The Yummiest Korean in Washington

Meokja Meokja

★★★★★ 4.5 (965) • $$

"This is my FAVORITE Korean BBQ spot in the DMV. This review is long overdue, but I can also give a more objective review since I've been here several times over the years since its opening. The best thing about Meokja Meokja is that the quality of the food and service has not declined at all since it first opened. Service is always spectacular and the quality of the meats remain consistently fresh. Prices for the different cuts of meat in my opinion have also remained extremely fair. The banchan are also plentiful and yummy. They also finally allow reservations as well (make reservations online)! I highly recommend the brisket, spicy pork belly, galbi, and thick unmarinated pork belly! Don't forget to also order the corn cheese and egg :) Don't forget to tip the servers! They work so hard and always grill the meats to perfection!"

Mandu

★★★★☆ 3.9 (916) • $$

"Came to Mandu for a late night dinner and walked in around 8pm without a reservation and easily got a table. Service was extremely fast and attentive, as was getting food. We had a full dinner with drinks, apps, and dessert in a little over an hour but didn't feel at all rushed.To start we each had the green bee which is a fabulous basil forward vodka cocktail that comes in a beautiful couple style glass. The drinks is bright green and beautifully served plus it was delicious!For starters we had the steamed shrimp dumplings which were extremely tasty. It came with 6 pieces so perfect sharing size for two.For our main we each had the bibimbap which came out sizzling and was a great size! I took about half home. The bowl was hot, filling and full of flavor. It comes with a sauce but it well seasoned on its own and doesn't need the sauce.For dessert we had the "croiffel" which is a croissant that has been put in thr waffle iron I presume. It was served with a light banana creme and strawberries. It was a very fresh dessert and not too sweet, felt more like breakfast.The vibe is very cozy and chill. This is a great place for a meal on your own or with a friend. Service is fast and friendly.I can't wait to come back to try some of their bar-only food options."

Oegadgib

★★★★☆ 3.6 (966) • $$

"All you can eat kbbq. Tucked away in a tiny parking lot. It's definitely a mom and pop shop. Service is very quick and fast. They come by and cook your meat for you. The side dishes are very basic but all you need for kbbq. The salad is really good.They have a good dipping sauce for the meats too. Perfect because I usually like getting the plain meats like brisket and pork belly. They actually let you cook it crispy too. Got here at a perfect time bc when we left it was busier. So for a Saturday definitely be mindful about time!"

Choong Man Chicken - Fairfax

★★★★☆ 4.3 (590) • $$

"Cousins wanted to come here since their local Korean Fried Chicken place closed and it was such a good choice! Upfront, parking is really limited, it shares a lot with other businesses. The restaurant is medium sized but the service was excellent. Sat down and ordered two orders of fried chicken and some truffle fries, wings and rice. Everything was delicious and really filling! I haven't had Korean chicken in a while, so I was really excited to come here when we don't have many choices in Michigan. Definitely recommend for price and taste!"

Bebop Korean-Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (642) • $$

"$30 for two burgers and fries. Long wait but food comes out freshly made for each order. Tastes okay but the double burger doesn't look like the pictures at all and way substantially smaller so we are leaving hungry. Bring cash because there's a 4% service charge for credit card."

ANJU

★★★★☆ 4.3 (581) • $$

"Was able to walk in for a table for 2 on a Friday, despite it being pretty busy which was nice. Both the host and server were welcoming and nice, overall great service experience.As for the food, the prices seemed a little high until the portions came out. The mandu were outstanding, and the chikin was a massive portion, bigger than I ever expected at a dc restaurant. It was kind of strange that one piece was a bone-in drum while the rest were boneless -- would've preferred a fork/knife for the boneless but didn't realize until I already dug into the drums with my hands -- but other than that it was pretty perfect. Crispy, delicious, flavorful, and exactly what you expect of double-fried Korean chicken.After those 2 starters, we shared the rice cakes with bulgogi as the only main and it was more than enough food. Hearty, tasty, filling. Finished with the sticky toffee pudding which was a great way to top off a fantastic meal!"

Pike Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (612) • $$

"Just stopped by here on a whim with a friend for lunch the other day. Wonderful place. We weren't quite sure what to expect but it was kinda cool. Walk inside and WHAAAAM there are suddenly a slew of different stalls and counters and vendors to choose from. Though my picture absolutely sucks, it gives you a vague idea of that initial moment.They have bunches of tables and chairs in the middle, with shelves for napkins and tableware around.I got an order of Chicken Yakisoba, while my friend got Spicy Chicken Dupbop, from one of the counters. While I'm still not sure what either of them are (yeah, I'm 'Murkin), they both arrived quickly and were really delicious.The Pike Kitchen is easy to find and get to, right in the heart of the Pike in Rockville. Just a quick turn off of 355 into the parking lot. We got there just after lunchtime and it was not crowded, but I can easily see this place being a standard go-to for a lot of locals for lunch."

Siroo Juk Story and Tea Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (548) • $

"My girlfriends and I have been talking about Korean corn dogs and shaved ice for the longest that we decided to plan a day out to VA just to get what we've been talking about.You order your food from a kiosk and a ticket is printed with your order number. The place is pretty spacious on the inside so there's plenty of seating. I ordered the hot Cheeto's corn dog and I can't remember the other one. For my dessert, I ordered the mango shaved ice. The corn dogs were a 10/10. The spiciness was leveled out by the sugar they put on the corn dogs. The reason for the one star is due to everything here having sugar and being sweet. For example, the kimchi was sweet with a hint of spiciness. The mango shaved ice was also 10/10."

Choong Hwa Won

★★★★☆ 3.9 (523) • $$

"We went as a family of 6. It was bustling as usual and our food arrived quick. Make sure to check out seasonal specials on the walls. The black bean sauce noodles were better than a lot of other spots in the area. I also got spicy squid and it was delicious. They don't skimp on ingredients or amount so come hungry!The jjampong seafood soup was just the right amount of spicy. Nothing was incredibly great but better than average. The interior needs a serious facelift but I guess the rundown look is part of its charm? So I won't take a star off for that."

Chiko

★★★★☆ 4.4 (391) • $$

"I'm not a fan of QR code ordering but this spot had great food! I will definitely go back, next visit! Korean tater tots (in my head NO, in my belly YES) the fried rice was excellent with a soft egg on top, the fried chicken dish with the sauce, perfection in the crunch & the seasoning & THE SAUCE!!! it's a small spot & I do not think wheelchair accessible (old houses remodeled into food spots) also Proudly known & shown on the map as the best Gayborhood for eating!Drinks were just OK. Server was decent. I missed out on a noodle dish, please go for me!"

KoChix

★★★★☆ 4.3 (406) • $

"Utterly surprised I don't already have a review for one of my fav spots in DC! Kochix is a locally-owned Korean fried chicken spot. This should become one of your regular spots for ordering out.Their drumsticks and wings are ginormous and delicious. My go-to orders are the 10 wings, half hot honey spicy and half honey lemon pepper. They're always nice and crisp and easily heated up for a future meal in my air fryer. I don't love their fries, but their onion rings are tasty. Even better are their corn nuggets! They're corn fritters with whole corn inside, a corn lovers dream lolThis is a crowd pleaser as I've served them to friends and coworkers. Alas, there isn't really space to eat here aside from a short counter against a wall. It's located near the corner of Rhode Island and Florida, so not the most scenic corner of the city, but very much worth the trip or delivery order!"

CHIKO

★★★★☆ 4.4 (382) • $$

"Stopped by here an hour before closing in a Sunday evening. Staff were friendly. We stayed to eat but it's very utilitarian vibes, clean and functional but not much more than that. Between three of us we got 1 app (green beans), 2 mains (three pepper beef, jajang) and 1 side (spicy cucumbers) - was around $60 (with a soda and lemonade as well) and there was enough food to have leftovers! Maybe like 1 more meal. The food was actually phenomenal. Like waaayyyy better than expected given that this place is not at all a fancy vibe. Honestly hard to say which item was my favorite. Flavor, texture, freshness - everything was amazing! The only kinda weird thing is that they all the items were being cooked in the same singular wok, so the items were a bit staggered coming out. But overall, delicious, easy, cheap especially relative to the quality for sure! Would come back and recommend."

Chi Mc

★★★★☆ 4.1 (435) • $$

"Ordered to go and the order was well packed and still warm when we picked up! We ordered the cheese chicken which was very cheesy I must warn. Not a light dusting but coated in cheese powder. The half and half is definitely the way to go. Wish they had a plain fried option more apparent too."

Tosokchon

★★★★☆ 4 (457) • $$

"3.5 stars. Open 24/7. Many a times I had to figure out what tk eat at 2:30 am and I wanted beef! Look no further, they are open all the time!The seasoning on their meats are excellent and generous portions. The banchan selection (accompanying sides) are quite limited when I ate and only got kimchi and pickled daikon. The service usually seems off-putting since the times I went I always had to either ask for something twice or remind them about what we requested earlier."

Gogiville

★★★★★ 4.5 (353) • $$

"My family and I come here often. I love their unlimited side dishes and for us the combo for 3 people is just the perfect portion size. The service is great, they cook the meat for you and check in very frequently so it's easy getting side dishes and drinks refilled. It's always busy when I go so I also associate it and enjoy all the conversation and bustling energy in the air."

Bul

★★★★☆ 3.8 (460) • $$

"Bul lived up to all of my expectations. Once I saw form cheese on the menu I knew we had to go. Went on a rainy weekday and had the restaurant almost entirely to ourselves. Food came out quickly, but it also didn't come out together which was a little frustrating. The cheese from was cheesy and creamy and everything I dreamed. My japchae with bulgogi was a huge portion and so delicious. The rabokki also had so many layers for it (and get cheese as an add on it's so worth it). It's a little far from my place but I'll definitely be back!"

House of Milae

★★★★☆ 4.1 (367) • $$

"Great little hole in the wall with friendly staff and atmosphere in central Bethesda. Came here for a quick dinner with 2 friends and ordered a hot stone bibimbap which is my go-to especially on a cold day. I've spent several weeks in Korea so am quite discerning about Korean food and this didn't disappoint. Often the stone bowl isn't hot enough probably because restaurants are afraid people will burn themselves touching it and the rice doesn't crisp up properly on the bottom but that wasn't the case here. The rice was perfectly golden and crispy and everything else was delicious too. We ordered a scallion pancake/pajeon to split and they actually made 3 small pancakes instead of 1 big one so we could all eat it without having to cut it up. That was unexpected but really appreciated. Would definitely come back here if in Bethesda again."

Rice Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (267)

"Was so excited to find this place. It was packed and for good reason. Loved that i was able to make my bowl with any combination I wanted. Food was fresh and so good. Not a lot of seating, but things opened up quickly. I only wish I lived closer."

The QUI Korean BBQ & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (352) • $$$

"Service is great, but the seating for a group of 6 split between one grill was a little chaotic, especially when we arrived starving. The price point is fair, and it's cool that seafood gets included. We pretty much tried every protein available, but our favorites included: thin-sliced brisket because it cooks quick and goes great with sauce, thin-sliced pork belly, and spicy pork belly. Our favorite side was the fried rice cake! The corn cheese came in small little foil cups that seemed to be portioned out for individual servings. The industrial decor inside makes it look pretty cool. The lighting is alright, and it's a fun time with a group to enjoy a meal. 1 grill for 6 people was crazy, and we ended up eating more rice than meat due to being absolutely hungry though."

Gom Shabu Shabu

★★★★☆ 3.9 (315) • $$$

"Went on a whim to gom shabu shabu since it was 15min away from me and it was delicious. Thankfully I had been to a hot pot place recently and realized that they have all the broth spices and meat dipping sauces on a island buffet in the middle, so I didn't miss out on that this time! The waitress came by to take our order almost immediately and everything came out right quick after we would ask for something. She even filled our broth without asking. Would definitely come again"

Rice Bar Bibimbap Noodle

★★★★☆ 3.9 (313) • $$

"Quick service! Have been coming here for years and now that I don't live on the east coast anytime I am in town I come here for lunch- love their black rice bowl and toppings! Recommend the peanut sauce. They don't charge for extra sauces so be sure to ask for a healthy heaping of the sauces."

Gogi Yogi

★★★★☆ 3.6 (365) • $$$

"Food was delicious & a great deal with all you can eat! We were soo stuffed we didn't even order more meats! The potatoes were cold but soo good. Make sure to ask for lettuce wraps!!Great place for dinner or a little date night spot."

Rice Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (224) • $$

"So this is sort of like an Asian chipotle. You fill out your selection in a paper slip and they will make your bowl. It was quick, tasted great, and the price was very reasonable."

Maru Korean Cuisine & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (241) • $$

"Its okay. Place was empty at dinnertime should have been my 1st sign. The servers were occupied with who knows what? My sushi fell apart at a slight touch of the chopstick."

TaKorean Korean Taco Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (288) • $$

"TaKorean has become one of my go-to spots for a quick lunch in Navy Yard. It's a great location for a fast, health-minded lunch with friends or coworkers. The format is styled like a Chipotle restaurant--you pick your style of meal, your protein, bases, sides, and sauces--with plenty of options. The flavors draw from Korean cuisine and include options like bulgogi and kimchi. Vegetarian options are available, and I really enjoyed the tofu on my latest visit. Service tends to be fast, even when the line is long. Prices are reasonable for the sizable and filling portions. There are also a few tables for indoor and outdoor seating. TaKorean is worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood."

Myung-Ga Gim Bap

★★★★☆ 3.9 (258) • $

"A little on the pricey side for a boon-shik-jib, but i suppose that has more to do with inflation than price gouging. We ordered the tonkatsu, and udon/kimbap combo and the food was just as we expected. Not bad, but not fab either."

Kodori

★★★★☆ 3.9 (254) • $$

"Lunches on the fly. Great customer service! Fresh sushi! Satisfied my galbi dolsot bi bim bop craving."

West Wing Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (251) • $$

"It was a very nasty Wednesday morning and we needed a quick breakfast and coffee before we begin our ride back home to Chesapeake. Hubby and I both ordered a lox bagel with everything (capers, red onion, cream cheese, & tomato) on everything bagel. It was delish!! We both had their house coffee. Our son chose a muffin and Pellegrino water. We also purchased a bear claw and a pack of chocolate chip cookies for the road home. I needed to use the restroom which was required a key code so the nice lady came and unlocked one. She was so sweet. This whole Korean family that owned the store was super sweet. I wish we were staying longer so I could come back and get a lunch sandwich, they looked amazing from the menu. Great place to he's. Something quick and yummy! Clean sink fares and bathroom. Plenty of tables and chairs."

Gom Ba Woo

★★★★☆ 4 (234) • $$

"This place was absolutely wonderful! The ambiance is a bit hole in the wall like but the food is great. The service was wonderful also.My friend and I shared a scallion pancake with seafood, which was absolutely massive. I wasn't as hungry as I expected so we probably should have gotten something else. I then got a beef stew and my friend got a Kimchi stew with pork. They also had plenty of sides for our food. Overall, I'd highly suggest this place - just make sure to come hungry!"

TaKorean Korean Taco Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (252) • $

"My absolute favorite place in Union Market! I generally order their white rice bowl with chicken and toppings (no extra cost). I like that their chicken is very tender and the level of stickiness for the rice is just on point. Toppings include salsa, gochu-pow sauce (a spicy sauce made from fermented Korean gochujang paste, if you don't eat spicy, exclude this from your toppings), lime crema (a sour cream based topping with lime juice, mirin, and agave), sesame seeds, cilantro, and shallots.I have also tried their add-ons before which include cucumber, piko de Gallo (tomatoes with ginger scallion sauce), pickled daiko radish, avocado, and poached egg. Service is quick and friendly. Despite long lines during lunch hours, I can typically get my food in under 10 minutes. On Tuesdays, you can get 3 tacos for a discount price (I think it's around $8-9 if I remember correctly) and they are equally delicious!"

Tilly Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (239) • $$

"This was my first time visiting this place. I knew I wanted to visit because I've been passing by Tilly Kitchen for months every time I was in the area and because of Yelp reviews.The building itself shows "Tilly Kitchen" but is actually a food hall with 2 separate businesses inside...Tilly Kitchen (Korean food) and Gavi Brunch Cafe. I originally came here knowing I wanted to order the Portobello Mushroom sandwich, but decided to check out the Tilly Kitchen menu. This is a brilliant idea, and i feel like they probably could've added more (smaller) businesses). I ordered the Tteokbokki with bacon (less spicy)...but without the bacon. I've been seeing this dish trending a couple years ago and had to try it. It was pretty good, maybe next time I'll try the spicy one. They have so many other menu items: ramen, small bites, sushi, etc. There is a lot of seating available, inside near the counters, a separate inside area away from the counters and outside. The decoration is very nice, but they looked like fake leaves/plants. There is a self-ordering kiosk for the Tilly Kitchen menu. Staff is just exceptionally friendly; I felt uncomfortable just leaving the dishes there for them to clean up. I would return for sure, to try other items on the menu for both food spots."

Firepan KBBQ

★★★★☆ 3.8 (241) • $$$

"We came here for KBBQ and we were seated right away. Our waitress was amazing. She helped us a lot with the cooking and cutting! Loved that part. Also the pans were changed when they got too charred. We got option B and it came with sushi . The Korean Fried chicken was delicious! I would have ordered a second one if the meats didn't fill me up. We enjoyed the meats especially the pork belly and firepan steak."

Gom Tang E

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (308) • $$

"Solid! I went in at 8am and was slightly worried that given this place is 24/7, it'd be more of a late night spot but I was happily mistaken. Within minutes several people other people came in.I ordered the gomtang and was so glad I did so. It reminded me of my childhood and the radish kimchi was absolutely on point. Prices were very reasonable as well!As I was paying I noticed the caldron of gignormous soup. Wow!"

Red Holic

★★★★☆ 3.6 (255) • $$

"This was recommended to me by a few Korean friends. They said this would be a comfort food experience and it was. It was a single host/waiter/server but he was very attentive. The food was great. We ordered family style to sample everything. You must start with the Sweet Potato dumplings. Also if you like spicy get the Holic TopPoki appetizer. We enjoyed the Bulgogi Rice, spicy and sweet chicken, and a bowl of ramen. This quaint little place will be our go to for Korean!"

BBQ 21

★★★★☆ 3.7 (237) • $$

"Highly recommend this place! Most people come from their ddukbokki, but I recommend their authentic Korean food. The dishes I ordered with my mom was called daegu moom tong jjim and a fish soup. Both were fantastic! The first dish is a little spicy, and portion size is huge. It's also worth a pretty penny, but that's due to the portion size and good fish they use. Their side dishes are amazing and service is great. Highly recommend!"