Natural Style Chicken

Natural Style Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.1 (406) • $$

Soo H. "Natural Style Chicken has an interesting menu. In addition to chicken they also have some Japanese and Korean dishes.I tried the kalbi ribs with rice. Rice was moist and garlic infused. I don't like the bitter flavor of garlic and that's all I could taste of the rice so I didn't eat it. Ribs also had that bitter garlic flavor but not as much. Ribs were kinda chewy. I would not order the kalbi or the rice again. It took awhile to get the garlic flavor out of my mouth. If you are a garlic lover this is the place for you. Cashier was nice and my order didn't take too long."

L&D Teriyaki Express

L&D Teriyaki Express

★★★★☆ 4.2 (133) • $

Nang L. "If you're craving some teriyaki bowls, this place is pretty good. They've got vegetarian bowls, chicken bowls, beef bowls and combination platters. They also have a selection of Hawaiian combos as well. It's a great spot to grab a quick meal.I got the chicken and steak platter. It comes with grilled chicken teriyaki, grilled teriyaki beef, and stir fried vegetables. All of it was tasty."

CARiN de RiA

CARiN de RiA

★★★★☆ 4.4 (496) • $$

Abby W. "My brother was in town and wanted to try some Filipino food after visiting his fiance's family in the Philippines. We saw this spot had great reviews so we decided to give a try. We decided to split an order of the chicken pancit canton and bbq chicken with garlic rice. All of the food was delicious and I'd happily come back. We sat outside on the sidewalk to enjoy the nice weather but there's a decent sized indoor seating area as well."

Medium

Medium

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4)

David I. T. "Great place with a good selection of games. The staff are all amazing and it seems like they have alot of regulars"

STP Bar-N-Grill

STP Bar-N-Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (539) • $$

Jessica S. "This place is your classic neighborhood bar and grill with a retro atmosphere for all them motor head junkies. STP is a maker of automotive parts and tires, the aforementioned theme of the decor, but it primarily stands for "Shannon and Tina's Place", the owners of the establishment. Clever!The S.O. and I like to come here every now and then to sit at the bar and chat with the workers behind the counter. They have a small draft menu but it is well curated and full of variety. The workers are always full of energy and in good spirits which are all the indicators of a great business. For some reason, I am obsessed with their Sweet Corn Nugs which I relish alongside their massive burgers served with 1/2lb patty and CHOICE ingredients. I often am attracted to the constantly rotating choices on their Specials menu. In addition, they serve your classic American BBQ which is none too bad and are served in massive portions. They have the theme down pat and overall vibes are tremendously cheerful and genuine. They attract a mixed crowd, maybe leaning towards older patrons, the theme mighty attractive to them and likely bringing back fond memories from their youth. In addition to indoor seating, they have an outdoor patio which is very dog friendly."

Kangnam Korean BBQ

Kangnam Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (339) • $$$

Rita B. "Every time we visit our daughter and daughter in law, they take us to a new-to-us K-bbq spot. This has been my favorite! We arrived for an early dinner around 5pm. They have a Yelp check in tablet when you enter. They also have a Yelp waitlist - I definitely recommend using that! We only waited around five minutes for our table. The big booth was plenty roomy for the five of us. Someone came over right away to bring us water, loved that. Our waiter came by shortly after to take initial orders which we always leave up to our daughter. The banchan here was great; I think I ordered half the items on the list. The cheese corn was really good as well as the spicy tofu stew and egg custard. I wish it wasn't so hot, I would have ate more. The cucumber salad and japchae were good not great. They also offered beer by the glass or pitche with three IPA offerings - say less! Service was excellent. We were a little disappointed that the robot didn't bring any of our food. But so grateful Our waiter came over often and was good about changing out our grill and bringing more water and napkins.I am looking forward to coming here again, definitely recommend."

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (193) • $$

Yesenia N. "It's been a minute since I came to this location happened to be in the area. It's best to come in early morning around opening time because this location does get extremely busy with orders and customers. Came in for some sides only can't get enough of their macaroni salad. The staff was very brief and friendly with taking my order. Overall a great experience to come check out when it's not busy."

Buckboard's Barbecue & Brew

Buckboard's Barbecue & Brew

★★★★★ 4.5 (803) • $$

Yueming Q. "I read an article and this bbq ranked No.19 in the whole US, though I never heard of it before. I tried it yesterday with my husband and friends. We had a big rack of big ribs, with side sampler, Mexican corn, onion rings, fries and kid size pulled pork sandwich, plus corn bread and peach cobbler for dessert. The price here is very reasonable and the quantity is very good. The foods are very delicious, and especially the beef ribs, probably the best in SD I've ever had so far. All the sides are very very good, I love potato salad, coleslaw, fries, beans, corn.... The corn bread is also highly recommended. The only thing I don't really into is the peach cobbler, too doughy for me. Anyways, it's a nice place to have a great bbq!"

Hi Guest Music BBQ

Hi Guest Music BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (59)

Emmett T. "Unfortunately, the previous business could not survive in this suite at the Liberty Park Plaza in Clairemont as the original concept of Uyghur cuisine cannot be found anywhere else in town. Hi Guest Music BBQ recently opened with a complete revamp of the interior which now has a futuristic, outer space decor. Neon lighting and holograms were very prevalent. There was a small stage in the back for karaoke and/or live music performances. The dining capacity was somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 seats.Ordering was done online via a QR code at each table. Sichuan-style BBQ skewers were the featured menu offerings. If grilled items are not your thing, then other categories include soups, cold dishes, fried items, casseroles, noodles, vermicelli, and fried rice. Think snacks and street food as the theme. The electronic order form allowed you to adjust the spice level, and I selected either mild spicy or no spicy for my below picks. Each was served as three or four pieces on three skewers except the scallop.* Original Lamb* Pork Belly w/Enoki Mushroom* Fish Tofu* Beef Belly* ScallopDespite asking for no spicy on a couple of the choices, there was still plenty of seasoning on the protein. Mild spicy was already sufficient for my palate. You should have an iron stomach if extra spicy is how you want your skewers flavored. The lamb and fish tofu were my favorites. The scallop was a disappointment because I was not aware that this was going to be four shells cooked under a broiler. I assumed the scallops would be served on skewers like the others. Not only were baby size scallops used, but they were covered by vermicelli and garlic. It was certainly not worth the price of $10.99.I did not indulge in the other food categories. In hindsight, I should have diversified and ordered fewer skewers and either a noodle or rice dish. The service from the waitstaff was adequate as multiple servers took care of my table. The online system was not capable of checking out so you had to ask for a check from a server and pay the traditional way. My dining experience at Hi Guest Music BBQ was between a three star and four star level."

Bogeys Pub and Grill

Bogeys Pub and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (19) • $$

Phelan R. "I finally got a chance to check out Bogey's and I'm glad I did.I got there around 4 and it looked like they had their usual customers at the bar enjoying themselves. There is plenty of seating elsewhere and most of their pool tables are open. I'm sure this place gets busy so make sure to get there early and grab your spot.The new ownership has really done a good job with the place. Personally, I am looking forward to going back, grabbing a beer and enjoying a game of pool or three. I can't wait to try the food from their kitchen too. Pssst - I heard they have karaoke several days of the week too."

Handoo Korean Bbq

Handoo Korean Bbq

★★★★☆ 4 (604) • $$

Lizzie Y. "I was craving KBBQ & Handoo seemed pretty good so we decided to head on over. Handoo is AYCE, with two AYCE options: Menu A & Menu B. Menu A is $29.99/person and allows you to order any of the meats #1-17 & Menu B is $35.99/person, allowing you to order any of the meats the offer #1-28. Side dishes are also unlimited. We decided to go with Menu A and ordered a couple meats to start. Our favorite was the #17 marinated beef ribs. Our least favorite was the beef brisket, which was recommended by our server; it is basically just hotpot meat & is pretty difficult to cook because it just sticks to the grill. Very quick, speedy service. Once you place your order of meats, they are brought to you almost immediately. I really enjoyed the banchan, especially the japchae! I probably asked for more japchae like 6-7 times because it was so addicting. The tofu stew is also yummy here. I got the steamed egg & added the egg to the tofu stew & it was chef's kiss!"

Smokey and the Brisket

Smokey and the Brisket

★★★★☆ 4 (658) • $$

Brad B. "Sorry Phil, Smokey is now my dude for SD BBQ. Yep, I've loved Phil's for a long time and I would often hit their Santee location at least once a month but Smokey has come in hot and stolen my loyalty. I now try to make it in for a few drinks and to work my way through their very eclectic menu that also sticks to the staples that all BBQ spots should offer. Some food highlights:- The short rib. This thing is powerful and worth every penny. I believe it clocks in at $30 dollars and it's tender, juicy, and truly delicious. I also believe that you can order the short rib for two with a price tag of $55. Bring a date, sucka! - The pizza. I know, I know, who orders pizza at a BBQ joint? I do, and I do so shamelessly. Is it on par with a pie that you'd find at a pizza specific place? No, but this certainly scratches an itch. - The pulled pork sandwich. Okay, let me hear it... "Brad, you basic b!tc#." Call me what you like, pulled pork is my jam especially when topped with some slaw. The staff here is so dope too. I've caught Nikki's name but don't believe I've ever introduced myself to the manager, just small talked her. She's awesome and if you play your cards correctly you may even land yourself a toasted marshmallow, torched right before your eyes. Smokey, you've done well and have earned my biz. See you soon!"

Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

Bubba's Smokehouse BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1170) • $$

TianChee S. "New location but still great tasting good ol bbq meat! Very glad it's much closer so I have no more excuses to eating delicious bbq meats! Owner is very nice and friendly and takes pride in his food which is great!"

Juicy Burgers

Juicy Burgers

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (16)

Shar M. "This place is amazing! I'm so glad Juicy Burgers is finally in San Diego. It puts all other burger joints to shame. It's actually more than a burger place... You can build your own burger with everything from garlic mayonnaise to Sriracha ketchup and everything in between. They have grilled pineapple, jalapeños, spicy Jack cheese, grilled mushrooms, avocado etc. to build your own high-rise burger. This place is for the hungry! It's a very family friendly environment so bring the kids too. Plenty of free parking around the restaurant. I'm posting a few pics of the menu so you can see firsthand how many fun options there are. You could literally come here every day for a year and never eat the same burger haha Definitely don't miss the fried pickles. You'll be hooked. And definitely save room for desert. Cookies, brownies, ice cream and cheesecake!Great place!!"

Randy Jones BBQ

Randy Jones BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.5 (22)

Ron Q. "Randy Jones was a pitcher with the San Diego Padres back in the 70's. He was a Cy Young Award winner in 1976 and San Diego Padres Hall of Famer. He currently can be heard on the radio supporting the Padres pre and post game shows. The man was a legend on the field and has carried that notoriety to his catering business that can be found on every level of Petco Park. The menu has changed slightly over the years but flavors have remained constant. Their menu isn't huge as it only has a couple items.On a recent visit I enjoyed the bacon wrapped hotdog. It was simple yet delicious! Grilled onions you ask? ABSOLUTELY! Definitely have visited again and will do so on future visits.Keep on Yelp'n!"

La Barbacoa Autentica De Borrego

La Barbacoa Autentica De Borrego

★★★★★ 4.6 (23)

Jay K. "Nice lamb mixiote and lamb barbacoa served here by the kilo, or in tacos. I am partial to the mixiote, but would recommend the "Taco Suave de Barbacoa" if you wanted a bite-size sampler of what this humble but high-quality operation is capable of. Omar S.'s review has all the in-depth detail you need, and you should read it."

Cheers Bar & Grill

Cheers Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3 (143) • $

Julie L. "I looked for several months to find the perfect place to have my girlfriend's "40th" birthday celebration. Cheers ended up being the perfect place! Cheryl (the owner) was always easy to reach as she worked with me for months in making sure the party was special. She was easily able to accommodate all of my requests from hiring the birthday girl's favorite band to play (The Innocent Bystanders), putting up as many decorations that we wanted, bringing in our own food, storing the cake in their fridge and even turning off all of the lights for a "surprise"! The bartenders were also very friendly and helpful. Thank you Cheryl and the Cheers crew for helping to pull off a fun and memorable party!"

Grand Ole Bbq Y Asado

Grand Ole Bbq Y Asado

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1013) • $$

Ryan M. "4.5 starsCame on a Sunday to try their Argentinian style BBQ or rather grilled meats. They usually only have smoked BBQ meats but on Sundays they have an Argentine style which is unique, meats grilled over charcoal.I tried their smoked pork spare ribs, smoked brisket and the Tira De Asado (grilled beef ribs)The beef ribs were cut across the bone they way that you get Korean short ribs but thicker maybe a half inch or so. They were very smoky from being cooked over charcoal but I feel like it was something that I could come close to on my own at home. I would have preferred the regular smoked beef ribs.The brisket had a beautiful smoke ring, the parts that were covered in fat were very juicy and tender. The parts that had less fat weren't as juicy but still good. I loved the fatty parts, I guess that's a preference, my friend says he doesn't like paying for fat, I disagree, if it makes is juicy and tender make sure mine has lots of fat! I also loved the crusty smoked and heavily seasoned fat on the exterior of it.The pork spare ribs looked dry, but when I bit into it, it was super tender and moist! Guess you cant judge a book by its cover. It was my favorite of the 3 meats. Super tender and flavorful.I came as they opened and there was almost no wait and easily found parking. I stood in line to order, they gave me a buzzer and picked it up at the window when it was ready. Theres lots of open seating and a covered bar area if you want drinks too.I really enjoyed the Bbq here, I'll be back to try the smoked beef ribs for sure!"

Buga Korean BBQ

Buga Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (2345) • $$$

Leanne B. "Parking: plenty of parking in the back. The lot only has one way in and one way out, so if you're going west from the freeway you're fine, but going east on Clairemont is a pain, as you have to cross the freeway then make a u-turn...Customer service: They were super attentive in the beginning, then towards the end we had to press the button a few times to flag someone down. But that's pretty normal as we wind down on orders. They did forget our waters a few times.Food: Delicious! Would recommend the beef bulgogi, thinly sliced pork, steamed egg, and Mac salad. The kimchi fried rice was plain and lacked flavor (which was surprising for a KBBQ restaurant)."

Hong Kong BBQ Kitchen - San Diego

Hong Kong BBQ Kitchen - San Diego

★★★★☆ 3.5 (266) • $

Michael B. "TOO GOOD ! It's been way too long since we have eaten here...close to 21 months. Even though there are heaps of Asian eateries around Irvine where we moved to in Nov, 2022 no one serves authentic Chinese food like this place. Forget about the cheesy ambience inside an old movie theater that is mostly an Asian supermarket...it's all about the incredible food. WEEKEND GETAWAY ! My wife and I hit the road at 10.30am on Friday to kick off our fun packed weekend down in San Diego. We hit heavy traffic as expected but better earlier than later. FIRST STOP ! We arrived here for lunch around 12.30pm. While my wife parked our car I headed inside to the restaurant....to my surprise Joe the long time manager recognized me straight off and showed me to a vacant table in the corner. TOO EASY ! When Joe popped over to say hi I gave him our lunch order. We knew exactly what we wanted...1 x Kung Pao Shrimp and 1 x Honey Walnut Shrimp. Joe came back with a pot of Jasmine tea and 2 tall iced waters. IT WAS PACKED ! Before too long Joe brought out my wife's huge serve of Honey Walnut Shrimp. Within 2 or 3 minutes my delectable looking Kung Pao Shrimp hit the table. MOUTHSATIONAL ! Trust me no one serves authentic Chinese food as good as here. My Kung Pao Shrimp tasted amazing...no tails on the shrimp and it was kicked up just enough. My wife was in gourmet food heaven enjoying her Honey Walnut Shrimp but I did have to pinch a few of her juicy shrimp with walnuts. THE BEST ANYWHERE !CHECK OUT - my video of our lunch order at https://youtu.be/Ejn06mPatGMNOTE - Of course with 20 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics world wide in 2023 I can tell you what is great !"

Ohana Hawaiian Island Bbq

Ohana Hawaiian Island Bbq

★★★★☆ 3.6 (293) • $$

Victor G. "National City. Great staff. My kids love the SPAM musubi. Simple meal/snack."

Jose's Pollos Estilo Acapulco

Jose's Pollos Estilo Acapulco

★★★★★ 4.5 (134) • $

Emmett T. "Jose's Pollos Estilo Acapulco has now taken over this corner shack in the Golden Hill neighborhood which has seen several businesses rotate through over the past few years. Yellow paint was added to brighten the premises. The inside only had seating for ten customers. There were some stools under the awnings on the sides of the building if you wanted to dine al fresco. A bonus was that the property had a dedicated parking lot to the south of the structure. Barbeque smokers were placed there to cook the meats.The first time I visited was a failure because they had sold out of their inventory for the day. We returned for lunch less than a week later near the opening time, and it got busy quickly. The menu was simple with a 1/2 chicken plate or 1/2 pork rib plate that could feed 1-2 people for $15. The other options were a whole chicken, an entire rack of pork ribs, and a split of 1/2 chicken and 1/2 ribs. These choices could feed 3-4 people for $25 or $26. Pinto beans, Mexican rice, grilled white onions, tortillas, and two kinds of salsa came with the order.We chose the split and sat at one of the two-top tables inside. The chicken, ribs, and grilled onions came inside a styrofoam takeout container about 10 minutes later. The tortillas were wrapped in tin foil while the beans and rice were in separate foam cups. I don't know if there was sufficient quantity to feed a group of four as the two of us managed to finish everything. The meats were coated with barbeque sauce which we selected over the natural flavoring or the Acapulco style marinade.I thought the products were overcooked, especially the ribs. Some chicken pieces were better than others. The smokiness on the skin was nice. The green salsa was definitely too hot as the chili peppers produced a latent heat that hit the back of the palate. The beans, rice, and tortillas were ordinary. The price was fair for the amount of food, however my rating of our experience at Jose's Pollos Estilo Acapulco was 3.5 stars."

Wing Factory

Wing Factory

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (24)

Jesus D. "The best customer service for 1 person working behind the register and giving the orders and the cook is fast with the orders and the food was delicious but the young lady behind the counter says it all very polite and respectful and very fast it's amazing to get this type of service ne where these days now very satisfying for a Friday evening out with the family so thank u so much for the great service yanitza"

Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs

Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1094) • $$

Phil B. "I love BBQ and have been to well known bbq places in Texas and do my own as well. This was better than anything I've had in San Diego and comparable to some Texas places. Beef rib (from short rib, not plate rib) was enormous - one pound- and had a crusty peppery finish and was very tender throughout with no fat layer. As good as Louis Mueller in TX. Tried baby back ribs and they were equally good. A half pound was 3 ribs.Service was fast and efficient. A real treat for San Diego."

Gaslamp BBQ

Gaslamp BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.7 (580) • $$

Eric W. "(Last visited 5/15/2022.) Hanging out in San Diego with some friends and we've been partying all day, but we need a break so we walked past this place so I HAD to stop in to see what it was all about before continuing on with the night.Atmosphere/Appearance: Based right downtown with a very inviting patio/street seating is this gem. We walked right in this very rustic, homey feeling space that made me feel like I was out in the backwoods of Tennessee somewhere, but I loved the character of this place. There's also a modern twist to it as well with the updated bar rail and crispy TVs. So we sat outside to enjoy the good weather along with excellent people watching spots...Service: I can't remember who took care of us, nor can I remember if we had any problems... so... everything must've been okay then, right? Lol.Food: Eh, mid. This is a BBQ spot, so I thought I was going to get some DAWG-ASS wings! I... in fact... did not. I had an order of Buffalo wings and an order of Buffalo. They're just basic-fried chicken wings that are thrown in a basket then sprinkled with sauce. Yes, "sprinkled". My wings weren't even fully covered. Come on man. Yeah, I could've sent them to be covered, but there's sauce on the table so I did what I had to do, but they were okay. Buffalo over BBQ of course, but not by much. I wouldn't get them again. My friend had The Duke Burger which is a thick beef patty, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. He loved it, so it was clear that I made a mistake. Lol. Maybe next time...Value: $17.00 for 8 wings. Nope, not even worth it. Maybe the burger, but maybe next time...In conclusion, eh. I don't know if I'd make a return visit. There are so many restaurants in the area and this one just did not do it for me so I think I'd try elsewhere, but feel free to try this place out on your own! Just don't get the wings, try something else."

Cali BBQ

Cali BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3272) • $$

Taura G. "Stopped here on a Wednesday Night for wings. They used to have "Wing Wednesdays" but not anymore. They just have the wings at a set price now. The place was not packed, which was great.We walked in and we were able to choose where we wanted to sit so we chose the dining area section near the bar. There was only one other couple there seated and they were leaving. Another couple arrived about 5mins after us and also chose to sit in the same area.Our server came over and took our drink order. They do not have 0% Alcohol beers here, which was surprising.We ordered: 10 piece wings with Buffalo and BBQ Sauce (5 of each sauce) and a hot link sandwich with tater tots. I asked for extra blue cheese dressing on the side. The wings came out with a lot if fresh carrots and celery, and it was yummy. The wings themselves were perfectly cooked. We enjoyed the food and we will come again."

Reyes Smoke Shack

Reyes Smoke Shack

★★★★★ 5 (2)

Isaiah W. "I love a good bbq and that's why I'm in love with this place. Some of the most tender and flavorful bbq on the west coast. I hope any and everyone that cost Tijuana goes and try some of this mouth watering bbq!"

Smokin J's BBQ & Taphouse

Smokin J's BBQ & Taphouse

★★★★★ 4.6 (171) • $$

Dung N. "I love barbecue and heard good things about this place. Their original location is in Poway and that's where they smoke their meats. Since we arrived around dinner time, we weren't able to try the brisket.We started with a beer for him and strawberry milkshake for me. The milkshake was smooth and creamy. We shared the spare ribs, cajun dry rub wings, hot links, pulled pork, mac n cheese, bean crack, and Cajun fries.Everything was brought out pretty quickly. Each item comes with picked onions and pickles, which I loved. My favorites were the hot links, ribs, and seasoned fries. Service was quick and friendly. I will have to come back to try their brisket next time!"

BBQ Boss

BBQ Boss

★★★★★ 4.7 (167) • $

Deanne L. "Came from jury duty and was craving a sandwich at first for lunch. Walked by the BBQ Boss on my way to the Grab-N-Go around the corner and noticed that their sandwiches and meat were $6. I still wanted to check out Grab-N-Go like my original plan and noticed that their sandwiches are almost $8 and have a line. Due to my goal to save money, I decided to walk back to BBQ Boss and I'm glad I did!The one and only gentleman there named Bobby was awesome and was so friendly. "Let me guess, you found us on yelp!" Noticed that they have sandwiches (brisket, pulled pork), which I initially wanted but also saw that they just sold the meat itself. The "No carbs!" disclaimer won me. Ordered the brisketHe also mentioned the "free side with $6 purchase" offer on Yelp which I of course took advantage of. I chose the salad which has a good housemade ranch... you can see and taste the herbs mmmGood service, quick, delicious and affordable food. Great flavor and filled me up. Whole chunks of brisket yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmHe even recommended to go where there's seating but I just walked to Horton Plaza which isn't a far of a walk. The food is put in a box that is easy to carry with you Check him outttttt"

Sieu Sieu BBQ

Sieu Sieu BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.6 (151) • $

Dorian C. "No frills, no complications. My usual go to spot (Tom's bbq) was closed on a Tuesday so we decided to give this a place and so glad we did! The roasted duck was very thick and meaty, very great location and will visit next time we are craving vit quay."

The Promiscuous Fork

The Promiscuous Fork

★★★★☆ 4.2 (800) • $$

Mike C. "Order at the counter establishment with limited indoor and outdoor seating. This place definitely has a CA coast vibe to it. Server was extremely friendly and my food came out fast. Ordered the ring of fire burger and the burger was extremely juicy and full of flavor."

SOT BBQ

SOT BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16) • $$$

Emmett T. "New owners have spent well over seven figures to update this space in the Kearny Plaza on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and create an upscale Korean BBQ restaurant featuring traditional cast-iron cauldron grilling. The cauldrons (sots) were each shaped like a short hut and imported from Korea. The concept was not all-you-can-eat but rather premium meats that were cooked for you by a staff member. The business is currently in a soft opening phase until the middle of August. I counted at least 30 tables which were only about 1/4 occupied when we arrived for dinner.One page of the menu listed the proteins which were beef, pork, and seafood. All of the beef was either prime, choice, or wagyu. The cheapest cuts were priced at $29 each. Three sampler plates were available with Pork, Sot, and Wagyu as the labels. We chose the Sot ($89) which consisted of Prime Short Rib, Prime Ribeye, Pork Belly, and Beef Belly. The other menu page featured the appetizers, sides, small entrees, and beverages. From these choices, we picked the Korean Assorted Pancakes and Fried Rice. As part of the soft opening, a Steamed Egg was provided as a complimentary item.The workers brought out the banchan rapidly as there were at least eight different types including two styles of kimchi with a fermented version that became sweet when grilled. Sesame oil, a red salt, and a green salt were provided for dipping the cooked meat. Although we didn't receive one, a basket of lettuce for making wraps was available. Our server did all of the preparation of the sot by greasing up the surface, adding a sprig of rosemary for scenting, and then cutting up the vegetables (mushrooms, onions) and meat before cooking them.The Beef Belly was a brisket and cooked first followed by the Prime Ribeye, Prime Short Rib, and Pork Belly. The sequence may have been from the leanest to the fattiest portions. The short rib was probably my favorite, however the quality was very good for each cut. Do note that oil does collect along the rim of the sot, and some of it may splatter if the heat is too high. If you have kids in your party, then you may want to be careful with the oil or touching the very hot cast iron.Not only was the banchan variety terrific, but you could get refills on any of the items. The focus was on fermented vegetables versus offerings like fish cakes or potato salad. As for the assorted pancakes, there was zucchini, jalapeno, and a potato mix that were each pan-fried. The fried rice at the end of the meal was probably unnecessary because we were quite full. The base consisted of rice, seaweed, and gochujang sauce. Our server took some of the banchan and leftover grilled meat and mixed it together with the rice. She told us to let it cook until a crust had formed on the rice.The cost will be reflective of the high quality proteins and top notch service. If you want a Korean BBQ experience that differs from the typical AYCE model, then try SOT BBQ as we graded our dinner at a five star level."

Corbin's Q

Corbin's Q

★★★★☆ 4.2 (630) • $$

Nicole B. "Absolutely delicious and great service. The staff was super helpful in helping us choose what to order and the food was amazing. Out quickly and great quality. Highly recommend!"

Izzy's Cafe

Izzy's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (468) • $$

Eva G. "4.5 Last time I remember dining here was many years ago with my family. This time I was with my best friend and thought it would be nice to dine here. Upon entering you feel nostalgic with the memorabilia along the walls. It's always nice to check out those "mom and pops" type diners. Leslie was our server and she was so sweet and helpful. The locals here keep this diner nice and busy. As food orders passed us by to designated tables we were excited to see the outcome of our order. Lol Our food was delicious and plentiful. I enjoyed every bite. A nice and pleasant experience here. Will be back again."

Saki Sushi & Grill

Saki Sushi & Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (140) • $$

Kim R. "Came here to grab some sushi and they did not disappoint. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. They had happy hour going on, super pumped I got to catch that. The restaurant is very spacious plenty of places to sit. Parking was easy as it is on a strip mall. The food itself was very tasty. The fish in each roll was fresh and filling. I will be back to try out more on the menu."