The Ultimate Guide to Korean BBQ in Houston
If you’ve been asking, “What are the best Korean BBQ restaurants near me, then you’re in the right place. Barbecue is a popular dish in South Texas. Brisket, pulled pork, sausage, cornbread, and ranch-style beans come to mind when we think of Houston BBQ. Read through to get more information on this topic.
The Best Korean BBQ Restaurants in Houston
Korean BBQ restaurants bring the fun right to your table. On a personal hibachi, diners grill their meats, seafood, vegetables, and specialty items.
While many of the restaurants are as tranquil as YongPyong’s winter snow, others are as loud and boisterous as a Seoul nightclub. Who can say? A techno-inspired light show with loud, percussive K-Pop in the background is possible.
The food is delicious in either case, and the experience can be thrilling. Who could want anything more?
1. Lucky Palace Korean Restaurant
Lucky Palace is a blessing to the Sharpstown community. It’s a full-service Korean restaurant in a strip mall with grill-your-own barbecue options, as well as hot pot items, flavorful soups, and bibimbop.
It’s always nice when a restaurant creates an unexpected signature dish. Lucky Palace has done so with their cucumber oi muchim side dish.
I love the pickled, tangy marinade they made to steep the cukes in. Make sure you receive this.
2. Seoul Garden
Seoul Garden is located directly east of the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Houston, where visitors can watch his famous paintings (such as Sunflowers) come to life.
The owners have spent the last 30 years developing a full-service Korean menu, including table-top grilling. Hot stone bibimbop and bento-style lunch boxes are examples of this.
3. Korea Garden Restaurant
Korea Garden is located just off the Kathy Tollway, about a mile from iFly Indoor Skydiving. Here you can experience what it’s like to jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet without actually jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet.
After that adrenaline rush, I like to go to Korean Garden for some flavorful kimchi, stew, and grill-it-yourself BBQ.
There are many beef options for the entrée. If you prefer white meat, I recommend the Dwe-Ji Gui, a spicy marinated pork dish that melts in your mouth.
4. Dak & Bop
Dak & Bop is a short distance from Buffalo Bayou’s banks. The main river inside Houston meanders right by the restaurant, providing a relaxing and picturesque view for those lucky enough to get a window seat.
Dak is Korean for chicken, and Bop is Korean for rice. So you can probably guess what I order: steak—just kidding.
I can’t wait to try the Dak & Bop Bowl, which comes with boneless chicken, jasmine rice, slaw, kimchi, and Korean kombak sauce. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
5. Oh My Gogi
Oh My Gogi, a food truck fusion of Korean and Mexican foods, is conveniently located just west of Rice University.
Because this is a food truck, you cannot barbecue the meat yourself. But it’s a small price to pay for such delicious food. Simply wait in the long line and prepare to be wowed.
These guys will stuff tacos, quesadillas, burgers, and patty melts with their delicious bulgogi beef. Yum. I recommend the bulgogi beef tacos and pork dumplings because they are fusion dishes that I want to try.
6. Jang Guem Tofu and BBQ House
Jang Guem, in the heart of Houston’s Chinatown, serves traditional soups, Korean classics, and homey tofu dishes in a no-frills setting.
Winter wouldn’t be complete without at least one visit here for a steaming bowl of soup.
My favorite soup is kimchi beef tofu. It enhances the vinegary flavor of kimchi by blending it with warm broth. The only thing that could improve this establishment is if we could grill at the table.
7. BORI
After 18 holes at Pine Forest Country Club or a bucket of balls at Topgolf, I drive about two miles east to BORI, a modern and artsy Korean steakhouse with excellent décor and food.
While you wait for your upscale table, explore BORI’s art gallery.It’s been more than a month since it was eaten, and every penny has been spent.
Alternatively, try the Dol-Sot Bibimbap. In a sizzling stone pot, it combines gochujang sauce with beef, vegetables, and soft-poached eggs. Delicious.
8. Gen Korean BBQ House
This inviting restaurant is located northeast of the Houston Zoo and museum district and features funky lighting and Restaurants Near New Smyrna With Waterfront Views futuristic chrome touches throughout.
Prepare to gain weight because this is an all-you-can-eat buffet with over 30 items. Waiters bring out small portions at a time. When you’re ready for more, simply signal one and get your next batch.
The parmigiano-seasoned oysters, barbecued pork, and buttery rib-eye are really amazing. They simply taste great hot off the grill. However, I can’t get enough of the side dishes.
9. Korean Noodle House
After spending some time at the Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary, grab your chopsticks and head a few miles to the Korean Noodle House.
They specialize in seafood pancakes, hearty noodle soups, stews, and vibrant kimchi, which you won’t find anywhere else in Houston.
10. Jin Korean BBQ
If you enjoy roller skating, the Skate Champions roller rink in Houston is a great place to work up an appetite. You’ll also need a big appetite if you decide to drive a few blocks to Jin Korean BBQ.
What distinguishes Jin Korean is that diners do not have to wait for someone to bring the food to the in-table grill.
You can get it yourself by going up to the counter. Just be careful not to overorder. There is a fee for leaving uncooked food on the table.
11. Manna Noodle House
Long Point Road may be Houston’s unofficial Korean BBQ capital. Six KBBQ joints are within a mile of one another.Manna Noodle House is one of my favorites. Almost every type of Korean delicacy is available here.
On my most recent visit, I enjoyed the spicy pork with jajangmyun sauce, spiced daikon, and chicken noodle soup.
However, you might prefer the Tteokbokki with fish cake, kimchi, and pickled radish. You’ll be pleased.
12. The ToreOre
A family outing to Bear Creek Pioneer Park, with its deer, ducks, trails, and playgrounds, is sure to burn some serious calories. As a result, you’ll need to replenish. And The ToreOre, which is Korean for Chicken and Joy, is only a few miles away.
This is the pinnacle of Korean-flavored fried chicken. I’m fond of the balsamic scallion rub, primarily because I’m not aware of another establishment that has developed that distinct flavor.
However, if you’re in the mood for some heat, try the Hot & Spicy rub. Be aware that it has five fire emojis next to it on the menu.
13. Soho Chicken
The westward edge of Arthur Storey Park is formed by a narrow bayou, where residents have gone for years to relax by the large pond.
Some people use one of Houston’s only public outdoor tai chi courts. It’s a short drive east to Soho Chicken from there.
Locals refer South Houston to as Soho. (In New York City, Soho is an abbreviation for “South of Houston Street.”)
14. Honey Pig
Another favorite Korean restaurant in Chinatown. (I’ve always wondered how the Koreans got into Chinatown, but that’s another story.) Beef is the focus here, with bulgogi, brisket, and sliced prime rib among the favorites.
However, I frequently splurge on the octopus and beef combination dinners. If you haven’t tried it, don’t dismiss it.
In the same bite, octopus can be chewy and crunchy. It goes well with all the side dishes that come with each BBQ item here.
15. Bon Ga
Bon Ga is one of the best Korean restaurants on Long Point Road and one of the best in “Little Korea.” It is about a mile east of Haden Park and serves traditional in-table barbecue, stews, and kimchi pancakes.
At a Korean BBQ restaurant, I always seem to find something new and exciting, and it’s usually in the side dish category. Bon Ga is no exception.
Their radish wraps are unrivaled. Their steamed eggs are also not to be missed.
Final Verdict
With this information, you should be able to answer the question, “What are the best Korean BBQ restaurants near me?”
As you can probably tell, there are a plethora of delicious Korean BBQ restaurants in Houston. Most are family-run businesses that can be found in most of the city’s neighborhoods.
In Houston, you’re never far from a tasty Korean meal. So, instead of a cowboy hat, try some flavorful Korean food if you’re craving some barbecue. You’ll be grateful later.