Koreana Grill — Restaurant in Riverside

Hi,

We wanted to go dine there but when we got there we saw your notice in the door.  I hope everything is well.

Because i was very desperate for Korean bbq we ended up going to another place on Central, am sure i dont need to give you their name.

Any how, it seem like a good chance to broaden my bbq experience but boy was i wrong.

For starters if i wanted to eat delicious short ribs (because really why else you want to eat anything else) we had to pay the so called king price of $30 per person.

I dont mind paying for food as long as its worth it.... so am not cheap, but as soon as saw the servings and the quality of the food i knew i was in for a rude awakening.

I ordered my usual sides, lettuce (none available) pickled cucumbers (none available)  for the kimchee i was brought the serving of what seem to be a single bite, so i asked for more.  I also asked for onions and jalapeño pepers to grill, just to be served aged items that were more likely from the day before.

I was trying to stay calm but when i saw the rice, it was literally the bottom of the pot, it even had that bottom film.

I noticed that my burner was not really doing the job, and the meat was not cooking fast enough ( after eating at your place and living in Korean town most of my childhood you could say i know how to cook the meats) it turned out the gas tank was empty so they had to change it.

The kid that brought the meats spilled raw meat juice all over my arm and hand, the kid that was fixing my grill flipped over my

Kimchee all over the menu, and another kid drop the meat so hard that almost spilled raw juice all over my food.

The meat, well, spicy chicken and beef, not really spicy, short ribs were not seasoned enough and out of two of the portion one was not eatable because it was mostly fat with no meat.

The so called cali meat was plain and so the spicy beef.

Over all, i had a mediocre experience that cost me a lot more than what i pay at your place.

The cherry on top was that there was no fruits or any desert as part of the buffet, and at the end, the tip was already charged.

Why am i telling you all this?  Because it reminded me of why i am super loyal to you guys, even more than LAs.

I have been going to KG for the last ten years, my daughter has grown up in your tables, with James (i think) carrying her around the restaurant and making her special chopsticks when she was three yrs old.

So thank you, thank you for your quality of food, your quality of service, and your quality of everything.

Knowing the sad state of service at these commercial overpriced cold bbq places i want to ask you to keep providing us with such good food and culture.

I hope everything is ok and hope to see you guys very very soon.

Thanks a...

Koreana Grill has been a longtime staple in Riverside, and I’ve been coming here for years — even back when James used to run it! While the neighborhood around it has changed and you’ll notice some homeless activity nearby, don’t let that stop you. The Korean food here is still some of the best around.

The parking can get pretty rough, especially on busy weekends, but once you’re inside, it’s worth it. The interior got a bit of a modern refresh several years ago, and while some areas look a little cluttered, the overall vibe is still warm and welcoming. I wish they cleaned the clutter behind the payment counter a bit- as it would give it a more cleaner vibe. Also, they did block off a section behind one of the buffet counters where a staff member now preps and cuts meat, but the layout is mostly the same as it’s always been.

Customer service is solid — nothing overly fancy, but the staff is attentive and helpful. On busy days, you’ll need to sign in and wait to be called. The wait just depends on how packed it is, but once your table is ready, a server will take you to your seat and get your drink order. After that, you’re free to grab a plate and start picking your food.

The grill at your table is the real experience. As you cook the meat, the staff will replace the grill when it gets too burned, either when you ask or if they notice. It’s a nice touch that keeps the experience pleasant. The bulgogi is my go-to — it’s delicious every time. I also love their kimchi, which always hits the spot.

This place is a fantastic intro to Korean BBQ for first-timers. If you’re bringing family or friends who’ve never been, especially if they’re not familiar with this style of dining, just explain the process and the meat— you grill your food at the table and the bulgogi is kind of like carne asada in style but different flavor, and once people understand, they tend to love it. There are other meats like spicy chicken which is equally as delicious in flavor. There are many options to choose from at the buffet counters. They also have brown rice and white rice. And when you are finished, they have soft serve ice cream too.

Overall, I highly recommend Koreana Grill. It’s been here for years, and it’s still going strong. Definitely a...

Updated review:

I love coming to this restaurant but I think this will be my last time due to the service. On 06/17/2024 6:50pm, a server had seated us at a REALLY dirty table for my family along with a baby. She offered us a dirty high chair as well with food all over the floor and high chair. We asked if she could at least get us a new one and clean it but she made it seem like it was our problem by saying “It’s ok it’s clean.” Then we firmly ask her again to clean it then she says “I’ll go wipe it down” with an attitude. I understand that the environment is very fast paced due to it being a buffet in here but the cleanliness should be main priority before seating someone. I had a high chair cover and come to find out the next day that my son was developing hands foot mouth disease on his body. You would probably tell me, why didn’t you wipe just in case with your own wipes. We didn’t have them on hand at the time hence why we had the high chair cover but it shouldn’t be my responsibility especially when we were served on purpose a dirty table by the server. It has been a full WEEK (as of 06/23/2024 that I am writing this) and symptoms are getting worse. I had not went anywhere else after the restaurant on that Monday and had plans on Tuesday but refrained due to the bumps he had on his body to not spread the virus.

Please, if you insist on coming here with a child, please make sure you have them double clean the area in front of you before you are seated. I love the food here so much until this server ruined...