YakiniQ

This might have to be my new favorite kbbq in the Bay Area. The meat quality and options here are great! We had a great time trying all the different meats and they did not disappoint. Another like is this place serves tortillas which not a lot of kbbq restaurants do. My only complaint would be sometimes the service was kind of slow when they were being stuff to our table but it was pretty busy so I can't really blame them for that. If you are a kbbq fan I highly recommend checking this place out and opt in for the premium menu as it was only a couple dollars more.

I've been to the San Jose location multiple times, and I have to say that YakiniQ is my favorite ayce Kbbq spot in the Bay Area, so I was really excited to find out that there's now a location in Livermore! When we arrived on a Wednesday around 6 PM with a party of four, there was no wait, but I appreciate that they offer a live Yelp waitlist so you can check wait times and add your name before you arrive. You have to be within 10 miles of the restaurant to hop onto the waitlist, though! My group opted for the premium option, which is only $4 more, and it's well worth it for the higher quality meat selections. To compare, we also ordered a few items from the regular menu, and the difference in quality was definitely noticeable. With so many options available, I highly recommend coming with a big group so you can try a little bit of everything.I am a huge fan of corn cheese, so I was excited to see it on the menu at no extra charge, but I would have to say I wasn't the biggest fan of it. The fries and popcorn chicken also lacked seasoning. However, everything else was great! The service was fast, and we received all our orders quickly. They also finish the meal with a complimentary scoop of ice cream and a deep-fried banana, which was a nice touch to end the meal!

I saw an ad for this place in facebook which made me decide to give it a try. There was 8 of us in the group and you can enter the waitlist if you are within 10 miles of the restaurant. It didnt take long when we got there to be seated eventhough the place was a little busy. The place itself has a small and narrow parking area but plenty of street parking nearby. Food- there is a lot of meat options and you can either go regular or premium. We did the premium but I would say that the regular would have been fine. We tried almost each of their meat option and I would say it was just okay. There is not much flavor on most of them and youll have to rely on their sauces.Service- i like that they do Qr code ordering which makes the wait time a lot shorter when getting your orders. No need to wait for a server, just send it through your phone. Their servers are very pleasant too!Value- price is comparable to most Korean places we've been and more on the affordable side. We live about 50 miles away and probably would come back if we live closeby but personally not worth it to drive that far since we have other korean bbq places nearby.

So much to love, yet so much went wrong during my visit here - enough to consider not coming back. They have a long wait time, so I recommend checking the waitlist beforehand, and note that you must be within 10 miles to join. We were seated within 5 minutes of arriving and was given a QR code on a piece of paper to start ordering right away. Grill changes were fast and prompt, but it should be noted that the grill appeared to get dirty after every meat dish we cooked (including brisket), and needed a change. Meat quality and prices were also good, with a sufficient menu for extras, like kimchi fried rice and steamed eggs.The cons? Half of our initial meat order came 20 minutes after we finished our first few meats. We had to flag a server down after 15 minutes to ask where our order was, and I assume they lost/forgot about it. The restaurant's temperature was also freezing. If you see everyone wearing a jacket/long sleeve inside, it 100% means it's too cold in the establishment! There also seemed to be AC vents positioned on the ceilings above every table, so you feel the cold breeze on your head and legs. I feel like it was so cold that our meats took longer than average (in my KBBQ experience) to cook. I turned to heat to high, and a server would come by a few minutes later and turn it down to medium/low - it felt like a minigame on who controlled the stove temps. The servers do not control any of the customers - there were clearly drunk people at a table near us that was excessively loud - to a point where I felt like the majority of the restaurant on my side was mildly annoyed. I do not recommend this place for kids, as it appears to get quite rowdy at times. We were also offered complimentary ice cream during checkout which never came, so we decided to leave after 5 minutes of waiting. Aside from the side dish menu, the meat quality is very similar to other KBBQs in the area, but there is more diversity in meats. I experienced poor service, uninviting ambiance, and very loud noise levels during my visit, and do not plan on coming back.

I was first introduced to this spot by my sister who came here & had a great experience. I love finding good quality AYCE spots that make the experience worth it.This was my second time here and it went great. The staff here is very attentive and walk by almost every minute or so to grab any empty plates allowing you to eat without any cluttered plates on your table. Despite being a full restaurant, it wasn't too loud and it's great that this place is spacious which allows for big parties. Yesterday, I came by with my bf and sister after work. I got onto the Yelp waitlist once I parked and I believe I waited almost 10 minutes before they texted me that they were preparing a table. 10/10. We went with the premium plan to get the Wagyu brisket and beef belly. Honestly it's only $4 more than the reg plan and it's worth it bc the meat quality is 10/10. The banchan selection is great. They have japchae, kimchi, fish cake, potato salad, mashed potato salad, brisket sauce and their bean sauce. For sauces, they have their signature YakinQ sauce, horseradish, sesame oil, and habanero sauce. You can order from their QR code that is provided once the waiter seats you. Super easy and quick! After your meal, they offer a complimentary ice cream with a fried banana. The flavor of ice cream depends on the day. Previously, they gave us strawberry which was bommmmb. And yesterday, it was vanilla. It was good but was not rich as I wanted it to be but hey, it's free & still yummy! Overall, I feel like what I ordered and received, it's worth coming all the way to Livermore. The meat quality and service, it's hard to pass up. 10/10 experience.

Highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion. The way YakiniQ has their business set up is the most efficient and customer friendly experience I have ever had with KBBQ places. The staff is always on point and quick with service to give you what you need. Their system is online based too so you can order at your own will through a QR code. It just makes everything more efficient. The meat quality is great here. The brisket and belly's are high quality stuff, so you don't feel bad by stuffing yourself too much. The marinated spareribs was probably our favorite to order. We ordered a few plates of that. YakiniQ also feels like a high end kbbq spot. The plates are all gold which is a good touch for a special dinner you may have. They have a nice bar area too for people waiting for their table that has a tv for game days. The restaurant is also huge, so there is plenty of seating for quick customer turnaround.

AYCE KBBQ in Tri-Valley Area. This place offers high-quality food including their sides and premium meat. I recommend joining the Yelp waitlist on your drive there because weekends are typically busy. Inside there are many tables, a bar on the side, and a few chairs in the front as a waiting area. Once you're seated, you scan a QR code and can start ordering right away. Our table was a little sticky and had residue from previous party. Service was efficient and friendly. $33.99 for the regular menu and $37.99 for the premium. Not only their meat was high quality, I believe their sides are worth ordering too! We also got a small scoop of ice cream for dessert after.Great price, outstanding meats, and your kbbq cravings will be satisfied once you walk out the door.

This all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spot is so yummy! The ability to order directly from your phone is a game-changer--it's simple, efficient, and eliminates the hassle of flagging down staff and long waits. The restaurant offers two menus, and both have a great variety of options to suit different tastes. Whether you're in the mood for premium cuts or standard classics, there's something for everyone. The quality of the meat was excellent--tender, flavorful, and fresh. The banchan and dipping sauces added great flavor and variety to the meal.The grills were clean, and staff were quick to replace them when needed.Service was attentive, even with the digital ordering system. Food arrived promptly after each order, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. Overall, this is a fantastic spot for Korean BBQ lovers, especially if you appreciate the convenience of modern technology paired with the tradition of DIY cooking. Highly recommend trying both menus to explore everything they offer!

We are so much that some of us didn't eat at all for the rest of the day! All the meat here was flavorful and tender. Loved their variety of dipping sausages and side dishes! For a decent price, you can have AYCE KBBQ for 2 hours and end it with green tea ice cream with a side of fried banana :)

YakiniQ was a fave spot of mine while living in SJ so I was super excited to see them in the east bay! This location is very polished and modern inside. Ordering is super convenient by sending your orders through your phone by scanning your unique QR code. Every item came out in record timing and the cuts of meat were high quality. They have pork jowl! My favorite kbbq meat at the moment. They also have wagyu beef belly and both bone-in and boneless short rib when you opt for the premium menu that's just a few dollars more per person. The staff also came around often to change grills before they got too charred. At the end of the meal, they offer a scoop of ice cream with fried banana! The parking lot is pretty small, but the restaurant is in a calm area so parking on the outskirts shouldn't be an issue. Join the waitlist via yelp to avoid crowding in the small waiting area.