SOT BBQ
The critics' KBBQ pick — premium cuts up to A5 wagyu grilled on a sot cauldron lid, with kimchi and bean sprouts crisping in the drippings underneath and servers cooking every piece to your temperature. Not AYCE and pricey, but a sampler feeds more people than you'd think, and the banchan refills are free.
- Sampler plates $79–295
- Parking: Medium: tight at dinner when Menya's line builds
- Details checked Oct 2026.
8199 Clairemont Mesa Blvd S1, San Diego, CA 92111
SOT BBQ is a pricier Korean BBQ spot in Kearny Plaza on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in the Convoy District in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. Regulars order the SOT sampler — prime short rib, prime ribeye, pork belly and beef belly; good for 2-3 and the Prime sampler or the Wagyu sampler — each feeds 3-4. Parking is medium.
Parking at Kearny Plaza
Medium- Cost: Free for customers
- Fills up: Fri–Sat 5–8pm · Easiest: weekdays 1–3pm
- Shared with: Menya Ultra
Free Kearny Plaza lot shared with Menya Ultra — tight at dinner when Menya's line builds.
Lot full? Zion Marketplace is rated easy and about a 6-minute walk. It's for that plaza's customers, so pair it with a stop there.
Park once, walk to
- Brother's 3 Mexican Food Mexican · 3 min
- Zion Market Grocery · 6 min
Kearny Plaza guide Every lot on Convoy
Fill times estimated from Google's Popular Times for the spots in this lot. Walk times are estimates.
Lunch special
Weekday lunch is the quiet time, with lunch specials; it closes 2:30-4:30pm Monday to Thursday.
Every happy hour and lunch special on Convoy
Deals change often — confirm with SOT BBQ before you go.
Good to know before you go
Diet & allergies
- The red banchan (kimchi, cucumbers) contain shrimp paste — flag a shellfish allergy
Cost & paying
- A la carte, not AYCE — but one sampler plus banchan usually feeds 3-4; budget about $50-90 a person
- Banchan and rice refill free; extra sides and appetizers are charged, so ask before adding
- 18% gratuity is added for parties of 6 or more, and there's a minimum of 2 meat orders per table
Waits & timing
- Reserve or join the waitlist on Yelp — walk-ins are often seated within 10 minutes, but peak weekend dinner can run 45 minutes
- Weekday lunch is the quiet time, with lunch specials; it closes 2:30-4:30pm Monday to Thursday
- Can be loud and warm on hot days, and the floor gets slippery; Sapporo, Asahi and Suntory on tap, Korean beer (Krush, Terra) by the bottle
Dessert or tea after SOT BBQ
Nothing sweet in the plaza or right next door. Closest option:
- 3CAT Handcrafted Beverage Get: Mochi Mango — the signature; order it less sweet
SOT BBQ vs other Convoy korean bbq
| Spot | Order | Price | Latest close | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOT BBQ | SOT sampler | $$$ | 10pm | Medium |
| SongHak Korean BBQ | Prime Combo #3 | $$ | midnight | Medium |
| Manna BBQ | Brisket and beef belly | $$$ | 11pm | Brutal |
| The Fire Spot | Marinated hand-cut beef | $$$ | 11pm | Brutal |
SOT BBQ: quick answers
What should I order at SOT BBQ?
Regulars order the SOT sampler ($99) — prime short rib, prime ribeye, pork belly and beef belly; good for 2-3, Prime sampler ($149) or the Wagyu sampler ($199) — each feeds 3-4, Cheese fried rice finisher, crisped on the grill with the leftover drippings.
Is parking easy at SOT BBQ?
Parking is rated Medium for this lot at peak times. Free Kearny Plaza lot shared with Menya Ultra — tight at dinner when Menya's line builds.
What should I know before going to SOT BBQ?
A la carte, not AYCE — but one sampler plus banchan usually feeds 3-4; budget about $50-90 a person. Reserve or join the waitlist on Yelp — walk-ins are often seated within 10 minutes, but peak weekend dinner can run 45 minutes. Banchan and rice refill free; extra sides and appetizers are charged, so ask before adding.
Where can I get dessert or boba near SOT BBQ?
The nearest is 3CAT Handcrafted Beverage, 0.3 miles away (about 8 minutes on foot).
Does SOT BBQ have any deals?
Weekday lunch is the quiet time, with lunch specials; it closes 2:30-4:30pm Monday to Thursday.
Does SOT BBQ take reservations?
Reserve or join the waitlist on Yelp; walk-ins are often seated within 10 minutes, but peak weekend dinner can run 45 minutes.
SOT BBQ hours
| Mon | 11:30am–2:30pm, 4:30pm–10pm |
| Tue | 11:30am–2:30pm, 4:30pm–10pm |
| Wed | 11:30am–2:30pm, 4:30pm–10pm |
| Thu | 11:30am–2:30pm, 4:30pm–10pm |
| Fri | 11:30am–10pm |
| Sat | 11:30am–10pm |
| Sun | 11:30am–10pm |
How to find it
Details checked October 2026. Wrong hours, closed, or changed? Report a problem