Kochi Korean Bbq & Shabu Shabu

I love this place. Tonight was my Second night here, and both times have been amazing experiences. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is exeptional. The servers are super helpful in explaining everything, from ordering to helping our little novice group grill our awesome platters, And it’s so much FUN! I have had so much fun coming here with my boyfriend. and can’t wait to have a girls /​friends night here too. This is exactly what atascadero had been missing out on.

Delicous, and very educational. Wasnt sure what i was walking into, but the food was amazing. Service was great. Will return. Very exciting

Great addition to the Atascadero restaurant scene. Very attentive and friendly service. Wait staff were very helpful making recommendations and answering questions. Portion sizes were good, no one in our party left hungry. Prices are fair for the quantity and quality of food. Lots of interesting things on the menu, will definitely be back.

We were very excited to have this in Atascadero but I was a little put off after experiencing it. Mainly the service was all over the board. After having to rush out to Vons to get a decent drink (no liquor license) the service went from periods of total abandonment, to times being force fed food the way the server (maybe the owner?) wanted us to eat it. There needs to be a balance for an enjoyable experience.
The service was what I would expect from a restaurant on opening night. Not one that had already been busy for a month. It included our server scolding the other wait staff for the sized bowls they put the main sauce in. By the end of the meal I was worn out between having food we did not want on our plate and being told how we should be eating it. I just wanted out of restaurant eve though there was apparently more food coming!
I spent several years in Asia and my wife lived in Japan so this food was something we are familiar with. My suggestion would be for them to not assume we are idiots and just ask us if we needed help or be left alone with our food.
My wife ended up suggesting my son and I head home before the remaining food finally arrive and before our billed showed up. I could tell it was because she did not want me to see how much this frustrating experience was. So, I am sure it is way overpriced for what we got.

This was my boyfriends first time at a Korean bbq place… He was very impressed! Great atmosphere, the meat is so fresh and delicious! We will definitely be coming back! Jenny was so nice and welcoming! Thank you for the great food and service

the staff seems overworked and exhausted. I overheard the owner talking badly about her own employees. the food was alright I just have a hard time supporting a place that is run by someone like that. staff were knowledgable

It’s so great to have Korean BBQ in Atascadero. I came back to Atascadero to visit my family and took my mom here. It is important to remember that this place just opened, so they are still working out kinks.
Décor: Very nice place. It seems a lil fancier than it needs to be, but I enjoyed it.
Staff: Very young staff and you can tell they are learning. They did a great job of keeping us informed. The dinner didn’t go perfect, but we didn’t have any surprises.
Food: Such good food. The owner came to us to show us how to cook the food. I already knew, but my mom didn’t.
Overall atmosphere: The place was packed and it did take a little longer than it should, but considering it is brand new, I’m okay with that.
My review isn’t normal for a place I give 5 Stars to but it is. New place and much different than anything Atascadero, or SLO County has ever had. If you go, be patient and the staff will help you out. Give them a chance, if it wasn’t a great experience, give them another chance. All Atascadero doesn’t need is another business folding.

First: this place had a soft opening. They hosted at least one big dinner night, if not more. So, they’ve somewhat had experience serving. This was posted on their Facebook page.
Second: the night of their public grand opening, we call them up and are told they are no longer taking reservations, but, we can walk in and wait for a table. So, we plan to do just that. We get there, and they tell us they are no longer taking anyone because they are RUNNING OUT OF FOOD. Seriously? On their first day? A restraint should be better prepared. Especially since this wasn’t their first food service night. Whether it was to the public, or not
Third: reading some previous reviews, this place has what I fear; over priced, small portions, and not all of the items that are supposed to come with a traditional KBBQ restaurant.
Looking at the pictures of the menu others have posted; where are the single person plates? Everything says for 2+ people. The prices wouldn’t be so bad if everyone had someone to share with. But not everyone wants to order the same thing/​share.
Atascadero is my home town, but I have been living in the Orange County for the last 9 years, and had a fair share of experiencing KBBQs.
I was so excited and so hopeful for this place. But, I will stick to spending my money on the big city KBBQs

I’m gonna start off by saying that this restaurant has only been open since the first of the year, so the servers are all still trying to figure everything out.
The food, on the other hand, was amazing! Hands down, some of the best Asian food I’ve had on the central coast. The dumplings were home made, and the hot pot was delicious. The owner came and talked to us to help us through the menu, which I really appreciated! I’m so excited to keep going and trying things out on their menu!

Yes, I am extremely pleased to have true Korean bbq in small, insular Atascadero but Kochi would pass muster in a bigger market like LA or San Francisco. This is some damn good bbq and I will be back very soon, with an even bigger group, to consume even more meat. I came in with a group of seven this week and set to work on one of the bbq combos. Even though we were novices at the grill, we gamely learned the proper cook times and had a wonderful meal at Kochi.
THE GOOD:
— MEAT: These meats are very high quality. The marbling on the brisket and prime rib was especially choice (like seriously, I am STILL thinking about the prime rib; I steer conversations in the direction of food to mention how good it was), and the shrimp was excellent. Also, the banchan were hella tasty.
— PRICE: The bbq combo menu was a bargain; our bill came out to around $ 25 per person for enough meat to fill a small wheelbarrow. I left absolutely stuffed.
— THE OTHER MENU OPTIONS LOOK RAD: The rest of the menu also looks amazing. Kochi even has tteopokki (aka the best Korean dish ever) as well as a variety of stews and noodle dishes. It looks like a solo patron could roll in at lunch and get themselves some tasty mandu guk for around $ 12.
— THE SPACE IS SEXY: This is a really good looking restaurant. The interior is sleek, modern and squeaky clean. It’s easy to come in with a large group, as some tables have multiple grills per table top.
THE BAD: The servers are still getting trained. If you’re unexperienced with Korean bbq, I would ask about proper cook times for each meat right away and proper procedure. Most importantly, ask about the best SAUCE COMBOS for particular cuts of meat! I hope this problem would be resolved in a few weeks, but for now I would read a bit about Korean dining before going. I think my group would have been confused if I hadn’t been there to explain what was going on.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Go, enjoy that top caliber meat. Don’t neglect the seafood. Don’t let your server leave the table without explaining what’s what! Don’t be upset when you find I’ve booked up all the prime res times.

I have to agree with a fellow reviewer, I find it suspect that all the positive reviews have been taken down from Kochi’s wall, especially after trying them out tonight.
Though I can’t talk for the other reviews, I have to go with my experience this evening.
Tonight I worked an event, and my husband and I were looking for somewhere open sorta late in the evening. We drove by Kochi’s hoping they were open, and they were. We were immediately greeted by the host and busser who both were very happy and excited to see us, when we asked if it was okay that we were arriving so late they told us never to worry and showed us to a table. Not one, but two people made sure to check to see if we needed beverages or help with the menu as we were obviously new to the genre of food. This was the only point I was «disappointed» if I could say that, is that I wish they had their liquor license because their selection looks AMAZING, I can’t wait to try Korean Plum Wine, or the Blackberry Wine I saw, both sound so good I can’t wait to go back when they can serve them.
We bounced between the Shabu Shabu and the BBQ plate for 2, we settled on the BBQ plate as a first try for the restaurant. Pork belly, bulgogi beef, and others were just to name a few. For the cuts of meat, expensive trimmings, the price was fantastic. I don’t think the people that say this place is «overpriced» know the general cost of quality meats that can be served raw and cooked on a grill at your table. These weren’t Food 4 Less meats, they were top grade, and melted in your mouth. The cost for this quality was right on par with industry pricing.
The owner came out and helped us with cooking, plating, and eating our food. Showing us to eat the meat with the salad, and recommending which dipping sauce with which meat. If you’ve never had Pork Belly with a Sea Salt Sesame Oil, then you’re truly missing out, it was fantastic.
Being in the industry, I felt bad staying too late, so we boxed up our final course and left before we kept the entire crew there into the wee hours. With their menu, that would have been easy to accomplish. I can’t wait to go back to try their dumpling soup, or bring my entire family to share in both a Korean BBQ and Shabu Shabu experience.
If you’re looking for an exceptional experience that makes you feel like you’re not in Atascadero, this is the place for you. From the décor, to the service, it’s an upgrade from the restaurant that was there before. I mean, did anyone ever eat at Hoover’s and enjoy themselves? I’m glad to see fresh blood in this building, and I will definitely be going back soon!

Right off the bat this place gets five stars for making the effort! I’m not sure that all of the residents of Atascadero fully appreciate the brave step forward taken by the owners of this place are taking. This is a town that couldn’t keep Coco’s doors open. I understand there were larger forces at work with that place and its fate. However, this town is starving for places to eat and how many pizza places do we really need?
Shame on the people who are hating on this place in its first two weeks of operation. All of the neg heads going on about price, service and «my wife can cook that» need to put the brakes on it for a change. One of the main problems with this country are the ill informed & uneducated entitled masses who dictate their own «narrow» perspective to the detriment of all of us.
How many people leaving a review here have even an ounce of knowledge regarding the operation of a restaurant? Don’t even bother factoring in the fact that Kochi is a brand new never been done here kind of restaurant. The gall it takes for someone to proclaim to the world their hopes for someone else’s failure is unfathomable to me. BUT here it is in the review thread for this restaurant.
Tonight I had a wonderful experience with my wife eating at Kochi! We had been waiting for what seemed like months for it to open. Thankfully we had the benefit of a quiet weeknight where we could be served with great care and genuine attentiveness. This place was awesome and it was precisely because it wasn’t In Santa Maria or Paso Robles or LA or San Jose. It’s less than five minutes away from my house, I can get out the door for around $ 50 and its not pizza!
Please… Treat yourself… Go check out Kochi and tell them Stacey & Gwinn sent you!

First off, I have to say how unfair it is that Unilocal would take out a majority of the 4 – 5 star ratings for this restaurant and not factor them in the overall rating of the restaurant!
Read those reviews too if you are wanting to get a general overview of a «rating» on Unilocal…
Anyway, a large group of us had our SLOCountyMommies Reunion at Kochi’s on Jan 2^nd. I was a little hesitant going to a brand new restaurant considering all the mistakes that can happen especially on the 2^nd day they are open. Plus, some people had already said they were pretty expensive. BUT a new restaurant in Atascadero is something to be excited about! Our group decided to go ahead and keep the reservation and check it out before forming an opinion based on hearsay. I am so glad we went!
Yes, the service was a little slow but to be honest we expected that with a group of 14 people. Considering how new they were, we realized there were kinks that would need to be worked out anyway (which may take several weeks for ANY new restaurant). However, the owner was really attentive and took the time to teach us how to cook the food correctly and gave us plenty of advice on which dishes to try, shared a little about the Korean culture, explained that the prices seem high for the dishes but are meant to be shared between 2 or more people, etc. There is definitely a learning curve for the rest of the staff but she had no problem reminding them which tools and other things that were needed for the table.
Our group was separated to two tables. Our table decided to order the «Lake Park» off the BBQ Combo Plate Special (BBQ Combo) category on the menu. We also chose 4 different appetizers as we were all wanting to have a variety of dishes to try. They are still waiting for their beer/​wine license so instead of the drinks that were supposed to be included in the special, we were able to order the 2^nd stew to try. The meat was fresh and delicious! You definitely have to pay attention while you’re cooking since you don’t wanna overcook the meat. Easy to do while catching up with friends! The appetizers were more than enough for all 8 of us and we were actually pretty full towards the end. The portions were sufficient and at $ 30/​pp (including tax & tip), it’s a decent price for an awesome meal! And really, you are paying for the experience as well. Something you will not get in most restaurants on the Central Coast!
I have to say that if you want a fun experience and want to try something new on the Central Coast, you need to give Kochi’s a try!!! There are so many other options on the menu that are affordable. Those dishes with high prices on the menu may seem scary but are really meant to be shared with a group of people. So keep that in mind. It’s family-​friendly too! They have an awesome little play area just for kids. I will definitely be back with my family to have them check it out too.

I am so glad that this place opened in Atascadero. Honestly, Atascadero may not be deserving of such a large, well decorated and authentic Korean restaurant, but it is wonderful the owners are taking a risk in giving it a try. I see there are mixed reviews, but I sure hope the community supports this establishment as it is a great addition to the downtown Atascadero area and it is the only establishment in the vacant ridden downtown core deserving of «nice dining» status.
For my meal, I ordered the tofu soup. This is one of my favorite Korean dishes and in the larger cities, there are restaurants that specialize in this dish alone. It’s quite a simple dish and hard to screw up, and the restaurant executed it well. The pickled veggies that came with the meal were also just as delicious and authentic. To be honest, it’s not the best I’ve had, but since we’re talking about SLO county, it was A++. Pricing is a little high especially if you are used to cheaper fare out of town, but I think it’s totally fair as this restaurant is a pioneer in this niche market and they haven’t taken shortcuts in bringing this experience to us. We finally have a restaurant in the city that can compete with the finer fare of our neighboring cities and I hope it’s here to stay!

Five of us went there in opening night. We had a huge platter of assorted beef, pork, seafood and veggies. The staff was so helpful showing us how to cook the food at the table as none of us had done that before. We had potsticker apps that were to die for as well. Everyone at our table had a great time and are looking forward to returning.

This place was a COMPLETE waste of time and MONEY!!! You’ve got to be kidding me on the prices. Obviously they did not take in the demographics of the area.
Service was terrible terrible terrible. Yes, I understand they are newly open, but that is no excuse for how rude they were. Approached as if we were a henedrince to them and unwelcome.
The servers, once we tracked them down (all hanging out in the kitchen making themselves iced tea or sodas) had no idea what to do or how to explain anything to us. And when we asked for instructions they hand us a novel of instructions and said «well it’s obviously clearly written right here». Um, ok.
To top it off, their liquor license isn’t ready til sometime in February, so another customer brought it upon himself to bring in his own supply of Coors Light cans. When asked our server about it her response was «oh ya, he brought that from home».
We had 4 different servers and that is only because we had to track them down, ask for help, instructions and refills.
Needless to say, we will never be going back. What a waste of time and money.
I’m just praying we don’t get sick.
I HAD to give it one star because I’m not allowed to give 0.

I enjoyed the food here. I had similar experience in Japan and it was fun trying a variety of food and sharing with my friends, which is the goal is the owner – for the customers to share with those they came with. My group was quite large, we made reservations in advance so we were seated promptly. Service was a bit slow in getting our order and we got our food about an hour or so after we arrived. We were less concerned because we hadn’t seen each other in a while – but we were hungry.
This was the second day that the restaurant was open, so there were kinda for the staff to work out. The owner served us. She said one thing that slowed the staff down was having to teach everyone how to cook their own food correctly.
She explained the menu and gave recommendations. Our table of 8 selected the Lake Park Meal that is recommended for 4+ people ($ 119.99) The owner had recommended the largest dish ($ 199) for us, but we were all woman and decided to get less meat and got four side dishes. The meal comes with one stew and one drink. Because the restaurant did not yet have its beer and wine license, we were able to get a second stew. Our table shared everything and thoroughly enjoyed trying new dishes that we hadn’t had before, especially in Atascadero.
Service was slow and the staff was still learning, as were the customers.
We paid $ 30 each and that included tax and a generous tip.
The coolest part was the kid lounge, which is a separate room that is glassed in (you can see in from parts of the restaurant) and it includes toys and books and has tables for the kids to eat at. We didn’t have children with us, but we all have kids and knew they’d have fun in there.
I recommend trying it, but if you’re a critical person, wait. The owner of this restaurant also owns another restaurant in town, a successful one, so I know it’ll get better, it’s just a different cuisine and experience than our town is used to.
Our group was heavily discussing the pricing before we went because we had heard that it was a $ 36.95/person minimum for dinner. That is not true. Some of the dishes are higher because they are meant to be shared. I liked the mix and matching and passing the dishes around the table. We were all stuffed and happy by the end of the night. Our other table of friends even had leftovers.

I’ve waited so long for this restaurant to open as I love, love, love Korean food. I was so excited when I heard that this restaurant was opening. I will keep this short. My Korean wife cooks the best Korean food I’ve ever had, rather here in the US or in S. Korea. We have been to many, many Korean resturants (US & S. Korea). This is buy far the worst. Way too expensive, small portions and not even any lettuce to wrap the meat with. The smallest side portions I’ve ever seen. For those with no experience with this kind of resturant you may not really understand. However, those who do know Korean BBQ/​Shabu Shabu Will understand what I’m talking about. $ 17.95 for small bowl of Bibimbop!!! Really? $ 14.00 fo a $ 2.00−3.00 bottle of Soju. I buy Makgeolli at the Korean Market for about $ 3.00, here you get much less for $ 17.00…WOW!
This place is a great idea. However, it does not represent traditional Korean BBQ/​Shabu Shabu in a positive manner. Way too expensive, very lacking on the portion size as well as the sides. I have never been to a Korean BBQ that serves macaroni salad as a side dish. I have also have never had to pay extra for refills on side dishes such as Kimchi. When my Korean family visits, we will not be eating here.

Wish I could give more stars but this place was such a disappointment. ESPECIALLY knowing that this restaurant is a sister company to the best sushi restaurant in town, Kai Lana.
For starters, one look at the menu will have you running the other way. Who charges $ 200 for a plate of meat for 6 people? Like really now people. 45 minutes to Santa Maria’s Sizzlin’ Gogi and you pay $ 18/​per person for ALL YOU CAN EAT Korean barbecue. And if you’re from where I’m from (Los Angeles County), you can stuff your face at an AYCE KBBQ for about $ 10/​per person.
Secondly, I think Santa Maria is acknowledged as part of the central coast which means that Kochi IS NOT «Central Coast’s First Korean BBQ».
Continuing on, my mom, sister and I ordered 2 things– brisket and pork belly for about $ 25 – 30 per plate… We were expecting a decent amount of meat but sad to say that it was a poor portion of each «quality meat». In addition to this, their sides served with the entrees are only complementary ONCE– no refills or there will be a charge. Same goes for the small rice bowl.
The service here was okay yet I felt the servers were too descriptive in explaining the concept of it all. All we wanna do is cook the meat and eat– simple as that. As regular KBBQ goers, we didn’t want to seem demanding but had to keep asking for the essentials for Korean BBQ– scissors, the sauces, rice paper (which they didn’t have), etc… A lot of which were not known by the servers. The owners, on the other hand, were trying to accommodate everyone’s needs and I thought were great at their customer service.
I know it’s their first day but Kochi is a rip-​off. It’s lacking in price, quantity, quality and service. Please do yourself a favor and spend your time and money on gas to go to Santa Maria for AYCE KBBQ.

So as the 1^st day that they opened with a HUGE grand opening sign we did not even get past the front of house.
The girls at the front desk were obviously not trained all that well in customer service. The small print on the grand opening sign said to RSVP but when driving past it the past week at 30+ miles per hour that was not that obvious.
We walked in at 5:50pm and the 2 young ladies at the front were stumbling over their words saying that they had open tables but that they were reserved for future reservations later that night and that if we wanted to eat there it would be a couple days before we could do that as long as we made a reservation.
So much for a grand opening!
As we walked to the parking lot there were 2 other parties that walked in right after us and we watched them walk back to their cars. Not a good start in Atascadero.
Hopefully when we are able to get in I will be able to update my review. Time to go to Crazy Sushi Fever.