucks, but otherwise it's kind of a grind. Beef Belly: Get Easily my favorite. Tender, flavorful, and cooked up nicely. The rest of the meats and sides were whatever. Some sides come out in weird portions or cut strangely. They're also not self-serve, so you have to ask for everything which slows things down. It's seriously loud in here. Like, yelling across the table loud. If you've got soft spoken people in your group, it's going to be rough. The place is also freezing and super drafty, so bring a jacket... but just know that jacket is going to end up smelling like smoke and meat by the end. Service is slow and inconsistent. Best move is to order your meats all at once instead of waiting between rounds. Food: 6/10 Atmosphere: 3/10 Service: 4/10 Value: 5/10

    Food is so good my number one go to spot for Korean bbq. The service is amazing here as well always bringing out the food on time and changing the grill whenever it's time. I would totally recommend! If you come for the late night special be ready to wait for a good while been here a couple of time for the late night special and usually wait for an hour to get seated.

    Large disgusting cow intestines
    Susie T.

    Holy snickers! This is the worst korean bbq place I've ever been to. Let's put this aside first. The place is like a maze inside. There are extra seats on the right side. It just feels tight and it's dimly lit. The outside, the sign isn't even on, so you may not notice it at night. It was packed when I went. The service is excellent. The workers here are super nice and just on it!. They have a button you press and they actually show up. Its cute and funny. Why 1 star? Well simply the food sucks. Everything here is made to be cost efficient. They have this after hour menu after 9pm. Its a pretty terrible menu of choices for almost 30$. The flavor and quality just tanked for me. I just cant get over the disgusting to literally ZERO flavor sides. I've eaten probably over 40 bbq places, and for me to say the flavoring is all wrong, is just gotta be that bad for me. The salad was too sour for me. The corn cheese had little to almost no cheese. You cant taste mayo or any cream or just anything really. They really skimp you out on quality. The pickle radish is super bitter, the kimchi was extremely bitter and bad tasting. Not enjoyable. The steamed egg was made from more water ratio and had 0 flavor. The pancakes was soggy and disgusting in flavor. The bean paste soups tasted like spoiled milk. The sides should be banished. The only thing that was OK, was the the beef belly. The pork belly was pork belly and the cow intestines arr.not pleasing. The options were little as far as meat and the quality was so displeasing. You can go to orange county and get a fuller menu for the exact price and you don't even have to wait for after hours. I'd never come again, but it seems they have plenty of customers, so they don't need my patronage.

    Corn Cheese
    Vivian T.

    Although I don't frequent as often, Kogi is a staple KBBQ spot for my friend group. The service is always quick, I can control how much portions to order, and they have great sides! I love the kimchi pancake and corn cheese! The meats are shaved neatly and presented nicely. They offered to do half portions since it was just me and my friend dining, so we didn't waste anything. I find Kogi my go-to spot for KBBQ and have not had a bad experience here ever. I also rarely encounter extreme wait times compared to other kbbq spots, but it will depend on what time you go. I usually go when it's their HH after 9PM! Sure, it's a late dinner, but I enjoy the late-night vibes and atmosphere of the restaurant! Never got around to writing a review but after a handful of times of dining here I find that Kogi BBQ is one of my favorite Korean barbecues restaurants that's worth the value and quality!

    Beef belly
    Lancy N.

    Kogi BBQ was a good experience overall. I came as a party of 4 for my sister's birthday. There's plenty of parking in the back, which was convenient. There's a warning sign not to park in the Denny's lot next door so it's good to keep that in mind. The wait to be seated took a while, but once we got to our table, service was quick and consistent. They refilled our sauces without being stingy, and the staff were attentive throughout our dinner. They gave us large portions for the sides that we liked when we asked (kimchi and potato salad). Theres a sweet server named Jeyna (hope I'm spelling that right) that took care of us. She was patient, efficient, and checked in on us regularly which we really appreciated. We also tried their soybean stew, corn cheese, beef belly, house salad, intestines, and kalbi. The proteins were all solid choices. I'm not a fan of marinated meats so I can't really put my thoughts on that for this review. The soybean stew was good but slightly too salty so I used it to dip my cooked meat in. The corn cheese was good as always. Beef belly was fatty and portion size was huge. Plus they plated it very beautifully. The intestines were good flavor wise but very chewy. We got the kalbi at the end and it was good! Everyone loved it! The salad was a nice touch to every bite. Helped wash out the oil if that makes sense. Overall the restaurant looked clean. Servers were attentive and doing their best to set up/buss tables while serving at the same time. Kudos to them :)

    Salad
    Billy P.

    This is the spot my friends and I usually go to when we want KBBQ on a whim. Their wait times aren't that bad (usually 10-45 minutes) and their service is relatively decent. They'll check in on you, get you grill changes, and make sure you're all set even when they're busy. Their meat quality is alright for the most part. Nothing mind blowing, and there are definitely better places out there with better meat quality for the same price, but this place is open late, and you can always count on going here if you need a place to eat at for your last minute plans.

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    21 days ago

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    13 days ago

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    15 days ago

    Business owner information

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    Junghyun J.

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    21 days ago

    Best Korean BBQ Hands down in San Diego, food quality, price, ambience, we love this place!

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    11 months ago

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    14 days ago

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    17 days ago

    The menu had limited selections and only a few side dishes. The food was okay, but it could use more flavor.

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    1 year ago

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    Kogi BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kogi BBQ

    What are the days, time and price of happy hour ayce?

    Do kids eat at adult price?

    Kids 10 and under are half price

    Can you get a table for one here?

    No, to dine in there is a minimum party of 2

    Are you open on Labor Day? Normal hours?

    Does Kogi accept Apple Pay?

    Yes

    Are reservations required? If so, how does someone go about on making a reservation (todays date is April 7, 2021)?

    Reservations are not required when I went there, and call them to make reservations. Any korean bbq you want to make reservations or you might stand outside for 2 hours waiting for a seat. Save some time give them a call.

    Is there currently indoor dining or outdoor dining?

    Both

    Why can reserve seat using Yelp? You guys never pick up the phone

    Reservations were allowed when it first opened up but now they get too many customers who order chicken at a kbbq so no hahaha

    Are they doing outdoor dinning still? Coming from Miami and need a place to have dinner with wifey?

    Are they still open for dine in?

    Yes. They have indoor and outdoor seating.

    Can I make reservations on Yelp?

    Yes, when it is available. I did it successfully a month ago. Then, a couple of weeks ago, the option didn't show up on Yelp. When we arrived, we were turned away. They weren't able to accomodate additional customers because the seating was… Read more

    Will you accommodate 10 people groups?

    Is there outdoor dining (with a grill for self-cooking)?

    Yes there is outdoor seating with heat lamps

    What time does Kogi open/close now? And do they have happy hour still?

    Yes. Happy hour starts at 9 pm

    Are they accepting cash payment here during Covid?

    Are they back to normal Hours? Or still opens at 6pm?

    I went just last week and they were open at 5pm!

    Do they serve lettuce?

    Yes they have salad with their own dressing

    Are they open for dining in?

    San Diego county is outside dining or to go orders only. I can't say for certain, but based off this info I'd wager Kogi is currently not dine in.

    What's the party limit? Thanks

    View All 36 Questions

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    Phil's BBQ - Half Rib Dinner with fresh cut fries and macaroni salad

    Phil's BBQ

    4.3(17k reviews)
    7.0 miMidway
    $$

    Great service, big crowds but managed efficiently and best large beef ribs I've had in a long time…read more!!

    Man, where do I even start?…read more My girlfriend and I came in looking for a good meal and left feeling like we just got adopted by the restaurant. We had FIVE alcoholic drinks between us, an amazing dinner, and somehow the bill was still under $120. In 2026, that's basically a miracle. The ribs were absolutely ridiculous tender, flavorful, and the kind of food that makes you stop talking for a minute because you're too busy enjoying every bite. The drinks were great, the food came out fast, and everything we ordered hit the spot. What really stood out though was the staff. Every waiter and waitress had a smile on their face and treated us like we were regulars even though it was our first time there. The vibe was so good it almost made me want to start handing out money like I won the lottery. Then, just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, they brought out free cookies. Not some little afterthought cookies either these things were incredible. Warm, delicious, and the perfect ending to a great night. My girlfriend and I walked out happy, full, a little tipsy, and already talking about when we're coming back. If you're reading this and still deciding whether to go, you're tripping. Go eat the ribs, grab a drink, get the cookies, and thank me later. 10/10 experience. We'll definitely be back

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    Phil's BBQ - Full Beef Rib Dinner with potato salad and fresh cole slaw

    Full Beef Rib Dinner with potato salad and fresh cole slaw

    Phil's BBQ - Line of hungry people moving fast!!

    Line of hungry people moving fast!!

    Phil's BBQ - Thanks, Yelpers!

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    Del's Hideout

    Del's Hideout

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    BBQ Month @delshideout @dinecrg welcomes the flavors of the Philippines created by Chef Martin…read more@chef_ecruz featured this weekend From chicken insal, smoked lechon pork belly, tri tip bistek, shrimp & pork lumpia, pancit, fried potatoes, steamed rice, and comforting tamarind pork soup... this BBQ feast brings smoky Texas BBQ together with Filipino comfort food for the ultimate fusion plate Family-friendly vibes, ice cold drinks, sports on every screen, and that low & slow BBQ goodness make this spot a must try in San Diego.

    Shout out to Dulce for helping us grab some tables for our large party of almost 20 people, and to…read moreAlejandro for being such a great server! Stopped in last night to celebrate my husband's birthday. Although Del's doesn't take reservations, we were able to snag a few tables right next to the kids play area. It was perfect since we had so many kids in our party. All the food was delicious -- from their baked beans, corn bread, onion rings, and to their barbecue selection. We ordered the 12 party meal plus some appetizers for the kids such as the Mac & cheese and chicken tenders. Everyone was commenting on how good everything was. Honestly, this has become one of our favorite barbecue spots! Their bbq sauce is also really good, it had the right amount of sweetness and slight tang without being too thick. Would definitely recommend to anyone who just wants to watch the game by themselves or bring a large party. Thank you Del's for making it a memorable night!

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    Del's Hideout - Main dining area

    Main dining area

    Del's Hideout - Bar

    Bar

    Del's Hideout - The best mac & cheese

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    The best mac & cheese

    The Fire Spot

    The Fire Spot

    4.5(754 reviews)
    1.2 miKearny Mesa
    $$$

    This is easily our favorite BBQ spot, and we keep coming back for a reason! Every visit here is a…read moregreat experience. The meat quality is consistently excellent--always fresh, well-marinated, and flavorful. But what really sets this place apart is the incredible service. The staff is exceptionally hardworking and prompt, especially Mr. Chen. He always makes sure we're taken care of and his attention to detail really makes the meal seamless. Whether you're a regular or it's your first time, you're guaranteed to have a nice time here. Highly recommend!

    We came around 12:15 pm and missed the first wave of seating since they open at 12 so we waited…read moreabout 75 mins to be seated around the 1:30 pm. Inside is pretty small and tight which is why there's always a wait. Service was friendly and but we did have to flag them down as they were pretty busy. We ordered the regular menu at $37.99 per person. My favorites were the marinated hand cut beef and marinated short rib. They were both nicely marinated and flavorful but the short rib was a bit fatty. The sliced brisket was decent but pretty peppery and too thin. The black pepper finger meat was also peppery and too chewy and tough. The zucchini, corn cheese and steamed egg were pretty good sides. The charcoal grill gave it a nice charred flavor and cooked the meats quickly and the hood made it less smoky which was nice.

    Photos
    The Fire Spot - Marinated sliced beef, sliced brisket, marinated beef short ribs and cooked beef blackstrap

    Marinated sliced beef, sliced brisket, marinated beef short ribs and cooked beef blackstrap

    The Fire Spot
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    Kogi BBQ - korean - Updated June 2026

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