Daldongnae Korean BBQ — Restaurant in Ontario

I recently visited Daldongnae Korean BBQ in London, Ontario, and I must say it surpassed my expectations, especially compared to my previous experience at their Toronto location. While the Toronto branch was somewhat disappointing due to limited service and sparse portions of complimentary side dishes (banchan), the London location truly excelled in terms of food quality, customer service, and overall experience.

Food Selection & Quality

The food selection was impressive, with premium cuts of meat, including Wagyu A5 and Kobe marbled steak. Every cut was flavorful, tender, and well-marbled, living up to the premium pricing. The banchan was a standout feature—the staff consistently replenished the side dishes and condiments without hesitation, which added an authentic and enjoyable touch. This was a significant improvement compared to the Toronto location, where refills were limited and slow.

Service

The service was exceptional. The staff was friendly, proactive, and attentive. They frequently checked in to ensure our grill was clean and that our table had everything we needed. Their warm hospitality made the experience much more enjoyable and elevated the overall atmosphere.

Ambiance & Seating

One drawback was the seating arrangement. Despite booking a reservation for a group of eight, we were seated in a relatively small booth that felt cramped, especially for larger individuals. It would have been more comfortable if they had accommodated us with a larger table or space that suited the size of our group.

Location & Accessibility

The downtown location is convenient but comes with some challenges. There is no free parking, and nearby parking lots can be pricey, especially on weekdays. Although there is a small parking lot behind the restaurant, it often requires a 5–10 minute walk, which can be inconvenient during harsh weather conditions.

Additionally, the restaurant’s signage could be improved. The sign is placed high and is easy to miss if you're not paying close attention. More prominent signage or clearer directions could enhance the overall accessibility and first impression for new customers.

Overall Verdict

Despite the seating and parking issues, Daldongnae Korean BBQ in London is a fantastic spot for premium Korean BBQ. The high-quality meat, generous portions, and attentive service make it a worthy experience, even at a higher price point. If they address the seating arrangements for larger groups and improve the visibility of their signage, this location could easily become a 5-star dining destination.

Highly recommended for those who love Korean BBQ or are looking for a special...

Today, I was riding the bus through downtown when, in my peripheral vision, I spotted a new Korean barbecue restaurant. Its name is Daldongnae Korean BBQ.

My server explained to me how to order my meal. Giving me the menu, he pointed out two things. First, you get to choose two meats (this is the main stuff you’ll be cooking). Second, you can order an entree, though this is optional.

I chose the two most expensive meats. This included a Wagyu beef rib eye roll ($78.99), and a beef boneless short rib ($29.99). Here, your meat comes with a bunch of dips and seasonings, such as Dijon mustard, wasabi, egg yolk, sweet corn with cheese, and slices of garlic.

I was advised to work on the Wagyu first. Searing piece after piece, I experimented with the condiments and found two better than the rest. One was reddish-brown, tangy, but moderately sweet. The other was a little sweeter and had slivers of red onion.

It was time for the beef boneless short rib. I confusingly looked at it. It seemed just as marbled as the Wagyu. Dipping it in the same condiments, it also tasted just as good as the Wagyu. It’s not that the Wagyu was bad. The beef boneless short rib was just really, really good.

I now moved on to the sides that these meats came with. I ate the pumpkin salad first. It looked more like a scoop of mashed potatoes than a salad. Then, it was the rice cakes (I think). Rice cakes are flavourless on their own, but these had the right oil and spices. Last of all was the soup. It had a variety of veggies and some tofu cubes.

I requested the menu again. Instead of dessert, I had an entree. It was a beef tartare with egg yolk. Both the meat and the egg were raw, and I loved it. Sesame seeds and green onions laid on top.

The total was $153.65.

There is one thing you have to consider before going to any Korean barbecue (this applies to hot pot places, too). You have to put in extra effort, because you have to cook everything yourself. Sometimes, I want my dining experience to be effortless and relaxing. This can be a double-edged sword, though: doing the cooking can be fun, and you get to cook the food exactly the way you want, because you’re the...

Firstly, I must express how delighted I was when one of my regular out-of-town restaurants opened a location in London, whether in Toronto or Mississauga. This has been a favourite spot for our group, and we visit them frequently.

The decor remains unchanged with this franchisee, which brings me great joy. The ambiance, especially after enjoying a few bottles of Sochu, transports me to the experience of sitting near a bustling night market in Asia. I always appreciate this atmosphere.

Service: We visited the restaurant shortly after it opened, and I must commend the staff, who were generally more attentive than the host. As we entered, the staff greeted us warmly but didn’t approach us immediately, likely because they were occupied with their tasks. A moment later, a gentleman, whom I presume was the host, came over. However, instead of welcoming us, he silently looked us over. After an awkward pause, I had to initiate the conversation, saying, “Hi, table for five, please.” He then glanced at his iPad and asked, “Reservation?” I explained that we didn’t have one, as we had spoken to someone on the phone who advised us that reservations weren’t necessary and we could simply walk in. The interaction felt a bit off, as if the host was having a bad day🤞. Fortunately, another staff member soon attended to our order, though several different staff members came to our table 2-3 times to check if we were ready to place our food order.

Food: This is where the experience fell short. The meat was not fresh, and the sauce and marinade were noticeably lacking in flavor. The beef tartare was particularly disappointing, to the point where we advised our friends not to eat it. The flavor profile was drastically different from what we have enjoyed at their out-of-town locations.

While I’m pleased to see the restaurant busy and seemingly successful, the lackluster flavors might be attributed to the challenges of the first month of operation, when things are still being fine-tuned. We plan to give it another try in a few months, hoping for an improvement in the...