Founded in 1992 in Royal Oak, Michigan, BD’s Mongolian Grill has 37 locations throughout the Midwest, serving up custom-made Asian-themed dishes in a manner commonly called “Mongolian Barbecue.” In spite of the name, the cuisine, Mongolian Barbecue is neither Mongolian nor barbecued; the dish is actually Thai. Contrary to the nonsense you’ve heard about ancient soldiers and swords and things…this is just a recent technique. BD’s is a very classy place with a lot of options and a sports bar-type place on the side for good measure.
Basically, Mongolian barbecue is a build-your-own Asian dish. You walk through a buffet and pick from a variety of raw meats and vegetables. Then you fill a little cup with the sauces of your choice and some herbs and spices, and then you watch the show as staff cook it on a very large stone grill. It’s a show like Japanese teppenyaki, and at the end you find you’ve got a custom-built dish with just about anything you’d like. It’s hard not to go wrong when you’ve completely customized your meal.
The selection of meats and vegetables is outstanding; meats of just about every kind are available. Some are beef, others are chicken, and also on the menu are shrimp, crab, calamari, and duck. There are also a huge variety of vegetables, from common onions and carrots to very distinctly ethnic items, like lychees. To top these off, there are a huge number of sauces of all kinds. Sweet barbecue, tangy teriyaki, and a variety of very spicy sauces are on the menu and I liked everything I tried. It’s even better how well many of these sauces mix together; adding a little here and there will basically ensure you can eat a radically different dish every time you come through. There are literally millions of combinations, and you can add any amount of any ingredient to your bowl.
Service is nice; a concept like this is different and hard for people to get used to, since there is a server but she doesn’t actually serve you, and figuring out the buffet line can be a headache. Fortunately the people are very helpful in this regard, and the business is well organized to help people figure out how things work.
I would highly recommend coming to this place for two things: lunch and sports. Lunch prices are very cheap and you get the same things for less. The bar is also very friendly and I would say sporting events should bring you in because the happy hour offers $1.00 drafts, a very attractive prospect. One way or another, BD’s Mongolian Grill is definitely a place to try.
Recommendations
- This is a build-your-own meal type place, so it’s ideal for lots of indecisive types.
- It’s also very accommodating to vegetarians because of the variety of new items they can try.
- I would suggest coming in for lunch when prices are cheaper.
Another Food Critic 
The best way of appreciate another culture other than yours to immerse yourself with their lifestyle and most of all, have a taste of the country’s cuisine. Even though I am a Canadian I can honestly say that I love Mongolian BBQ. Yummm… 🙂
Yes, it is definitely affordable, delicious, and fun to eat…I’ve always been curious about Mongolian BBQ- looks delicious.