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Seoul Chako
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
10 reviews for Seoul Chako
8 reviews in English
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Review from K P.
Montréal, QC
2/10/2012
As my first time trying Korean BBQ, I wasn't sure what to expect and I have nothing else to compare it to. I'm generally not too adventurous when it comes to trying Asian or exotic cuisine but I greatly enjoyed Seoul Chako.
First off, it's a beautiful place. I eat with the eyes and my mouth and it's always nice being surrounded by good company and a nice environment. Their decor is really modern, it has that "loungy" look with the changing ambiance lights from their entrance, to the bar and booths. Even their bathroom, especially the sink, is gorgeous!
I went with my boyfriend on a Friday, around 6 pm. It was just the perfect time to go as it wasn't crowded and we obtained really fast service. As the evening goes on, it does tend to fill up quick. We got everything we wanted, whenever we wanted.
It helps if you are sitting somewhere near the bar, where everyone is working, or if you make eye contact occasionally with the server, otherwise they might not check up on you as often.
The food isn't complicated, I didn't get a chance to sample much but it was tasty.
I got the beef slices, spare ribs and chicken. Slight inconvenience with the chicken is that it's cut thicker than the other meats and takes a little bit more time to cook.
There's a few selection of side dishes like appetizers and meats to choose from.
I found the vegetables a little odd, as the onions, green peppers, or sweet potato for example are raw and flavorless. Putting them on the grill dried them out and I wish I knew what kind of sauces or marinades would help.
An important thing worth mentioning, is that in order to discourage waste, they charge 1$ for every piece of leftover meat. I suggest ordering things you know you will like first. Ask your waiter if you aren't sure of something or look at the tables around you.
Every order of meat comes in a portion of about 4 pieces.
There is also a few dessert choices included in the meal, the mango ice cream and pudding are delicious. I had quite a few order of those and couldn't get over the freshness and taste. The actual chunks of mango in the pudding give it a great texture.
The only drawbacks were price. I found 23$ a person on weekends a little bit much. It's a couple dollars cheaper during the week or for lunch and the menu barely varies. I also wish there was a drink included in the meal, a simple soda or tea would do.
Overall, the food is good, perhaps not mind blowing as you're cooking it yourself...but it's a great experience, definitely fun and engaging. The grill is well designed, self ventilated and clean for each customer.
I recommend this place for a date, when you aren't rushed to eat and enjoy talking or as a group outing. -
Review from Eric Z.
Beaconsfield, QC
5/25/2012
I went to Seoul Chako yesterday with my girlfriend during lunch hour. Normally 13.99, we had student discounts that reduced the price to 10 dollars.
There were very few people in the restaurant while we were there, I'd say 3-4 other patrons at the most (keep in mind this is a hot Thursday noon).
AMBIANCE:
Top-notch. This is a very new restaurant, and the interior design and amnesties show that. Each table has their own grill, and it's a very high-tech one at that. They have their own inbuilt ventilation system that takes away the messiness and teary eyes usually associated with grilling your own food.
SERVICE:
Quick and professional, though i wasn't particularly used to the way we ordered the food. Unlike similar asian buffet restaurants such as Tokyo/Kanda/Crescent sushi, you don't write your order down on a piece of paper; instead the waiter comes around every so often to take your order. As a result we had to order food 3 times, a needless stress really.
FOOD:
Here is where Seoul Chako falls a bit short. In one word, food is SALTY. Everything from the meat, to the soups, to the sushi. I had to down 2 glasses of water during the meal. Beef is definitely the highlight on the menu, it is tender and tasty. Short ribs were hard to cook, and overly fatty. The chicken and octopus were way too salty for my liking.
Sushi is also served here, though they aren't as good as Tokyo Sushi across the street.
All in all, I would highly recommend this to any students who can get their hands on coupons (and man are they plentiful). Worth it for 10 bucks, not sure whether or not the normal priced lunch/dinner would be as good as a deal. -
Review from French C.
Montréal, QC
Having experienced Korean BBQ before in major US cities and a few times in Toronto. I was really looking forward to see what all-you-can-eat Seoul Chako had to offer my taste buds.
Lets start by complimenting the trendy atmosphere they have created with an inviting dining area, music playing in the background and lights dimmed just right. Seating area is a mix of tables and booths and all designed with built-in natural gas BBQ grills where the main action takes place. The staff is well coordinated during busy hours, friendly and mostly english speaking. Now for the menu...
Where most Korean restaurants would require a tour guide to walk you thru the complexity of their menu. This one is kept simple with a few choices of marinated and non marinated slices of meat, shellfish, a limited option on appetizers / side dishes (normally called Banchan) and only one soup option (two if you didn't know miso was Japanese). Everything is served with steamed rice, one spicy sauce (Ssamjang) and a lack of all the common condiments like fresh garlic you would find elsewhere. Also, the popular way of eating Korean BBQ is with lettuce wraps but unfortunately this will cost you an extra $1.50 per order. Sliced lamb is also available on the evening menu over the weekend. Sushi is also on the weekend menu but at this point I would stick with the Korean stuff. If not familiar with Korean BBQ you want to order ALL appetizers / side dishes and mostly stick with beef, short ribs and pork for a great meal.
Although an overall good experience the menu itself could use a little more authentic Korean options. They just recently open so there's room for improvement and get their liquor license issue straightened.
Great...
All-you-can-eat and do it yourself experience.
No so great...
Lettuce and beverages are extra's. May rush you out on a busy Saturday night. Avoid tables near the front door or really close to a speaker if this is an intimate night out. -
Review from Eric V.
Pierrefonds, QC
4/11/2012
eric van nguyen 's review:
I have been going to this restaurant for at least 5-6 times in less than 3 months and i'm still not bored of it yet!!
This restaurant is probably the best korean restaurant there is in montreal.
Why do i say the best?
#1 Spotless and clean.
I have been to several korean bbq in montreal or toronto and this is probably the cleanest korean i have ever went. Maybe because it's new but i find that the table , the sushi bar and i had a small peek at the kitchen and everything looks under control.
The bathroom are spotless and i love the 2 "VIP" bathroom. (I used to worked at a restaurant for a few years)
#2- Food
Meal portion are huge and on an "all you can eat" basis.
Since it's all you can eat you would think they would go for cheap small portion but wow the salmon pieces for the grill are very decent.
Everything is calculated. If i'm not mistaken they give 4-6 pieces per portion so you don't get any surprise!
#3- Services
The waiter are all cool and speak french or english and they actually understand what you are saying and not just saying okay okay and bring you stuff you didn't order or super big portion that you have to finish or you will get charged.
#4- Ventilation
Not doubt you will smell like bbq after eating there so be prepare!!
But unlike other restaurant you dont smell that bad!
I went to several Korean bbq place in Montreal and the ventilation was so bad i had problem breathing other place had fake or broken ventilation!
#5- Price
Sure it's not the cheapest but after all it's a buffet and fresh stuff that you get and unlimited how can anyone beat that!?
Sushi - Korean - Desert for me it's a really good deal!
#6- Water
Nice big glass of water to wash down the fat is always nice. Plus they refill it often even though it's a big glass.
#7- Grill
There is actually a guy changing the grill on your table as often you like so use him or he will loose his job :)
Cons:
#1- Banquet
The wooden seat are crap they hurt your butt after seating more than 30min.
The location of the "gaz stove" is too big and the guy or girl that sit in the middle will have to be either small or spread their legs for the whole time!
So next time you go eat their and take a banquet make sure you are not the guy stuck in the middle !!
#2- The grill
2-3 person is okay but more than that its war!
The banquet is made to sit probably 4-6 person but the grill is so small that some people will have to wait until they get a free space to grill something to eat.
Next time dont bring too many friends! :)
Overall great place to go. Not the cheapest meal you can get but for the value it's probably the best thing you can get.
Cheers,
Eric Van Nguyen -
Review from Khanh L.
Went for my birthday, again lol
They opened recently, it's an all you can eat korean bbq place. The service is a bit dodgy so expect to wait a bit so don't go if you're in a rush.
When we were there they had some problems with the ventilation, so expect to smell when you leave.
The place looks nice, the tables all have a gas fire pit in the middle, so you can cook your food right at the table, it's closer to the way we see it in other major cities.
Montreal is a bit behind the trend concerning korean food, compared to TO, Vancouver and NYC... but this place will bring us closer.
Like all Korean bbq places in mtl you get a few side dishes, always kim chi, bean sprouts, stewed potatoes and some sea weed, daicon pickles, fried tofu... that's about 6 sides which is more than usual, i think the average is about 3 usually in mtl, so on that point, that's good.
of the sides, the potatoes are quite good, the rest are just average. There are over 20 sides that I've come to know, so we are far behind. I once was served 14 sides in NYC, just the sides alone filled me up that time...
On to the food, you basically order by the type of meat you want. On this point there is quite a bit to choose from, you have chicken, lamb, beef, beef short rib, pork, shrimp (with head and peel), fish, squid, sausage, veggies. nb: bbq shrimp should be had with head and peel, the flavor is deeper and the shrimp stays moist once cooked. You should at least suck on the head if you don't want to eat it. I eat the whole thing from head to tail, and I like it, it's a bit of an acquired taste, but if you peel the shrimp it will taste quite unsatisfying since it will taste bland like boiled shrimp...
The meat comes in small portions, usually 2-3 pieces. Which is good since you can order a wide variety and reorder what you like after... We tried the beef, beef short rib, squid, shrimp, fish, sausage and some veggies. I strongly recommend the short rib!!! I was quite impressed with it, it was fresh and the cut is quite thick, I'd say about half an inch thick cooked. it was tender and juicy. very nice, i've never had it quite so thick but I like it. (update feb 2012, the thickness is less but still thicker than other places)
We didn't try any chicken or pork because my friend wasn't so keen on it, but i wish we had, I want to try it!!! you can also order rice with your order if you want.
The menu also offers, some starters like miso soup and salads and edamame, and a variety of sushi rolls.
The starters are nice, nothing impressive but they do enhance the experience. The sushi is standard also, however the fish is quite fresh. I'm really impressed with the freshness of the meats and fish in this place, considering it's 21.99 $ per person all you can eat!!! (23.99 friday to sunday)
My one problem is they don't bring out the dipping sauce with the meat, we had to ask them for it. When we got the sauce, it turned out to be gochuchang, which is Korean hot paste. Traditionally, they eat korean bbq with bean paste, this I find strange that they offer gochuchang, but in any case I always eat my bbq with gochuchang so I'm not complaining :)
Also usually proper Korean bbq is accompanied with raw garlic and sliced jalapenos and scallions for you to grill, all 3 are absent here, sadly I didn't bother to ask so no idea if they even have it on demand... Another standard item missing here is lettuce, peculiarly enough, lettuce is available to order for an additional 1.50$ what the? really, you are gonna milk me for lettuce?
The traditional way to eat korean bbq is to wrap it in the lettuce, inside you put the meat, garlic, scallions and whatever other sides you wish to put in like pickled radish and kim chi. So on this point, no this is not a comprehensive Korean bbq service, but then again, none of the places in mtl are... but taste wise it is good, and I like it.
as a side note, I really wish we get a real Korean bbq joint where they use wood charcoal in the pit instead of gas. You get much better heat distribution and a nicer char on the meat, plus the bbq flavor really comes out. so if you happen to find a place like that anywhere you should try it :)
we ended with some ice cream, nothing special but nice to have something to cleanse your palate with, it's not persimmon tea but hey let's not ask for too much at once...
So on the strength of the meat quality, the price/quality ratio, side dish variety and advancing the Korean bbq scene in mtl, I give it 4 stars (compared to other mtl bbq places) even though my korean friends would curse me lol. I will definitely go back. -
Review from Rawan K.
3/26/2012
The selection isn't the best I've had in terms of Korean BBQ, however, what you do get tastes quite good! I ordered plenty of shrimp, fish, beef and chicken. The vegetables I ordered weren't the freshest so they came out quite dry, apart from that, the menu doesn't deliver numerous options like other (better) Korean BBQ places do (especially my favorite one on Monkland). Nonetheless, if you're in the downtown area and in the mood for a 30$ all you can eat Korean BBQ, give it a taste! Maybe you'll like it, maybe it'll be average.
Listed in: Asian Cuisine
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Review from Shirley D.
Montréal, QC
4/16/2012
Not impressed. Name of restaurant does not live up to what they serve.I don't think it's even Korean bbq .They marinate the meat in some simple way, a bit tasteless actually, that is not typically Korean I find. Korean bbq marinated meat.... It's usually a bit sweet and packs a lot more flavor. The fried dumplings were actually quite terrible, the filling was mushy inside and had a bad texture. And the kimchi, well...I'm no kimchi expert, but it didn't taste very appetizing. It was not sour enough for my liking. Service was inconsistent. I was served by 6 or 7 different people. Dinner cost was overpriced. $21.99 for all you can eat. Plus was, meat seemed fresh, came in nice small portions. Service was also generally pleasant. Atmosphere was close to high-end, the walls changed colors....reminded me a bit of a club, Anyway I would not pay 21.99$ for this kind of food. I'd prefer to pay the lunch price which is 13.99$.
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Review from Frédéric L.
Montréal, QC
12/26/2011
Really had been looking forward to this place opening. All you can eat Korean BBQ at a great price with excellent service. I suggest evening as lunch menu is limited. definitely very fun meal if you go with a group!!!!
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French (2)
