MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Columbia — Restaurant in Columbia

I was encouraged to try MOA Korean BBQ as the most highly rated Korean restaurant in the Columbia metro area. However, as someone who has been dining at authentic Korean eateries in various places around the country, I must give MOA three stars out of five.

The strengths of MOA are its cleanliness inside the restaurant, the copious menu selections, and the variety of additional dessert options offered at the bakery inside. The last two times I dined here, I ordered the classic hot pot beef bibimbap and the beef bulgogi with rice, respectively. Both times, I enjoyed the richness of the marinade on the meat, but was surprised and disappointed by the high fat content. The meat must have been largely untrimmed prior to cooking, leaving about 30-40% fat in the finished product. As a result, halfway through the meal the taste of the grease began to overpower the otherwise well-blended flavors, and at the end of my meal both times I left with a sticky, greasy feeling in my mouth, and felt that I had just consumed something unhealthy and very high in cholesterol.

The side dishes offered with the beef bulgogi were tasty, though served in rather miniature portions. The jap chae was on the much sweeter side. Customers should be aware that the bibimbap, unlike other entrees, does not come with the free side dishes during lunch, only during dinner--whoever I had spoken to on a prior phone call had misinformed me in this regard.

Aside from the cleanliness inside the restaurant, the ambience can be a bit noisy and crowded. The service between the point of ordering and receiving the entrees was slow. The most unpleasant part of dining here, however, would have to be the parking. There are a few metered spaces right in front of the restaurant, but no slots reserved specifically for MOA, making it very likely that the next time you come here, you could be driving around the block several times to find a close enough parking space. Furthermore, both times I visited MOA, there were several tractor trailers unloading their goods at the nearby establishments one after the other, and had I not left at the time I did, I could have been fenced in by the trucks behind me for several minutes or longer.

Overall, the taste of MOA's entrees is authentic but on the greasy and sweet side. Hopefully MOA's management takes note of this feedback and improves their cooking and general...

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar, located at 1333 Main St, Suite 170, Columbia, SC 29201, offers a beautiful dining experience with a fantastic atmosphere inside and outside the restaurant. Reservations are required, so be sure to book online ahead of time. Our meal at MOA started with an appetizer of Mandoo—five pieces of deep-fried Korean vegetable dumplings that were absolutely delicious. For our main course, we indulged in the #1 Classic Combo, priced at $90, which is designed to feed 1-2 people. This combo is a comprehensive taste of Korean BBQ, featuring a variety of meats including Prime Ribeye Steak, Prime Brisket, Beef Bulgogi, and Pork Belly, along with 5 cold sides, rice, and a hot side dish. We chose the Prime Ribeye Steak, Prime Brisket, Beef Bulgogi, and Pork Belly for our meats. The standout hot side was the corn cheese, which I highly recommend; it’s a unique dish that perfectly complements the meal. One of the highlights of dining at MOA is that the staff cooks all your meats right at your table, providing the experience of having your own personal chef. Having a chef lets you relax and focus on your conversation rather than worrying about cooking. The service was exceptional, and the friendly and attentive staff made our experience even more enjoyable. Whether planning a date night or looking for a wonderful dining experience on Main Street, MOA Korean BBQ & Bar is the perfect choice. MOA has become our new favorite spot on Main Street, and we can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for great food and a vibrant atmosphere. As a bonus, they offer a military discount, which is a thoughtful touch that adds value to the...

My partner and I went to MOA on a Monday night, with reservations.

When we arrived there were not many tables full at all. As this was our first time with this type of experience, we asked for an explanation of the menu and how the ordering worked. Our server gave a brief overview and whisked away. The server filled our glasses with water and my partner ordered coffee, specifically asking for oat milk, they didnt have so Soy milk was settled upon. By the end of our dining and the 2nd cup of coffee NOT having soy milk, my partner became instantly violently ill.

Throughout the experience we noticed staff members stopping at each table for extended amounts of time cooking and interacting with the guests. Our server only stopped at our table to adjust the stove/grill without explanation and walked away.

We never got a refill of water even. To go through an entire carafe of water without even a suggestion of a refill is unacceptabe in any setting.

Appetizers were delicious but the other meats from the Classic #1 were very bland and without additional seasonings or even instructions the experience did not meet the expectation of such a steep ticket price.

Which brings me to the final point of having to call over the server after trying to get his attention. He NEVER came back to check onn us after taking our order. We asked for the check, to go boxes, and left disappointed (and still tipped 20% - because even though we were not treated with 20% worth of service we still believe in tipping)

Extremely disappointed to have spent the money here. We could have gone to quite a few other KBBQ places advertised...