Kalbi BBQ specializes in authentic Korean tabletop grilling where diners sear marinated meats and fresh vegetables directly at their tables. The menu features classic bulgogi and short ribs alongside an expansive selection of freshly prepared sushi rolls and nigiri. Side dishes known as banchan accompany the grilled proteins, providing a diverse range of traditional fermented flavors and textures. The interior layout emphasizes social interaction through integrated grills, facilitating a highly interactive cooking process for groups. Professional staff provide necessary guidance on grilling techniques to ensure optimal flavor development for each cut of meat. This establishment combines the intensity of high-heat Korean barbecue with the precise artistry of Japanese raw fish preparations. Patrons find a comprehensive menu that bridges two distinct culinary traditions within a single, functional space designed for efficient and communal preparation.
Kalbi BBQ offers a fun and lively dining experience where guests can enjoy a variety of unlimited Korean barbecue and sushi. Many patrons appreciate the intuitive phone-based ordering system and the efficient, entertaining robot servers that deliver food to the table. The staff frequently receives praise for being attentive, professional, and welcoming, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. While opinions on pricing and some menu limitations vary, many guests find the selection of fresh meats, grilled vegetables, and sushi to be a solid value, making it a popular destination for gatherings with friends and family in the heart of the city.
Despite the restaurant being packed like a can of sardines, we were sat down at our table very quickly. The staff were super friendly & explained how everything worked. That being said, the food was so so. The miso beef is delicious, the short rib was meh, but the sides like general tao chicken, takoyaki, the desserts, & sushi were lacking. The chicken & takoyaki were not even crispy nor warm. The desserts aren't that good & are kinda bland. Stuff like ice cream requires you to pay extra & there is a mandatory service fee aka forced tip of 15% if you have a group of six (I went with four people). When you're grilling meat, there was no light so sometimes you couldn't tell it was cooked or not.
Would I go to this place again? Probably not. I would only recommend it to a friend if they just want to experience Korean BBQ.
La serveuse était désagreable, elle changeait pas notre eau j'avais soif tout le long. Elle m'as aussi forcé a payer le 15% de tips malgré le service médiocre.
Niveau nourriture c'est ok, rien d'extraordinaire. Les portions sont assez petites. Il y a beaucoup d'items qui sont en extra, donc faites attention lorsque vous commandez. Par exemple, les feuilles de laitues sont en extra, curieux. Aussi, le service était plutôt froid & sans plus. C'était surprenant de me faire dire au moment de payer la facture que les frais de service étaient inclus & de voir le serveur peser sur le 15% de tips avant de me donner la machine TPV. Évidemment que j'allais donner minimum 15%, mais je n'ai jamais vu un serveur choisir lui-même son pourboire. Bref, pour 55$, il y a de bien meilleures options.
Aug 6, 2026
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Perso, je ne le referai pas & je ne le recommanderai pas non plus.
À ce prix, on trouve largement mieux !
Dès l'arrivée, on nous a fait comprendre qu'il fallait OBLIGATOIREMENT laisser 15 % de pourboire pour le service sous prétexte que nous étions un groupe de plus de six personnes. Si nous avons l'habitude d'en laisser un de bon coeur, c'est bien la première fois qu'on nous l'impose de la sorte... On comprend vite pourquoi par la suite, car compte tenu de l'accueil & de la qualité de la prestation, si ce n'était pas obligatoire, ils auraient du mal à avoir leur tips.
- ?Le service en salle est assuré par un robot (à l'exception de la carafe d'eau)
- ?Les commandes doivent se faire via nos smartphones, avec une contrainte majeure pour nous car UN SEUL TÉLÉPHONE autorisé par table pour toute la commande, ce qui n'était absolument pas pratique.
- ?Plusieurs plats du menu manquaient à l'appel, notamment du côté des fruits de mer & du dessert. Pour ce dernier, nous avons eu le choix entre de la gelée & une sorte de Timbits. Un supplément était requis si l'on voulait le beignet de banane ...
- ?Les plats servis restent corrects & variés, mais ils sont loin d'être bons.
Absolutely absurd. Tell me why they forced me to tip them? I didn't tip since the meal was already expensive as it is. the lady serving me pointed it out & I confirmed that i did not want to since tips are OPTIONAL. I work in a restaurant myself & from a server to another, it is very rude to point it out. Afterwards a man comes to me basically telling me that i HAD to tip in a very demanding tone. His excuse was that'this is not a McDonalds'. & basically bashed me for not tipping. In my 5 years of serving at restaurants i have never heard of such'rule'. & please pay respect to all workers, including fast food workers.Employees should know that it is not mandatory for customers to tip & should be more aware of how they speak to customers. Next time do not leave a'no tip' option if it is not optional. Will not come again with this ridiculous service. It is hideous.
We had a reservation a Sunday evening, but unexpectedly wasn't that crowded (especially after the Comicon). Atmosphere & waiters/waitresses were pretty nice & the cat robot is cute. Food was good, but a little pricy for what it is. (you have to EAT to make it worth) 44$ per person+ tx. Be warned, they add 15% tip before giving you options to pay. Also, drinks are absolutely overpriced.. Soju bottle at 9$ at SAQ are 27$ here, be careful 💀 the bill goes up insanely quick 🤯 Still a fun experience & will probably return all things considered
Le kalbi demande du Tips au moment de payé.
De 1 : c'est un robot qui te sert
De 2: quand tu demande de l'eau il ne te sert pas tu doit versé ton eau toi même!
De 3: je n'ai eu aucun service.. alors pourquoi donner du tips.
De 4: rare son les employés qui parle français …
They charged my group a mandatory 15% service fee AFTER tax, because we were a large group. However we got separated into 5 different tables & the robot served us literally the entire time. I'm not sure if this is even legal to charge the tip after tax. I hope it wasn't on purpose but i think the same girl charged all of us one by one so that would add up to a lot of extra money spent/earned & i don't believe it's ethical. They did tell us about the service fee in advance so I'm not complaining about that part, just the fact that we were barely even served. Just once at the beginning to seat us & explain things.
Aside from that, service was good though, as in, the waiter greeted us & was happy to explain what drinks there were. After giving the drink, he left & didn't give us water so we just asked the kitchen if we could take a pitcher of water. I tried to get his attention a few times but I'm not sure if he was looking in our direction. Not sure if it's normal.
Food was good as well but it's a bit overpriced. I understand because it's near downtown though. The pitcher of alcohol was really worth it & it tasted good.
This place was great. Great service, great food. Meet was fresh & great marinade. The basa fillet & sweet potato tempura were my faves. Lots of options & it was all good. My nephew's loved the fried calamari & fried scallops. We had the sweet buns as dessert & they were crispy outside fluffy inside. Yummm. We did not order any sushi but what we saw people getting looked divine & good portions, & the fish food so fresh.
To address the negative comments I have seen said:
NO a tip was not added to my bill by the staff automatically.
Price was for those saying expensive, it is all you can eat meat, veggies,sides, seafood & sushi. It was 44 per adult & 28 per kid. Only a few items you paid extra for like 2 of the desserts.
Also as for portion, I found them perfect. Small yes, but if you want more then when ordering instead of doing 1 portion do 2 or 3.
