Hong Hot Pot & BBQ Pittsburgh — Restaurant in Ross Township

I never usually care enough to leave reviews but my last visit here wasn't very good. Went on the 5th for what was supposed to be my twin brother and I’s birthday dinner. We got seated fairly quickly. We told our waitress it’s our birthday dinner but she didn’t acknowledge that at all. Usually when I eat here it’s very straightforward but for our group of 5 the waitress told us that we can only order family portions. This has never happened before in the couple times i’ve visited here? So we were all really confused and asked her why we can’t just order individual portions and she didn’t really have an answer. Eventually she let us put in individual food orders but we didn’t get a few of the things we asked for. This time I tried the KBBQ for the first time and the waitress brought us a TON of food that nobody asked for. She brought us a ton of meat that we didn’t want and we didn’t even know what they were. We never ordered all the steaks and stuff she brought us. We didn’t want it! All I really wanted was bulgogi but I was forced to eat all this food I didn’t ask for to avoid being charged for food waste. When I finally did get my bulgogi I asked for a side of rice and after a few bites I pulled out a long black hair from the rice. :( I was really disgusted by that. I got a new rice but had mostly lost my appetite. I should have been able to eat the food that I wanted on my birthday. My birthday should have at least been acknowledged? Plenty of other tables got a birthday dessert and song but my brother and I got nothing. When we got our check it was for over 200$ and they also added a bubble tea to our order which once again, we didn’t order. We asked for it to be taken off our check and the waitress was confused and then brought us a bubble tea. She said it was because of the hair in my rice. It would have been nice if we weren’t charged for it or if I could even drink milk. So I was stuck with a tea that I couldn’t even drink which just felt like another punch in the face from this place. they could have just asked me if I wanted a drink? Or let me pick something out? What should’ve been a nice birthday dinner for my brother and I really REALLY sucked. I don’t know if I’ll be back, this experience made me...

This is Pittsburgh's first truly legitimate KBBQ in the area. I did the KBBQ, so that's all I'll review.

When we were here on a Sunday night, pretty much all of Pittsburgh's Asian community was here, including me... This should be a good sign, and the wait time was around 2 hours to get a table (lol).

This isn't Pittsburgh's first KBBQ restaurant. However, it's Pittsburgh's first KBBQ restaurant that clearly encapsulates the greatness of KBBQ in all its glory. Do note it is clearly Chinese owned, but they clearly did their research on KBBQ. Their whole menu passes the "authentic" KBBQ taste test, and many more.

The AYCE KBBQ is $32.95/pp.

Everything is AYCE (order) except the banchan/salad bar. Their kimchi is not bad. They're missing some other banchan which is expected from a Chinese owned place. However, they have all the standard Korean sauces like gochujang and ssamjang despite them essentially being hidden in the sauce area. The rest of the sauces are for the hotpot, but you can mix with your KBBQ sauces. Their hotpot sauces are very high quality. Not Haidilao, but it's close.

The KBBQ stove is some sort of advanced stone grill. It's similar to LA's AYCE restaurant Hae Jang Cheon. It's not the highest quality grill in Pittsburgh, but it is certainly quality. Every 2 orders, the server would swap the grill. Service was great.

The KBBQ meat menu passes the standard AYCE style KBBQ, and perhaps surpass most of them. If you've tried Gen in big American cities, the quality is actually better which is what you should expect since they're around $10 more per person ($32.95). The galbi is called short rib on the menu, and it's properly flavored and marinated. Ssamgyupsal is a little on the thinner side, but it's still quite good. They have the lettuce wrap, too, and with the ssamjang, it's chef's kiss.

The ordering is quick. You just ask for what you want, and in a couple minutes, the server comes back to you with the meat.

I wish the restaurant many successful years. It's 100% deserved! Finally a truly good KBBQ place. Can't wait to try the hotpot...

The worst experience I ever have with the server, a tall African male name. We was there Sunday the 15th of June to celebrate Father’s Day. So I understand the place is busy, but they suffocate us 8 people in tiny space and no safety. Server walk around with hot kettle on client head. We has to keep asking him please watch out it hot water; then by mistake the same server Wayne pour oil, that right, cooking oil from the plate to my leg and hand. I has very low pain tolerance I was serve burn. Which I do not do well with heat burn. My friend at the time got so scare so when the server ask if any help he did say please leave because he saw how much pain i has to endure. My friend later said I was worry for you maybe I should check on the kid. That server start to scream at my friend. I never been so so embarrassed I already was in pain then I has to listen and acknowledge everyone see me like my burn cause this server to behave rationally. I got first degree burn, the manager did came to talk to us but I honestly don’t appreciate how he handle the situation by not stay on top of it, not until I has to run to the car try to find any stuff I can find to sooth my burn spot. He try to give a gift Card to my friend who paid for the meal ask to give to me. I return. I do not need the gift card. But as a client, we DO NOT w appreciate hot oil drop on us then the same person screaming like he is a scare toddler. Unless they hire a bunch of under age who on edge. I’m extremely disappointed. I has to deal with that pain for many days I never ever has that happen in my life. Still shock with everything has happened that day. Otherwise the food is really good everyone like the soup. I can’t even know to be honest my leg burn hurts too much I cry from inside until I felt asleep that night I has no idea...