Welcome to Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ
At Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ, our story is rooted in a passion for delivering authentic Korean cuisine with a modern twist. Located in Mesa, Arizona, we aim to create a vibrant and inviting atmosphere for both seasoned K-BBQ lovers and newcomers. Our menu features generous portion sizes of premium meats and delightful banchan, ensuring every guest leaves satisfied. We pride ourselves on attentive service and the ability to accommodate food allergies, making dining here a personalized experience. Embrace the fusion of flavors, community, and warmth as you gather with friends and family around our grills. Your journey into Korean BBQ bliss begins here!
- 1919 S Gilbert Rd Mesa, AZ 85204 United States Hotline: (602) 851-1877
Welcome to Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ, a vibrant and trendy restaurant located at 1919 S Gilbert Rd in Mesa, AZ. This establishment offers a unique twist on traditional Korean BBQ, steering clear of the all-you-can-eat model and focusing instead on quality dishes served in generous portions. The menu here balances innovation with classic flavors, setting a new standard for dining in the area.
Smoking Tiger is known for its friendly atmosphere and attentive service. Diners rave about the remarkably fresh meats, including brisket, short ribs, and pork belly, which are highlights of the combo platters. Be sure to try the Combo C, a hearty selection that features a mouthwatering array of proteins such as shrimp and bulgogi, complemented by an assortment of delicious sides known as banchan.
Here are a few reasons why Smoking Tiger stands out among its competitors:
- Quality Over Quantity: Unlike typical KBBQ spots, Smoking Tiger does not offer an all-you-can-eat option. Instead, they provide substantial portions at a reasonable price, making every bite worthwhile.
- Accommodating Staff: Reviewers frequently highlight the exceptional service, noting that the staff is approachable and attentive, eager to assist even those new to the Korean BBQ experience.
- Vibrant Atmosphere: The ambiance in Smoking Tiger is lively, perfect for groups and families, yet casual enough for a relaxing dinner. The restaurant features options for outdoor seating, making it an inviting place to dine during pleasant weather.
- Thoughtful Menu Options: In addition to keto-friendly choices, they offer a range of catering services, making it easier to enjoy their delicious food at events.
- Kid-Friendly: Families appreciate the straightforward pricing that helps them avoid overspending, especially beneficial when dining with young children.
The sensation of grilling your meat to perfection, paired with delightful sides like crispy seafood pancakes and tasty cheese corn, creates not just a meal, but an engaging dining experience. Diners like Kristen T. have shared how the restaurant’s thoughtful approach to food allergies and modifications made their experience feel safe and enjoyable.
Your culinary journey at Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ promises unforgettable tastes, great service, and ample parking space, making it a magnificent choice for your next dinner outing. Whether you're planning a group celebration or an intimate dinner, this place is more than worth checking out!
If you're in the area, be sure to call ahead at (602) 851-1877 and snag a reservation to enjoy all of the excitement that this fantastic Korean steakhouse has to offer!

The food is great, staff is attentive, massive amount of food, super tasty seafood omelette.

If you don't need all-you-can-eat (it's NOT an option here) and you're looking for a KBBQ spot that delivers on quality, this is the place! The combo portions are generous enough that no one is leaving hungry, and the unlimited cold sides are delicious. We got seconds/thirds of everything. The staff were so accommodating to my food allergies, making thoughtful modifications and checking in to ensure everything was safe for me. And let's talk about the meats! I had to pass on marinades because of my allergies, but all of the meats were so fresh and flavorful that they didn't need anything else. Highly recommend!

The food is great, the service is second to none. We love this place. The servers are amazing and can help you with everything.

A huge shoutout the one of the servers Liz! She made the dining experience 10x better and made it easy to jump into it when it was me and my girlfriends first time there. The food here is spectacular and the servers are more than happy to get you started. The ambience in the restaurant is very fun and lively as well! Would recommend any time and it is worth every one!

We've been to several AYCE KBBQ spots and while many of them are great, when you're with a family with kids with tiny stomachs, having a set price for what you know is enough to get your money's worth, the menu set up here is perfect. Keeps you on budget and doesn't cause the rest of the party to "overeat" to justify the cost. When we go to AYCE, now that our kids are all over 10yrs old, the cost is close to double what we pay at Smoking Tiger, so for our sake, the price is great... not to mention the food is pretty premium and all delicious. Want more? Order 1 or 2 ala carte, otherwise no waste here and everyone's happy. The restaurant is clean and a great size to accommodate the demand with not too much of a wait whenever we go there. Service is awesome, but can sometimes be slow if it's packed, but what can you do? Lots of parking, lots of drink options, and the kimchi is always on point!

Great bang for your buck with substantial portions and meat quality that matches the price point. The cuts were fresh and satisfying, making it easy to enjoy a hearty feast without breaking the bank. The banchan were decent overall, but the pickled veggies and cheese corn were definite standouts--simple yet packed with flavor. As for the name, there were no smoking tigers to be found, but the food more than made up for it

We love Korean BBQ and have tried almost every spot in Arizona. This time, we decided to check out Smoking Tiger Korean BBQ, and it didn't disappoint! We got there around 6:30 pm on a Friday night, and luckily, we didn't have to wait for a table. By 7:00 pm, the place was packed, with people waiting at the door. Definitely glad we arrived early! The staff was super helpful and attentive, and the vibe reminded us of Korean BBQ spots in California. We ordered the large Combo C, which was perfect--it had a little bit of everything, so we got to try it all. The food came out quickly, looked super fresh, and was nicely presented. Everything was delicious, and we were stuffed by the end but managed to finish it all. It's a bit of a drive for us, but we'll definitely come back when we're in the area. If you're into Korean BBQ, this spot is worth checking out!

I really liked Smoking Tiger and can't wait to go back! I'd say this is one of the better Korean BBQ restaurants in the area. It might be a little more expensive but it felt open (not crowded like some spots), clean, and the food quality was great. I went with two girl friends and we shared an appetizer and the Combo C platter with soup and rice on the side. This was more than enough food for all of us! The seafood pancake was one of the best that I've had, including ones from South Korea! It was really crispy and had a good ratio of fillings. I am not normally a fan of Korean chili flavor, but I also really enjoyed the beef soon tofu soup. It had great flavor and a bit of a kick. For proteins, if you're looking to try a bit of everything, Combo C was the way to go. Each of us got at least a few bites of brisket, Kalbi, pork belly, shrimp and ribeye; I liked all of these pretty equally! Again, with all the Bonchon, sides and our appetizer, I was full after this!

First time trying this korean bbq spot. Its not your normal all you can eat. I love that the staff was friendly and the restaurant was clean and the plus side the floors were not slippery. The meat quality was excellent. You can order different meat combos and add other meats. I really enjoyed everything the ribeye, beef tongue and the seafood pancake. I would definitely recommend only ordering the small portion if you have two people. It was more than enough food. I also love that you can cook your leftover meats and pack it to go! I will definitely be back!!

I absolutely love this place. The staff here is beyond friendly. Every time we come we are greeted warmly. They always offer a little tutorial if you are a Korean BBQ novice. There are plenty of tables for two, so this is perfect for a date night. Our go-to is the Combo C (brisket, short rib, shrimp, bulgogi, pork belly). You will get meat wasted. All combos come with soup, eggs, and a delightful dish of cheese and corn, plus plenty of banchan. They offer a waitlist online, I love that you can check out how busy it is before heading over. We definitely try to go on weeknights at an off time, it can certainly get busy on the weekends.