Kalbi / Hae Woon Dae koreanbarbecue.com — Restaurant in Doraville

If there was a way to give this place zero stars.... I'm just saying. The food is highly lacking of quality, specifically the beef (which is the majority of the menu besides seafood). I brought 2 friends here recently because I had talked it up so much. I have been here a handful of times and everything was properly executed and service was good. A little overpriced but I usually visit around 1am to 3am, so you get what you pay for (meaning not a lot of options for the time). Upon arriving, our server literally rolled her eyes at us. We sat and were immediately treated terribly, being ignored and having to ask for pickles and fermented items (that are usually brought IMMEDIATELY to the table). She barked that we had to order at least 2 entrees for us to receive those. I looked at her and stated there were three of us and we were all planning on getting entrees (short ribs, etc.) Also, if I have money and I request pickles, why wouldn't you just let me pay for them a la carte? Anyways.............

Moving on with the order, our server was snippy and very rude. She obviously did not want us there. We were not loud. We were not asking weird and ignorant questions. It was 1:45 am and they were absolutely empty. They stay open until 6am. I am an executive chef and had just gotten off of a 14 hr shift. Not only had I been looking forward to this meal all day, but I have been here and thought I could count on it for service at the VERY least. The tip I would have given her if her service was even mediocre would have made up for the entire night of no customers. Upon our food getting to the table, our server was directing us HOW to eat korean BBQ. Now folks, I am NOT korean AT ALL, but I have a lot of friends that are and have eaten korean BBQ probably (no joke) 150-200 times in my life. In different cities. Ive never had an employee be so racially rude and dismissive. No one was here to offend (nor did we say or do anything offensive).

The thing that is making me not come back is the fact that I simply asked what a sauce was (it was a soybean "paste" but very loose and a totally different color and flavor from the time before) and instead of simply answering my question, she picked up my lettuce, bbq, rice, etc and FORCE FED ME A BITE OF FOOD. Now, my usual self would not let a stranger get close to me in this way but I was in sheer shock of what was even happening. She was treating us like incompetant and ignorant people and all we were doing was trying to relax and have a nice dinner (and drop $100 or more).

This is the first time in my 30 years that I have left a $0 tip. I have a mixed race child and have experienced racism that was not deserved. But this. This takes the cake. . If Hae Woon Dae doesn't want to serve certain "types" of people, PUT A SIGN ON YOUR DOOR THAT SAYS SO. I have been in the food industry for almost 15 years and have NEVER experienced such atrocity. This place is most definitely...

This is easily the best Korean BBQ in Atlanta. They’ve been around for decades. Of course the food is incredible. The banchan, the proteins, the stews - everything stands alone in its category.

The owner is also SO friendly! Everyone there is. Incredible staff and service.

But if you’re looking for flavorful, authentic Korean food, this is really it. Coming from someone who’s eaten Korean food at restaurants around the world (including Korea) for over a decade and incredibly picky about every detail, I was shocked by how good everything tasted.

Galbi (kalbi): the marinade and the cut of meat were just perfect. Succulent and nicely marbled, and the marinade was delicate. It didn’t overpower the flavor of the beef. Just the right amount of flavor to complement it. And they have their own Korean barbecue sauce you need to try with it - and the brisket. Kimchi-jjigae: full of flavor and generous portions of beef! They make a different kimchi to suit the stew and it is rich, flavorful, and nutritious all at once. Best kimchi-jjigae around. Kimchi pancake: maybe there’s a theme here… I am a huge fan of their kimchi and every kimchi variant. The kimchi pancake is just the right flavor and texture, packed with incredible flavor. Spicy pork bulgogi: Don’t gloss over this!! It is nothing like you’ve had before. The flavor is so nice, not overpowering, just the right amount of spicy and umami to be enjoyable - and the meat is wonderfully tender in the middle, crispy around the edges. Banchan: all the side dishes are incredible. The kimchi is easily the best around Atlanta. Cucumber kimchi, bean sprouts, fish cake, watercress, eggplant all of it is perfect. I would be completely happy just eating these every day.

Don’t miss the kalbi! Or the jjigae! Or anything. Don’t...

I went here with some people who had never had Korean food before. We went here mostly because it was easier to get here during rush hour traffic. I was not impressed.

I had looked at the menu online and it said that the short rib was 15.99 for dinner. The price when I got there? 29.99?!?! and for a small portion. For $30, I can go get all you can eat in Duluth. I ended up getting the bulgogi which was still $22 which I thought was expensive for the amount of food you got. The banchan were ok. The seaweed was slimy and nobody liked it. The cucumber and radishes were good as was the potato. My girlfriend was not in the mood for bbq and ordered the hot pot bibimbap. She said it was not good and after we were done and in the car, she said she wished we had gone to Stone Bowl which is right down the street which is always amazing.

Service was ok. Nothing to write home about it.

The place is in a sketchy strip mall. There is a strip club and a bunch of sketchy looking people in the parking lot. There is a former adult theatre too, but it seems to be closed. Keeping it classy. For a Friday night, it was not busy at all. There were just two other tables. I thought that was weird as most places are packed on Friday night.

I won't be going back here. The price was just too damn high for a very small portion and food that was...