As you’re walking around this Milpitas Asian restaurant complex, you look around trying to figure out which restaurant has the longest line or looks the busiest (Always a good sign when looking for a good meal, no?) Consider yourself lucky if you happen to be passing by this restaurant when the door opens b/c the scent of the wonderful food inside will tempt you to enter.

The scent that led you inside is that of their signature dish, the hot sizzling platter beef plate. Yes, the beef comes out raw and it cooks on your plate. But, isn’t that how food comes out when you eat at a Korean BBQ? That’s just the nature of their speciality dish. And yes, you definitely have to order an egg with your meal. The idea of an egg cooking on your plate gives allure to the dish. Would you say that corn in a ramen noodle bowl cheapens the dish? No! You know and I know, it adds another dimension to the dish. In all, this is a solid restaurant where you get a delicious and savory meal comprised of sizzling sauced-up beef for a “Mom/Pop” shop price.

I’ve dined here three times and have always been quite satisfied with the food and the price. If I wanted a meal that was more stylishly presented (although, I am happily entertained by the sizzling platter concept), I’d go to a higher-end restaurant, and I would expect to pay a higher-end price. At $10 a meal during lunch (including soup and a drink), what more could you possibly want?

Being my first time here, I decided to order what I assume is their signature dish, the pepper beef over rice. This dish simply consists of a mound of rice surrounded by beef, and sprinkled with corn. Adding corn to a dish just cheapens the look and taste for me. Maybe that’s just me. But anyways, I also added an egg for 50cents.

Shortly after you order, the sizzling plate arrives at your table. The meat is still raw and cooking on the hot iron plate, so it’s probably advisable to wait until the meat is cooked before digging in… unless eating raw beef is your thing. Taste was only mediocre and the whole dish was just unimpressive. Service was minimal as well.

There are plenty of other better dining options in the McCarthy Ranch area.