Ssam has slowly become one of my favorite kbbq spots in the area. The meat quality is good, but what I really love is the marinated meats! Anything that is garlic soy is what's always grillin. I think it's about every 3 mins that you can put another order in which is great. I've been to some places that you would have to wait 5 or even 10 mins before you can order another round. That wait slows you down and makes the food settle then you can eat as much. Not the case here! Also for my needs, the mid tier is good enough. And that's not bad for bout $36 out here! read more

The reason for three stars is because we had a party of 4 adults and one 2 year-old, yet they charged us as large party (5 or more) which means automatically 18% tips. (We didn't make a mess, didn't even drop any food or if we asked for any special utensils) For one, I don't even think a party of 5 should be considered as a large party. A large party size really should start at 6 ppl. Restaurants I have been to all start at 6 and let along adding a two year old to the situation to mandatorily charge tips. Nowadays, everyone in the Bay Area will happily tip generously but it's the principle of adding a toddler as an adult to the equation. This reflects how the business owners feel about kids and the general practice of the business, very money hungry! This is adding toxic influence to the tip culture. Now let's talk about food. All of the banchan was not good. It's all you can eat but if you want lettuce, it's $1 extra per order... huh?! And the spring salad that was included, omg soooo sweet! You can see all the un-dissolved sugar at the bottom of the metal bowl. The fish cake was salty and the broccoli and bean sprouts were both under cooked. You can taste the rawness as you bite into it. Meat, I would only recommend the marinated beef, kalbi, and thinly sliced pork belly. Oh and the lighting... so dark inside and we were there around 6 when the sun is still out. They are going for that dark moody ambient but like eating bbq meat, you gotta be able to see if it is cooked or not lol being so dark is actually dangerous. I see why ppl are waiting inline for other kbbq places now, bc Saam really is kinda disappointing for a lot of reasons. The servers tho, they were sweet and very attentive. Clearly all of my negative reviews are towards the management. If that can be improved I think it will last a while in the Tri Valley areas. Otherwise, I really think they would go out of business very soon! Especially considering so many new spots keep on opening in Dublin, Livermore etc! In short, I wouldn't recommend this place if you are a person of principle and you care about good food. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We've recently came here last week for my birthday lunch. We used to regularly visit a KBBQ AYCE spot in Concord but their service and meat quality died down last few times we've gone there. This place did not disappoint and was so worth the drive from Antioch. We went back again this weekend. Meat quality is on point, service was awesome too. Staff come by to check on the grill plates frequently and offering to change them out. It's also a bonus that they have the vents built into the grill somehow because we haven't come out smelling like smoke/bbq which we love. We definitely plan on coming here regularly! read more

It's great, I have no complaints about Ssam. Located in a plaza, there's enough parking to go all around and free, too. My friends and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night and I really appreciate the fact that they allow you to join their waitlist on their website. They have different tiers available, but there was enough choices on their Premium tier that we didn't feel the need to upgrade it to Supreme. Service was on top of things whether it was bringing us more dishes or refilling our water, and they changed the grill frequently. Overall, the cuts of the meat were great, the sauces at the table helped, and ordering is convenient with the tablet at the table. Ssam is a repeat visit for sure. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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Was in the area and thanks to yelp reviews we gave this place a try. We arrived early right at 5 on a Sat right before the place was packed. The place was clean and trendy, kpop music with good vibe. Service was prompt, staff were super friendly and tailored to everyone's needs. Drinks were never empty, meats were fresh and tasty. Everything was so good I almost forgot to take pictures after a few rounds of briskets. Will definitely return and recommend to friends & family. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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My boyfriend and I originally had dinner plans elsewhere but due to their waitlist closing early, decided to come to Ssam KBBQ instead. We were pleasantly surprised and highly satisfied with the quality and variety of food they offer, even just on the basic tier menu! We came about an hour before closing and the staff were kindly still willing to seat us. All of the banchan was delicious, especially the macaroni and seaweed salads. Meats were also on point, we mostly eat beef belly and other higher fat meats when doing KKBQ and the marbling on these cuts were great! It's nice that you can order ribeye steaks too! We loved that our table had its own tablet you can order from, so you can see images of how your food is supposed to come out beforehand. Our server kept us well topped up with water without having to ask for a refill, and the restaurant was clean with really pretty bathrooms. I'm giving 4 stars because one thing that threw me off was that lettuce was an extra $1 per serving (3 pieces). I always usually opt for salad, lettuce or reddish paper instead of rice and other heavy carbs for fiber and so I don't tap out too fast, and I tend to consume a lot. If I hadn't noticed the extra charge the second time around I probably would've an extra $10 to my bill. Overall this is a solid KBBQ spot with friendly, efficient service, large variety and great food. Would recommend & consider revisiting when we pass through the Bay Area again! read more

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My go to kbbq spot never fails me! Will always head over here when we're craving kbbq read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Wonderful experience. I would go back. The service and food were pleasant. Great family experience overall. read more

Came here with a few friends as one was celebrating their bonus they just received. We were seated promptly and was attended to promptly. The only thing was it was hard for us sitting at the other end of the table when wanting to put an order in without interrupting the person sitting next to the tablet. The orders came quickly and everything was flavorful as usual. My only complaint was the rice paper..not sure if they were overcooked. But they were extra sticking to each other and the cuts were sloppy. But still enjoyed eating with the meats. The daikon was a bit more on the sour side but still yummm. I still consider this one of my top 5 in the area read more

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My partner and I love Korean barbecue, especially AYCE, and we've tried most of the AYCE KBBQ spots around the Bay Area. This was one of the few we hadn't gotten around to yet, and I'm honestly glad we finally did. We came for the lunch special, which is $27 and available Monday through Friday. Overall, this place is now in my top three AYCE Korean BBQ spots. One of the biggest standouts was the service. Orders came out quickly and efficiently, and anything we asked for was brought out almost immediately. Everything is ordered through a tablet, which makes the experience really smooth since you don't have to flag down a server. Compared to places like Gen BBQ where getting help can feel like a struggle, this was a huge plus. Another highlight is the variety. The lunch special costs a little more than some other places, but you also get more options. We ordered gyoza, steamed egg, buldak ramen, tofu soup, and soybean soup. Everything came out hot and fresh, and nothing tasted like it had been sitting around. I really appreciated that the appetizers were made to order instead of coming out lukewarm. The meats were good, but I do think they could be better. What I noticed is that the meats don't seem to be marinated ahead of time. For example, the spicy pork belly tasted like the sauce was just squirted on top rather than the meat being pre-marinated. I think the flavors would be much deeper and better if the meats were marinated earlier in the day or even the night before. That said, we really enjoyed the garlic soy beef belly, which was our favorite. We also ordered the spicy pork belly and garlic soy pork belly, and they were still enjoyable, just not as flavorful as they could be. We also ordered the salad, which had a light vinaigrette-style dressing that helped balance out the meal. Another big plus is that you can order half portions of meat, which makes it easier to try more items without feeling pressured to finish large portions. The only other thing I wish they had was a sauce bar with more variety, similar to places like Chako in Livermore or Seapot. Even with that, we had a great experience. We'll definitely be coming back and honestly regret not trying this place sooner. read more

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our favorite kbbq spot in the bay, hands down. you order your rounds from an ipad on the table so you're not constantly having to flag down a waiter, it makes me feel less bad for ordering so much lol. banchan is always fresh, items always arrive promptly, service is always great. everytime we eat there, we never have any complaints. we love recommending this place to all our friends/family, specifically instructing them that the green onion salad is definitely worth ordering :) read more

This is a place to try! The food is all delicious and the options are endless! They have three different all you can eat packages for higher quality meat as you go up. I tried out the premium and was very satisfied! The place is nice and chill inside. The music was not expected, but it was fun and relevant. The service was great and very quick getting out any and everything! read more

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The best AYCE Korean BBQ in the area with quality meats and good service. The menu offers a great variety of meats and cooked foods. I like how often the grill is changed as well. read more

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We came here last week and it was 20% off M-F lunch in November. Omg what a pleasant surprise!!! We got the basic which is normally 26.99, but even cheaper with our 20% off. I think it is so worth. They have a little ipad at the table for you to order your foods. They bring the items out pretty quickly. They also change the grill often enough. Staff were friendly. Our favorite was the Beef Belly. Omgggg. It was so fatty and yummy. We got 7 orders of it. Ooopsies. But wow. It was delicious. Cheese corn could have had more cheese on it. Also the rice paper kept sticking together and was clumping. read more

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This place is still my favorite KBBQ in the Tri-Valley! SSAM KBBQ offers two all you can eat tiers to choose from - Premium and Supreme. If you don't want to do AYCE, they also offer an A La Carte menu. I would recommend going with the Supreme for AYCE so you have the wagyu options. Another bonus here that I haven't seen at other places is that you can get half or full orders of each meat in case you're not sure if you'll like it or be able to finish it all. The Garlic Soy Beef Belly is a MUST GET! If you have room for dessert, they also have AYCE Asian ice cream flavors! Of all the AYCE KBBQ places in the Bay, this place ranks top 3 in my books! There's just so many options and for quality, the price is totally worth paying for. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

good KBBQ place in Pleasanton. Relatively affordable as well. Everything is efficient and you order from a tablet. One downside is the tablet has to remain somewhat stationary on the edge, but still good. Vibes are good- a little loud but that's expected. Everything is very clean and the meats are plentiful. The LA cut was our favorite, but the pork cheek was excellent as it was just pure fat. Really fun atmosphere etc. and I look forward to returning! read more

You can join the waitlist right on the Yelp app, which made things super convenient. I grabbed a drink at the bar while waiting for my table and the service was quick. Once seated, you order everything from an iPad and the food came out really fast. The team here is super attentive and keeps things running. It is very busy and loud inside so don't expect a calm ambiance. There is a limit on how much you can order at a time, and a timer that prevents you from ordering too quickly, which felt a little restrictive but manageable. I loved how they give you the option of ordering half orders so you don't have to waste food. Overall, it was a great experience with good food and efficient service. The pricing was reasonable. Would definitely come back. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Wow it's really good to recommend to you if you're looking for Korean BBQ in East Bay Area. We came there last Friday before dinner time arrived at 6pm not full house yet but just 30' later there is people waiting outside. Well seriously service was fast and nice. The restaurant was great arranged and especially after eating we didn't smell BBQ smoke Absolutely we will be back again soon even though not near my house (22 miles) read more

I did not like this place. The food is not good. I would not come back. We came in for à la carte and got seated in the bar area. The sun is glaring in through the windows blinding you, the music is too loud, and the floor is slanted. The bar area is near the bathroom, so it's a busy walk way. We ordered the bibimbop and the short ribs. The first dish had no flavor and the short ribs were only fat. The staff was nice, but you're kind of forgotten about in the bar area. The staff was nice but you're kind of forgotten about in the bar area. read more

The meat here was very good. 3 meats per round felt a little low as there were 4 of us but they got them out really quickly. The middle of dinner the lights got really dim so it felt really dark for most of the time we were there. That is the only reason I deducted a star. Overall this was a good experience with the value being worth the price. read more

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Easy weekend parking , excellent customer service. Came for a birthday celebration. About $36/person for ayce kbbq. We chose a lot of half portions but despite that, the portions were really huge for the meats. We enjoyed the tofu and kimchi soups as well as the sesame balls. The food had great flavor and the grill was easy to manage, they often had people changing our grill when it needed it - something that can't be said for many other kbbq spots. When the time came for the bill they were very prompt in giving it, without us needing to ask. Top notch customer service. Good restroom quality too. read more

This place is a solid choice for Korean BBQ that I would definitely visit again. The $25 per person lunch deal is an incredible value, especially considering the high quality of the food. They offer a great selection of meats, sides and soup. For the lunch option, you only get octopus for a seafood options. While there is a limit of three choices per round, the staff is incredibly attentive and ensures your orders arrive quickly. Everything tasted fresh and cuts were pretty good quality. The noise level was rather loud for a non-busy Thursday afternoon. I can only imagine how loud it can get for dinner time. If you're looking for a satisfying and affordable AYCE experience, this is the spot. read more

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Was seated very quickly by the manager who was friendly. You order on an iPad which was convenient and nice because there were clear pictures of each menu item. Only downside was it took awhile for our orders to come out considering it was fairly slow that night, the banchan was okay, the seaweed was a bit too "ocean" tasting if that makes senses. Sandra was our waitress and she was sooo friendly and sweet! Look for her when you come here! She'll take good care of you! read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Menu - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

lowkey forgot what meats we ordered, but i do remember it being pretty tender and i love that they have the juice pouches like the ones from the 7/11s in Korea. they give you a cup of ice with a LED ice cube and you pour the juice in. i got the muscat flavored one and it was so good. their tteokbokki is also delish, sweet & spicy! read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We were in the area and craving some Korean BBQ. We actually had no idea it was AYCE (my bad for not researching in advance), but the pricing seemed reasonable and overall the meat quality was good. They "throttle" the meat ordering so you can only order one of each kind up to a maximum number of meat dishes every several minutes. It's totally fine for a party of two since it takes a while to cook and eat the meat, but if you're a larger party, I could potentially see this limitation being frustrating, especially if they enforce the time limit. Overall, the meat quality was quite good, especially for an AYCE. The pork belly, pork neck, and pork cheek were super tasty. The beef ribeye and short rib were also quite good. After your first order, each subsequent order seems to be about half the portion size as the initial order, which, again, is fine for two people but may not be great for a larger party. The banchan were okay and we had no issues getting refills when asked. The one thing that felt kind of nickel & dime-y was charging was the lettuce wraps. The name of the restaurant is literally "ssam" and they can't provide lettuce as part of the AYCE? We didn't try too many of the other items since we wanted to try more of the meat cuts, but we did try the soondubu and that was actually pretty good, but of course, in the context of AYCE K-BBQ, it's filler! read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Menu (8/12/2025) - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

My honest review? Maybe 3.7-3.8 stars. Typical choice for Korean AYCE BBQs. Very casual. Come hungry and you'll find out. You can find most parking spots at front entrance. The restaurant is walking distance to nearby hotel and offices. We had the AYCE Premium around $36 per person which included limited seafood selections, but not desserts on the menu. 90-minutes to eat? That's still plenty of time. Order as-you-go from the tablet by your table. No need to wave down the servers too much. Easy BBQ setup. Staffs were helpful. Red meat selections were generous. Order 3 or 4 dishes per round. Don't waste food or get charged extra. We came here to eat and were very hungry. Everything tasted average to good. If only the $36 included desserts, but it didn't. I think their banchan side dishes need an upgrade and the tofu stew needs to be improved. Banchans were average. Best part is the BBQ experience and moments spent inside. People are nice. It's inexpensive for casual AYCE spots. Decent. Don't expect Las Vegas or Los Angeles region Korean BBQs. This isn't anything better, but it's spacious inside for large gatherings and family time. Grill takes awhile to start up or heat up at our spot. I still think the menu choices are somewhat limited, but you do get enough portions to eat here. read more

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Ssam K-BBQ & Bar is located in the Gateway Square Shopping Center on Hopyard Rd, occupying the space left vacant by Eddie Papa's. I met up with legendary all-star Yelpers George F. and Victor G. here for lunch on 12/10/2024. We walked in at around noon and were greeted immediately by one of the staffers, who seated us at a table in the main dining area. The interior was spacious, bright, and clean. Setup was similar to other KBBQ restaurants. There were three AYCE options to choose from, and we opted for the basic one ($25 per person) which had 15 appetizers/soups and 25 protein options. Our server, a Korean woman, brought us water and banchans and took our initial order. After it was placed with the kitchen, she dropped off a QR code printout for us to place subsequent orders. For appetizers, we had the steamed eggs, chicken wings, and spicy rice cake. The eggs and wings were good, but the spicy rice cake was not. For proteins, we probably tried at least 10 different offerings over several rounds. Overall, the meat quality was decent. If you are conscious about your fat intake, you may want to avoid cuts such as the beef belly and brisket. There was a lot of fat on them. On the service front, the staff were friendly and efficient. Our grill was changed often and requests were fulfilled quickly. All in all, Ssam is a pretty good spot for AYCE K-BBQ and a welcome addition to the Tri-Valley food scene. I will return. 4 stars. read more

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Really solid Korean AYCE BBQ. Place is very nice and clean. Used to be an Eddie Papa's, which was an American type fare place. I think I did happy hour there once with coworkers. Very decent quality meats! One little gripe though is in some parts of the restaurant, the chairs slip and slide very easily. It's the ones closer to the window facing the Chili's across the plaza. The chairs really slide around the floor easily, you may accidentally bump into your neighboring table. Also I don't believe there is japchae (glass noodles) as an option (and if there is, it's definitely not a part of their AYCE options). read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

We came on a Saturday night and were able to walk right in with no wait, which was nice. The place was busy, but nothing too crazy. Noise level was pretty typical. Service was quick and ordering was easy. Since it was our first time, we got the Supreme Menu to try the Wagyu meats. They were good, but honestly just okay. The steamed egg was the real highlight. We loved it and it ended up being our favorite thing we ordered. Had a good time overall and will come back! read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Steam egg - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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Their BBQ menu is great. Price is competitive but the quality of the meat is good though. Ordering is easy. If you choose the premium menu option their Wagyu selection is mighty fine. Ambience is fair but it's a Korean bbq restaurant doesn't have to be too hip i reckon read more

There's a decent wait for larger parties for dinner, as they also don't have super large tables (maybe one that accommodates 8/10?). Our party of 12 had to be split between two tables of 6. Food was solid and came out quickly. You order on an iPad and there's a limit on four orders per category (meat/seafood/appetizers/etc.) every three minutes. Service was attentive and friendly. I felt like the grill was pretty tiny for 6 people, especially since there was only one at the table ): I enjoyed how they offer multiple cuts of marinated meat; I feel most places typically serve mostly plain/unseasoned thinly sliced meat. They also offer menu items like Buldak ramen, baby octopus, butter shrimp, and beef belly on their standard AYCE menu that I've not seen at other places in the Bay. Overall, had a pretty good experience! I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return here, especially since the cost is on the pricier side, but I'd recommend trying it out for yourself if you are a fellow KBBQ enjoyer and haven't yet (: read more

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The staff were very friendly and attentive. The food was great with lots of fresh vegetables. My companions seemed very happy with their food as well. The ambiance was better than almost all of the Korean restaurants I have experienced and I have been to several on both coasts. read more

I had a late night meeting and was pleasantly surprised to see this restaurant closed at 10am. The server,Nick was great! He explained all the dishes that I asked about, answered questions about the different sauces and made suggestions. Food was tasty. I enjoyed the miso soup that had a "kick to it" but my favorite was the vegetable pancake. I will be back!!! read more

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I came on a Satuday for dinner with a group of 6 and we were seated quickly. The food was solid, decent quality, but nothing out of this world. I think for the area, it's a good spot to stop by at. This wouldn't be my first choice for KBBQ but an option nonetheless. It's kind of loud, so if you do have a big group be prepare to yell. Or just smile and nod. read more

This place was good but not great. It definitely won't be my new favorite spot, but it's still alright! Service was alright, they were quick, attentive and communicative. My biggest issues were with the ambiance and food. It was just SO dark in here. It felt like they were closed already despite it being almost two hours before closing! They played great music though! The meat itself was fine, but I'm not sure that as a whole this meal was worth what it cost. The kimchi was quite fresh and I loved that, but their fried rice, cheese corn, and other side dishes definitely taste like frozen food. I was a bit letdown with them. All in all there are similar places with similar prices but less frozen food that I'd much prefer. read more

Stop driving past this place over and over without trying it. I recall the previous restaurant here and enjoyed it so much, so I had some emotions walking in. But there's something so refreshing about change. Here are the goods: + Family friendly dinner establishment + Easy ordering on tablet + Beautiful ambience inside + Good quality meats. Don't be shy using to use the oil and salt/pepper at the table though. + All you can eat during weekdays is a great deal. + Canned soda + Attentive and friendly service + Delicious green tea & red bean ice cream dessert + Plenty of parking + Clean bathroom read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Front - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

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Have been here a couple of times and the service is great. We sit right away. They change the grills out for you as often as you'd like. They pickup empty plates quickly. The premium meats are delicious. My son loved the ramen. A lot of Korean bbq spots can get smokey but that wasn't an issue here. Great experience and reasonably priced. Will be back. read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Great selection of meats and awesome service. - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

TL:DR - great lunch spot. Located in a large strip mall setting Service - prompt, explained the menu options so no guessing on how that related to price point. You also have a tablet to both order and ask for the check. Very convenient. Parking - lots of parking Ambiance - cook at the table, lots of light. Fairly spartan but c'mon you are there to eat, right? Food - basic lunch menu options are seriously good and very filling. You can do add on for extras Bottom line- check this spot out. Definitely should be in your rotation. read more

Meat comes out super fast unlike other all you can eat bbq(it takes about 20 minutes for your body to feel full from the food you eat, so many all you can eat places purposely slow down the food delivery to make you feel full and not eat a lot). Just with that is already a 5/5. They also give you very thick and chunky meat. Definitely worth every buck you pay. Highly recommend! read more

Ssam K-BBQ & Bar - Korean Near Me - Pleasanton, California

Today was leg day. I had a brutal effing leg day too. So I needed some protein to recover because Ive been channeling my inner ABG at the gym lately. So I provided two options to my partner. Sushi or KBBQ. She chose the latter. She chose SSAM because she's never had it before. Since we're in our late prime in life we chose to eat dinner at 4pm on a Friday. The place feels is located in what looks like a business park. The interior decor of the restaurant also feels industrial. Lots of dark grey and black. I guess that's the KBBQ vibe these days. Surprisingly there were a-lot of people here at this time and I took that as a good sign. Ok let's get to the food. It was ok. Like literally just ok. I didn't find anything exceptional but nothing was bad. Don't get me wrong the food was ok. We opted for their highest tier package which opened up the premier section of their menu. However I feel like the consistency of the wagyu brisket changed a lot over the course of the meal. Maybe there was a clause where the wagyu was only available for one order. But I feel like the first portion was Wagyu but everything else afterwards was not premium beef. It was good beef but I wouldn't have ordered their premium menu if I knew this prior. Could've saved a few bucks. I do have one gripe or observation that really threw me off. The upcharge for lettuce was wild to me. Like I've never seen that before and for some reason it rubbed me the wrong way since we ordered AYCE. But the salad was free. The service was really good though. The staff was kind and fast. They changed our grill as soon as it started to look bad so kudos to the staff. Overall. Not a bad experience. read more

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