Gyubee Japanese Grill (Mississauga) — Restaurant in Mississauga

I dined here yesterday and our visit was extremely disappointing, and misleading. This business engages in deceptive business practices. Long story short: if there is a waitlist and you're still waiting and it's getting close to closing (1 hr 15m before closing), DO NOT CONTINUE TO WAIT. MAKE PLANS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. They will falsely guarantee you that the kitchen will close later to accommodate you and that you will not be rushed out. And then when they call you to get your table, after waiting for hours, upon arrival they will tell you that you have 5 minutes to order bimibap and other rice dishes, and only 45 minutes to order meat. And they will still charge you full price.

Yesterday proved to be a busy night for this location. We joined the wait list at about 6 pm and it said about a 2.5 hr wait. We decided to wait. At about 8:25 pm, I decided to call, as I saw online the kitchen closes at 9:45 and we weren't sure if they would even get to us, as a number of people were still head of us.

The woman I spoke to advised it would be another 30 minutes. I said I noticed the kitchen closes at 9:45 though. She said because it's busy, they will close later. I specifically asked would we have the same amount of time as usual to sit down and eat. She said quote "I guarantee you will not be rushed" and assured me we would be accommodated given how busy it was and how long we had been waiting. We decided to continue waiting.

About 1 hour later (not 30 mins) we got a text message saying our table will be ready soon and decided to go. We arrived within a few minutes of getting the message as we were waiting closeby. At 9:20 we checked in and that's when we were told we had 10 minutes to order bimibap and rice dishes. They took another 5 minutes to get our table ready, so really we had 5 minutes. They also told us, at 9:20 we could only order meat until 10:15 pm, despite being guaranteed on the phone we would not be rushed. Given we waited hours and it was already so late, we decided to proceed and I really wish we didn't.

The bimibap we got, was stale, clearly had been sitting and wasn't even warm. The egg wasn't fresh. They kept rushing us to get our last order of meat. And of course, there was no discounted price and you couldn't take anything home. They also closed the washrooms well before the dining room was closed, so you couldn't even use the facilities before leaving.

Do not make the same mistake we made. If it's getting close to the posted time that the kitchen closes (normally 9:45) just go somewhere else otherwise you'll be shafted, given stale, cold food, and charged full price.

When I called, they should have made these timelines (9:30/10:15) clear. They GUARANTEED me that we wouldn't be rushed out. I understand every business has a time they need to close and that's why I called to check. They clearly LIED. If the woman I spoke to made the timelines clear over the phone, I would have 0 complaints. But she straight up lied. And that was wrong. They obviously want to squeeze out as much money as they can, and could care less about your experience. At the very least, they should have offered a discount on the bill.

They clearly engage in deceptive business practices and I will never go back, nor take another client back here, ever again.

If the waitlist is long, trust me: go somewhere else and don't believe them when they tell you they will close later and you won't be rushed out.

I hope this business contacts me to...

Toronto is a paradise on Earth. A barbecue restaurant with a long line right after opening at 16:00. It's been over a year since I had such a satisfying meal. A day of helping the boss clear the inventory.

The Chinese-owned barbecue business has already opened 5 branches in Toronto. It lives up to its reputation as people were already lining up outside the door before the evening service even began at 16:00.

The barbecue buffet offers pork, beef, chicken, vegetables, cold noodles, Korean bibimbap, and desserts (ice cream and caramel pudding available at the supermarket).

After ordering a portion of beef, they skillfully prepare the seasoned fatty beef slices. The oily and juicy meat slices, combined with lettuce, a bit of dipping sauce, and some spicy pickled cabbage, create an intense and irresistible sensation. It's impossible to stop eating.

As for chicken, they only serve chicken leg meat and chicken crispy bones. I apologize, I ordered 15 portions of chicken crispy bones and ended up vomiting, but every bite of chicken crispy bones dipped in chili powder and cumin is like a whisper of first love—entangling fragrance lingering in the mouth.

The salmon is served raw, but with a touch of butter and a little salt. After a few minutes of grilling, the outside is fully cooked while the inside remains slightly tender and raw. It provides a satisfying texture and a rich aroma. With the presence of butter, one portion is enough.

Enoki mushrooms are a must-order vegetable dish. You can pass on other types of mushrooms and leafy greens. They are also seasoned with butter and grilled for a few minutes, creating a flavorful aroma. Since enoki mushrooms are low in calories and the butter has melted, the unseen calories are as good as non-existent.

I took a small taste of the Korean bibimbap. I have to mention its spicy sauce—it tastes like century egg. Oh my, it's divine. The rice and bean sprouts pale in comparison.

The caramel pudding has the sweetness of caramel that foreigners prefer. However, the soft and chewy texture of the pudding itself made from tender eggs compelled me to dig in with a spoon. It reminded me of the aroma of childhood eggs.

As for the ice cream, it's not exceptionally delicious, but it's as good as the ones in the ice cream shops outside. I've decided to buy them in bulk at Costco: a box of 24, with three flavors—cantaloupe, mango, and strawberry.

When I finished paying, there were already at least 20 people waiting outside. It was 17:45.

The dining time for the buffet...

DISASTER!!! HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER. THE HOST IS INCOMPETENT.

• updating previous review.

We had a reservation today for a party of 7 but later decided to reduce it to 6, which we thought would be a minor adjustment. However, upon arrival, we encountered a host who refused to give us a table with 2 grills, despite the fact that we were a party of 5 adults and one kid, and on top of that we were celebrating a birthday.

The nature of this restaurant, where you cook your own food, necessitates time for the cooking process and need space on the table for all the different dishes. The host wanted to place two extra chairs at a table for 4 which was not practical, as it's challenging for 6 individual to dine comfortably in such a setup. To make matters worse, they also imposed a 2-hour time limit on us, expecting us to order, cook, eat, and possibly enjoy desserts within that time frame. A two-hour limit at all-you-can-eat restaurants is understandable, but having just one grill for our party was the real issue.

We inquired about paying for the 7th person and getting a table with two grills( which was available because we had it booked) but the host's response was disappointing. He left and returned with the news that there were no cancellations and no other tables were available, leaving us with no choice but to wait. This lack of flexibility and customer service was disheartening.

In light of this frustrating encounter, we made the decision to dine at Takumi instead. We found that the Japanese grill menu at Takumi exceeded our expectations and provided a much more enjoyable dining experience. Much to our satisfaction, they went the extra mile by providing us with a private room as walk-in customers, even though the restaurant was extremely busy.

Gyubee on Bloor was one of my first-ever favorites in this restaurant category, alongside places like Takumi, Shinta, and Korean grill. My experiences with their restaurant, including the successful opening in Mississauga, were always positive. However, never did I expect to be so disappointed by their service.

In the end, Gyubee restaurant's inability to accommodate our party's needs and its poor customer service left a sour taste in our mouths. It's crucial for establishments to be adaptable and considerate, particularly when patrons are celebrating special occasions. Unfortunately, this restaurant fell short in that regard. We strongly encourage you go elsewhere that values and prioritizes...