Bon KBBQ — Restaurant in Plano

Before I begin, I am going to respond and rant to some of the negative reviews I read. Who the heck walks into a buffet an hour or less before closing? Sounds dumb to me and you are going to get what you deserve! Please don't complain about your children being charged for food that they throw on the floor and spit out of their mouths, and do other weird stuff with. You, the parent took food off of the buffet and you, the parent gave it to them; so you pay. In fact, if you haven't taught your children an appreciation for "strange" foods, then I have NO idea WHY a parent would choose Korean of all food as an introduction! AND WHY do children have to go everywhere? In fact, tonight was my first experience and toward the end, I heard a screaming kid. My children are adults, and have been to fancy restaurants since they were in diapers. BECAUSE I TAUGHT THEM HOW TO ACT; and pulled them out at the slightest out of place action or behavior because adults work hard and pay perfectly good money to get away from children and have some adult time! My children grew up on Korean food because I learned to cook it at home and I fed it to them there. Yeah maybe cook meals at home for children! Teach them to appreciate and how to value the origin of food, and other cultures (including the history), and how to prepare and how to appreciate the family dinner table and how to respect others before testing them on the world. Have dinner parties at home, we did it all the time, which is why my children learned how to act right in public! Or go to Chuck E Cheese I really could care less. But DO NOT give a bad rating to a restaurant for your poor parenting decisions. People rely on these reviews to know where to eat, and I don't want to have to read your stupid review complaining about how it was a bad idea to take a kid to a Korean restaurant, when all I'm trying to do is find some reasonably priced food from a place that won't make me sick or kill me and MY family! AND good restaurants struggle enough financially, and I WANT them to stay in business so you're useless reviews are harming folks who literally work day and night and invest every dollar they own into building these businesses and ur kid is lame so you want to bring down someone who has risked everything!?!

Onto the review for Jin Korean, I have friends who are from Korea. They prefer my bulgogi to even their own own family's cooking, and I've been to some of THE best Korean restaurants. For a buffet and for a restaurant in Texas (Texas restaurants frequently disappoint), this place is legit. Maybe in the past they had some food issues, but whatever that was about has certainly been cleaned up. This place was clean, plenty of food, nothing was lacking. I've tasted some terrible cabbage kim chi in my day, so I wasn't expecting much. Jin Korean's cabbage kim chi is definitely among the better one's that I've had, they really delivered. The service was spot on. They have a light to signal the server; but we never had to use it one time the server was extremely attentive, multiple servers helped. If I had one complaint, I would say that the bulgogi and a couple other dishes were perhaps a bit too sweet, meaning they are sweeter than what they would be traditionally. But that's okay, again this is buffet NOT a michelin star restaurant (of which we have none in Texas). Sure I would like it to have been less expensive, but on the regular we spend 1/2 as much money of food that's darned near inedible and no self-respecting person should eat it; so I can completely understand paying the price we did. And yes, I brought my now adult son, who mentioned nothing about the screaming kid. ;) If you have never tried Korean, this is a great place to take a risk. Try a TINY bit, like 1 or 2 bites of everything, even though you may not like a lot of it off the bat, there's plenty of meat, rice, noodle, salads, soups to fill you up while you learn about Korean food; and while it's not the best in the world... again it's very legit! Thank you for being so awesome, friendly, and...

Super busy spot, complaint is the wait time and beeper. We got our little beeper device and were told it'd be around 40 minutes. We sat in the car in the parking lot for 30 minutes because it was packed inside. After that time, we went in and got the notification shortly. Then we were told that they rung our device twice already which was strange - they said no worries, just give them 2 minutes. Ten minutes later I check-in since it's been awfully long and they decide to seat us at a table that had been open for a while. I'm pretty sure they literally just forgot, which is annoying.

Service was sweet. I love how each table gets a little light that they can flip on to ask for assistance, whether it's to order meat, get a grill change, or other. Quick and easy to do, we really need to step up our game in Washington.

Besides that experience, everything was wonderful. My first time at Jin (or Bon) KBBQ was fantastic and showed me that our KBBQ in Seattle can be improved. Price is pretty cheap, but then again I'm comparing to Seattle. Lettuce costs an extra dollar to order, which is interesting. You'd think lettuce is the least of their concerns when there's a ton of meat.

Anyway, what's cool about Jin is that there's a list of items you can order and then there's a "buffet" style section with other uncooked meats, sides, and hot foods. Uncooked meats include marinated bulgogi, cuts of pork (including pork belly), and tilapia. Sides include noodles, fried rice, and white rice. Hot foods included some beef stew and gyoza among other things.

Pineapple Galbi Steak is a large piece of steak marinated well and topped with a slice of pineapple. I think it was one of my favorite items but I only ordered it at the end because I stuck to the basics. Highly recommend it. LA Galbi is probably a close second, galbi is always good but can be annoying to eat around the bones. Lastly, brisket is a KBBQ must have, so don't skip out on it. These three were the stars of the night.

Dessert drink of shikeh (sweet ginger cinnamon punch) is a refreshing way to end the night if you aren't bloated already. Order it if you'd like to wrap up. It's definitely healthy-ish too. There's also ice cream that you can scoop yourself so overall you have options on how to enjoy your last bits...

This Korean BBQ, formerly known as Jin Korean BBQ, promises an unforgettable dining experience that seamlessly combines premium quality, freshness, variety, and exceptional service—all at a great value.

Premium Meat Selection: The restaurant prides itself on offering an exquisite selection of premium meats, including succulent Wagyu beef, flavorful marinated pork belly, and tender chicken cuts. Each piece is carefully sourced and expertly prepared to ensure maximum flavor and tenderness, making every bite a culinary delight.

Freshness and Variety: Freshness is paramount here, reflected in the vibrant array of banchan and side dishes that accompany the main course. From traditional kimchi variations to refreshing salads and savory pancakes, the diverse range of flavors and textures adds depth to the dining experience, catering to every taste preference.

Value for Money: Despite the upscale quality of ingredients and attention to detail, this Korean BBQ offers exceptional value for money. Generous portion sizes and reasonable pricing make it an ideal choice for both casual diners and those seeking a memorable yet affordable culinary adventure.

Attentive Service: One of the restaurant’s standout features is its attentive service. The servers are highly attentive, promptly changing the BBQ pan and ensuring that each dish is cooked to perfection. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to accommodate special requests further enhance the overall dining experience.

Atmosphere and Ambiance: The newly rebranded restaurant boasts a modern yet welcoming ambiance, with stylish decor and cozy seating arrangements. Whether you’re dining with friends, family, or colleagues, the inviting atmosphere sets the stage for a relaxed and enjoyable meal.

Overall Experience: In summary, this rebranded Korean BBQ offers a winning combination of premium meat selections, fresh and varied dishes, attentive service, and excellent value for money. Whether you’re a connoisseur of Korean cuisine or simply looking for a memorable dining experience, this establishment is sure to exceed your expectations and leave you eager to...