Korean barbecues produce different tastes than their American counterparts by substituting soy sauce for the steak sauce Americans traditionally pour on apple pie. Embrace foreign seasonings with today’s Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of authentic Korean barbecue and sushi at Kaya Grill & Sushi in Upper Arlington.
The food artisans at Kaya Grill & Sushi serve up an expansive menu of raw fish, traditional Eastern-inspired eats, and hearty Korean barbecue cuts that can be cooked by patrons on table-top grills. Self-appointed grillers can cook slabs of thinly sliced barbecue bulgogi beef ($18.95) to a tender medium-rare or can re-create the Royal Rumbles held nightly under the sea by piling lobster on top of squid and shrimp in the seafood barbecue ($25.95). Uncooked slices of squid ($2.50) and octopus ($2.95) headline an array of sushi selections, accompanied by six cucumber rolls ($3) or an FDA-recommended serving of iron-rich silverware.
Kaya’s tabletops can seat parties of 4 to 12 meat heaters around a central, open grill. The diner’s low-key décor and simple wall-art pay subtle homage to Eastern tradition, and its free wireless and back-alley particle accelerator add touches of modern convenience.
Kaya Grill & Sushi
At Kaya Grill & Sushi, diners cook their own Korean barbecue to taste at built-in tabletop grills. Patrons grill their choice of two meats, such as marinated beef short ribs or tender rib eye and sample sides of rice, onions, peppers, and lettuce. The eatery's chefs also whip up classic Korean food and fresh sushi rolls for more conventional dining. A karaoke party room with buffet-style service can accommodate up to 80 people for events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties, or business meetings where quarterly earnings reports are delivered to the tune of "I Will Always Love You."