New name is Surajang but it is always be Top Chef for us. Fast and fulfilling KBBQ, Large portion of good quality meat. Banchan is tasty. Staff are friendly and familiar. Always packed or have a large group. read more

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Unfortunately, one of the worst dining experiences we've had. We came to celebrate our friends' pregnancy after two years of trying, along with my wife, our 1 1/2-year-old daughter, and another friend. What should have been a special dinner was incredibly disappointing. We were constantly ignored, multiple things were forgotten, our grill went out around 10 times, and our drinks sat empty most of the night. We repeatedly had to find someone just to relight the grill. At the end of the meal, we waited about 30 minutes with no one coming to our table. The photos show how our table was left--uncooked meat, empty drinks, and no service. I finally had to track down our original waiter just to get the bill. I explained all of the issues, which he acknowledged, yet we were still handed the full $250 bill. I had to specifically ask for some type of adjustment, and they reduced it by only $30. We left after paying $220 for "all you can eat," and my family and guests were STILL hungry because we couldn't even get consistent service or a working grill. Extremely disappointing, especially for what was supposed to be a special celebration. We will not be returning. read more

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Very disappointing experience. The service was terrible, and it was so hot inside that it honestly felt like a sauna, which made the entire meal uncomfortable. The food itself was also underwhelming. What was especially frustrating was feeling like our server assumed we weren't familiar with Korean BBQ. Many of the standard side dishes you would normally expect at a KBBQ restaurant were not brought out, and we had to specifically ask for them. Overall, the service, atmosphere, and food all fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, I won't be coming back. read more

Experience was disappointing overall. The brisket had a mild gas-like taste -- at first I thought it was just me, but my girlfriend noticed it too. The bulgogi was bland and lacked the flavor you'd normally expect from Korean BBQ. Cheese corn, but it was overloaded with mayo to the point that it completely overpowered the dish. Instead of tasting cheesy and balanced, it felt overly saturated and unappetizing ( Jizz Corn appearance). The posted menu prices appeared cheaper than what we were actually charged, which was frustrating. We went around noon and requested bean sprouts, but they were already out. It's surprising for an all-you-can-eat restaurant to run out of a basic appetizer that early in the day. The nonstop music became overwhelming after a while, and the server kept asking if we were done eating, which made us feel rushed. It wasn't until the next day that my girlfriend noticed there was apparently a 2-hour seating limit listed on the menu. That would have been helpful to know upfront instead of feeling pressured throughout the meal. Overall, not the experience we expected. read more

Top Chef - brisket bugolgi - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Got there around 7 PM and were seated immediately, which was great. The only downside was that the staff felt a bit pushy at first. We were waiting for one more person in our party and had already asked for a few minutes, but they kept persisting in ordering. That said, after that initial moment, the service was actually very attentive and kind. The meat came out quickly throughout the meal, which we appreciated. Portions were generous, and the meat quality was pretty good overall. Parking in the lot wasn't too bad either. Overall, a solid experience. read more

Top Chef - Brisket and Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

(+) At least if you're local you don't have to drive down to K-town to satisfy a KBBQ craving. This place has changed names but it's still the same spot next to A Hidden Fortress card shop. (+) Larger portions than the average KBBQ restaurant. Was not ready for that, so next time will have a better game plan for ordering the meats. The B menu was worth it as my fam enjoyed the seafood, galbi, and especially the rib eye. (+) Went on a week night, party of 5 so it wasn't that busy. This is a huge restaurant with many tables. Get the steamed egg and pair with the rib eye = steak and eggs! (+) They changed the grill often enough and even made good suggestions helping us avoid too much portions of certain dishes. I like the japchae and Korean pancakes banchan (sides) Service is what it is, don't expect big smiles and ultra attentiveness... the main attraction is the AYCE food! read more

My boyfriend and I had nice experience at Top chef! Walking in I definitely got a sense of an authentic Korean bbq spot that you would stop by for a casual drink and dine. We ordered AYCE and had the brisket, beef short Ribs, and top blade for our meats. Please note the portion sizes are huge and definitely shareable so they only allow three at a time. For appetizers/ sides we had corn cheese, fried dumplings, spicy noodle soup, rice, bean paste soup, and rice paper. We were definitely impressed with the quality and taste of everything we ordered. Especially the meat quality, it was incredible! Over all I think I think for what you get the price of 32.99 is a great deal. I will add that the service threw us off a bit at first but I think culturally there can be different expectations in mannerisms. Even so, service was fast and efficient and if we needed anything we could easily press the service button. Would love to come back! read more

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Korea Town is where it's at BUT this place will serve your AYCE KBBQ cravings. No need to drive far. Friendly service. They probably have one of the best kimchi! So fresh and delicious! They have great selections of meat. Good quality and nicely balanced marinate on their meats. Inside was simple and clean. Plenty of dining area. Parking can be tight because it shares with other businesses. read more

Top Chef - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

AYCE KBBQ is one of my favorite things to eat. This place is always one of the first places that we think about when we're in the mood for lots of meats. Everything is always seasoned wonderfully, the fans work really well if you (or the next table over) get too much char on your grill, and their soups and other dishes are also very tasty! Service is usually very fast, unless they are swamped - which is totally understandable. I'm not complaining just making sure to point out that it's best to go a little outside of peak times. It's worth it! read more

I just ate here yesterday (Sunday) for kbbq and was pleasantly surprised at the quality! I will definitely bring my Korean mom here next time she visits. I always avoided this place before when it also had Japanese food because usually multi-cuisine restaurants aren't that great. The cuts are not thin and are really good quality. Please know that it's quite common to have a more serious and less "friendly" service at kbbq so don't expect too much on that side of things but it was decent enough yesterday, but there were only a couple of other tables at the time. I will definitely bring be back!! Oh and the basil pork belly is good! Nice unique take! Amd the kimchi is good (I bet the kimchi soup is awesome and I'll def try it sometime) and you can get Korean pancake with the bbq and it was really, really good. They also have other items on their menu, lots of Korean soup, dol sot bibimbap, etc. read more

Top Chef - Brisket, spare rib meat, and basil pork belly plus banchan - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Top Chef Korean BBQ is a hole-in-the-wall AYCE KBBQ spot in Simi Valley. Simi has a food shortage of Asian cuisine (including KBBQ) so finding Top Chef was a refreshing discovery. My fiance and I came during a rainy evening, and we were both really craving KBBQ. While the lot is small, parking wasn't difficult. After a few minutes of trying to flag the staff's attention, we were seated. We went with the AYCE Option A ($32), which was a reasonable price for the number of food options and side dishes. We ordered, Bulgogi, Brisket, Basil Pork Belly, and Spicy Blade Shoulder. The meats came out promptly. The corn cheese was my favorite out of the appetizers. It's a great change of flavor from all the protein. The Basil Pork Belly was a unique item, and I thought it was the best out of the ones we ordered (and I'm not usually big on pork belly). My fiance and I were definitely stuffed after eating a meal here! While not the best KBBQ I've ever had, Top Chef is good enough to satisfy the craving. read more

service was fast, efficient, kind, and consistent without being bothered ... they were very attentive to making sure we had enough food and drinks. this is a kinda no-frills place, sometimes restaurants try to create an ambiance of authenticity with art work or designs, music, little nicknacks, etc but this is exactly what I want in a kbbq- I'm there to experience the food and the shared experience of cooking with my family and interacting and talking about our days. The food was undeniably amazing- wish I had smuggled in Tupperware or sandwich baggies lol (don't frisk me next time!) portions of were large, marinated meats were not overwhelming in flavor, everything was fresh and delicious. I think we left around 8pm and our whole household was in bed with happy, sleepy bellies by 9. Will definitely return :) read more

Top Chef - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Visiting during covid-19. The patio seating is quite comfortable. Blue tent gave a cooler effect, we are provided with a fan, ice cold water and all the banchan. The unnie is very attentive and kind. She's by herself. And the refill are fast too read more

Kinda a hole in the wall KBBQ spot in Simi Valley. Very surprised by the good quality of meats at this spot. Portions are also huge so best to come with a group! Don't expect "American" hospitality/service, but service was fairly quick. They do have a call button so utilize that and be ready to order when your server comes around. Favorites were the beef belly, brisket, and short ribs. If I'm in the area again, I'd come back and try the other meats and sides. read more

Top Chef - Menu as of 01/12/25 - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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This place is legit! Great selection and quality! My best friend is Korean and is food snob loves this place! Try it for yourself!

The blandest KBBQ I have ever encountered. Poor quality. Not fresh. We ordered ice tea and it tasted old/moldy. Server did a poor job being attentive or hospitable. Don't waste your money. read more

When you think a place can't get any worse in service or food come here. Servers walk away mid order, might as well bring your own water to refill because no one is coming. Service is non-existent and it's like you're bothering someone when you finally flag them down and ask for some more sides. I hate to say it but go to another option or to Thousand Oaks for better kbbq and service. When we came there was three parties at the restaurant. There is only two servers at the time and normally I'd be okay with giving this place another shot or waiting a little longer than usual but this is the 3rd time and by other reviews you can tell it's a reoccurring pattern. It's like the people who work here purposely avoid you so you don't order more food. I wish the owner took the time to actually read the reviews because this place has potential in Simi to satisfy someone's kbbq cravings. Meat quality and banchan quality seems to have gone drastically down over the years. Brisket texture is rubbery. Japachae went from japchae with vegetables to just noodles. Blanched broccoli with no sauce. Kimchi doesn't taste like it used too. Shortibs on option A are boneless and not short ribs. Not sure how this place has survived this long and wouldn't be surprised if it closed down. Won't come again. read more

Top Chef - Beef belly meat for sale. - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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I went here last weekend with my daughter and husband. No one greeted us once we walked in, and we proceeded to walk to the back room. Server was nice but not hospitable. We ordered the BBQ. . The pork was dry and the chicken was bland. We had to ask for dipping sauces and they never offered to refill our sides To our surprise, the employees and server started eating their lunch on the table near us. We found out as we left, Top Chef is no more and now it's called Surajang. Unfortunately, it wasn't better than TC. Poor customer service and I wonder about how clean this place is?? Will never go back. read more

I was in the area and suddenly craved for Korean food. I ordered la galbi and sundubu. The food was great and I ordered the tofu red soup but requested to make it mild since I don't like very spicy. Turns out, their mild version is too spicy for me so the nice server took it back to the kitchen to reduce the spiciness. Overall I would say I got a good service, the food I ordered tasted really good, the price was fair and the place is clean. What I like also is that they have forks ans spoons that are kept in a compartment on the side along with hand wipes and sanitizer dispenser. Convenient parking and will definitely come back again. read more

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Great quality Brisket,galbosal,jumuleok. Delicious side dishes and very friendly staff.Loved the experience. read more

They changed the restaurant name to Surajang and may have changed owners (not too sure). The meat was decent quality and food came out quick. Staff was friendly and attentive and music was not too loud. The order of meat does come out in large quantities so watch out how much you order at once (just in case you dont finish it). Would definitely be back with friends and family. Great for days I don't want to drive to LA for ayce kbbq. read more

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Soooooo good!!! Honestly the servings are MASSIVE. Could barely finish our AYCE selections and we only got one round! Excellent service. 10/10 will come back! read more

I had a great experience here...first time. I had the AYCE A ($29.95). So many choices of beef and pork and 4 choices of chicken. Also included are appetizers (anything marked with A), rice, banchan, and salad. I also ordered sesame oil with salt & pepper for seasoning cooked items. Our table ordered: Beef: bulgogi, brisket, belly, jumulreok, top blade Pork: belly Full orders of bulgogi and brisket were massive! After that we ordered 1/2 orders so we could try more. We also had Japchae (clear noodles), radish wraps and Korean pancakes, which all were tasty. Heated up the pancakes because they come cold and cut in pieces. Service was very friendly and not too difficult to get their attention. I like the atmosphere and the place was nice for a rainy day. I would come back. read more

Top Chef - Interior brisket, bulgogi and beef belly - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Such a great place for Korean BBQ. The all you can eat is a fantastic deal with more meat options than similar places. The staff are always friendly and attentive, making it an enjoyable experience every time. read more

Came in on a Saturday night and place had plenty of seating. Service was fast, meat was tasty, banchan was good, and price was reasonable. Staff was very friendly and they had a nice selection of meats (got the AYCE A menu). Will be back. read more

Ok so I've been eating here for two years now and I can confidently say this is the best kbbq in Simi. There's a couple of places that just don't measure up. Service - very quick and to the point. Nothing fancy but I don't need fancy I need efficient. Meat - good portions and great cuts. The Jumelreok which I never tried before is my favorite and it's unbelievable how tender it is when it's cooked up. Brisket is fantastic. Bulgogi is very flavorful but not overly salty. Ambiance - it's a kbbq place and smells like one. Lots of seating, lots of space. Definitely will leave here smelling of meat but hey that's what you get when you go to a good place. I do have to say, one time I got a really amazing potato dish here and it had never come back. I am hoping it will because I was sold when I tried this. I love it here read more

Goated, best korean bbq in Simi Valley. Love the service they remind me of my late grand mother. Felt like I was in cloud 9. Even my friends said it was goated. read more

Top Chef - Hoaxas and Reality B. - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Used to come here all the time with my coworkers and the service has always not been that good but the food was always good. The last time I came here with my friend, it was just the 2 of us and there were 2 other tables. It was NOT crowded at all, it was noon on a weekday. The server barely payed attention to us, I could barely get any more meat and whenever the server would come to take my next order she'd start walking away as I'm speaking. The beef belly was way too fatty where it was basically just cooking fat and it kept starting a grease fire and then it would just char up the grill and start smoking. The server only attended the middle table that was a larger party. I will never come back to this place again. read more

Tried this place as my wife was craving bbq. Honestly there aren't a lot of spectacular options for good kbbq in Ventura County. I've been to this location under different names and ownership over the years. Decided to try Top Chef to see if this place would be okay. For dinner we went with their standard ayce for $30 which comes with appetizers and a beef, chicken and pork options. Between two people we had orders of brisket, thin bork belly, spicy pork, spicy pork shoulder blade (definitely the favorite of the night and surprisingly tender) , and top round beef. The items come frozen in thin slices where you grill it yourself at the table, fairly common at this price point. Other than the spicy pork the other cuts didn't stand out. They do give you very generous portions so you won't leave hungry. Our servers checked on us very regularly, they also have call buttons on the tables ( this is a typical feature when dining in Korea) along with chopsticks and spoons at the table. The table itself was super clean so they do a good job of keeping the place clean between parties. The entire time they were playing a playlist of pop song covers which kept things upbeat. Overall the place is decent and I'd go back but you'll find better options in the valley or ktown. Given the competition in the area it's an acceptable choice, especially if you're willing to experience kbbq for $30 or upgrade to expand the menu options of more premium meat options (including seafood ) read more

This place has changed their name and me and my partner used to love to go all the time because it was good and close to home. Although we went last night and had the worst service ever which is understandable due to the amount of people but this was on another level. We have been there multiple times and have never been treated like this. The lady serving (lady with mask) us was throwing/smashing things down on our table. Not taking our order correctly, when asked for another order or rice she stated "no more rice" and proceeded to provided rice to the table next to us when they asked for rice after us. When asked for more sauce she just threw the sauce bottle on our table. We don't usually expect great service when it's busy because this was the busiest we had ever seen it but this type of service was just not okay and I don't think we will be coming back anymore. read more

After a year of dining 3-4 times per month. They wouldn't allow me to dine alone. Very disappointing to be treated this way when trying to support family owned small businesses. read more

The atmosphere was pleasant and we were greeted warmly by several of the roaming employees. We had the premium AYCE option which turned out to be awesome. The marinated short rib and ribeye steak were the stand outs! The beef brisket & pork belly were also great but the short rib was so good we added more at the end! The price, food quality and easy access made this a great local choice if you're in Simi. I highly recommend taking a trip out of your usual comfort zone and experience delicious KBBQ. read more

Top Chef - My gal - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Customer service just needs to be worked on. They make you feel so weird. Came here with a big party, and they are just rude. I don't know how to explain it, you have to see it yourself. Food is just okay, nothing special. read more

They serve the meat in huge portions. Which we love because most places don't. The service was really great ! They were very attentive, kind and friendly! The ambiance was nice and clean. We are definitely coming back ! read more

Top Chef - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Some friends and I tried this place because our usual spot was closed for the day. The food was good. BUT the service was absolutely terrible! Friendly doesn't exist here. They seem bothered when you need something. I asked for a straw 4 times. They came and took our grill without asking and took 10 minutes to bring a new one only after we called for service 3 times. We had to ask for refills and more food more than once. They walk by you never looking to see if you need anything and when you are trying to get their attention they look the other way. Will never go back. read more

Top Chef - Missing grill for 10 minutes - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Fresh meats, good marinades, fine service. Very light on the number of banchan items. 4:30 Saturday afternoon light traffic, packed by 6:00pm. read more

Good food, service need improvement and staff are moody, use cash. Ambiance is fair. Never go on a holiday, they can care less.

Good food so don't get me wrong. But we were waiting to finish the food we had on our plates before it became cold to start the new batch and one of the ladies came out and dumped it on the grill. Next thing was that we ate all of the food we had before we left and she made us place a tip on the card when we were going to do cash which was whatever until today (Sunday, June 15 2025 at 1:29 am) i got a notification that they had placed a 15 dollar charge on my card for no reason. Keep in mind we ate all the food so I don't know why they would charge in the first place. read more

Jennifer was our bubbly and sweet waitress who suggested her favorite meats off of the all you can eat menu. Everything was fresh and seasoned well! The spicy noodle soup tasted like spicy chicken yakisoba which was pretty bomb. The service was really quick and the price is reasonable! $30 per person for all you can eat and $40 to include seafood. It was a cute date :) we'll be back! read more

Top Chef - Beef Bulgogi, beef brisket, spicy noodle soup - Korean Near Me - Simi Valley, California

TL;DR: Poor service, unprofessional comment from staff, and charged $15.95 for a toddler who barely ate. Disappointing experience, especially for families with young kids. When we entered the restaurant, there was no one to greet us, so we pressed the button on the desk for service. No one showed up for about 5 minutes. As noted above, we were charged $15.95 for our 3-year-old, who ate almost nothing. To make matters worse, the waitress made an unprofessional comment, telling my 1-year-old that he was being loud because he "wants to go home." Really?? Throughout the meal, my husband had to flag down a server every time we needed something. While there were only two servers for about nine tables, it always felt like we were inconveniencing them. I understand being short-staffed, and I can't even imagine what it must be like during peak times, given we were there in the early afternoon on a Sunday. On the plus side, I'm adding one star because once we ordered, the meat was delivered quickly--after you got past feeling like a nuisance to the staff, at least. It pains me to leave negative reviews, especially for a mom-and-pop shop I wanted to support, but this experience wasn't family-friendly and was particularly frustrating for us with toddlers. read more