Brian Nagele
Korean BBQ is a popular dining experience across the country. New restaurants continue to pop up, offering the chance to cook your own dinner with your friends using traditional Korean techniques.
Which are the best to stop by with all of these new restaurants?
Luckily, I’ve composed a list of the most popular Korean BBQ spots around Boston for you to use the next time you’re making dinner reservations.
Check out my list of the best Korean BBQ in Boston below!
Buk Kyung Korean Restaurant
9a Union Square, Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-623-7220
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This Korean-Chinese fusion restaurant is located smack-dab in the middle of Union Square. You can find it nestled between Mama Gina’s Pizzeria and Urban Axes, an ax throwing center.
Across Somerville Ave is the Union Square Farmers Market, making Buk Kyung a perfect lunch spot after browsing the market on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Their main house specialties are tangsooyuk, pork battered and deep-fried with sweet and sour sauce, and ganpoongi, boneless chicken slices cooked similarly.
However, one of their most popular dishes is their jajangmyeon, or black bean noodles. I love this dish because it is savory and subtly sweet, although it’s more Korean-Chinese than straight Korean-inspired.
Coreanos Allston
172 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134
Phone: 617-208-8822
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This hidden gem located a few blocks from the Boston Landing T stop offers everything from traditional Korean meals to Korean-Mexican fusion dishes.
Their location can be easy to miss as it sits next to the Brighton Music Hall and Sabor do Brasil, a Brazilian restaurant.
Guests can eat in-house at their high-top bars or order for pickup/delivery to enjoy at home. Their biggest hits are the kimchi quesadilla and chicken poppers, with the coreanos bowl close behind.
Frequent customers praise their perfect portion sizes and prices. Boston locals often recommend this Korean fusion restaurant to families and friends.
My favorite dish is the vegetable dumplings, washed down with a side of the Vietnamese cold brew iced coffee!
Korean Garden
122 Harvard Ave, Boston, MA 02134
Phone: 617-562-8989
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If you’re looking for a casual and family-friendly Korean restaurant, look no further than Korean Garden. They’re easily found on the corner of Brighton and Harvard Avenues just south of I-90.
You’ll discover Stage Karaoke Studios up the street, so this restaurant is an excellent choice for a fun night out.
The largest-selling point of Korean Garden is the Korean BBQ experience, where guests can cook their meat at their table using a personal grill.
The extensive menu offers around eight types of meat to cook, from pork belly to shrimp. The restaurant also offers traditional Korean dishes like naengmyeon (cold noodles), bibimbap, and tukbokki.
Koreana
158 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-576-8661
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Located just under a mile east of the Harvard Art Museums, Koreana is a popular hotpot dinner destination for locals.
If you’re interested in eating here, I recommend making a reservation, especially for a Friday or Saturday night.
Heads up, they only seat complete parties, so ensure your whole group is on time for your reservation to avoid waiting any longer than necessary.
Two dishes I love are bulgogi and galbi, both of which can be ordered for a self-serve barbecue table.
One order of each and an additional side dish is typically enough food to feed a party of three, making the value reasonably cost-effective.
If you’re new to the Korean BBQ experience, the servers are available to help cook and serve dishes should you need them.
Koy
16 North St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 857-991-1483
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Koy is an eclectic restaurant and bar that offers a more upscale vibe when compared to most of the restaurants on this list.
This spot is a great place to check out for visitors staying in Boston for the first time. It’s located right across North Street from Faneuil Hall, a popular tourist attraction for all visitors.
I am always impressed by the quality of the food at Koy. The flavors are exquisite and I always find the time to try something new.
Some of their most popular dishes include cheesesteak dumplings, hot stone bibimbap, and kimchi fried rice.
Overall, Koy creates a blend of old-world Korean cuisine and international flavors.
Seoul Soulongtang
1245 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134
Phone: 617-505-6771
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Seoul Soulongtang specializes in serving Korean beef soup, or Seolleongtang. They are located only a few blocks west of the Harvard Avenue T stop between The Avenue Bar Allston and NextGen.
This restaurant offers a homey and comfortable environment that makes anyone visiting feel welcome. Their main dish, Seollongtang, is a Korean broth soup made from ox bones with thinly sliced brisket.
You can add various seasonings depending on your taste preferences. Besides Seolleongtang, this restaurant also serves many other traditional Korean dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap.
Jongro BBQ
1414 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02134
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Sitting between the Warren Street and Allston Street T stops is Jongro BBQ. This restaurant offers an authentic Korean barbeque experience with a full menu of meat and vegetables to cook at your table.
Patrons have noted that Jongro BBQ is the place for visitors wanting an actual Korean restaurant experience.
This restaurant adds charcoal to their table grills, enhancing the flavor of each dish cooked on it. Their seemingly-never ending menu has plenty of variety to satisfy any customer.
The quality of their meat is fantastic and so is the service that comes with it. I find the staff here are attentive and helpful throughout the meal.
Cho Cho’s
1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
Phone: 617-868-4246
Cho Cho’s is located a block from Porter Square in the Lesley University Food Court. They offer sophisticated Korean dishes and a blend of other Asian cuisines in their cozy restaurant.
All of their dishes are home-cooked with sauces prepared in-house daily. Cho Cho’s even offers a variety of seafood to try as well.
Their most popular dish is their Soon Tofu Stew. However, the things I love most are their kimchi pancakes and bibimbap.
The owner, Eunmi, has mentioned that she prepares each ingredient the way she enjoys it most and hopes guests enjoy it the same.
Bab Korean Bistro
1374 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: 617-383-5575
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If you’re looking for a Korean restaurant that does it all, check out Bab Korean Bistro. This business offers an extensive menu as well as catering for events.
If you choose to dine in, the restaurant provides a casual dining experience with plenty of meal variety. The name “bab” comes from the phonetic translation of a Korean meal: A prepared bowl of cooked rice.
Their barbeque menu includes various bulgogi, pork belly, and short ribs. Otherwise, they have everything from stir-fry to hot pot.
The rice cakes are famous to visitors, mainly fried and spicy rice cakes.
Boston offers plenty of hidden gems when it comes to Korean BBQ spots. Whether you’re interested in various meals or one specific cuisine, odds are you’ll find it in the city.
Korean BBQ has become exceedingly popular over the past few years, and for a good reason. There’s no experience like cooking your own meal right at the dinner table! Boston also has fantastic Mexican spots around town if that’s more your style!
Did I leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave a comment, and I’ll check it out!
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 5 credible sites and blogs, including Timeout.com and Bostonmagazine.com.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 5 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.
https://www.timeout.com/boston/restaurants/best-korean-restaurants-in-boston
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/best-korean-bbq-boston/
https://bostonuncovered.com/korean-restaurants-boston/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60745-c10661-Boston_Massachusetts.html
https://bostonvisiting.com/type-of-cuisine/bostons-best-korean-bbq-restaurants-a-guide
