Sō Korean Barbeque

Been going here since my days of residing in VA and even though I'm out of state, I always make an attempt to dine here whenever I'm passing through!Recently came back after being away for over a year and things were mostly the same besides minor interior decor changes; place still looks amazing.The menu is the same but the QR code and template got a nice update making it look more modernized.I always go with the Option A and just bulk order the chadol bakgi. The waiter or waitress usually cooks for me and I ask him or her to just make it a little crispy; seriously so good.I've tried their Galbi and it's pretty tender, but I end up order option A majority of the times. The side dishes are decent and their kimchi has a nice kick to it and pretty fresh.They can get very busy during lunch or dinner hours so I recommend swinging by at 11am when they open unless you book an appointment. Highly recommend!

Went here with a group of friends on a whim after a spa day. We had a great time! We were easily able to get a table, but it was busy. We got options A all you can eat. The curry chicken was a table favorite was were the beef and pork bulgogi. The kimchi was also superb! The portions were very big for the 4 of us so suggestions asking for less to start with as to not waste food. The chairs were super uncomfortable. Low to the ground and the backrest was also very low. My one friend said they do this on purpose at all you can eat spots to make folks uncomfortable so they don't stay too long. Unsure if this is true, but it would make sense. Overall, I felt like we got a good value for $35/pp.

After hearing rave reviews from family and friends, I decided to give this spot a shot! They're located off Route 29-Lee Hwy.We came in to check out their best cuts of meat and see what this Korean BBQ joint had in store. The restaurant itself is split into a dining area, waiting area, and bar. As for the table layout? Not my favorite. It works for the staff, I guess, but that's about it.For food, we ordered the meat plate for two, which came to $92. The platter included beef brisket, bulgogi, short ribs, and two types of steak. Definitely more than enough food for two people. My husband and I thought the meat quality was solid, and the sides? Delicious. Extra points to our waiter for juggling all of us, even though the place was packed and clearly understaffed.There are a bunch of great spots in the plaza, so I might swing by again for the side dishes, but they need to level up the flavors a bit.Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of Korean BBQ.

My friend took me to this restaurant that he has been several times. We ordered the all you can eat set B ($5 surcharge) and it was worth it! Our favorite meats were the brisket, ribeye steak, and the short rib! The baby octopus was really good and well seasoned! The beef belly was amazing as well! I would totally come here again and the service was spectacular! I loved the ambiance as well! 10/10 experience!

Four of us had lunch on a Saturday at 1pm. We ordered the soy garlic chicken, beef bulgogi, beef large intestine, seafood pancake, and dolsot beef bibimbap. The meal included the banchan side dishes (a good variety of 7 types), and complimentary small steamed egg bowl and small doenjang jjigae (soybean soup) which are usually included at Korean BBQ restaurants when you order main dishes.The meat was grilled at the table by one of the hosts. The chicken and beef were really tasty and I recommend them both. They each came with two large slices of onion, so if you don't like a lot of onion mixed in, you should set one or both of those aside. I did not try the intestine, but my dining partner said it was quite good. I don't have a picture of the cooked results of this, but it reduced quite a bit and came out to kind of a small portion.The bibimbap was good and the stone pot came out hot enough to crisp the rice a little on the bottom and cook the added egg.The large seafood pancake was massive. If there are three or fewer of you at the table, I recommend the small size unless you all know you want extra helpings of this. It was very thick and came jam packed with squid and shrimp.The selection of banchan was varied and quite tasty. It included potato salad (very smooth rather than chunky), sour pickled radish/onions/chili peppers, traditional cabbage (baechu) kimchi, a light and mild cabbage/onion/carrot slaw, thin-sliced pink pickled radish (ssam mu), mung bean sprouts, and a seaweed.We got a complimentary cup of sikhye at the end of the meal. It was tasty and refreshing, but I would have liked more bits of rice in mine.Service was prompt and attentive.Including tax, the price per person was the same as if we had ordered the AYCE menu Option A. But not all of us are big meat eaters so the AYCE option wasn't worth it. For the same price, we all still filled up and had a little more variety. Of course, if you go into this place with some serious carnivore buddies, then yeah, go for the AYCE option and go crazy. I did this on a previous visit with other friends and had the meat sweats the rest of the day and evening, but it was worth it.

We came here for xmas lunch with my family and my bf on 12/25/2024, and I'm thankful Sō was open (since a majority of us were working all week, and unable to cook).First off, I hadn't been back to Sō in a few years before this. Why? Simply because I live further from Centreville now, but let me tell you it's well worth the distance and drive!!!!!We were immediately greeted and seated. The ban chan side dishes were already out for the 4 of us. We were able to order and receive all the meats we wanted in AYCE with no rush, no impatience and just full of excellent service and kindness. Shoutout to JUSTIN our server!! He was amazing. We really enjoyed chatting with him, and he was so helpful, efficient, and friendly. Whatever we needed, Justin and the staff anticipated. The side dishes were refilled with plenty of food, our waters refilled frequently when necessary, and the different servers who also lent a hand like Jonathan and a female server we didn't catch her name, were great and fast too. Overall, I was observing the staff including kitchen staff, cleaning crew, food dashers, servers -- everyone worked seamlessly and well together to make our dining experience excellent! You can tell the Sō team cares. Overall, my bf commented "this is the best service we've ever recieved at a korean bbq restaurant", and I agreed 100%. The decor was very cute and nicely done for the holiday season. I really enjoy seeing their tree and lights. I wanted to take a photo with my parents, and the hostess without hesitation offered to take group photos of us. She was super nice!Thank you, Justin, and Sō team for everything! You guys made our xmas family lunch memorable and so enjoyable. Definitely for good food and amazing service, check out Sō Korean BBQ! ***** 5/5 stars

There's a reason Sō made the list of top KBBQ restaurants in all of the US. They have top notch meats, a variety of menu options, and a large, modern interior. The main draw for me is the AYCE combos, A for $35 or B for $40. B adds in a few higher end cuts and seafood, but you can only get 1 order of galbi per person (booo). A is more than enough for me, so I just stick with that.They have a nice selection of banchan, and they have some of the best pickled radish in the game. There's not much to say about the meats, except that they're high quality and delicious! They have 3 sauces available: a sweet plum sauce, a spicy gochujang-like sauce, and what I think is salt and butter. I personally like the plum sauce since it contrasts very well with the savory meat.All in all, Sō is deserving of its rating and has the best balance between quality and price in the area.

Good Korean BBQ is not limited to Annandale, Centreville has a great AYCE location and its truly awesome. From the meats, seafood, ban chan, drink selection, and service, I have not had a similar experience elsewhere.For your AYCE experience, recommend the "B" option which includes "A" plus other delicacies such as So kalbi (marinated short ribs - limited to only one order per person), rib eye steak (soy garlic sesame seed marinate - we had a few orders), shrimp, and a whole selection of the usual Korean BBQ delicacies. It's a bit more costly, but so worth it. The selections and quality of items are top notch. To make it even better, you have a selection to either cook yourself or have the staff cook for you - select the latter. They are attentive and quick to grill your selected items and change the grill often as it quickly gets dirty.In addition to the great selection of items to grill and service, there is a great selection of beer (Japanese, American on tap), soju, and cocktails. My buddy ordered a soju cocktail consisting of soju, yogurt and a splash of Sprite. Don't know what it's called, but it was too easy to drink!A great Korean AYCE with a great selection of items to grill, adult beverages, and service, it's a combination that is hard to beat in Centreville. Check it out! Highly recommend making reservations as it quickly gets busy.

I haven't been to So in about 3 years and now I remember why. First let me say the service is incredible. Always have the best servers. The decor is so aesthetically pleasing. I love it. Anyway, they give you the option to grill or have someone grill for you which I like. Some AYCE don't do that. You also don't feel rushed. I made them grill so I don't mess up. The overall meat quality/marinades don't do it for me. We ordered a variety of pork. The pork was so chewy and the marinade made me feel like I'm going to throw up. I wasn't too pleased. The beef bulgogi was okay, the brisket was okay. The banchans were okay. I do love that they are the only KBBQ spot with the Korean potato salad and it's DELICIOUS. Overall, I hope the quality improves in the future. I always see great reviews but my experiences are always lack luster

This place offers a unique and refreshing take on Korean BBQ. Instead of having to cook everything yourself, the staff handles the grilling for you right at your table, making the experience more relaxing. Honestly, I didn't cook a single piece--I just focused on eating and deciding what to try next!The beef options are incredible, especially the special cut that's limited to one per person--don't miss out on it. The squid was surprisingly good as well, way better than I expected, and their sauces really elevate the flavors. On the downside, the side dishes (banchan) are underwhelming, and most of the appetizers aren't included in the all-you-can-eat option, which is a bit of a letdown.The ambiance is another highlight. The space is comfortable and not overcrowded, making it easy to enjoy a conversation or relax while you eat. It's also not loud, which is a rare treat for a BBQ place.Price-wise, I found it affordable, but keep in mind I'm coming from San Francisco, so most things feel cheaper in comparison.Overall, this spot stands out for its attentive service and high-quality meats. While the sides and appetizers could be improved, the great food and chill atmosphere make Sō Korean Barbeque worth a visit!