Philly’s Buffet
7260 Marshall Rd, Upper Darby, PA, 19082
Philly’s Buffet Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Upper Darby for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Upper Darby for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Upper Darby for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
7260 Marshall Rd
Upper Darby, PA, 19082 - Phone (610) 284-9000
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Christina H.
Like the other poster said, the people there are SO NICE. But their food is meh. The reason I keep going back here everytime though is because for $20 you can eat a crap load of meat! In case you haven't read my other reviews, I love love LOVE food, and lots of it. Now, I know I can make better kalbi and better japchae and eat in the beautiful romantic ambiance of my dining room (heh), but I'm lazy and it's still cheaper to go here. It's fun to go with friends and sing out "gum beh!" together, get wasted and eat mediore bbq. I like that they do have a variety of meats and side dishes and soups, and I really love that they have the shredded scallion, the radish wraps , and spicy squid(drool). It's also close to my favorite karaoke place, so typically we hit up the bbq then go sing. It's a great place for korean bbq noobs, since you can try everything. FYI, it is now a byob so bring your own stuff. Don't bring beer because it just takes up valuable realestate in your tummy.
(3)Lidan L.
This place is far from the city but I still love to go there the second time. Last time I got there at 1 at noon but there was only one couple eating there. I was so surprised because my friend speak highly of this place. After I tried their beef (with a bone in it) I must say that was impressive. Pork belly is also delicious. The only thing that I was concerned about is the lecture looks like was not well-cleaned. We had four plates of that kind of beef with bone. The waitress there was very nice. I like this place!
(4)Andrew L.
How can people possibly rag on this place? Sure, it's decor and ambience (who gives a crap?!) is lacking. But come on, it's all-you-can-eat PREMIUM cuts of meat. The kalbi is so amazing - tender, well-seasoned, juicy. Oh my goodness it's so good. The ladies are so sweet, they're like your aunties who are trying to run a great restaurant. They change out the grill so frequently and are very attentive. We ate enough to run up at $300 bill somewhere else, and we ate like kings for $110 + tax and tip.
(5)L D.
Great place to get your "phill" of Kalbi and other Korean BBQ goodies. Service is great, the cooks come around often to help you cook (except when they are backed up then its up to you to get the job done.) Had a number of small and large gatherings here and its just great. The meat is fresh and nicely marinated. Only small draw back is that parking may be an issue during dinner time on weekends, but still worth the drive and parking space hunt. Bottom line: good food, good price, get your phill.
(4)Jamie S.
Delicious, unlimited food, an authentic experience, and attentive service...besides those, this place has little going for it. The ceiling dripped water on my arm every several minutes during my meal, and the ventilation is meager at best. There was quite a bit of meat at the buffet bar, but the pork belly looked a little rotten...it probably wasn't, but the flies buzzing around it and the rest of the bar didn't help its appearance. The buffet did have the essentials, though: galbi, pork belly, bulgogi, garlic, green chili pepper, ssamjang, sesame oil and salt, kimchi... To me, the experience definitely didn't justify the price. Our total came to around 80 dollars not including tip, but that's partially because we ordered doenjang jjigae along with our meal. Looking back, that wasn't the smartest financial decision, but KBBQ without doenjang jjigae just doesn't feel right. My recommendation: this is a good location if you really crave AYCE KBBQ, but if you're just looking to scarf down a ton of meat, spend the extra 10-15 bucks and dine at Fogo de Chao.
(3)Melissa O.
4 stars for the food, but 2 stars for the location/ambience. I came here in the winter time and the roof was leaking, the place looked so dilapidated, it was BAD. Having to walk around the little space heaters on the floor was a hassle when refilling our plates. Also, no ventilation so the smoke issue is worse than usual. But, the food was pretty great. There was quite a bit of everything and the flavors were all delicious. I liked that the staff would stop by to check in and help. Overall, $35 per person is probably the only reason I won't be back anytime soon. I could get over the restaurant itself to enjoy such good food and a fun experience but that's just too pricey.
(3)Michelle K.
super good food. for a Korean BQQ place - the price is the best i have seen. most places make you by per person and it can add up. here it is just flat rate all you can eat. please go and try it!!!!
(4)Samuel N.
This place is a shell of its former self, having dined here recently the risks far outweigh the benefits of charcoal meaty goodness. Ventilation is poorer than it was before (probably a long term health risk for those who work there) and no joke the restaurant was leaking EVERYWHERE as it was storming when we went in. Overall it was an appalling experience that left me mourning the loss of a great meat buffet that once was. The leaky building that barred access to its only bathroom (because of the waterfall that was coming out from ceiling and into a bucket right in front of the bathroom that was already flooded out) And seeing rain water collecting in areas near the buffet set up just did it in for me. WHY IS THERE NO GOOD KOREAN BBQ IN PHILLY?!?!?! :(
(1)SeongSu H.
For the price this is not worth it. Cost is $35 per person and the Kalbi was not fresh the side dishes were old and sitting out for a long time. The only reason it gets any stars is because the service was good but this could be because there were only two groups in the entire place.
(2)Vy D.
To all lovers of meat out there- this AYCE Korean BBQ Buffet is legit. Although it's located in a shady area of Upper Darby and the decor and ambiance leave much to be desired. The food here is really tasty! And you can eat as much of it you want until your gastrointestinal system explodes. Anyways, we were hungry and attacked the buffet like the carnivores we are. They have everything here. From authentic bone-in kalbi, bulgogi, daeji bulgogi, chicken, baby octopus, and shrimp. Everything was well-seasoned and looked extremely fresh. Also plenty of rice, kimchi, and banchan dishes go with too! I kept thinking "they aren't going to make any money off of us!" Owned by an adorable old Korean couple, they were more than helpful. When we asked for extras such as butter and lime, they were more than accommodating. Being a cold December night, they even brought out a heater right next to our table. It's only $25 a person! That's a really great deal considering how much meats we ate. You can also bring as much beer or soju you want as it's BYO. You will not be disappointed and will be leaving with a food coma for sure ;)
(4)mia n.
New ownership........ who was the previous owner of Young Bin Kwan (Seoul Garden) in Jenkintown. The food is great!!!! I drove over an hour to eat here. They have several selection of BBQ, fish, lomein, dumplings, salad, kimchi, soba, fruits and many more! Everything is great here! One thing I don't like is that it is too far for me...
(5)Julie N.
Philly's Buffet... In Upper Darby. Good selection of meats - for the price per person, it's not bad at all. You grill them yourself at the table, and the tables are not very big, so be warned that you will come out smelling like the grill. The grill is also changed pretty often so that is a plus. Pace yourself and eat all the kalbi, pork belly, squid, shrimp, etc. that you can. (Don't fill up on rice.) Save a little space for fresh fruit for dessert.
(3)Kimmie S.
After all the great reviews, I decided to check it out. Almost everyone there that night was korean. I'm chinese and my boyfriend is white american. We sat down and they decided to wait on all the koreans and us last. We were very polite and waited. We waited probably about 15 minutes before they even started our coal and fire/grill. I've had korean bbq a lot, in california, texas but this was definitely one of the worst experiences. When I asked the waiter how much the cost would be he said, maybe around 32 dollars. Even though most reviews say 25-30 dollars. I said ok well hopefully the meat will be worth it. Service was horrible through out the night, meat was great though, still not the best but it was good for the philly area. Everything was dirty, bathrooms were dirty, you can tell the ceiling is rotting. I work in the hospitality industry so I know the guidelines that a restaurant needs. In the end, when we went to go pay, she charged us 70 dollars for 2 people. We only had the buffet, we didn't have any soft drinks or anything added on. I feel like she (the old lady) ripped us off. I think they need a sign that says a set price. Good luck with your experience!
(2)Lily C.
It was very good we went in the day time though we were the only two people in the restaurant The lady was very attentive. Food was good the price was around $65 but would totally go back again with friends
(4)Nancy P.
I came here for a friend's surprise bday with the bf after a horrible snow storm. Unfortunately the parking lot was small and not very clean. In fact, after we finished eating..I needed help to push my car off the snow mounds in the parking lot. Anyway, we came here early since it was a surprise party. My bf was the only one who spoke Korean, which always comes in handy. He got them to bring over some heat lamps because it was very cold. The place was pretty empty (I don't blame them..it was during an Eagles game and there was no TV in the place). The variety of meats were good enough. About the usual stuff..I think the kalbi was the best that they offered. I enjoyed the banchan and other non-meat choices as well. They had the steamed egg, Korean chicken wings, salads and lots of fruit. The servers came around to change the grills a good amount of times. It's not bad for an all you can eat Korean BBQ place but the location does make it inconvenient.
(3)Shek Lun L.
Best Korean BBQ in the area!!! The servers are super nice, kept changing the grill for you before you asked them to!!! Must come!!!
(5)Melanie Z.
This place is amazinggggg. Typical buffet rules apply - don't pile up your plate with things until you've tried everything. You don't want to have tons of shrimp left on the plate after you realized the galbi is the only thing you want to eat. And trust me you will realize that. The pros: 1. UNLIMITED MEAT. 2. Amazing price for UNLIMITED MEAT. 3. Servers are really friendly and will help you when you look like you're not doing it right (I could see how some people might not like this though) 4. The sweet rice fruit punch. The cons: 1. The meat isn't as good as some other places, but this is a buffet so what do you expect? 2. You will leave smelling like Korean BBQ.
(4)Meena N.
This place is pretty good, I like how you can get all the stuff yourself. It's a little ghetto looking and the floor is really sticky and slimy because of all that grease and smoke but those are the best places to get the best meals, is it not? I'm giving this place 4 stars is because they have the bone-in kalbi. Not the LA-kalbi strips, REAL, actual, kalbi. I'm a sucker for those bones, and just looking at it - the meat looks fresh. Not down for the fact that you have to pass by this tiny little area to get to the food and the dirtiness of it all, but what the hell, the meat's legit and this is coming from a girl that lives in LA, where Ktown is just a stone's throw.
(4)Alexander L.
Came here with a party of 14 for a birthday. The place was empty due to the winter storm. People joked that you needed a Korean friend to make this place bearable. The food was ok. It seems like that the food was geared around catering to non-Koreans; still the kalbi was decent and drinks were cheap enough. Look, if you're looking for genuine Korean BBQ then go to a restaurant and pay the premium. You want cheap drinks and all you can eat--if you're in the area, deal with the shortcomings. Me personally, I don't think that I'll make it a habit to come here as I'm almost never in the area anyways, but I could see why some people like to come here (and why people avoid it as well)
(3)Gunga D.
For two, with soft drinks, it was right around $65 for the BBQ buffet. Despite the fact that some of the meat offerings (especially the galbi) betrayed a skillful hand in mixing and applying the marinade, this was strictly a once-and-done experience for us. The light level and general appearance of the place, as you walk in, reminds you of a poorly maintained aquarium in which you pray the fish died quickly. The only thing that's missing is the dried-out green algae on the walls. We were the only customers when we walked in, and the lights were off above all of the buffet selections, on an early late December evening, at about 6 PM or so. The building is apparently unheated, and definitely unventilated, except for the air exchange (and December chill, and perhaps August warmth as well) provided by the opening and closing of the front doors of this dingy, dirty location. For the record, I love Korean BBQ. Frankly, I'd probably do something fairly shady for a healthy supply of samgyeopsal, sangchu, fixin's, and a burner -- just not here. Back in the day, we did Porky and Porkies off Washington Avenue, and KO-BA in Jenkintown through a couple different owners/management teams, not to mention a goodly number of non-AYCE Korean locations in and around Upper Darby, Lansdale/North Wales, and North 5th St. Philly. BT, DT. And "Grandma"? She isn't charming, and she isn't cute. She's annoying and frustrating with a healthy side of condescending, at best. Folks will make the argument for tolerant cross-cultural understanding, but when you've made every possible hand gesture and negative noise to indicate that you'd like to do the grilling yourself, including raising your left arm to block her access to the grill and twitching the index finger of the right hand back and forth above the grill in international "no-no," and she still defiantly insists on tumbling all your raw meat onto the burner at once -- well, you vote with your feet and your keyboard. It's too expensive for what it is, not clean enough, in a dismal location, unheated, and run by someone who disregards the diners' pleasure and comfort to an unacceptable extent. I'll give it a 1.
(1)Rob S.
This place was great, it was my 1st Delicious BBQ at this place. You get to have a great chicken perfect Asian meal
(5)Luong M.
If you just got done drinking or are very hungry for some hungover food/meat, this is a great spot, you can drink soup and tea and eat lots of variety of meats.. also its byob.
(4)Fei S.
My wife's been talking about this place for a very long time. Then I tried this with her and my friend with his wife. We went there at saturday night, that must be the reason the bill surprised me. $30 per person on saturday night. The bone in the beef was worthy trying. All in all, they have various meat but sauces which's not helping to make them taste better. You should take enough fruits at first coz they'll be gone soon.
(3)Juv L.
It was almost the only Korean BBQ around at the time so we drove about half an hour there, but I have to say we were really disappointed. We were there on a Saturday for lunch, and they had a very small selection of meat and veggies. The taste itself was ok, nothing special. But it was exceptionally expensive. They charged us around $35 per person. The lunch would be fine if it was around $15, but for $35 it really is not worth it. Will not come again.
(1)Alison H.
This is the best Korean BBQ buffet around town (the most consistent at least). I've dropped in multiple times, and I've never gotten poor service. The little old ladies who work there are so adorable. They're attentive and friendly. They'll most likely cook your meat for you if there are less people. The food is decent enough. They have some vermicelli noodles that are pretty tasty. The other "side" dishes aren't bad at all. They include corn, fried chicken, tofu and some sort of radish. There's some watermelon you can treat as dessert. As for rice, there's usually a choice of either purple or white. Now for the meat...what can I say? Last time my group went, it was a carnivorous feast. We piled on everything- the bulgogi, kalbi, spicy pork, shrimp, squid and stuff I can't even remember properly. I really enjoyed the kalbi because it was marinated so good. The charcoal grill only made it better. For drinks, we just stuck with water and tea. The latter had a nutty aftertaste to it, which was pretty cool. So, what are the downsides? It's not the cheapest. Weekends are $30 per person. They occasionally have small discount coupons if you know where to look (coughchinesemetrocough). Ventilation is limited, so don't wear anything fancy. I sat in the direction where the smoke was blowing, and I smelled like charcoal the rest of the night. The deco's from the last restaurant, so you'll see Western-themed stuff around. It's also not in the best neighborhood, but I digress. One more thing... don't sentence yourself to eternal torture by coming here full or even half full.
(5)Jose A.
This place is really cool, if you have never been to a Korean Barbe que, then you need to go to one, particularly this one. There is a stove in the middle of your table, and you go and get whatever kind of meet you would like from the buffet, and come back and cook on your table. I personally prefer the pork belly, but they have a bunch of differnet tastey meats as well. Then you eat the meat you just cooked with a decent selection of spicy, noodle, vegtable korean sides that you also get from the buffet. The service is pretty good too, it's not cheap though, 25 bucks a pop for dinner, but well worth it...
(4)Mae L.
I was craving for korean bbq and decided to give this place a try after reading the reviews on here. I went on a Saturday for dinner and it was $30 per person, drinks and tips not included. Others said they paid $25, maybe weekdays? Called prior to coming here and was told $27 with a heavy accent (probably heard it wrong). Keep in mind, workers here do not speak English so don't have any high service expectations. You get unlimited beef, pork, shrimps, and squids. Meats were well marinated. They also have some side dishes and fruits (orange and watermelon).Other than their unlimited poultry, everything was alright. If you're a big eater who doesn't care of the atmosphere of the restaurant and side dishes, you have come to the right place. Side dishes were not what I expected; not the typical side dishes you get at other korean bbq places. I was nervous prior to coming here based on the other review regarding their area and parking that someone had dents all over her car. Upon arriving, I was relieved to find there was actually small a parking lot in front of their store. Turned out, the owner was the same owner at the other korean bbq place i went to 2 years ago. Better ventilation than their old location. Homey atmosphere without any music and when I went, there wasn't that many people. Other than their unlimited marinated poultry, I was bored grilling/eating.
(3)John P.
I'm a regular here and I'll say that the service is great, it's true that it may be a tough if you're not Korean to get friendly with the waiter/waitresses but the Korean BBQ is legit. Maybe not everyone is accustomed to Korean style BBQ but when it comes to the galbi, it's as good if not better than any of the other restaurants in the area. I would highly recommend anyone that's looking for a good friendly fresh buffet to check it out. The atmosphere is definitely a bit more homey but I tend to like that atmosphere. The variety of meats also please the pallet and I would highly recommend the sweet rice punch when finishing your meal. The lady says it helps you digest but heck if anything, I think it just pushes all that heavy meat weight down. Drop by if you want some great Korean BBQ and tell the waiter Mr. John sent you! She might even throw you some extras or some complimentary service!
(5)Aya H.
Okay so a month ago we tried this chinese bbq restaurant in NY which was amazing experience by all means so we wannit to find something similar to that and philly's buffet sound the closest to what we had. I'll start by saying that we went on a wednesday night and I'm not exaggerating when saying that the owners were gonna feed us like babies (in a good way though lol) they explained to us the korean way to eat their barbecue which was so much fun (wrapping the lettus with rice the meat and kinda salty nutty paste i wish i know what was that but it was DELISH) so yeah the buffet is all you can eat meats the best they have is the short ribs YUMMY,rice and sides. The waiter kept grilling our food instead of grilling it ourselves (who wouldn't like that) 30$ per person Friendly staff Decent variety of meats Will be back for sure
(4)Grace C.
I was visiting Philly with some girlfriends from out of town. We went early on a Friday night but the place was empty. We were surprised but ready to fill our stomachs with Korean bbq. The food at the buffet was scant and not fresh.. The servers were nice and cooked the meat for us though. But when we were ready to pay, the server said the credit card machine was broken and told us to cross the street and go to the atm in a pawn shop to get cash... At night that's kinda scary for us girls... But anyway we did it and asked if we can get a little discount for the hassle. After all small businesses prefer cash customers. But she flat out said no... Overall food was good... But customer service wasn't so great...
(3)Alex P.
$25 per person seems like a lot considering its in the ghetto and the place is falling apart and run down. Since they don't have heat, they use small personal space heaters during the winter. Aside from all that nonsense, the food is delicious! And it is unlimited quality seasoned Korean meat and seafood after all, so $25 is fair. Plenty of choices and you won't go hungry from all this Korean BBQ. It's especially fun to do in groups with family or friends. And at the end (or beginning or middle), you get the dessert drink. It's soo sweet! This is definitely authentic Korean food! Also, FYI, most of the people there don't speak English and forget about the owner or staff because they definitely don't.
(3)Marissa R.
Come here for the meat varieties . Even tho the name says philly buffet the buffet part u don't see. They have 5 different types of meat for u to grill at the table. Remember to have them change out the grill often or your meat will burn. U have to be hungry cause it's about 32.00 a person it's not your Chinese buffet. It's BYOB which is a plus plus plus
(4)Pat O.
I love this place the owner move from Jenkins town to here they all still the same. The old lady very very nice. I been came here couples time since she move here. The place was clean. I loves the all meats they have and all u can eat but think even buffet but we should take the foods for amount that we like by the time because I saw someone they just get the food and left it there a lots. It's not nice I knew It is a buffet place but common sense that what I think all the times I go buffet.
(4)Charlene P.
I love this place .so good .it is far from my house .but still want to go there. .the beef there is super delicious .
(5)Fransisca M.
I'll probably come back for lunch or early dinner. I went there for late dinner (around 8.30ish) and all the food were almost gone. I guess it's a good sign that their food turnover is good and fresh. The table service is really good, but I don't think they serve alcohol so byob.
(4)Hank G.
This restaurant does not have any outstanding outfit. However this God really amazing taste real Korean food!
(4)Sarah B.
I was sad that Young Bin Kwan (YBK) closed but glad to hear that at least part of the management had moved to Upper Darby, which is a little bit closer. There are more panchan (small plate) offerings at the new location. My favorites would be the jap chae and potatoes. The kalbi and pork belly (samgyupsal) are still good as ever, and the friendly and English-limited manager will gladly whip up some spicy scallion salad if you ask for it. Philly's Buffet isn't in the greatest of neighborhoods, and parking is a little .. strange. But if you're looking for an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ treat, you won't be disappointed! The quality of the service and food far outweigh the decor (which looks to have been left by the previous owner).
(3)Steven D.
There aren't many all you can eat Korean BBQ's left out there, but with a buffet, you're always sacrificing some quality. It won't be the greatest tasting Korean BBQ you've had, but it certainly gets the job done to satisfy your craving of meats and Korean side dishes. I wish they had better kimchi and cucumbers. I haven't tried a lot of their other sides, but I'm glad they let you make your own side of scallions. They've got potato cakes, radishes, fish cakes, tofu, soups, rice, and fruits for dessert. As for the meat, you get your short ribs (galbi), chicken, pork, pork belly (samgyupsal), beef (bulgogi), shrimp, and squid. I will admit, it's hard to get good service here sometimes. It's hit or miss in my experience.The staff doesn't speak a lot of English, so do yourself a favor and have a Korean speaking person in your group! If they're not busy they'll be able to come around and help grill the meats and exchange the grill plates pretty often. My latest visit was my worst experience. They don't honor reservations as well as you would expect. We had a large party of 20+ people and when we got there, we ended up waiting another 45 minutes. It still seemed like they were seating first come first serve despite reservations. Our group also ended up splitting up to eat. It's still worth a visit if you've never been or if you have that craving and don't want to make the travel to Jenkintown (search Koba). It's BYO which is another plus. The parking lot is pretty small (~10 cars), so be ready to park in the streets if it's full. Enjoy and remember to leave your jackets in the car!
(3)Steven L.
$25 (+Tax) for all you can eat Kalbi is a win for me. They also have different selection of meats so I'm sure there's something for everyone. However, I felt the banchan (Side dishes) was a little blend. As for staffs, the manager as well as the waitresses were friendly and professional. Can't wait to go back! If you're wondering, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer).
(4)Florentina L.
This place never fails as far as tastes are concerning! My bff loves this place and sworn to come back again:)
(5)James C.
I have been going here for a while. I have nothing really to complain about. Whats better than all you can kal-bi, pork, shrimp, and other marinated meats? Nothing really, and the marinate is on point. If you are craving Korean bbq this is the place to go. My friends and I always come after a good workout of basketball or just hanging out, and we always come out full and satisfied. The service is good and friendly, if you want they grill the meat for you, but if you have experience you can tell them that you can grill the meats.
(5)Matt C.
Eh. Good enough. This place is just one of those "pay what it weighs," New York buffet places that I absolutely hate. Because of that, I decided to go with a sandwich. I was "greeted" at the counter by a woman that was apparently having a HORRIBLE day, and wasn't too worried about taking it out on me. "what do you want?" Was the first and only thing she said to me before I ordered the chicken sandwich. She then walked away, came back a few minutes later and said, "no chicken." Expecting me to have a plan b queued up and ready to go for this eventuality, she awaited my new order. I asked her to give me a minute please to look over the menu, and I can't be sure, but I think she sighed and rolled her eyes. What I CAN be sure about was that she DISAPPEARED. She was gone for like, literally, 15 minutes before coming back to get my order; a turkey and avocado sandwich, with cheese ("50 cents extra.") She made the sandwich and handed it to me before I had to remind her that fries came with the sandwich. 10 minutes later for the fries, she must have calmed down a bit, because she decided to comp me the 50 cents for my cheese; a saint she was. The sandwich was actually pretty damn good, and the fries, despite the wait, were PERFECT. Perfect. My brother got a breakfast platter that I heard no complaints about. The food dragged the rating up to 3 stars because the service was definitely a 1 or 2.
(3)German S.
This place is not easy on the eye..the place is an old dinner but I was told that the owner is one of the best in marrinating the meats, so i guess i had to make that determination by myself. I have dinned at several Korean BBQ, and and love the experience. After having different meats and squid I have to admit that the marinate was on point. The owner Ms. Kim made us feel like we were a family memeber. Always checking to see if we needed anything or the meat were to our liking. I think that I will be returning to Philly's Buffet Korean BBq.
(3)Sudo N.
I took my two kids here tonight and we were all happy with the outcome. The meat was good and there were plenty of side dishes: kyejang, soondubu, miyeokguk, and many kinds of kimchi. Meats included kalbi, bulgogi, samgyeopsal, and talkkogi. We ate a lot of everything and then took some of the leftovers home. Total bill for three people plus the extra takeout was $42.
(3)Kimmie O.
Originally planning to eat at the korean bbq place across street from hmart, but that place does open until 5pm on Sunday, later we ended up here from reviews on Yelp. It seems like a traditional korean bbq place from what I see in Korean Dramas. It is buffet style with different kinds of meat available to bbq (beef, pork, chicken, squid). It also has variety of kimchee for side dishes. There are white rice, water and wings too. If you are a meat lover, you will love this place. The ladies who work there were nice, they come help you with the bbq processing, but we're rather to have fun doing it ourselves. we ended up paying 150 for party of 5, and 20 for tips. To me, it was quiet expensive since most of us are still students. But i saw most of customers are native Korean families, so should not be a big deal for them.
(3)Jimmy S.
Pretty whack, seems like the lunch menu is about 25$ but dinner was 30+ tax or something (35~40 with tip/tax by the end of it all). I could be wrong about the price variation but I definitely paid close to ~40$ for the dinner meal. The pricing is pretty atrocious and it made my jaw drop seeing how much it was. I can't fathom how they stay in business that kind of pricing but then again, ayce kbbq is practically an almost extinct animal in Philly so they can probably charge w/e they want. The food was ok, nothing particularly stood out, they didn't have beef tongue and such but at least they had intestines and a lot more amenities/side dishes i.e. salt/pepper with sesame oil, kimchi, cucumbers, salad...the typical works, definitely was a bit more surprised to the variety of meats available. The staff was decent on attentiveness, changing grills and cutting some of the bigger slabs of meat. The seating was kinda slightly weird and off with random obstructions preventing you from moving your chair in the right place. Better off taking the longer drive to get Koba instead.
(1)Jessie c.
i'm giving this place a 3, not because of the food.. but because of the area. I parked my car in the rear parking lot and theres a neighborhood right behind them. Supposedly the kids from the neighborhood throw rocks at the store quite often as it happend when i was eating and we informed the manager and she said it was ok since it happens often. Well turns out the kids also threw rocks at my car leaving 5 dents on my driver side door and on the glass as well. They don't have any cameras so we couldn't do much, but the fact that I had to blow $800+ makes me super angry. The food is really good tho, and the service is good as well. Just be careful where you park..... im hoping by now they did something about that
(3)Ting G.
Two thumbs up!! Upon entering around 5 pm, I was very skeptical due to the fact that my boyfriend and I were the only customers there..but shortly after, the place filled up pretty quick. Not a very fancy environment but I would say it was a neat little set up. As I headed over to the buffet I was happy to see so many different cuts of meat, seafood, veggies and Korean sides. Typically Korean restaurants charge a lot for a little bit of food(well at least from my experience) so for about $30 per person at philly buffet..I felt like that was pretty fair considering I ate about what would be considered 3 orders of kalbi at a regular Korean spot. A few of my favorite items besides the Korean BBQ were the sweet soy garlic wings that were very tasty along with buttered potatoes and corn. They also had a bunch of pickled sides, kimchee and soups. When I arrived back at the table our waitress helped bbq our food. She wasn't always around once it started getting busy so I felt like I became somewhat of a pretty nice Korean chef! Lol. One plate turned into three which quickly turned into 5. I don't recommend this place to anyone on a diet or trying to count their calorie intake! The meats were all seasoned to perfection. After stuffing ourselves silly, we got some pineapples and oranges. (They were both so sweet) we had a great experience and will be back sooner than later!
(5)Allie Y.
I suppose I would have given this place 3.5 stars if I could... but all in all it wasn't above or beyond any Korean BBQ places I've tried in the past outside Philly (mostly LA, NY). This place is a buffet, so basically you can pick out whatever meats/seafood you want to cook and bring it back to your table where you cook it yourself on these grills which are a mixture of charcoals (for the flavor) + gas (for faster cooking). Meats: I really only had the kalbi (short rib) and the samgyupsal (pork belly) but according to the people I went with, those are the only ones worth getting. Those were pretty good... the kalbi I enjoyed more, and I wish the samgyupsal pieces were cut a bit thicker. Also, the samgyupsal comes frozen here... :T. We finished up with the shrimp. Sides: you've got all your standard sides here... I really liked the tofu and the crab, which is a rare one to find! Practical stuff: wear clothes that you don't mind getting extremely smelly with smoke/meat and the grease that floats around in the air. The parking lot also isn't that big so it can get crowded. It's also a BYO. Price ended up being about 24-25 per person... on the pricey side but I guess it was buffet, but still I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. Overall I left feeling pretty satisfied though and would consider coming back again for my korean bbq fix!
(3)Ebony M.
Not sure about all the good reviews. It doesn't seem like we went to the same buffet!!! My two kids and I went here for a quick dinner during the week around 5pm. When we walked in there was no one there! All the lights were off and there was no staff but the buffet tables were full of dried out looking food. The buffet table lights were off as were the warmers. I must say it was like we walked into another realm of the world! Needless to say, we did not dine here because it looked like they were just begging for ONE customer. Very creepy! Won't be returning here. EVER!
(1)Haeni K.
The meat selection is various, but dishes other than the meat themselves aren't that great. Don't try to experiment and just stick with the meat stuff. It's not the best Korean BBQ out there, but for a buffet, it is above average. Also, be sure to leave your coats and leather bag in your car because the place is like an opium den where they smoke meat instead of opium. I made a mistake of bringing my bag in, and the leather smelled like korean BBQ for a couple of days. I love the smell, but not when I'm sitting in a meeting and my bag is reeking bbq scent.
(4)Mel H.
This place was great. When you walk in there is a large selection of food. You get to pick your meats that you grill at your table and your sides. The food was great and service was a well. We had the beef and pork it was awesome. I would suggest that anyone try this place. The buffet cost about 20 bucks and drinks are a few more so expect to pay about 25 bucks.
(4)Agatha S.
I went there today with about 37 of my friends (yes there was literally 38 of us). One thing I like is that they had a big enough place to seat us all near each other and it is BYOB. However, it wasn't as good as other Korean BBQ buffet I've been to. The food was good, but I've tried other places with more flavorful meat. The people there did not help us cook at all so someone in each table had to be the chef. I'm used to someone helping my friends and I cook the food, so that we don't have to waste our time in cooking but just in eating. So I felt as though it was very inconvenient that we had to cook it ourselves. The restaurant isn't bad but there's only one bathroom for male/female and their parking lot is rather small. Our bill, including drinks, came up to over $1000. It wasn't a bad place, but I prefer to go to a different Korean BBQ buffet place.
(3)Yiye W.
I went to this place three times and will definitely patronize again. If you are a meat lover, you will like this place. For $25 you can bbq unlimited beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, etc. Waitresses are nice and helpful. The only drawback, if any, is that when you are done with the dinner, you won't smell too good:(
(5)Julie D.
$25 for all you can eat subpar BBQ. Definitely not as good as California (not even close) The meat is under a red lamp and it looks a bit odd. I wish they had unmarinated meat and brisket, I feel that marinated meat masks the quality of the meat. They were definitely lacking in the various Korean sides, and the ones that were there looked unappetizing like they've been sitting out there all day.
(2)Matt H.
Philly's Buffet = Young Bin Kwan same owner, food, staff....same epic all you can eat korean bbq goodness. just a new location. check out the review below. yelp.com/biz/young-bin-k…
(5)K W.
We went here with a group of people and as I stepped foot in the place I immediately had a hard time breathing. The exhaust system in this place is non existence! The buffet spread is right in the front entrance. Not sure how sanitary it is being the door opens and closes quite often changing the temperature of that room. In addition, people waiting to be seated are standing in that room. Their is a lack of service, granted it's a buffet...we know it's self serve for food...but you have to get your own water, napkins, silverware, and cups. They don't bring anything to you except the bill. I think its a great place for college kids. It's also BYOB so it's a nice cheap eat with friends and some alcohol. However, the air quality is really bad. I don't recommend bringing your kids. Also, you had to shower after eating there ..... it took one and half week before the smell of the korean bbq left my purse.
(1)Jenny L.
So happy this place opened! I was a fan of Young Bin Kwan and this is much closer to me. They still have the meat buffet, but have put out even more food in addition to the meats to grill. If you have never been, it is a very fun night with a group of friends. Just don't wear anything you don't want to wash, you will smell like smoke from grilling after. I didn't think the location was that scary and I did go at night (8pm). I was happy that they had their own parking lot and I didn't have to look for parking on the street. You should not leave this place hungry!
(5)Geoff c.
While they have your basic variety of krn bbq meat, the kalbi, bulgogi, samgyupsal, spicy pork, tripe, sliced steak, the quality of the meat is pretty low. Don't expect much. Once you see the place you'll understand. Their other dishes at the buffet are also pretty poor in quality. The don't have a good ventilation system, and by that I mean they have none. They just leave the front door open (by the way, all the food is also right next to the front door). So, it gets pretty smoky in there. It's pretty pricey for the quality you get compared to other areas. $24 for dinner on a weekday. For a fix of krn bbq, there are better places in upper darby, or i'd rather just make it myself. But this is a fun place to go if you're with a group and want to gorge yourselves. It's also BYO. I did see a cockroach there. Though that's not a huge turn off for me... those pests are everywhere. They'll survive the apocalypse. Staff is nice. Parking is limited. They prefer cash and only accept very few credit cards (at least thats what they told me. we ended up paying cash. as did everyone else in the restaurant, but theres an ATM there)
(2)David T.
This place is a joke. I'm not Korean, but I know what good Korean BBQ tastes like and you will NOT find it here. The selection was not so great and the meat was substandard. They didn't even have white rice! It was some brown/purple rice that looked like it had other crud in it; totally unappetizing and tasted as bad as it looked. Don't be sucked into the "oh, all you can eat for $20" promise because it is not worth your money, unless your palate is completely underdeveloped. For the real deal, go to Seoul Garden in Jenkintown. You won't regret it. P.S. - The location is MAD random.
(1)H M.
After reading the reviews I had very low expectations on the place. We went there for a friend's birthday. The meat was good and also marinades weren't bad. The shrimp did run out! Go early! The place gets smoky so make sure you don't wear your Sunday clothes. I still smell like the place, 2 days later... There was standard white rice there, not sure what the other reviewer was talking about. I would definitely go back to the place. Also, it is BYOB!
(3)Craig C.
One waitress bring the rib and meat back to buffet counter and dump it in as never been eat! Dirty!
(1)Hiep N.
This place rocks! The staff is fantastic, they're very casual yet professional! They remember you by your first name which is very warm, and they also teach you korean! The food here is also AMAZING. I come here and literally eat all of the kal-bi and pork belly even if my stomach says no more. I would recommend for everyone to try the korean punch. At first you might think it's a little too sweet, but before you know it you're addicted! A+ A+ A+
(5)Phillip Y.
I can't complain about this place. Sure, it smells smokey in here and you clothes might smell a few days. But, pleasant enough atmosphere with attentive staff helping you guys with the BBQ. Buffet was pretty good and ate till I was stuffed. Plenty of selection of things to grill and the shrimp did not run out like others mentioned the night I came. Parking is a bit of a pain so get there early for a spot. Also, there is a funny sign in the buffet that tells you $3 charge for 1 pound of wasted food. I guess they have the same mentality as my parents growing up. "Finish every piece of food on your plate!!!" Also, price is pretty reasonable but for some reason our organizer wasn't able to secure the 10% off our party of 30 people like the owner originally promised us. They just ended up giving us free soda which was still pretty good.
(4)Tina H.
Bad choice in name. Definitely could have been more creative. I'm not korean, but I thought the food was decent? Not so bad. When you first walk in, I might say I was extremely skeptical. I heard some not so great things about this place prior to coming, but came anyway because it was a friend's birthday. The selection of raw foods for you to BBQ were all right there when you open the door. The decor is more or less, ghetto, because it used to be an old diner. My boyfriend always complained how he would go to a Korean BBQ place and would pay so much and never be full, well, here is the solution! It's about 20 bucks for all you can eat BBQ, I think it's a pretty good deal especially if you're not as picky about Korean food. Unfortunately I came not so hungry, and didn't get my money's worth, but I thought it was adequate. My friends really enjoyed themselves, they definitely got their money's worth and maybe a bit more, haha. Although, they did run out of shrimp, which really seem to upset my friends, thumbs down for running out of food. The grill definitely needed more fire to get the real BBQ taste to the kalbi and bulgogi too. The service was really friendly, and very attentive. I'd have to say, I wasn't feeling their birthday song being played out the corner speaker though. I'd much prefer if they'd gather around and sang for you, haha, but no big. With all things considered, I'd probably come back again to eat, hopefully on an empty stomach this time. I'm not too picky about Korean food, but I don't think I would recommend this place to actual Koreans because they would probably think the food is less than average. I'd definitely recommend for first timers and anybody else though.
(3)Minh T.
This is a Korean BBQ buffet. It has all the fixings, staff was nice, meats were good, cooked everything for you and even learned something new about how to eat. I think it's good and I'd recommend it to anyone asking.
(4)Yohann S.
Like other reviewer has mentioned, this place have the same worker who used to work at Young Bin Kwan. I'm not 100% sure whats the story behind it, like what's going on with the old place and who or why they bought off the place and such. So I won't talk about it. Tasty as ever. Don't worry. I have to take off 1 star because I'm not a fan of their new location. I felt unsafe, somehow. Maybe that was because I went there at night and its all dark.. I don't know. But yeah.. there's this .. 'light' disturbance when me and my friends was there. The back door, which I believe supposed to be a Fire Exit door, was either bang or slammed so loudly from outside.. like everything happen so random and so creepy. I had a feeling that it was from the kids in that neighborhood. Yes it was 8pm-ish and there's still a lot of neighborhood kids playing outside. But yeah.. I'll definitely be back. Love them food very much.
(4)Herb L.
only the 2nd Korean buffet I've been to in the area. Solid all around. Could be better with separate exhaust fans above each table like some places have, and the place had more of a homey feel than most restaurants. Other than that, no complaints. Good service, food priced decently, no liquor license though. Owner even took us to the El station with previous notice. Very customer-oriented!
(4)SC W.
All you can eat meats, and apetizers and all for around $25 a person...How can you complain? A 12 oz steak at outback is freaking $20 already! Parking isn't that great, but can't have it all right?
(5)Evann G.
OK, I was a little scared, because I've never done Korean BBQ before. But! This. Was. Awesome. The bulgogi (sp?) was my absolute favorite of all the meats - to the point that I think I'll just ignore the other meats entirely next time and only eat bulgogi - but everything I tried was good. And I am one of those annoyingly paranoid people who gets really nervous about food safety and hygiene and stuff, and I was still OK with the situation and how the meat was laid out, etc. Everything was really clean. Cooking at the table was fun, and our waiter was super helpful because it was our first time. He showed us how to make lettuce wraps (SO GOOD!) and explained what everything was. (I was expecting to smell like meat for days afterward after reading some other reviews of Korean BBQs, but I didn't.) The prepared foods in the buffet were also really good, especially since I was starving and had to wait for our first round of meat to cook before we could eat it. I really liked the chicken, noodles, and potstickers the most but everything I tried was really good. But the bulgogi! Oh man. I think I will just focus on that next time. SO GOOD, especially when it got a little charred around the edges. Minus one star because it's a bit pricey. I think dinner for the two of us came to $54 before tip, but still totally worth it because it was such a cool experience.
(4)Don B.
After coming back here, I must say that I honestly feel somewhat discriminated against due to not being Korean. For example, the wait staff is very courteous and basically hands off with the Korean folks eating in the restaurant. However, in both of the times I was here, I felt that we were being somewhat rushed through our meal and unnecessarily waited on with regards to cooking our meat. If I take the time to clear the grill off so I can put my kalbi on and get a nice sear, I don't need the waitress coming over, grabbing my tongs, flipping it around and overcrowding the grill with more meat from my plate so it can effectively steam. I understand that they want to move tables through, but I think this is unacceptable. There were TONS of open tables and the place was dead when we were there our 2nd time, so it was totally unnecessary. I even attempted to tell the wait staff that we can handle cooking our own meat, but it was not adhered to. They were certainly not going over to the other Korean folks' tables and messing around with their meat on the grill. Bottom line, it's a decent place, but don't be surprised if you are treated differently for not being Korean.
(2)Won S.
GRAMMA IS BACK!!!!!!! The lady remembered my wife and I from when we used to go to Seoul Garden, aka "Young Bin Kwan". She was excited and told us to bring all of our friends back, as we used to go with big groups. This was exploratory field work to see if Matt G. was right. Sure enough we found our favorite Ajima. Food is just as good, and I'm loving life since she just went from an hour drive to a 15 minute drive. You all have to go there. She is back.
(5)Pat O.
I love this place the owner move from Jenkins town to here they all still the same. The old lady very very nice. I been came here couples time since she move here. The place was clean. I loves the all meats they have and all u can eat but think even buffet but we should take the foods for amount that we like by the time because I saw someone they just get the food and left it there a lots. It's not nice I knew It is a buffet place but common sense that what I think all the times I go buffet.
(4)Charlene P.
I love this place .so good .it is far from my house .but still want to go there. .the beef there is super delicious .
(5)Fransisca M.
I'll probably come back for lunch or early dinner. I went there for late dinner (around 8.30ish) and all the food were almost gone. I guess it's a good sign that their food turnover is good and fresh. The table service is really good, but I don't think they serve alcohol so byob.
(4)Hank G.
This restaurant does not have any outstanding outfit. However this God really amazing taste real Korean food!
(4)Sarah B.
I was sad that Young Bin Kwan (YBK) closed but glad to hear that at least part of the management had moved to Upper Darby, which is a little bit closer. There are more panchan (small plate) offerings at the new location. My favorites would be the jap chae and potatoes. The kalbi and pork belly (samgyupsal) are still good as ever, and the friendly and English-limited manager will gladly whip up some spicy scallion salad if you ask for it. Philly's Buffet isn't in the greatest of neighborhoods, and parking is a little .. strange. But if you're looking for an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ treat, you won't be disappointed! The quality of the service and food far outweigh the decor (which looks to have been left by the previous owner).
(3)Sudo N.
I took my two kids here tonight and we were all happy with the outcome. The meat was good and there were plenty of side dishes: kyejang, soondubu, miyeokguk, and many kinds of kimchi. Meats included kalbi, bulgogi, samgyeopsal, and talkkogi. We ate a lot of everything and then took some of the leftovers home. Total bill for three people plus the extra takeout was $42.
(3)Andrew L.
How can people possibly rag on this place? Sure, it's decor and ambience (who gives a crap?!) is lacking. But come on, it's all-you-can-eat PREMIUM cuts of meat. The kalbi is so amazing - tender, well-seasoned, juicy. Oh my goodness it's so good. The ladies are so sweet, they're like your aunties who are trying to run a great restaurant. They change out the grill so frequently and are very attentive. We ate enough to run up at $300 bill somewhere else, and we ate like kings for $110 + tax and tip.
(5)L D.
Great place to get your "phill" of Kalbi and other Korean BBQ goodies. Service is great, the cooks come around often to help you cook (except when they are backed up then its up to you to get the job done.) Had a number of small and large gatherings here and its just great. The meat is fresh and nicely marinated. Only small draw back is that parking may be an issue during dinner time on weekends, but still worth the drive and parking space hunt. Bottom line: good food, good price, get your phill.
(4)Vy D.
To all lovers of meat out there- this AYCE Korean BBQ Buffet is legit. Although it's located in a shady area of Upper Darby and the decor and ambiance leave much to be desired. The food here is really tasty! And you can eat as much of it you want until your gastrointestinal system explodes. Anyways, we were hungry and attacked the buffet like the carnivores we are. They have everything here. From authentic bone-in kalbi, bulgogi, daeji bulgogi, chicken, baby octopus, and shrimp. Everything was well-seasoned and looked extremely fresh. Also plenty of rice, kimchi, and banchan dishes go with too! I kept thinking "they aren't going to make any money off of us!" Owned by an adorable old Korean couple, they were more than helpful. When we asked for extras such as butter and lime, they were more than accommodating. Being a cold December night, they even brought out a heater right next to our table. It's only $25 a person! That's a really great deal considering how much meats we ate. You can also bring as much beer or soju you want as it's BYO. You will not be disappointed and will be leaving with a food coma for sure ;)
(4)Jamie S.
Delicious, unlimited food, an authentic experience, and attentive service...besides those, this place has little going for it. The ceiling dripped water on my arm every several minutes during my meal, and the ventilation is meager at best. There was quite a bit of meat at the buffet bar, but the pork belly looked a little rotten...it probably wasn't, but the flies buzzing around it and the rest of the bar didn't help its appearance. The buffet did have the essentials, though: galbi, pork belly, bulgogi, garlic, green chili pepper, ssamjang, sesame oil and salt, kimchi... To me, the experience definitely didn't justify the price. Our total came to around 80 dollars not including tip, but that's partially because we ordered doenjang jjigae along with our meal. Looking back, that wasn't the smartest financial decision, but KBBQ without doenjang jjigae just doesn't feel right. My recommendation: this is a good location if you really crave AYCE KBBQ, but if you're just looking to scarf down a ton of meat, spend the extra 10-15 bucks and dine at Fogo de Chao.
(3)Melissa O.
4 stars for the food, but 2 stars for the location/ambience. I came here in the winter time and the roof was leaking, the place looked so dilapidated, it was BAD. Having to walk around the little space heaters on the floor was a hassle when refilling our plates. Also, no ventilation so the smoke issue is worse than usual. But, the food was pretty great. There was quite a bit of everything and the flavors were all delicious. I liked that the staff would stop by to check in and help. Overall, $35 per person is probably the only reason I won't be back anytime soon. I could get over the restaurant itself to enjoy such good food and a fun experience but that's just too pricey.
(3)Michelle K.
super good food. for a Korean BQQ place - the price is the best i have seen. most places make you by per person and it can add up. here it is just flat rate all you can eat. please go and try it!!!!
(4)Samuel N.
This place is a shell of its former self, having dined here recently the risks far outweigh the benefits of charcoal meaty goodness. Ventilation is poorer than it was before (probably a long term health risk for those who work there) and no joke the restaurant was leaking EVERYWHERE as it was storming when we went in. Overall it was an appalling experience that left me mourning the loss of a great meat buffet that once was. The leaky building that barred access to its only bathroom (because of the waterfall that was coming out from ceiling and into a bucket right in front of the bathroom that was already flooded out) And seeing rain water collecting in areas near the buffet set up just did it in for me. WHY IS THERE NO GOOD KOREAN BBQ IN PHILLY?!?!?! :(
(1)SeongSu H.
For the price this is not worth it. Cost is $35 per person and the Kalbi was not fresh the side dishes were old and sitting out for a long time. The only reason it gets any stars is because the service was good but this could be because there were only two groups in the entire place.
(2)mia n.
New ownership........ who was the previous owner of Young Bin Kwan (Seoul Garden) in Jenkintown. The food is great!!!! I drove over an hour to eat here. They have several selection of BBQ, fish, lomein, dumplings, salad, kimchi, soba, fruits and many more! Everything is great here! One thing I don't like is that it is too far for me...
(5)Steven D.
There aren't many all you can eat Korean BBQ's left out there, but with a buffet, you're always sacrificing some quality. It won't be the greatest tasting Korean BBQ you've had, but it certainly gets the job done to satisfy your craving of meats and Korean side dishes. I wish they had better kimchi and cucumbers. I haven't tried a lot of their other sides, but I'm glad they let you make your own side of scallions. They've got potato cakes, radishes, fish cakes, tofu, soups, rice, and fruits for dessert. As for the meat, you get your short ribs (galbi), chicken, pork, pork belly (samgyupsal), beef (bulgogi), shrimp, and squid. I will admit, it's hard to get good service here sometimes. It's hit or miss in my experience.The staff doesn't speak a lot of English, so do yourself a favor and have a Korean speaking person in your group! If they're not busy they'll be able to come around and help grill the meats and exchange the grill plates pretty often. My latest visit was my worst experience. They don't honor reservations as well as you would expect. We had a large party of 20+ people and when we got there, we ended up waiting another 45 minutes. It still seemed like they were seating first come first serve despite reservations. Our group also ended up splitting up to eat. It's still worth a visit if you've never been or if you have that craving and don't want to make the travel to Jenkintown (search Koba). It's BYO which is another plus. The parking lot is pretty small (~10 cars), so be ready to park in the streets if it's full. Enjoy and remember to leave your jackets in the car!
(3)Don B.
After coming back here, I must say that I honestly feel somewhat discriminated against due to not being Korean. For example, the wait staff is very courteous and basically hands off with the Korean folks eating in the restaurant. However, in both of the times I was here, I felt that we were being somewhat rushed through our meal and unnecessarily waited on with regards to cooking our meat. If I take the time to clear the grill off so I can put my kalbi on and get a nice sear, I don't need the waitress coming over, grabbing my tongs, flipping it around and overcrowding the grill with more meat from my plate so it can effectively steam. I understand that they want to move tables through, but I think this is unacceptable. There were TONS of open tables and the place was dead when we were there our 2nd time, so it was totally unnecessary. I even attempted to tell the wait staff that we can handle cooking our own meat, but it was not adhered to. They were certainly not going over to the other Korean folks' tables and messing around with their meat on the grill. Bottom line, it's a decent place, but don't be surprised if you are treated differently for not being Korean.
(2)Won S.
GRAMMA IS BACK!!!!!!! The lady remembered my wife and I from when we used to go to Seoul Garden, aka "Young Bin Kwan". She was excited and told us to bring all of our friends back, as we used to go with big groups. This was exploratory field work to see if Matt G. was right. Sure enough we found our favorite Ajima. Food is just as good, and I'm loving life since she just went from an hour drive to a 15 minute drive. You all have to go there. She is back.
(5)Meena N.
This place is pretty good, I like how you can get all the stuff yourself. It's a little ghetto looking and the floor is really sticky and slimy because of all that grease and smoke but those are the best places to get the best meals, is it not? I'm giving this place 4 stars is because they have the bone-in kalbi. Not the LA-kalbi strips, REAL, actual, kalbi. I'm a sucker for those bones, and just looking at it - the meat looks fresh. Not down for the fact that you have to pass by this tiny little area to get to the food and the dirtiness of it all, but what the hell, the meat's legit and this is coming from a girl that lives in LA, where Ktown is just a stone's throw.
(4)Julie N.
Philly's Buffet... In Upper Darby. Good selection of meats - for the price per person, it's not bad at all. You grill them yourself at the table, and the tables are not very big, so be warned that you will come out smelling like the grill. The grill is also changed pretty often so that is a plus. Pace yourself and eat all the kalbi, pork belly, squid, shrimp, etc. that you can. (Don't fill up on rice.) Save a little space for fresh fruit for dessert.
(3)Kimmie S.
After all the great reviews, I decided to check it out. Almost everyone there that night was korean. I'm chinese and my boyfriend is white american. We sat down and they decided to wait on all the koreans and us last. We were very polite and waited. We waited probably about 15 minutes before they even started our coal and fire/grill. I've had korean bbq a lot, in california, texas but this was definitely one of the worst experiences. When I asked the waiter how much the cost would be he said, maybe around 32 dollars. Even though most reviews say 25-30 dollars. I said ok well hopefully the meat will be worth it. Service was horrible through out the night, meat was great though, still not the best but it was good for the philly area. Everything was dirty, bathrooms were dirty, you can tell the ceiling is rotting. I work in the hospitality industry so I know the guidelines that a restaurant needs. In the end, when we went to go pay, she charged us 70 dollars for 2 people. We only had the buffet, we didn't have any soft drinks or anything added on. I feel like she (the old lady) ripped us off. I think they need a sign that says a set price. Good luck with your experience!
(2)Lily C.
It was very good we went in the day time though we were the only two people in the restaurant The lady was very attentive. Food was good the price was around $65 but would totally go back again with friends
(4)Nancy P.
I came here for a friend's surprise bday with the bf after a horrible snow storm. Unfortunately the parking lot was small and not very clean. In fact, after we finished eating..I needed help to push my car off the snow mounds in the parking lot. Anyway, we came here early since it was a surprise party. My bf was the only one who spoke Korean, which always comes in handy. He got them to bring over some heat lamps because it was very cold. The place was pretty empty (I don't blame them..it was during an Eagles game and there was no TV in the place). The variety of meats were good enough. About the usual stuff..I think the kalbi was the best that they offered. I enjoyed the banchan and other non-meat choices as well. They had the steamed egg, Korean chicken wings, salads and lots of fruit. The servers came around to change the grills a good amount of times. It's not bad for an all you can eat Korean BBQ place but the location does make it inconvenient.
(3)Shek Lun L.
Best Korean BBQ in the area!!! The servers are super nice, kept changing the grill for you before you asked them to!!! Must come!!!
(5)Melanie Z.
This place is amazinggggg. Typical buffet rules apply - don't pile up your plate with things until you've tried everything. You don't want to have tons of shrimp left on the plate after you realized the galbi is the only thing you want to eat. And trust me you will realize that. The pros: 1. UNLIMITED MEAT. 2. Amazing price for UNLIMITED MEAT. 3. Servers are really friendly and will help you when you look like you're not doing it right (I could see how some people might not like this though) 4. The sweet rice fruit punch. The cons: 1. The meat isn't as good as some other places, but this is a buffet so what do you expect? 2. You will leave smelling like Korean BBQ.
(4)Alexander L.
Came here with a party of 14 for a birthday. The place was empty due to the winter storm. People joked that you needed a Korean friend to make this place bearable. The food was ok. It seems like that the food was geared around catering to non-Koreans; still the kalbi was decent and drinks were cheap enough. Look, if you're looking for genuine Korean BBQ then go to a restaurant and pay the premium. You want cheap drinks and all you can eat--if you're in the area, deal with the shortcomings. Me personally, I don't think that I'll make it a habit to come here as I'm almost never in the area anyways, but I could see why some people like to come here (and why people avoid it as well)
(3)Lidan L.
This place is far from the city but I still love to go there the second time. Last time I got there at 1 at noon but there was only one couple eating there. I was so surprised because my friend speak highly of this place. After I tried their beef (with a bone in it) I must say that was impressive. Pork belly is also delicious. The only thing that I was concerned about is the lecture looks like was not well-cleaned. We had four plates of that kind of beef with bone. The waitress there was very nice. I like this place!
(4)Marissa R.
Come here for the meat varieties . Even tho the name says philly buffet the buffet part u don't see. They have 5 different types of meat for u to grill at the table. Remember to have them change out the grill often or your meat will burn. U have to be hungry cause it's about 32.00 a person it's not your Chinese buffet. It's BYOB which is a plus plus plus
(4)Alison H.
This is the best Korean BBQ buffet around town (the most consistent at least). I've dropped in multiple times, and I've never gotten poor service. The little old ladies who work there are so adorable. They're attentive and friendly. They'll most likely cook your meat for you if there are less people. The food is decent enough. They have some vermicelli noodles that are pretty tasty. The other "side" dishes aren't bad at all. They include corn, fried chicken, tofu and some sort of radish. There's some watermelon you can treat as dessert. As for rice, there's usually a choice of either purple or white. Now for the meat...what can I say? Last time my group went, it was a carnivorous feast. We piled on everything- the bulgogi, kalbi, spicy pork, shrimp, squid and stuff I can't even remember properly. I really enjoyed the kalbi because it was marinated so good. The charcoal grill only made it better. For drinks, we just stuck with water and tea. The latter had a nutty aftertaste to it, which was pretty cool. So, what are the downsides? It's not the cheapest. Weekends are $30 per person. They occasionally have small discount coupons if you know where to look (coughchinesemetrocough). Ventilation is limited, so don't wear anything fancy. I sat in the direction where the smoke was blowing, and I smelled like charcoal the rest of the night. The deco's from the last restaurant, so you'll see Western-themed stuff around. It's also not in the best neighborhood, but I digress. One more thing... don't sentence yourself to eternal torture by coming here full or even half full.
(5)Gunga D.
For two, with soft drinks, it was right around $65 for the BBQ buffet. Despite the fact that some of the meat offerings (especially the galbi) betrayed a skillful hand in mixing and applying the marinade, this was strictly a once-and-done experience for us. The light level and general appearance of the place, as you walk in, reminds you of a poorly maintained aquarium in which you pray the fish died quickly. The only thing that's missing is the dried-out green algae on the walls. We were the only customers when we walked in, and the lights were off above all of the buffet selections, on an early late December evening, at about 6 PM or so. The building is apparently unheated, and definitely unventilated, except for the air exchange (and December chill, and perhaps August warmth as well) provided by the opening and closing of the front doors of this dingy, dirty location. For the record, I love Korean BBQ. Frankly, I'd probably do something fairly shady for a healthy supply of samgyeopsal, sangchu, fixin's, and a burner -- just not here. Back in the day, we did Porky and Porkies off Washington Avenue, and KO-BA in Jenkintown through a couple different owners/management teams, not to mention a goodly number of non-AYCE Korean locations in and around Upper Darby, Lansdale/North Wales, and North 5th St. Philly. BT, DT. And "Grandma"? She isn't charming, and she isn't cute. She's annoying and frustrating with a healthy side of condescending, at best. Folks will make the argument for tolerant cross-cultural understanding, but when you've made every possible hand gesture and negative noise to indicate that you'd like to do the grilling yourself, including raising your left arm to block her access to the grill and twitching the index finger of the right hand back and forth above the grill in international "no-no," and she still defiantly insists on tumbling all your raw meat onto the burner at once -- well, you vote with your feet and your keyboard. It's too expensive for what it is, not clean enough, in a dismal location, unheated, and run by someone who disregards the diners' pleasure and comfort to an unacceptable extent. I'll give it a 1.
(1)Rob S.
This place was great, it was my 1st Delicious BBQ at this place. You get to have a great chicken perfect Asian meal
(5)Luong M.
If you just got done drinking or are very hungry for some hungover food/meat, this is a great spot, you can drink soup and tea and eat lots of variety of meats.. also its byob.
(4)Fei S.
My wife's been talking about this place for a very long time. Then I tried this with her and my friend with his wife. We went there at saturday night, that must be the reason the bill surprised me. $30 per person on saturday night. The bone in the beef was worthy trying. All in all, they have various meat but sauces which's not helping to make them taste better. You should take enough fruits at first coz they'll be gone soon.
(3)Juv L.
It was almost the only Korean BBQ around at the time so we drove about half an hour there, but I have to say we were really disappointed. We were there on a Saturday for lunch, and they had a very small selection of meat and veggies. The taste itself was ok, nothing special. But it was exceptionally expensive. They charged us around $35 per person. The lunch would be fine if it was around $15, but for $35 it really is not worth it. Will not come again.
(1)Mae L.
I was craving for korean bbq and decided to give this place a try after reading the reviews on here. I went on a Saturday for dinner and it was $30 per person, drinks and tips not included. Others said they paid $25, maybe weekdays? Called prior to coming here and was told $27 with a heavy accent (probably heard it wrong). Keep in mind, workers here do not speak English so don't have any high service expectations. You get unlimited beef, pork, shrimps, and squids. Meats were well marinated. They also have some side dishes and fruits (orange and watermelon).Other than their unlimited poultry, everything was alright. If you're a big eater who doesn't care of the atmosphere of the restaurant and side dishes, you have come to the right place. Side dishes were not what I expected; not the typical side dishes you get at other korean bbq places. I was nervous prior to coming here based on the other review regarding their area and parking that someone had dents all over her car. Upon arriving, I was relieved to find there was actually small a parking lot in front of their store. Turned out, the owner was the same owner at the other korean bbq place i went to 2 years ago. Better ventilation than their old location. Homey atmosphere without any music and when I went, there wasn't that many people. Other than their unlimited marinated poultry, I was bored grilling/eating.
(3)John P.
I'm a regular here and I'll say that the service is great, it's true that it may be a tough if you're not Korean to get friendly with the waiter/waitresses but the Korean BBQ is legit. Maybe not everyone is accustomed to Korean style BBQ but when it comes to the galbi, it's as good if not better than any of the other restaurants in the area. I would highly recommend anyone that's looking for a good friendly fresh buffet to check it out. The atmosphere is definitely a bit more homey but I tend to like that atmosphere. The variety of meats also please the pallet and I would highly recommend the sweet rice punch when finishing your meal. The lady says it helps you digest but heck if anything, I think it just pushes all that heavy meat weight down. Drop by if you want some great Korean BBQ and tell the waiter Mr. John sent you! She might even throw you some extras or some complimentary service!
(5)Aya H.
Okay so a month ago we tried this chinese bbq restaurant in NY which was amazing experience by all means so we wannit to find something similar to that and philly's buffet sound the closest to what we had. I'll start by saying that we went on a wednesday night and I'm not exaggerating when saying that the owners were gonna feed us like babies (in a good way though lol) they explained to us the korean way to eat their barbecue which was so much fun (wrapping the lettus with rice the meat and kinda salty nutty paste i wish i know what was that but it was DELISH) so yeah the buffet is all you can eat meats the best they have is the short ribs YUMMY,rice and sides. The waiter kept grilling our food instead of grilling it ourselves (who wouldn't like that) 30$ per person Friendly staff Decent variety of meats Will be back for sure
(4)Grace C.
I was visiting Philly with some girlfriends from out of town. We went early on a Friday night but the place was empty. We were surprised but ready to fill our stomachs with Korean bbq. The food at the buffet was scant and not fresh.. The servers were nice and cooked the meat for us though. But when we were ready to pay, the server said the credit card machine was broken and told us to cross the street and go to the atm in a pawn shop to get cash... At night that's kinda scary for us girls... But anyway we did it and asked if we can get a little discount for the hassle. After all small businesses prefer cash customers. But she flat out said no... Overall food was good... But customer service wasn't so great...
(3)Alex P.
$25 per person seems like a lot considering its in the ghetto and the place is falling apart and run down. Since they don't have heat, they use small personal space heaters during the winter. Aside from all that nonsense, the food is delicious! And it is unlimited quality seasoned Korean meat and seafood after all, so $25 is fair. Plenty of choices and you won't go hungry from all this Korean BBQ. It's especially fun to do in groups with family or friends. And at the end (or beginning or middle), you get the dessert drink. It's soo sweet! This is definitely authentic Korean food! Also, FYI, most of the people there don't speak English and forget about the owner or staff because they definitely don't.
(3)Matt C.
Eh. Good enough. This place is just one of those "pay what it weighs," New York buffet places that I absolutely hate. Because of that, I decided to go with a sandwich. I was "greeted" at the counter by a woman that was apparently having a HORRIBLE day, and wasn't too worried about taking it out on me. "what do you want?" Was the first and only thing she said to me before I ordered the chicken sandwich. She then walked away, came back a few minutes later and said, "no chicken." Expecting me to have a plan b queued up and ready to go for this eventuality, she awaited my new order. I asked her to give me a minute please to look over the menu, and I can't be sure, but I think she sighed and rolled her eyes. What I CAN be sure about was that she DISAPPEARED. She was gone for like, literally, 15 minutes before coming back to get my order; a turkey and avocado sandwich, with cheese ("50 cents extra.") She made the sandwich and handed it to me before I had to remind her that fries came with the sandwich. 10 minutes later for the fries, she must have calmed down a bit, because she decided to comp me the 50 cents for my cheese; a saint she was. The sandwich was actually pretty damn good, and the fries, despite the wait, were PERFECT. Perfect. My brother got a breakfast platter that I heard no complaints about. The food dragged the rating up to 3 stars because the service was definitely a 1 or 2.
(3)German S.
This place is not easy on the eye..the place is an old dinner but I was told that the owner is one of the best in marrinating the meats, so i guess i had to make that determination by myself. I have dinned at several Korean BBQ, and and love the experience. After having different meats and squid I have to admit that the marinate was on point. The owner Ms. Kim made us feel like we were a family memeber. Always checking to see if we needed anything or the meat were to our liking. I think that I will be returning to Philly's Buffet Korean BBq.
(3)Herb L.
only the 2nd Korean buffet I've been to in the area. Solid all around. Could be better with separate exhaust fans above each table like some places have, and the place had more of a homey feel than most restaurants. Other than that, no complaints. Good service, food priced decently, no liquor license though. Owner even took us to the El station with previous notice. Very customer-oriented!
(4)SC W.
All you can eat meats, and apetizers and all for around $25 a person...How can you complain? A 12 oz steak at outback is freaking $20 already! Parking isn't that great, but can't have it all right?
(5)Julie D.
$25 for all you can eat subpar BBQ. Definitely not as good as California (not even close) The meat is under a red lamp and it looks a bit odd. I wish they had unmarinated meat and brisket, I feel that marinated meat masks the quality of the meat. They were definitely lacking in the various Korean sides, and the ones that were there looked unappetizing like they've been sitting out there all day.
(2)Matt H.
Philly's Buffet = Young Bin Kwan same owner, food, staff....same epic all you can eat korean bbq goodness. just a new location. check out the review below. yelp.com/biz/young-bin-k…
(5)Agatha S.
I went there today with about 37 of my friends (yes there was literally 38 of us). One thing I like is that they had a big enough place to seat us all near each other and it is BYOB. However, it wasn't as good as other Korean BBQ buffet I've been to. The food was good, but I've tried other places with more flavorful meat. The people there did not help us cook at all so someone in each table had to be the chef. I'm used to someone helping my friends and I cook the food, so that we don't have to waste our time in cooking but just in eating. So I felt as though it was very inconvenient that we had to cook it ourselves. The restaurant isn't bad but there's only one bathroom for male/female and their parking lot is rather small. Our bill, including drinks, came up to over $1000. It wasn't a bad place, but I prefer to go to a different Korean BBQ buffet place.
(3)Yiye W.
I went to this place three times and will definitely patronize again. If you are a meat lover, you will like this place. For $25 you can bbq unlimited beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, etc. Waitresses are nice and helpful. The only drawback, if any, is that when you are done with the dinner, you won't smell too good:(
(5)K W.
We went here with a group of people and as I stepped foot in the place I immediately had a hard time breathing. The exhaust system in this place is non existence! The buffet spread is right in the front entrance. Not sure how sanitary it is being the door opens and closes quite often changing the temperature of that room. In addition, people waiting to be seated are standing in that room. Their is a lack of service, granted it's a buffet...we know it's self serve for food...but you have to get your own water, napkins, silverware, and cups. They don't bring anything to you except the bill. I think its a great place for college kids. It's also BYOB so it's a nice cheap eat with friends and some alcohol. However, the air quality is really bad. I don't recommend bringing your kids. Also, you had to shower after eating there ..... it took one and half week before the smell of the korean bbq left my purse.
(1)Kimmie O.
Originally planning to eat at the korean bbq place across street from hmart, but that place does open until 5pm on Sunday, later we ended up here from reviews on Yelp. It seems like a traditional korean bbq place from what I see in Korean Dramas. It is buffet style with different kinds of meat available to bbq (beef, pork, chicken, squid). It also has variety of kimchee for side dishes. There are white rice, water and wings too. If you are a meat lover, you will love this place. The ladies who work there were nice, they come help you with the bbq processing, but we're rather to have fun doing it ourselves. we ended up paying 150 for party of 5, and 20 for tips. To me, it was quiet expensive since most of us are still students. But i saw most of customers are native Korean families, so should not be a big deal for them.
(3)Jimmy S.
Pretty whack, seems like the lunch menu is about 25$ but dinner was 30+ tax or something (35~40 with tip/tax by the end of it all). I could be wrong about the price variation but I definitely paid close to ~40$ for the dinner meal. The pricing is pretty atrocious and it made my jaw drop seeing how much it was. I can't fathom how they stay in business that kind of pricing but then again, ayce kbbq is practically an almost extinct animal in Philly so they can probably charge w/e they want. The food was ok, nothing particularly stood out, they didn't have beef tongue and such but at least they had intestines and a lot more amenities/side dishes i.e. salt/pepper with sesame oil, kimchi, cucumbers, salad...the typical works, definitely was a bit more surprised to the variety of meats available. The staff was decent on attentiveness, changing grills and cutting some of the bigger slabs of meat. The seating was kinda slightly weird and off with random obstructions preventing you from moving your chair in the right place. Better off taking the longer drive to get Koba instead.
(1)Jessie c.
i'm giving this place a 3, not because of the food.. but because of the area. I parked my car in the rear parking lot and theres a neighborhood right behind them. Supposedly the kids from the neighborhood throw rocks at the store quite often as it happend when i was eating and we informed the manager and she said it was ok since it happens often. Well turns out the kids also threw rocks at my car leaving 5 dents on my driver side door and on the glass as well. They don't have any cameras so we couldn't do much, but the fact that I had to blow $800+ makes me super angry. The food is really good tho, and the service is good as well. Just be careful where you park..... im hoping by now they did something about that
(3)Haeni K.
The meat selection is various, but dishes other than the meat themselves aren't that great. Don't try to experiment and just stick with the meat stuff. It's not the best Korean BBQ out there, but for a buffet, it is above average. Also, be sure to leave your coats and leather bag in your car because the place is like an opium den where they smoke meat instead of opium. I made a mistake of bringing my bag in, and the leather smelled like korean BBQ for a couple of days. I love the smell, but not when I'm sitting in a meeting and my bag is reeking bbq scent.
(4)Ting G.
Two thumbs up!! Upon entering around 5 pm, I was very skeptical due to the fact that my boyfriend and I were the only customers there..but shortly after, the place filled up pretty quick. Not a very fancy environment but I would say it was a neat little set up. As I headed over to the buffet I was happy to see so many different cuts of meat, seafood, veggies and Korean sides. Typically Korean restaurants charge a lot for a little bit of food(well at least from my experience) so for about $30 per person at philly buffet..I felt like that was pretty fair considering I ate about what would be considered 3 orders of kalbi at a regular Korean spot. A few of my favorite items besides the Korean BBQ were the sweet soy garlic wings that were very tasty along with buttered potatoes and corn. They also had a bunch of pickled sides, kimchee and soups. When I arrived back at the table our waitress helped bbq our food. She wasn't always around once it started getting busy so I felt like I became somewhat of a pretty nice Korean chef! Lol. One plate turned into three which quickly turned into 5. I don't recommend this place to anyone on a diet or trying to count their calorie intake! The meats were all seasoned to perfection. After stuffing ourselves silly, we got some pineapples and oranges. (They were both so sweet) we had a great experience and will be back sooner than later!
(5)Mel H.
This place was great. When you walk in there is a large selection of food. You get to pick your meats that you grill at your table and your sides. The food was great and service was a well. We had the beef and pork it was awesome. I would suggest that anyone try this place. The buffet cost about 20 bucks and drinks are a few more so expect to pay about 25 bucks.
(4)Allie Y.
I suppose I would have given this place 3.5 stars if I could... but all in all it wasn't above or beyond any Korean BBQ places I've tried in the past outside Philly (mostly LA, NY). This place is a buffet, so basically you can pick out whatever meats/seafood you want to cook and bring it back to your table where you cook it yourself on these grills which are a mixture of charcoals (for the flavor) + gas (for faster cooking). Meats: I really only had the kalbi (short rib) and the samgyupsal (pork belly) but according to the people I went with, those are the only ones worth getting. Those were pretty good... the kalbi I enjoyed more, and I wish the samgyupsal pieces were cut a bit thicker. Also, the samgyupsal comes frozen here... :T. We finished up with the shrimp. Sides: you've got all your standard sides here... I really liked the tofu and the crab, which is a rare one to find! Practical stuff: wear clothes that you don't mind getting extremely smelly with smoke/meat and the grease that floats around in the air. The parking lot also isn't that big so it can get crowded. It's also a BYO. Price ended up being about 24-25 per person... on the pricey side but I guess it was buffet, but still I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. Overall I left feeling pretty satisfied though and would consider coming back again for my korean bbq fix!
(3)Ebony M.
Not sure about all the good reviews. It doesn't seem like we went to the same buffet!!! My two kids and I went here for a quick dinner during the week around 5pm. When we walked in there was no one there! All the lights were off and there was no staff but the buffet tables were full of dried out looking food. The buffet table lights were off as were the warmers. I must say it was like we walked into another realm of the world! Needless to say, we did not dine here because it looked like they were just begging for ONE customer. Very creepy! Won't be returning here. EVER!
(1)Jenny L.
So happy this place opened! I was a fan of Young Bin Kwan and this is much closer to me. They still have the meat buffet, but have put out even more food in addition to the meats to grill. If you have never been, it is a very fun night with a group of friends. Just don't wear anything you don't want to wash, you will smell like smoke from grilling after. I didn't think the location was that scary and I did go at night (8pm). I was happy that they had their own parking lot and I didn't have to look for parking on the street. You should not leave this place hungry!
(5)Geoff c.
While they have your basic variety of krn bbq meat, the kalbi, bulgogi, samgyupsal, spicy pork, tripe, sliced steak, the quality of the meat is pretty low. Don't expect much. Once you see the place you'll understand. Their other dishes at the buffet are also pretty poor in quality. The don't have a good ventilation system, and by that I mean they have none. They just leave the front door open (by the way, all the food is also right next to the front door). So, it gets pretty smoky in there. It's pretty pricey for the quality you get compared to other areas. $24 for dinner on a weekday. For a fix of krn bbq, there are better places in upper darby, or i'd rather just make it myself. But this is a fun place to go if you're with a group and want to gorge yourselves. It's also BYO. I did see a cockroach there. Though that's not a huge turn off for me... those pests are everywhere. They'll survive the apocalypse. Staff is nice. Parking is limited. They prefer cash and only accept very few credit cards (at least thats what they told me. we ended up paying cash. as did everyone else in the restaurant, but theres an ATM there)
(2)David T.
This place is a joke. I'm not Korean, but I know what good Korean BBQ tastes like and you will NOT find it here. The selection was not so great and the meat was substandard. They didn't even have white rice! It was some brown/purple rice that looked like it had other crud in it; totally unappetizing and tasted as bad as it looked. Don't be sucked into the "oh, all you can eat for $20" promise because it is not worth your money, unless your palate is completely underdeveloped. For the real deal, go to Seoul Garden in Jenkintown. You won't regret it. P.S. - The location is MAD random.
(1)H M.
After reading the reviews I had very low expectations on the place. We went there for a friend's birthday. The meat was good and also marinades weren't bad. The shrimp did run out! Go early! The place gets smoky so make sure you don't wear your Sunday clothes. I still smell like the place, 2 days later... There was standard white rice there, not sure what the other reviewer was talking about. I would definitely go back to the place. Also, it is BYOB!
(3)Craig C.
One waitress bring the rib and meat back to buffet counter and dump it in as never been eat! Dirty!
(1)Hiep N.
This place rocks! The staff is fantastic, they're very casual yet professional! They remember you by your first name which is very warm, and they also teach you korean! The food here is also AMAZING. I come here and literally eat all of the kal-bi and pork belly even if my stomach says no more. I would recommend for everyone to try the korean punch. At first you might think it's a little too sweet, but before you know it you're addicted! A+ A+ A+
(5)Yohann S.
Like other reviewer has mentioned, this place have the same worker who used to work at Young Bin Kwan. I'm not 100% sure whats the story behind it, like what's going on with the old place and who or why they bought off the place and such. So I won't talk about it. Tasty as ever. Don't worry. I have to take off 1 star because I'm not a fan of their new location. I felt unsafe, somehow. Maybe that was because I went there at night and its all dark.. I don't know. But yeah.. there's this .. 'light' disturbance when me and my friends was there. The back door, which I believe supposed to be a Fire Exit door, was either bang or slammed so loudly from outside.. like everything happen so random and so creepy. I had a feeling that it was from the kids in that neighborhood. Yes it was 8pm-ish and there's still a lot of neighborhood kids playing outside. But yeah.. I'll definitely be back. Love them food very much.
(4)Steven L.
$25 (+Tax) for all you can eat Kalbi is a win for me. They also have different selection of meats so I'm sure there's something for everyone. However, I felt the banchan (Side dishes) was a little blend. As for staffs, the manager as well as the waitresses were friendly and professional. Can't wait to go back! If you're wondering, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer).
(4)Florentina L.
This place never fails as far as tastes are concerning! My bff loves this place and sworn to come back again:)
(5)James C.
I have been going here for a while. I have nothing really to complain about. Whats better than all you can kal-bi, pork, shrimp, and other marinated meats? Nothing really, and the marinate is on point. If you are craving Korean bbq this is the place to go. My friends and I always come after a good workout of basketball or just hanging out, and we always come out full and satisfied. The service is good and friendly, if you want they grill the meat for you, but if you have experience you can tell them that you can grill the meats.
(5)Minh T.
This is a Korean BBQ buffet. It has all the fixings, staff was nice, meats were good, cooked everything for you and even learned something new about how to eat. I think it's good and I'd recommend it to anyone asking.
(4)Phillip Y.
I can't complain about this place. Sure, it smells smokey in here and you clothes might smell a few days. But, pleasant enough atmosphere with attentive staff helping you guys with the BBQ. Buffet was pretty good and ate till I was stuffed. Plenty of selection of things to grill and the shrimp did not run out like others mentioned the night I came. Parking is a bit of a pain so get there early for a spot. Also, there is a funny sign in the buffet that tells you $3 charge for 1 pound of wasted food. I guess they have the same mentality as my parents growing up. "Finish every piece of food on your plate!!!" Also, price is pretty reasonable but for some reason our organizer wasn't able to secure the 10% off our party of 30 people like the owner originally promised us. They just ended up giving us free soda which was still pretty good.
(4)Evann G.
OK, I was a little scared, because I've never done Korean BBQ before. But! This. Was. Awesome. The bulgogi (sp?) was my absolute favorite of all the meats - to the point that I think I'll just ignore the other meats entirely next time and only eat bulgogi - but everything I tried was good. And I am one of those annoyingly paranoid people who gets really nervous about food safety and hygiene and stuff, and I was still OK with the situation and how the meat was laid out, etc. Everything was really clean. Cooking at the table was fun, and our waiter was super helpful because it was our first time. He showed us how to make lettuce wraps (SO GOOD!) and explained what everything was. (I was expecting to smell like meat for days afterward after reading some other reviews of Korean BBQs, but I didn't.) The prepared foods in the buffet were also really good, especially since I was starving and had to wait for our first round of meat to cook before we could eat it. I really liked the chicken, noodles, and potstickers the most but everything I tried was really good. But the bulgogi! Oh man. I think I will just focus on that next time. SO GOOD, especially when it got a little charred around the edges. Minus one star because it's a bit pricey. I think dinner for the two of us came to $54 before tip, but still totally worth it because it was such a cool experience.
(4)Tina H.
Bad choice in name. Definitely could have been more creative. I'm not korean, but I thought the food was decent? Not so bad. When you first walk in, I might say I was extremely skeptical. I heard some not so great things about this place prior to coming, but came anyway because it was a friend's birthday. The selection of raw foods for you to BBQ were all right there when you open the door. The decor is more or less, ghetto, because it used to be an old diner. My boyfriend always complained how he would go to a Korean BBQ place and would pay so much and never be full, well, here is the solution! It's about 20 bucks for all you can eat BBQ, I think it's a pretty good deal especially if you're not as picky about Korean food. Unfortunately I came not so hungry, and didn't get my money's worth, but I thought it was adequate. My friends really enjoyed themselves, they definitely got their money's worth and maybe a bit more, haha. Although, they did run out of shrimp, which really seem to upset my friends, thumbs down for running out of food. The grill definitely needed more fire to get the real BBQ taste to the kalbi and bulgogi too. The service was really friendly, and very attentive. I'd have to say, I wasn't feeling their birthday song being played out the corner speaker though. I'd much prefer if they'd gather around and sang for you, haha, but no big. With all things considered, I'd probably come back again to eat, hopefully on an empty stomach this time. I'm not too picky about Korean food, but I don't think I would recommend this place to actual Koreans because they would probably think the food is less than average. I'd definitely recommend for first timers and anybody else though.
(3)Jose A.
This place is really cool, if you have never been to a Korean Barbe que, then you need to go to one, particularly this one. There is a stove in the middle of your table, and you go and get whatever kind of meet you would like from the buffet, and come back and cook on your table. I personally prefer the pork belly, but they have a bunch of differnet tastey meats as well. Then you eat the meat you just cooked with a decent selection of spicy, noodle, vegtable korean sides that you also get from the buffet. The service is pretty good too, it's not cheap though, 25 bucks a pop for dinner, but well worth it...
(4)Christina H.
Like the other poster said, the people there are SO NICE. But their food is meh. The reason I keep going back here everytime though is because for $20 you can eat a crap load of meat! In case you haven't read my other reviews, I love love LOVE food, and lots of it. Now, I know I can make better kalbi and better japchae and eat in the beautiful romantic ambiance of my dining room (heh), but I'm lazy and it's still cheaper to go here. It's fun to go with friends and sing out "gum beh!" together, get wasted and eat mediore bbq. I like that they do have a variety of meats and side dishes and soups, and I really love that they have the shredded scallion, the radish wraps , and spicy squid(drool). It's also close to my favorite karaoke place, so typically we hit up the bbq then go sing. It's a great place for korean bbq noobs, since you can try everything. FYI, it is now a byob so bring your own stuff. Don't bring beer because it just takes up valuable realestate in your tummy.
(3)Jimmy S.
Pretty whack, seems like the lunch menu is about 25$ but dinner was 30+ tax or something (35~40 with tip/tax by the end of it all). I could be wrong about the price variation but I definitely paid close to ~40$ for the dinner meal. The pricing is pretty atrocious and it made my jaw drop seeing how much it was. I can't fathom how they stay in business that kind of pricing but then again, ayce kbbq is practically an almost extinct animal in Philly so they can probably charge w/e they want. The food was ok, nothing particularly stood out, they didn't have beef tongue and such but at least they had intestines and a lot more amenities/side dishes i.e. salt/pepper with sesame oil, kimchi, cucumbers, salad...the typical works, definitely was a bit more surprised to the variety of meats available. The staff was decent on attentiveness, changing grills and cutting some of the bigger slabs of meat. The seating was kinda slightly weird and off with random obstructions preventing you from moving your chair in the right place. Better off taking the longer drive to get Koba instead.
(1)Jessie c.
i'm giving this place a 3, not because of the food.. but because of the area. I parked my car in the rear parking lot and theres a neighborhood right behind them. Supposedly the kids from the neighborhood throw rocks at the store quite often as it happend when i was eating and we informed the manager and she said it was ok since it happens often. Well turns out the kids also threw rocks at my car leaving 5 dents on my driver side door and on the glass as well. They don't have any cameras so we couldn't do much, but the fact that I had to blow $800+ makes me super angry. The food is really good tho, and the service is good as well. Just be careful where you park..... im hoping by now they did something about that
(3)Ting G.
Two thumbs up!! Upon entering around 5 pm, I was very skeptical due to the fact that my boyfriend and I were the only customers there..but shortly after, the place filled up pretty quick. Not a very fancy environment but I would say it was a neat little set up. As I headed over to the buffet I was happy to see so many different cuts of meat, seafood, veggies and Korean sides. Typically Korean restaurants charge a lot for a little bit of food(well at least from my experience) so for about $30 per person at philly buffet..I felt like that was pretty fair considering I ate about what would be considered 3 orders of kalbi at a regular Korean spot. A few of my favorite items besides the Korean BBQ were the sweet soy garlic wings that were very tasty along with buttered potatoes and corn. They also had a bunch of pickled sides, kimchee and soups. When I arrived back at the table our waitress helped bbq our food. She wasn't always around once it started getting busy so I felt like I became somewhat of a pretty nice Korean chef! Lol. One plate turned into three which quickly turned into 5. I don't recommend this place to anyone on a diet or trying to count their calorie intake! The meats were all seasoned to perfection. After stuffing ourselves silly, we got some pineapples and oranges. (They were both so sweet) we had a great experience and will be back sooner than later!
(5)Julie N.
Philly's Buffet... In Upper Darby. Good selection of meats - for the price per person, it's not bad at all. You grill them yourself at the table, and the tables are not very big, so be warned that you will come out smelling like the grill. The grill is also changed pretty often so that is a plus. Pace yourself and eat all the kalbi, pork belly, squid, shrimp, etc. that you can. (Don't fill up on rice.) Save a little space for fresh fruit for dessert.
(3)Kimmie S.
After all the great reviews, I decided to check it out. Almost everyone there that night was korean. I'm chinese and my boyfriend is white american. We sat down and they decided to wait on all the koreans and us last. We were very polite and waited. We waited probably about 15 minutes before they even started our coal and fire/grill. I've had korean bbq a lot, in california, texas but this was definitely one of the worst experiences. When I asked the waiter how much the cost would be he said, maybe around 32 dollars. Even though most reviews say 25-30 dollars. I said ok well hopefully the meat will be worth it. Service was horrible through out the night, meat was great though, still not the best but it was good for the philly area. Everything was dirty, bathrooms were dirty, you can tell the ceiling is rotting. I work in the hospitality industry so I know the guidelines that a restaurant needs. In the end, when we went to go pay, she charged us 70 dollars for 2 people. We only had the buffet, we didn't have any soft drinks or anything added on. I feel like she (the old lady) ripped us off. I think they need a sign that says a set price. Good luck with your experience!
(2)Lily C.
It was very good we went in the day time though we were the only two people in the restaurant The lady was very attentive. Food was good the price was around $65 but would totally go back again with friends
(4)Nancy P.
I came here for a friend's surprise bday with the bf after a horrible snow storm. Unfortunately the parking lot was small and not very clean. In fact, after we finished eating..I needed help to push my car off the snow mounds in the parking lot. Anyway, we came here early since it was a surprise party. My bf was the only one who spoke Korean, which always comes in handy. He got them to bring over some heat lamps because it was very cold. The place was pretty empty (I don't blame them..it was during an Eagles game and there was no TV in the place). The variety of meats were good enough. About the usual stuff..I think the kalbi was the best that they offered. I enjoyed the banchan and other non-meat choices as well. They had the steamed egg, Korean chicken wings, salads and lots of fruit. The servers came around to change the grills a good amount of times. It's not bad for an all you can eat Korean BBQ place but the location does make it inconvenient.
(3)Shek Lun L.
Best Korean BBQ in the area!!! The servers are super nice, kept changing the grill for you before you asked them to!!! Must come!!!
(5)Melanie Z.
This place is amazinggggg. Typical buffet rules apply - don't pile up your plate with things until you've tried everything. You don't want to have tons of shrimp left on the plate after you realized the galbi is the only thing you want to eat. And trust me you will realize that. The pros: 1. UNLIMITED MEAT. 2. Amazing price for UNLIMITED MEAT. 3. Servers are really friendly and will help you when you look like you're not doing it right (I could see how some people might not like this though) 4. The sweet rice fruit punch. The cons: 1. The meat isn't as good as some other places, but this is a buffet so what do you expect? 2. You will leave smelling like Korean BBQ.
(4)Luong M.
If you just got done drinking or are very hungry for some hungover food/meat, this is a great spot, you can drink soup and tea and eat lots of variety of meats.. also its byob.
(4)Fei S.
My wife's been talking about this place for a very long time. Then I tried this with her and my friend with his wife. We went there at saturday night, that must be the reason the bill surprised me. $30 per person on saturday night. The bone in the beef was worthy trying. All in all, they have various meat but sauces which's not helping to make them taste better. You should take enough fruits at first coz they'll be gone soon.
(3)Juv L.
It was almost the only Korean BBQ around at the time so we drove about half an hour there, but I have to say we were really disappointed. We were there on a Saturday for lunch, and they had a very small selection of meat and veggies. The taste itself was ok, nothing special. But it was exceptionally expensive. They charged us around $35 per person. The lunch would be fine if it was around $15, but for $35 it really is not worth it. Will not come again.
(1)Gunga D.
For two, with soft drinks, it was right around $65 for the BBQ buffet. Despite the fact that some of the meat offerings (especially the galbi) betrayed a skillful hand in mixing and applying the marinade, this was strictly a once-and-done experience for us. The light level and general appearance of the place, as you walk in, reminds you of a poorly maintained aquarium in which you pray the fish died quickly. The only thing that's missing is the dried-out green algae on the walls. We were the only customers when we walked in, and the lights were off above all of the buffet selections, on an early late December evening, at about 6 PM or so. The building is apparently unheated, and definitely unventilated, except for the air exchange (and December chill, and perhaps August warmth as well) provided by the opening and closing of the front doors of this dingy, dirty location. For the record, I love Korean BBQ. Frankly, I'd probably do something fairly shady for a healthy supply of samgyeopsal, sangchu, fixin's, and a burner -- just not here. Back in the day, we did Porky and Porkies off Washington Avenue, and KO-BA in Jenkintown through a couple different owners/management teams, not to mention a goodly number of non-AYCE Korean locations in and around Upper Darby, Lansdale/North Wales, and North 5th St. Philly. BT, DT. And "Grandma"? She isn't charming, and she isn't cute. She's annoying and frustrating with a healthy side of condescending, at best. Folks will make the argument for tolerant cross-cultural understanding, but when you've made every possible hand gesture and negative noise to indicate that you'd like to do the grilling yourself, including raising your left arm to block her access to the grill and twitching the index finger of the right hand back and forth above the grill in international "no-no," and she still defiantly insists on tumbling all your raw meat onto the burner at once -- well, you vote with your feet and your keyboard. It's too expensive for what it is, not clean enough, in a dismal location, unheated, and run by someone who disregards the diners' pleasure and comfort to an unacceptable extent. I'll give it a 1.
(1)Rob S.
This place was great, it was my 1st Delicious BBQ at this place. You get to have a great chicken perfect Asian meal
(5)Lidan L.
This place is far from the city but I still love to go there the second time. Last time I got there at 1 at noon but there was only one couple eating there. I was so surprised because my friend speak highly of this place. After I tried their beef (with a bone in it) I must say that was impressive. Pork belly is also delicious. The only thing that I was concerned about is the lecture looks like was not well-cleaned. We had four plates of that kind of beef with bone. The waitress there was very nice. I like this place!
(4)Samuel N.
This place is a shell of its former self, having dined here recently the risks far outweigh the benefits of charcoal meaty goodness. Ventilation is poorer than it was before (probably a long term health risk for those who work there) and no joke the restaurant was leaking EVERYWHERE as it was storming when we went in. Overall it was an appalling experience that left me mourning the loss of a great meat buffet that once was. The leaky building that barred access to its only bathroom (because of the waterfall that was coming out from ceiling and into a bucket right in front of the bathroom that was already flooded out) And seeing rain water collecting in areas near the buffet set up just did it in for me. WHY IS THERE NO GOOD KOREAN BBQ IN PHILLY?!?!?! :(
(1)SeongSu H.
For the price this is not worth it. Cost is $35 per person and the Kalbi was not fresh the side dishes were old and sitting out for a long time. The only reason it gets any stars is because the service was good but this could be because there were only two groups in the entire place.
(2)Andrew L.
How can people possibly rag on this place? Sure, it's decor and ambience (who gives a crap?!) is lacking. But come on, it's all-you-can-eat PREMIUM cuts of meat. The kalbi is so amazing - tender, well-seasoned, juicy. Oh my goodness it's so good. The ladies are so sweet, they're like your aunties who are trying to run a great restaurant. They change out the grill so frequently and are very attentive. We ate enough to run up at $300 bill somewhere else, and we ate like kings for $110 + tax and tip.
(5)L D.
Great place to get your "phill" of Kalbi and other Korean BBQ goodies. Service is great, the cooks come around often to help you cook (except when they are backed up then its up to you to get the job done.) Had a number of small and large gatherings here and its just great. The meat is fresh and nicely marinated. Only small draw back is that parking may be an issue during dinner time on weekends, but still worth the drive and parking space hunt. Bottom line: good food, good price, get your phill.
(4)Meena N.
This place is pretty good, I like how you can get all the stuff yourself. It's a little ghetto looking and the floor is really sticky and slimy because of all that grease and smoke but those are the best places to get the best meals, is it not? I'm giving this place 4 stars is because they have the bone-in kalbi. Not the LA-kalbi strips, REAL, actual, kalbi. I'm a sucker for those bones, and just looking at it - the meat looks fresh. Not down for the fact that you have to pass by this tiny little area to get to the food and the dirtiness of it all, but what the hell, the meat's legit and this is coming from a girl that lives in LA, where Ktown is just a stone's throw.
(4)Alexander L.
Came here with a party of 14 for a birthday. The place was empty due to the winter storm. People joked that you needed a Korean friend to make this place bearable. The food was ok. It seems like that the food was geared around catering to non-Koreans; still the kalbi was decent and drinks were cheap enough. Look, if you're looking for genuine Korean BBQ then go to a restaurant and pay the premium. You want cheap drinks and all you can eat--if you're in the area, deal with the shortcomings. Me personally, I don't think that I'll make it a habit to come here as I'm almost never in the area anyways, but I could see why some people like to come here (and why people avoid it as well)
(3)Alison H.
This is the best Korean BBQ buffet around town (the most consistent at least). I've dropped in multiple times, and I've never gotten poor service. The little old ladies who work there are so adorable. They're attentive and friendly. They'll most likely cook your meat for you if there are less people. The food is decent enough. They have some vermicelli noodles that are pretty tasty. The other "side" dishes aren't bad at all. They include corn, fried chicken, tofu and some sort of radish. There's some watermelon you can treat as dessert. As for rice, there's usually a choice of either purple or white. Now for the meat...what can I say? Last time my group went, it was a carnivorous feast. We piled on everything- the bulgogi, kalbi, spicy pork, shrimp, squid and stuff I can't even remember properly. I really enjoyed the kalbi because it was marinated so good. The charcoal grill only made it better. For drinks, we just stuck with water and tea. The latter had a nutty aftertaste to it, which was pretty cool. So, what are the downsides? It's not the cheapest. Weekends are $30 per person. They occasionally have small discount coupons if you know where to look (coughchinesemetrocough). Ventilation is limited, so don't wear anything fancy. I sat in the direction where the smoke was blowing, and I smelled like charcoal the rest of the night. The deco's from the last restaurant, so you'll see Western-themed stuff around. It's also not in the best neighborhood, but I digress. One more thing... don't sentence yourself to eternal torture by coming here full or even half full.
(5)Mae L.
I was craving for korean bbq and decided to give this place a try after reading the reviews on here. I went on a Saturday for dinner and it was $30 per person, drinks and tips not included. Others said they paid $25, maybe weekdays? Called prior to coming here and was told $27 with a heavy accent (probably heard it wrong). Keep in mind, workers here do not speak English so don't have any high service expectations. You get unlimited beef, pork, shrimps, and squids. Meats were well marinated. They also have some side dishes and fruits (orange and watermelon).Other than their unlimited poultry, everything was alright. If you're a big eater who doesn't care of the atmosphere of the restaurant and side dishes, you have come to the right place. Side dishes were not what I expected; not the typical side dishes you get at other korean bbq places. I was nervous prior to coming here based on the other review regarding their area and parking that someone had dents all over her car. Upon arriving, I was relieved to find there was actually small a parking lot in front of their store. Turned out, the owner was the same owner at the other korean bbq place i went to 2 years ago. Better ventilation than their old location. Homey atmosphere without any music and when I went, there wasn't that many people. Other than their unlimited marinated poultry, I was bored grilling/eating.
(3)Marissa R.
Come here for the meat varieties . Even tho the name says philly buffet the buffet part u don't see. They have 5 different types of meat for u to grill at the table. Remember to have them change out the grill often or your meat will burn. U have to be hungry cause it's about 32.00 a person it's not your Chinese buffet. It's BYOB which is a plus plus plus
(4)Aya H.
Okay so a month ago we tried this chinese bbq restaurant in NY which was amazing experience by all means so we wannit to find something similar to that and philly's buffet sound the closest to what we had. I'll start by saying that we went on a wednesday night and I'm not exaggerating when saying that the owners were gonna feed us like babies (in a good way though lol) they explained to us the korean way to eat their barbecue which was so much fun (wrapping the lettus with rice the meat and kinda salty nutty paste i wish i know what was that but it was DELISH) so yeah the buffet is all you can eat meats the best they have is the short ribs YUMMY,rice and sides. The waiter kept grilling our food instead of grilling it ourselves (who wouldn't like that) 30$ per person Friendly staff Decent variety of meats Will be back for sure
(4)John P.
I'm a regular here and I'll say that the service is great, it's true that it may be a tough if you're not Korean to get friendly with the waiter/waitresses but the Korean BBQ is legit. Maybe not everyone is accustomed to Korean style BBQ but when it comes to the galbi, it's as good if not better than any of the other restaurants in the area. I would highly recommend anyone that's looking for a good friendly fresh buffet to check it out. The atmosphere is definitely a bit more homey but I tend to like that atmosphere. The variety of meats also please the pallet and I would highly recommend the sweet rice punch when finishing your meal. The lady says it helps you digest but heck if anything, I think it just pushes all that heavy meat weight down. Drop by if you want some great Korean BBQ and tell the waiter Mr. John sent you! She might even throw you some extras or some complimentary service!
(5)Pat O.
I love this place the owner move from Jenkins town to here they all still the same. The old lady very very nice. I been came here couples time since she move here. The place was clean. I loves the all meats they have and all u can eat but think even buffet but we should take the foods for amount that we like by the time because I saw someone they just get the food and left it there a lots. It's not nice I knew It is a buffet place but common sense that what I think all the times I go buffet.
(4)Charlene P.
I love this place .so good .it is far from my house .but still want to go there. .the beef there is super delicious .
(5)Fransisca M.
I'll probably come back for lunch or early dinner. I went there for late dinner (around 8.30ish) and all the food were almost gone. I guess it's a good sign that their food turnover is good and fresh. The table service is really good, but I don't think they serve alcohol so byob.
(4)Hank G.
This restaurant does not have any outstanding outfit. However this God really amazing taste real Korean food!
(4)Sarah B.
I was sad that Young Bin Kwan (YBK) closed but glad to hear that at least part of the management had moved to Upper Darby, which is a little bit closer. There are more panchan (small plate) offerings at the new location. My favorites would be the jap chae and potatoes. The kalbi and pork belly (samgyupsal) are still good as ever, and the friendly and English-limited manager will gladly whip up some spicy scallion salad if you ask for it. Philly's Buffet isn't in the greatest of neighborhoods, and parking is a little .. strange. But if you're looking for an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ treat, you won't be disappointed! The quality of the service and food far outweigh the decor (which looks to have been left by the previous owner).
(3)Sudo N.
I took my two kids here tonight and we were all happy with the outcome. The meat was good and there were plenty of side dishes: kyejang, soondubu, miyeokguk, and many kinds of kimchi. Meats included kalbi, bulgogi, samgyeopsal, and talkkogi. We ate a lot of everything and then took some of the leftovers home. Total bill for three people plus the extra takeout was $42.
(3)Kimmie O.
Originally planning to eat at the korean bbq place across street from hmart, but that place does open until 5pm on Sunday, later we ended up here from reviews on Yelp. It seems like a traditional korean bbq place from what I see in Korean Dramas. It is buffet style with different kinds of meat available to bbq (beef, pork, chicken, squid). It also has variety of kimchee for side dishes. There are white rice, water and wings too. If you are a meat lover, you will love this place. The ladies who work there were nice, they come help you with the bbq processing, but we're rather to have fun doing it ourselves. we ended up paying 150 for party of 5, and 20 for tips. To me, it was quiet expensive since most of us are still students. But i saw most of customers are native Korean families, so should not be a big deal for them.
(3)Allie Y.
I suppose I would have given this place 3.5 stars if I could... but all in all it wasn't above or beyond any Korean BBQ places I've tried in the past outside Philly (mostly LA, NY). This place is a buffet, so basically you can pick out whatever meats/seafood you want to cook and bring it back to your table where you cook it yourself on these grills which are a mixture of charcoals (for the flavor) + gas (for faster cooking). Meats: I really only had the kalbi (short rib) and the samgyupsal (pork belly) but according to the people I went with, those are the only ones worth getting. Those were pretty good... the kalbi I enjoyed more, and I wish the samgyupsal pieces were cut a bit thicker. Also, the samgyupsal comes frozen here... :T. We finished up with the shrimp. Sides: you've got all your standard sides here... I really liked the tofu and the crab, which is a rare one to find! Practical stuff: wear clothes that you don't mind getting extremely smelly with smoke/meat and the grease that floats around in the air. The parking lot also isn't that big so it can get crowded. It's also a BYO. Price ended up being about 24-25 per person... on the pricey side but I guess it was buffet, but still I thought it was a bit on the pricey side. Overall I left feeling pretty satisfied though and would consider coming back again for my korean bbq fix!
(3)Ebony M.
Not sure about all the good reviews. It doesn't seem like we went to the same buffet!!! My two kids and I went here for a quick dinner during the week around 5pm. When we walked in there was no one there! All the lights were off and there was no staff but the buffet tables were full of dried out looking food. The buffet table lights were off as were the warmers. I must say it was like we walked into another realm of the world! Needless to say, we did not dine here because it looked like they were just begging for ONE customer. Very creepy! Won't be returning here. EVER!
(1)Haeni K.
The meat selection is various, but dishes other than the meat themselves aren't that great. Don't try to experiment and just stick with the meat stuff. It's not the best Korean BBQ out there, but for a buffet, it is above average. Also, be sure to leave your coats and leather bag in your car because the place is like an opium den where they smoke meat instead of opium. I made a mistake of bringing my bag in, and the leather smelled like korean BBQ for a couple of days. I love the smell, but not when I'm sitting in a meeting and my bag is reeking bbq scent.
(4)Agatha S.
I went there today with about 37 of my friends (yes there was literally 38 of us). One thing I like is that they had a big enough place to seat us all near each other and it is BYOB. However, it wasn't as good as other Korean BBQ buffet I've been to. The food was good, but I've tried other places with more flavorful meat. The people there did not help us cook at all so someone in each table had to be the chef. I'm used to someone helping my friends and I cook the food, so that we don't have to waste our time in cooking but just in eating. So I felt as though it was very inconvenient that we had to cook it ourselves. The restaurant isn't bad but there's only one bathroom for male/female and their parking lot is rather small. Our bill, including drinks, came up to over $1000. It wasn't a bad place, but I prefer to go to a different Korean BBQ buffet place.
(3)Yiye W.
I went to this place three times and will definitely patronize again. If you are a meat lover, you will like this place. For $25 you can bbq unlimited beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, etc. Waitresses are nice and helpful. The only drawback, if any, is that when you are done with the dinner, you won't smell too good:(
(5)Julie D.
$25 for all you can eat subpar BBQ. Definitely not as good as California (not even close) The meat is under a red lamp and it looks a bit odd. I wish they had unmarinated meat and brisket, I feel that marinated meat masks the quality of the meat. They were definitely lacking in the various Korean sides, and the ones that were there looked unappetizing like they've been sitting out there all day.
(2)Matt H.
Philly's Buffet = Young Bin Kwan same owner, food, staff....same epic all you can eat korean bbq goodness. just a new location. check out the review below. yelp.com/biz/young-bin-k…
(5)K W.
We went here with a group of people and as I stepped foot in the place I immediately had a hard time breathing. The exhaust system in this place is non existence! The buffet spread is right in the front entrance. Not sure how sanitary it is being the door opens and closes quite often changing the temperature of that room. In addition, people waiting to be seated are standing in that room. Their is a lack of service, granted it's a buffet...we know it's self serve for food...but you have to get your own water, napkins, silverware, and cups. They don't bring anything to you except the bill. I think its a great place for college kids. It's also BYOB so it's a nice cheap eat with friends and some alcohol. However, the air quality is really bad. I don't recommend bringing your kids. Also, you had to shower after eating there ..... it took one and half week before the smell of the korean bbq left my purse.
(1)Jenny L.
So happy this place opened! I was a fan of Young Bin Kwan and this is much closer to me. They still have the meat buffet, but have put out even more food in addition to the meats to grill. If you have never been, it is a very fun night with a group of friends. Just don't wear anything you don't want to wash, you will smell like smoke from grilling after. I didn't think the location was that scary and I did go at night (8pm). I was happy that they had their own parking lot and I didn't have to look for parking on the street. You should not leave this place hungry!
(5)David T.
This place is a joke. I'm not Korean, but I know what good Korean BBQ tastes like and you will NOT find it here. The selection was not so great and the meat was substandard. They didn't even have white rice! It was some brown/purple rice that looked like it had other crud in it; totally unappetizing and tasted as bad as it looked. Don't be sucked into the "oh, all you can eat for $20" promise because it is not worth your money, unless your palate is completely underdeveloped. For the real deal, go to Seoul Garden in Jenkintown. You won't regret it. P.S. - The location is MAD random.
(1)Yohann S.
Like other reviewer has mentioned, this place have the same worker who used to work at Young Bin Kwan. I'm not 100% sure whats the story behind it, like what's going on with the old place and who or why they bought off the place and such. So I won't talk about it. Tasty as ever. Don't worry. I have to take off 1 star because I'm not a fan of their new location. I felt unsafe, somehow. Maybe that was because I went there at night and its all dark.. I don't know. But yeah.. there's this .. 'light' disturbance when me and my friends was there. The back door, which I believe supposed to be a Fire Exit door, was either bang or slammed so loudly from outside.. like everything happen so random and so creepy. I had a feeling that it was from the kids in that neighborhood. Yes it was 8pm-ish and there's still a lot of neighborhood kids playing outside. But yeah.. I'll definitely be back. Love them food very much.
(4)Mel H.
This place was great. When you walk in there is a large selection of food. You get to pick your meats that you grill at your table and your sides. The food was great and service was a well. We had the beef and pork it was awesome. I would suggest that anyone try this place. The buffet cost about 20 bucks and drinks are a few more so expect to pay about 25 bucks.
(4)Geoff c.
While they have your basic variety of krn bbq meat, the kalbi, bulgogi, samgyupsal, spicy pork, tripe, sliced steak, the quality of the meat is pretty low. Don't expect much. Once you see the place you'll understand. Their other dishes at the buffet are also pretty poor in quality. The don't have a good ventilation system, and by that I mean they have none. They just leave the front door open (by the way, all the food is also right next to the front door). So, it gets pretty smoky in there. It's pretty pricey for the quality you get compared to other areas. $24 for dinner on a weekday. For a fix of krn bbq, there are better places in upper darby, or i'd rather just make it myself. But this is a fun place to go if you're with a group and want to gorge yourselves. It's also BYO. I did see a cockroach there. Though that's not a huge turn off for me... those pests are everywhere. They'll survive the apocalypse. Staff is nice. Parking is limited. They prefer cash and only accept very few credit cards (at least thats what they told me. we ended up paying cash. as did everyone else in the restaurant, but theres an ATM there)
(2)Grace C.
I was visiting Philly with some girlfriends from out of town. We went early on a Friday night but the place was empty. We were surprised but ready to fill our stomachs with Korean bbq. The food at the buffet was scant and not fresh.. The servers were nice and cooked the meat for us though. But when we were ready to pay, the server said the credit card machine was broken and told us to cross the street and go to the atm in a pawn shop to get cash... At night that's kinda scary for us girls... But anyway we did it and asked if we can get a little discount for the hassle. After all small businesses prefer cash customers. But she flat out said no... Overall food was good... But customer service wasn't so great...
(3)Alex P.
$25 per person seems like a lot considering its in the ghetto and the place is falling apart and run down. Since they don't have heat, they use small personal space heaters during the winter. Aside from all that nonsense, the food is delicious! And it is unlimited quality seasoned Korean meat and seafood after all, so $25 is fair. Plenty of choices and you won't go hungry from all this Korean BBQ. It's especially fun to do in groups with family or friends. And at the end (or beginning or middle), you get the dessert drink. It's soo sweet! This is definitely authentic Korean food! Also, FYI, most of the people there don't speak English and forget about the owner or staff because they definitely don't.
(3)Steven D.
There aren't many all you can eat Korean BBQ's left out there, but with a buffet, you're always sacrificing some quality. It won't be the greatest tasting Korean BBQ you've had, but it certainly gets the job done to satisfy your craving of meats and Korean side dishes. I wish they had better kimchi and cucumbers. I haven't tried a lot of their other sides, but I'm glad they let you make your own side of scallions. They've got potato cakes, radishes, fish cakes, tofu, soups, rice, and fruits for dessert. As for the meat, you get your short ribs (galbi), chicken, pork, pork belly (samgyupsal), beef (bulgogi), shrimp, and squid. I will admit, it's hard to get good service here sometimes. It's hit or miss in my experience.The staff doesn't speak a lot of English, so do yourself a favor and have a Korean speaking person in your group! If they're not busy they'll be able to come around and help grill the meats and exchange the grill plates pretty often. My latest visit was my worst experience. They don't honor reservations as well as you would expect. We had a large party of 20+ people and when we got there, we ended up waiting another 45 minutes. It still seemed like they were seating first come first serve despite reservations. Our group also ended up splitting up to eat. It's still worth a visit if you've never been or if you have that craving and don't want to make the travel to Jenkintown (search Koba). It's BYO which is another plus. The parking lot is pretty small (~10 cars), so be ready to park in the streets if it's full. Enjoy and remember to leave your jackets in the car!
(3)Matt C.
Eh. Good enough. This place is just one of those "pay what it weighs," New York buffet places that I absolutely hate. Because of that, I decided to go with a sandwich. I was "greeted" at the counter by a woman that was apparently having a HORRIBLE day, and wasn't too worried about taking it out on me. "what do you want?" Was the first and only thing she said to me before I ordered the chicken sandwich. She then walked away, came back a few minutes later and said, "no chicken." Expecting me to have a plan b queued up and ready to go for this eventuality, she awaited my new order. I asked her to give me a minute please to look over the menu, and I can't be sure, but I think she sighed and rolled her eyes. What I CAN be sure about was that she DISAPPEARED. She was gone for like, literally, 15 minutes before coming back to get my order; a turkey and avocado sandwich, with cheese ("50 cents extra.") She made the sandwich and handed it to me before I had to remind her that fries came with the sandwich. 10 minutes later for the fries, she must have calmed down a bit, because she decided to comp me the 50 cents for my cheese; a saint she was. The sandwich was actually pretty damn good, and the fries, despite the wait, were PERFECT. Perfect. My brother got a breakfast platter that I heard no complaints about. The food dragged the rating up to 3 stars because the service was definitely a 1 or 2.
(3)German S.
This place is not easy on the eye..the place is an old dinner but I was told that the owner is one of the best in marrinating the meats, so i guess i had to make that determination by myself. I have dinned at several Korean BBQ, and and love the experience. After having different meats and squid I have to admit that the marinate was on point. The owner Ms. Kim made us feel like we were a family memeber. Always checking to see if we needed anything or the meat were to our liking. I think that I will be returning to Philly's Buffet Korean BBq.
(3)H M.
After reading the reviews I had very low expectations on the place. We went there for a friend's birthday. The meat was good and also marinades weren't bad. The shrimp did run out! Go early! The place gets smoky so make sure you don't wear your Sunday clothes. I still smell like the place, 2 days later... There was standard white rice there, not sure what the other reviewer was talking about. I would definitely go back to the place. Also, it is BYOB!
(3)Craig C.
One waitress bring the rib and meat back to buffet counter and dump it in as never been eat! Dirty!
(1)Hiep N.
This place rocks! The staff is fantastic, they're very casual yet professional! They remember you by your first name which is very warm, and they also teach you korean! The food here is also AMAZING. I come here and literally eat all of the kal-bi and pork belly even if my stomach says no more. I would recommend for everyone to try the korean punch. At first you might think it's a little too sweet, but before you know it you're addicted! A+ A+ A+
(5)Phillip Y.
I can't complain about this place. Sure, it smells smokey in here and you clothes might smell a few days. But, pleasant enough atmosphere with attentive staff helping you guys with the BBQ. Buffet was pretty good and ate till I was stuffed. Plenty of selection of things to grill and the shrimp did not run out like others mentioned the night I came. Parking is a bit of a pain so get there early for a spot. Also, there is a funny sign in the buffet that tells you $3 charge for 1 pound of wasted food. I guess they have the same mentality as my parents growing up. "Finish every piece of food on your plate!!!" Also, price is pretty reasonable but for some reason our organizer wasn't able to secure the 10% off our party of 30 people like the owner originally promised us. They just ended up giving us free soda which was still pretty good.
(4)Tina H.
Bad choice in name. Definitely could have been more creative. I'm not korean, but I thought the food was decent? Not so bad. When you first walk in, I might say I was extremely skeptical. I heard some not so great things about this place prior to coming, but came anyway because it was a friend's birthday. The selection of raw foods for you to BBQ were all right there when you open the door. The decor is more or less, ghetto, because it used to be an old diner. My boyfriend always complained how he would go to a Korean BBQ place and would pay so much and never be full, well, here is the solution! It's about 20 bucks for all you can eat BBQ, I think it's a pretty good deal especially if you're not as picky about Korean food. Unfortunately I came not so hungry, and didn't get my money's worth, but I thought it was adequate. My friends really enjoyed themselves, they definitely got their money's worth and maybe a bit more, haha. Although, they did run out of shrimp, which really seem to upset my friends, thumbs down for running out of food. The grill definitely needed more fire to get the real BBQ taste to the kalbi and bulgogi too. The service was really friendly, and very attentive. I'd have to say, I wasn't feeling their birthday song being played out the corner speaker though. I'd much prefer if they'd gather around and sang for you, haha, but no big. With all things considered, I'd probably come back again to eat, hopefully on an empty stomach this time. I'm not too picky about Korean food, but I don't think I would recommend this place to actual Koreans because they would probably think the food is less than average. I'd definitely recommend for first timers and anybody else though.
(3)Jose A.
This place is really cool, if you have never been to a Korean Barbe que, then you need to go to one, particularly this one. There is a stove in the middle of your table, and you go and get whatever kind of meet you would like from the buffet, and come back and cook on your table. I personally prefer the pork belly, but they have a bunch of differnet tastey meats as well. Then you eat the meat you just cooked with a decent selection of spicy, noodle, vegtable korean sides that you also get from the buffet. The service is pretty good too, it's not cheap though, 25 bucks a pop for dinner, but well worth it...
(4)Steven L.
$25 (+Tax) for all you can eat Kalbi is a win for me. They also have different selection of meats so I'm sure there's something for everyone. However, I felt the banchan (Side dishes) was a little blend. As for staffs, the manager as well as the waitresses were friendly and professional. Can't wait to go back! If you're wondering, it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer).
(4)Evann G.
OK, I was a little scared, because I've never done Korean BBQ before. But! This. Was. Awesome. The bulgogi (sp?) was my absolute favorite of all the meats - to the point that I think I'll just ignore the other meats entirely next time and only eat bulgogi - but everything I tried was good. And I am one of those annoyingly paranoid people who gets really nervous about food safety and hygiene and stuff, and I was still OK with the situation and how the meat was laid out, etc. Everything was really clean. Cooking at the table was fun, and our waiter was super helpful because it was our first time. He showed us how to make lettuce wraps (SO GOOD!) and explained what everything was. (I was expecting to smell like meat for days afterward after reading some other reviews of Korean BBQs, but I didn't.) The prepared foods in the buffet were also really good, especially since I was starving and had to wait for our first round of meat to cook before we could eat it. I really liked the chicken, noodles, and potstickers the most but everything I tried was really good. But the bulgogi! Oh man. I think I will just focus on that next time. SO GOOD, especially when it got a little charred around the edges. Minus one star because it's a bit pricey. I think dinner for the two of us came to $54 before tip, but still totally worth it because it was such a cool experience.
(4)Christina H.
Like the other poster said, the people there are SO NICE. But their food is meh. The reason I keep going back here everytime though is because for $20 you can eat a crap load of meat! In case you haven't read my other reviews, I love love LOVE food, and lots of it. Now, I know I can make better kalbi and better japchae and eat in the beautiful romantic ambiance of my dining room (heh), but I'm lazy and it's still cheaper to go here. It's fun to go with friends and sing out "gum beh!" together, get wasted and eat mediore bbq. I like that they do have a variety of meats and side dishes and soups, and I really love that they have the shredded scallion, the radish wraps , and spicy squid(drool). It's also close to my favorite karaoke place, so typically we hit up the bbq then go sing. It's a great place for korean bbq noobs, since you can try everything. FYI, it is now a byob so bring your own stuff. Don't bring beer because it just takes up valuable realestate in your tummy.
(3)Florentina L.
This place never fails as far as tastes are concerning! My bff loves this place and sworn to come back again:)
(5)James C.
I have been going here for a while. I have nothing really to complain about. Whats better than all you can kal-bi, pork, shrimp, and other marinated meats? Nothing really, and the marinate is on point. If you are craving Korean bbq this is the place to go. My friends and I always come after a good workout of basketball or just hanging out, and we always come out full and satisfied. The service is good and friendly, if you want they grill the meat for you, but if you have experience you can tell them that you can grill the meats.
(5)Minh T.
This is a Korean BBQ buffet. It has all the fixings, staff was nice, meats were good, cooked everything for you and even learned something new about how to eat. I think it's good and I'd recommend it to anyone asking.
(4)Don B.
After coming back here, I must say that I honestly feel somewhat discriminated against due to not being Korean. For example, the wait staff is very courteous and basically hands off with the Korean folks eating in the restaurant. However, in both of the times I was here, I felt that we were being somewhat rushed through our meal and unnecessarily waited on with regards to cooking our meat. If I take the time to clear the grill off so I can put my kalbi on and get a nice sear, I don't need the waitress coming over, grabbing my tongs, flipping it around and overcrowding the grill with more meat from my plate so it can effectively steam. I understand that they want to move tables through, but I think this is unacceptable. There were TONS of open tables and the place was dead when we were there our 2nd time, so it was totally unnecessary. I even attempted to tell the wait staff that we can handle cooking our own meat, but it was not adhered to. They were certainly not going over to the other Korean folks' tables and messing around with their meat on the grill. Bottom line, it's a decent place, but don't be surprised if you are treated differently for not being Korean.
(2)Won S.
GRAMMA IS BACK!!!!!!! The lady remembered my wife and I from when we used to go to Seoul Garden, aka "Young Bin Kwan". She was excited and told us to bring all of our friends back, as we used to go with big groups. This was exploratory field work to see if Matt G. was right. Sure enough we found our favorite Ajima. Food is just as good, and I'm loving life since she just went from an hour drive to a 15 minute drive. You all have to go there. She is back.
(5)Herb L.
only the 2nd Korean buffet I've been to in the area. Solid all around. Could be better with separate exhaust fans above each table like some places have, and the place had more of a homey feel than most restaurants. Other than that, no complaints. Good service, food priced decently, no liquor license though. Owner even took us to the El station with previous notice. Very customer-oriented!
(4)SC W.
All you can eat meats, and apetizers and all for around $25 a person...How can you complain? A 12 oz steak at outback is freaking $20 already! Parking isn't that great, but can't have it all right?
(5)Michelle K.
super good food. for a Korean BQQ place - the price is the best i have seen. most places make you by per person and it can add up. here it is just flat rate all you can eat. please go and try it!!!!
(4)Jamie S.
Delicious, unlimited food, an authentic experience, and attentive service...besides those, this place has little going for it. The ceiling dripped water on my arm every several minutes during my meal, and the ventilation is meager at best. There was quite a bit of meat at the buffet bar, but the pork belly looked a little rotten...it probably wasn't, but the flies buzzing around it and the rest of the bar didn't help its appearance. The buffet did have the essentials, though: galbi, pork belly, bulgogi, garlic, green chili pepper, ssamjang, sesame oil and salt, kimchi... To me, the experience definitely didn't justify the price. Our total came to around 80 dollars not including tip, but that's partially because we ordered doenjang jjigae along with our meal. Looking back, that wasn't the smartest financial decision, but KBBQ without doenjang jjigae just doesn't feel right. My recommendation: this is a good location if you really crave AYCE KBBQ, but if you're just looking to scarf down a ton of meat, spend the extra 10-15 bucks and dine at Fogo de Chao.
(3)Melissa O.
4 stars for the food, but 2 stars for the location/ambience. I came here in the winter time and the roof was leaking, the place looked so dilapidated, it was BAD. Having to walk around the little space heaters on the floor was a hassle when refilling our plates. Also, no ventilation so the smoke issue is worse than usual. But, the food was pretty great. There was quite a bit of everything and the flavors were all delicious. I liked that the staff would stop by to check in and help. Overall, $35 per person is probably the only reason I won't be back anytime soon. I could get over the restaurant itself to enjoy such good food and a fun experience but that's just too pricey.
(3)Vy D.
To all lovers of meat out there- this AYCE Korean BBQ Buffet is legit. Although it's located in a shady area of Upper Darby and the decor and ambiance leave much to be desired. The food here is really tasty! And you can eat as much of it you want until your gastrointestinal system explodes. Anyways, we were hungry and attacked the buffet like the carnivores we are. They have everything here. From authentic bone-in kalbi, bulgogi, daeji bulgogi, chicken, baby octopus, and shrimp. Everything was well-seasoned and looked extremely fresh. Also plenty of rice, kimchi, and banchan dishes go with too! I kept thinking "they aren't going to make any money off of us!" Owned by an adorable old Korean couple, they were more than helpful. When we asked for extras such as butter and lime, they were more than accommodating. Being a cold December night, they even brought out a heater right next to our table. It's only $25 a person! That's a really great deal considering how much meats we ate. You can also bring as much beer or soju you want as it's BYO. You will not be disappointed and will be leaving with a food coma for sure ;)
(4)mia n.
New ownership........ who was the previous owner of Young Bin Kwan (Seoul Garden) in Jenkintown. The food is great!!!! I drove over an hour to eat here. They have several selection of BBQ, fish, lomein, dumplings, salad, kimchi, soba, fruits and many more! Everything is great here! One thing I don't like is that it is too far for me...
(5)