Jiang Niu BBQ House Chinatown — Restaurant in Chicago

Second time I've been here, first time was better service though and would have given 4 stars but now they get 3 stars. My 2nd visit it was busy even for a weekday Tuesday afternoon. There were only 2 waitresses so I understand why it took a little longer to tend to us so I did not dock a star for that.

I'll start with the positives:

Lunch special is $27 per person for AYCE! NICE! I think its $35 regular dinner price. We did the lunch special. We also requested a certain sauce and they brought us two flavorful sauces which was perfect since the meats we choose were unmarinated, it added extra flavor. The quality of the meats are good, no issues there. They also refilled all our tiny dishes when I requested so that's a big plus bc those are my fav part of the bbq! The passion fruit smoothie was delicious, try it. The decor is nice and they accommodated us when I requested a different table so we could social distance, appreciate this! Thank you.

Things to improve:

I docked one star for the service. I asked the waitress for extra napkins bc it can get messy when you eat the lettuce wraps with your hands like a taco, like I did, and she literally brought me 1 napkin when there are 2 people at the table and I said napkins, plural! Never had a server just bring me 1 napkin when I asked for more and we did need more than just one as it did get messy. Also, I ordered 2 plates of the black pepper diced red meat to start bc I already knew it was delish from my 1st time there, and the waitress seemed bothered by this and tried to get me to order fish fillet instead. When I said no, she tried to force me to order shrimp, when I said no she made a face before placing my order! How cheap and petty! I also wanted to order enoki mushroom and she said it was too expensive so the restaurant doesn't have it on their menu today! Just wow.

The second star was docked for how they handled the food. When the waitress brought the tiny dishes of different veggies she had her hand over the top part of the mini bowl so her palm was covering the top and I didn't think it was the most sanitary. She could have wrapped her palm around the dish like a cylindrical grip rather than directly over it so it doesn't touch the surface of the food. Then when they were changing our grill out they have to lean their body over the table and their belly was hovering over a plate of food. It didn't touch the food, thankfully, but I think they should have moved the plate to the side before proceeding to change the grill, rather than lean directly over it. I didn't get to move it bc they came up so quick. These things may seem minor and not bother others but it's just something I noticed and think could be corrected for more sanitary practices, which is why I pointed it out. Thats all.

Also, the robotic server they have is super ANNOYING! Every time it comes out of the kitchen it makes this annoying beeping musical sound and then a very high pitched minnie mouse voice announces the food is ready. After a while of sitting there and hearing it repeatedly it becomes super obnoxious, I recommend the owner remove all the extra noise from the robots, it's unnecessary, and just let it quietly roll up to the table.

So...

I wish I had pictures but I was so busy enjoying this delicious experience to remember to snap a picture! I also never posts reviews unless I deem it absolutely necessary and man... this deserved it. My husband and I have been wanting to try a BBQ place like this and ended up in Daeb*k in Chinatown which was definitely not what we were searching for lol... we left and were heading to eat elsewhere near the area since no other AYCE BBQ had reservations available for the day (we were really bummed out about that.) Almost as if the forces above had heard us, we drove past Jiang Niu and decided to go inside and oh my goodness. To our surprise it was everything we were hoping for that evening and more!! Why didn’t Yelp recommend this place to begin with??? I can’t believe there are only like 90 reviews on this place, maybe it’s new, but it was amazing! $35 AYCE for TWO hours everyday (vs 90 minutes everywhere else, usually just during the week). I believe it’s BYOB but the drinks are so great and cheap anyways. Out waitress and other staff were so sweet considering we were BBQ newbs. And they had ROBOTS bringing out your food which blew our minds. Lol super clean and aesthetic place too. To the negative nancies and bad reviewers who are just looking to complain about anything... These hard working people can only do so much when it’s busy. We went early on a Saturday (around 3pm) and our experience was great. We were confused because we walked in and were like one of the only tables there. But, as we were leaving it started getting busy so I can tell this are the times that the karen’s have their fits about their “bad experiences.” Maybe don’t go on a busy weekend night and expect the moon and the stars. Like I said— these are only people and they can only handle serving so many people during their rush hours! I can tell the bad reviews came from those who have never worked in customer service. So yeah, if you want undivided attention, go early. Duh. Everyone should try this out, we’ll definitely be back for some...

My recent dining experience at Jiang Niu BBQ House was truly exceptional. The restaurant's ambiance strikes a perfect balance between cozy and contemporary, with rustic decor and dimmed lighting creating an inviting, intimate setting perfect for any occasion. What truly sets this restaurant apart is its unwavering commitment to delivering an outstanding dining experience. The staff's dedication to accommodating dietary preferences and their friendly, attentive service were genuinely impressive. Jiang Niu BBQ House's real masterpiece lies in its authentic Korean barbecue offerings. Here, you can embark on a unique culinary adventure with an unlimited selection of meats that you grill right at your own table. The meats are expertly prepared, with a smoky aroma and unmatched tenderness. The interactive dining experience takes you beyond the ordinary, allowing you to enjoy a diverse array of flavors. A delightful assortment of appetizers sets the stage, but the real star is the barbecue selection, which features a variety of meats cooked to absolute perfection. The restaurant's "unlimited" concept allows you to keep the succulent offerings coming by ordering a barbecue platter. The ability to sample a range of flavors, each more tantalizing than the last, is a true highlight. Complementing the meats are an array of delectable sauces that enable you to customize your culinary journey, creating a memorable and personalized dining experience. Jiang Niu BBQ House offers an unforgettable culinary adventure that will linger in your memory long after your visit. From the warm ambiance to the attentive service and the unparalleled Korean barbecue experience with its unlimited selection of meats, this restaurant has undoubtedly earned its place as a top dining destination. If you're in search of an extraordinary dining experience in a welcoming setting, I wholeheartedly recommend Jiang Niu BBQ House. You're in for a delightful culinary journey you won't...