WE’VE all seen it—those viral posts, glowing reviews, and endless photos flooding social media of this Korean BBQ spot in Greenhills. Everywhere we looked, people were raving about it, saying it was the best place to have authentic samgyeopsal. The only Seoul-certified K-BBQ with 168-hour water-aged samgyeopsal.
Naturally, my group and I got curious and excited. We thought, if it’s this popular, it must be really good.
We even went the extra mile: early in the morning, we called to reserve a table for 9 people, scheduled for an early dinner at 5 PM.
We wanted everything to be perfect, and we couldn’t wait to experience what everyone was talking about. But what we encountered was far from what we expected.
Honestly? We won’t be coming back, and here’s why. First off, let’s talk about the price.
We paid over ₱1,000 per person, an amount we were willing to spend because we thought we’d get premium quality food, great service, and a true Korean dining experience—especially since they proudly claim to be officially recognized for their authenticity by the Seoul government.
We expected authenticity and excellence, but what we got fell so short of that standard.
The ambiance was one of the biggest letdowns. Instead of a cozy, welcoming Korean BBQ restaurant vibe, the place felt noisy, crowded, and chaotic—exactly like a busy public market.
There was no comfort or relaxation at all; it was loud, cramped, and totally lacking the warmth we looked forward to. It didn’t feel like a special meal out; it felt like eating in a crowded, unkempt space.
Then came the food and service issues that made the experience even worse.
The spread they offered looked decent at first glance, but that impression didn’t last. Side dishes and meats were almost never refilled. We had to wait so long just to get more servings, and most of the time, we ended up eating whatever was left because refills took forever.
To make things worse, rice was not available—something essential in a Korean meal.
It was frustrating to keep asking staff for refills or basic items, only to be ignored or told they weren’t available yet.
Even more disappointing was the taste. For a place that calls itself authentic Korean and charges a premium price, the food simply didn’t satisfy our palates.
The meats lacked flavor, the marinades were bland, and nothing tasted fresh or prepared with care.
We kept thinking, Is this really the food everyone is hyping up? It tasted no better than ordinary, affordable Korean spots we’ve tried before—yet we paid way more here.
And let’s not forget the reservation mess. We called first thing in the morning, confirmed our booking for 9 people at 5 PM, and arrived on time only to be told they had no record of our reservation.
They didn’t even apologize properly or try to fix it. We had to wait even longer just to get seats, as if our early effort to reserve meant nothing at all. The staff’s attitude didn’t help either.
They seemed untrained, unaccommodating, and uncomfortable interacting with customers.
No one smiled, no one checked on us, and when we raised concerns, they acted like it wasn’t their problem.
We went there full of excitement, hoping for a memorable, delicious meal. But as time went by, every part of the experience became more disappointing.
We realized that all its fame was just from social media hype—nothing more. It didn’t live up to the standards it claims to have, and it definitely wasn’t worth every peso we spent.
To anyone planning to try it: think twice. The long lines are just because people want to see if it lives up to the hype, but once you’re there, you’ll realize it’s not worth the wait, the money, or the frustration.
For us, there will definitely be no next time. We left feeling let down, and we’d rather spend our money somewhere that truly values its customers and serves good food that matches its reputation.
