Smoking Monster BBQ&SUSHI Bar — Restaurant in Salisbury

A Korean BBQ spot worth your loyalty—and your appetite. I’m Korean. I love BBQ. And I’m here to help you win at Korean BBQ—even if you have no idea what you’re doing yet.

I’ve been a long-time customer of Manna Asian Cuisine(same owners), and I wasn’t expecting a solid Korean BBQ option to pop up here, but wow—Smoking Monster gets it right.

First, if you’re new to Korean BBQ: Thank me later. Just follow this guide.

What to order: Always, always get the combo set. Even if you order the meat a la carte, the price difference is minimal, but the combo comes with steamed egg (계란찜) and soybean paste stew (된장찌개)—total bonus win.

Sauce tips (aka how to sauce like a Korean uncle): You’ll get 3 dipping sauces(as pictured):

쌈장 (ssamjang) – savory and rich

기름장 (sesame oil w/ salt & pepper)

된장소스 (soybean paste sauce)

My personal tip? Stick with ssamjang and 기름장. For 기름장, ask for extra salt and pepper—it usually comes with too much oil and not enough seasoning. Mix it well, and don’t dip too deep. Sesame oil is strong—it’ll overpower the meat. Just a gentle dip will do.

Use 쌈장 for ssam (lettuce wraps). Never wrapped Korean BBQ before? No problem. Take a romaine lettuce leaf, drop in a slice or two of meat, half a teaspoon of ssamjang, and maybe some rice, garlic, or sliced chili if you like. Wrap it up, pop the whole thing in your mouth, and chew your way to happiness.

How to grill (yes, there are rules): Heat up the grill first – don’t disrespect your meat by putting it on a cold pan.

Once it’s hot, rub the fat trimmings (they’ll provide them, as pictured) on the grill to coat it.

Cook non-marinated meats first.

Beef? High heat, quick sear.

Pork? Medium heat, slower cook.

Then marinated meats. DO NOT cook them together—marinated meats will burn fast and ruin the grill. Be patient and cook them slowly.

If you accidentally burn your meat or the grill, ask for a new grill. They’ll bring one happily. Don’t keep cooking on burnt residue—it’s bad for your health. And yes, when the new grill comes, heat it up again first.

Why I keep coming back: Unless you’re Korean or grew up eating like this, it’s almost impossible to replicate at home. Sure, I could make my own marinade—but I don’t have commercial-grade ventilation in my kitchen.

Other legit Korean BBQ spots are at least a 2-hour drive from here, and they’ll cost more. The meat quality here? Some of the best I’ve had in the U.S. That alone makes me come back.

Plus, the owners actually listen to feedback and work hard to improve. I heard they even lowered their menu prices recently—which, in this economy, is a big deal and a thoughtful move for the community.

To the owners: Thank you for opening this place. Please keep the meat quality high and the portions generous. But… please upgrade the...

We just moved back to Maryland from Bay Area, CA and let me tell y’all, this place rocks! The menu items, the portion sizes, the taste quality: it’s all there! Let’s break it down by item and cost:

Pick 5 Maki Rolls: Cost- $28 Items ordered (pictured left to right and then bottom) - Eel Avacado roll California roll Avacado Cucumber roll Salmon Avacado roll Philly roll

Overall these were very good for size and price. The rice is on the outside, which is different from traditional maki rolls, but this allows more interior items to fill the roll. Overall, the portion sizes are great for the rolls and prices!

Special roll: December roll Cost- $14 This is a good deep-fried roll. The presentation was excellent, and each piece is big but not too big. It may be difficult to eat each piece in one bite for someone with a smaller mouth.

Hot Stone Bimbimbap (pork): Cost- $15 The portion size is absolutely wild!! My wife couldn’t believe how big the stone bowl was when it was brought out. Suffice to say, a second helping is in a to-go box for tomorrow 😅. The quality of the ingredients was very tasty. The cause was particularly good.

Drink: Blue Hawaiian cocktail Cost- $4.75 (normally $10, half-off special for this week) The drink was made very well by our very own server Brooke, who was excellent the entire time and made our night out perfect! The drink tasted great and had a beautiful presentation. I would purchase this drink again in the future, regardless of discount.

Dessert: Mochi (Mango flavor) Cost: $8 normally, free for us with agreement to post a review, but no pressure to post any type of bias review (positive or negative).

Overall cost for large dinner for two including tax (before tip): $65.42 Value for meal: excellent!

Side note: the soy sauce was in a cute teapot-style dish that pours into a nice bowl perfectly. The metal plates for eating the BBQ items or sushi pieces are stylish and very nice. Good additional touches. There are k-pop music videos playing on screens on at least on side of the restaurant that create some noise overall, but it adds to the atmosphere I think.

If you are looking for a good quality Asian restaurant, which plans to add karaoke and other fun night events in Salisbury, especially located next to Salisbury University, this is the...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My fiancée, Shaketta, and I had the pleasure of dining at The Smoking Monster BBQ & SUSHI Bar last Friday during their soft opening, and let me tell you—it was an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish!

From the moment we walked in, we were blown away by the unique anime-themed environment and the futuristic self-serving robot that delivered our food. The ambiance was fun, engaging, and felt like something truly fresh for Salisbury.

Our waiter was incredibly kind, offering top-notch service that made us feel welcomed and valued. But what really set this experience apart was meeting the owner. Not only was she down-to-earth and passionate about her restaurant, but she even took the time to sit down and talk with us—sharing her vision, future plans, and even joking about the shared struggles of parenthood and fathers trying to keep up with mothers (which had us laughing). It felt like we weren’t just customers but part of something special.

Now, let’s talk about the food—because it was absolutely phenomenal! We tried a variety of dishes, including: ✅ Steamed dumplings – perfectly tender and flavorful ✅ OC Dream Roll & Sweet Potato Roll – fresh, well-balanced, and beautifully presented ✅ Eel Bibimbap – a must-try for any bibimbap lover, with rich flavors and perfect textures ✅ Meat Combo (pork belly, ribeye, beef bulgogi) – cooked to perfection, juicy, and packed with flavor ✅ Mochi Ice Cream (matcha, mango, and chocolate) – the perfect sweet finish, topped with delicious cream

Every single dish was prepared with care and bursting with flavor. You could truly taste the quality and authenticity.

I highly recommend this place—a must-visit spot in Salisbury! If this is just their soft opening, I can’t wait to see what’s next. This restaurant is on track to become one of the top dining destinations in the city.

We’ll definitely be back....