Doris and I recently had the privilege to dine at what I can only say, is “one of the most authentic Korean-style BBQs in the US”, says founder and owner Ray Park. He was chatting with us and explaining how he came up with the concept. He went on and proudly shared that he hired one of the top 10 chefs in South Korea. They created a menu using only the freshest ingredients. He incorporated his national pride into every aspect of the restaurant.
The all-you-can-eat menu is simple, but the food choices are extensive, starting at ($35.00) thirty-five dollars, which includes the following proteins, beef, pork, chicken, or seafood options. With the BBQ you will get Banchan which are small accompanying side dishes served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. The Banchan are complimentary sides for your meal, they include Kimchi (Spicy Fermented Cabbage), Pickled Onion (Spicy Pickled Radish), Wasabi Pickled Radish Paper (Thinly Sliced Pickled Radish Naturally Colored with Beet), Pickled Onion, Jalapeno, and Radish (Soy Pickled Onion, Jalapeno, and Radish), and Hallyu Salad (Hallyu Signature Salad with Chef’s Special Soy Base Dressing). You will each also receive your sauces that pair with the meal, Salt & pepper, Hallyu Yum Yum Sauce, and Hallyu Brisket Sauce
Your adventure starts with a gong, yes a gong, you are welcomed to the dining area with a gonging of a gong. As you are seated, you are presented with a menu that has all of the different variations of the all-you-can-eat as well as a nice list of appetizers and beverages both adult and regular.
For our drinks, Doris opted for the Yuzu Makgeolli Mule. She said it was one of the smoothest and most refreshing drinks that she has enjoyed in a very long time. I had the Mango Tractor Tea which was very refreshing and not overly sweet.
Our server Lucy explained the ordering and progression of food. Ray, the owner, shared with us all about the location’s nuances and what sets them apart from other locations with similar concepts. His dedication to quality and authenticity is evident not only in the cuisine but in every aspect of the location, down to the custom-made light covers that adorn the dining area, and including the BBQ tables with round grills with built-in downdraft exhaust. Ray pointed out that the downdraft exhaust eliminates the smoky odor you would expect and find at other restaurants that have similar table grills. Before moving on to other guests, Ray took the time to show us the proper way to set the table for the BBQ (see photo below). We ordered the Bulgogi sliders as well as steamed pork dumplings. Everything is made in-house so you know that they are delicious.
We noticed that as we were grilling, the meats kept getting better and better as we were getting fuller and fuller. LOL
The meats that we tried were, Hallyu Steak (Soy Marinated Signature Top Blade Steak), Spicy Hallyu Steak (Spicy Marinated Signature Top Blade Steak), Garlic Pork Belly (Thick Sliced Tenderized Garlic Marinated Pork Belly), Premium Thin Brisket (Thinly Sliced PremiumBrisket), Bulgogi (Korean Traditional Thinly Sliced Soy Marinated Beef), and Soy Chicken Thigh (Chicken Thigh Marinated in Our Special House Soy Sauce). The meats were so tender and the flavors were so diverse that we didn’t want to stop eating. Dessert was available, however, we were too full. There is a VIP room that is perfect for business meetings and private parties. Let us not forget to mention that Karaoke is available in the Special Karaoke room.
We were so impressed that we plan to return soon with family and friends. We welcome Hallyu to the neighborhood and look forward to becoming regulars.
