I was a regular at Tacos El Charro for a while…yes they do have an open flame trompo but alas it’s not charcoal or solid fuel.
Yeah, Espetus uses mesquite.
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Popoca.
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Comal in Berkeley. There’s a photo here (have to scroll to see it):
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Two additions to the list!
Mangal Turkish BBQ in Sunnyvale. Pretty chaotic dining room but kebabs were tasty. I’m not sure I’d go back because meat entrees were all $30+ but pretty yummy overall. Kebabs were bouncy in texture kinda like a hot pot meat ball…maybe not that bouncy but they had baking soda texture, especially the adana kebab. I felt like it was a hair undercooked and I don’t know if that’s typical of Turkish kebabs or just this restaurant or maybe I’ve just had kebabs that were cooked to shit my whole life before this and I wouldn’t know a good one from a bad one.
2nd is Kung Fu Mala on Telegraph in Temescal. I thought I was getting sichuan dry pot but it’s actually korean owned and the dry stir fry tasted strongly of sesame oil, garlic, and gochugaru and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I saw on the menu 100% charcoal grilled skewers and you know I had to try em. Just got 1 wing skewer and it was pretty yummy. Maybe 20% too marinated like too seasoned and too sweet but charcoal flavor very prominent..reminded me of backyard bbq taste with burnt wings and costco teriyaki marinade.
Not pictured here but I went to a pollo asado stand in South SF and it was okay but as I was paying I saw 4 cases of chicken just out and no space for cold storage and don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to eat street stand food with questionable hygiene but cmon…4x 40lb cases of chicken that have been just sitting out since probably early in the AM….naw man. I took a couple bites and 86’d the rest. It was okay, underseasoned…not worth a recommendation.
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Has anyone ever got the burger or a steak at Original Joe’s (north beach or westlake)? I always end up getting the veal marsala with mash these days since I loathe making something like that at home and it always hits but I’ve come so close to ordering a mesquite grilled steak or burger…is it worth? Maybe I’ll get it next time and split it with the wifey.
They are just dry-aging them 
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Adding another to this list:
Uzbegim in the Outer Richmond. New-ish Uzbek restaurant on Geary. I was walkin around the other day and I smelled that signature smokey manure scent of mesquite coal being lit. Went in the restaurant and they confirmed they were grillin out back. Grabbed some kebabs and plov on Friday and they were pretty decent. I had the plov when their sister restaurant Sofiya was Haladastarkhan and it was very tasty but this version was a little lackin. Kebabs were smokey and tender…hit the spot for charcoal grilled meat; tasted like Mazra in the San Bruno days. They were out of the lula kebab so I’m looking forward to going back to try that one.
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Korean Spring BBQ in Santa Clara
korean charcoal bbq..a little pricey. Me and a buddy got 2 meats, 1 pajeon, and 1 cold noodle and total tax and tip came out to $95/pp but so worth it for a charcoal bbq splurge meal. The vents they have over each table are super powerful so the smoke doesn’t really waft everywhere in the dining room. There’s a faint smell of mesquite and carbon monoxide throughout the building but I’m so here for that.
Banchan was acceptable, not bad not great. Pajeon was decent and didn’t take forever to come out. Samgyeopsal was insanely good..they precooked it in the back on the plancha and then finished it on the charcoal but damn it really hit the spot. Their dipping sauces were all perfectly seasoned and tasty. Doenjang jigae included with meat purchase and it was well seasoned and tasty.
For a charcoal kbbq experience, can’t recommend this place enough. It’s only got 3.8 on yelp but screw em. Those youngins don’t know jack.
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That seems inexpensive to average for Korean barbecue these days. What was your other meat?
Brisket.