Korean barbecue makes the table part of the kitchen: diners choose cuts, grill them at the center and eat with accompanying sides. In Kearny Mesa, two restaurants offer that interaction with different emphases. DJK Korean BBQ (Dae Jang Keum) keeps tabletop grilling alongside soups, seafood and casseroles; Manna BBQ, in Convoy, presents an all-you-can-eat format with meats, seafood and banchan. The practical question is whether the group wants a meal shaped by individual dishes or an outing built around trying several options.
DJK is at 7905 Engineer Rd. Its published official hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Google Maps showed 4.3 stars from 830 reviews on September 28, 2026. Comments reviewed ranged from lunch visits with little wait to mentions of soup, barbecue and atmosphere; opinions were not uniform, a reminder that an overall score is only an initial signal. For diners who do not want to grill throughout the meal, soups and other dishes provide another way through the Korean menu.
Manna is at 4428 Convoy St. Its visit page lists Sunday service from noon to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday until 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 11:30 p.m. The business says its Convoy restaurant opened in 2010. Its all-you-can-eat format follows a different logic: read the current terms and selection before sitting down, especially when dining with children or guests with dietary restrictions. Google Maps showed 4.4 stars from 2,034 reviews; comments highlighted meat variety and sides, while some mentioned service.
Both are part of Kearny Mesa’s dining district, but there is no need to treat them as identical competitors. DJK lets diners build a meal from the menu; Manna offers a format defined by all-you-can-eat service. Reviewing the menu and reserving for the group may do more for the evening than chasing a rating. The stars and review counts come from Google Maps and summarize customer opinions, not an independent inspection.
Explore the profiles: DJK Korean BBQ (Dae Jang Keum) · Manna BBQ
Recommended restaurants
The profiles below explain each restaurant’s cooking and give practical details for planning a visit.
DJK Korean BBQ (Dae Jang Keum) is a restaurant in Kearny Mesa, San Diego, serving korean barbecue and a broader menu that includes soups, seafood and casseroles; table grills are part of the restaurant’s dining format. Google Maps showed 4.3/5 from 830 reviews on September 28, 2026.
Los comentarios combinaban visitas rápidas de almuerzo con menciones a la barbacoa, las sopas y el ambiente; las opiniones eran variadas.
Korean barbecue and a broader menu that includes soups, seafood and casseroles; table grills are part of the restaurant’s dining format.
Manna BBQ is a restaurant in Convoy District, San Diego, serving all-you-can-eat korean barbecue with meat and seafood cooked at the table and banchan sides; the business says its convoy restaurant opened in 2010. Google Maps showed 4.4/5 from 2,034 reviews on September 28, 2026.
Las reseñas mencionaban variedad de carnes y acompañamientos; algunas señalaban problemas de servicio.
All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue with meat and seafood cooked at the table and banchan sides; the business says its Convoy restaurant opened in 2010.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
- DJK Korean BBQ (Dae Jang Keum) — official menu, hours and contact ↗ Primary source djkkoreanbbq.com · Accessed September 28, 2026
- Manna BBQ — official menu, hours and contact ↗ Primary source mannakbbqsd.com · Accessed September 28, 2026
- Google Maps listing — DJK Korean BBQ (Dae Jang Keum) ↗ Community source www.google.com · Accessed September 28, 2026
- Google Maps listing — Manna BBQ ↗ Community source www.google.com · Accessed September 28, 2026