Seoul Korean BBQ - Calgary

Overall

Food

Service

Atmosphere

Cleanliness

Price: $ 10-15 per person - $$ 15-25 per person Would I go Back: Yes

This restaurant is easily the best Korean BBQ restaurant in Calgary. It's a really large restaurant on MacLeod and even if it's really busy you're bound to get seats really quickly without reservation. It's also a great place for a party as they have seperated areas where they can fit large parties. I mean bus load large!

They have a large menu with pictures in them so you're not half guessing what you're ordering and if you can't decide you can always try their set meals of BBQ or Hot Pot that have a bit of everything for you to try. You may also substitute certain food in the set meals as well for somethng else you like. Do not under estitimate their meals though . It comes with soup, salad, a few appetizers rice, and lots of meat. This is not including the dishes they give with your meal which they serve four different kinds with unlimited refills which the staff is a happy to oblige (I would know cause my dad likes downing them like crazy and he's not shy about asking for more) and sweet soup dessert (they don't always give it to you as not alot of people like it so you may have to ask for it, they also make this themselves so they may have run out of it for the day if you went late). So if you're with a party of 4 even if you're party eats a lot, order the set meal that will feed 2-3 people there is plenty to go around. I also like this when I go with my family because they usually can't decide what to order and my dad will try to order everything on the menu.

The food is always pretty good here even when it's busy. Why I put the two different prices is because if you go there for lunch it would be in the lower price range and if you go at dinner for the set meal depending how you order you should be within the second price range. I usually go with just my boyfriend so we never have the set meals as it's way too much food. If we each order a dish (by the way comes with a bowl of ricer per dish, the 4 side dishes and sweet soup dessert) and nothing else (tea is free) we had been in the first price mark for dinner. Usually though we hit in the second price range because we would order a drink.

We always come here when I crave for Kimchi Stew. They make the best kimchi stew here and lots of stuff in the stew. I gave the food rating a four because sometimes there is a bit of a slip when they're really busy with the other food. You always have an option to bbq stuff at the table or have the kitchen do it. We always get the kitchen do it as it's only a order of beef bulgogi or it's with my family and it's alot easier to feed everyone. They have a really yummy appetizer that is sweet and sour daikon (radish) wrapped in daikon with a pepper.

Service compared to most Korean restaurants can be said amazing. As most of you that been to Korean restaurants in Calgary would know that you'd be lucky if they waiter or waitress knows English. You have to wait a while before they come and take your order because they're behind the counter determining who's going to brave taking our order from our table. With lots of finger pointing at the menu you will finally have your order taken. Then it takes forever for the food to get there (and lots of finger crossing that you're getting what you ordered) and don't say anything in front of the waiter/waitress unless you're planning to order something or just to say thank you or else you will get something on top that you don't want (this had happened to us many times). At Seoul there is almost none of that. Almost all the waiters and waitresses have a firm grasp of English and those that are a bit iffy will just get you to point at the menu to make sure that they are hearing what you said and take you're order with a smile. You can also order by the number as well. :P
All the waiters and waitresses we had are very nice and on the ball of things even when they're busy. It also helps that they don't have a high changeover of staffs. They also acknowledge you when they can't get to you right away.

The atmosphere here is great. The restaurant is high high ceiling that's very industrial  if you look up so they can fit fans over every table to ventilate when you're bbqing. At eye level they have decorated it nicely with Korean decoration and bamboo blinds between some tables to add privacy. You're never too close to your neighbours. They are very clean as well. They have a system worked out to clear up the tables and have it set up for more customers. Quite amazingly fast. Their dishware are always clean. Last time I checked they're in the process of slowly updating the bathrooms. They had installed new sink and they even have a station with toothpicks, floss, mouth wash and disposable cups! The bathroom stalls itself are not done when I last went.

Aftermath: Overstuffed, satisfied and smelling like Korean BBQ.

WARNING: If you go here or any Korean BBQ do not wear clothes that absorb smell. Even if you don't bbq at the table you will always come out smelling like Korean BBQ. So warn all attending parties. You also might not want to go anywhere with anyone after that has not eaten with you, they will smell you all night. :D