This place was gross. When we first get there, some old guy (got the vibes he was the owner) made us read his little laminated sign as if we were kids. The meat quality was mediocre at best, even the galbi. The marinade seemed watered down and was not great. The bulgogi was grayish in color. The grill was electric so it took a long time for the meat to cook. We all thought we would get food poisoning. There are definitely better restaurant options if visiting Monterey. If you want good Korean bbq, there are really better restaurants. read more

This is undeniably the best KBBQ in monterey, the service was excellent and the price is reasonable, good sauce and buffet choices. the highlight though was when we were trying this place out later in the night when they were closing (the kitchen would be closed in 50 mins) and we didn't want to rush so we began to leave, the owner came out and said "no, I want your business, we don't close until you're done" and let us have the full given 120 mins (with the stipulation that the kitchen would still close in 50 mins so we couldn't order from the kitchen after). The decor was good too, the restrooms were clean and smelled like citrus, and even had a citrus themed wallpaper. I would give this place a 6/5 if I could. read more

really enjoyed the meal, not as many options as other kbbq places ive been. but i was still able to leave with a full stomach. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

This place was once a sushi restaurant before Covid. My husband is familiar with the owner. We decided to try this restaurant twice just to give them the proper review. Our first visitation occurred an hour before an evening closing. Before sitting, we were immediately notified by the waiter that the self-served area and order stops 30 minutes before closure. He also laid out a one page paper stating the house order process and procedures. The food is an all you can eat and cook restaurant. You cook the meats over an electric bbq grill. Most of the marinated proteins: chicken, beef, pork, and seafood are self-served. Short ribs are available only during dinner and by request from the kitchen. Fountain drinks are also all you can drink and self-served. On this night, most of the appetizers and food were gone or put away because of closing time. We cooked and ate what was left. We decided to return a second time to give the restaurant a better review. This time, we came for their lunch. All the Korean appetizers, sauces, marinated meats, and drinks were present in the self-served area. We were able to take our time and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. The atmosphere was charming and cultured. It's not one of those loud and smoky all-you-can eat and cook place. Bathrooms were clean. Service was polite. This is a great place to bring family and friends or craving something different. After you eat, you all can shop at the outdoor mall. If you're not into the grilling your own proteins, you can still enjoy the self-served area. They have fried chicken wings and japchae noodles with all the Korean sides dishes and sauces. I gave the restaurant a 4 star based on the taste of the dishes and the price. The fried chicken could be a bit better. I'm a soup-lover but I laid off the soups based on the previous experience. Both soups were a bit bland and on the cold side. read more

Its unacceptable standards for koreans and Korean food lovers. If you never had kbbq before, then it might be a cheap introduction to something that resembles kbbq little bit. We ate few pieces, paid and left to get food at a different restaurant. read more

I will say that the staff are very attentive and present. From telling you their policies to clearing the table once in a while, they were very helpful. However, as a Korean BBQ frequenter, this place still has a lot to improve on. As the other reviews have stated, the quality in buffet food and meats are not the best. I didn't expect the best from the $35 price tag but the meats were *almost* good. Like there's something missing or something off. The sides were ok. I've been to kbbq places where the sides have been really good too but I think I've been spoiled from Sacramento. But I do see this place improving since it's pretty new. The place looks clean and the strip mall it is in is nice. Hope to see this establishment do better. read more

Just had lunch here at little Korea. They do not disappoint. All the meat was tender but without MSG. The trick to cooking is not to overcook and do not cross contaminate. If you keep your tongs as shown in this picture you will never have to worry about food poisoning. Those reviewers who had a problem with it was because of mishandling their food. Ps. You must try the Korean fried chicken. Grab some while you wait for the meet to cook. Your tummy will be happy! read more

Little Korea - The grill and the best place for the tongs. - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

A Hidden Gem in Monterey - Little Korea is Big on Flavor! From the moment we walked into Little Korea, we knew we were in for something special. Tucked away in Monterey, this cozy, family-run spot delivers some of the most authentic and satisfying Korean food we've had on the Central Coast. We started with the kimchi pancake--crispy on the edges, savory, and perfectly balanced in spice. Then came the main event: the bulgogi was tender and flavorful and the banchan (side dishes) were fresh, generous, and constantly replenished. What really set this place apart was the warm hospitality. The staff made us feel right at home, taking time to explain dishes and check in with genuine smiles--not rushed or rehearsed, but real, attentive care. The vibe is casual but clean and comfortable--great for a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends. Parking was easy, and prices were more than fair considering the portions and quality. If you're craving Korean food done right or just looking to try something new, Little Korea is a must-visit. We left full, happy, and already planning our next trip back. Thank you for such a wonderful experience read more

Little Korea - WOW!!! - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing choices of food. The owner makes all the Banchan from scratch. Most of all she makes you feel like at home as she's very friendly. The place is well lighted with nice decor on the ceiling and on the wall, pretty clean, too. Ajumma- I miss your Korean toast with Cinnamon dusted with sugar. She made this one time during lunch. read more

Had a great experience at Little Korea AYCE KBBQ in Monterey. The service was genuinely good--staff were attentive, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of throughout the meal. The food was solid and very decent for the area, especially considering Monterey doesn't have a ton of KBBQ options. You can really feel that this is a family-owned spot that puts care into what they do. Places like this deserve more local support, and I'd definitely come back. read more

The person who seats people and takes orders mishandled the truth. I think his name is Javier. We ordered the brisket, beef tongue and sirloin. He placed the order for us. A while after receiving the brisket, I asked him where the beef tongue and sirloin was. He said, the meats all look the same and that they were mixed in with the brisket. I immediately called him out on it as I have been to KBBQ's dozens of times and asked to talk to the manager. The manager came over and suddenly forgot how to speak English. Later on he showed me a receipt that showed three orders of brisket. I tried to explain to the manager that Javier took the order and I didn't place it through the qr code on the table. I also tried to explain to the manager if that was the case of three orders of brisket, why would Javier say the tongue and sirloin and brisket all looked the same and we got them already!!! If they can be untruthful about something so miniscule like that, one may wonder what practices take place in the kitchen. read more

My daughter wanted to go here for her Birthday since we had such a good experience before. We walked in and everyone was in the front area with all booths, I asked if we could sit at a regular table, he kept saying we have tables here (pointing to the booths) I explained that I am handicapped and can't sit in a booth. I pointed to the actual table and chairs and asked to sit there. He tells me no those are for large parties of 5 or more you only have 4. Which is BS because we have sat there before and two tables behind us was a couple. I feel like they just didn't want to have to clean two areas. Not to mention this was 8pm on a Tuesday, how many big parties were they expecting? Not servicing the disabled is a shame. We walked out and they were just there staring at us. But because it was my daughter's Birthday I told them to go and eat and I went and sat in the car until they were done. Management should be ashamed of their service! when husband came back he said the food wasn't even that good and definitely not worth the price. read more

My friends and I came here to catch up, and it was a very nice place to chat. The servers were great, and the owner was very friendly and checked on us personally. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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The food and the service is amazing for the location. No more driving hours for KBBQ. The ambiance is family friendly. I highly recommend this location. read more

Little Korea - Rice. Pork belly. Specialty meat. Oil. - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Such a great restaurant to bring the family and enjoy great quality cuts of meat. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the staff was exceptional , the place was clean and well stocked on food and utensils all around great experience. I would bring my family back again for sure two thumbs up ! Thank you Little Korea ! read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

I had the chance to go try the little Korea restaurant at the mall. Here is my experience.... My husband and I were seated to a table of closest to the front. It was a table where we had to sit side by side. We asked for another table cuz we both are pretty tall and the table looked like it would be hard to get in and out of due to its legs being awkwardly placed. I knew my knees and shins would continuously hit it and it did. But the host told me there was only that one table for 2 people. It was 5:10 when we walked in. Throughout our meal, there were many 2 diners who were sat at tables that were more spacious and could accommodate 2-4 people. The chap chae was probably the most flavorful of the items offered in the salad bar. The kimchi was average. Not spicy nor vinegary. It seemed like it was just mixed in with the sauce and not given time to marinate. The marinated raw meats were good. However, the galbi (limit 2) were flavorless. After grilling them, they were tough and chewy. The flavors was basically a hint of sweetness and sesame oil. Didn't taste any garlic flavor. My husband is a chef so grilling the meats was no problem. They were pretty thick so it took a bit longer to cook and we ended up having to use the scissors to cut them into thin strips just to be able to chew and swallow. The server also kept telling us to keep the grill on at low but it seemed like it wasn't cooking as fast as it should be so we would turn it up to high and the server would come and turn it down. How odd. Just a heads up... you have 90 min to eat. However, they start the clock the second you sit down. It takes a bit to listen to their spiel. And you can't order more than 3 items from the menu every 10 min. But by the time you order and have them ring up the order, it's another 5-8 min. The grill takes a while to warm up so even if they tell you to start it at low, turn that baby to high or your going to end up not able to get to your second or third round. There is also no prepared sauce for those diners who do not know how to make a sauce. I saw many people confused and looking for soy sauce or some sort of sauce to use. They had a bottle of sesame oil, sliced garlic , a paste, sliced fresh jalapeños and a container of salt and a container with some liquid with onions in it. People were asking if these ingredients were to be mixed together. They offered a Mayo for the chicken wings and a red sauce for the dumplings. They do provide rice as well. All in all, we left full due to not wanting to leave any uneaten food and be charged for it. The server never came to check on us. Only the busser came to to remove plates but the server did go to other tables around us asking how everything was and if there was anything else they needed. Don't know why they ignored us. I don't know if it's still in the new beginning phase as with all new restaurants they need to get into their groove but myself being a restaurant owner and now in the hospitality business, first impressions are vital to a customer wanting to come back. Not sure if I'd go back. I think I'd rather make the drive to Sunnyvale or San Fran to go to seapot AYCE! read more

Great atmosphere!!! lots of food selection!!! Good food!!! Good soup and kimchi! My favorite. Kids friendly. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was awesome! Will definitely be coming back. Service is great & owner is super nice!

This place is fantastic! The food was incredible, and the owners are genuinely kind people who clearly prioritize their guests. It also has a great and vibrant atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

I love this place! The chef of 30 years was flown in from Korea and cooks there every day! I've been to Korea several times and this is every bit as good! Maybe even better! Even for lunch, which is much more economical, they had huge variety! Everything was as good as it gets! All the sauces, garlic, chilies, special salt, sesame oil, lettuce for wrapping bundles... it's all there. They had beautiful fresh shrimp, marinated beef, pork and chicken! The chicken, which I usually don't get, because in other places it's often uninteresting, but here, it was so tender and juicy! In the side dishes they even had Korean fried chicken, which is amazingly crispy and delicious! I think most Korean places these days just give the same few side dishes, but not here! Each time we've gone they were different than the last visit! They have amazing things you don't always see in a Korean BBQ AYCE place. They have spectacular Chapchae! Whole woodear mushroom, lovely fresh bok choy, abundant veggies. Everything is made top quality! There are still things I haven't gotten to! There's always next visit for the soups! Some people told us that they had no grills for lunch, but that wasn't true when we visited today! The grills are firing lunch and dinner each day. All that, and it's a really pretty room. read more

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I've been so excited for this place to open! The inside was cute and I liked the murals. And I love that part of it is self serve. These reviews seem extremely off, or overly dramatic. If you've never been to a timed ayce Korean bbq spot then just say that lol. Also, we're not in that big of an area so the comparisons to large city establishments is dumb. The owners were sweet, and our waiter was very nice. He gave a good explanation of how they operate and we had no problem getting right into our choices. We came for lunch which, as expected there are less choices for meat then dinner but everything was delicious! All the veggies were super fresh, and the lettuce was nice and crisp. The sauces available were all yummy, and we loved all of the sides. My boyfriend had the tofu soup also and he enjoyed it. Most places I've been to only give you tiny amount of kimchi, and other pickled veggies at a time so I was happy that I could get as much as I wanted. We will definitely be back and can't wait to try dinner. This area has needed something like this for a while. read more

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Listen, it's KKBQ, you come there for one reason and one reason only. But let me get something straight with you. The managers/owners who ever they were who catered to myself and my partner were beyond exceptional. Truly Korean hospitality and honestly that's the reason why I will keep coming back. Yes it wasn't glamour and glitter like some places. But they have the service to make this feel more upscale. Just be patient and you'll be able to eat more than your fair share in 2 hours. That's LK I'll see you next time I want some KKBQ. read more

High-quality meats and a great atmosphere! The electric grills are a total game-changer--you get a perfect sear on the meat without the heavy smoke, so you don't leave smelling like BBQ. The buffet layout is super convenient and well-stocked, making it easy to grab your favorites and start grilling immediately. The staff is incredibly friendly and keeps the service moving smoothly. Definitely a new favorite. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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I've tried maybe 5 different KBBQs, and they were all great. However, this one? The meat was so chewy and rubbery.. bland too. We came in at 9pm, closing was at 10. "Last call" was at 9:30 but even at 9pm, they didn't make any more fried sides (egg rolls, etc.) We won't be coming back. read more

Little Korea is right around the corner from my house and we are so lucky to finally have a Korean buffet in Monterey. No longer do you have to drive all the way to South Bay to get all you can eat Korean BBQ. The best feature of this restaurant is the fact that they have cooked chicken wings Korean glass noodles and extra side dishes all included in the buffet. Free drinks are included as well. The meet is high quality and the service is great. We will definitely be back and highly recommend read more

Little Korea - Chicken wings and pork belly - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

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I was expecting a better experience with food options for my 4 year old. the only option there for her was white rice. Chicken if that...? I just feel like they need to include Ramen or some type of chicken noodles (more kid food options for $18) she didnt eat anything, so that left me disappointed and I dont blame her cause there wasnt much options for her. Usually I go eat at Korean BBQ at San Jose and it seems I am going to stick to my go-to spot at San Jose. But hopefully they include noodles or Ramen in the future.. I didnt see that in their menu nor in the food they had out.( I only saw white rice, hot tofu soup and sea weed soup.) read more

Amazing cuts of meat! The staff were nice and checked in often! The lighting was nice but a little stuffy inside.

Manager was nice and attentive towards our party of 5. I loved the interior design of the place. My friend informed me that the owner is the same owner of the last sushi place that was there. The meats in all were ok. It's a bit pricy compared to other AYCE places in San Jose I will say that. The Kim chi was really good! I love that they had alot of options for sides. I'd say with improvements it could be potentially be better. read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Average-below average food unfortunately. Better Korean bbq in other places I'm sure, service was fine, wouldn't recommend.

Excellent food, the kimchi is the best I've had since I left home, fresh and perfect! Has to be freshly made. Workers here very polite and friendly, very clean environment, the owner is a very very very nice lady. I highly recommend you check this place out read more

Little Korea - Art work - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Nothing special about this place I came here on a weekend night. Got seated pretty quick and when I went to select the meats I wanted it looked like there was only a little meat available only the scraps of the end. I went and asked the server about it and he just said that they will have more meat ready soon. I waited and waited and could only order the expensive things through the server and he kept telling me to go and check the self serve. It looks special but it's all a gimmick. The owner stays watching you like a hawk and won't even prepare more meat for a paying customer when he can personally see that there isn't any more meat at the self serve I think this place of business needs some new owners actually it should just be scrapped all together since this place has horrible service and food and the workers and owners inside barely work but expect a high tip! When I walked out the door they chased me down and said I didn't pay enough tip. I told them that tonight's service from them didn't even deserve a tip from me but since I worked in a restaurant I felt pity for these people and unfortunately left a 15% tip. If they don't think it's enough then idk what to tell you make the service better ! read more

So poorly done, if you call that Korean food I feel so sorry for your tastebuds. 70$ for two people and the best thing we ate was the fried chicken... most inexpensive meat on the menu, SERIOUSLY just go to KFC for chicken and for actual Korean food anywhere in Marina! read more

Little Korea - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Food and service was great!! The bulgogi, spicy bulgogi, short rib, pork belly was all delish! The owner was very sweet and helpful. I would definitely come back. read more

The service for any of the non self service item was excessively slow. And I have been to a lot of kbbq all over the country this was the only one where the heating element made me uncomfortably hot. Also the grill did not get hot enough to sear the meat. It was also very pricey for lunch almost anywhere else is better read more

I would be shocked if this place manages to stay open for a year. I am from SoCal and we love Korean BBQ so this was just really bad. First off the meat selection is extremely small and the few that they do have is horrible quality. I am so confused on how you get low quality bland tasting short rib, but somehow it was possible. The meats are not even marinated properly! All they do is pour sauce over the meat, which makes it not taste good. The spicy bulgogi and spicy pork belly was the only decent meats. The sides were not good the kimchi was really bland and definitely not fermented long enough. Oh and let's not forget the grills, the restaurant cheaped out on. Instead of putting in fire grills like a normal Korean barbecue restaurant they do electric so they don't even get hot enough to cook the food. They most likely did that so they could save money and so they wouldn't have to change grills so often. I would go anywhere like New Korea, or even Keiokis they completely destroy this place. This restaurant has only been open for 3 months already at 3.9 stars which is insane. I wasn't even the only one! You can clearly see multiple tables who felt the exact same that I did. Safe to say I will definitely not be returning and neither will a lot of people. read more

Little Korea - Grill - Korean Near Me - Monterey, California

Sorry no photos ahaha we were so hungry after a long trip and just wanted to eat. Their food is good, LA galbi is delicious and not too sweet which is an A in my book. Their Banchan bar "side dish" was amazing and fresh. Great service so please don't change, we love how often they come by to check on us. It is an all you can eat so pretty much self serve including getting your own drinks which I absolutely love. Please don't hesitate to try this Korean restaurant, it is the best in the area! Great ambiance and clean! read more

Great deal. Their was alot of selections. the soup was authentic. good food. Staff very friendly. Allstate insurance agent Michelle adams read more

do NOT come here if you have ever eaten Korean barbecue in your life. i am ASHAMED that this is the representation of KBBQ in monterey. the quality of the meat was fairly poor but edible, we receive many chunks of oddly stringy tissue on our LA galbi. let me tell you i am FROM LOS ANGELES. CITY OF ANGELS. SECOND LARGEST KOREAN POPULATION ON EARTH. SOME!! SAY THE BEST KOREAN FOOD ON EARTH. IK BALL BRO IK BALL. eat here if you're starving. if not i'd pass read more

It's an all you can eat. The service is amazing as well as the staff. Very friendly and clean restaurant.

Service was great. I just with the sides were fresh and there was better options in my opinion. The only thing I liked was the bulgogi, short ribs & their seaweed soup. I felt sick eating the sides tbh. But overall it's clean, customer service was great, love the vibes of Korea with the plates, bowls and cups! read more