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🥩 Meat me at our spot

Our top picks for Korean barbecue restaurants in and around San Jose, CA

A table full of Korean BBQ sides and a grill with meat on it.

YakiniQ offers a relaxed environment for chowing down. | Photo by SJtoday staff

While we know the mecca for Korean barbecue restaurants is a little further south, there are definitely showstoppers in the Bay Area — especially within the great 408.

There are a lot of barbecue spots to sift through, so we gathered our top four picks to help you get started on your next Korean culinary adventure — we’ll meat you there.

Best bang for your buck

YakiniQ, 1783 W. San Carlos St.
Come here with an appetite — this is an all-you-can-eat establishment. Enjoy regular meats priced at $21.99/person, and premium meats priced at $24.99/person. The best part? No need to flag down a server — order your selections through an app and have your food quickly delivered to your table.

No frills, all flavor

ToBang, 1052 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara
Business owner Ji Yeon followed in her mother’s footsteps — who owned a restaurant in Kwangju, South Korea — and opened this casual eatery in 2005. Since then, ToBang has been serving up quality, well-marinated meats that might even have you skipping the sauces. Bonus: Several combo deals come with a free seafood pancake or cheese corn.

Rolls of raw meat on a plate. — Check out this display of meat from Seo Rai.
|
Photo by SJtoday staff

A date night-must

Seo Rai, 3044 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
This is the sister restaurant of Chungdam, a fine-dining Korean barbecue establishment that tech execs often roll through. While we also enjoy Chungdam, Seo Rai is a lively, affordable alternative — your date will love the club-like atmosphere. Enjoy premium, Insta-worthy meat platters and a menu of fun margaritas + soju cocktails.

Best meat selection

10 Butchers, 595 El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
Nothing quite beats the quality of the meats here. You can choose from a selection of fine A5 wagyu or prime rib cuts, as well as black pork belly. Sit back and relax, because the staff at this restaurant will cook, cut, and serve you. Finish off your meal with a dessert — on the house.

Let us know — what’s your favorite Korean barbecue spot?

Events

Monday, May 8

Beginner Friendly Procreate Digital Art Class | Monday, May 8 | 4-5 p.m. | Jiaren Cafe, 1171 Homestead Rd., Ste. 140B, San Jose | $30-$250 | Learn how to utilize the design app to create portraits or still life paintings — an iPad is required.
Trivia Night | Monday, May 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Park Station Hashery, 1701 Park Ave., San Jose | Free | Grab a team of up to six at this weekly event hosted by local comedians.

Tuesday, May 9

Santana Row Run Club with Coach B | Tuesday, May 9 | 6-7:15 p.m. | lululemon, 334 Santana Row, Ste. 2100, San Jose | Free | All paces, ages, and skill levels are welcome to join.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” Trivia Night | Tuesday, May 9 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expy., San Jose | $8-$24 | Test your knowledge of your favorite detective squad, come in costume, and enjoy food + drink specials.

Wednesday, May 10

Gold Money Band Jam | Wednesday, May 10 | 6-9 p.m. | Little Lou’s BBQ, 2455 S. Winchester Blvd., Campbell | Free | This jam session is open to all.
CreativiTEA Monthly Open Mic | Wednesday, May 10 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Chopsticks Alley Art and Theatre, 848 E. William St., San Jose | Free | Asian artists of all genres are welcome to perform every second Wednesday of the month.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Announced

Viva CalleSJ has announced its next open-streets event — set for Sunday, June 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with hubs at Roosevelt Park, SoFA District, and San Carlos. Bike, walk, or skate through town and enjoy vendors, food trucks, and live performances. See the map for details on road closures.

Civic

As part of upcoming budget talks, Mayor Matt Mahan proposed that SJPD should double the rate of hiring new officers from 15 to 30 per year. The increase would also add to the amount of foot + bike patrols downtown, which the department says has proven successful based on a recent analysis. (NBC Bay Area)

Community

San Jose City Council unanimously voted to loosen regulations for how often San Jose Clean Energy (SJCE) can increase its rates. Before, SJCE couldn’t increase rates more than twice a year, and now there’s no cap. But, the energy provider will be more flexible with late fees. Stay up-to-date with rates. (San José Spotlight)

Development

One Santana West, a new 375,000-sqft office building in Santana Row, is now seeking multiple tenants to lease space floor-by-floor. The principal owner of Santana Row, Federal Realty Investment Trust, is experiencing more interest in the layout as tech companies hesitate to expand to full buildings. (The Mercury News)

Sports

Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza was recently named MLS Player of the Month — becoming the 10th player in the club’s history to achieve this honor. The last player to win the distinction was Eduardo “Chofis” López in 2021. (MLS)

Drink

Hint is the water that actually makes us want to drink water. Shop from their top sellers + online exclusive flavors and get 45% off three cases for just $36. (That’s $1 per bottle plus free shipping.) Just use code 6AMCITY.*

Shop

She doesn’t need another bouquet of flowers — give mom the gift of learning a new language instead. Bonus: Get 55% off.*
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and we’re helping you choose the perfect gift for your favorite educators. Show them love with Marble and Steel Craft Chocolates or a handwritten note using a Joy Paper Co. card.

ICYMI

🏈 Let’s go Spartans

San Jose State football team hosts 2023 Brewfest and Spring Game

A Spartan wine cup in front of the CEFCU stadium screen that reads, "Welcome to Brewfest."

Cheers to spring football. | GIF by SJtoday staff

Spring ball and local brews? Count us in.

The CEFCU Stadium was filled with San Jose State alumni, faculty, students, and athletes on Saturday afternoon as everyone celebrated the Spartan football’s 2023 Brewfest and Spring Game.

Prior to the game, there was a short ceremony dedicated to the induction of the Lawrence Fan into the San Jose State Hall of Fame. The late SJSU Athletics’ sports information director, who worked with the school for 40+ years, died last February at 67-years-old.

Following remarks from Head Coach Brent Brennan, SJSU staff, and family members of Lawrence, attendees took to the booths where local breweries like DTSJ Brewing and Narrative Fermentations poured their specialties. Our favorite? DTSJ Brewing’s “408 Rider,” a light 4.7% Pilsner named after the lowriding culture in San Jose.

Luckily, it never rained on SJSU Football’s parade that afternoon — and we can look forward to their open training camp at the end of July.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alyson

From the editor

I want to give a huge thanks to Jeremy, Director of Sales and Service, for inviting SJtoday to this year’s Brewfest. It was so nostalgic coming back to Spartan Stadium and seeing all the faces I used to talk to while doing sports coverage for the Spartan Daily. I also got a sneak peek of the construction SJSU is doing at CEFCU Stadium, and it looks pretty cool — I’ll update you all about the progress as I get more information.

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