3 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Pasadena, CA

The meat at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is tender and juicy, with evenly distributed fat and a fragrant aroma after grilling; the stone pot rice is crispy and fragrant, with rich ingredients and distinct taste. The restaurant has a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, suitable for gatherings; the service is attentive and responsive.

We had the absolute best time at the Gyu Kaku Pasadena. Food and service were on point, Emily was our server, and she truly gave us a 5-star service, would definitely recommend!

Great experience! The meat was excellent, the sides too. All best quality, the portions were huge and the price small. Highly recommended for a different dinner experience with friends.

Loved it here! Easy to make a reservation over the phone. Staff was very attentive, helpful, and kind. I was able to enjoy their premium AYCE meats for free because of their monthly giveaways. My review comes from honesty, not for the sake of it being free. I really liked the brisket and the marinated bulgogi. The brisket was soft, the bulgogi had a great flavor. Side dishes were nice, I especially enjoyed the cucumbers and the fish cakes. I honestly could eat a whole bowl of just the fish cakes. The kimchi was crunchy and flavorful. The spicy pork bibimbap was good, had a generous serving of pork, and is a big enough portion to share between two people. I appreciated the casual atmosphere, there was music, but it was playing softly enough that I didn't have to shout to be heard around our table. Whoever made the playlist has good music taste. There was a decent number of TVs as well playing the NBA playoffs. Overall, I really enjoyed my time here and I recommend it to anyone looking to try it! :) Thank you for the great experience.

The service here was SO FAST! We signed in on Mother’s Day and got seated before we sat down to wait to be seated. We ordered our drinks in less than a minute and quickly got our food order in. We were grilling in less than 10 min from when we first stepped into the restaurant and it was PACKED. They really know how to run their restaurant. All the servers were hustling. They have this special dipping salt that’s a special umami flavor to it, oh man it made the beef brisket taste like butter. I need to find out what salt they used. It was such a great experience that we tipped 30%. Nice bathroom too.

What an amazing spot! The service here is top-notch—everyone from the hostess to our server was kind, welcoming, and professional. The food was simply incredible. I highly recommend the spicy kimchi stew and the crispy fried chicken—both dishes were packed with bold, satisfying flavors. The ambiance was equally impressive, with a cozy, modern design that still captures the traditional Korean feel. The dim lighting and soft music created a relaxing atmosphere perfect for a casual night out or a celebratory meal. Highly recommend!