Suzuya Japanese BBQ

*** Suzuya has closed.

Suzuya Japanese BBQ opened quietly a few months back, with barely a whisper. Suzuya specializes in Yakiniku, a style of cooking very similar to Korean BBQ. In fact, it is thought that Yakiniku evolved from Korean BBQ.

You can tell it's a Yakiniku restaurant by the heavy duty ventilation systems.

Right before Christmas our very own Cathy and I met for lunch. We even found parking in the much too small lot on Kearny Villa Road that Suzuya shares with Osaka Kitchen, and several other restaurants. I found the interior of the restaurant is adorned in a very simple tasteful manner.

The lunch menu consists of about 15 items, and we selected the lunch size portion of the Beef Yakiniku ($7.95), and the Pork Bulgogi ($7.50). All lunch items came with a very generic salad, an adequate serving of rice, and the usual weak miso soup.

The Beef Yakiniku was marinated in a slightly sweet sauce, and tasted pretty much like Bulgogi, Korean BBQ'd beef.

The meat was very moist and tender, and the meat was pretty well marbled. The portion size was a fairly good value for the price.

The Pork Bulgogi, was a version of Daeji Bulgogi. I thought the spice level to be fairly mild, and though the pork had a nice flavor, it was a bit on the dry side.

The ventilation system for the gas grills was excellent, I left without smelling like I'd been grilled. For what it's worth, there were only 3 other grills going at the time, so I don't know how bad it would get if the restaurant was going full tilt.

Unlike Korean BBQ, there is no panchan served, though you can purchase side orders of Kimchi for $2.50. Still the lunch menu seemed overwhelmingly Korean, with items like Dolsot Bibimbap.

So here's the juicy inside info, I don't know if it's 100% true....so for what it's worth, I've been told that one of the Owners is Ichiro...as in Ichiro's Restaurant. Apparently, he and his wife  divorced, and she got Ichiro's. He on the other hand met and married a Korean lady....the very nice woman who runs the front of house during lunch, and viola! Suzuya Japanese BBQ.

I recently returned again for lunch, and because I was badly in need of carbs, decided to check out the Kimchi Fried Rice($6.50):

Don't be fooled, it's more food than you think! In this case a decent sized portion of rice was stir fried with Baechu(Napa Cabbage) Kimchi and the Pork Bulgogi, and topped off with a nice runny, easy over egg. The dish was milder, and hence a lot less salty and spicy(lack of spam would lower the sodium level alot). What pork there was in the dish was very soft and tender. Overall, an okay dish....though give me Spam and Kimchi fried rice any day!

I did manage a peek at the dinner menu, and noticed that there were many more conventional Yakiniku type offerings....various cuts of meat, unmarinated, and served with different Yakiniku Tare (dipping sauces). I noticed that some of the prices were pretty inexpensive and was told that most portions are about 4 ounces, so you can get a good variety. Shabu Shabu is also served, and costs $18.95 per person. We'll probably drop by one night for dinner...and I'll make sure to post further information.

As mentioned, the parking lot can be crazy during lunch hours. The service has always been very nice and accommodating.

Suzuya Japanese BBQ
5447 Kearny Villa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 505-0611

Lunch - Mon-Fri 1130am - 230pm
Dinner - Daily 5pm to 11pm

From the when it rains it pours department:

So I'm driving this past weekend when I see a sign that catches my attention. I pull into the strip mall that houses Izakaya Sakura, and wouldn't you know it. We suddenly go from no Yakiniku restaurants in the area...to two, in 8 months!

They are not yet open, but I'm wondering if it's an expansion of Tsuruhashi restaurant in OC? BTW, Tsuruhashi District in Osaka is well known for their Yakiniku, so things are getting more interesting.........

Comments

[Kathy]

Hey Kirk!
I can't even remember the last time I had kimchee fried rice. Now all of a sudden I'm craving for a loco moco with kimchee fried rice instead of steamed :)

[clayfu]

interesting! only 7~ for fresh grilled beef? i may have to venture on over there in the Nearrrr future.

Since hanging out with my Caucasians friends i've had less and less chances to eat asian food =P

[nhbilly]

There is a Japanese BBQ right around the corner from Ango Tei its good but the ROI at a KBBQ joint is >r.
But it seems like lunch was a bargain for you. LoL I was recently in Korean town LA and pigged out at Madaongsae Korean BBQ. Cheap eats but quality of meat is ok barely in panchan if any at all. Overall I ate the whole cow that night I think...

[leanne]

We just went to Suzuya last week for dinner and had their Special A and two friends got the shabu shabu. The beef we had for grilling was very tasty and very tender and I liked the vegetables that came with it. You're right, no smelling like grilled meat later -although, we were the only table that night. The standard dipping sauces are okay, but we had to ask for the sesame oil/salt and the ponzu, so make sure you ask if you go again!

The shabu shabu came with so much food it was amazing! I definitely want to go back to try that. That also came with very tasty dipping sauces - one was like a creamy sesame? I am always on the lookout for good shabu shabu, ever since we found our favorite in Las Vegas - Swish.

[Kristy]

Hey Kirk! I love juicy inside info!!! :) Thanks for sharing! Makes for an interesting read and go! I'll be sure to check this one out next time in SD!

[Cathy]

So, I'm looking at the photographs and not reading at all...and I recognize a meal I had...with you! How cool....oh I have no life.....

[howie]

The kimchee fried rice looks great, as do the grilled items. And for < $8, seems like a great deal!

Kirk, do you have a favorite place for kimchee fried rice? I've actually never tried it before.

[elmomonster]

That's an interesting back story and soap opera behind Suzuya. I've got to try Tsuruhashi down in OC. Perhaps we can try it when you come up!

[Passionate Eater]

Very cool that one post covers what both Cathy AND Kirk ate! It is like getting a two-for-one!

[Kirk]

Hi Kathy - Good kimchi fried rice......mmm-yoso!!!

Hi Clayfu - Yep for 7 bucks it's pretty cheap for cook your own. That's just the lunch price, though.

Hi Billy - Well what can I say AYCE......means a very full belly!

Hi Leanne - I was wondering how your meal turned out! Happy B-Day! Sounds like the Shabu Shabu might be worthwhile...and here I had my doubts!

Hi Kristy - Yes, the juicy back story! Well seems like soon they'll be 2 Yakiniku restaurant in the area....so it'll be interesting.

Hi Cathy - Well, you did recognize the meal. So even if you have no life, you've got a good memory! ;o)

Hi Howie - Try Korean Hometown:

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2006/09/korean_homestyl.html

Still not as good as I've had "back home" but this baby was pretty good...that would be salty nad spicy!

Hi Elmo - I'm at your mercy...whatever you decide is fine with me!

Hi PE - Wow, never thought of it that way...we should charge double, eh???? You are so observant!

[kingkong5]

I've been to Tsuruhashi in Fountain Valley, and if it's a new branch opening then you are very lucky! We absolutely enjoyed all of the prime beef that they serve there, and $12 picthers of Sapporo on draft works out well too.

If you do come up to OC soon, let's all hit up Tsuruhashi so you can compare!

[Kirk]

Hi KK5 - I'm looking forward to Tsuruhashi opening. It seems like in the last few months we've had a good number of Japanese Restaurants opening in San Diego, which makes me very happy! Now, I'm just waiting for Santouka!!!!

[clayfu]

This has nothing to do with the food at the restaurant.. but the son of the owners of the restaurant just got arrested for stealing Grand Theft Auto from game stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPeuRuopWFg&eurl=http://kotaku.com/