Q Korean Steakhouse — Restaurant in Knoxville

This Korean BBQ spot never fails to leave me stuffed and satisfied! It’s my favorite Korean restaurant in Knoxville. Also, it’s my top choice for date nights or gatherings with friends. The vibe is fun, the food is fantastic, and the servers are always super friendly and patient. Keep in mind that there is a 2 hour dining limit that starts upon ordering your first dish. In addition, a “gratuity” charge is automatically applied with parties of 6 or more. Also, don’t be intimidated to cook your own meats as the servers will happily cook and keep an eye on the dishes for you.

When it comes to the dishes, there are so many delicious entrees and sides flying around, mistakes can happen. Twice now, they forgot the kimchi I requested… but honestly, with the table loaded up with so much food, I almost didn’t notice (and you probably won’t either).

When it comes to the meats, you have to explore! My favorites are the beef bulgogi, which is ridiculously juicy, and the ribeye cap for its tenderness. The QK beef steak is another standout because it’s full of flavor. On the other hand, I do wish the shrimp had more seasoning.

Now, let’s talk sides. The kimchi is a must for that perfect bit of spice. I also love the sweet pickled radish, pickled jalapeños, cheese corn, miso sauce, and those fluffy eggs. With so many options, there’s always something to please every palate.

At around $30+ per adult, it’s definitely a splurge, but the unlimited dishes make it so worth it. If you’re feeling adventurous, the premium sides are also worth trying. My only real gripe is the nonalcoholic drink menu, it’s pretty limited. You’re stuck with soda or water, which feels like a missed opportunity. I suspect it’s because of the walkway to Kung Fu Tea next door, maybe as a way to encourage traffic there? It’s a little inconvenient, but not a dealbreaker.

One more thing: their bathrooms deserve a shoutout! Super private and spotless, it’s a small detail, but it really adds to the experience.

Overall, this place hits so many high notes, and I’ll keep coming back despite the small hiccups. If you love Korean BBQ, it’s absolutely...

A friend recommended this place to me years ago, and since Kaya is now kaput it seemed that it was worth a try, especially since it was on our way back from a family vacation.

The place was fairly busy at a bit past 8pm on a Friday, but we were called even before the 10-15 minute wait time we were given and seated. My older kiddo had hoped to catch part of the NBA Finals game, but all of the TVs were tuned to some sort of K-Pop channel... and he enjoyed the food enough to have almost forgotten about watching the game anyway, so no biggie there unless you've got a real aversion to Korean pop music videos.

Our server, Vivian, asked if it was our first time eating there, and I'm not sure if she asked because I had a deer in the headlights demeanor or if I just didn't stick out as one of the regulars. I'm guessing it's the latter, because the grub is certainly tasty enough to keep folks coming back for more. We opted for the unlimited dinner, and I'd probably have gorged myself until I burst, a la Mr. Creosote from THE MEANING OF LIFE, had the kiddos entered into some kind of food anesthesia state after we started our second round of proteins. We had the Beef Bulgogi, Chicken Teriyaki, Pork Belly, and K-Beef Steak. All were tasty, but I'd have to give the nod to the pork belly, which, paired with the Korean BBQ sauce [recommended by our server], was top-notch stuff.

One last word must be given to Vivian. She made the meal even better than it would have been otherwise. Conversational without being overbearing, even the kiddos appreciated her friendly demeanor and overall helpfulness. If the folks at H-Mart in Atlanta that she mentioned are half as good at what they do as she is, a trek to the ATL may just be in the offing.

If you like Korean BBQ and find yourself in or around Knoxville, give this place a try. Make sure to bring your appetite; you'll get more than your money's...

We came here during the Friday all you can eat lunch special, and while the food was good (though I agree with other reviews in that some of the meat could stand to be seasoned) and the waitresses were doing amazing while both being in the process of being trained, the man at the front was not so amazing. The moment we got in there he let us know they only have chopsticks, I have a disability that makes it hard for me to properly hold things like chopsticks and I'm totally fine with places who only have those as an option, I can accept they're not restaurants for me but then the man at the front made a comment about how "If you can't use chopsticks just pick it up with your fingers" before I could ask my partner if it's okay if we go somewhere else, which bothered me a little bit, but I tried to tell myself I was just being dramatic. Until we got to our table and they started bringing out a bunch of food that you can't just pick up and eat with your fingers unless you're begging to be made fun of by the other tables around you. And on top of that? When we looked around we noticed other tables with silver forks, not even disposable ones, so it started to feel more like he was trying to drive us away at the front door. Thankfully a waitress brought us a fork when we asked for one, so I was still able to enjoy everything I wanted to but I still had the lingering sense we may not have been wanted there which made it hard for me to eat All other staff were very friendly and I would still recommend this place for the food and amazing service from wait staff and the prep cook who checked in on us while the servers were...