Zaya 1943 Korean Steakhouse

Reviews

• AH

  Alex Huffman

  Oct 14, 2025
  5.0
  The whole restaurant is an experience with a great vibe. As guests from Birmingham AL, we went in unsure of just about everything. Everyone there is very well trained, and overall great at their jobs and made for a great occasion. We were lucky enough to have Jacklyn that evening, and she knocked it out of the park. She explained how the menu works, cooked everything to perfection, and an overall great addition to our table. Highly recommend anyone check this out.
• SS

  Sraa

  Oct 13, 2025
  2.0
  We have been to Zaya's 3 times within the last year. The 1st time-It was the most incredible experience and we've been wanting to return ever since. The 2nd & 3rd time-Disappointing & we won't return. After our disappointing 2nd experience,we contacted Zaya's.We thought that maybe the server was having a rough night or needed more training.We didn't expect anything out of it,we simply wanted them to be aware of the experience. Shawn from Zaya contacted us & expressed that this wasn't the kind of food or service they strive to provide. He wanted to make it right & regain our trust.He offered us a complementary meal. We decided to give them another chance & made a reservation a few weeks later. Shawn responded-he had made a note of our reservation, "they will be fully prepared to provide the high end Butcher's Feast & service you deserve". The hostess, waitress, & helper repeatedly asked if we had been there before. Once again, it went downhill fast. We waited 10 minutes for forks. Our waitress only noticed when she came by to ask how the food was. The helper cooked the first half of the food & the waitress cooked the 2nd half of the food. The waitress cooked everything perfectly, but the helper served us burnt food. The brussel sprouts, asparagus, and onions were burnt and raw. The lamb was burnt and had a bitter/charcoal taste to it. The waitress was preoccupied. Constantly distracted by her headset and looking around. It didn't feel like we had her full attention or were able to have a conversation with her. The helper mentioned that locals usually don't return. They eat there once, then never return. He was surprised that this was our 3rd visit. (Now we know why, the food isn't great). When we made the reservation we said that it was for a birthday. The helper asked us why we were there and we told him a birthday celebration (2 birthdays weeks apart), but unlike the previous time we got no birthday dessert (not that we care, but why different this time? Why the inconsistencies in service?) After we finished our meal, we asked for Shawn. (1.5 hours after arrival). He dashed up to see us. He was surprised that we were there (he had no idea that we in the restaurant). We pointed out all the burnt food and asked if this was normal. He was shocked. Said that he would talk to his staff (again), and next time we come, he will personally cook for us. We appreciate the sentiment, but we're had burnt food there now twice. This is a pattern that clearly isn't being dealt with. Our 2nd time experience is below - We had dinner at your restaurant to celebrate a 40th birthday. At the start, everything was good. It went downhill quickly. We had the Butcher's Feast (Delmonico steak, Australian prawns, Dry-aged 6o day ribeye, and Dry-aged 6o day NY strip). We got soda. The refills never arrived. We had to remind our server that we were waiting for our refills. We requested our steak to be medium. When our server started cooking, the grill wasn't hot enough. All the steaks came out well done (we requested medium). The steaks weren't seasoned. The ribeye was chewy, and the fat cap wasn't rendered. Our server made the grill hotter. It was now too hot. All of the vegetables were burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. They were inedible. Seasoning was lacking. The prawns were overcooked and chewy. Because it was a birthday, he offered us a free dessert (tiramisu or cheesecake). We selected the cheesecake. He repeatedly asked what dessert we wanted, even though we repeatedly told him. When the cheesecake arrived, he didn't tell us what kind of cheesecake it was (looked like chocolate or something with chocolate in it). We asked what was in the chocolate syrup, he told us. He wasn't concerned as to why we asked or why only 1 of us was eating the cheesecake. During the process, the server didn't explain what we were eating or what he was doing. He was very introverted, withdrawn, and lacked confidence. It appeared that he was new at this. All in all, it wasn't a great experience, and we are reluctant to return.
• QQ

  Queen

  Oct 13, 2025
  4.0
  First time trying this establishment and although I was excited to finally get to Zaya, I was a bit displeased. Upon arrival (with no reservation) we were seated at the bar. McKinley was our bartender and she was on point until things got super busy for her. The beast feast was good! Jalapeño poppers were the best thing going. We ordered the spicy pork but couldn’t bite apart the cabbage. We ask for seconds on the sides that never came and McKinley forgot our prawn so we had to take it off and it was charred. She did offer another over and over. With it being a busy Saturday protocol should allow the bar to get help. We had to wait a while to get the rest of our meat then we ended up with a burnt prawn. I absolutely love the plant wall and floral steps. My drink was yummy!! If we do return we will definitely make a reservation. They were nice to remove the cabbage roll since we couldn’t eat it.
• CC

  Cheri

  Oct 12, 2025
  5.0
  Wow! So glad I stumbled upon this Korean restaurant. I love Korean food anyway, but this is the best Bulgogi bibimbop I have ever had. Our server, Caden, was knowledgeable and very friendly and attentive. i’ll ask for him again when I go back. The amount of food was enough for two meals for me. Very nice, calm atmosphere. From the bar I had THE KOREAN ROSE: Vodka | Orange Liqueur | Subrosa (hibiscus liqueur) | Hibiscus syrup | Lime, and included a candied hibiscus flower floating in the liquid. That was amazing! My friend had a “lunchbox” with Bulgogi beef, rice, and various additions. She had never had Korean food, and she absolutely loved it. She wasn’t going to order an alcoholic beverage, but tasted my cocktail and ordered her own because it was so delicious. This has instantly become a favorite.
• BG

  Bianka Guzman

  Oct 11, 2025
  5.0
  Our recent visit to Zaya Korean Steakhouse was exceptional, thanks to our amazing server, Emerson. From start to finish, he made our dining experience unforgettable. Emerson was incredibly knowledgeable about all the different cuts of meat and helped us make the perfect selections for our table of four. We each requested our meats cooked to three different temperatures — not an easy task — and he absolutely delivered! Everything came out perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Beyond his expertise, Emerson was a delight to converse with. He answered all of our questions with patience and enthusiasm, and we really enjoyed hearing about his journey with the restaurant. His professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail elevated the entire experience. If you’re visiting Zaya, ask for Emerson!