Ssam Tong BBQ | 쌤통 | K-BBQ | Korean Barbecue | 플러싱 맛집 | Wagyu | Pork Belly | #1 Korean Barbecue — Restaurant in New York

My recent visit to Ssam Tong restaurant was easily the worst dining experience I can recall. I had the unfortunate pleasure of going there with a date, and it turned out to be a complete disappointment from start to finish.

First of all, when we arrived, the staff seemed completely disinterested in welcoming us. Instead of leading us to a table, we were left standing awkwardly at the entrance, unsure of what to do. It took some time before someone finally acknowledged our presence and bothered to seat us.

We went with the intention of having soondubu chigae and chapchae but also wanted to try the BBQ. They insisted that we order at least two servings, which felt incredibly restrictive and unnecessary considering the other items we had ordered. When we decided not to order BBQ, they had the audacity to ask us to switch tables. Not only was this embarrassing, but they didn't even bother to assist us in moving our utensils or drinks to the new table.

Once we finally managed to place our order, they promptly got it wrong (kimchi pancake instead of seafood pancake) without any apology. It was evident that their level of care for their customers was subpar at best. Throughout the entire meal, we were practically ignored, and it felt like we were invisible to the staff.

The restaurant's ventilation is horrible. Even though we didn't order barbecue, our clothes ended up smelling like smoke by the time we left. It was an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience, to say the least.

The service provided by the waiter was lackluster at best. The busboys seemed more attentive and helpful than the actual waiter assigned to our table. It was quite disappointing to see the staff's disinterest in providing a pleasant dining experience.

The food itself was nothing to write home about. The portions were small, and the taste was average at best. For the price they charged, the quality of the food was far from satisfactory.

On top of everything, the way we were treated left a bitter taste in our mouths. The staff acted as if they were doing us a favor by serving us, which was completely unacceptable.

The seating arrangement in the restaurant was cramped, and at times, the waiter's proximity to our table was outright uncomfortable. It's not pleasant to have someone's rear end practically in your face while trying to enjoy a meal.

To add insult to injury, we left the restaurant feeling hungry and unsatisfied. The meager side dishes we did receive were barely enough, and no one bothered to check if we wanted more.

Throughout the entire meal, no one bothered to check on us or ask about our dining experience. It was clear that customer satisfaction was not a priority for this establishment.

Save yourself the trouble and look for a different dining option. This place is certainly not worth the...

Our party of five was able to get seats without any reservations but it was at least a 30min wait, not bad at all on a Fri. evening.

The owner gave those waiting in line free beer for the wait, that was very unexpected & awesome of him.

Once seated we were able to place our orders, brisket, LA galbi, spicy squid, japchae, and the large intestine.

The brisket was fresh, galbi was marinated with a flavorful sauce, chef’s kiss. The squid wasn’t too spicy and it was the kids favorite, just had to cut it smaller so they can eat it as it can be chewy.

Japchae was easily savory and delish, a must if you don’t want rice with your meats.

If you don’t like eating your protein with rice or noods then the lettuce is perfect for wraps. Super happy that there was plenty of banchan to accompany our meals. The radish was perfectly spicy. Kept getting refills as it was our favorite besides the kimchi.

We had received a complimentary Gyeranjjim, Steamed Egg soufflé our meals too. That was soft and fluffy.

Last & the least favorite was the large intestine. Loved that it was cooked crispy by our server but once I bit into it, definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. Don’t like it but husband liked it.

My son’s highlight of the evening was when the owner gave my baby $5 as he reminded him of his son.

Overall, thanks so much for an awesome evening of savory bites. Some of the best customer service we’ve had thus far in NYC by the owner and our server/cook, so much that we gave extra extra gratuity. Haha

The whole family enjoyed it & it’ll definitely be our go to whenever...

My boyfriend and I went for our Valentine’s Day dinner and boy did we pick the right place! The food was amazing - every dish we had. The complementary appetizers were all great as well. The waiter helped us picked the food for us, making very good suggestions on the menu. We ordered a LOT of food between the two of us, and for the price, the portions were hefty. We got a bottle of Soju (each), the thin sliced pork belly, the prime rib (see photo) the spicy beef japchae, and the galbi. Everything was delicious. The marble texture and seasoning of the galbi was especially exquisite. They also brought us out some complementary dishes, an amuse bouche if you will, of the egg soufflé and a very earthy vegetable soup.

The service was excellent. Both gentlemen who helped us were friendly and knowledgeable, chatting with us while cooking our different meats at various times. Victor cooked most of our meat, and a gentleman who I assume is the owner took our order and also cooked some of the meat.

We appreciated that we didn’t at all feel rushed. We were able to take our time and enjoy everything a little bit at a time. It was a great evening.

I also appreciated the 90s rap they were playing which was a nice cultural juxtaposition to the food and nostalgic for me. The owner even added a special valentine’s day touch with a small gift bag of chocolates.

Overall, we highly recommend this restaurant. The food and service were excellent. Definitely check it out! (FYI parking is a bit tricky so get there with...