Palace Bar B Q Buffet - Sunnyvale
     
    
Last Visited: April 2007
        
      
  

OVERALL

This is NOT the typical kind of restaurant that I would write a review for.  I mean, after all, it looks like a pretty typical Asian restaurant with greasy floor and disgusting restroom.  But I think for the Korean BBQ experience that's hard to match, I'll take a chance and give this place the same kind of recognition as I give to Zibibbo and Shiki Sushi.

FOOD

The key to enjoy your experience at Palace BBQ is to HAVE A PLAN.  But you're there to eat, not to execute a project?  I don't care - if you don't have a plan, you'll not enjoy there.  There's simply too much good food there.  You need to first come up with a schedule for the order to have cooked food, BBQ meats and fruits/desserts, and then you need to know the procedure to truly enjoy the BBQ meats the way Koreans do.

   

First thing is that you'll be tempted to bring back a plate full of cooked food because they looks so yummy.  Well, DON'T.  Sample a few exotic items like jellyfish with cucumber and fried whole fish.  Have one spring (which is not bad) if you REALLY crave for it.  May half-bowl of soup.  Then, go to the meats.  Start with beef short-ribs and beef sirloin slices, and wrap up with ox tongue and instestine.  Low in cholesterol?  Try some squids.  If you are about to throw up, don't even bother showing up there.  Finally, have some mix bean-rice and pretend you're healthy by having some fruits, jello and rice-wine soup (this is a MUST TRY!!!), and you'll thank me for recommending this place.

  

BTW, the meats can be eaten alone with kimchee (Korean pickled cabbage) or pickled radish, accompanied by rice (but beware - rice will fill you up QUICK!), OR you can wrap the meat in lettuce, with some 1) bean paste, 2) raw garlic and 3) pickled veggied if you want it spicy.  If the waitress didn't bring you 1) and 2), you probably don't look Asian so you need to ask for it.

 

 

SERVICE

Rule of thumb in a Korean restaurant: If you think you are the paying customer and has the right to raise your voice when you don't get what you want, do keep in mind that they are the ones who are training Teakwando and they have access to professional kitchen knives.  This place is not bad - it's just no better than most other Asian restaurants.  They'll get you what you need pretty efficiently when you ask nicely.  Proceed with caution - be friendly to them.

AMBIENCE

Not much ambience to speak of - but some friends have told me they are impressed by the fact that they feel like they're sitting in the kitchem.  Then I said "wow, your kitchen sure has ceiling that is very high."  Also, the place is actually decently decorated.  They constructed the restaurant to looks like a somewhat high-end BBQ joint, but it's not kept well.  If you consider all the smoke from BBQ part of the ambience, it's a pretty cool experience.

VALUE

Value is the big thing here.  Granted it's not cheap, the amount and variety of food is so great and of decent quality that it beats any buffet restaurant hands down in terms of value.  You can spend a good two-hour dinner there without feeling sick if you pace yourself and be selective.  This is one of the last remaining places to get great value for your $$$ in the Silicon Valley.

BOTTOMLINE

Alright it's not a Zibibbo, not even a Shiki.  It hard to associate this place with "quality dining experience" that Mr. Critic promotes.  Nevertheless, it's an experience that everyone should try at least one - no matter whether you're a fan of Korean food, BarBQ, or cooking.

BTW

Expect LOOOOONG line - call ahead or go at 5pm.  You'll need two hours anyways, might as well go early.

  

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