Samwon Garden Korean BBQ Buffet — Restaurant in Calgary

Samwon Garden: Where Culinary Ambition Meets Operational Challenges

In the bustling arena of Calgary’s Korean barbecue, Samwon Garden stands as a fascinating juxtaposition—a place where culinary skill intersects with operational hurdles.

Ambiance & Setting: The ambiance is an exercise in elegance and tradition, skillfully fusing modern aesthetics with Korean cultural influences. Each table is graced with sleek induction cooktops, set amidst an inviting layout that seamlessly hosts both cozy dinners and vibrant gatherings. The thoughtful design is undeniable.

Service & Operations: Yet, the true battleground lies in service delivery. The weekend-exclusive barbecue policy, with its minimum order stipulations, speaks to a business model potentially geared more towards maximizing throughput than enhancing the guest experience. The inconsistency in communicating these policies can create confusion, undermining potential goodwill—an oversight with profound implications in today’s customer-centric landscape.

Staff interactions present another frontier for growth. During my visit, instances like the unsanctioned adjustment of cooking temperatures highlighted a gap in hospitality training. Coupled with the lack of formal guest farewells, these moments reflect a service ethos in need of realignment.

Culinary Execution: The food stands as a beacon of quality amid these trials. The meats, while not boundary-pushing, deliver on the promise of satisfactory standards, thanks to diligent quality checks and preparation. However, these culinary achievements risk being overshadowed by the overarching operational strategy that appears to favor volume over nuanced experience.

Final Thoughts: Samwon Garden navigates a challenging nexus in its market journey. While it boasts the foundational ingredients for success—commendable cuisine and an appealing venue—the current approach to service and operations may inadvertently compromise its full potential. In a world where dining experiences are instantly broadcasted and critiqued, there's wisdom in reevaluating one's priorities.

Recommendations:

Enhance Staff Training: Focus on guest interaction and refine service protocols to elevate the guest experience. Clarify Communication: Develop consistent messaging around operational policies to eliminate guest confusion. Balance Efficiency with Experience: Reassess the operational focus to ensure guest satisfaction is not sidelined. Formalize Service Standards: Implement protocols that include acknowledging guests with courtesy and appreciation, reinforcing positive impressions.

Through adjustments, Samwon Garden can transform its promising attributes into...

I was not impressed with this place at all :( the high reviews are mainly for their old/original menu when they were a premium restaurant. The videos I saw online posted by the food influencers on Instagram looked nothing like what I saw when I visited last night. The food did not taste as good as they made it look.

The hot self-served food was not hot most of the time, it was at most warm and they weren’t the best. They give you the takoyaki balls without the sauce and it’s actually your job to put the sauce on it yourself, except the sauce for it is nowhere near the takoyaki! You have to walk to a different section of the restaurant to find the takoyaki sauce which I thought was strange.

The meats they offer for the KBBQ portion were quite limited, and they use a different cut for the pork belly that I thought wasn’t as good as the ones you typically see at KBBQ restaurants (this is just my personal opinion).

Half of our grill wasn’t frying the meat properly, but it was hard to tell whether it was broken or if the grill just wasn’t doing a great job because in general it took a very long time for our meat to cook and it was not crisping up, likely because of the parchment paper that they put on the pan. A lot of our meat was boiling before it finally got crispy but it took maybe 10-15 minutes to just cook a few slices of meat and to get it to the right texture. I think the grill heavily contributed to the taste and texture of our meat. Everything just felt very underwhelming, especially considering the price being $40 (in this case, we went during their 15% discount and even then I was underwhelmed.)

None of the food stood out to us, other than their soup which we actually did enjoy, although a lot of the bowls for the soup were dirty. I went through a bunch before finding a clean one sure, but it’s a little off-putting to see bowls with soup stains in them.

There wasn’t really any service, a lot of our plates were piling up (since you grab your own, it is a buffet after all), but in their defense, there’s a “call” button to ask for them if you need.

Hoping to see some improvements since their AYCE launch is new, but it definitely felt like I did not get my money’s worth here with most of the food being so carb heavy and the actual meats being so limited. I probably would not come again unless there were...

I visited Sam Won Korean BBQ today and was deeply disappointed by the lack of service and misleading promotions. From the moment we arrived, the experience felt rushed and impersonal. We were seated with no introduction or explanation—just a curt “you have two hours” from the server. I confirmed the 15% discount advertised on their Instagram, and she nodded without further comment before walking away.

One of the main reasons we chose this restaurant was the ramen station, prominently featured in their social media posts. But there was no ramen station at all. When I asked, the host said the machine was broken. I requested they prepare ramen in the kitchen instead, especially since my kids were looking forward to it. Initially, they refused. After some back-and-forth, they agreed—but only under rigid conditions. I asked for plain noodles with spice packs on the side, but they refused any customization. Eventually, a visibly irritated staff member dropped off three bowls of plain noodles and powder packs without a word. The entire interaction felt hostile and dismissive.

The food selection was underwhelming for a BBQ restaurant. Only five meat options were available, with the rest being cold sides, a small bibimbap station, and three soups. The hot food was fine, but the emphasis on sides over BBQ meats was disappointing.

At payment, we encountered another issue. Their Instagram clearly lists age-based pricing for children, but the restaurant uses height-based pricing, which wasn’t disclosed online. My child, under 150 cm, was initially charged as an adult until I inquired, then they insisted on measuring her. Only then did they revise the bill to reflect two adults and two children. The inconsistency between their online promotions and in-person policies is unacceptable.

The interior decor is lovely, but that’s where the positives end. Between the broken ramen station, poor communication, lack of accommodation, and mismatched pricing policies, this visit was frustrating and unfair. We drove 45 minutes expecting a family-friendly experience and left feeling misled and unwelcome. I won’t...