Alan ‘Bo’ Borenstein5 Best Korean BBQ Places in Vancouver
You ever get so hungry that you can bet you can devour an entire feast by yourself? If that’s the case and you’re willing to try something new, we’d like to introduce you to this new joint we discovered that may just be the answer to your appetite.
Introducing Korean BBQ, where you can chow down a delicious variety of marinated meats and vegetables right at your table!
Vancouver’s Best Korean BBQ Places
Many Korean BBQ places have popped up over the years, but how exactly do you know which ones are the best? It can be overwhelming to decide, but we’re here to help you out. We’ve assessed the following establishments based on the criteria below:
1. Kook Korean BBQ Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Meat | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Side Dishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cleanliness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cooking Equipment | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Kook Korean, located on 1st Ave., is a well-designed Korean BBQ spot featuring wooden decor, elegant warm lighting, and snug seating areas complete with tabletop grills.
We couldn’t contain our excitement with the diverse meat selection, which spans from flavorful marinated beef bulgogi to juicy pork belly and tender seafood.
You get to choose between 14 varieties, and it doesn’t end there. They serve 15 side dishes and rice, which we thought was quite generous. And the taste is nothing short of amazing.
We opted for the premium beef for two, which came with marinated short ribs, beef tongue, marinated pork collar, and beef brisket. Though it was a bit on the expensive side, the delicious flavors more than justified the cost.
The atmosphere was great, with pleasant music and stylish artwork adorning the walls. It’s certainly more upscale, but it maintains that welcoming ambiance that puts you at ease.
They had ample cooking equipment available, and we appreciate that the staff here are more than willing to help out customers who are new to Korean BBQ.
For us, you can’t really go wrong with Kook Korean. If you’re looking for one of the best Korean BBQ places in Vancouver, this is a must-visit.
Pros
- Free refills on side dishes
- Good variety of meat
Cons
- Relatively pricey
Customer Reviews
Good quality meat
“Everything was great. Surprisingly good food. There were 15 side dishes. My fav was the kelp noodles. Crunchy texture. Couldn’t stop eating. The meat was good quality too, and marinate was very flavourful.”
-Stan H.
Unlimited side dishes
“The best part is the amazing unlimited banchans !!! Meats were fresh and tasty. Customer service here is awesome as well.”
-Linda V.
2. Dae Bak Bon Ga
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Meat | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Side Dishes | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Ambiance | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Cleanliness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cooking Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Dae Bak Bon Ga reminds us of Seoul, with its lively atmosphere as all seats are close together and there’s good music playing on the speakers. But the standout feature of Dae Bak Bon Ga is the happy hour.
Just so you know, happy hour here is split into 3 different times, which we thought was unique. First is from 12pm to 1:30pm, then 3:30pm to 5pm, and finally, 9pm to 10:30pm.
We made it our mission to line up early and secure a spot during happy hour, and we liked how they gave out awesome deals for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ.
The AYCE KBBQ Happy Hour Special Menu 3 was the culprit for our overindulgence. But the soy-marinated pork absolutely slapped, and we suggest giving it a try with a dip into the corn cheese.
We also liked that we got to choose between a wide selection of beef, pork, and chicken and 10 side dishes, which we thought was a good spread. We only wish there were more sauces to accompany our meal.
Despite that, we think Dae Bak Bon Ga is one of the best Korean BBQ places in Vancouver. They offer great value for money with their wide selection of meats and generous portions.
Pros
- Great happy hour prices
- Wide selection of beef, pork, and chicken
Cons
- Only serves 10 side dishes
Customer Reviews
Great atmosphere and ambiance
“Great atmosphere and ambiance. They have a lot of vegetarian options as well. The bulgogi stew with potato noodles was good.”
-Sam M.
Lots of pork and beef options
“All you can eat, lots of pork options, a few beef options . Food come up fast, 2 person per table is nice , enough cooking time.”
-Simona L.
3. Sumi Korean Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Meat | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Side Dishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cleanliness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cooking Equipment | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Within a cozy and modern atmosphere, this Korean BBQ place will make you feel like you’ve got home just in time for dinner. The dining area here is spacious, and the lights are dim but bright enough to create a warm ambiance.
We noticed right away that they don’t have as many meat options, but we did like that they’ve got authentic Korean BBQ like bulgogi, spicy chicken bulgogi, samgyeopsal, and spicy pork bulgogi.
These traditional Korean BBQ dishes were delicious and not too oily when cooked. But the standout meat for us was the spicy pork bulgogi, as it had that distinct Korean spice and flavor that’s best paired with rice to balance out the heat.
Make sure to try out Sumi Korean Restaurant’s fantastic hot pot offerings, including delicious options like pork backbone and potato hotpot, pork backbone and kimchi hotpot, and spicy chicken hotpot, while you’re here.
In the end, we believe they’re a great option if you’re seeking a classic Korean BBQ experience. Even though their menu isn’t as extensive, we appreciate their emphasis on offering a variety of meals, spanning from hot pot to BBQ.
Pros
- Serves hotpot meals
- Generous portions
Cons
- Limited meat options
Customer Reviews
Reasonable price
“The place delivers a genuine taste of Korea, serving up generous portions with reasonable price…”
-Neo C.
Super nice and amazing food
“The owner was super nice and all the food tasted amazing. The portion sizes were great, overall delicious experience and I would definitely come back!”
-Karen L.
4. Joon’s Kitchen
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Meat | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Side Dishes | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cleanliness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cooking Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
For traditional Korean homemade meals, Joon’s Kitchen is where it’s at. This humble restaurant is like one of those mom-and-pop-owned places that you accidentally discover and want to keep as your secret.
The main offerings revolve around bulgogi, including options like pork, chicken, and beef. These dishes pair wonderfully with the traditional Korean staples readily available on their menu.
We’ve tried all of ’em—kimchi stew and fried rice, the famous tteok-bboki (rice cakes), bibimbap, and soybean stew. While all of these were yummy and hearty, we have to say we enjoyed pairing Korean BBQ with kimchi fried rice.
We also thoroughly enjoyed indulging in their Korean fried chicken. To start, it’s boneless, and the marinade strikes a great balance between sweetness and spiciness, while the chicken boasts an exceptionally crispy texture!
Some of the customers we’ve spoken with shared with us how they loved that they had a wide selection of sauces to choose from to accompany their meals.
If you’re looking for one of the best Korean BBQ places in Vancouver that also serves traditional Korean staples, we highly recommend Joon’s Kitchen.
Pros
- Serves Korean food staples
- Crispy Korean fried chicken available
Cons
- Limited indoor seating
Customer Reviews
Tasty food and fresh ingredients
“This place is a gem that has tasty food, fresh ingredients and priced very competitively despite being in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the GVRD.”
-Steven H.
Beautifully-prepared food
“This is our go-to neighbourhood restaurant. Such fresh food and beautifully prepared. Always consistent.”
-Linda C.
5. Rib & Chicken
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Meat | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Side Dishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cleanliness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Cooking Equipment | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Established in 2017, Rib and Chicken also creates delicious in-house sauces and glazes that really stand out in their Korean barbecue and fried chicken.
They’re more on the upscale side, with well-presented dishes and an elegant atmosphere accentuated by wooden furniture and soft ambient lighting. The best thing here is the pork back ribs, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
Out top pick? The cheesy pork back ribs. This Korean-style grilled pork back rib is served with over-melted cheese, and let us tell you, it’s a match made in heaven. The combination of tender pork and gooey cheese was just scrumptious.
Now, ribs generally take time to prepare, but the wait was undoubtedly worth it. Other offerings here include bibimbap, fried chicken, seafood tofu stew, rice bowls, and hotpot.
Many of the customers we’ve talked with praise the quick and friendly service at this restaurant and how the staff is willing to offer recommendations and guidance.
Overall, we think Rib and Chicken is one of the best Korean BBQ places in Vancouver if you’re looking for a more upscale experience.
Pros
- Specializes in Korean-style grilled pork back rib
- Delicious in-house sauces and glazes
Cons
- Limited side dishes
Customer Reviews
Fast service and good portions
“Good, tasty Korean fried chicken. Good portions fast service. Not too busy a location. One of the better choices in the neighbourhood.”
-Adrian L.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside
“Its so good!! The fried chicken are crispy on the outside and the most tender and juicy on the inside. Go-to place for my friends and i. a must visit”
-Astha C.
FAQs about Korean BBQ in Vancouver
Well, there you go. We hope this article has helped you narrow down on where you can chow down on Korean BBQ. Here are a few related articles that you may find interesting:
