Chef JK Korean BBQ Master — Restaurant in Georgia

To preface, I'll note that my most recent visit was on Monday, 7/7/2025, around 5 pm. I ate alone, sitting near the back of the restaurant. When I left around 5:45, it was beginning to get just a little busier (there were still a few open tables as well as mine having just been wiped down). It was my choice to draw out my meal, not due to slow service.

Overall, I rate this place as a 5-star because we've been going back for quite some time now. I've gone at lunch time to get a nice deal (meat, rice, soup, and a limited range of sides) but we usually go as a couple for a combo plate (several meats, rice, soup, full range of sides) or occasionally the AYCE.

The staff has always been pleasant with us, whether they speak English fluently or not. We've never had an issue with seating, or found it unpleasant to sit at any of the tables.

Yes, there is sometimes a wait because they can get BUSY and don't have a lot of room to work with -- we often don't bother on weekends (Fri/Sat) because we know they tend to be busier for those evenings -- but it's always been worth it for us. They did use a waiting list for a long time, but that's no longer something they do, so you just have to decide whether you'll wait outside or eat somewhere else. We've rarely chosen to leave.

As some have mentioned in their reviews, this is NOT a place to cook your own food. I'm under the impression that this is due to county fire codes, not restaurant choice, but I could be wrong. It's never been an issue for us because the cooks get food out in a timely manner.

For anyone considering the AYCE, please understand the listed price is PER PERSON at your table -- so if it says AYCE is $37, and you have 4 people at your table (even if not all will eat from the AYCE, even if some are ordering a different entree), then you will be charged 4x37 for an unlimited supply of meats (which you can order as you finish current portions) and full range of sides, one pot of soup, and unlimited rice... anything that is not included within the description of AYCE will be charged extra, so if you choose to get an appetizer or drinks (not water) or dessert then those will add up.

Take time to read the menu, and ask the questions if needed. AYCE can be very worth it under the right circumstances, but we honestly opt for Combo A or B most often because it allows us to take home leftovers (and we do usually have a little left).

Again, I say with full confidence that this is a 5-star rating for me. The only reason I give it a 4-star for atmosphere is because there are times when it's just too busy for me and the lack of space to spread out affects my personal enjoyment... that's a me thing, not a them thing, but it still affects my honest rating.

My personal favorites are: Boneless Beef Cuts, Chicken Bulgogi, all the sides, Egg Souffle, Japchae, Soybean Paste Stew (with beef or tofu), Ginseng Infused Short Rib Soup... just to name a few. The photos I've attached are from 3 separate visits (one was obviously...

I would give them a zero if there was an option. Do not even bother to come here as the owner and his staff are absolutely unethical and dishonest. Their Korean BBQ isn't tasty. We visited here for "all you can eat" (more expensive version, a $54 per person item) and were told that they ran out of at least two kinds of meat from that menu but had plenty of other meats including the marinated beef rib on the $54 menu. We let the wait staff know we were fine with the limited menu and placed our first order along with alcoholic beverages. Also, they bring you the cooked meat from the kitchen and you can't cook your own, like most all you can eat places, a way to justify a long delay in brining the meat. The first order was delivered about 30 minutes later and two of us finished in less than 10 minutes as the portion was small - we really took our time. When attempting to order a second round, the wait staff advised they ran out of beef brisket and asked us to order pork meats from the cheaper menu...what happened to her earlier comment about plenty of other meats? When we raised an issue with this, she talked to the owner and offered to substitute brisket with another kind of beef which we told them was fine. The second plate was delivered about 25 minutes later, still a small portion. Since the delivery of meats seemed to take a while, we attempted to order a third round with the same kinds of meat about 5 minutes later and were now told that they were out of marinated ribs, and unmarinated beef ribs, and again tried to make us order pork. Wow...are you serious?? We literally told the owner and his staff that it felt like they were trying to scam the patrons by charging for what they could not provide at which point the owner offered to substitute the marinated beef with unmarinated beef rib they somehow "managed to find." The third serving, which was even way less in portion, came out in 10 minutes and we left after paying the bill ($150 plus $30 tip - we got served our food so we do our part in tipping) extremely dissatisfied. As a restaurateur of several authentic Asian restaurants, including a popular Korean restaurant, I will tell you that their BBQ sucks, and their business ethics/practice are at the lowest. The meat taste like they cooked them on a frying pan and torched them afterwards to simulate a smokey taste instead of cooking them directly on a bbq grill (when one tries to bbq thin sliced and chopped meat, like the ones this restaurant serves, the meat fall through the spaces between the grids). No comment on other menu items as we...

I love Korean Bbq, so I was so excited to try this Chef JK. Let me start by saying that food is one of the better tasting Korean cuisine here in Augusta. However, my dining experience is far from amazing. When we arrived, the restaurant didn't seem to be packed, but there were two servers working, so we understood that service could be slower than usual. There was no "welcoming" atmosphere coming from the two servers, while one of them seemed like she hated working there. She walks slow, and her voice sounds like she just hates talking to people. It was our first time so we do have some questions about the menu, but our server just either nods or shakes her head, and she didn't further explain the menu like she expects us to already know the answer. During the entire duration of our dining, there was no time that our server asked if there's anything more that we needed or if the food was good. Although, we observed that they were nice and welcoming in one of the tables. We began to think they don't like us being there. As we ran out of our sides, our server just passed by without checking on us. We have to ask her attention, and she just responds with her usual unenthusiastic voice. It made us feel awkward to order more good or drinks. So we just decided to go after eating half of our orders. It's sad because the chef or the owner seems to be a good person and very cheerful. Maybe we just had a unique experience that didn't really reflect the service of the restaurant, but we are definitely not going to eat...