4. Restaurants

Jong Kak

18 W 20th St, Baltimore, MD, 21218
  • (410) 837-5231
  • Store is closed

Jong Kak Menu

  • Appetizer
  • Soup
  • Casserole
  • Hot Pots
  • Rice Dishes

Healthy Meal suggestions for Jong Kak

  • Appetizer
  • Soup
  • Casserole
  • Hot Pots
  • Rice Dishes

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  • Larry C.

    Food were ok, but the service was not so friendly, ladies cooked our Kalbi in a rush, serving us some of them raw. I know you are busy but still need to take the time to cook the food correctly before serving to your customers, otherwise let us handle it. Service without a smile can be lethal in the restaurant business. Smile Ladies !!

    (3)

  • Daniel B.

    Dirty, and with rude owners, horrible area. But hey open until 4am and in Baltimore. This was acceptable Korean BBQ, but not great. Mackerel I had tasted a bit old. Popular with the University crowd.

    (3)

  • Syreeta B.

    This is one of those places where you have to be a local to know about it. I came here with my family, this was my first time dining at a Korean BBQ. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed everything I had. We opted for the family size barbecue meal, this included 3 different meats. Beef, pork and chicken all seasoned well I might add. We also had a bowl of rice, soup and what seemed like endless picked veggies to add to our meat. Everything was sooooo good, I mean so good that as I type I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Your meal is prepared table side and as the meat is finished you just grab and serve yourself. The meats were very tender with a hint of spice. The tap water was free flowing, I can be a bit of a spice wimp so I needed that ice cold agua to help me get through the meal. It's a bit of a tragedy; I love spicy food but my palette wont cooperate. There is an entire menu of food aside from the BBQ meals, next time I go I am looking forward to trying my first hot pot. The noodle bowls look so delicious.

    (4)

  • Mark F.

    Jong Kak changed my life. You must experience Jong Kak - locals return to this place because the food is EXCELLENT - the pork dinner and chicken dinner are superb. You are supplied with a large plate of lettuce - which you use to wrap your ingredients with. Take some of the cooked marinated chicken, for example, put it into your lettuce wrapper and add elements from the vast array of ingredients from the small plates they supply. They cook the marinated main ingredient at your table with burning scented wood, and because the fans in the overhead vents don't really work, one of the staff members has to use a hair dryer to blow the smoke upwards - this really adds to the sort of "unreal" dining experience - it's incredibly bizarre and if you just go with it, it's really fun and enjoyable - plus the food is very very good. Have a couple of Heineken's with your dinner and you'll really dig the atmosphere. Highly recommended for an off the wall eating experience.

    (5)

  • Seung L.

    Went there last night and got the WORST SERVICE EVER. All they kept telling me they were not expecting to be busy so they couldn't do anything. They are running a professional restaurant but how can you not be prepared on a Saturday night? Also, if they were so busy why didn't they just turn people away instead of seating everyone and not wait on them? As a Korean American that frequents other Korean restaurants, I felt embarrassed to bring my friends there. You can expect I will not be going there anymore. Maybe for people who does not know about how Korean restaurants are Actually are supposed to be, you might enjoy it more than me.

    (1)

  • Duomi Z.

    This is my first 1 star review of my entire life on a website, Let's see what happened: The the Kim chi of the side dishes tastes weird. I ordered cold noodle, and they forgot my order. Then, the noodle soup tastes like there's detergent in it. I was wondering the only reason for this resturant exists here might because they have free parking lot. So one star for the parking lot. We should have gone to nak won.

    (1)

  • Keith M.

    Came here after hearing about the new head chef. Wow the taste is amazing. Everything has very strong and very powerful flavors. You will not be bored of this food . The kalbi was savory and well marinated. The new spicy pork BBQ was awesome. It tasted like it was straight from Korea. Will eat here again for sure.

    (5)

  • Amanda W.

    So the conversation always starts with, "How about korean barbecue tonight?" And my boyfriend shrugs and says, "I don't know... maybe we should try..." But then fifteen minutes later, we find ourselves in the parking lot of Jong Kak, so excited for korean bbq. We really just can't resist MEAT ON MEAT ON MEAT ON KOREAN BAN CHAN SIDES ON RICE. I've tried both jong kak and nak won (they are right next to each other and jong kak is the one further away from charles street). Personally, I think jong kak wins because their meat marinade is much more sweet and delicious and juicy and also, the service is friendlier. WHAT WE EAT: (We always get combo 1- kalbi, bulgogi, spicy chicken, spicy pork)- KALBI: really tender, a little fatty, the meat is cut right off the bone and the meat is definitely thicker and has some fat throughout. When cooked, the fat renders through. This one is definitely my favorite and the most flavorful. BULGOGI: marinated, thin and stringier. Still delicious, but isn't as fatty as the kalbi so not as much flavor. I would get this if you like leaner meat. SPICY PORK: My least favorite. The pork is pretty lean, and cooks fairly quickly. This reminds me of a thin pork chop. SPICY CHICKEN: Really tender, the spicy chicken tastes great with the charcoal flavor. EGG CUSTARD CASSEROLE: This always comes with the combo and it's so delicious, but very very hot. It pretty much tastes like the inside of a frittata or quiche. SPICY TOFU SOUP: This also always comes with the combo. Again, incredibly spicy and hot. It's a nice balance with the rice, and is perfect on winter nights. BAN CHAN SIDES: These change from time to time. What we have had: cabbage kim chee, pickled cucumbers, bean sprouts, fish cake, potato salad, turnips, anchovies... Whenever we eat all of one side, we usually ask for more. PRICE: For the combo, and a beer, we ended up paying around $70, with tip. Not the cheapest dinner, but we always have leftovers that we eat for the lunch the next day- so it seems worth it. SERVICE and ATMOSPHERE: You really aren't paying for ambiance, and the bright lighting is not flattering at all. However, the food itself is worth it and the service can be friendly. Usually, they are happy to bring you whatever you need, but sometimes they are too busy and forget. It's not a big deal asking for something twice, but I guess if I had to ask for something three times, I might get upset. Another note, the fan that they turn on above you to suck up all the smoke can be REALLY LOUD. At one point, it felt like I was on a tarmac, and there was a plane getting ready to take off right next to me. I guess the alternative is to be choking on smoke... Either way, just be prepared for that. OVERALL: The food is delicious, the sides are delicious, and they sometimes give desserts like yogurt drinks or watermelon- obviously delicious. This is not the best place for a first date because of the loud fan and the awkwardness of making conversation while having someone flip and cook your meat or blow drying your grill to keep the flame going. But, this is a great place for a lazy night out to gorge on MEAT.

    (4)

  • Rebecca S.

    Fairly decent Korean food, fast service, clean atmosphere. The bibimbap was standard and the kimchi jjigae was fine. Nothing out of this world, but at least the price was okay. The seafood pancakes were pretty light and very good. The best part though - they give you the delicious yogurt drinks as a dessert! Overall, would probably go back to satisfy my Korean food cravings, but it didn't rock my world. I would come back to try the Korean BBQ - kind of cool that they split the restaurant in two.

    (3)

  • Andrew M.

    This is my favorite Korean BBQ place in the DMV. Now let me preface by saying that I'm NOT Korean (despite being constantly mistaken for) and have somewhat limited experience with KBBQ north of Annandale,VA. That being said, Jong Kak is my hands-down favorite so far for a few reasons: *COOK METHOD: over charcoal. Screw Honeypig, this is the real deal. Flavors are on another level because of the coals. Makes all the difference *CHEAPER than most, but no deficit in quality *FRESH and high quality offerings. Many different items compared to most KBBQs, especially in the... *BANCHAN: some of the tastiest in the biz. I loved almost everything that was brought Other pros: Easy parking, doesn't get crazy busy. Cons: bad neighborhood, meat may be less seasoned than some are accustomed to but trust me that is a good thing. Regardless, this is the KBBQ to go to.

    (5)

  • Eddo C.

    Tried this place while visiting my parents in Baltimore. There Youk Gae Jang was quite good, but there Tofu stews are not similar to those of Korean Tofu Houses - rather a clear broth with Tofu pieces. It's OK in terms of food quality, but I agree with previous reviews that there are better places in the area, and the location is in a sketchy part of town that borders on feeling unsafe. They do have their own parking lot adjacent to the restaurant, but as mentioned the restaurant is located across from an older apt complex with people always hanging around outside smoking and there were police activity. Overall, better dining experiences elsewhere with better ambiance and in seemingly safer areas.

    (2)

  • Nay P.

    Don't let the hair dryers and location off North Ave deter you, this place is legit. Went here off of a recommendation from a flag football team mate with two girlfriends. We were a little scared to go in but they welcomed us. We ordered the first combo 1/2 (for 2-3 people) with the Korean BBQ (pork, ribs, beef and chicken). This was my first time eating Korean BBQ so I was intimidated when our waitress Lucy brought out what seemed like 10 small plates. Everything from rice, lettuce, assorted veggies (broccoli, kimchi, sprouts, green peppers, garlic more that I can't think of) and two sauces. Everything was FRESH!! Lucy then brought out the meat and began cooking it on the grill in front of us. The hair dryer was used to keep the charcoal going. Aha! Now I understood why they were on every table. We tried all of the different meats. Delicious and so much food (left overs on deck). Honestly we could have had two more people for all of the food. We added the fried dumplings and those were just okay but that didn't matter because everything else was great. I would like to thank Lucy for being extremely patient and accommodating. She answered all of our questions and we never had to ask for anything. She refilled empty veggies and brought more. Such a sweetheart! Sorry to write a book but I really enjoyed the experience and price wise it's a good bang for your buck! KOREAN BBQ ON FLEEK or whatever those kids say now a days.

    (5)

  • Rosie Z.

    Though not located in the best part of the city, it is worth the trek out here, especially if you are having a Korean food craving. Lots of meat and yummies and Asian foods galore, which is definitely not typical of the inner city. I've been here several times, and I order the spicy tofu + seafood every time -- comes with a bowl of rice and many side dishes. Perfect for satisfying a late night craving.

    (4)

  • E W.

    Where to eat at 2 am. Seems like this is the ticket. On a dead Monday with a few options I braved my way here hoping not to find a hole in the wall or a carry out that's listed as a restruant to drum up business. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived. There are about 8 dine in BBQ stations as well as a chair dine in area. The people who greated me were pleasant even though I was the only one popping in the door at 2 am. Very up on customer service was the staff here. They made me feel welcome at a time when I'm just as sure they would have liked to be going home. I haven't had my meal yet but I've been offered a desert drink and the smells from the kitchen are bringing me a good note. I'll give an update after I've eaten.

    (4)

  • Kirk S.

    This place rocks, hands down - it's just kinda in a bad location. Jong Kak is sketch with a capitol S. The location is basically sketch central, and it's not a place I want to be hanging around outside at night (or at any other time). Parking near prawling druggies is not a fun experience. The building itself is okay, and the interior is cheap but serviceable. This is definitely not shooting for fine dining. Cleanliness is a bit of a question, but I didn't feel super disgusted. Jong Kak does Korean BBQ using charcoal, meaning that the entire process is a lot crazier than what you see at other joints. Each table has what amounts to a huge stone pit for a flaming can of charcoal, and the meat is cooked directly above it by someone on staff who uses a literal hairdryer to keep it hot. Very dangerous, but very efficient and amusing. The food itself rocks. The meat was perfectly tender and amazing in every way, and I definitely see why charcoal was used over gas. The side dishes were equally awesome - the steamed egg was tasty, the kimchi was absolutely mind-blowing, and the various other dishes all hit the spot in their respective way. I'd highly recommend this place more if it wasn't for the location and cleanliness, both of which could easily turn off most diners. Even the best food isn't worth going through a crappy part of Baltimore sometimes.

    (4)

  • K W.

    I brought my family here for the BBQ since they all drove in from Detroit for graduation weekend. The reason I brought them here was because they use coal to cook their meat, which sets them apart from other korean BBQ restaurants. After we placed our order, they brought out a gas stove. When I asked if we could have it cooked with the coal, the lady was extremely rude and spoke to me and my family in a condescending manner saying that we couldn't have the coal because we didn't make a reservation. We were about to pick up and leave, but everyone was hungry so we just settled for the gas stove; however, it left the meat tough and flavorless. If I knew they were going to do this I would've just gone to the restaurant next door. Whenever we asked for something including rice (which they should've brought out automatically), the lady glared at us like she was doing us a favor. I did not appreciate her attitude. They never refilled our water or give us the extra napkins that we asked for, so we had to get both ourselves. I have been here multiple times in the past without a problem. However, after this experience I will not be coming back. It was a thorough disappointment.

    (1)

  • Nina U.

    If you are in the mood for Korean, don't need to drive all the way out to Ellicott City to stand in line at Honey Pig. I head over to Joung Kak and it's smart to make reservations on a busy weekend night especially if you want the BBQ on your table. Otherwise just walk in on a week night and you'll find plenty of seats. It's great for large parties too. Now you're not going to find the fancy marble stuff in Shin Chon (also Ellicott City) but you will find a hole in the wall type atmosphere (but bigger) with a relaxing crowd, lots of Korean families and blow dryers to get your coals hot in the BBQ. The portions are large and with all the pan chan (I always ask for extra cucumber kimchee and wakame (seaweed salad) if you're not all completely starving, the four of us ordered two meat dishes plus a bowl of bibimbap. That was plenty enough for our stomachs to digest for dinner. I love the pork belly and spicy chicken but it's allll good. I like the little Korean yogurt shots at the end of dinner. I think it has enzymes to help break down all the yummy meat.

    (4)

  • Juan Carlos Anh T.

    Man, David Simon wasn't lying when his show, "The Wire," hit the air, Bodymore, Murderland or Bal'more or Baltimore, whatever you want to call it is a unique city with many fine eats. Some on the yuppie side of town and some off of I-83. And did we find a gem in Jong Kak. A place that looks like a 1970's living room with wooden panels and tacky floor design is usually a bet for a decent meal, but this meal was awesome. The kicker was the restaurant using coals instead of your traditional gas stoves to serve you the Korean how. How awesome was that? Oh and to keep the coals going, hair dryers with extension cords all across the place. This place is a gem and I would go back in a heartbeat if I wasn't closer to Annandale's Little Korea than Bal'more's.

    (5)

  • Chih Chao C.

    I ordered the Nak Ji Gop Dol Bi Bim Bop. It taste nor bad. But maybe next time, more people come would be better.

    (4)

  • Adam D.

    In a sketchy area near JHU. Amazing Korean BBQ. They have a small private parking lot. The best doenjang jigae I have ever eaten. I always try to eat here when I am in the Baltimore/DC area.

    (4)

  • Annabelle L.

    Came here last night with a party of 4 and we were quickly seated at a BBQ table. We ordered the 4 meat BBQ combo with spicy pork, spicy chicken, bulgogi, and kalbi. The flavors were surprisingly delicious, subtle and complex. It would have been nice to have a bit more lettuce and side-dishes. As other reviewers have mentioned, they used a coal fire with a blow dryer, which we enjoyed the novelty of at first. However, the ventilation system was pretty horrible and I wasn't too happy with all the smoke we were breathing in. Our waiter apologized and replaced the metal rack on which all our meat was to minimize the smoke for a bit. The decor isn't modern, but that sort of contributes to a feeling of a hole-in-the-wall place: a little grungy, a little too warm because of the coals, and smokey, but overall delicious food! My favorite is still Shin-Chon, but if I can't make it to Ellicott, this is the place I'd go in Baltimore!

    (3)

  • Hyunrang S.

    I ordered BBQ combo #3 and it was pretty good but another small foods were just good at best. The thing is that the service was TERRIBLE. First of all, they refused to serve lunch box due to Korean holiday. They didn't want to sell CHEAP dishes on Korean holiday. Are you kidding me? It's America. It doesn't make any sense. A server has never paid attention to me and I even self-served and grilled BBQ. Also they've never changed a grill with new one even though it turned totally black and dirty. It didn't look good. Nomally I change a grill more than three times when I have a BBQ in Korea. I rued the day I had a lunch with my best friend at there. I'll never go there again, NEVER!

    (1)

  • Dodikins D.

    It'll do for a place that doesn't have too many Korean or Asian offerings in general, but it's not my favorite.

    (3)

  • Jia G.

    Worst Korean BBQ I have ever been to. The smock is everywhere and the BBQ is 'burn be quick'. It ruined my BD party! I paid 100 for xxx. So disappointed!

    (1)

  • Pat M.

    I've been here twice, once late night after drinking with friends at Liam Flynn's (bbq), and last night with a date, with her getting a soup and me getting a hot pot. Liked the bbq better. Word of wisdom-- understand that the fish in many dishes have bones in them, including the big old spine, so be careful! The food is pretty good overall, and the appetizer assortment that accompanies meals is extensive and pretty darned tasty. Service was okay, but my biggest complaint is that the food is a little more expensive than what I'd expect it to be. Also, when we were there we were beset with gnats or some similar tiny flying bugs. However, the place seems sufficiently clean.

    (3)

  • Charleston N.

    As many times as I rode past this place I thought I would never see the day that I would check it out , thanks to yelp I now can basically go off of what people say about their dinning experiences . It was pretty good for my first visit . We ordered the the BBQ # 1 & my only complaint is there's no fountain soft drinks & they charge per can ... Other than that the food & service was good no complaints on that end , but its a must return , great for late night or larger groups , plenty of food to go around . Maybe the next time I'll order something different . But I was satisfied with my overall experience

    (4)

  • Elizabeth D.

    Pretty good Korean food, though service can vary depending on how many diners are in the restaurant. Best to go with a reasonably sized group so you can pass around the various dishes and split up the bbq.

    (3)

  • Chad B.

    I'm still relatively new to Korean food, but I enjoyed Jong Kak. The BBQ is a little pricey ($30 each), but you can get a great variety of food. The waitress immediately brought out several small dishes of random vegetables, hot sauce, and fish. I really liked the fish cakes. The meat was then cooked right in front of us on a grill that was built into the table. We ate the meat by wrapping it in large pieces of lettuce. It was really appetizing and the quantity was fairly generous. The small dishes are refillable upon request. The staff was pretty friendly and attentive to our table. After trying three local Korean BBQ places, this one is my favorite.

    (4)

  • David R.

    I've only been here once but I can say that it was a very unpleasant experience. After spending an entire year of my life eating Korean BBQ I feel like a have a say in this folks. These guys wouldn't let my wife and I share a portion even though we weren't entirely hungry. They said we must order two different portions of meat. We did and it was nothing but tough, fatty cuts. They do the whole hot coals deal but who really cares about the heat source? Give me some quality meat. Korea is disappointed in you Jong Kak. Tighten up and lower your prices!! (70 bones for a couple orders of BBQ meat and a bottle of soju). #nothanks #illdrivetohoneypig

    (2)

  • Leo N.

    This place is quite fantastic....for what it is. You don't come here thinking you're going to have the most elegant or extravagant dining experience. The food is consistently delicious and the customer service is outstanding. No complaints and I wholeheartedly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Yim C.

    Love the food here! BBQ IS SO GOOD. They have so many sides that comes with the BBQ order, some places only gives you 6-7 sides but this place gives you 10-13 sides with your BBQ order. Service is slower after 1am, but what do you expect, it's the "let out" time... They use a hair dryer to keep the coal hot, pretty ghetto but it works for them. The ladies are very pleasant and friendly.

    (4)

  • Jin C.

    Service is excellent and friendly. Food is tastes yummy. Would recommend people to come and try it out. One of the better Korean restaurants in Baltimore.

    (5)

  • Diane L.

    Of all the Korean BBQ spots in Baltimore & Ellicott City, Jong Kak is probably my personal favorite for one reason... they use Charcoal. They also give you a lot more banchan than most places. If you run out, just ask for more. My boyfriend and I love this place so much, at one point we came here at least once a week. We always ordered a half order of BBQ Combo #3, which is more than enough for two-three people. The location may be a bit sketchy and the hair dryers will throw you off a bit but for the food, it's well worth it.

    (5)

  • Tunaidi A.

    I've known about Jong Kak for quite some time now and finally made an effort to give it a shot. Not too shabby, I must say. There's a dedicated Korean bbq section in the restaurant and another for those interested in other available food options. When I first looked at the menu, I was already regretting checking out this place. Everything on the menu looked about 10-20% more expensive than other Korean restaurants, but I decided to make the best of it. Here are some notes: 1) Yes, food-wise, there's definitely a 10-20% uptick in price, but I found out that the portions are a good 50% larger when compared to other Korean restaurants. 2) On the other hand, alcohol, at Jong Kak is about 10-20% cheaper than other Korean restaurants. 3) The seafood pancake is probably one of the best ones I've had in Baltimore and Ellicott City. It's large, crunchy, and not burnt. 4) The kalbi dol sot bibimpap is light years better than the joint next door. 5) The personal-sized budaejiggae is probably meant for 2 people. 6) Jong Kak currently holds the record in offering the most diverse complementary side dishes in the area -- I counted 10. 7) Service was exceptional.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth J.

    At 2 am on my birthday I was treated to a feast. The service was super friendly and the food, all if it, was amazing. The seafood pizza, the barbecue. Seriously, everything was delicious and we had a great time. An awesome way to end a night out with friends.

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    Great service and delicious food. I felt the prices for the BBQ were a little on the high side, but the bowls were well priced and worth the cost. overall the experience was really worth the trip and I would return to dine again.

    (4)

  • Clara Y.

    Got there around 1am and the place was pretty empty. Ordered combo 3 half size and another order of japchae and it was the perfect amount for three people. The meat was sooo tender and juicy, and all the sides were served fresh. Also, great service!

    (5)

  • Robert W.

    Came for here for food after happy hour with friends. Place is a typical korean BBQ, bustling, slightly smokey and people eating away. Service is friendly, accommodating and helpful. The typical banchon was diverse and plentiful. The bbq itself is cooked over wood embers. This is a nice change compared to my usual go to place (Namkang- I go because the oh-mu rice is awesome and the service is great, realizing there are better places in Ellicot City). Anyways, the drawbacks are you smell like smoke because the exhaust is inadequate and the meat doesn't get those slightly burnt edges with a higher heat source. The soups were good, hot and spicy. Sadly, the oh-mu rice wasn't quite up to par. Overall, a nice experience because you watch your food cooked in front of your eyes. I still think Nam-Kang which is up the street is slightly better.

    (4)

  • Christopher B.

    What can I say, you have to roll me out of here. It's yummy and it's filling, the bbq is fantastic, the beer is cheap, and the sides are plentiful. Only complaint is that in winter the BBQs get really smoky and we smell like we spent the whole night in a campfire pit.

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    Oh my goodness.. So I came here with my parents and never have I had Korean BBQ over CHARCOAL. It was SO delicious. When you walk in initially and especially when you drive in too.. it looks SKETCHY but when we sat down and received the deliciousness it was amazing. They brought out a lot of side dishes with free refills, a bean paste soup, broiled egg, great service, meats were marinated just right and we also ordered one of the fish soups, which was really good as well. We ordered the galbi combo 1/2, the fish soup for 3 people. In the end, we were so stuffed and had LEFTOVERs. The price seems steep initially but with all the food you get, its pretty fair. I will definitely come back here :)

    (5)

  • Reezle W.

    We went mid afternoon on a Sunday,so the place was empty. Because of that, I think service could have been a bit better, we felt a little forgotten about, like the waitress didn't know how often to come by since she wasn't busy attending any other tables in the meantime. There were so many free side dishes that were very authentic and flavorful! Kimchi, pickled spicy vegetables, soup, some spinach sautee, two types of noodles...there were about two good bites of each between the two of us, but they were all very thoughtful and so flavorful!! I had a spicy squid sizzling pot, spicy, but not overly so. The rice at the bottom was burnt, and perfect-best part of the dish outside of the squid itself. If you get the bbq, know that an order is meant for about 3 people, so don't get sticker shock over that, just bring a group. The entrees like we ordered were more than adequately priced, even low for the sheer amount of freshly made food that was brought to us. I can't compare it to other Korean barbecue places in the region, as this is the only one so far, but it was another great experience to check off of Thrillist.com's Baltimore restaurant list.

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    No way 4 Stars. We had a Nice portion of Barbecue (Kalbi) but the flavor was somewhat flat. The Jampon soup was not spicy nor flavorful. The Side dishes were ok but unimpressive. The Kimchi was so so. The atmosphere is lacking and somewhat unattractive. This restaurant looks like it was decorated in 1983 and has not been changed nor updated since. An upgrade is needed, the location is no excuse. The staff seemed fairly friendly, but adding hot oil does not make a bland soup better.

    (2)

  • Jane D.

    Oh my goodness, how do I start?! This place is excellent!! The best Korean BBQ I've ever had!!! A friend and myself have had our eye on this place for a while and finally decided to pay it a visit. As soon as we walked in we were greeted then seated in the BBQ section. The table is equipped with it's own little BBQ grill, cool! We ordered the seafood pancake as recommended by the waitress. It was so yummy and it's HUGE! Certainly something to share with a group. We then ordered one of the BBQ specials they had, it came with pork underbelly, marinaded pork and chicken. Everything was flavorful and very tender, perfectly cooked! Gosh did I mention you get a load of free munchies and sauces? The dipping sauces are super flavor packed and go well with the BBQ. This place is a dream seriously if you are skeptical about this place, DON'T BE, just go and enjoy. To add the Service was fantastic, they were on top of everything and took the time to show my friend and I how to properly devour some Korean BBQ! I highly recommend this place to anyone and, I'll be going back!!!

    (5)

  • Ryan G.

    Came in for a a late dinner with a large group of friends and was treated to a wonderful meal. Our waitress was extremely accommodating and helped us pick out about 10 different dishes for a family-style meal. Her recommendations were great and we were able to sample a wide variety of Korean dishes. The food was wonderful and, after a huge meal and drinks, our bill came out to about $25 per person. I'll be back the next time I'm craving some Korean BBQ in the Baltimore area.

    (4)

  • Gerry S.

    On a cold winter night in Baltimore with it pouring down rain (because that's what it does in Baltimore during the winter, damn it), could there be anything better in this world than eating freshly grilled meats cooked over a bucket of hardwood charcoal? Just picture it: trudging through the 40-degree cold with a steady rain falling, only to sit down to a little stove of hot glowing coals, a cold beer, and the sizzle of grilling meats. Nope. I can't think of anything better, either. And this is what brings me back to the glamorous corner of Maryland and 20th streets over and over again. Sure, there are other Korean barbecues in town, and the ones in the suburbs are slightly more upscale (though also slightly cheaper) than Jong Kak. Baltimore is blessed with a huge Korean community, so whether it's an authentic bibimbap or seafood pancake, there are plenty of selections to choose from around the city. No. What sets Jong Kak apart is the barbecue. They're the only place I've been to - EVER, in ANY city - that grills their barbecue over hot hardwood coals instead of gas grills. Beyond the fact that I think it makes the bulgogi just taste better, it also lends a rustic ambiance - not to mention a slight whiff of danger - to the meal that just sets the place apart. Really, it was a beautiful, relaxed meal last night, and as we trudged the half-dozen blocks back home, I hardly noticed the cold. I had charcoal-grilled Korean warmth in my soul.

    (4)

  • Leon R.

    Our first time in Baltimore and we wanted to check out Korean food here...Yelpers said this place was worth checking out but we are quite disappointed :( Ordered Marinated Kalbi and Soonduboo...tofu soup was good but the Kalbi was really quite disappointing. It was chewy and not enough flavor...maybe we caught them on a bad day but for $34.99....damnnnn that hurt lol. I would probably recommend other places...and will try other ones in the area. Service was average.

    (2)

  • William C.

    I am very, very glad I found this place after craving some late night eats. It reminds me of the Korean restaurants in Queens, NY where they serve the mini side dishes before sending out your entree (i think this is typical practice among Korean BBQ joints) I got the Kimchi, pork, veggie pot (i can't recall the name at this time) and it was delicious. The pork they served weren't scraps - they were chunks (this delighted me). And the broth was delicious. I very much enjoyed my meal - for 9$ - I will definitely stop by again.

    (4)

  • Jane L.

    Review for take-out. SF Korean girl's asian craving hit HARD, 2 weeks into her trip. Craving: jja jang myun. Food: - Jong Kak's jja jang myun is DELICIOUS! Dare I say, better than anywhere I've had in the Bay??! - Take out includes two types of kimchi (napa and radish type) as well as classic jja jang myun pairings (pickled sweet/sour radish and raw onion slices) Ambiance: Classic no frills Korean resto. Fluorescent lights, brown tables, simple, clean. Service: Quick and friendly! Note: - Looks like parking is slightly limited. Is this a dicey neighborhood? :) - $10 for a HUGE jja jang myun! - DO NOT get the seafood pancake! It's 90% oil, 10% small shrimp; 100% overpriced :(

    (4)

  • Thai D.

    I love a spot where you can get delicious korean BBQ late at night. The banchan was great, the service was good, the price was right, and the amount of meat was perfect! Om Nom Nom!

    (4)

  • Lily Y.

    this place was quite good per the reviews and friends review. this is not a typical korean BBQ restaurant. it's the first one I've been to that actually uses coal fire to cook the meat. they use a hair dryer to heat it and get the flames going... it's really noisy and bit distracting. their air vents didn't seem to work and all the flames were coming at us. it was sometimes difficult to breathe.. we had to air fan it out. the chicken and pork belly was very good and spicy. I've had better galbi. service was good & atmosphere could've been better if the air vents worked like they were supposed to. good price for food. $100 and some change for 4 ppl with BBQ. not bad! 4/5 for food 3/5 for the atmosphere d/t poor ventilation

    (4)

  • Momo N.

    Hungry after a night out in town? No problem! You don't have to settle for some greasy pizza or hot dog from 7-eleven, this place is open late, and you get real authentic Korean food! You can pick the BBQ table or regular, and if you're coming with a big group, definitely go for the BBQ table. Parking is a bit scary but you will be happy once you're inside!

    (4)

  • Shanthi G.

    Wow. Went here to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend. He wanted Korean food, and I was game even though I don't know much about Korean food. We just ordered one of the BBQ combinations and a veggie bibimbap and shared everything. I am a super kinesthetic person, so I really liked having the grill on the table, and being part of the food prep process. I like A LOT of color and smoke on my meat, so I could put back the pieces that I wanted more grilled. They were super generous in refilling the veggies that we kept running out of. The only weird thing was that they use hair dryers to make the coals hotter, so there were times that someone was under our table running a hair dryer, which is loud, but I didn't mind. The grilling creates noise, and it was never so noisy that we couldn't hear each other. I liked being able to try a little of all the vegetable dishes that came with the BBQ, and putting together different combinations to make little tacos with the lettuce. Very fun and tasty experience! The decor in here is not impressive, but the service is fast and efficient. The food was more expensive than I had expected, but the portions are huge and once I saw how labor-intensive the food was (our server was basically at our table the entire time, cooking, and another person sometimes with the hair dryer), it totally made sense. Afterward, my hair and clothes smelled a little like smoke, but it was worth it for such a great culinary experience! Will definitely hit this place next time I'm in Baltimore!

    (5)

  • Lizi X.

    I heard so many good reviews and recommendation of this Korean restaurant that I have high expectation for this restaurant. But, yesterday's visiting made me think of whether I will visit it again or not. I don't know how about the dinner or eating at lobby, but it's really bad for taking out lunch. I ordered the 18th in lunch menue. It should be Thin sliced pork, tofu and kichi in hot and spicy pot. Yeap, it should be very delicious when you just see the menue as me. Terribly, the dish didn't just like my imagination. Yeap, pork was real in it, but just 5 little pieces, I counted the tofu, also 5 middle pieces which were at least bigger than porks. All in my box were soup and vegitable. I would like to say it forced me to diet. But at lunch time , I was really very hungry, I didn't want to lose weigh at this special time. Anyway, I would suggest all to think again when you decide to go lunch there.

    (1)

  • Joe M.

    Hard not to love a place that's open late, which is rare in Baltimore. During our first visit there, we were shown by one of the owners how to eat the bi bim bop and they even offered complimentary miso soup to try. They start you off with 8 or so korean side dishes (kim chi, fish cakes, etc) and you can get them refilled (actually they asked us if we wanted more). Service is really great. As far as the main dish, my favorite is the spicy hot pot with crap and clams....Love hanging out and eating with friends here! Highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Carrie D.

    I LOVE this restaurant for both its food and its fabulous service. I love hot pots, but my partner is all about the BBQ. The grills are charcoal rather than electric, which is a huge plus in my book. We generally order the non-marinated kalbi, which never disappoints. The banchan selection is always a treat, and the wonderful servers are always willing to refill our favorites - me: kimchi, marinated black beans, boiled bean sprouts and fish cake, my partner: braised tofu, acorn jelly, fermented squid, and dried shredded squid. All the banchan is made in house, which is another plus. As for other dishes, I highly recommend their yook gae jang and jajangmyum. Yummmm. Yes, the location is not the prettiest, but I've never had an issue. I've been visiting this spot for 8+ years and highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Dan A.

    Okay. So I went back to go try out my soon dae gook...this time a little more sober. While it wasn't quite as good as I remembered it, it was still really good. The soup was good and there was a lot of meat. It was also quite filling. My biggest gripe was actually the soon dae sausages themselves which seemed a little less dense in texture than I'd like them to be. But overall, it was good! By the way, for those of you interested in the pronunciation of Jong Kak, it's pronounced more like "Joe-ng gahck."

    (4)

  • s p.

    This is a great family style restaurant that is run by a great family. My wife and I went here on a slow Monday evening with our 4 month old and the ladies that run this place made us feel comfortable and at home. They went out of their way to accommodate us and make sure we were comfortable and enjoyed our food and even got more than a few giggles out our little girl!! . . . And we certainly enjoyed ourselves!! The food was great. Cooked over a charcoal stove which allows it to have a flavor that I have not found at other Korean BBQ places and love it! We had a few dishes however the Chicken Bulgogi really stood out. All the food was seasoned properly and not overpowering. I also appreciate that I didn't feel like I was eating sauce with some meat mixed in and the food it prepared to really enjoy the meat and condiments are there to enhance the flavor (not the other way around). We loved this place and are going to make it a regular place to eat.

    (5)

  • Kojo B.

    This review is based of their lunch special menu. I am a huge fan of Korean bbq, though i havent tried their sit down meals yet at both Jong Kak and Nak Won, i occasionally grab a to go lunch from these establishments. I tried their spicy pork box which was good. I am not too big on the sides, though i love kimchi. All in all great food.

    (4)

  • Linette G.

    The food is more like: 3.5/5 but DAMN is that seafood pancake good! THAT alone is 5/5 and frankly the only reason I gave this place a 3.5 as opposed to a 3. Customer Service: 5/5 I've only been here once and it was totally random and after a night of drinking in Mt. Vernon (isn't this usually how these things go?). It was about 3-4 months ago in the dead of winter andI have been postponing writing this review, but I still remember everything very clearly and will be as forthcoming and honest as possible. The food was decent, but it wasn't mind blowing and I've honestly had better Korean BBQ in Columbia, MD at Shin Chon and Honey Pig. I guess my main issue was that there wasn't an actual fancy grill at our table and the meats didn't seem premium, (they were a bit grisly). The flavor also wasn't as rich as I've had in other places where you can tell they marinated that meat thoroughly for at least an entire day. The traditional amount of side dishes were served but they weren't as flavorful as others I've had before. The lettuce that was served to wrap our bbq in wasn't fresh, it had a little bit of browning around the edges. Also the decor is pretty shabby and overall I was a little concerned about the hygiene of the place as it just didn't have that clean and fresh feel I like in restaurants. I will say though, that I was blown away by the seafood pancake. Initially when I heard my friends order one for the table, I was horrified. What do you mean a pancake make out of seafood!? That CAN'T be good, I remember saying. Boy was I wrong, it is delicious and savory and all the good things in this world. GET THE SEAFOOD PANCAKE. TRUST ME. I will say, the staff is incredible! They have these huge smiles and make you feel like you are a guest at their house. They really made this experience come together for our group and we had much so fun. I think at one point they bought out shots for us! If it weren't for the amazing customer service we received, I honestly would have given this place a 3/5, but when you can feel the love emanating from the people feeding you, you can't help but feel glad to be there.

    (4)

  • Michelle W.

    Really wanted to like this place. They were generous with the ban chan, and even refilled it. I was disappointed with their pork belly. I'm a fan of spicy pork belly and this one wasn't seasoned. They did have a good dipping sauce that accompanied it. Kalbi was decent, but the portion was a bit small for the price.

    (2)

  • Busa B.

    This is one of the only places that I can go to after working a 3-11pm shift in uniform and relax. Since they stay open until 4 am I don't feel rushed to hurry up and eat. The usual night waitress knows me and what I like since I've been going for the past 6 years. Every so often she will give me a dish on the house. It doesn't have the most updated decor but I like the worn rustic look, feels more welcome. Staff and customers have always been nice. I've even had a few Korean patrons give me a sample or two of a dish I've never tried in the past. The only downside is that it's not in the most savory neighborhood so at night make sure you're careful.

    (4)

  • Lucy X.

    A decent Korean place. The seafood pancake was exceptional! Thick, juicy and full of seafood. Everything else was mediocre in terms of Korean food (from the galbi, to the spicy pork bellies and seafood soup). Although the portion of the pork belly was quite generous. For a sketchy location, the interior setting was pretty nice, but the service was subpar. The servers don't speak English that well, and were kind of rushy.

    (3)

  • debbie a.

    I was missing my mom's home cooked meals so I ended up betraying my mother and going to a recommended Korean restaurant. =) I have satisfied with this place because they used charcoal for cooking the BBQ instead of gas (plus a star here) Be sure you make a reservation - even if they are never really packed, not all the tables come with the grill insert in them so you can watch them cook the meat for you over the charcoal flames. The Food: Once you sit down and order, they will bring out a bunch of small dishes ( a la tapas) called banchan. It changes with whatever they have on hand, but for the most part, you will get a few marinated, pickled vegetable dishes, marinated tofu, eggplant broccoli and some form of Kimchi (pickled, spicy veggie - usually cabbage), egg casserole (delicious), and bean paste soup with tofu chunks. =) Delicious and try them all. Both times I have gone (once with a large party and once with a small), we ordered the dumpling appetizers. They contain pork and do not have veggies versions so..sorry vegetarians. The dumplings come fried and steamed (I like them both ways, but fried is always better) The BBQ we ordered was marinated Kalbi (prime rib) and the spicy pork. Kalbi was sweet, salty and tender. I was happy to be reminded of home. The spicy pork, although good in flavor/marinade, was way too fatty for me. If I wanted pork belly, I would have order it (Sam gyup sal). I was expecting pieces of meat not fat. Other than the issue with cut of meat used, I was happy with the flavor on it. We also ordered Kimchi Jigae - spicy Korean pickled cabbage soup. The soup was hot and sour and I appreciated the deep flavor with subtle sweetness. Dol Soht Bi Bim Bap - This is a rice dish that has many banchan items tossed into the rice in a hot stone pot (the rice gets various textures from the hot stone pot cooking it) and usually has a side of hot pepper paste given to toss in. It is delicious, but I would recommend the kimchi flavored one =) The Ambience: Honestly, this place is pretty much in the ghetto. The parking lot has a security camera on it and the housing authority is right across the street so you have tons of people on their balconies in this enormous high -rise staring you down, but I felt safe otherwise. The restaurant itself is kind of dingy and the vestibule can often have a stench in it (sorry), but this place is not for fine dining.. it is really for the BBQ. =) (minus a star here) Service: In Korea, the service is often based on a button being pushed at a table when you need something - not the case in the US, the service here alternates between extremely attentive and absent. HOWEVER, for the party of 9 that came along, the staff gave us free seafood pancakes (2).. and they were awesome =) Minus a star here (sometimes they can seem rude if you aren't used to the culture) SO.. try this place for the hardwood charcoal BBQ.. its so worth it over the gas grilled kind=) Don't go expecting the Ritz.. =)

    (3)

  • Alison L.

    A bit deceiving on the outside, but serves up some great korean bbq. We sat in the bbq section-- they do the bbq over hot coals! Ordered the spicy pork and the kalbi.. both were excellent. Service was stupendous. Additionally, the food came with a ton of small dishes (more than usual) and egg soup and tofu/veggie soup. mandoo was tasty as well. Prices were a bit high-- for the area they were in... but the food was great.

    (4)

  • Danny K.

    I've been eating at Jong Kak since around 2008 when I was attending MICA. I went to get a taste of Korean food before doing a study abroad, and it has since become a regular on my Baltimore circuit. The service is always spectacular. I have never waited for service, and the servers and hosts are always more than friendly. I've had the opportunity to try a handful of their dishes, but I'm hands down for their Kalbi BBQ. It's always well marinated well, and the servers are fast to refill your sides upon request. It gets a little hot in the summer months. Between the charcoal pits, kimchi, and makgoli/soju/maekju(take your pick) I'm left a little warm. Jong Kak is my absolute favorite K-BBQ restaurant. Honeypig is good, but the service is inconsistent. It's the kind of place you go for a reunion with friends, an anniversary, or a celebration of sorts. While Jong Kak is my favorite, Nak Won is right next door and I would suggest that for a lunch outing as it is a little cheaper, and their Bibimbop is on point. I've never had it enforced to pay a 15% tip, unless in a larger group(standard for most restaurants). Although, I regularly tip 20-25% at Jong Kak. I'm a dedicated fan, and drive from Philadelphia (since I am no longer attending MICA) just to get some of their Kalbi. I recommend them to anyone visiting Baltimore.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    A good place to get Korean food in Baltimore, although I would go next door to Nak Kwon, this place has a better, brighter ambience- more of a formal place to bring your family. Their ddol-ssot-bebeem-bab (rice in hot pot with veggies) is VERY good here. The rice in the hot pot always gets super crispy because they make their hot pot very HOT!! The vegetables are cooked well, all piled on top. Their BBQ is pretty good and so is their jja-jjang-myun (noodles with black bean sauce).

    (3)

  • Lauren S.

    My friends and I decided to try some Korean BBQ for the first time, and man. I'm glad we came here. You get SO. MUCH. FOOD. And it's all good. If you have no idea what you're doing, that's ok. They'll help.

    (4)

  • Malarie B.

    Impressed with this place and it's ridiculous name. Service is always shitty at good Asian restaurants, I've come to learn this after dining in so many. It's in a total sketchball part of town, but who cares? That is more exciting, part of the adventure. And the charm of Baltimore. My Jam Pong was super filling, and I barely made a dent in it. Plus the 8 dishes of appetizers and splitting the PIZZA SIZED seafood pancake? Good God, food for days. I totally know I will be back here.

    (4)

  • Marissa L.

    Came here on recommendation from a local friend. We needed a place to eat near Penn Station. Plenty of parking, but in a slightly sketchy part of town. Service was excellent, they were really attentive to our water and constantly asked us if wanted more ban chan! There was a huge selection of ban chan plates, too. The food was not amazing (we had soon tofu and a kind of bland dumpling soup) but it wasn't completely terrible, either. A very solid restaurant, but kind of more expensive than I am used to paying in Koreatown, Los Angeles. For food code reasons, they cannot give you a raw egg with your soon tofu.

    (3)

  • Debjoy M.

    I've been here a lot. A LOT. As a non-korean, its definitely hard to communicate your order effectively. Since I went a lot, after a while they knew what I would order and they would bring it out without asking. Also started getting a lot of free stuff. Then I stopped going for a few years. Thanks, new marriage. Now they don't know my order and my life is awful. Bring a korean speaking friend and you'll do fine. Great place for a late night drink/meal. Meat quality varies greatly in waves. Not sure if they are in an upswing or downswing right now.

    (3)

  • Jean S.

    Good for Korean BBQ and for large parties. Kind of pricey but given that there are not many Korean BBQ places in Baltimore, it's all about supply and demand. Tastes authentic and a go to if you want meat (moreso than other dishes -- I would recommend Nakwon instead)

    (4)

  • A T.

    This place needs more good reviews. Top priority for me and my wife at a Korean restaurant: Kalbi. After that, dolsot bibimbap. After trying all the Korean establishments in the area, hands down we decided Jong Kak had the tastiest Kalbi. Grilled at the table, the Kalbi has always been excellent. Dolsot bibimbap varies: sometimes, it's nice and crunchy the way we like it. Other times, not so much. But the flavor is always there, and is still better than competitors, where we've never had it as crunchy as we like it. To be fair, we haven't even visited any other Korean restaurants in years now, because Jong Kak is now our only goto destination.

    (5)

  • Loy G.

    so i'd probably not electively choose to drive over here in the middle of the night, but this is one of the few places to cook korean bbq on COALS. i prefer the food here to alot of the korean bbq spots in ellicott city and annandale VA. and it all has to do with the smokey flavor that the coals give off and it just seems alot cooler! i'm sure a grill snob like bobby flay would agree.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    Anything that you order will be amazing and the staff is wonderful. Don't let the location scare you off.. You won't find a more welcoming, authentic, economical, delicious Korean BBQ in greater Baltimore. Make sure you go with an appetite and be prepared for a feast. Extra bonus: they are open late night!

    (5)

  • Peter D.

    Real real real good. The prices are heftier than most Asian places but I guarantee that the taste and quantity more than make up for that. I ordered a Chicken dish that was very spicy but also very tasty. I had not had Korean BBQ before so this was a great surprise for me. I think I will be back for certain, and make sure you get a Korean beer when you order your meal!

    (4)

  • Eunice S.

    Food- very good. The side dishes are free (as it usually is at korean restaurants and I like them better than the other korean restaurant next door. We had the galbi and pork bqq which came with an egg dish and soy bean soup. I give them 5 stars for the food. BUT. Service- I give them a two for service. I came with my husband and his family (altogether five adults plus kid, and they had never tried korean food. We got the 2 bbq dishes (which usually feeds 2 people I think) and rice for everyone, plus we got the drink combo that came with several beers and soju (the korean liquor). I'm not sure if it's because we didn't order that much or because my in-laws didn't speak english or korean, but the waitress was absolutely horrible. She had a pissed off face the entire time and when we had questions about the menu she looked really annoyed that I didn't know what we wanted already. She also asked a couple times if I was sure that's all the meat we wanted since it might not feed everyone. I'm not the kind of person that expects that much customer service but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I still ended up giving a 20% tip although my husband thought she didn't deserve it. Btw I spoke to her in korean the whole time. They really need to work on customer service. I would go Nak won's instead since they're food is just as good.

    (3)

  • Kenneth L.

    I have been to this place a couple of times. The food here is okay, protion sizes are generous, a couple of items on the menu are pretty pricey. The last time I went there, the whole staff was sitting around eating dinner, providing no service at all. The food came out slow, took over 20 minutes for us to order our food. We left a generous 12 percent tip. They stopped us and requested us to pay 15 percent, stating it was mandatory in maryland. I will not pay 15 percent tip for next to non service and faucet water! I recommend eating at the korean place next door. Better food, better prices, and alot better service!

    (1)

  • Gaz H.

    Boo-yah. Very very good Korean BBQ steps from Station North and Bolton Hill. Another huge yelp find. Good quality meats and friendly service. Two orders of meat will overwhelm two hungry people. Everything else comes with: little Korean appetizers, spicy soup, and scrambled egg. As well as a delightful little orangey yogurt drink for dessert. Unlike other Korean BBQ places I have been to, this one does not seem to have a penchant for refilling anything: not the barley tea, not the little dishes of appetizers, not the water. This could have been an issue if we hadn't been put in a food coma. As it was we couldn't have taken any more even if they did offer it - still, it means no fifth star. An authentic little gem. I did not have occasion to evaluate the bathrooms. Approaching from the south on foot or by car up Charles St. (just walk north from Penn Station and hang a left on 20th) minimizes the exposure to sketchy neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Kelly B.

    Found this place on my Urban Spoon iPhone app, which said entrees were under $10. NOT TRUE. However, it was still an absolutely delightful dining experience. When you walk in to get seated, they ask if you'd like BBQ or regular. After a small debate and wrangling over the higher prices, we decided on BBQ and got seated at a table in the back with a grill on it! Yes! Our food was cooked right on the table. Now, I don't know if it's because our server could tell we had no idea what we were doing or not, but they cooked the meat for us. We got 2 entrees for the BBQ (you have to order 2 or they won't start the grill...) and chose a pork with sesame oil, salt and pepper sauce, and a chicken with hot sauce. Both were 17.95 a piece, which is steep, but we were told they came with side dishes. They did - HUGE AMOUNTS of side dishes, and 2 big clay pots of soup. The boiled dumpling appetizer (6.95) was not even needed. Basically, you'll be spending a good chunk of change, but it's totally worth it, you'll have leftovers, the food is delicious, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Also to note - no refills on sodas - they come in a can.

    (4)

  • Cindy Z.

    Mmmmmm Korean bbq! Joung Kak is a pretty legit venue in a city you wouldn't expect to even offer Korean bbq. The front of the restaurant is decorated to look like an Asian temple which is kind of kitschy, but whatever. For $20, this is what you get: 1. about 10 little Korean side dishes. There's seaweed, radish, eggplant, tofu...all sorts of things! It's really fun to try them all. Try to save some to eat with your meat though! I know it's tempting to snack away while waiting. 2. 1 pound of meat. We had four people in our group and we each ordered one entree: the pork belly, the chicken, the beef, and the normal pork. One of every animal! The waitress brings out a little grill and cooks the perfectly marinated meat on your table. The Korean bbq places I've been to before let you cook your own meat, so this was a variation for me. The meat was very, very, delicious. 3. A bowl of rice. Very necessary when eating so much salty meat. 4. A bowl of egg-loaf (I don't know what this is called in English, but it's steamed egg in a bowl with scallions and things) or a bowl of tofu soup. We got two of each for our group of four. So much food=$20 well spent.

    (4)

  • Ross M.

    Probably the best Korean BBQ in Baltimore City. So only come here for BBQ and if you are in the city. Enough said. Had a whole bunch of things with some people. Standard grilled beef, pork, and chicken with side dishes was decent. I'd go back if it was convenient. Not best BBQ, I've been to some in Annandale, VA that are way better (food, service and atmosphere).

    (3)

  • Ayon J. R.

    The neighborhood is sketchy at best, but the food is worth it ! And, they give you a whole lot of it.

    (3)

  • Melissa C.

    Disclaimer: There was a short period in my life when I lived in Koreatown in LA (just to give you an idea of my high standards). I can't compare Joung Kak to other Korean BBQ's in the city because I've never tried any others. Joung Kak has been so good for so many years, that I fear disappointment anywhere else. Korean BBQ is for lovers of meat!!! Best experienced with a group of friends so that you can share different meat dishes which you grill directly on a flame in the middle of the table. Slabs of raw beef, pork or chicken come to the table marinated (if you choose) and ready for grilling. They are accompanied by many small veggie dishes (typically cabbage, bean sprouts and seaweed). Actually, some of the small sides I have no clue what they are, but they usually come in a spicy red chili sauce or sweet sesame oil and taste yummy. Popular dishes are the bulgogi (slices of sirloin), kalbi (short rib), spicy pork, hot pots and Korean pancakes. Korean and Japanese beers are available, along with my fave - Soju (similar to vodka, but slightly sweeter). I like to sweeten up my soju just a bit more with these little yogurt drinks that come complimentary at the end of the meal. Go hungry/starving and be prepared to open your wallet. Our waitress was adamant in stating that each meat dish (approx. $20-$25 each) was an individual portion. We were skeptical because in the past we hadn't all ordered separately but times have changed and I think portions have down-sized... still worth it! It's just more fun to get physical with your food!

    (4)

  • Rebecca H.

    So going to Joung Kak was probably my first time ever having Korean food. I didn't really know what to expect. The place is definitely a hole in the wall, but people don't exactly go there for the ambience. After you order you entree, they bring out an entire tray banchan, which are essentially a bunch of tiny appetizers that you get for free. From what I'm told, they are never the same thing, just whatever foods they have on hand. We got about 8 different dishes which included kimchi, celery, soybeans, and dressed salad. They weren't fantastic but it was still kind of fun. For dinner I order the bibimbap with tofu, which is basically just rice with a mix of vegetables. It comes out in a sizzling stone bowl which makes the rice a little crispy and crunchy. It was healthy, however they don't season it AT ALL. It was so bland since I just got tofu in it. My dining partner got the kimchi bibimbap and it was much more flavorful because of the spicy sauce on the kimchi. I gave Joung Kak a 3 star rating for lack of flavor of my dish, however I would definitely go back because it sparked my interest enough for me to give it a second chance and order a different dish next time.

    (3)

  • Good For The Palate R.

    The best part of Joung Kak is their traditional grills with charcoal! Biggest problem is that they don't have grills at all the tables so get here early and insist on a BBQ table, otherwise they will bring out gas burners. All of the other KBBQ in the area do gas burners so they food is good, but not traditional. They make up for it by super spicing their meats. Get the Bul Gogi and Bul Galbi here. I havent had any other dishes besides KBBQ. Joung Kak has more mild marinades but the smokiness from the coals makes up for it. They have friendly waitstaff. Decor is a little yucky and bathroom isnt nice either, but I don't go here for atmosphere. Don't go here and expect to leave smelling like roses, unless they are kimchi roses. They do have a small parking lot which is great in the city.

    (4)

  • Ashley S.

    My first experience eating Korean food was at Joung Kak. Clearly, my knowledge of Asian cuisine is lacking somewhat, because I was expecting a variation of Chinese (Americanized) food--please forgive my ignorance. Boy was I wrong. I recognized absolutely nothing on that menu, so I ordered a dish with standard food items (beef, rice, and vegetables), the bibimbap in a stone pot. The waitress brought out 8 small appetizers, including broccoli, kimchi, and an egg/seaweed dish, a bowl of miso soup, and another egg dish with our meal. The appetizers were hit and miss, and I didn't care for the flavoring of the miso soup. The egg dish tasted good, but the oil at the bottom of the bowl was unsettling for me so I only took a few bites. The bibimbap didn't taste too bad, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. It could have used a bit more salt, but when I ate my leftovers later, I realized I hadn't fully stirred my food earlier. So, it was actually seasoned properly--but still not the taste I had set out for that night. The service was great--our waitress was friendly and returned to fill our water glasses often. Food was brought out promptly. Prices were very reasonable for the amount or food served. They also gave us a tiny bottle of a sweet yogurt drink with our check. Although my palate is not accustomed to all types of food, it's definitely a place to check out if you like authentic Korean food.

    (3)

  • Patrick R.

    This place is amazing when I moved to the city three years ago the only place I knew open at all hours of the night was Paper Moon Dinner. But with the limiting of their nocturnal hours I had to find someplace for my late night insomnia induced cravings to hold up, this is where Joung Kak came in. On The sketch part of North Pwy on 20st st, between Maryland and Charles st, this place is a last bastion of late night haunts available to those of the Charm City. Their prices, while high for us night owls, tend to have something you can find for under 12 dollars that will sustain you for several meals with a doggy bag. I am partial to the Jun pong Chinese style soup, sweet satisfying glory of nasal clearing fiery spicy broth with seafood and udon noodles sends molten lava traveling through your inners. The traditional Korean side dishes that come with every meal are the crackerjack prize for anyone eating out for Korean. I have had the pleasure of taking many of my friends to this location and if you can gather a party of 8 or more for under $100 the party eats like kings on not just Korean BBQ but an assortment of free dishes they give you for purchasing their large K-BBQ plates! Truly a great place for anyone who is a nite owl. Open to 4:00am every night!

    (5)

  • Chaka H.

    The seafood pancake was deeeelicious!! Very happy and surprised that it was that appetizing. I also ordered fried goza, not impressed. For a very simple dish, they didn't wow me. Don't ever come here and not order the blackberry wine, it's just not the same experience :) Now, to the important part, the meat! We ordered the beef and the pork and we were amazed at how tasty they were WITHOUT any saucey goodness. There marinade is impressive, I could not stop eating... I will definitely be back again.

    (4)

  • Geoff c.

    Over the years, i've lost track of how many times I've been to JongKak. It's a great late night meal and hits the spot, though I've never been to Korea, nor have I had krn bbq in LA, so perhaps I have pretty low standards. It's in the heart of Baltimore's K-town. And by K-town, I mean that block with a few korean restaurants, a karaoke/nrb place, a tiny krn grocer, and a PC bang (LAN gaming room) that got no business and is now shut down. The neighborhood doesn't look that great, but welcome to Baltimore. You'll be fine. The restaurant itself... best if you bring korean speakers with you. You'll get treated better. Not to say that they treat you poorly if you have no koreans with you, they just treat you very well if you do speak korean. Free dishes and such. The BBQ is good. They use old school embers for the pit. Watch out for that hair blower. Cover your water. The rest of the dishes are decent. Haemul pa jun is a good choice here. Overall, they dont have the highest quality stuff, but the meat/BBQ really hits the spot. That's what you want there. If you're more into stews and noodles, NaKwon is right next door and probably a better choice for those dishes. They're open late, so if you've got that craving at 2am, head over. Don't forget to grab a korean chingoo. You'll probably spend $20 or so to fill yourself up.

    (4)

  • Carter L.

    Work close to this place and finally stopped in to get carryout lunch. Got the A1 combo and was excellent! Nice sides and plenty for two people! Very nice place!

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    The place to go if you are a Hopkins student and you want some Korean BBQ. This place is close enough to campus that you could even walk if you wanted to. Obviously Korean BBQ is going to be pricey so go with friends if you want to order the stuff that comes out raw so you can cook it yourself. That's the only way to do the BBQ. I've never had anything else on the menu except for the meat. Make sure you get some sort of alcohol to go with it. I suggest soju because that's the traditional korean liquor that goes with meat, but beer is really good too.

    (4)

  • DANIEL T.

    There's nothing to complain about the food. We ordered KalBi and Bulgogi, both super yummy. Panchan were good too. However ... 1. Waitress came to our table and said 3 orders of meat + seafood pancake + dumplings were not acceptable for a party of 5. We must order one more meat. We reluctantly obliged but thought that was odd. 2. We had to ask for a refill of panchan which we never had to do at any Korean BBQ restaurants I've been to. 3. They did not change out the grill half way thru the meal. It was all charred and nasty. I wasn't really bothered by it but it was done to all the other tables. We also did not get the hair blow dryer treatment which was very disappointing =(

    (3)

  • Faith P.

    When you pronounce the name of this restaurant you can't help but giggle like a little school girl, a better location for this place would be on north Charles by the gay bars! What friendly and helpful service, though I consider myself a foodie I know nothing about Korean food. The lovely hostess suggested I try the BBQ, so I delved into the spicy pork and beef, both served with savory and delightful miso soup, the perfect amuse, classic kimchee done right, rice of choice, a delightful friend won ton bight, and the star of the show: perfectly executed beef with crunchy sesame seeds, and pork with the perfect discernment of heat. Can't wait to go again and explore the menu further!

    (5)

  • A. C.

    (10/16/2010) The best Korean BBQ in Baltimore City. Always a fun time. Panchan (an assortment of small dishes to whet the appetite) come to the table as soon as you order (spicy marinated tofu, Napa cabbage kimchee, zucchini kim chee, jap chae, potato salad, bean sprouts, marinated peanuts, etc.). The brazier in the middle of the tables gets filled with hot coals and then the room fills with the smoke of charred, marinated meats (sit on the east side of the table) as they hit the cooking grate. We always get at least the kalbi (marinated short ribs), bulgogi (sweet soy marinated strip), and spicy pork (red pepper paste rub and slightly sweet). Red leaf lettuce is served along with slices of fresh jalapeno, whole garlic cloves, red pepper paste and sticky steamed medium-grain rice for wrapping (burrito-style) your freshly grilled meats (hot from the grate, leave it on long enough for a good char). Also, ordered the hubcap-sized pajun (a mung bean pan-fried pancake with bell peppers, spring onions, and bits of shrimp, squid and octopus). Steamed egg custard (savory and with bits of salted fish) and spicy tofu soup (pretty salty, use as a "condiment" for rice) usually come gratis. This is an enormous amount of food, but always miraculously seems to get eaten. Service is better if you go with someone who speaks Korean.

    (4)

  • Dan S.

    Came here with a group (food tour, shout out to Sharon at Charm City Chews!) and had the most delicious bbq meat and all the fixings including fresh lettuce, scallions and radish that you wrap into a heavenly burrito and eat. Sooo goood! The server was very nice and accomodating when we spilled ice water everywhere. Had the banjan - which were yummy and soup - which the waitress said was "Korean Miso soup" which was very spicy (with potatoes, meat and other goodness) very warming on a cold day. At first the waitress blowing the coals under the table with the hairdryer was really weird and off putting, but it is what they have to do in this old school Korean place which was apparently grandfathered inn. Absolutely delish! We had a bottle of soju to go with the food. The place was packed with Korean people (and some others like us) on a Saturday afternoon. You can park right outside the resaurant.

    (5)

  • Antonio S.

    1st timer here. Shen the waitress made me feel welcomed. Food was excellent, couldn't complain one bit. I will be back again. Good food, great service.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    If you like to cook at the table on a traditional Charcoal grille, this is the place! Always a delight to bring several friends to have authentic Korean BBQ over the grille. This place is known for the BBQ, so Kalbi or Bulgogi won't let you down. Bring an appetite and an open palate and enjoy the Korean spices and aromas!

    (4)

  • Elvis P.

    just went for the first time and got the ck fried rice. love it and their open till late late even better. staff was friendly as late as 2am and they dont close until 4am.

    (3)

  • Tara M.

    I have been here at least ten times and never had a bad experience. I went here the first time I had Korean food with my then Korean-American employer. When I expressed an interest in trying Korean food, this is where my boss' wife took me, on my birthday no less! When we arrived, there was a lovely spread waiting for us. She barked orders in Korean at the staff and shoved things on my plate and said "Eat it, you'll like it!" She was right, of course. I went back there several times. I left smelling and burping up bulgogi, but very, very happy. Go there for the food, not the atmosphere, which isn't terrible, but isn't exactly what I'd call inspiring. The service can be a bit...not terrible, but they're not going to spend time chatting you up and asking how your day is, but I would frankly be saddened if it was any other way.

    (5)

  • Paulami N.

    The food was not bad, but I am not very knowledgeable about Korean food. I must say though that the service was very poor. We repeatedly asked for water but were not served any till the end of our meal (1 hour after arriving at the restaurant). We were a large group and some of were not ordering BBQ. We were told that unless we ordered more than one BBQ dish, per hood we could not sit together and some of us would have to move to a non-hood area. This was strange because many other hooded tables were available.

    (1)

  • Hannah S.

    Odd, but if you can get a Korean speaker into your party, service is usually much better and its a lot easier to communicate with the waitresses. Panchan here is great! They have lots of different varieties and its really good. The entrees here are pretty standard and their Korean BBQ is pretty good. However, beware that you must order a certain amount of BBQ (you can't just order a serving of meat for some reason). Make sure you're ready to repeat yourself if you're speaking English, I'd say the service isn't that great, but if you're up for dealing with that, the food is pretty good!

    (3)

  • Seth R.

    We picked this restaurant more or less at random to get Korean in Baltimore. It was inexpensive and wonderful, and (unlike most places I've been recently) they let you do the BBQ at the table. I'm looking forward to going back.

    (4)

  • D Y.

    Ick. I ordered the spicy pork and tofu and the pork had such an awful freezer burn taste! The other Korean options weren't bad, but the pork just really turned me off.

    (2)

  • Andrew K.

    Another Korean restaurant in Baltimore and I have been going to for a couple years now. If you are in the mood for korean bbq with traditional wood chips which are used instead of small electric grills, try this place out. Their kalbi is pretty good and I highly recommend the joung kak combo which comes with kalbi, pork, chicken or bulgoki. They cook it on woodchips which gives it a smokier taste and I prefer it over the electric grills. Make sure you are not wearing something nice because you will smell like korean bbq when you leave. I find that a bonus but some people don't like smelling like korean food. If you are not in the mood for bbq, I also highly recommend their seafood pancake or haemul pajun which tastes really good. They also have this soup called haejang guk which is a really traditional spicy korean dish and it has intestines, pork, vegetable in a broth. It sounds pretty nasty but it tastes really good and they make it the best compared to other places I've tried. The safer picks that I also like are their yook gae jang or shredded beef soup and the mando gook or dumpling soup is good too. I think the service can be spotty at times depending on how busy they get but overall, I'd recommend this place. These days, I would only come here for bbq because I like the place next door, Nakwon better for their service and side dishes but this is the only place in Baltimore with wood chip bbq so I would still come back here.

    (4)

  • Hansoo J.

    Joung Kak is located in the center of Baltimore's Koreatown (although some would argue that Ellicott City is the new Koreatown...). I have had meals here for lunch, dinner, and late night. My favorite time to come here has to be after midnight though. The food is ok. Middle of the road in terms of Korean food. The thing that makes this place stand out though is the fact that you can get real Korean BBQ at 2 am. It's rare to find an open kitchen in Baltimore this late but rarer still to find Korean BBQ. It kinda reminds me of Korea where nothing ever closes and you can find a good meal (and karaoke, movie rooms, and pc/comic rooms...gotta love the motherland) at any time during the day. Besides the BBQ, I would recommend the cold noodle dish: neng myun. Especially the one made from arrow root noodles. Most of the other Korean restaurants in the area only serve the buckwheat variety. The arrow root is more firm and holds up better if you like your soup extra vinegary. My biggest complaint is the restrooms. I've learned to pee before I eat here out of fear of having to subject myself to the horrors of the bathroom here. If you have to go, I'd recommend finding a dark corner of the parking lot. Just make sure you have a lookout...

    (3)

  • Neil O.

    Very good Korean BBQ. Great on a cold winter night. Down the street from the movies. Open until the wee hours. Sometimes great Kim Chee. Sometimes not. Sometimes great service, sometimes they ignore you.

    (4)

  • Ron M.

    Sitting basically on the corner of 20th street and MD Avenue is this little Korean Joint. This is not by any means a convenient location for me to visit, nor do I enjoy the drive here through some of the worst pot holed neighborhoods in Baltimore City, nor do I care for waiting at red lights along the way which may feature a grown man or woman urinating publicly just a few feet away,..... but I still go anyway. This is about as good as it gets in Baltimore for Korean Barbecue. The dated floor, fixtures and tables in the place don't really seem to be bothersome when they plop down that big bucket of hot coals for you to start cooking your meat. Caution: do not pile on the entire plate of spicy pork meat on the grill surface at once, you may almost burn the restaurant down. Not that I have had any such experiences, but that's what I hear. They do have camera coverage in some of the parking lot so look for that when you pull in to maybe play it safe in this neighborhood, also it may be a good idea to get there early and leave before dark. You will get a great barbecue experience and great service for a decent price.

    (4)

  • Paul S.

    Not a bad place, I've had better Korean food, but it's opened late and the staff has always been really friendly. As I said, I've had better Korean food, but it's still pretty good. That said, most of my Korean friends seem to think the food is mediocre... I think they might give it two stars, but I'll give it three.

    (3)

  • Josiah L.

    have been here almost my whole life living in Baltimore. they provide great service, the restaurant divides into two sections, depends on if you want BBQ or not. menu is very easy to understand for anyone who doesn't know Korean. Best of all, they open late, so you can go fill up your stomach after a night of drinking.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 4:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Jong Kak

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