We Grill Korean Eatery — Restaurant in Port Coquitlam

First of all, I really appreciate that this place is still open at 2:30 in the afternoon. At that hour, it’s one of the few spots around where you can still get a hot meal. I saw the name and thought it was a BBQ place, but it’s actually a traditional Korean restaurant. The interior is decent, and I especially liked that tables are separated by partitions. The downside is that you can’t easily see the servers, and since there are no call buttons on the tables (not a big deal since the restaurant itself isn’t very large), it can feel a bit awkward trying to get their attention when it gets busy.

I ordered the lunch special: for $18 it came with kimchi, bulgogi, kimchi tofu soup, and rice. For the portion size, the value was pretty good. I also wanted to try some meat first, but since the appetizer options were limited, I went with the fried chicken skin. The bulgogi seemed to have been pre-cooked and then reheated—flavor was very plain, without much beef aroma or layered seasoning. Still, the balance of meat and vegetables was fine. The kimchi soup was likely made fresh, also pretty standard. The problem was that it was served at the same time as the bulgogi: the bulgogi was only lukewarm, just enough to eat, but the soup was scalding hot. Since I have a sensitive tongue, taking a bite of bulgogi and then a sip of soup ended up burning my mouth from the combined heat and spice. The chicken skin was actually the best dish—its fat was fried out completely, and with the sauce it wasn’t greasy at all. But at the end of the day, it’s still chicken skin: your mouth might be happy, but your stomach might complain that it’s too oily.

The bigger issue, in my opinion, lies in the menu. First, the appetizer section lacks a real meat dish. Ideally, there should be at least two options. Chicken skin doesn’t really count as a main protein—it feels more like a drinking snack, similar to nachos. Fried chicken, a small portion of bulgogi, or even simple fried seafood would enrich the appetizer menu, appeal to customers like me who feel the entrées don’t provide enough meat, and also serve as natural upsell items. I’d also suggest reducing the chicken skin portion by a quarter to a third, and lowering the price accordingly. As it stands, it’s too heavy for two people and only really makes sense for a group of four.

Also, perhaps because this is a traditional Korean restaurant, the menu has too many varieties of Korean rice cakes. With the small print on the menu, I couldn’t tell the difference between them, and it just made me feel like spending $20+ on what’s basically all carbs wasn’t worth it. Lastly, I’d love to see more lunch special options. A bibimbap combo, cutlet combo, or galbi combo could easily replace one of the udon or pasta choices. Udon and pasta don’t really sound like traditional Korean dishes, and I think something with a stronger Korean identity (even stereotypical dishes) would be better. Pasta—if the carbonara that so many reviewers praise is a highlight—should probably be moved to the signature menu instead.

In the end, I debated between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, and went with 4. None of the issues I mentioned are deal-breakers, and given that I ate at an odd hour, some things are understandable. Compared to other Korean spots near Coquitlam Centre, I’d say this place is definitely above...

Disappointing Experience – Won’t Be Returning

This was our second visit to We Grill in Port Coquitlam, drawn again by our love for Korean spicy food. Unfortunately, this experience was disappointing from start to finish.

We arrived at 8:30 PM on a Thursday—only five of seven tables were occupied. As a family of four (two adults, a 12-year-old, and a toddler), we ordered two K-style spicy creamy udon , a spicy BBQ chicken , and a beer.

After waiting 45 minutes without even receiving water or the beer, I had to request it. The beer came promptly after, but still no water. When the food finally arrived, we were surprised to see that one of the udon portions was unusually small—almost as if a single portion had been split in two.

Throughout the meal, no one checked in on us—not once. After finishing, we struggled to get the server’s attention for the bill, so I went to the counter. I politely mentioned the udon issue, not looking for compensation but simply some acknowledgment.

The server went inside, presumably to speak with the owner or manager, and returned with a $1.80 deduction on the bill. It felt more like a brush-off than a resolution—especially when you're paying $18–$19 per dish. That’s not cheap, and customers deserve better than to be taken for granted.

This wasn't a case of being short-staffed—just a lack of attentiveness and care. I usually don’t leave negative reviews, but this experience left us feeling disrespected. We won’t be returning, and I hope the management takes this...

Hubby and I had the bright idea of going out for food in the snow today 🤦‍♀️

Everything was closed! We were freezing and starving when we stumbled into the restaurant.

The service was great. The owner(?) was very kind and gave us hot tea right away. He also wished us a safe drive home. Lol. We honestly needed it cause our car was having a fit in the snow.

We were really excited to see Asian pasta on the menu. Other than ramen, hubby is a little obsessed with Asian pasta.

We ordered the Bulgolgi pasta + Grilled Chicken lunch set. Both were delicious! The pasta legit tastes like bulgolgi. The grilled chicken had a charred taste but not burnt. The house soy sauce on the chicken was the right choice. I was stuffed after the meal.

We'll definitely be...