Brian Nagele
Korean restaurants often offer a variety of different dine-in experiences. Some offer fusion foods; some offer DIY Korean BBQ combos.
Depending on what you’re in the mood for, it can be hard to decide where to eat. If you live in Detroit, you may already know of some top Korean restaurants in the area.
However, our list may contain some unknown gems for you.
For anyone new to the Michigan area or visiting, I’ve compiled a list of some of the top Korean BBQ restaurants in Detroit for you to check out.
Wasabi Korean & Japanese Restaurant
15 E Kirby St, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: 313-638-1272
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As this restaurant’s name suggests, Wasabi Korean & Japanese Restaurant serves Korean and Japanese cuisine.
Wasabi Restaurant sits across Woodward Avenue from the Detroit Historical Museum. It’s also down the road from Wayne State University and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
This restaurant has a minimalist vibe and offers a cozy dining atmosphere.
Their menu includes dining options like sushi, sashimi, Korean soups, noodles, and Japanese specials.
I recommend starting with their gyoza and spicy edamame as appetizers.
Try their California or Michigan rolls if you’re in the mood for sushi. Otherwise, their yakisoba is an excellent choice as well!
Noori Chicken – Clawson
1 S Main St, Clawson, MI 48017
Phone: 248-850-7512
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Noori Chicken is a hidden gem on the main street full of restaurants. Located north of Detroit proper, Noori Chicken prides itself on their Korean fried chicken.
They’re famous for the sauces they make fresh daily and their all-natural ingredient list.
They keep their menu small to prepare the highest quality meals for every customer.
Noori Chicken has a variety of options when it comes to fried chicken.
You can order Korean fried wings or jumbo boneless wings in numerous sizes.
Their sauces are what distinguishes them from other Korean fried chicken restaurants.
You can choose from seven different sauces that range from sweet to spicy.
Soora Korean Restaurant
6580 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322
Phone: 248-973-8110
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This restaurant’s name, Soora, means a meal prepared for the King during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea.
Soora Korean Restaurant focuses its menu on both traditional flavors and original dishes.
They’re located across Orchard Lake Road from The Shops at Old Orchard Mall, so stop in after a day of shopping for a delicious meal.
Soora has options on their menu that you don’t always see in other traditional Korean restaurants.
Their jokbal (pork foot) is sweet and salty, the hot stone bowl is loaded with seafood, and their portions are very generous.
Their menu includes pictures of their dishes to help you decide what looks best!
K-BBQ
5758 N Canton Center Rd, Canton, MI 48187
Phone: 734-737-0200
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K-BBQ is an authentic Korean barbecue eatery hidden among fast-food and American restaurants.
Don’t let the Burger King or McDonald’s located nearby deter you!
K-BBQ’s chef has 30 years of experience cooking in fine dining and has brought that knowledge to this traditional Korean spot.
If you’re looking for a traditional k-BBQ dish, try their K-BBQ with rice on a sizzling pan. You can order beef, pork, or spicy chicken.
They also serve delicious Korean wings and bibimbap.
I recommend their Korean Zing wings – not too sweet and not too spicy. Their menu is still expanding as their chef perfects more dishes.
Daebak Korean BBQ
27566 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034
Phone: 248-996-8922
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When I hear Korean BBQ, I think of hot pot.
If your brain works the same, check out Daebak Korean BBQ, located just off the Northwestern Highway in Southfield.
Daebak serves traditional Korean BBQ dishes with the help of their kitchen staff, who have over 100+ years of experience combined.
You’ll want to dine in if you want the whole Korean BBQ experience.
On their main menu, Daebak offers plenty of meat choices to be grilled at your table.
They even have vegan options like tofu steak and a veggie combo. My go-to is their marinated combo – it comes with beef, chicken, pork, and short rib.
Kimchi Box
13937 Lakeside Cir Suite 113, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Phone: 586-991-6907
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Located just outside of the Lakeside Mall, you’ll find Kimchi Box.
This modern restaurant serves traditional Korean and fusion dishes, like K-BBQ tacos and corn dogs.
Their location gives off a comfy ambiance that almost reminds me of my kitchen at home.
They also have four locations throughout Michigan and offer dine-in, pick-up, and delivery services.
Kimchi Box has quite the variety on its menu. To start, try the sassy fries or the honey butter powder fries.
For your entree, I recommend trying their world-famous bibimbap. If you’re looking for a fusion dish, their bulgogi tacos are also a hit!
Sammi
3634 Rochester Rd, Troy, MI 48083
Phone: 248-457-1835
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Sammi is the perfect family-owned restaurant you want to drop by after a long day of shopping at the nearby strip mall.
Their classic Korean dishes “will remind you of your hometown.”
Their space is cozy and welcoming, and their menu includes the most traditional Korean dishes.
Their most popular dish is japchae, and for a good reason. It’s sweet but not too sweet, and the noodles are perfectly cooked.
Another popular dish is soondubu, a dish made with soft tofu, vegetables, onions, gochujang, and seafood (optional).
They also offer noodle dishes like ramyun, ramen, and dduk man doo guk.
Korea Palace Restaurant
34744 Dequindre Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Phone: 586-978-0500
Korea Palace sits down the street from another Korean restaurant on our list, Chung Ki Wa, in Sterling Heights.
This eatery is low-key and great for hot pots and BBQ.
Their menu includes options for grilling at your table and traditional dishes made in their kitchen.
If you’re going to eat here, plan a group outing to get the most bang for your buck with their combo platters!
Their most famous attraction is their Korean BBQ experience, where you grill your meat at your table.
They offer beef short ribs, spicy short ribs, pork belly, and more.
If you’re not in the mood to grill, you can order their delicious spicy rice cake or ddukbokki.
Chung Ki Wa
2101 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Phone: 586-264-4488
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Located up the street from Korea Palace is Chung Ki Wa. This restaurant serves similar dishes but has a more traditional vibe to it.
In addition to Korean cuisine, Chung Ki Wa offers Japanese sushi and Chinese dishes.
They’re located just west of the James C Nelson Part and are a great place to stop by.
Chung Ki Wa’s bibimbap is a classic done right. The pork belly is mouth-watering and always hits the spot.
I love their naengmyeon (cold noodles) on warm days to cool me off and fill my stomach!
Their combos have a lot of food, so keep that in mind when ordering for a smaller group.
Woorijip
2963 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48083
Phone: 248-817-2456
Since Woorijip exists in the Golden Gate Plaza shopping mall, they appear more like a “fast-food” restaurant. However, this does not reflect the quality of their food.
While their menu isn’t as extensive as others, what they offer is done well.
It’s the perfect spot for someone wanting tasty Korean food without the whole sit-down experience.
Woorijip offers basic, traditional Korean dishes. This menu includes various noodles, fried rice, and soups.
I suggest trying their miso soup – it is surprisingly delicious for such a simple dish!
Their bulgogi is always spot on, and their vegetable dumplings never seem to miss.
Dae Jang Keum
2947 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48083
Phone: 248-509-7150
Dae Jang Keum is also located in the Golden Gate Plaza shopping mall, but is more of a sit-down restaurant than the previous Woorijip.
They offer a bright and modern space that serves Korean staples like barbecue, bibimbap, and banchan.
Their K-BBQ is to-go only, so you can purchase a kit to cook at home.
If you’d prefer to order your BBQ at the restaurant to eat, you can purchase one of their BBQ dinner bento boxes.
Personally, I think their spicy BBQ chicken option is the best.
You can also order their world-famous bibimbap or wok-fried rice. Their military stew is sure to warm you up on a cold day!
