Crazy-popular Gen Korean BBQ delivers
West San Jose restaurant does all-you-can-eat with some premium cuts of meat and friendly table service
When it comes to all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue, there are typically two choices: Casual buffets with poor ventilation systems that can leave you smelling like a side of beef, and fine-ish dining restaurants where servers help you order off the menu.
Gen Korean BBQ House, which opened a few weeks ago at Westgate Center, is in the latter camp. It is the chain’s second location in San Jose — there’s a new location in Concord, as well — and the lines for spicy short ribs and garlic chicken are already out the door. Naturally, we stopped by to find out why.
THE VIBE >> Clubby. Between the loud pop music, leather seats, backlit bar, blue pendant lights and stainless steel ventilators (which work very well, by the way), Gen Korean looks like the set of an ’80s music video. It’s also clean and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows and striped window coverings that let in just the right amount of light.
HOW IT WORKS >> Lunch is $16.99 and features 27 menu options; dinner, $24.99, offers 35 options. You get two hours to heat and can order four items at a time. There’s a half- order option, highly recommended because diners are charged extra for uncooked proteins. (It’s a good way to discourage wasting food.) The food arrives along with tongs, scissors and chopsticks to use as you cook your food at your table’s gas grill.
THE FOOD >> Gen Korean doesn’t advertise its meat and poultry resources, but we found most offerings to be good in quality, even premium, including the top blade steak. Our favorite was the beef bulgogi: An order of the thinly sliced, marinated prime chuck is enough to satisfy two people. Whole, fresh shrimp are also tasty, especially dipped in green-tea salt. Skip the red-wine marinated pork belly; it cooked up pretty tough. Seafood fan? Don’t pass up the spicy marinated barbecue calamari. It’s tender and delicious.
HELPFUL TIPS >> Ask for an extra pair of
tongs or chopsticks, so you’re not using the same tool for both raw and cooked meats. Replace your grill pan at least once; ours got pretty black. Try the delightful pickled daikon radish and an order of spicy
soft tofu soup, which is served piping hot with a lovely mix of vegetables and dried shrimp. Also, wear stretchy pants.
DETAILS >> Open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. or
later daily (doors open at 9 a.m. weekends) at 1554 Saratoga Ave., San Jose. The new Concord eatery is open the same hours at 1353 Willow Pass Road. genkoreanbbq. com.