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Hey y’all, it’s Star! Here to explain what it’s like to order Korean BBQ.

I’ll start by explaining that Luna and I are avid foodies. Mostly down for anything, especially at reasonable prices. Korean BBQ was always a well off dream (mostly because we were broke jobless teenagers with no allowances). In the end we ended up living the dream and with the right group of people we had the greatest Korean BBQ experience.

We were lucky to discover some of our weeb circles were actually all current or past employees of K-town, one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Portland. Now, everytime there is a reason to celebrate we go to K-Town. To this day I still get intimidated by the menu and the prices but here’s how you manage that panic.

Paying per person

• At K-town it’s anywhere from $21.99-$31.99 depending on the time of day and the package deals you’re ordering from. We end up usually letting the regulars choose what we eat which is never a bad idea.
• K-town is also “All you can eat” so paying a one time price for filling up on cuts of good meat and seasoned veggies is worth it.
• Like at most other places, there is no split bills unless you tell them ahead of time or when they bring the check.

Bringing friends

• K-town can be a very expensive date for two people that aren’t foodies or big eaters. So try to bring the pack with you.
• This one is for all those friends with dietary restrictions, don’t fret! The grills are made with plates of metal like a roof, with slits that tilt down. So juices gather and drip to the flame underneath. If you lay your materials neatly, meats won’t touch the veggies! With that being said, the wait staff will change the grills when they are over used.
• With that being said, sometimes the alcoholic drinks come in bulk too. Unless you plan to get tipsy watch how much you order. Some places make their own flavored Soju, the love child of vodka and rice wine, and that can get pretty expensive.

Bi-lingual Menus

• This is more common than you think. I understand the intimidation of listening to a native speaker pronounce the items on the menu but that doesn’t mean you have to. More often than not, you can always use the English translations to tell your wait staff. If you’re uncomfortable don’t force yourself.
• Always ask your wait staff if they have what you’re craving or if you are unsure about prices. Like most places the wait staff is pretty knowledgeable about what’s on the menu. Read the menu and if confused, ask questions.
• Remember it’s going to come raw, sometimes seasoned, and in bulk. No cooking skills needed just cook it to the rarity of your choosing. But when the meat starts to turn from pink to brown that’s a good indication that it’s cooked.
• The materials come pre-sliced. Depending on the cut of meat can determine the thickness but remember the cooks in the back know best. Some Korean BBQ places cook the meat for you. Although that’s not always traditional so don’t expect it to happen every time and at every place. K-town is not one of those places. But cooking is half the fun 😉

Have you had Hot Pot? It’s a lot like Korean BBQ.