Yakini Q SJ

1783 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95128, United States
+1 408-564-6335
$$$ Korean barbecue restaurant , Butcher shop
(619 Reviews)
Price Range $30–50

Yakini Q SJ is a Korean barbecue spot in San Jose’s West San Carlos neighborhood that blends a casual dining experience with a butcher shop vibe. It’s the kind of place where groups come prepared to grill premium cuts right at the table, with a menu focused on selections like pork steak, short ribs, beef brisket, and some more adventurous options like beef tongue and beef intestines.

The restaurant itself is compact, so expect lines around peak dinner hours—especially on weekends. Joining the waitlist ahead of time is key, as the staff uses a phone-based reservation system; just be mindful you need to stay within range to hold your spot. The atmosphere feels lively and bustling, with tables often occupied by groups sharing plates and swapping grilled bites, creating a communal feel despite the smaller space.

Ordering is done through your phone at the table, which speeds things up but can sometimes introduce minor hiccups since you don’t flag servers directly. Once the food arrives, the quality generally hits the mark, especially if you opt for the premium wagyu or marinated short ribs. The grill surfaces are refreshed frequently, which helps keep the cooking experience pleasant though some diners note a particular texture to the grill that takes getting used to.

Beyond the food, Yakini Q SJ keeps sauces and condiments on each table, encouraging diners to customize their bites without waiting on staff—this adds to a relaxed, hands-on dining atmosphere. The service is efficient but tends to be functional rather than particularly warm, reflecting a focus on turnover and maintaining pace during busy times.

This spot tends to suit locals and visitors who appreciate Korean barbecue’s interactive style and aren’t deterred by some waiting time or a bit of hustle in a compact setting. Early arrivals or weekday visits can help avoid crowds and long waits. If you’re looking for a no-frills, meat-forward Korean BBQ experience where the emphasis is on quality grilling and a communal table vibe, Yakini Q SJ fits the bill in this bustling San Jose neighborhood.

Highlights
Has fast service
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Has all you can eat
Serves beer
Serves comfort food
Serves late-night food
Serves spirits
Best for
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

05:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

05:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Thursday

05:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday

02:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday

02:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Sunday

02:00 PM - 10:00 PM

619 Reviews
Rocky Quat

14 Dec 2025

Went here on a Friday, the wait was about 2 hours but if you get on the waitlist about 2 hours prior then you can gauge a better time to come, however you need to be in range to join the list. Surprisingly this Friday wasn’t as packed but still a full house. The food came out fast and was good quality as we got the premium selection so you know we had to get the wagyu option. I’d stay clear of all the marinated meets until you get everything else first. The reason why is because the marinated meat will crust of that cook top like no other and it will start to burn; then you’ll have to get a grill change and start over. No hard but just a hassle. Plenty of seating and roomy as long as you sit down and don’t move. The tables are shorter which gives you the closeness vibe to those you eat it. Will come again and again.

Jimmy Toan Khuu

06 Dec 2025

This place is not too big so wait time can be long during peak hour, make sure you join waiting list before. The atmosphere is great and I love that they left all the sauce on each table so you can refill yourself. Also like an idea of ordering through your phone so you don't have to wave or looking for a waiter/ waitress but that too creat a small problem. Employees are not really friendly or make contact with customers, some of them are not even speak English. When they bring us dessert the waitress just like shovel it into our face without saying anything and wait for us to take it from her, quite unprofessional in my opinion. Put that aside I think foods are very decent and the good sauce have made our meal better. The variety of sides order also gave us more flavor. Your order also quickly delivered to the table. In overall we love the place, just hope for the employees will be more lively and friendly. Definitely coming back for more.

deez nuts

12 Nov 2025

Overall Very good, meats were ok better than Gen but -1 star because why was the front receptionist was answering the phone and talking for so long while there was a line of people waiting. I feel like customers there should be prioritized and the caller should be left on hold first. Didnt really like this kind of grill because it was ‘sticky’ if you know what i mean didnt really give the best charr compare to other type of kbbq grill Table was quite small but its ok not a big deal to me Still had a good meal, would come back again bc its good for price compared to other kbbq

Jacob Stahleker

11 Nov 2025

Very yummy all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ! They were consistent with changing the grill tops to ensure you always had a clean one. You order whatever you want on your phone, and they bring it out quickly to the table. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because short ribs are extra after your first order and we waited 1 hour for a table. Went with 4 people, and our total was $170 after beer and all-you-can-eat. Would definitely come back!

J

08 Oct 2025

Great food, I like the beefs and shrimps. Make sure you make online waitlist reservations before you go though. Aim for 4PM to seat at 6PM

Dan Kim

05 Oct 2025

Came on a Friday since they open early Fri-Sun but otherwise 5 PM. So off the bat they are pretty solid, sides aren't that great but it's fine but the meats are all above average. Going with premium is the way to go if you've never visited. Overall price and quality it's solid so would recommend if their hours are workable with you.

t diamond

27 Sep 2025

Our first time here, really busy and very accommodating. And the food is so delicious! We had chicken Shrimp Brisket Short rib Premium boneless short rib The marinades were all so tasty The employees are amazing, hard working and all in sync. I would recommend highly

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