Shozen BBQ - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was made special by the company of my beautiful wife, which in turn made the food feel special. The waitresses and owner were incredibly polite and friendly.

I've been coming here for many years and can attest to the delicious food and excellent service. This family-owned establishment even catered our wedding this year! The atmosphere is rated a 5, and the service is also a perfect 5. It's suitable for all group sizes and the food is a definite 5-star experience.

My experience at this restaurant was marred by horrible service. I came with my 3 kids and wife, and our server was very rude towards the kids. She wouldn't allow us adults to have the all-you-can-eat option unless the kids also opted for it, even though the kids were ordering entrees themselves. The owner should fire this server. As a San Diego native, I will discourage anyone from coming here until they get better servers who aren't rude and short. This was on a Saturday at 11: 30 am on 12/13.

This is a really cute place that still very much feels family-owned. We saw two ladies sorting bean sprouts in the back, and when we asked for refills, they brought out the whole container of samjang and salad. Everything here was good quality, although it doesn't have as much variety as a place like Manna. However, one must ask if 20 different kinds of meat and marinade are truly necessary. I personally prefer sticking to beef belly, brisket, or pork belly with veggies. The banchan were excellent, especially the beans, which are not commonly found at most restaurants. The steamed egg was good, and the japchae was delicious, though a tad too sweet for my personal preference. I would go back to try the a la carte menu. While Manna might offer better value in terms of food variety, this place offers a charming and quality experience.

My experience at this restaurant was mixed. While the food was good, we encountered an issue with the bill. Similar to another reviewer's experience, the total on the handwritten bill did not match the itemized charges. When we questioned it, the staff member took the bill and our credit card. We ended up adjusting the tip to cover the discrepancy. I recommend doing your math before paying your bill.

While Shozen Korean BBQ might appear like any other Korean restaurant in California, the experience inside is anything but ordinary. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted warmly by what seems to be the owner, who is incredibly friendly. The menu offers a vast selection, typical of Korean cuisine, with everything from appetizers and stews to meat and sushi. However, the yukhoe (beef tartare) was the unexpected star of the meal. Unlike other versions that can be overly sweet or heavily seasoned, Shozen's rendition truly lets the freshness and natural flavor of the beef shine. Its tender texture and balanced seasoning, with just the right hint of sesame oil, sesame seeds, pine nuts, chives, and egg yolk, made for an unforgettable culinary experience. The surrounding slices of pear and cucumber were a thoughtful addition. The al jjigae (fish egg stew) was also excellent – deep, rich, and clean, with no fishy taste or smell. It was so flavorful and comforting that rice wasn't even necessary. The service was outstanding; the owners were incredibly kind, accommodating, attentive, and always smiling. Their pride in their food and care for their guests was palpable. They checked in to ensure everything was to our liking and that we had enough side dishes. Although we didn't get to try the Korean BBQ this time as we were stuffed, it's definitely a restaurant I'd love to return to on my next visit to San Diego. A++!

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The staff were great, and the food was authentic and super tasty. It was perfect with soju. I miss it so much after moving to Seattle, as it reminded me of when I was back in Korea.

I can't believe I've lived in the area for so long and haven't tried this place! It has a nice comfy atmosphere and feels very homey. Initially, I was going to go for the AYCE, but we decided to just order sides and entrees instead. It was a good thing we did because these plates were enormous! Such generous portions! And the food tasted really good! We didn't finish everything because we had so much food. Our server, who I believe was one of the owners, was very sweet and attentive, especially considering it was just her and the chef (possibly her husband). She even packed our food nicely with foil on the inside of our take-out box! I'll definitely be coming back here again to try some of the other items on the menu, or even the AYCE. Support this local gem! They've been in business for 21 years, and I can see why.

My experience at this Korean restaurant in San Diego was fantastic. While I can't comment on the all-you-can-eat option, the a la carte dishes were absolutely killer. The food was rated a 5, and the service and atmosphere also received perfect scores of 5. It's a great spot for dinner with plenty of parking available. Reservations are not required, and the price per person is between $30–50.

My experience at this family-owned Korean BBQ restaurant was wonderful. While it may not be the most luxurious establishment, the service and the meat were exceptional. Our absolute favorite was the wine marinated pork belly. The atmosphere was rated a 4 out of 5, and the noise level was moderate. We experienced no wait time and found plenty of parking in the free parking lot. The food received a perfect score of 5 out of 5, and the service also earned a 5 out of 5.