Goong Korean BBQ — Restaurant in Springville

Hopes? I had hopes for this place. My wife and I once enjoyed this place when it was another Korean Style BBQ place several years ago, and where sad when the owner closed. So when I noticed one day that a new one was open up in this location. I was excited. I would come by very week or so just to see if it was open. Well on Friday I drove by and to my delight it was now open. Here is my break down.

Atmosphere (★★★) Wasn't all that impressed by a Large TV on the wall playing a subtitled show that had people getting shot up while we were eating. It was a bit distracting and seemed like something that was there to keep the staff entertained while no one was there. Service (★★★★★) Our waitress was great and attentive Drink Options ★★★ The drink options are very limited just Soda's and Water from what was on the menu. No tea's or specialty drinks, and no Alcohol. We went with water. Our container that had our water didn't have ice in it. So the water wasn't very cold just something right out of the tap.

Meat Menu (NOT ALL YOU CAN EAT) (★★★) We chose the Beef Combo Small (2) option on the menu. Brisket, Kalbi, Bulgogi, Premium Ribeye. Brisket had way more fat on it then I've usually seen, and I would recommend keeping a close eye on it while cooking else it will become a dried out burnt bit of meat. It wasn't very good. Kalbi again was just meat. Usually, I've gone to other places and this has a sweeter marinade. Bulgogi was the only star of the show, but it was a bit on the dry side when it came to the standard flavor I've come to love. Premium Ribeye does not live up to the name Premium. I've seen and had better cuts from Walmart. I would say the owner should ask for a discount from their vendor.

Sides dishes (★★★★★) This is where things got really good. All the standard option you'd find at most BBQ place. But they all tasted great. Kimchi, Cucumber Kimchi, Brown Sweetened Potato, Onion pickled salad, pickled radish, pickled carrots and radish, Korean pancakes, side of rice, and a couple others I can't name. These where all really good. We would take the pickled onion salad and put it into our rice bowl, and it was amazing. Our waitress was really well prepared when I would ask what this dish or side was called, and would have to ask. She was very new, and still learning. I personally consumed several dishes of Kimchi, Cucumber Kimchi, and the onion salads. I enjoyed these way more then any of the meats we had.

Soups (★) My wife ordered an Egg like soup that our waitress wasn't sure if it should be called a soup. I had never seen anything like it at other places. I was excited to see. It sort of look like an omelet style or scrabbled eggs. But looks can be deceiving, it was flavorless. Had no real appeal. It tasted like over cooked hard boiled eggs. Where the yokes had turned green from the heat. These where not green, but the closest I could come to the taste was like over cooked eggs. No salt, not butter, or even pepper to help with the profile.

Deserts (★) No desert option on their menu, but nothing was offered, or even suggested by our waitress.

Finale over all. (★★★) The price is two high for the type(s) of food and quality you get here. I love paying for a fantastic meal and do not mind paying for a quality dish. I've been to two better places then Goong in the Orem area where I'll spend about the same price if not a bit cheaper for a much high quality of food. I even mentioned it to our waitress that she should try the two places in Orem. To become more well rounded on the types of dishes that are out there. We enjoyed the service we got, and the sides where amazing, but the sides shouldn't be the thing that spell success for a place that has Korean Style BBQ in the title. We will not...

Wow. Absolutely incredible. If you like Korean BBQ and aren’t scared by a more authentic one with more authentic food (spicier Kimchi, less American marinades, not all you can eat Korean BBQ where there are a million sides) then you should ABSOLUTELY try Goong Korean BBQ in Springville. It’s not all you can eat so the quality is drastically higher, but obviously you pay for that quality. So prices are higher compared to your average Korean BBQ restaurant.

We got a beef combo (which feeds 2-3 people) and everything was absolutely phenomenal. It came with tons of sides including Kimchi, a variety of pickled veggies, a kimchi pancake, rice, and more. The beef was obviously the star. They started with a plate of bulgogi (already cooked) which was absolutely delicious. They then brought brisket and a ribeye steak which you could cook or they cook for you standing next to your table. We thought that was a nice touch, and something you don't typically find at a Korean BBQ place due to the rush of all you can eat. Finally they brought a large tender beef rib that was literally on fire which was fun, and they sliced it up for you. All the beef was excellent.

After all that the head chef/owner brought out a complimentary ox tail stew which is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever eaten. Absurdly tender ox tail, the most amazing broth, and eaten over rice it was absolutely incredible. I could’ve eaten just that for my meal and been thrilled. I will literally be returning primarily to get more of that ox tail stew, it was that good. Then to finish it off the combo came with some mochi ice cream which is always a hit.

All of this food I mentioned above was part of the small beef combo that cost around 90 dollars. More pricey than your average Korean BBQ place but also, in my opinion, substantially better and worth the price.

This is not a restaurant for kids generally speaking. There’s no kids menu, and of course the flavors, unless your kids are used to this kind of thing, are not something that many kids would enjoy. So I would recommend this is an adults-only dinner location unless your kids love these flavors.

There is so much I could say about Goong but honestly the best I can say is I will 100% be going back. And you better believe I'll be ordering that...

This is our first time to this restaurant. I didn't realize it was under different ownership than the last place. When I had gone here previously the woman that owned it walked out and yelled at us that we were eating too much and really left a bad taste in our mouths. However, the new ownership is a 180 degree different approach. It is not all you can eat. But when you order you can take all the food home with you and it is so much food that i and a friend ate a whole other meal the next day! The ingredients are amazing. I was hesitant on the oxe tail soup, but my 9 yr old was adamant that we get some. I didn't end up ordering it, however when the server brought out the food they brought oxe tail soup and kalbi beef ribs, on the house as a thank you for trying them out for the first time. Those two items were my favorite. I was fighting with my 9 year old to slurp up the last of the soup. The beef was locally purchased and of high quality. They brought out a full rib eye steak that was so marbled it looked like waygu beef. It was amazing (hack: ask your server about Korean tacos... Just do it. You won't be disappointed.) Speaking of servers, I didn't catch her name, but she was a BYU art student and she provided what might have been the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. Helpful, kind, patient. We seemed important to her. She told us the back story of the new owner and was very available, but not overly attentive. The actual owner/chef came out to check on us and showed us some tricks. My kids both said it was the best place they have ever eaten. I couldn't recommend higher. I'd give more stars if they...