NYC | Best Korean Restaurants
Consider this your need-to-know guide to the best Korean restaurants in Manhattan. When I moved to New York as a bright-eyed college student, one thing I knew I had to find was good Korean food, because Mill near campus sure as hell didn’t cut it.
Luckily, the city has a lot to offer, and Korean food — from your classic soondubu to more fusion fare — is one of them. So whether you’re looking for a good KBBQ place for your rowdy party of 8, or a fancier meal with 39th-floor views, this list has a little something for everyone.
For sizzling gogi galore:
I can say with absolute confidence that I don’t know a single person who doesn’t like Korean barbecue. For some classic grilled gogi, or “meat” in Korean, Jongro or Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong are popular choices, though I’d suggest going on a weekday with a smaller group, or expect a wait. Get some japche and seafood pancakes to share before chowing down on some gogi, marinated or otherwise. I like wrapping a piece of beef in lettuce and ssamjang (spicy fermented bean paste) into a little parcel and eating it whole.
KBBQ can be a little on the pricier side in K-Town proper, averaging around $90 for a combo that feeds 2-3 people, but Bap, a few avenues away in Murray Hill, is great for big groups when you’re trying to save a bit of cash. The beef combo clocks in at an angelic $75, and comes with rice, various banchan, and your choice of stew. It’s also quieter than your typical BBQ restaurant, so you can enjoy your meal without yelling over each other.
Cote is another great place for barbecue. Decked out in marble tables and black walls, this sleek joint in Flatiron offers a Butcher’s Feast for $45 per person, which, while a little less forgiving on your wallet, is well worth it. My family of four struggled to finish the four cuts of (great, high-quality) meat, banchan, egg soufflé, two types of stews and a surprisingly dang good soft serve.
For traditional Korean eats just the way mama makes ‘em:
Whenever I’m missing home-cooked food, I’ll usually head to New Wonjo in K-Town. Everything here is solid — you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose, but I especially like their kimchi jjigae (kimchi and pork stew), ddukbaegi bulgogi (marinated beef simmering in sweet soy sauce with glass noodles and veggies), and broiled mackerel, which comes with a side of jjigae. Their bibimbap is also great too, and comes sizzling in a hot stone pot.
For Korean food when you want to spice things up…metaphorically:
There’s been a sudden boom in modern Korean restaurants in NYC, offering classic dishes with a twist. Oiji in East Village is one of my favourites, serving up creative, Korean-style tapas. Get the fried chicken, which is probably the most delicately fried chicken that’s ever graced my tummy, as well as the baby octopus, and jang-jo-rim, which is a bowl of buttered rice topped with beef shank and a soy-marinated egg. You must (!) end your meal with their honey butter chips with vanilla ice cream. You won’t regret it, trust me.
The sister restaurant of the popular Her Name is Han, Take 31 is another one of my go-to’s. My mouth waters just at the thought of their pork belly rice cake wrap: Grilled pork belly wrapped in chewy injeolmi, dusted with roasted soybean powder and a light drizzle of honey. Get the crispy Havana-style corn pancake as an appetizer and the creamy kimchi stew, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a meal.
For upscale dinners with a view:
Gaonnuri is a great place to take your parents to when they’re in town, or for a special night out. Situated on the 39th floor, this swankier restaurant offers views of the Manhattan skyline with a capital “V.” Their Korean BBQ is good, as are their other dishes, but my favourite is their galbi jjim — beef short rib braised with carrots, chestnuts, dates and turnips (and my favourite Korean dish!). Spoon some of the sweet soy sauce it’s braised in, along with some of the tender beef, onto your rice, and it’s a real party. Their desserts here are fun and interesting too.
For flat-out treating yourself:
So you got a raise, it’s someone’s birthday, or you’re trying to convince your date how much you like them by feeding them food that costs more than the shoes on your feet. Jungsik is the place to go. This two-Michelin restaurant in Tribeca serves tasting menus comprised of innovative, exciting takes on traditional Korean fare, like mandoo, or Korean dumplings, stuffed with foie gras, and fish glazed in doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) brown butter. An incredible, if a little stuffier, dining experience if you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion.
