Daeho Kalbi Jjim & Beef Soup

Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the food. Daeho Kalbi Jim is famous for its succulent Korean barbecue, and it's easy to see why. The marinated meats, sourced from the finest cuts, are brought to your table and grilled to perfection right before your eyes. Each bite is a symphony of flavors, perfectly balanced and bursting with richness.

Daeho Kalbi Jim is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the true flavors of Korean cuisine. With its exquisite food, welcoming atmosphere, and impeccable service

I will definitely come back later

## Dae Ho: Family Favorite for Fancy Galbi Jjim (But Sides Could Be More Exciting)

Dae Ho has become our go-to spot for a special family dinner whenever everyone's in town. This time, we decided to try lunch for a shorter wait - genius move!

**Galbi Jjim: The Star of the Show (With Extra Cheese, Please!)**

Of course, we had to get the galbi jjim, the braised short rib dish that Dae Ho is famous for. It's truly amazing - melt-in-your-mouth tender beef bathed in a flavorful sauce. We always add the cheese, which they melt tableside with a flamethrower (it's quite the show!). Extra rice cakes and glass noodles are a must-add too, even though they cost a bit more. They're the perfect companions for soaking up all that delicious sauce.

**New Territory: The Beef Soup**

This time, we ventured beyond our usual galbi jjim and tried the beef soup for the first time. It was good! It had two types of meat and a ton of this green vegetable that they also use in the side dishes. The only thing that threw us off was how shallow the dish was. We weren't sure if how to mix it, but it tasted great regardless.

**Side Dish Symphony (or Not):**

The side dishes at Dae Ho are a bit of a mixed bag for our family. They offer a variety of kimchi, but honestly, we barely touch them. Compared to other Korean restaurants, the side dishes here feel a little less exciting and diverse.

**Overall:**

Despite the slightly underwhelming sides, Dae Ho remains a favorite for its incredible galbi jjim. The lunch wait is a major plus, and the tableside cheese melting is a fun experience. We'll definitely be back for another family feast (and maybe some extra rice cakes!).

Dae Ho offers a delightful dining experience with its flavorful Galbijjim and Cold Noodle dishes. Let's break down the key aspects of our visit:

Food: The Galbijjim and Cold Noodle dishes are truly the stars of the show. The Galbijjim boasts rich flavors, especially with cheese, and tender meat, while the Cold Noodle offers a refreshing and satisfying option, especially on warmer days. Both dishes are expertly prepared and leave you wanting more.

Ambiance: The restaurant is always bustling with activity, creating a lively atmosphere. However, the busy nature of the restaurant can sometimes lead to a bit of chaos, and the ambiance may not be as relaxing as one might hope for. Nonetheless, the energy adds to the overall dining experience.

Service: While the staff at Dae Ho may be a bit stretched thin due to the constant flow of customers, they do their best to keep up with the demand. However, it's worth noting that they may not be as attentive as some diners would prefer. You may need to ask for utensils and other items, but once you do, they are usually prompt in fulfilling your request.

Overall, Dae Ho offers delicious Korean cuisine in a bustling environment. While the service may not be as attentive as some would like, the quality of the food makes up for it. If you're in the mood for some tasty Galbijjim and Cold Noodle, this is the place to be.

I really liked:
$66 Boiled Beef
$100 Braised short rib w/ oxtail

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Daeho #goodeats. It's shareable, clean eats and I always leave full. This time and location just didn't hit as hard as I'm used to. I think it has to do with the meat being not cooked as well and it feeling like less meat attached to the bones. Still good food. Just not the fire I'm used to.

Service was pretty quick and polite. It's the expected Asian locations where you do need to flag staff down to ask for things.

The venue is small and could honestly expand so people don't need to stand outside in the Milpitas smell but that's not their fault per se.

Came on Friday around 12pm lunch hour...fast turn over bc ppl trying to get back to work...fast service...steep price $121 for 2 ppl tho enough food for 3 hungry ppl...but good for special treat every once in a while

Quality/Quantity - Simple menu done well.

Kalbijjim with added thick glass noodles, rice cake & cheese - I really liked this dish. Decent, maybe even generous quantities. I especially liked the thick glass noodles as it was new to me which helped me like it even more. Good flavors. Cooked well, including the vegetables. My only complaint was the beef; it could have been more tender and had less ligament [pieces. I had some tough pieces.

Rice - Our dish came with two rices, so we got one of each; both white and purple. I prefer purple. Actually, our daughter taught us how to make this ourselves, so we now make it at home. Well, for the few times we cook.
Banchan - 4 authentic banchans, not my preferred banchans.

Also available are meal kits, see website.

Atmosphere - Small local restaurant.
Cool educational decor, see pictures.
Clean bathrooms for both mens and womens and the floors were WET and soapy... So be safe.
Plenty of mall parking.
Open 7 days a week from 10:30am or 11am to 9pm.

Service - Good. We at times had to ask for stuff and they accommodated.
My favorite part of their service was when they melted the cheese tableside with a torch.

Price - $107+ generous tip.

Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 2019 with your 5 locations. We have been customers since day one at your Japantown locations. The Japantown location is the one we frequent most. Also, congrats on your 4 "brother" stores - Bansang, Bonmot, YakiniQ, Jina Bakes.

I was not impressed with the side dishes at first. There were only four and they were so sour and pungent. I look forward to good side dishes when I eat at Korean restaurants. My party of five just ordered the kalbijim and it was the perfect amount for us. It was good. The waiter toasted the cheese in front of us. The kalbijim came with potatoes, meat, daikon, carrots, cheese, and rice cakes. It was really good. The meat had a lot of bones, though the seating was a bit small so my party had to wait a bit before we were seated.

This place doesn't need an extra review on how good the Kalbi Jjim is so I'll focus on some key points I took away from this place when I went.

This is what we ordered:

1.) Kalbi Jjim - #1 - Kalbi Jjim size Large with extra Cheese
2.) Suyuk - #5 - Cha Dol
3.) Appetizer - Jap Chae

# 1.) Definitely get the extra cheese for $6 more as you get the "show" with this. The server will bring the bowl to the table and blow torch the cheese on top which is always something cool to see. Also I really appreciate that this dish comes with free rice. We got up to 5 free purple rice since we had a group of 5.

#2.) I really liked this soup (?) dish. The meat was super tender and the broth was very flavorful. You can also ask for more broth if you want if you drink it all up.

#3.) Not the traditional Jap Chae in the sense that the glass noodle is not the circular kind but the flat kind and is definitely on the sweeter side. However, the dish being sweet was surprisingly something I really liked and the flat glass noodle had a nice chewy texture.

**CAUTION**

I came with a table of 5 people and I had no idea they had added an extra 18% service charge already in the bill. When it came to pay the bill in the portable card charger, the options will look like this:

+3%, +5%, +7%, Custom Tip, No Tip.

Since I didn't know the 18% service charge was already added, I just thought that they had low default tip amounts and added another 7%.

As such, just be VERY CAREFUL when you pay to make sure you are not over-tipping if they have already added the service charge.

Have come here several times with family and friends and am always amazed by their braised short rib! You usually have to wait in long lines especially on the weekend or for dinner and the tables/ inside is a little crowded but the food is definitely worth the wait! It is a fun experience seeing the cheese get fired and sharing the meal in a larger group. I also love that they have purple rice and lots of sides. The service is great as well and they even pack your leftovers for you.

When I think of Korean food, the primary thing that comes to mind is KBBQ. Who knew something as amazing as Kalbi Jjim existed?? TY to my BIL & his gf for putting me on game.

For starter, what is kalbi jjim? This specific Korean dish is made by steaming or boiling your choice of marinated protein in a flavorful sauce or soup. If the restaurant's name wasn't already a dead giveaway, DAEHO KALBIJJIM specializes in beef.

While there are quite a few beefy offerings, our party of two decided to go with the Doh Gal Jjim [beef rib w/ ox tendon and cartilage]. This meal is available in regular or large size and comes with 4 different banchan & 2 servings of rice [choice of purple or white]. These jjim dishes are made to your liking- spice level is customized by NOT SPICY, MILD, MEDIUM, or SPICY. Toppings are available for additional costs to round out the meal.

I initially wanted to go with medium spice, which involves jalapeños, but went with mild because I wanted to enjoy the flavors as is & avoiding the chance of the peppers being overpowering. Adding thick glass noodles was a must.

Food:
Banchan was good but essentially tasted very similar to one another. They all happened to be spicy, nothing remotely pickled in a tart kinda way which would have been nice IMO. At $84 [pre add-on fees for the toppings], the portion provided is hefty. The beef ribs were succulent, servings were generous, and the regular size portion could easily feed more than the estimated 2-3 persons. Flavors were AMAZING- mild spice level left a nice lingering heat that complimented the sweet broth. Veggies found in the meal consisted of carrots, daikon, and potatoes- all tender with a nice coating of the hearty broth.

5/5 stars. Food was great and the customer service provided from Amy was even better. She may be a woman of few words but her genuineness to help speaks volumes. Amy was prompt, friendly, and so accommodating. Thank you for such a wonderful meal and 1st visit, DAEHO.