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KoBa - CLOSED
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
10 reviews for KoBa
Finally made our way out to KoBa, and it didn't disappoint. We were surprised how spacious it was. We sat at one of the BBQ tables, and ordered the Super Kal Bi (this is the first place that has Kal Bi vs. "Super" Kal Bi on the menu, "Super" Kal Bi being the kind of Kal Bi that is cut into a strip with a big bone on the end, which other places I've gone generally just call Kal Bi without the "super") and the shrimp. Both tasted great; didn't really need to use the sauces they gave us. One thing though - we thought we would be doing our own grilling, but the waitress didn't leave us any tongs or scissors to cut the meat into bite size pieces! (She'd come by and flip and cut the meat; but it made us a bit anxious when she wasn't around because we didn't know if/when she'd come back and we thought our meat would overcook.)
We also tried the Seafood Bi Bim Bop and a seafood tofu soup. Both were yummy. I was looking forward to more of the little side dishes, but there weren't a whole lot, and they didn't give much in each dish. (Maybe we should have asked for refills?) The little dishes included napa cabbage kimchee, pickled daikon radish, bean sprouts, fishcake, potato salad, and broccoli. Kinda was hoping to see the pickled cucumbers, but no such luck.
After dinner, we were amazed that we didn't come out smelling like our dinner - ventilation was good! Too bad this place is so far away; if it were closer we'd probably go a lot more often. Definitely a nice place to introduce people to Korean BBQ.
O, BTW, they had a sign on their wall - all you can eat BBQ for $29.95; price seems to have gone up a couple dollars since Allan C.'s review. Also, outside, there was a banner about their lunch buffet for under $9. I guess if you work around that area, might be worth trying out.
I want confirm that this place closed down.
I believe the location was not very favorable to run a successful business.
If you want good Korean food go to Atlanta, Chicago, NY , VA, and LA.
don't even try other korean restaurants in St Louis.
1 Previous Review:
-
6/5/2009
ownership has changed, i am not sure how is going to be.
Just, the place is officially closed! It's too bad, the number of decent Korean restaurant around STL has just gone from one to none.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/10/2008
Wow, what a concept...a clean, well serviced, good food Korean restaurant. I kid you not.… Read more »
Food is okay but a bit inconsistent. Service is can be sloppy.
Have been here two times. First was a great experience and enjoyed the food too! The second time we went in, waited quite a while to be seated even though the restaurant was far from full (in facet it was nearly empty), then waited another 10 minutes without anyone coming to our table to take an order or even talk to us. We got up and left without eating.
Oh wow, I just found my new favorite local Korean restaurant.
I went with a friend on a Saturday night, and it turned out we had a bit of a wait. They have a pleasant bar, though, so that wasn't a big deal. We ended up getting one of the barbecue tables, which was nice (we had asked for "first available") The decor is pretty, with a wide open and well lit dining room and colorful walls.
Be aware that this is a family restaurant, so don't be surprised by the swarms of adorable children that seem to circle the restaurant. Not that it's like screaming kids at Applebees or anything, they were all well behaved, just energetic.
Anyway, the food. The food is delicious. The pickled vegetables were fresh and tasty. We got more than half a dozen, including classics like cabbage and cucumber, and other yummy things like this slightly sweet mashed-potato-thing. Entrees also come with miso soup, a nice start to the meal.
We had the beef and shrimp. Both were super fresh. the beef was so fresh it was *scarlet* - which honestly shouldn't be surprising, I mean the place isn't cheap ( up to about $20 per entree) and that's definitely in the range of the kind of money that pays for very fresh meat. But plenty of places have meat that's fresh, but not so fresh you have to devote a whole inarticulate paragraph to it in a yelp review.
Our waiter was sweet, funny and attentive. Thankfully, he managed it without coming off as cheesy, smarmy, or inappropriately flirty. (Let me interrupt for a moment - I hate that. Seriously, getting all up on me like you desperately want me and want to get in my pants? Sure you do. No really, you're not fooling anyone. And it's not going to make me tip you any more. In fact, I may even tip you less for invading my personal space. So flirty waiters? back the fuck off.) But like I said, our guy was nice. He mentioned he got called in on his day off since they were busy, but even in the face of that was professional and pleasant.
And the part that really cemented the deal for me: At the end of the meal, he brought us little cups of chilled super-sweet cinnamon tea. At that point, I was too stuffed for desert, but a little drink of something sweet was the perfect end to the meal.
Before we continue on, props to Natalia M. for giving me directions:
Take the Long Rd. Exit (16) off of 40 and turn right on Edison. Make the first left and you'll see Koba on the right.
Whoever decided to start Koba thought of a lot.
It's clean and has solid ventilation for the BBQs. The ambience is pretty nice as well. All the tables were nicely spaced out, almost to the point of being spacious! Most of the waiters that we encountered were fluent in English, which you don't see very often in Korean places!
After going to Koba a couple of times now, I've found that the service is amazingly better on Weekdays, which also happens to be when you can get an all you can eat Korean BBQ for 25 bucks ($29.95 now according to Christ l...) I don't know about you, but I'd take that over a buffet any time. Favorites have risen after trying a couple things here and they include the Pajan, Chop Chae, and the Kalbi bbq. The Kalbi is actually different from what I'm used to in that it's actually big chunks of beef, rather than slices. Good stuff.
One time 5 of us were at the all you can eat BBQ for 2 whole hours with more than 3 rounds of meat... it was glorious. One tip: The shrimp and chicken aren't really marinated in anything... so get the kalbi, and pork bulgogi to "season" the grill pan a bit for a way better shrimp and chicken "round."
Strategery.
My wife and I have been to KoBa 5 times now. We have never had more than a five minute wait, even on weekends. The prices are excellent, food is original and fun and the staff is very helpful. The ribs are a bit fatty, so that was my least favorite part.
Pros: Delicious food, interesting variety, clean, friendly staff.
Cons: too far away, even though service is very friendly, it can be a bit slow.
Must try: Bi Bim Bop
We LOVE Korean food. When we lived in California we had such wonderful places to choose from. Once back in St. Louis, it was slim pickens. Koba reminds me of those places in CA. They are really trying and I think are succeeding. Try any of the grilled meats - Kal bi, bul gogi. Also try the green onion-seafood pancake. Wash it all down with some chilled Soju.
I had gone here when they first opened, and they were a bit unorganized then, and I thought the bulgogi sauce was weak. But maybe they have improved things a bit--also they have a lot of BBQ tables, and for stl, this is pretty unique.
