SIK GAEK Korean BBQ — Restaurant in East Victoria Park

I've been here 3 times. The first 2 times everything went well. Both food and service were good, and we were served by the elderly male owner. The third time, I went with a group of friends. The food was still good, but the service was terrible. The elderly female (who could have been the female owner), served us. She had a brisk, unhelpful and unsmiling attitude. She gave the impression that she was irritated that she had to serve us, and at times looked at us impatiently or rudely when we asked for something. The food was slow to arrive. She came with burning coals without any warning to us, and if I had just made one slight movement to the right at the time she came, I would have knocked into the coals. It was so dangerous. Soups were served without any bowls for us or even a spoon to dish the soup from. She provided the spoon in the end when we asked for it, but when our second soup arrived, she flatly refused to offer us a separate spoon for it saying we should just use the same spoon (despite the fact that there was a big group of us, and the two soups were also different in flavour). The whole experience with the service was shocking. We all got the vibe that she didn't really want us there. The restaurant was empty, it was literally only us when we got to the restaurant so it wasn't like they were even busy with other tables. The worst part came at the end. When uncrossing my legs under the table to stand up, I burnt my shin! In the pit where the burning coals were extended under the table, and it wasn't covered or guarded such that the scorching heat was exposed. Note that I am petite and 5 foot in stature, and therefore if it were close enough to my legs to be able to burn them, it would be to most adults. The heat from the coals seared through my skin, and when I went to her to tell her, she acted as if she didn't believe me. She looked at me with no care at all, and simply expressed that she couldn't understand how that could happen. I asked her again and agian to give me something for the burn as it was really painful (and my friend who came with me to the counter kept asking her for this too) and she just ignored us and looked back at us unsympathetically as if she didn't believe us. Finally after several minutes, she went reluctantly to go and get ice for my leg, and she walked soooo extremely slowly, it was almost as if to show me that she clearly thought there was zero urgency. After I finally got some ice, she then sat down in my chair, and said with a smirk that it wasn't possible to burn your leg. I had to sit in the chair and actually demonstrate it to her. She finally after that seemed to understand. She expressed some mild sympathy for the first time in the form of asking me if my leg was okay, but no apology was given. It was an appalling experience. My leg will probably have a permanent scar, and this is likely due to the severity of the heat as well the delay in getting a remedy.

We read the reviews after leaving the restaurant, and realised someone else said in their review that their knee was burnt before!! So this wasn't even the first time it happened. Which makes it even more unconscionable for her to have acted as if she couldn't understand how it could have happened; and to have delayed providing me with ice or any form of remedy despite our repeated pleas. Here is photo of the burn taken the day after. Beware if coming to...

Food was fine, average KBBQ. Service however is very unique, the following list actually happened in a single visit Refused to let me sit inside despite empty seats available and even we had requested multiple times due to cold weather, got asked to move to the outer most table and reassured it's not cold, which is false Got asked to move to the table after food was served, when the food was carried on our hands, the intended table was still dirty and she then attempted to wiped them while we awkwardly standing there No cutlery served, self serviced. When we asked if we can have the glasses, the lady quickly grabbed glasses and plates, left them at the reception and yelled 杯子 which means glasses towards me, ordering me to take them from the reception No BBQ tongs and scissors served until requested 3 times and waited for more than 15minutes. Lady replied 等一下 , translates to hang on or wait, with annoyed and rushing tone while facing back to us walking away， when we asked for tongs and scissors, and never came back after After ordering, we were asked twice, with a few minutes in between, "Did you order?" by an elderly male staff member and another female staff member Staffs were rude, pulled smoke extractor down from above while we were cooking, effectively blocking and preventing us from cooking while we had the meats on tongs Elderly guy and lady approached our table stood next to it, staring and pointing at our food/BBQ plate, while discussing in Korean. No explanation after, I looked at them seeking for an explanation, guy walked away, lady smiled and nodded then left.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a Chinese that made the experience worse. Lady staff had been using Chinese to instruct me despite me replying in English, while happily chatting with Korean customers in Korean.

With the same price and location I'd recommend other KBBQ rather than this one, unless you're in a good mood/ ordering...

Not sure what happened but when it was Top Bbq it was so much better. Visited the new renamed place Iron Age and unfortunately v disappointed. We ordered wagyu beef bbq set, soy garlic kfc, cold noodles and managed to get 1 stars cos of the cold noodles and kfc. First impressions was the cups for water was dirty and after replacing they were still dirty. Bbq cover and table wasn’t cleaned properly and arrived on a table still greasy. The rice was so dry, yellow and seemed like it had been left for days. Replacement still dry. The side dishes were dry and unattractive as if it had been fridged from days. Gone r the days of free refills of side dishes and lettuce. The lettuce was brown and wilted and again we left it untouched. Side sauces were poor and previously the salt was chunky salt but they only offered two small bottles of salt and pepper like at a western cafe. Furthermore the hot plate wasn’t changed midway so got extra burnt and smoky. Even after removing the hot plate, it wasn’t covered up and we were sitting staring an empty bbq hole in middle of table. Perhaps they’re understaffed but wasn’t v efficient at all. Sad to say it was a very uneventful and disappointing dinner total cost was over $300. K bbq demands freshness and this ain’t the...