10 Butchers Korean BBQ is an upscale Korean barbecue restaurant located at 595 East El Camino Real in Sunnyvale, California, right along the South Bay’s historic Korean dining corridor. Known for bringing Seoul-style tableside grilling and farm-to-table meat sourcing to Silicon Valley, the restaurant focuses on wet-aged USDA Prime beef, American Wagyu, and heritage Kurobuta pork rather than all-you-can-eat buffets. Travelers, tech professionals, and families visit for attentive server-managed grilling, house-made banchan, and traditional Korean stews and rice dishes served in a sleek wood-and-stone dining room with an enclosed patio.
What to Expect at 10 Butchers Korean BBQ
Unlike self-service barbecue spots, 10 Butchers Korean BBQ assigns trained servers to manage the built-in smokeless tabletop grills, monitoring surface temperatures with digital infrared thermometers to sear each cut properly. Diners frequently begin with multi-cut butcher sets—such as the Beef Combo or Pork Combo—which pair marbled prime ribeye, boneless short rib (kkotsal), and thinly sliced brisket (chadolbagi) with house dipping sauces, coarse sea salt, and fresh perilla leaves and lettuce wraps. Every grill order comes accompanied by a rotating spread of seasonal banchan, including crisp cabbage kimchi, pickled radish, marinated bean sprouts, fish cakes, and mashed sweet potato salad, alongside a complimentary hot stone pot of fluffy steamed egg (gyeranjjim) and savory soybean paste stew (doenjang jjigae).
Beyond the smokeless grills, the kitchen turns out refined Korean comfort dishes and sharable plates suited for both midday lunches and evening gatherings. Guests can order Beef Tartare (yukhoe) topped with Asian pear and raw egg yolk, crispy seafood scallion pancakes (haemul pajeon), or spicy soft tofu stew (soondubu jjigae). Cold buckwheat noodles (mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon) are a traditional palate cleanser after rich grilled meats. The beverage menu complements the smoky cuts with Korean soju, unfiltered makgeolli rice wine, Asian craft beers, and a curated selection of California cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir.
- USDA Prime & Wagyu Butcher Sets: Curated combination platters featuring wet-aged prime ribeye, marinated galbi short ribs, beef tongue, and American Wagyu cuts grilled tableside by staff.
- Heritage Kurobuta Pork Belly & Jowl: Thick-cut samgyeopsal (pork belly) and항정살 (hangjungsal, pork jowl) seared until crisp on the edges and served with ssamjang and garlic slices.
- Tableside Thermometer-Monitored Grilling: Staff check grill plates for optimal heat before searing meats, allowing diners to relax without worrying about overcooking expensive cuts.
- House-Made Banchan & Steamed Egg: Refillable Korean side dishes crafted in-house daily, served alongside bubbling earthenware pots of steamed egg and fermented soybean stew.
- Weekday Lunch Specials & Naengmyeon: Focused midday sets pairing marinated bulgogi, galbi, or spicy pork with rice, soup, and banchan, plus icy buckwheat noodle bowls.
10 Butchers Korean BBQ at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 595 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 |
| Neighborhood / Area | El Camino Real Corridor / Central Sunnyvale |
| Operating Hours | Mon–Thu: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Fri: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Sat: 11:30 AM–10:00 PM; Sun: 11:30 AM–9:00 PM |
| Admission / Price Range | $$$ (À la carte cuts $32–$75; combo platters $115–$220) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | VTA Bus Rapid 522 & Route 22 at El Camino & Fair Oaks; free on-site surface lot |
| Official Website & Phone | 10butchers.net | +1 408-720-8889 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Because 10 Butchers Korean BBQ is one of the busiest upscale dining rooms in Sunnyvale, securing an advance reservation online or by phone at 10butchers.net is strongly recommended, especially for Friday through Sunday dinners and corporate weekday lunches. Walk-in guests have the best luck arriving right at the 11:30 AM lunch opening or the 5:00 PM dinner seating. The restaurant occupies a standalone building along East El Camino Real (State Route 82) near South Fair Oaks Avenue with its own dedicated free surface parking lot, though spaces fill quickly during peak evening hours. Travelers relying on public transit can ride the VTA Route 22 or Rapid 522 bus along El Camino Real, which stops within a two-minute walk of the entrance, or take Caltrain to the Sunnyvale Station about 1.3 miles northwest.
The single-level restaurant features a step-free main entrance, wide aisles between booth tables, accessible restrooms, and an enclosed patio area that accommodates wheelchairs and strollers comfortably. Down-draft exhaust vents built directly into the tables keep smoke and lingering barbecue odors to a minimum compared to older ceiling-hood venues. Before or after your meal, you can walk 10 minutes north to Las Palmas Park, a 24-acre Sunnyvale city park featuring Polynesia-inspired palm groves, walking paths, and a scenic pond, or head five minutes northwest to Historic Murphy Avenue in Downtown Sunnyvale for evening craft cocktails and dessert cafes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours of operation at 10 Butchers Korean BBQ?
10 Butchers Korean BBQ is open Monday through Thursday for lunch from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and for dinner from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. On Fridays, dinner hours extend until 10:00 PM, while weekend service runs continuously without a midday break on Saturdays from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM.
Is 10 Butchers Korean BBQ all-you-can-eat or à la carte?
10 Butchers operates strictly as an à la carte and combination-platter restaurant rather than an all-you-can-eat buffet, prioritizing high-grade USDA Prime beef, American Wagyu, and heritage pork. Individual meat cuts generally range from $32 to $75, while multi-cut butcher platters designed for two to four diners range from roughly $115 to $220.
How much time should I budget for a meal at 10 Butchers?
Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours for a full tableside barbecue dinner so servers can pace the grilling of raw and marinated cuts alongside stews and noodle courses. Weekday lunch sets are faster and typically take 45 to 60 minutes.
Is 10 Butchers accessible and suitable for families or groups?
Yes, the restaurant offers step-free ground-floor access, accessible parking spaces in its private lot, and spacious booth and patio tables well suited for families and groups. Because servers handle the hot tabletop grills directly, parents dining with children have an easier experience than at self-grill barbecue restaurants.
When planning your Sunnyvale travel guide or browsing verified restaurants in Sunnyvale, pair this stop with standout local spots including The Grand Hotel, Lakewood Park, Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale, and AC Hotel Sunnyvale Cupertino (nearby).
