Koreatown is home to a plethora of all-you-can-eat barbecues. Each restaurant is its own unique experience, but some things are always the same: the sound of sizzling pork belly, the melt-in-your-mouth banchan and the slight tang of gochujang sauce. For foodies, BBQ All You Can Eat is all that and more. (Jason Pham / Daily Trojan)
Coming back to college with a full schedule and assignments piling up has left me in an exhausted mood.
After a long day of classes or another 10-hour shift at work, I like to reward myself with a big dinner with friends or my boyfriend to satisfy our built-up appetites.
Just a 15-minute Lyft ride or a few Metro transfers away, Koreatown has been my playground for after-school eateries and bites since my sophomore year. From the blow-torched cheese to sizzling grills and marbled meats, the community is jam-packed with Asian comfort foods at nearly every block.
As a hungry college student trying to get the most bang for his buck, I frequent all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurants the most.
After years of scouring the highs and lows of Korean barbecue restaurants in Koreatown, I've found one of my favorite shops is also one of the cheapest all-you-can-eat deals in Los Angeles. So if I were having a rough day or simply classes concluded for the night, I'd venture out to BBQ All You Can Eat to fill up my stomach while being conscious about my wallet.
BBQ All You Can Eat is a small Korean mom-and-pop style shop located on West 8th Street. The restaurant is primarily a self-barbecue eatery with several different meats for customers to choose from. There are also affordable sides and beverages available such as soda and steamed egg for $2 each.
But the real crowning glory is the barbecue price point the restaurant sets. BBQ AYCE has a flat rate of $21.95 plus tax for their unlimited meat package, by far one of the cheapest Korean barbecue deals I've seen in the city.
Open exclusively from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., BBQ AYCE is the perfect feasting celebration with friends after classes or a party. The inside of the restaurant is compact and adorned with several wooden tables and booths for an intimate dinner atmosphere. Between the soju posters on the walls and K-pop coming from the speakers, the restaurant is a true reflection of the Koreatown nightlife culture.
The menu serves nine meat options to choose from including an optional soybean paste stew -- a somewhat more limited amount compared to pricier Korean barbecue options around town. However, with selections of beef belly, pork belly, brisket bulgogi and marinated short rib on BBQ AYCE's menu, there is nothing else more to want with Korean barbecue.
Aside from prices and restaurant vibes, BBQ AYCE's customer service is impeccable. When I stopped by during my first visit with my boyfriend, the waiters were friendly, starting a conversation and swiftly setting up the banchan dishes before we got the chance to sit down.
We ordered the beef belly and brisket for our first round. Served in fresh rolled slices, we threw the meats onto the grill as soon as they arrived at our table. We grilled our delicacies to a char, just the way I like it.
The brisket was juicy, perfectly thin and not too tough for a tasty medium-quality meat. The beef belly was tender and flavourful but a bit too oily, which got overwhelming after a few rounds of meat. Outweighing the price and meat quality, BBQ AYCE is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for an endless meat option on a budget.
For those looking for added flavors, BBQ AYCE serves a savory and spicy dipping sauce that compliments the fiery grill aroma. We also ordered a side of steamed egg during our visit, which introduced a mellow taste palette that paired well with the meats.
After a few rounds of brisket and beef belly, we finished our meal with the marinated short rib, which offered a flavor-packed, melt-in-your-mouth experience as the perfect end cap to our Korean barbecue excursion.
After nearly every Korean barbecue outing, I'm usually put in a food-induced coma and unable to function for the rest of the night. So for those seeking to celebrate after a long day of classes or finished with a full night of bar-hopping, BBQ AYCE could be a great place for a big dinner with friends and to refuel from a draining schedule.