Solid work! The wings were the best among the items I tried soy garlic seasoning. Sriracha popcorn…read morechicken was enjoyable, and classic bulgogi burger too but nothing crazy. About 3 entrees and 2 special k-pop cocktails to share for 2 people coming down to $75ish. The server was exceptional, my compliments for the warmth and welcome. The ambiance was cozy and orange-lit with TVs for sports.

Fries and bang bang shrimp were awesome. I will be back for that. The nachos size was enough to…read morefeed 2 to 4 people. The staff was super nice. But the beef for both the nachos and burger could be better. The burger wasn't ground beef, but pieces of meat put together. It just felt weird as I ate it. The nachos had some perfectly melted in your mouth beef. But we tasted no bulgogi. And there were large pieces of fat with some meat pieces.

Best hidden gem in Charlotte for a casual date night. Great food and great bargain. Highly…read morerecommended.

Went for their Wednesday night burger special. For barely more than a Quarter Pounder, you get a…read moreburger that is criminally good. No other way to describe it. Amazing sauce on it. Burger at least an inch thick. And amazing for any price; the Wednesday special is unreal. Love their craft beer selection. Staff is very attentive but you have to get there early (maybe by 4p) for the burger special in the bar. It can get really busy at the bar with a long wait for seats. Just a wonderful place that offers generous specials each day (I think only M-F). Can't wait to take friends there for burger Wednesday!!

Nice spot for Korean, love the bulgogi here. The staff are nice and can talk you through the menu…read moretoo.

Still all the good stuff but now they don't discourage you from eating in which is nice. Service…read moreand a fast and the dining area (though a bit run down) is ample and comfortable Love this place!

I had bookmarked Gyu-Kaku for lunch because they advertised a happy hour special on LA kalbi--one…read moreof my favorite comfort foods. I've enjoyed Korean barbecue many times, so when I saw the price, I thought I had found a great midday option. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to expectations. The happy hour kalbi turned out to be four small pieces of meat for $9.95, which I had to cook myself. A bowl of rice was an additional charge, and there were no sides, vegetables, soup, or salad included. I left the restaurant still hungry, which is never a good sign after lunch. What disappointed me most was the lack of guidance and hospitality. As someone new to Japanese-style barbecue, I asked a few simple questions to understand what I was ordering. When I confirmed this was the happy hour portion, the server said yes--but didn't explain the serving size or suggest additional items. A little coaching would have gone a long way. At one point, when I asked whether the meal came with sides like banchan or rice, I was told, "This is not Korean barbecue." I completely understand the distinction now, but the tone felt curt rather than helpful. Hospitality is about helping guests navigate something unfamiliar, not making them feel like they should already know. I also ordered iced water with lemon, and the lemon never arrived...only the ice water. Was this an omen of what's to come?? Another frustration was the parking situation. I paid for parking through ParkMobile outside the restaurant, only to discover after entering that parking validation was available inside. That information would have been much more useful if it had been communicated clearly before guests park or pay. From a customer experience standpoint, it feels like something that could easily be improved with better signage--lead with the good stuff. The location itself is also somewhat isolated. While technically in Uptown, it's not in a particularly walkable or high-traffic area, so most guests will need to park in a garage or pay for street parking. There isn't much nearby other than an apartment complex above the restaurant, which makes clear parking instructions and strong service even more important. To be fair, the restaurant was clean, and the meat itself was flavorful. The concept of Japanese BBQ is interesting, and I now understand that this style is very different from Korean BBQ, with smaller, à-la-carte portions designed to be built into a meal. That said, the overall experience felt transactional rather than welcoming. I left hungry--and disappointed--not because of the food quality, but because the service and communication could have been better at several points along the way. This visit felt like a missed opportunity. With a little more attentiveness, clearer guidance, and stronger customer engagement, the experience could have been completely different. Don't let one restaurant deter you. Life is short--get out there and eat.

Great food and such a fun experience!…read more We loved trying a variety of foods and cooking them ourselves making it a unique experience. We had great service. Our waiter had a few tables and did not stop all night from drinks to food he was always there to help up. The broccoli with melted cheese and cheese corn were some of our favorites! The chicken did not seem to have a lot of flavor/ sauce, but we may have overcooked it. All of the steaks were tasty and delicious!!

After striking out at two other BBQ spots on a Saturday night, I landed at Mac's Speed Shop around…read more8:30 p.m. and ended up having a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Mac's sits in the heart of South End and shares the neighborhood with several busy bars and nightlife spots. Parking can be a bit of an adventure, but they do have dedicated lots nearby. Once you're there, the setup is great: a large dining room, plenty of picnic-table patio seating, and my favorite option--a seat at the outdoor bar where the inside bar opens through a service window to the patio. The bartender, Alyssa, was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, and patient while I stared at the giant menu trying to figure out what I wanted. When I asked for recommendations, she immediately suggested the burnt ends, BBQ baked beans, and Mexican street corn. Excellent call. The blackberry seasonal hard cider she recommended was delicious and paired beautifully with the meal. My only surprise was the price. At nearly $9, it was more than I expected for a cider, and I wish I had asked beforehand. The burnt ends arrived with bright pickled red onions that added the perfect acidic balance. The flavor was excellent--smoky, rich, and satisfying. That said, they leaned heavily toward the fatty side. The deeper I got into the serving, the more rendered fat I encountered compared to meat. Delicious? Yes. Light? Absolutely not. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you want from a barbecue joint. The Mexican street corn was a standout and a refreshing contrast to all the richness. My only critique was that the burnt ends weren't served quite as hot as I would have liked, and by the end of the meal, the richness became overwhelming. That's probably more on me for ordering burnt ends at 9 p.m. than on Mac's. The final bill came to about $37 before tip, which felt a little steep for a solo barbecue dinner and cider. Looking back, I'd probably visit during lunch. Their weekday lunch specials around $10 look like one of the best values in South End. Would I come back? Absolutely. The service was warm, the recommendations were spot on, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food delivered exactly what a barbecue craving calls for. Next time, I'll arrive earlier, bring a bigger appetite, and maybe save the burnt ends for lunchtime. Life is too short not to eat well, Charlotte. If you're exploring South End and craving barbecue, Mac's Speed Shop is worth a stop.

Meh. When you need…read moreto be aggressive with a knife to get thru a rack of ribs, things aren't great. They didn't promise "fall off the bone" so I can't expect that, but most places I get ribs they just tear apart. This took work, and the mass of BBQ sauce slathered on makes the surgery a mess. So, that was a bummer. The tots lack creativity or any sort of seasoning which seems like an easy upgrade and a crowd pleaser. Oh well. Maybe I got there in a bad day, but if this is standard then I can't see not going to Noble Smoke next time I need ribs.

My wife and I had dinner here the other night and it was AMAZING. First of all the place has a warm…read moreyet dark vibe to it with multiple seating areas on different levels. The service was impeccable. Our waiter (sorry forgot his name) was very helpful as this was our first time doing Korean BBQ. The food was excellent, even though we cooked much of it. One of my beefs with most restaurants nowadays is the noise level. Noise was not an issue here- I was actually have a conversation with my wife without having to yell at her. Pricing may be a bit on the high side, but the food and the experience were well worth it.

Super excited to cook my own rib eye. Super excited to have…read moresome comfort food while on the road. Checked out MOA : what a disappointment. Quality of food was good...unfortunately quality of service lacked severely from my server. Reception team seemed enthusiastic, but the server was very "over it". After being brought my food- I was not checked on. No eye contact. She was very involved with the 3 other tables in her section.. difference was: they were drinking and eating for four leading to a bigger tip? I had to flag her down for additional rice and then water. Only thing I was happy with was the quality of the RibEye and the perfectly cooked rice. Upon exit: I talked with the manager (I think). Very enthusiastic guy: He offered to comp my meal- but I passed. Their food was good and I was happy to pay for it. the quality of people serving just sucked. I just didn't have the heart to NOT tip for the service I didn't get.

Went for my Bday last night and it was Awesome. Fantastic server and the food and food bar was…read moresooooo delicious. The meats were spectacular and all servers were sooooo helpful and sweet. The free bday cheesecake was amazing as well. Love this place and all that goes with it. Def worth the price for a special occasion. Loved it.

I am letting you know the Yelp and Google reviews I am leaving this morning. I have been there on…read moremany occasions (at least every other month), sometimes just a random Tuesday, but I will never return to your establishment. I came there for my 50th birthday and was gravely disappointed in the level of service we received. We had over a $1000 tab but received better treatment at a McDonald's. Never ever again. I, the birthday girl, did not eat because we did not get any meats served to us that were not medium or well done (I am black). I prefer my temperature medium-rare. When we sat down, we were asked how the table prefers their meats, and that was all that was served to us. Unacceptable. Other tables got a birthday song and enthusiasm from the servers; we got ignored. But we did get pineapples :{. That was the highlight of my experience. Sorry, you lost a good one. I was loyal until you were not. This is what I left them this morning.

This is a GREAT BBQ establishment. Well done decor and amply space inside…read more The service was top notch. Our server was in top of everything and never had to ask or wait for anything. The house made sausage is one of the best over ever had. Coleslaw was good and nothing to complain about. It was average as you would expect. The Inca were on point! Kind of pricy for a half lb. of wings (5). The smoked turkey was the BEST I've ever had!!!! It was !!!!! A definite must return for me!!!

I've been to Noble Smoke several times and it's always a solid experience. The staff is friendly,…read morethe atmosphere is great, and it's a good spot for larger groups. One thing that still surprises me though: no baked beans on the menu. For a BBQ spot, that feels a little unusual. The proteins are good and consistent, but the sides are where things fall short for me. The mac and cheese in particular is pretty disappointing, which is tough because good sides can really elevate a BBQ meal. I'll still keep coming back because the overall vibe and service are great. That said, if we're talking about the BBQ crown in Charlotte, Midwood Smokehouse still holds that title for me. If the sides improved a bit, this place could easily move up a star for me.