The Yummiest Korean in New York

LOVE Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.4 (887) • $$$

"Wow! Love BBQ is amazing!! I booked a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner here. Upon arrival my party was seated right away with no waiting which was great. We ordered the Chefs combo which included Prime ribeye, marinated galbi (short rib), beef brisket (chadol), pork belly and we opted for the kimchee jigae (kimchee stew) as our included side. In addition, we also ordered japchae and a steamed egg. When the cuts of meat came out on the serving board it didn't look like a whole lot of meat but it was more than enough. We ended up having to take some food home with us. The steamed egg was so delicious! One of the best I've ever had. It was topped with TRUFFLE pieces that had so much flavor and heightened the flavor of the egg. Wow! The japchae had so much flavorful meat in it. Also, one of the best I've had. All the meat was so flavorful, tender and juicy. Our waiter didn't leave our table and cooked all the meat for us which was amazing. Also, I love the grills they use here as it has ventilation built into the side walls of the grill so you don't have to worry about smelling like grilled meat when you're done. Overall, I highly recommend LOVE BBQ. You will not be disappointed. They tend to get packed from Friday through the weekend so I highly recommend making a reservation. I can't wait to go back!"

Jungsik

★★★★★ 4.6 (805) • $$$$

"We went to Jungsik for the first time last week for dinner and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant mastered the creation of classic Korean flavors with modern techniques. The ambience is sleek, simple but inviting and the service was excellent, very attentive. They definitely deserve their two Michelin stars. The meal started with a take on Banchan with several unique amuse bouches including wagyu beef tartare with truffle, gochujang amberjack, softball egg with seaweed, rice ball with squid and shrimp, and foie gras on top of Asian pear compote. Every item was excellent.Among the courses our favorite were the octopus and the galbi. The octopus was the best I have had anywhere, cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and almost melting in your mouth on the inside. It paired very well with the gochujang sauce.This was a very enjoyable experience and we recommend giving Jungsik a try if you ever consider it!"

Atoboy

★★★★☆ 4.3 (710) • $$$$

"Great! Loved the food, service, value. Accommodating and unpretentious, this place is a gem and I will definitely be back!"

Tofu Tofu

★★★★★ 4.6 (585) • $$

"I really enjoyed this place. The Korean BBQ ribs were phenomenal--super tender and flavorful. The ramen was great and really hit the spot. The staff were all super friendly and made us feel at home. Overall, everything was solid. Definitely recommend!"

The Maze

★★★★☆ 3.9 (783) • $$

"Located in the middle of Ktown, this place is spot on for yummy food and cocktails! Highlights of the menu:1. Fried squid tentacles2. Spicy rice, cake, and fish cake soup 3. Korean pork Katsu cutlet4. Karaage5. Green tea mochi five pieces6. Maze margarita7. Coconut mai tai8. Maze mojito"

The Jin

★★★★☆ 4.4 (598) • $$

"On freezing cold day, nothing beats a warm bowl ramen. I searched around where I was and found the Jin. It is situated on a relatively quiet section of the neighborhood. I could not find obvious sign out front but the clean, modern design of the entrance made it the 'obvious'. There are two kinds of ramen options - pork vs chicken. I chose the pork option. I also ordered a small fried chicken. When both came out, I was surprised by the size of the fried chicken. It's good for two people. The skin was crispy and the hot sauce was just right, spicy and tangy. The ramen was good but the stand out item in it was the poached egg. You have to try it. The only shortcomings of this place is single restroom. It's clean but looks like needing a renovation. Would be back in the summer and try out a few more items."

Soju Haus

★★★★☆ 3.9 (723) • $$

"Great meal and attentive service. Could hardly finish our meals as the portions were very plentiful and the flavors were so rich. Great date night location"

Gopchang Story BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.1 (633) • $$$

"As a fellow Korean from Los Angeles, I have to say, my girlfriend (who used to live in NYC) insisted we check out this place for their gopchang and daechang. She wasn't wrong--it did not disappoint. In fact, it was probably the best gopchang and daechang I've ever had! The ambiance is super cute, making it a perfect spot for casual drinks and great food. Highly recommend this place, and I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in NYC. Thank you, 곱창이아기!!"

JUA

★★★★★ 4.7 (449) • $$$$

"Incredible tasting menu. Genuinely loved every course for start to finish. Rice horchata mocktail was delicious as well."

HYUN

★★★★☆ 4.1 (567) • $$$$

"I came here for my birthday dinner and loved every moment of the hyun-makase experience! My favorite was the cut Wagyu, and the kimchiAmbiance: zen decor, cozy, soft lighting, includes more private tables divided by curtains and also booth seatingService: our server was very knowledgeable about the different cuts of Wagyu and gave us recommendations to pair the fresh cuts with the bread and kimchi. Our server also cooked the meat for us and got us more banchan throughout the mealFood:Unmarinated Wagyu cuts: so tender, fatty and melt in your mouth delicious! I loved every cut and enjoyed pairing it with the bread soaked in the Wagyu meat fat renderings Marinated Wagyu cuts: flavorful and sweet! These come in a close second to the unmarinated cuts for me. I enjoyed wrapping these in the lettuce with a bit of the scallion salad.Birthday chocolate dessert: I wasn't expecting a birthday dessert! The dessert seemed to be a frozen mousse in the shape of a cloud. This was rich, chocolaty and delicious This was a wonderful experience! This meal was pretty rich so I'll probs be coming here for only special occasions."

Koku Ramen

★★★★☆ 4 (580) • $$

"Very cozy and comfortable space. The service wasn't bad but could be a little better. Not as attentive or helpful as I'd hoped. The wings were fried super well, had a great flavor and I loved the soy glaze. The shrimp tempura was also great! Crispy prawns, and the wasabi mayo was a unique and refreshing flavor. I also had the Dan Dan noodles but didn't enjoy them at all. They were flavorless and unfortunately adding extra sauce didn't help. I would return but only for the wings and shrimp!"

Mokyo

★★★★★ 4.6 (407)

"Typically when I go to these more expensive restaurants, I do a lot of research. But then for some reason this placed appealed to us enough on Google Maps to want to go and I'm so glad we did because it's now one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. We made a reservation beforehand on a weekday night and I think that is a bit of a must as there was quite a bit of people inside.We ordered 6 dishes for 2 people and it turned out to be a lot of food. I feel like 5 dishes could've been enough. I have noted them down based on my favorite (corn dumpling) to my least favorite (steak).- Corn Dumpling - Suprisingly this was my favorite thing of the night. I didn't really care for the sauce or the breading of the dumpling as I thought it was too thick, but the filling was to die for. It was a bit sweet with a lot of corn flavor. It really was just something I've never had before which is quite rare. I would eat the filling inside straight up.- Gumbo - I feel like this is a really weird thing to like but I actually loved their gumbo. The flavor profile was almost a combination of tomato soup, which I loved. On top of that, there were so many ingredients inside, especially crawfish. For a high-end restaurant, I was really happy that there was a dish that would both fill me up and also taste great.- Noodle - I don't know what they did to this noodle. In fact, these noodles don't even have any sort of protein inside it but I absolutely loved that they were super garlic-y but also had a kick of spice.- Berkshire Rib - This was my boyfriend's favorite dish of the night! The first bite was marvelous as not only were the ribs incredibly tender but the smoky flavor was present throughout the entire rib. I feel like a lot of BBQ restaurants claim that the flavor is in their meats but this one was probably the most I ever resonated with that statement. After a while of eating this, I felt that the rib was a bit much and wish there was some sort of pickle or whatnot to cut through the meaty-ness.- Lobster Roll - I actually really liked the bread of this dish, but I still like the more traditional lobster rolls more. I did enjoy the pickled celery a lot though!Steak - I thought this was actually one of the weaker dishes of the night. The steak's raw parts were a bit tough, and the mushroom sauce cracked a little, which was interesting.Overall, fantastic eat and I will be back to try more of their foods. Also, I really am excited now to try their sister restaurant, Thursday Kitchen, to see what is the difference."

Turntable LP Bar & Karaoke

★★★★☆ 4.4 (417) • $$

"I'm not sure how I've never reviewed Turntable, as it's one of my age-old Ktown staples. When I don't feel like waiting in line for Soju Haus or Bangia, Turntable always pulls through with its fun speakeasy 5th floor vibes, crowd-pleasing snacks, and table availability.Although it can't compete with its sister restaurant on 33rd Street when it comes to peculiar names, LP Bar offers a much more intimate vibe than Turntable Chicken Jazz. My favorites on the menu are the kimchi pajeon, the tteokpokki, and the thick fries."

Nowon East Village

★★★★☆ 4.3 (436) • $$$

"Came in last week with my friends who were visiting from Florida... had to bring them to Nowon. Food is always ridiculous and the vibe is on point. I will say this time the service was extraordinary. Andrea, Sydney, and I think it was Lexy? These 3 CRUSHED it. There were 2 bday's and they had the place smackin. I'll forever be a customer here and continue to bring people here. Make sure you get a legendary burger and the chopped cheese app. Fueeeeeego. Special shout out to Andrea - she really made the experience great and gave incredible recommendations for everything."

Nubiani

★★★★★ 4.5 (384)

"Once the elevator doors open you are immediately greeted by a very sophisticated environment. The lighting is very warm and cozy, while also being very clean and well kept.The service was very quick and the staff grills the meat for you. They grilled the ribeye to a perfect medium rare and it was absolutely delicious. The side dishes were a great compliment to the meat and not too overpowering.They give you a complimentary vanilla ice cream with mango jam on top to end the meal, which was fantastic. Highly recommend if you can book a spot!"

Hanbat Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (629) • $$

"Hanbat is the number 1 Korean restaurant in Korea Town. It is authentic and also the only restaurant in Korea Town to offer seaweed soup. The food and the service is very consistent."

YUBU

★★★★☆ 4.4 (388) • $$

"This small Korean restaurant/cafe offers some incredibly delicious tofu skin filled with rice and topped various topping ranging from crab meat, torched salmon, and bulgogi. I've tried a variety of tofu skin but this location in the East Village is an absolute must-try spot. They offer box sets which I highly recommend so you can try an array of flavors paired with a Korean beverage. I personally like the green grape soda paired with my box of 8 order. My personal top 3 favorites are Crab Meat, Bulgogi, and Torched Salmon. This small spot is beautifully decorated and organized showcasing a variety of drinks and mock sample of the tofu skin box sets. The cashier was attentive and thoroughly explained how each one is made (also you cannot substitute or alternate any item). There are available outdoor seatings so you can enjoy at the spot or take to-go. Overall an ideal spot to try one tofu skin as a small treat or an assortment to have a mini feast with friends or enjoy by yourself. Plus they give you Chupa Chups lollipops as a dessert which I presume to be mostly strawberry flavor"

SSAM

★★★★☆ 3.7 (521) • $$

"Hate to do it but Ssam has fallen off drastically. They used to be a reasonable restaurant (decent food at decent prices) but we just ordered food and none of it came satisfactory.The Galbi Tang was bland and the radish was not cooked through.The Pajeon portion was a joke for $12.The Ddukbokki was ok at best. Sauce was a bit sweet.The Bulgogi Kimbap was obnoxiously wrapped with too much rice that exploded beyond the seaweed wrapping. I appreciate the one free rice they gave me but probably will not be going back sadly."

Ahgassi Gopchang Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (334) • $$$

"WOW this Korean BBQ experience did not disappoint! I came here earlier this month with 3 other people. We booked a reservation and were seated promptly with the banchan already set up before we were seated - loved that! We ordered the large portion of the Ahgassi Combo (with soft tofu soup), fried dumplings, and cold buckwheat noodles and shared everything between the 4 of us. My highlight was the marinated short rib! I also ordered a Yuzu iced tea - flavorful but REALLY sweet. The staff was amazing and very diligent about refilling our banchans and water. The vents are adjustable over the grill so that the restaurant doesn't smell at all. I also love that they change out the kind of grill based on the kind of meat they're cooking for you!I'd totally come back here one day! Highly recommend it :)"

Shanghai Mong

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (662) • $$

"Service was fast and the food was good. Didn't have too much of an interaction with the employee and the small interaction I did have was when I placed my order. We didn't get to dine in as we were done for the day and just wanted to get back to our hotel.Both our orders were good. We really enjoyed the chicken fried rice as it was flavorful and had plenty pieces of chicken in it. The pad thai was sufficient for two and it was ok as it lacked flavor. We poured soy sauce on it and it tasted a lot better. Prices were a bit steep but hey its NYC."

Itaewon Pocha

★★★★☆ 4.1 (345) • $$

"Came here on a whim. The neon lighting and crowd caught me in a trance. The spot isn't too spacious but boy does it get full! I seemed to have gotten there at the right time on a Friday night, no line to get in and I was fortunate to scoop up the last seat at the bar. The bartenders were swift and helpful with recommendations, I sipped on my lychee martini while listening to K pop, rap etc. i was jamming! This was my first time at a Korean bar but it did not disappoint. We also tried the grapefruit soju and it was so good, dangerous really!! Their veggie dumplings were crisp and juicy, the fries and wings were also cooked to perfection. I would absolutely come again"

Hyo Dong Gak

★★★★☆ 3.5 (470) • $$

"A friend introduced me to this place years ago and it's been my favorite Chinese-Korean restaurant to go to. So underrated and easy to miss spot. I mainly come here for their jjajangmyeon (N2. noodles with brown sauce). It's my favorite here and as of right now, better than any spot in the town area specifically this dish. Noodles are perfectly chewy and combined with the fresh aroma of the sauce, filled with sweet onions and baby chunks of meat- it's hard to find any fault with it! Maybe except that if you didn't know what it was, it's not exactly visually appealing. But taste wise... mmmmm!! I've passed the word along to other friends and coworkers and they always ask to come back here with me. "When's our next Noods date?" Haha Besides the jjajangmyeon, I also recommend their Spicy Seafood soup! It's not terribly spicy- just a tiny kick to your taste buds. The soup tastes especially good on a cold winter day. When I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for, I usually go for their N1, which is a combination of the jjajangmyeon and their Spicy seafood soup. A bowl split down the middle so you have half portion of each. Best of both worlds! Also have had their fried pork dumplings. They're very oily but if you can overlook that, they're crispy yet juicy on the inside and filled with lots of meaty goodness. Also comes with a sweet dipping sauce. I don't get this every time but when I do- definitely no regrets. Their kimchi is a hit or miss. Somehow not always consistent. But their yellow pickled radish tastes good especially with the jjajangmyeon. Every time I come here, the staff are always nice and welcomes you at the door. I've always been seated right away and service has always been excellent."

Sam Sunny

★★★★★ 4.5 (262) • $$$

"Amazing food and great service. Everything I had was outstanding. Can't wait to go back."

Kjun

★★★★★ 4.5 (251) • $$$

"What a unique place! Korean and Cajun fusion. So flavorful.Amazing food!!!!!! Wow!!!! I had the BBQ tofu and grits and it was a phenomenal and perfectly balanced dish. Best grits and tofu I've ever had. Topped with pears.The lemon tea I had was truly the best cup of tea I've ever had. Filled with fresh lemon and ginger. And the mugs were so cool! My boyfriend enjoyed the kimchi jambalaya and I tried it too and very tasty.It's a very small restaurant so reservations are necessary. We sat in the enclosed outdoor patio. It has a heater but still a bit chilly in winter since it's by the entrance, but lots of privacy so that was nice. The inside of the restaurant is very cute, warm and cozy.I highly recommend!"

HanaMichi

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (505) • $$

"Good food! Cozy atmosphere. Fresh sashimi! Friendly service!! :) ramen wasn't salty at all."

Kuun

★★★★☆ 4.2 (275) • $$$

"I'm not Korean, and I've never been to Korea (outside of a layover in Seoul), but I'm still going to tell you that Kuun is authentic Korean food even though I'm not 100% sure I'm qualified to say so.I have been eating food (including a solid amount of Korean food) for decades though, and thus I think I am 100% qualified to tell you it's delicious. Seriously great. Everything we've had from the banchan to the pajeon to the kimbap to the japchae to the kalbi to the bibimbap to the bulgogi has been super, super tasty. I love that there is serious spice running throughout a lot of the dishes, and everything is cooked so well. I love the ssam boxes they have as a lunch special, with delicious meats, pickled vegetables and other delightful little things that I can wrap in lettuce and shove into my face. It's also an adorable little spot with high ceilings, great service, and just generally a place I am happy to eat. The only drawback is that it's a little pricey (I have a Korean friend who refuses to pay these prices for what she can cook). But the ssam boxes can feed two people with another appetizer added on, and it's not CRAZY expensive (their sister KBBQ spot next door verges on that), just a little more than I want to spend at lunch. So it's a treat, and not a staple of my diet."

K Town Pocha

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (402) • $$

"This is a fun spacious spot to hang out with groups of people and is located inside a basement. Service was good. In terms of food, I would recommend ordering their fried chicken, (very crispy and juicy), beef fried rice, or chicken teriyaki over rice. Their fruit lemonade is also sweet and refreshing to drink."

Haenyeo

★★★★☆ 4.1 (274) • $$$

"Came here on a Friday night. Food was awesome and service was top notch. My favorite was the galbi jjim. The beef ribs were tender and flavorful. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes!"

Rice Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (205) • $$

"Solid Korean fusion takeout spot w some tables to eat outside at their post Covid shelter seating. Servisem e is fast friendly and streamlined. Salad or rice, protein, sauce next.... Also serve sides and some rolls too. Everything is already prepared they just have to put in bowls. I had the kimchi which comes in a small condiment like container ( for $1.50, shrink flatiron is a real thang). Also has the salad w bulgogi and kimchi. Flavorful filling . Recommend for quick lunch in SoHo area."

Yummy Stick

★★★★★ 4.6 (197) • $

"Got a sushi burrito for only $5 from this tiny window in Manhattan! This spot is open Mon-Fri 11am-4pm, and is perfect for an on-the-go meal during lunch hours. It's actually more of a kimbap burrito (= kimburrito?!) & they sell a whole assortment of rolls at Yummy Stick. Depending on the roll you get, prices range from $5 to $13 here. The original $5 burrito is stuffed with crab, fried egg, and rice with seaweed wrapped around, made fresh-to-order. The shop owners are so sweet and the burrito is quick, convenient, and filling.Can you believe this is only $5? Where else in Manhattan would you get lunch for $5? (besides Chinatown :P)"

Barn Joo Nomad

★★★★☆ 4.3 (217) • $$

"I had a delightful experience here. My server greeted us at the door and was super friendly, we were sat right away and were 20 minutes early to the reservation. Great place for a quick and relaxed bite as service is fast as well.The chicken wings are amazing! Super crispy outside soft on the inside. I love a soy garlic chicken wing so got those but also got citron. I was unexpectedly blown away by the citron flavor and liked it better than the soy garlic but both were very good. Got an appetizer with rice cakes cheese and truffle which was also tasty."

Mad For Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (210) • $$

"Who doesn't love Korean Fried Chicken?! Feels like the only Korean Fried Chicken in the area.I usually order takeout from here but they do have a decent indoor dining space. Chicken is usually pretty good, however the last time I ordered it was a little dry. Wish there was a tad bit more sauce. Nonetheless great flavor!"

Atomix

★★★★★ 4.5 (183) • $$$$

"Atomix is a culinary tour de force in the heart of NYC, offering a transcendent Korean fine dining experience that seamlessly fuses time-honored flavors with avant-garde techniques. The meticulously curated tasting menu is an exhibition of innovation, with each course not only a treat for the palate, but also a work of art. The cocktail pairings are thoughtfully crafted to enhance, rather than overshadow the thoughtful dishes--elevating the entire dining experience. Lastly, the staff was incredible--attentive, knowledgeable, and warm which made the experience memorable and incredibly fun."

Insa

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (322) • $$$

"Closed Mondays & TuesdaysReally nice place to celebrate a birthday. We came here with a group of 8 and got a karaoke room for two hours. Someone walked us into the room and explained all the rules even though only half the group had arrived. You can download an app to control which songs to put on next if you do not want to flip through the book they have there. You must ask for the wifi password before you can download the app. The man who kept coming in to refill our water and take empty plates out was very attentive. I had no problem with the service during the karaoke portion of the night. We got a passion fruit soju bowl (8/10- probably would not get this again), melona cocktail, high noons (which come in orders of 4, 8,10) , and fried mandu. Both the vegetable and meat mandu were good. I actually preferred the vegetable mandu more. The sauce it came with was also very good. At times, the bathroom like got long because there are only 2 bathrooms. We walked past the very cozy bar section and had to leave for an hour because the barbecue section was so fully booked. (There's a cute brewery across the street) Fast forward, one hour later, we were seated at our table. Everything is very open. One thing that surprised me was they only had ginger ale.For dinner, we got pajeon, which is a pancake with garlic and chives. Everyone enjoyed this and we eventually ordered a second one. For BBQ, we got galbi, pork belly, shrimp, and an order of mushroom. Surprisingly, the mushroom order came with a variety of mushrooms and was my favorite thing that night. Our waitress came by the table to see if we wanted anything before the kitchen closed. I also appreciated her telling us to be careful when she was switching the hot BBQ plates. The banchan was "bottomless", but if was hard to get a refill. We got a brownie sundae for my friend's birthday and it smelled very good. It was served in a hot plate to warm the brownie, so the wax actually melted too. We wanted to surprise my friend, but the waitress came by and asked if we wanted any desserts besides the surprise cake. Overall, it was a good place to celebrate a birthday, the food was good, but some things could be improved upon."

Gomi Korean Wine Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (173) • $$

"I've walked by this place several times and was happy that we spontaneously decided to try this one random Saturday evening.We were surprised that happy hour was available for a Saturday. I got to try the Korean beer. It tasted like an even lighter Heineken.We split some happy hour cheeses and meats as well as chicken wings. They were ok. Not something that would draw me back.We then got some things off the happy hour menu. The server was right. The broccolini was bomb! I would come back here again for it even if it's not on the happy hour menu during happy hour so I can pair it with the Korean beer. We also shared the japchae, which was also average."