88 Korean BBQ & Sushi — Restaurant in Cypress

We’d been waiting months for this place to open. It’s local to us, we drove past it all the time, and when the doors finally opened, we were genuinely excited to try it. That excitement lasted about ten minutes.

From the start, things went downhill fast. We told our server multiple times it was our first time having Korean barbecue and that we weren’t sure how it worked. Instead of guiding us through it, she told us to order everything at once and cook as we go. Terrible advice. Within minutes there was raw meat everywhere — on plates, tongs, the table — and no one explained which cut was which. The grill literally caught on fire at one point, and the same tongs were being used for raw and cooked meat. Completely unsanitary.

Appetizers took forever to come out, and when they finally did, we had to beg for napkins and still never got wet wipes. Cooking greasy meat with bare hands and no wipes? Disgusting. The whole setup felt careless and unhygienic.

Then came dessert. I ordered the panna cotta and was given something that looked and tasted like it had been sitting out for days — watery, sour, and rancid. That was the nail in the coffin.

I left feeling sick and disappointed, but against my better judgment, I decided to give the place another try a few weeks later. Big mistake.

The restaurant was mostly empty, and I thought maybe things had improved. I ordered the fried oyster — and the second I bit into it, a mouthful of putrid, bitter liquid came out. I immediately spit it out, but the damage was done. Within minutes, I had stomach cramps and nausea. The manager gave me 20% off the bill, which felt like hush money more than anything. I didn’t want a discount. I wanted to know what I just ate. When I asked what kind of oyster it was, they dodged the question entirely.

Here’s the thing: eating a bad oyster isn’t just gross — it can kill you. Vibrio bacteria is no joke. I shouldn’t have to “monitor myself” for 24 hours after dinner to make sure I don’t end up in the ER.

This place is a nightmare for food safety — shared utensils for raw and cooked meat, no wipes, questionable seafood, and a general sense that hygiene just isn’t a priority. Maybe that’s how “all you can eat” stays profitable: cutting corners and gambling with people’s health.

I’m done. Never again. And if this review doesn’t show up publicly, that’s probably because Google keeps quietly burying one-stars like this. Consider this...

Amazing Food and Exceptional Service!

I recently dined at this ayce (all-you-can-eat) Korean BBQ and sushi restaurant, and it was such a great experience from start to finish! The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly. There was a wide variety of meats, sushi, and side dishes — everything tasted fantastic.

Our server Yvonne truly went above and beyond. She was extremely attentive to our table, constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. What stood out to us was how she interacted with everyone around her — I noticed that every table she served was engaged and smiling, which says a lot about her amazing energy and professionalism.

Yvonne also took the time to walk us through how the all-you-can-eat menu works, explaining both the Korean BBQ and sushi sides in detail. On top of that, every single thing she recommended hit the spot — not one dish she pointed out disappointed us. Her knowledge of the menu and genuine enthusiasm made the entire dining experience even better.

If you’re looking for a place with great food and even better service, this is it. Make sure to ask for Yvonne — she’ll make your visit unforgettable! I'll definitely be back for her...

We came lasy Saturday and the food was delicious and there is variety in the menu. However, I am upset about the service; first of all, we were accommodated in a table that wasn't working and we had to be moved to another table. Later, our server didn't check up on us frequently, so we had to wait a lot until we were able to order more meat, and when we finally did it, there was also a long waiting time until they brought our order. At the end, when we were paying, the server told us the final price and we paid with our card but we didn't get any receipt or had the option to add any tip (we thought he skipped it because of the inconveniences we had). Today, we realized with disappointment that we were charged extra $15; that wasn't informed during the transaction. I understand waiters expect tips, but they are optional and it's up to the clients to decide the amount, so it's disappointing to get extra charges that were not informed beforehand. I would definitely make sure of what you are charged when coming...