Sam Won Garden Korean BBQ — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I started coming here back in 2016 and came here every week twice a week for lunch after class when i was in college. I built a really fond relationship with the owners and staff that worked here to the point where they knew my name, major, family, and i had a wonderful relationship with Ms. Soo and her (sons or grandsons cannot recall) who worked as staff. I also miss Daniel! He was the best! Approximately a year or two ago the original owners sold the place and the new management took over. It was great in the beginning. But gradually i noticed a shift in food quality and PRICE. The foods flavor changed , and the last time i was here i was charged for EVERY refill of lettuce i asked for (when i was given six small pieces for two orders of samgyeopsal to start). At the time, they charged me1.99 for drinks five times because previously they had never charged for lettuce and did not have a way to. And the total for just the lettuce was 10 dollars. (I can buy a head of romaine for a quarter of that) I politely asked for some clarity , not having issue with paying but questioning why i wasn’t alerted of this change after the second or third refill. But i was WAVED away because the owner was sitting down with someone (I’m assuming another owner) and couldn’t be bothered to speak to me. . And because of this i have redirected my loyalties elsewhere. If you’re looking for a quick spot to eat, I’m sure here will be good. But personally, as a business, i do not support it.

Update: after two years i have revisited this establishment to see whether my opinions have changed. Despite the menu changes and the inclusion of more “authentic” Korean recipes, as well as the absolutely wonderful wait staff and friendly atmosphere, the food remains bland and without the flavors of comfort i often associate with Korean food. I will continue to frequent “Gangnam Korean bbq” just up the road as their food continues to beat Samwon on the passion behind their flavors and the cost. During this visit however we received a complimentary dessert and our waiters were extremely friendly, thank you for a warm welcome back! You made...

B+ for Korean BBQ in Jax! I would definitely dine here again. The food is authentic Korean and tastes good for the most part. The service was friendly and attentive. The restaurant is small and cozy.

The pricing is comparable to an all-you-can-eat (AYCE) Korean BBQ place, in which the amount for one dish + one appetizer equals the typical amount you’d pay for one person at AYCE. So if you want more bang for your buck you might choose an AYCE. But I guess the plus here is that you can bring home leftovers, whereas at an AYCE you typically cannot.

I rate the food a B+ because it tasted good. I wasn’t blown away, but I was definitely satisfied. Theres a good selection of dishes and drinks. The quality of the meats were good. And the sides were fresh.

We ordered beef ribs, thin sliced beef brisket, and beef prime rib eye. The bulgogi, or beef prime rib eye was cooked in the back and the rest was brought to the table to be cooked by us. We also got rice, lettuce, a sweet dipping sauce, along with sides that included pickled radish/carrot combo, bean sprouts, kimchi, and seaweed. We also ordered corn cheese and tteok bokki as appetizers.

The beef ribs had a great, savory flavor and the tteok bokki was so soft and delicious. They were my favorites. The thin sliced beef brisket could have been sliced a bit more thinly. And the beef prime rib eye was cut into perfect bite sized pieces, but the marinade was just average.

The corn cheese had more mayonnaise than I was expecting. The rice, lettuce and sides were fresh and paired well with our meats. I dipped my meat in the sweet sauce and asked for sesame oil. Add salt to that and dip your meat in for some added flavor.

Our server was friendly and very attentive. She came by multiple times to refill our side dishes and drinks. We sat at the table with blackboard walls and they had a cup full of chalk at our table. My niece had fun drawing on the wall, and it was cool to see previous customers’ art work.

It was an enjoyable experience, and I would...

This is my go to Korean spot. Although it's a drive for us, I still love coming here whenever I crave Korean food. It usually happens after I finish a Korean drama or movie. I love the ambiance here, the separate readings are nice and cozy. They also offer private room for bug parties. The decorations set a nice mood, I feel e I'm in Korea every time I enter this place. The ancient themed wallpaper is pretty cool too.

The bibimbap is usually served in a stone bowl consists of rice, egg, beef, veggies. For the Korean bbq, we have to grill the beef ourselves at the table, so that's kind of a turn off for me sometimes since I don't like cooking my own food when I'm eating out. Therefore, I always make my hubby do all the grilling and cutting up the beef for me and I just enjoy the food. The beef is marinated over night so the flavors are amazing and authentic. I've tried the black noodles one time since I saw it in one of the Korean dramas, but it didn't taste as good as it looks (bland and soggy). But I do love all of the other dishes here. Pricing is fair but more on the expensive side.

I love that they will refill your side dishes if you ask therm to. The side dishes usually are: (menu changes throughout the year) Kimchi (fermented cabbage) Hobak Bokkeum (Stir-fried Zucchini) Gaji Namul (Steamed Eggplants) Sukju Namul (Seasoned Bean Sprouts) Watercress Namul Mu Saengchae (Spicy Radish Salad) Gamja Jorim (Braised Potatoes) Gaji Bokkeum...