Firepan Korean BBQ — Restaurant in Falls Church

I went here the night of 7/29/25. My girlfriend and I ordered 1 order of the firepan steak and 2 orders of the brisket ramen that was advertised on the window for $10.99 because I was in the mood for a noodle soup dish, but all of the pho places in Eden Center were closed.

We were seated and the restaurant looked fairly clean and the atmosphere was nice. There was music playing, and a lot of customers dining. Combined with a 4.7 score on google, it seemed promising.

That's where the positives ended. Our server mentioned that our grill was kind of dysfunctional and has a hotspot. She also asked if we'd like to cook our own meat, or if we'd like her to cook it. I said we'd cook it ourselves, but for some reason she insisted on placing the meat down herself. I wanted to wait for the grill to heat up more because it was lukewarm at that point, but she went ahead and threw the steaks down anyway. Only about 1/6 of the grill was hot enough to sear the meat, so I was rotating each piece of steak to the hotspot to cook it. When the steaks looked done (brown) the server came and turned off the grill, without asking. So 2/6 of my pieces of steak were cooked properly, and the other 4 were "heated up".

The slices of steak themselves were not great either. Each piece had a huge line of tendon running straight through the middle. Not exactly what you'd expect when ordering "steak".

But worst of all was the ramen. It was literally just a packet of instant ramen with some sliced brisket thrown in. I know Firepan is not a ramen shop and I'm not expecting the quality that you can get from some spot in Japan, or even local ramen chains like Akira or Jinya, but I at least expect some sort of house made soup and actual ramen noodles. If you're running an asian restaurant and ADVERTISING ramen on your window, but you're just serving a $1.15 bag of instant ramen that's a guaranteed never-return for me. Add on top of that that the $10.99 price must've been the lunch price in fine print, because it was actually $13.99...

We came here on a Friday evening. We didn't have any wait time for just 2. The price for All You Can Eat Option A is $30 which is really good these days. Option B is slightly more at $35. There are a lot of meat options to choose from which is really nice. I think my favorites that I tried were the Spicy Bulgogi, Spicy Porkbelly, and the Firepan Steak.

The food comes with a salad which was really tasty. There was not as much variety in the bonchon, but it was yummy. The steamed egg was really good. The dipping sauces were unique, I haven't tasted them at other KBBQ places before, or maybe I'm just misremembering.

Our server was very kind, friendly, attentive, and professional. He refilled our sauces, got us more rice and bonchon, and got us more meat whenever we were almost done. I really appreciated that. The one thing that kind of threw me off, is that our server cooked all of our food for us the entire night lol. I'm not sure if they do this for everyone, or maybe he was training a new colleague, but it felt a tiny bit awkward having them at our table the whole time. I am used to other Korean BBQ spots where they drop the meat off at the table and swap the grill plate out for you, and you cook the meat yourself. Maybe here this is just how they operate, I'm not sure. But just keep that in mind if you plan on going on a first date or something, you might be sharing the table with the staff. In hindsight I could have just asked if I can cook the food myself but I felt awkward and didn't want to be rude lol. A suggestion for management is maybe have a two-sided card at the table that the customer can flip, to indicate if they will cook themselves or if they'll need help cooking.

This restaurant is located in the Eden Center in Falls Church, so there's a massive parking lot. But it can still be difficult to find a parking spot on the weekends when the plaza is super busy.

Overall, if you're craving KBBQ at a good price, this place is...

I recently dined at Firepan Korean BBQ, and I must say, it was an unforgettable culinary journey. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality by the entire staff. Nami, our server, was incredibly attentive, offering expert recommendations and ensuring our dining experience was nothing short of perfect.

Under Emily's management, the restaurant exuded a welcoming ambiance. It was evident that every member of the staff, from the kitchen team to the servers, took pride in their work. Throughout the meal, they were not only efficient but also genuinely caring, ensuring we had everything we needed and more.

Now, onto the star of the show—the food. The selection of meats was exceptional, each cut bursting with flavor. From the marinated bulgogi to the succulent pork belly, every bite was a delight. The DIY grilling experience added an interactive element to the meal, making it both fun and delicious.

Accompanying the meats were an array of banchan, small side dishes that complemented the main course perfectly. From the tangy kimchi to the refreshing pickled radish, each banchan contributed to the overall harmony of flavors.

In addition to the impeccable food and service, the ambiance of Firepan Korean BBQ was inviting, with modern decor and comfortable seating. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving authentic Korean barbecue, this restaurant is a must-visit.

Overall, my experience at Firepan surpassed all expectations, thanks to the exceptional service provided by Nami, Emily, and the entire staff. Their friendliness and attention to detail truly elevated the dining experience. I can't wait to return for another...