No matter the occasion, the one thing that brings humans together is food. Cast Iron Pot, located at 157-26 Northern Blvd, is popular among Queens residents. It is a Korean BBQ with high-quality food. Due to their popularity, they get a lot of customers at dinner time.
So much so that they recommend you get on their online-waitlist 30 minutes before getting there. If your group is greater than 6 people, you’ll need a reservation, which is accepted between 11 am to 5 pm. Reservations are especially important for the weekend to ensure that your visit goes smoothly.
Monday to Friday, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, the price for lunch is $24.95, and from 3 pm to 1 am (closing time), the price for dinner is $39.95. Once inside, you are greeted by the most pleasant aroma of food, which makes your mouth water, only through thinking of all the different possibilities of food you can order.
It can get a little loud because of the TV screens around the dining area that often play all types of K-pop. It is spacious, but their seats have storage where you can put your belongings, so you do not put them directly on the floor. It is a bit hot, but only because the iron grills are on. Finally, don’t worry — it is not overwhelming.
You’re given a side of kimchi, paper-thin radish slices, and sauces. Now for the food, I was ready with an empty stomach for the all-you-can-eat. First, once seated, the server is ready to take your order and bring you a sort of appetizer of your choice. For the appetizers, we ordered the beef thin brisket and spicy rice cake. The server turned on the stove and quickly placed pieces of broccoli, mushrooms, and onions to grill.
The rice cake was already on our table in less than 5 minutes. The taste was subtle, and the heat was accompanied by a savory flavor, and it’s an explosion of bold flavors. The service was fast and, by that point, our beef was already on the grill. We also ordered two small bowls of white rice to accompany the food. The beef was cooked well, juicy, savory, and overall satisfying. The thin beef brisket provides a truly satisfying experience leaving us content.
The server asked us what our next meat was, and the most appetizing option was the spicy chicken. Our server moved the beef to our side so he could start grilling the chicken. The chicken took more time than the beef, so we ordered some drinks. When the chicken was ready, I was surprised to taste how spicy it was.
Again, the chicken was juicy, hot, flavorful, and mouth watering from the whiff to the last bite. The orange-spiced chicken leaves you craving more. We repeated the thin beef brisket and spicy chicken because the taste and glaze are a harmony of flavors.
I felt like Remy from “Ratatouille,” when he was eating the cheese and strawberry — and the color swirls can be observed in the background as he’s visualizing its taste. That’s how lucious the food was, and I left satisfied, with a smile. It is the evidence of the pleasure delivered from the enjoyable meal.
Overall, Cast Iron Pot is a culinary gem — a bit expensive but proves worthy. The service is exceptional, fast, and clean, and the diverse menu with a range of options makes this place unique. Plus, the staff’s friendliness and attentiveness only contributes to the atmosphere.
A delightful touch is the restaurant’s sense of humor in their offer. As it states: “A free BBQ for centenarians, and a 50% discount for those over 90 years old,” which is a laughable gesture when you enter the restaurant. It is a destination for more than just a meal — a true fun and welcoming time.
