Kogiya Korean BBQ — Restaurant in Annandale

We had a table of 6 reserved for Father’s Day, June 15, 2025. We chose this particular restaurant because of the write ups in the Washingtonian magazine, although they had not been recognized in a few years. First thing I noticed was how cramped the area felt and that the floors were extremely sticky. We were seated directly across from the reception area and the path to the exit, so ppl were constantly coming and going, bumping and brushing past us. You sit on stools that are pretty low and the leather or material was extremely cracked and damaged which ended up snagging my pants. We all got the $38/person all you can eat meal and purchased several beverages and drinks. We were given two small bowls of soup and scrambled eggs to share among six ppl. The portions they prepared were not enough for our entire table which eats away at your 90 minute limit to eat. We asked for vegetables and was given two small florets of broccoli and one large mushroom. We asked for a second portion of vegetables which we had to send back as the broccoli was yellowing and browning. You could see where they had tried to cut the bad portions off. We elected to have our food prepared by a server. This was a mistake! He was also serving several other tables and a few of our meats were very over cooked. I started to cook the meat myself and even serving until he would return. My father ordered pig intestines. The server put them on and left the table. The food started to pop grease everywhere and burned my son and I. We didn’t know what to do because we would get popped by the grease if we reached to try and take it off. No one was at the reception desk at the time. Flames started shooting out from under the heating element and thick smoke engulfed our table. Someone who I believe was the manager came over and turned the flames off. The server came, switched the metal cook plates and turned it back on. Again, the manager had to come adjust the temperature because again, the server left and the food was cooking too rapidly. The food was absolutely charred by the time they took it off and was disgusting! I have grease stains on my clothes and no one asked how we were, really apologized, or even offered to recook the charred food. In fact, we were reminded that our time was almost up. We were very patient and never were we loud, rude or obnoxious in any way. We didn’t even complain. I just wanted to get out of there. We all smelled of smoke and I felt that this ruined Father’s Day for my 84 year old dad! I would never recommend this particular restaurant to anyone! We were charged $51 in gratuity for an absent server, burned food, grease stains, smoke inhalation, bad vegetables and for getting pooped with hot oil!!! This was my first Korean barbecue experience and I am now totally turned off from...

Outstanding Korean BBQ Experience, with Some Minor Inconveniences

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kogiya Korean BBQ, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. The flavors, service, and overall atmosphere were truly outstanding. However, I do want to mention a few minor inconveniences that potential diners should be aware of.

Let's start with the positives. The food at Kogiya Korean BBQ is absolutely phenomenal. From the moment I took my first bite, I knew I was in for a treat. The marinated meats were incredibly flavorful and tender, and the variety of side dishes and condiments provided a delightful accompaniment. Each bite was a burst of Korean barbecue perfection. I have visited several Korean BBQ restaurants before, but Kogiya's offerings undoubtedly surpassed them all.

The service at Kogiya deserves high praise. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and always willing to assist. They took the time to explain the menu and cooking process, ensuring that we had an enjoyable and authentic Korean BBQ experience. The waitstaff promptly attended to our needs, refilling drinks and clearing plates without any delays. Their dedication to customer satisfaction truly stood out.

Now, let's address the minor drawbacks. Firstly, the restaurant's space is somewhat cramped. Due to its popularity, Kogiya tends to get quite crowded, especially during peak hours. Although the lively atmosphere adds to the overall experience, it can be a bit challenging to navigate between tables. However, once you settle into your seat and start enjoying the fantastic food, this concern becomes less noticeable.

Another inconvenience is the lack of parking. Finding a spot nearby can be a bit of a hassle, particularly during busy times. It's advisable to plan ahead or consider alternative transportation options to avoid any frustration. Additionally, due to its immense popularity, making a reservation is highly recommended. Kogiya tends to be in high demand, and without a reservation, securing a table may be a challenge.

Despite these minor inconveniences, I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed my dining experience at Kogiya Korean BBQ. The exceptional quality of the food, combined with the outstanding service, more than compensates for any drawbacks. If you're a fan of Korean BBQ and are willing to plan ahead, you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend making a reservation and treating yourself to a remarkable culinary...

Worst customer service experience of my life.

I made a reservation for two for my wife’s birthday. She simply asked if we could sit next to each other, and immediately the servers began whispering to each other. Two of them came over and told us to move because we were “taking up space” where they could seat more people. I asked why this was an issue if the tables were designed to sit two people next to each other. And they just continued to ask us to move.

Things only got worse. The servers continued talking about us among themselves, and after a long wait, one finally came over with an attitude. He didn’t even greet us—just started shoving plates around with the meat tongs directly toward my wife.

We made the mistake of trying to stay a little longer, but our server left the meat unattended so long that it actually began to catch fire. My wife had to start cooking for us herself. When the server finally came back, he brushed it off with, “Ah, you’re okay,” and walked away. When I politely asked him to please cook the food for us (as is the restaurant’s responsibility), he looked visibly annoyed. At that point, we were completely done.

We hadn’t even finished one plate of meat despite ordering the all you can eat for two. When I asked to speak with the shift manager, he couldn’t have cared less. He offered no explanation, no attempt to make things right—he just grabbed my card and rushed me to sign. We left having paid for two all-you-can-eat meals with practically no food eaten, and not a single person there seemed to care.

I have been coming here for years and it has gotten progressively worse. Our family has chosen to come here over other well reviewed restaurants for a long time just due to loyalty for this restaurant, we will no longer be doing that.

This place ruined what should have been a special evening. We will never be back, and I strongly advise others to avoid a restaurant that treats its customers this poorly and makes no effort to fix...