Crazy BBQ - Bakersfield: A Hidden Korean Gem 🍜

A couple of weeks ago, when I was in Bakersfield (totally wandering around like a headless chicken 😂), I stumbled upon this amazing Korean restaurant—and I have to sing its praises! If you’re heading to LA and pass through Bakersfield, do yourself a favor and stop here for a meal. The owner is a super warm Korean auntie—she kept bringing us complimentary side dishes and chatting with us like we were old friends 🥰. 1. Beef Bone Tofu Soup 🥘 This is hands down the best tofu soup I’ve ever had! The broth is rich, savory, and packed with depth—you can taste the umami from the slow-simmered beef bones, and the onions and green onions add a fresh, bright kick that takes it to the next level. When it first arrived, the soup bubbled vigorously for minutes (that’s how you know it’s piping hot and fresh! 🔥). Then a sweet server came over with scissors to cut the beef off the bones for me—don’t get me wrong, she was so thoughtful… but I’m a total “grab the bone and eat with my hands” kind of person when it comes to meat! I low-key felt a little sad that my “hands-on meat experience” got cut short 😂. Still, the beef was tender, the tofu was silky, and every spoonful was pure comfort. 2. Korean Fried Chicken with Garlic Soy Sauce 🍗 Originally, it’s served half spicy and half garlic soy—but since I can’t handle spice, they happily switched it to all garlic soy (such a flexible menu!). It’s boneless, so eating it feels like a fancy version of salt and pepper chicken with sauce—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and the garlic soy sauce is just the right mix of sweet, savory, and garlicky. I kept popping pieces into my mouth even after I was full—totally addictive! 3. Korean Beef Bibimbap 🍚 The beef here is cooked to absolute tenderness—no chewy, tough bits at all! It’s marinated in that classic sweet-savory Korean sauce, and when mixed with the fresh veggies, runny egg, and a dollop of gochujang (chili paste), every bite is a burst of flavor. The rice at the bottom had a nice slight crisp, which made the texture even more fun. Overall, the restaurant’s vibe is cozy and casual—nothing fancy, but clean and welcoming. The food is incredible, though the prices are about the same as Korean spots in the Bay Area. But what really makes this place stand out is the service—especially the owner auntie. She treats every customer like family, and that warmth makes the meal taste even better. Let’s be real: Good food is important, but the people serving it and the atmosphere they create? That’s what turns a meal into a memorable experience ❤️. #100RestaurantChallenge #BayAreaFood #FoodExploration #AmericanLife #WeekendEats #FoodDiary #MyFoodJourney #KoreanFoodFind