New Gangnam BBQ I - Lakewood (WA)

3 /5 Willow X: Food was amazing, and every time you order theyd switch out the plate, refilled drinks and rice bowls. My only reason for 3/5 stars is because our waitress demanded a tip on the check, and we were planning to give her a great cash tip. We told her that, she nodded and left with a smile. We were fine, but she came back to us AGAIN for us to tip on the check. I feel conflicted because the service was great, but we shouldnt be harassed for a tip even after explaining that were giving cash. (Table beside us were also harassed by her for a tip.) On our way out, she followed after us for the tip on the check again. We were clearly upset, and I was uncomfortable. My husband had to explain to her that it was disrespectful for her to demand a tip.

1 /5 joseph smith: Unfortunately, my recent experience at Gangnam BBQ was very disappointing. Upon arrival, we waited approximately 15 minutes to be seated, despite the restaurant not appearing particularly busy. Once seated, our server displayed a noticeably rude and dismissive attitude—there was no greeting or basic courtesy throughout our meal. The food provided for grilling appeared poorly prepared, and we observed several concerning health and safety practices. Staff were handling food without gloves, and there was a chemical station placed directly beside a table with raw meat—posing a clear risk of cross-contamination. We had ordered two separate menu options (one priced at $42 and the other at $35) and communicated this clearly at the beginning. However, there seemed to be confusion with our bill. When we politely raised the issue, staff became unprofessional and confrontational, even raising their voices, which frightened our infant son. We also overheard staff making inappropriate remarks about us in their native language, and they initially refused to return our card after payment. Overall, the combination of poor service, unsafe food handling, and unprofessional conduct made for a very negative dining experience. I would not recommend this establishment.

2 /5 John Navarro: New Gangnam BBQ is a decent all you can eat Korean BBQ. Sadly, their prices have increased to $32 per person, which is a little steep when you can find a cheaper option that is also around the area with a more budget friendly price. They do give a big amount of Meats which is great. The staff are okay. They do ask you frequently if you need anything else but they do like to hover over you and try to rush you out of the door, which in my option isnt what I look for in a all-you-can-eat environment. The complimentary sides are delicious and also the unlimited amount of rice as well. The meats were also good too. Maybe it was just me, but the experience and the price for the Korean BBQ is just a letdown for me. Will not be returning to this location.

2 /5 Ghabar Khaz: The workers are somewhat nice. Foods are okay. My credit card info was stolen right after we ate there. It was used to buy a flight ticket to South Korea.

1 /5 Erika Lee: It was the worst dining experience we’ve ever had. We came on a Sunday around noon, and there were only two other tables occupied when we walked in. Two Korean ladies were serving; one of them sat us at a table between the other two. Since the restaurant was fairly large, and we were planning on doing BBQ with some soju, we asked if we could sit at a table further in the back. She immediately seemed annoyed, mumbled something under her breath, moved us to the table we requested, and then walked away. Right after, she went over to the other server, and the two started talking loudly to each other—as if they wanted us to hear—saying things like, “Why did they have to sit there?” and “Who knows why.” We probably should have taken that as a sign to leave, but since we were hungry, we decided to stay. First of all, the table was oily and sticky. Second, although it was all-you-can-eat, you had to order each type of meat through the server. When we ordered brisket, what came out looked like scraps—just a bowl of leftover fatty pieces with hardly any actual meat. The complimentary soybean stew never arrived until we asked for it at the very end, and throughout the entire meal, no one ever checked on us for more banchan, soju, or meat. We had to flag them down for everything, and it honestly felt like they were deliberately avoiding our table. Keep in mind, the restaurant was not busy—there were maybe four other tables besides us. When we did finally manage to get their attention, the server would come back with our requests, but always with visible annoyance, as if serving us was an inconvenience. We’ve never been treated this poorly at a restaurant. And to be clear, we were never rude or unkind—we thanked them every single time they brought something over. I recently saw that they’re trying to run Instagram giveaways, probably to bring in more customers. But honestly, I don’t think they’re ready, at least not service-wise. And for the price and quality, there’s plenty of other options around.