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All-you-can-eat or à la carte, and why nearly all of it is on one street in Kearny Mesa.
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San Diego's Korean BBQ is concentrated in the Convoy District along Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, about 15 minutes from downtown with free strip-mall parking. The choice is between all-you-can-eat (roughly $35–50 per person in 2026, two-hour limit, best for a hungry group) and à la carte (order specific cuts, better meat quality, easy to spend more). Marinated galbi (short rib) and thin-sliced pork belly are the standard orders; unlimited banchan side dishes come with every table. Peak dinner is 6:30–8:30pm on weekends with 30–60 minute waits and no reservations at most AYCE spots, so put your name in and browse the Asian markets and bakeries nearby while you wait. Wear clothes you can wash — tabletop grills leave smoke in everything.
| Format | Price per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| All-you-can-eat | $35–50 · 2-hour limit | Groups, big appetites, first timers |
| À la carte | $45–90 | Better cuts, smaller groups, quality first |
| Lunch specials | $18–30 | Weekday value, single sets |
| Korean stews and non-BBQ | $16–24 | Solo diners, no grill smoke |
The format matters more than the specific restaurant.
Convoy District · $35–50 · Two-hour limit
Two or three price tiers, each unlocking better cuts. Order in small rounds — most places charge for excessive waste — and start with brisket and pork belly before moving to marinated galbi.
Local tip: The higher tier is usually worth it: it's typically $10 more for noticeably better beef.
Convoy District · $45–90 · Order by the cut
You pay per plate, which means better sourcing and less rush. Two people ordering three plates plus stew eat well without the two-hour clock.
Convoy District · $18–30 · Fast
Single-portion grilled sets with rice, soup and banchan. The cheapest way to try Korean BBQ, and there's rarely a wait before 1pm.
A first-timer's sequence that works everywhere.
Every menu · The signature cut
Sweet-savory marinated beef short rib, grilled fast over high heat. The single most popular order and the benchmark for how good a place is.
Every menu · Unmarinated
Thick unmarinated pork belly grilled until crisp at the edges, eaten wrapped in lettuce with garlic, ssamjang and grilled kimchi.
Included or cheap · Refillable
The small side dishes are unlimited and free — ask for refills. Add a kimchi jjigae or soondubu stew to round out the table, especially with a smaller group.
The whole corridor is worth more than one meal.
Convoy Street · While you wait
Large Asian supermarkets, bubble tea shops and bakeries line the same strip malls. Put your name down for a table and shop for 40 minutes rather than standing outside.
Convoy Street · Late hours
Dessert cafés, karaoke rooms and late-night noodle spots stay open past most of the city. It's one of the few genuinely late-night dining areas in San Diego.
Almost all of it is in the Convoy District along Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa, roughly 15 minutes from downtown, with free strip-mall parking and a dense cluster of Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants.
All-you-can-eat runs about $35–50 per person in 2026 with a two-hour limit, à la carte typically $45–90 per person, and weekday lunch sets $18–30.
For a hungry group, yes — and the higher price tier is usually worth the extra $10 for better beef. For two people who care most about meat quality, à la carte is better value than it looks.
Most all-you-can-eat restaurants are walk-in only, with 30–60 minute waits between 6:30 and 8:30pm on weekends. À la carte rooms are more likely to take bookings.
Start with brisket or pork belly, then marinated galbi short rib. Wrap the meat in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang, refill the free banchan side dishes, and add a kimchi or soondubu stew for the table.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .