Jing Tan Grill House — Restaurant in Richmond

It’s an AYCE Chinese grill house. Went for the $68 AYCE premium at lunch. Food wise: The food itself was average, most importantly it was not as good as the influencers hyped it out to be. $69 includes ribeye, lamb chop, fore gras, abalone, wagyu, garlic scallops with vermicelli, and thick premium beef tongue. The wagyu is so-so, not melt in your mouth.

Primarily, all the meats should be thicker to be able to get the texture because the heat is pretty much strong and the meat is very much thin that when it is cooked, it curls up and you can’t get the texture.

There were lots of side dishes and crabs on the buffet table as i saw promotional content vids from influencers. To be honest, there was nothing really at the snack bar! Only kimchi, edamame, and seaweed. Not sure if that’s a dinner thing only or what.

They use real charcoal to cook the meat and the vent can come all the way down to prevent the smoke from spreading. That’s what I like about it. And the grill that they gave me was not good, as the fire kept flaring up every time the fat dripped through the gaps.

Service wise: The service was bad. Firstly, Aside from the tight 2h time of each table (it actually takes quite long for one to start eating) approx 5- 10 mins of ordering + waiting for your food to arrive – it also quite long to get your orders. Then add on with the long of grilling (5-6 mins heat up of the grill) You can barely chat while grilling because it’s way too loud.

Not a place that I would recommend for chilling out and chatting. There can be lots of people in the evening, so please reserve beforehand to get a spot.

After the first round of ayce, we had to wait over 20 mins for the second round of orders to come up. (We were left sitting there with no food aside from the kimchi from the bar) it came one by one every 5 mins to the point I lost my appetite. we didn’t receive some items that we ordered and felt rushed. I had to ask them again and again to check. We also wrote a large number of specific meats in the second round yet were given a smaller portion than in the first round. We were even asked whether we could finish the orders or not by the server and felt that’s the most annoying thing when getting orders less than you order at an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

The staff kind of seemed like they were annoyed at times. No one spoke to us as well and no one explained anything or let us know what was being dropped. Servers intentionally avoided eye contact when we tried to flag someone down. Very unwelcoming atmosphere. I was not able to know exactly which meat was Wagyu or premium beef rib and the server had no idea either.

We did not get the ice cream because we forgot to ask. If you want free ice cream once you are done, you gotta ask for it. They won’t come up and ask you.

Overall, if you are looking forward to eating here. The quality of the food is average. I am impressed with the charcoal grill and how they take customers’ interest with the variety of meats, and they even had eel. Influencers really hyped this place up, so we were so disappointed when it didn’t live up to that hype due to the lack of service and no abundant snack bar. Would come back if the service can be upgraded to a...

Update December 2024: The air conditioning and ventilation has greatly improved to the point that it is no longer smoky when you enter the restaurant and we felt cold after the meal. We hope this remains the case for those hot summer days.

— Original review —

Entering Jingtan Grill House feels like stepping into a vibrant night market, filled with stalls offering an enticing array of grilled delights. The rich aroma of slow-burning charcoal evokes warm memories of the past, while the elegant decor, infused with cultural elements, create a refined atmosphere that invites guests to fully immerse themselves in the dining experience.

The menu unveils a meticulously curated selection of BBQ specialties, each meat sliced paper-thin and marinated to perfection. I begin my journey with the sea salt beef belly, its delicate seasoning imparting a subtle hint of the sea enhances the natural richness of the meat. The flavors are subtle yet profound, allowing the quality of the cut to shine through with each tender bite.

Next, I delve into the black pepper beef belly, which delivers a bold, peppery kick that invigorates the palate. The robust seasoning harmonizes beautifully with the melt-in-your-mouth texture, creating an exhilarating contrast.

Yet, it is the Korean-style beef belly that truly captivates my senses. The sauce—a sublime blend of sweetness and umami—elevates the dish to extraordinary heights, making it the undeniable highlight of my meal. To enhance the experience, I marinate the mushrooms in the provided soy sauce and add a touch of wakame seaweed from the appetizer bar to a tin foil pan, heating it on the grill. This method steams the mushrooms, allowing them to absorb sweet and savory notes, resulting in a delightful topping for the grilled meats.

Wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves, this combination offers a burst of flavor, with each component contributing its own unique texture and taste. The result is a satisfying and memorable culinary adventure that enhances every mouthful.

The atmosphere at Jingtan Grill House is lively yet sophisticated, with attentive staff ensuring that each guest feels well taken care of. The combination of flavors, presentation, and service culminates in a dining experience that transcends the ordinary.

Jingtan Grill House is a standout destination for anyone craving an unforgettable dining experience. With its lively atmosphere that evokes the charm of a bustling night market and a menu filled with expertly crafted BBQ dishes, every moment invites you to savor the flavors. The attention to detail in both the food and the service creates a warm, welcoming environment where you feel...

It has been over a week since we went there to eat and I still can not get it out of my head as to how we were treated at the "AYCE" restaurant. The five of us went there for lunch to celebrate a birthday and ordered the top tier AYCE wagyu course for around $80 plus tax and tip per person.

Here is a summary in case you don't want to read through my detailed experience, be careful when you go there, it is not AYCE but more of a CONTROLLED AYCE by the restaurant.

First they had difficulty explaining how the ordering paper worked. Perhaps a language barrier? We proceeded to order our first round of dishes. When the waiter came, he said that I had ordered too much. So I reluctantly complied and halved the order.

It took quite a while for them to serve us the raw ingredients for us to cook. Our order of lettuce came after an hour and after we had reminded them twice about it. The side dishes ended up being so small it was for only one person. How in the world did the waiter think that we ordered too much?

When we were finishing up our first round, I asked for the our order sheet back. that took time too. We ordered a second round, ordering more than the first. We didn't get all that we ordered, I would say about 80%. But behold, our lettuce from the first order finally arrived! Who knew we would cheer for vegetables?

As this was a party we were taking our time eating. It wasn't an eating competition after all. We again asked for our order sheet back, again which took some time and ordered our third round. This time we received less than half of what we ordered.

When we almost done our third round, I asked for our order sheet again. The waited disappeared for about 5 minutes and came back without the order sheet. Instead he informed us that we couldn't order anymore as we were past the time limit. He pointed to some fine print at the bottom of the sheet. They wrote down that we started at 12:30PM, but it was only 2:20PM. But he declined saying that time was up.

Frustrated, I asked what about the food that we ordered for round 3 that we didn't get? He said that everything was served to us.

My wife didn't want to create a scene so she went up to the counter to pay. I went up and explained my displeasure to the three staff member there, but they didn't care to listen.

As I mentioned earlier, I tried to let it go, but my friends insisted that I post a review to warn others of this restaurant. So be weary...