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BD's Mongolian Barbeque
Categories: Restaurants Barbeque Restaurants Mongolian Barbeque, Mongolian [Edit]
1620 Wazee StDenver, CO 80202
Neighborhoods: Northwest, Lodo
(303) 571-1824
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
116 reviews for BD's Mongolian Barbeque
Review Highlights
"A great selection of meats to choose from."
(in 8 reviews)
"Don't be afraid to get creative."
(in 5 reviews)
"...food/toppings to create your perfect Mongolian stir-fry."
(in 12 reviews)
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116 reviews in English
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Review from Kiran C.
The Colony, TX
1/16/2012
This is a nice place, near the 16th street area. Nice location.
Food is inexpensive. 1 Bowl - $9.95 / Unlimited is $14.95. Not bad at all.
The cooks on the grill are very talented. These guys are way better and entertaining than the cooks at Benihanas.
The meat selection is more than what I am used to. They actually had 2 types of chicken, different varieties of seafood, lamb meat, pork, and beef. They do have more cuts of meat. But, I did not see what they were as I was in an hurry.
But, food is good, The place is nice and casual. Lotta family and friends hanging out over there. Nice place to hang out. -
Review from Bobby T.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
You know, honestly, I kinda like the concept, but at some point you realize that you are paying a lot for mostly show and not much "go". Hell, I'm doing most of the work. I found my seat, assembled my meal and brought it to the grill to cook. Then I served my plate to my seat and dug in. The only thing I got from the house was a guy to wield a couple of semi-sword looking cooking utensils on the grill and a guy to give me water and rice. I can get that in prison, and the state pays for it.
The other thing that bothers me is that I apparently lack the food compression ability that allows everyone to get twice as much food as me on their plate. Someone needs to teach me that Mongolian art.
I'm certain I'll be back at some point because the guy in my office who I always lose bets with loves this place. Next time I'm piling my bowl twice as high, though. Screw the implied rules of filling my bowl. -
Review from Hollie W.
11/15/2011
No problem at all with the crowd on a Sunday evening. Quick seating, service, and cooked meal. Bowl was small for the price and the tofu was still lukewarm in the middle. You get unlimited salad and soup with the meal though so that is nice but the salad/soup options are limited and did not seem too fresh. Lots of sauce/spice options available.
As a vegan be sure to let the chef know to use a veg section of the grill. Overall the place was ok but other Mongolian Grills that i have been to had more diverse/fresh options, heartier portions, and thoroughly cooked the meal. I want to give it another shot, load the hell out of my bowl, and ask the chef to pretty please cook the tofu with the fury of Satan............ -
Review from Veronica C.
Commerce City, CO
12/27/2011
Food is good, service is not.
They are slow and not very friendly but well worth it for the good and unique food you get!
Good prices as well if you are going with a large group (6+) I suggest making reservations - won't let you do reservations unless you have more than 6. -
Review from John B.
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
BD's is a good place to have a (potentially) tasty and fun meal. I remember my first experience of a Mongolian grill, and just how much I enjoyed the originality of the concept. Over the last decade this sort of restaurant has continued to pop up more and more, and although I wish it were otherwise, I have simply gotten used to it. The excitement is gone. That being said, with the various Mongolian grill options, BD's is among the best.
BD's is relatively inexpensive (about $10 for a single trip, and about $12 for all you can eat), and generally has very nice ingredients available for the consumer/creator. It is fun to be able to go with a group of people and allow everyone to have a different 'sort' of meal. While one person might have a vaguely Asian dish, another might have something Mexicanish, while yet another samples American street fare. It's hard to go wrong. When I went this past week we had pleasant service, a full restaurant, and a genuinely nice evening. I sit here contemplating the three star rating that I have offered for BD's and wonder why it's not higher. The answer is simply, I don't know. Nothing at all was wrong with BD's, but at the moment I'm just not that excited about it. Perhaps next time I go back (which I absolutely will), I will feel that spark that I am presently missing.
The only additional thing that I would say is that this place is always really loud. For most people this isn't a big deal, but if you like to be able to have a pleasant conversation around the dinner table then just realize that this is a difficult task at BD's. The noise is part of the atmosphere, not something that I think should be changed, but it is something of which to be aware. -
Review from Richard R.
Denver, CO
8/8/2011
Mouthwatering deliciousness!
The concept is simple: get seated, get a bowl and fill it with all the fixins you could want! Meats, veggies, sauces and spices galore! From there trek over to the huge stove top where the skilled and entertaining employees cook your bowl right in front of you! They're jugglin', laughin', dancin' and cookin' all at the same time :-)
The best part is that you pick your own meal so you can't blame anyone if it tastes bad. My first time here I was massively hung over and didn't have much of an appetite. After I sat down and dove into my meal I didn't stop until the plate was empty...it's just that good!
The staff is friendly and efficient - especially during the lunch rush. There's a good selection of drinks and options for vegetarians, picky eaters and those who aren't as daring as others.
If you pack your bowl right you might just have some leftovers to enjoy later too! Stop in for lunch, stop in for dinner, just stop in!Listed in: Awesome Eats
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Review from Jennifer B.
Denver, CO
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Since I see this place everyday when I walk down 16th street for lunch I decided to pop in and give it a try. I was greeted and sat immediately and my waiter came over promptly and explained how to do this.
I grabbed my bowl and filled it as other reviewers mentioned, veggies on the bottom and meat on the top - great idea! I grabbed as many veggies I could (broccoli, bean sprouts, snow peas), and then added my meat which today I decided was a good helping of pork (unseasoned). Next lets move over to the sauces, I decided on the Mongolian sauce with a good helping of fresh garlic and some red pepper flakes for a kick. The "grill specialists" as I like to call them were great and cook your food up in no time. Bring a dollar and tip if you can, the work behind a hot grill all day - DAMN!
The waited also brought over complimentary tortillas and white rice my suggestion is to get extra sauce with your bowl - and add some of the white rice when you get back to your table - great way to expand your meal.
It was a great bowl and a very nice 3 star place to go. When I go to lunch again this will definitely be in the running.
For those people that him and haw over the price for one bowl - I can agree that the price may be a little high - however I could not finish one bowl let alone another one. I wonder if this is the American way - wanted everything to be a buffet. Just a thought...Listed in: 16th St. Lunch Destinations
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Review from Kel D.
7/3/2011
Pretty decent stir-fry overall - it's a nice variation from the chicken-beef-pork stuff you usually see at stirfry places. You can throw some shrimp, scallops, or calamari on there if it floats your boat, plus a nice variety of veggies and a frankly overwhelming variety of sauces. 13 bucks would be steep for a stirfry if it didn't come with an unlimited soup/salad bar, but since it does, we'll go with it.
It's also loud (the cooks like to bang stuff around and show off) and hot (it's a huge, hot grilling surface, go figure), but not unbearable. Not someplace to go if you are in a hurry, though, since it takes time to get your stuff and for them to cook it. -
Review from Phil H.
Denver, CO
8/13/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I've only recently tried B&D's, but it is definitely a solid place to have a good meal. I am a big fan of where food is cooked in front of you, and that's what you get on the massive, circular Mongolian grill.
The secret to a perfectly overloaded bowl at B&D's is to hit the buffet BACKWARDS. Load up all your veggies, THEN pile the meat on top. The stickiness of the meat allows you to really get a ton of food into that bowl. Add an egg and some sauces, and you are in for a treat. Do yourself a favor and pass on the apps and unlimited- you won't need it unless you have been starved for days.
Once the chefs are done grilling and spinning those massive spatulas (which is a blast to watch), you will be plenty sated and ready for hitting those bars on market street! -
Review from Sasha S.
Aurora, CO
11/17/2011
This is the third and last time for us. The first time we visited was without kids. It went OK except it is SO loud in there you get a headache...not exactly conducive to digestion. The 2nd time we went with one kid. Not fun - between the noise and the lenth of time it takes to be seated, get your food cooked, etc., it was miserable. This last time we tried it at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon - when we thought it'd be quiet. Not so much. Also, standing around the grill, one was privileged to hear the cooks talking about diarrhea and not so appetizing things.
Speaking of, I don't know when the last heath department visit was, as the last two times, my entire family has gotten the "runs." Not sure if the meat is kept at cold enough temperatures while it sits out or what, but I will definitely not be spending more money here. And that's a shame because we LOVE mongolian! -
Review from Bryanne S.
Denver, CO
8/27/2011
I have never had a bad experience at this restaurant except for its popularity. Be prepared for a lot of people to be there, especially on weekends. I've found the lunch crowd to be more thinned out and easier to navigate.
This unique establishment has a fun atmosphere. Its open to all modes of dress and people. I love stir fry, so this is the perfect place for me to visit before going to a ball game or anywhere else in the downtown Denver area.
The idea is great - get a bowl, fill it with the stir foods you want to eat, take it to the "grill", have them cook it, eat. Its pretty fast and really good. You can't go wrong on this one. It is fun to watch the cooks work over your meal on their heated table and the anticipation makes it even better. The portions and bowls are really big and you can get a lot into them.
The staff is friendly and check in on you in a timely manner without being overwhelming or annoying. Plain and simple, its a great place for a date or just hanging out with friends. -
Review from Eric J.
Denver, CO
8/10/2011
Such a great group of people working here and frankly the hottest bartender in downtown denver - Maria
It's a chain, it's simple, it's food cooked the way you want, BD's has done such a great job over the years it's hard to argue the concept. Good food fast.
Outside of the random gross person creating a one foot tall bowl of food, the place is pretty good, and if Maria is behind the bar you can't go wrong. -
Review from Austen H.
7/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
BD's....Ah BD's the food is pretty good but the prices went up a little this last year. We went here on my birthday for lunch so my food was free. I've never tried their apps but I'm sure they are good.
So you get your bowl and can go up and pick out what food you want. All kinds of meat, veggies and such. The salad bar is now included with your meal although it's not that great of a salad bar - pretty basic. Anyways back to your bowl. It's all full of the yum yum stuff you picked out and you take it to where they cook it. Make sure you tell them if you have food allergies because they'll clean off that part of the grill really well and section it off so I might tell then that I did even if I didn't...
It's hot by the grill so if you have to sit by it that sucks and the people who cook your food (I'd hardly call them chefs) are loud and obnoxious. They sat there fighting with each other the last time I was there and the one guy admitted right there in front of me that he liked to piss off the other girl and hear her get mad (after she walked off screaming at him) totally unprofessional. Our waitress also we totally uninterested in helping us which just bugs me. -
Review from Mailou V.
Broomfield, CO
11/6/2011
Decent place, came here for a birthday dinner. Awesome atmosphere, although the waitress was not the best, she spilled a drink on the birthday girl, coincidentally reaching for a plate and seemed to be rushing us about our checks a couple minutes after we sat down to eat. However, the guys who were at the grill were awesome, great sense of humor and fun. Although, I'd have to say, the variety of food was decent, sometimes what you want is not always what you get as everything is randomly mixed together. However, the guys at the grills kept things fun as we watched them cook our food and adding in a couple of their food jugging tricks.
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Review from Ashley H.
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
A fun place to go if you have a group of people. Everyone gets what they want and however much they want of it.
You get to pick from a buffet style layout and create you're own dish. Pile your bowl high with all your favs. You even get to watch it being made by some colorful cook staff. With a full bar and an all you can eat vibe going on it's a great place to go when you don't know what you want or if you want to spice your norm up. Once you mix up your 1st dish go back for something wild. There's a million sauces to pick from and a million combos to make.
Get their early if there's a game going on. This place gets packed. Worth a wait though.
This would be a 5 star if my waiter wasn't [to put it lightly] a little sassy. He seemed more into hanging with his friends than being a halfway decent waiter. But the food and friends made up for it. -
Review from Shalan G.
4/12/2011
Just like the stars state - Meh. I've experienced better.
Loud.
Expensive for what you get
No matter what condiments or sauces you mix, it just sub-par fare.
Piss poor service.
Amazing concept if executed well. I am amazed it's been around as long as it has. -
Review from Shana H.
2/23/2011
I really enjoyed this spot. It reminds me of mix between the Real Chow Baby in Atlanta, GA, Benihana's, and the old Fudgery in San Antonio, TX. Basically that means it's a stir fry buffet type set-up with animated and entertaining grill chefs tossing bowls and long knifes as they blend and sautee your food on a round grill and serenade you with singing (some good, some bad) and silly jokes.
I didn't have any issue with service and they serve these mini desserts that are perfect for a sweet tooth without the fear of overindulging. -
Review from john W.
2/16/2011 12 Check-ins Here
You pick your own food out. You hand it to a guy with a HUGE super hot frying surface, and he cooks it.
WIN
The only downside to BD's is the newbies. Not really BD's fault or problem, but line tards suck and can really make the experience a PITA to try and get your meal. Otherwise, it's all good. -
Review from Jessica G.
Denver, CO
5/18/2011
I realllly like this place. It is fun to put together your own meal. One of the benefits of BDs is that you can be as health conscious as you deem necessary by adding veggies and low cal sauces over pasta and oil. I love the assortment of meats and seafood. Great atmosphere, good location. Piece of advice - more sauce is better than less and always add an egg.
All in all I will return again...probably tonight for dinner. -
Review from Kalie F.
Colorado Springs, CO
9/23/2011
Loved it here. It is a bit pricy, however the fun of picking out all your flavors and meats and veggies and watching the cook your meal was such fun. A group of 6 of went and we had a lot of fun!!!
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Review from Kendra M.
Denver, CO
Updated - 6/22/2011
Just say no. 20 minute wait for a table on a Sunday evening then 15 min wait for the grill. All my meat was overcooked and everything tastes the same. My friend was sick from both ends after dining here!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2007
At first it was great. Create your own stir fry, grab a beer, watch a little sports on the tube.
… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer L.
Denver, CO
4/4/2011
I use to work on this area of town, and that's how I discovered BD's.
There never seems to be a wait at lunch time, and never a LONG wait for dinner, and the do offer a call ahead services to keep the wait times down.
I have been here with my husband on date nights, as well as with a group of friends. The food is fresh and as Mongolian BBQ places in Denver, this is by FAR my favorite! The meat is fresh, the veggies a great, and the rice (brown/white) and tortillas offered, should keep the whole table happy.
I am a fan of Mongolian BBQ places, and their selection is great and has seasonal changes, which is cool! The salad bar is also a great addition that a lot of places don't offer. I also like the recipe cards they have for folks who aren't quite sure where to begin or just need helpful hints.
The BBQ staff are great, and have always been happy to honor any requests folks have had.
I also like that they have bar offerings, and tasty desserts.
The staff for the most part is on their game, and I have only had one experience where the service was slower than usual, but it was also on a holiday, and they place was packed, so it was pretty easy to understand, and our wait person was sure to keep our drinks filled, and was able to grab our check once we were through with your meal.
All in all, it's a great place to grab a tasty meal. -
Review from Megan R.
Denver, CO
2/3/2011
I was really excited to try BD's. I'd seen them on TV, my brother loved them, and the whole concept seemed fun to me. Then we went. My parents, brother, sister in-law, neice, and nephew all met for a fun family dinner out.
The food is good and I liked picking out what I wanted and making my own sauce blend. The people who work the girll are awesone and fun to watch. However, the service was horrible. Our waitress was repeatedly rude, never refilled our drinks, we had to ask for more rice (there were 5 adults and 2 kids, and 2 small bowls of rice just weren't going to cut it), and it took a long time to get the rice. When I asked for a second bowl, I was informed in a demeaning and nasty voice that I couldn't take anything home if I did the unlimited bowl, so I better not ask for a box.
Then it came time to pay. We had some gift certificates, and my parents used their debit card to cover the balance. With a tip, it was a little over $40 on their card, I watched my dad fill in the amounts and sign the reciept. When my mom checked her online statement a couple hours later, BD's had already showed up, for over $60! She called and got a manager who said she would find out what happened. The manager called back and said she found the ticket and it should have only been the $40 amount and that the waitress had already left for the day, but she would fix it.
Every person I shared this story with had the same first reaction. How can you "accidentaly" charge a person an extra $20? I called myself to talk to the manager the next day and asked her, she didn't have a good answer, just saying it was a mistake. She did tell me that the waitress in question had a long history of being rude, mean, and had recieved many customer complaints before.
The manager did fix the amount charged to my parent's card and send us $100 in gift cards. We went back once and used a couple of the gift cards. The food was good again, but the service is just not good. While we didn't get talked down to or overcharged on our second trip, we still had to hunt someone down for drink refills and rice. -
Review from Michael W.
Denver, CO
2/19/2011
No waiting area- my wife's pregnant; this matters
Slow service- how long does it take to grab my damn beer and bring me a bowl? 10-20 minutes and you're gonna pass by my table 3 or 4 times.
Packed! - This really is a good thing in some ways. It signifies the implicit deliciousness of being able to chose you're own food, but the wait is torturous.
Food Bar- No rice on the bar, but they bring steamed rice to your table so it kinda makes up for it.
The actual cooks are cool and they provide entertainment while your waiting in the form of twirling and flipping their cooking swords.
The poor service, crowded space, and long lines will keep me away from here forever. -
Review from henry b.
Castle Rock, CO
7/5/2011
I'd meant to come to a place like this for a few years and a few months ago, me and my crew finally made it to BD's for our weekly Thursday Dinner. Half of my party had been to this location before and a few newbies like me got told how things work: get a bowl, fill it with what you wanna eat. They throw it on a huge heated spread and cook it right in front of you.
You can start off with familiar-but-off-kilter appetizers or order your Blue Moon or spiked sweet tea or whatever else you'd like to wet your whistle with before you grab your dish and make your way to the buffet. You've got all kinds of meats to choose from, from the beef and pork you'd expect to the calamari, scallop and other seafood you wouldn't. I took of the pork and calamari with their asian-type noodles, threw some of their fresh-lookin' veggies up ons, made up my own special mixture of the myriad sauces they have and walked over to the cooks. These people are funny and put on a good show flinging their sword-looking cooking devices about as they toss your food around your neighbors', which means you'll be taking some of what they got back to your table as well. (I'd imagine they have some special sort of thing for people with certain types of allergies, but I couldn't tell you about it.) Soon enough, you'll be served up onto a platter and make your way back to your friends.
The place is pretty open and it's busy, making it good for larger groups that want to shove a few tables together, but you better call ahead. The wait-staff seems to be hit-or-miss; the first waiter we had was a superstar but the next guy decided he'd rather hit on the guys at the table next to us instead. Not really a dealbreaker, 'cos they don't really have too much to do besides clear the plates we started racking up, but some water glasses ran dry once or twice.
We all had a good time; I think each of us went through the buffet-style choose-your-meal three times, making the thirteen dollars per head plenty worth it. That much food would have cost at least a Jackson at your given Chinese food restaurant of choice. It's pretty fun dolloping some sort of monstrous sauce on an awkward surf-n-turf with water chestnuts in it.
I'll make the choice easy for you: You wanna go. -
Review from Chris W.
Broomfield, CO
4/3/2011
I've been here twice and it's just not for me. Why?
1) QUALITY: the meat quality isn't great (especially the beef - seems very gristly and cheap). I didn't even want to risk any seafood - it looked slimy.
2) YOU'RE THE CHEF: Sure someone eventually cooks it for you, but that leaves you figuring out what sauce you want to make (they give you recipes) and/or choose (of the many pre-made options) to put on your selection. If you screw it up and don't like your concoction, you're paying for another bowl. I realize that for some, this is the entire charm of this place but - for me - I'd much prefer to just order something that sounds good and not have to worry about it.
3) LOUD, CROWDED & LOTS OF WAITING: This place gets crazy busy at times (weekends) and that results in long waits and a very loud dining experience. That's to say nothing of the cooks shouting and hooting every few minutes as they put on a show for those waiting in line to have their food cooked. So here's the process: place your drink order, get a plastic bowl and dish up your meat, veggies and sauce. Then wait...and wait... I waited about 15 minutes in line for the grill - holding a bowl full of raw meat and veggies and another smaller bowl of sauce. Wow, this is "fun!"
Once your meal is finally cooked, you head back to your table and wait...and wait (our experience on two separate visits) for someone to bring your drinks, refill your drinks and finally, bring the check.
4) EXPENSIVE: The bill for my wife and me - with just one bowl each, a beer for me and a sangria for her (which she really did like) - was nearly $60 (including tip). That's just too much for a place that's inferior (in my opinion) to Pei Wei or Tokyo Joe's in food quality, yet charges like it's PF Chang's.
In summary, if you like a high-energy (loud) restaurant where you choose the recipe for your food (seasonings) and dish up the raw meat, wait in line to have it cooked and then endure more extended waits for simple service (refills, etc.) - only to pay quite a lot for it - this is your place! For much better Asian cuisine, a more pleasant atmosphere and good service, I recommend skipping BD's. -
Review from Rhonda B.
Littleton, CO
10/31/2010
BDs is a great downtown casual spot to take the family. This is a dining experience that is fun and interactive. Here's my take...you enter and the host will seat you at a casual table. The atmosphere is warm with hardwood floors and mostly 4-top tables. From the menu, you can pick a one-trip bowl or all--you-can eat bowl. Honestly, go with the one with the one-trip and pile it high! The salad bar is not worth it - Pass.
My husband and sons are big eaters and they never go back a second time. The secret: Put the veggies on the bottom, the frozen meat in the middle and the wet meats on the top to anchor all your goodies down. That is what a BDs pro told me *tee hee*
When you get to the end of the bar, don't forget to grab your raw egg for your stir fry. Don't get bogged down with noodles at the beginning if you love seafood, steaks and veggies. Remember, the bowl is small. Lastly, you will select your sauces. Don't be afraid to get creative. I like to mix mine up.
Then, you will go to the grilling station. They will tell you where to stand at the grill. The grill masters are fun and interactive and put on a show! You will stand at the grill and watch them cook up your stuff! It will be done in a jiffy. There is a tip jar if you want to express you appreciation to the chefs.
Have a seat and enjoy.
PS The desserts and coffee - Pass. Step out on 16th street and go to Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory and grab a Starbucks. :) -
Review from Lori P.
If I had to choose a restaurant to eat at everyday for the rest of my life, this one would be it ! So many options and so little time ! The combinations here are endless.
You select your own fresh ingredients. Pile them as high as you can balance on your plate and watch them prepared fresh before your eyes !
This place can get busy during popular dining times or baseball and basketball games downtown. Get there early or call ahead ! -
Review from Jenn D.
11/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
So glad to have found this place!! It will definitely become one of my favorite lunch spots downtown.
If you have not done Mongolian Barbeque, I recommend you give it a try. You start by filling your bowl with your favorite meats, chicken or seafood - then continue by piling your bowl with veggies and stuff to your hearts content. Pick you sauces, seasonings...even add an egg and head over to the grill.
Food is cooked on a huge grill while you stand and watch. Once it's done you take it back to your table ready to dive in. Finished off with your choice of white or brown rice and tortillas (or lettuce wraps), you've got a lunch made in heaven.
I see myself becoming a regular here. -
Review from Leah C.
Denver, CO
11/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
BD's is great for control freaks. Like knowing exactly what's in your meal? At BD's you pick your ingredients and watch the chefs cook it up on the grill! Feeling creative? Mix and match to your heart's desire.
I've been to BD's for lunch but never for dinner. At lunch I was blown away by our service and the food. But last night we popped in for a quick dinner. We were on a tight timeline, but not so under the gun that we wanted fast food. The place was packed! I was surprised as it was a Wednesday night. Luckily we were able to get a seat right away.
Our server greeted us in passing, his arms laden with many dishes. Cheerfully he told us he would be right with us. A few minutes passed before he arrived with our bowls and took our drink and appetizer order. He was very apologetic and we were not concerned--he was busy. Happily we took our empty bowls to the ingredient line and began to pile them high.
Now as the place was hoppin', the two chefs rocking the grill were a bit overwhelmed. There was a bit of a line and I counted 14 people around the grill and another six waiting like vultures for a space to open up. The chefs moved as fast as they could, while I watched the manager-on-duty stand nearby staring off into space. One of the chefs repeatedly shouted for him before he got his attention. The man grabbed a few dishes and walked away but did not return with relief help or to expo the line along.
When we arrived back to our table our drinks and appetizer awaited. As we began to mow down our food the server came back by to check on us. We told him we were in a hurry and asked if he could bring our tab along. Again cheerfully he agreed and moved along to the next table in his very full section. It was clear in looking around that he had the biggest/busiest section of all the servers. Truthfully I was surprised he didn't have some back up.
We finished all of our food and our drinks emptied. Minutes passed like hours. Still our check did not arrive. The manager had moved from his earlier spot on the wall at the back to a new spot on the rail at the front. I attempted to get his attention (he was four-feet away from us) but he was too entranced by Anderson Cooper's gorgeous face to notice me waving and calling out, "Excuse me, sir?"
By the time our server returned we had stacked our dishes and put on our coats. Credit card in hand, we thrust the plastic toward him and quickly he ran it and returned. I felt bad for the guy, it was obvious he was getting his ass handed to him. I'll be back during the daytime, but not for dinner. -
Review from Carl S.
Denver, CO
1/25/2011
I have never really understood Mongolian BBQ. Sorry, I don't believe there are shrimp and Mahi in the upper steps.
The service here was decent. Can't fault there. But one of the big problems I have always had with Mongolian BBQ joints is that I have to basically prepare my food and pick sauces (which I have no clue which to pick) and have my food cooked for me. Sorry, if I pay $10+ for lunch I really don't want to make my own food. I never seem to get the sauce right. Just not a fan. It's like bad Americanized Chinese food to me. I go because everyone else wants to go.
This last trip here the shrimps was almost not cooked. Really close to getting taken back for another minute or two on the griddle. Don't eat here if you are a strict vegetarian. Your food will be mixed with some meat juices from others food, you may even get some meat in there if they are really busy.
Overall, I just think it's too pricey for what you get. I don't care if cook dude can flip his cooking sword. It's like Ben-e-hana, a big so what. Sorry the show doesn't make my food taste better. -
Review from Davi K.
Alexandria, VA
10/30/2010
A fun place to visit- the waitstaff and the "chefs" are all very cheerful and seem to enjoy working there.
The food is fresh and varied, allowing you to make whatever creation you desire. If you're feeling less adventurous, there are recipe cards on the wall that you can follow (ie "Pad Thai"). -
Review from Rick L.
Thornton, CO
10/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mongolian BBQs are interesting. You choose what ingredients you want moved around on a giant hotplate as it cooks. Three things I think any mongo BBQ should be judged on: selection, sauces, and entertainment; I will try and walk you through each.
Their selection here is decent. The quality isn't the best but for AYCE places they have to drop a bit of quality to make a profit. I do like that they keep are pretty quick about keeping the buffet table topped off, some places refill the table at a slow pace to cut costs, especially for the pricier choices of meat.
Their sauces...let's just say that I would prefer less American and more exotic. I have NEVER seen anyone choose the marinara or the buffalo, so why keep it out there? Switch to more exotic sauces like a Thai or Indian curry, or a black pepper type stir fry sauce, basically things that you can't get at home.
Entertainment is dependent on who's working and if they smoked at 4:20. Some times they're awesome about doing tricks while cooking your food, other times it's like watching a zombie doing the 1-2 step with two branches.
I would suggest that you go there for the experience of mongo BBQ, and it's great for a group of guests since it's at a fixed price, and everyone usually has fun making their own bowls. But only take it at face value and don't try to find perfection within those doors. -
Review from Kim N.
4/12/2011
I had a terrible experience; I got food poisoning from the shrimp which was not cooked properly. I ended up in the ER and fought with the management for 2 months and sent my test results and a doctor's letter and they still denied my request for a refund of the money we spent there. I would never ever go back there.
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Review from John P.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2011
I live in New York, and I dream of going to Denver just to visit this place. Mongolian BBQ is fun and delicious, and for some reason we don't have too many of these places east of the Mississippi.
The drinks here are extremely large, relatively inexpensive, and very good. Once you've ordered your drink, you proceed to the buffet table and pile on meat and veggies until your bowl can't hold any more. (Easterners: it's a flat fee for whatever's in the bowl; they don't weigh it.). Next, you concoct a sauce from their vast selection of possibilities. Finally, you carry the ingredients to the chef, who grills everything on a giant flat wok using a long flat skewer. The server provides white rice at your table.
Hugely fun for kids and adults alike! -
Review from Amy F.
11/25/2010
Wow! What a great place for dinner. There were 12 of us for dinner and the staff was great with our group. $2 coors light drafts! Tons of ways to make your bowl. The meat, seafood and veggies were all fresh. The salad and soup bar was simple but good. The soups they had were chicken noodle and chilli, two out of the group had the chilli and said it was good, worth trying. The grill master's were so entertaining and fun to watch...Ninja style! What a great dinning experience. FYI the fresh jalapenos were HOT!!! Good thing the coors light was only $2.
Will be going back here again! -
Review from Ruben P.
Westminster, CO
4/26/2011
I went here on Easter Sunday for a nice lunch. I have been here a few times and every time the experience has been great. The place was pretty crowded yet I did not have to wiat very long to eat. I have always liked the all you can eat thing. There are Tvs to keep up woth sports and it can be a little loud, but always a great time.
Also the drinks and desserts are great. This is a great place if you just want to go hang out with some friends and have a great time. -
Review from justin d.
7/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I can not start to explain my love for this place! I have mastered it, I can fit more in one bowl then most can fit in to one bowl. A terrific selection of meats sea foods and veggies! Another thing is has anyone ever seen a member of there staff in a bad mood? They are always happy maybe its the atmosphere of the place but it helps. Where else does the buffet turn into all you can eat for 1$ more or all you can eat and salad bar for 3$ more.
P.s. If you go for dinner the chefs are more into the acrobats with the cooking utensils -
Review from Rick G.
Denver, CO
6/2/2010
The irony of most Mongolian barbecue places is that you can choose from a broad spectrum of meats, vegetables, spices and sauces -- but whatever you pick, every dish comes out tasting exactly the same.
That's a joke, of course, but there is a bit of truth to it. BD's is a pretty straightforward execution of the concept, and it does it quite well.
The ingredients on my visit looked and tasted very fresh, the men and women working the grill (if that's the word) cooked both of my dishes to an appropriate doneness, and service was pretty quick, too.
The restaurant looks clean and sharp. The pricing for all-you-can-eat isn't cheap, mind you, but it's a fair price for what you get.
Overall, I liked BD's and plan to pop in there every few weeks or so. -
Review from Chris E.
10/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Straight forward process & very good food! You build your own plate here by selecting meats, veggies, pasta, eggs, sauce(s), etc. Then watch your concoction cooked on the 8' round flattop by their "grillerz."
I came in on a Thursday lunch hour, was seated immediately, and got my bowl filled in minutes. Cooking takes 6 minutes or so - you're eating a fresh, hot plate of delicious food pretty quickly. Staff are friendly and efficient. Good eats and good experience!
