Palace BBQ Buffet

Cook-at-your-table Korean barbecue on El Camino Real, Palace BBQ Buffet ran a format that put the work — and the smoke — squarely on the diner. Each table came fitted with a grill, and the buffet split into two sides: a hot side for prepared dishes and a raw meat side stocked for grilling. The setup was direct enough that the short ribs drew consistent praise from local diners, alongside a broader spread that included brisket, pork belly, spicy pork, spicy chicken, tripe, squid, and baby octopus. A 1997 review described the room as "palatial" and noted the smoky, convivial atmosphere that came with open-flame dining in an enclosed space. Ventilation was minimal, which meant diners typically left carrying the scent of the meal — a trade-off that regulars of the format will recognize from similar counters across the Bay Area's Korean dining corridors. Dinner was priced at $30 per person as of 2015, positioning it as an accessible option for the all-you-can-grill format rather than a premium destination. The address at 1092 E El Camino Real placed it along a dense commercial strip rather than in any concentrated dining district, which put the draw entirely on the food and format rather than neighborhood foot traffic. For diners already familiar with Korean barbecue buffets, the table-grill structure and broad meat selection were the core proposition — the kind of meal measured in rounds at the grill rather than in courses.

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