Robert WebbIf you’re a fan of Korean dramas or the country in general, you’ve probably seen protagonists enjoying traditional fare like kimchi jjigae and tteokbokki at Korean restaurants. Did this make your stomach rumble, too?
Ours, at least, did. We went out and tried many different Vancouver Korean restaurants so that you wouldn’t have to.
The best Korean restaurants in Vancouver are located in Robson street and Burnaby. These neighborhoods have plenty of options to satisfy your cravings from the classic samgyupsal to spicy stews and crispy Korean chicken.
1. Sura Korean Royal Cuisine Restaurant
As we arrived at Sura Korean Royal Cuisine Restaurant, it felt like we were going to dine in a Korean restaurant in Seoul, as the decor screamed authenticity.
The tables and chairs were made of dark wood, and the walls were adorned with traditional Korean paintings. It also adds to the experience that you can choose to sit on the floor while eating, as they have dedicated floor seating areas.
Naturally, we went for the floor seating tables so we could get the full Korean experience, and we immediately ordered.
We must admit, we researched ahead of time which Korean dish to order as we wanted to get the classics such as bibimbap, tteokbokki, and, of course, fish cakes.
Out of all we ordered (which was a lot), we highly recommend the Galbi Beef. Let me tell you, the meat was so tender and juicy, and it was thinly cut too, so it was easy to eat.
We paired this with a bowl of hot white rice, and we have never looked back since.!
2. Kosoo Korean Restaurant Chicken & BBQ
We sat upstairs at the Kosoo Korean Restaurant Chicken & BBQ because all the tables were filled downstairs. Boy, the place was packed! But that didn’t really affect their service, as we were surprised that our order arrived after 10 minutes or so.
This time we ordered a feast. I’m talking beef, pork, kimchi, soup, veggies, and side dishes as far as the eye can see. Don’t judge us; we were very hungry when we came across this restaurant.
Without a doubt, the Pork Belly is the best part of our meal. We couldn’t believe how well it went with kimchi, so we’re guessing it was marinated in some sort of magical sauce.
We all agreed that the short rib stew was so delicious that we each had a spoonful in between courses to clear our taste buds. It wasn’t just a condiment for us; we ate it alongside rice.
3. Tå Bom Korean Cuisine
We heard that Tabom is a well-known spot for Korean hotpot so we knew we had to give it a try. The restaurant is hard to miss as they’re just along Robson Street and have an eye-catching wooden patio that says “Korean Fusion Cuisine”.
If you decide to visit here, please, please get the Tabom Signature Pot. We cannot emphasize enough how delicious this dish was! The broth was so flavorful and it was filled with fresh vegetables that absorbed the broth, and the meat was so tender.
Our favorite side dish is the spicy squid! It was so squishy and flavorful we ordered three more plates!
4. Dae Bak Bon Ga
We must admit, the all-you-can-eat buffet at Dae Bak Bon Ga is what led us to try them in the first place. That, and the savory scents of roast pork and beef that wafted past us coming from their restaurant.
We switched it up with this restaurant and ordered squid and marinated chicken in addition to pork belly. And we wanted to try something new aside from pork and beef, and we’re so glad we did.
This is our first time trying grilled squid, so we weren’t really sure how long we should grill it for.
Thankfully, one of their servers saw our struggle and advised us to cook the squid until it was tender and lightly charred, so we did just that.
If you’re a seafood lover like us, you’re going to have to order the grilled squid, but we recommend you put in some condiments like chili flakes, sesame oil, or smear some gochujang sauce for some extra flavor.
Or you can also order pork bone stew and dip the squid in the broth. We tried this and we highly recommend it as the squid sucks up the tasty pork broth.
5. Ole chicken
No one can resist deep-fried chicken, and you can’t change our minds about it. But Ole Chicken found an even more irresistible way to make their fried chicken even better.
Their chicken batters are crazy! They have garlic soy, spicy soy, cheese-filled mayo, spicy mayo, and the Korean signature, Yang Nyeom. We couldn’t really pick one, so we ordered them all.
In all honesty, the Yang Nyeom was wonderful, but it was a bit too spicy for our liking. Luckily, we ordered some garlic mayo sauce to dip it in, and let me tell you, it was life-changing.
The garlic mayo combated the spiciness of the Yang Nyeom, and it was just heaven in our mouths.
Our top recommendations are the sweet chili chicken, garlic soy chicken, and ddeobokki ramen, as these dishes were perfectly balanced in terms of flavor and spice.
We also suggest you get a side order of the Yellow Peach on Ice to end your meal. The cold peach slices and cherry on top were refreshing and removed any trace of chicken breath.
6. Hongdae Pocha Korean BBQ
Hongdae Pocha Korean BBQ looked like a classic Korean drinking spot as it had dim lighting, round steel tables, and red stools.
This Korean restaurant also had two floors. If you know us, we prefer the view from up above, so we did just that since it was more crowded on the ground floor.
As you may have expected, we ordered a lot. We mean, a lot, a lot. We got the ram-don, some grilled pork belly, kimchi jjigae, and a lot of side dishes because you can never really get enough of those.
You have to believe us when we say that this is exactly why we can’t stay true to our diets. Apart from the fact that everything was exquisite, the portions were also very generous, and we all know it’s bad to waste food, so we ate them all and took some of the food home with us. Yes, it was that delicious.
7. Hanwoori Korean Restaurant
The huge, brightly lit neon sign beckoned us into Hanwoori Korean Restaurant. We were headed in the direction of their parking lot and decided to pull in for dinner.
They had a booth seating style, which we liked. But instead, we opted to embrace the Korean tradition of sitting on the floor and took a seat in a wooden booth. While we were waiting for our food, we sat on the given cushions.
The first dish that was served was the Gopchang jeon-gol, which was explained to us as a spicy Korean stew made with beef broth and containing small pig intestines. Were we hesitant? Yes. But do we regret devouring this dish? Absolutely not.
Look, since you’re already on a culinary journey, we highly recommend you order this dish. It is chewy, almost like gnawing on a rubber tire, but it was not difficult to eat.
Despite the spiciness, we weren’t at all fazed as the broth’s taste was stronger! After realizing that noodles would go well with the stew, we also placed an order for jajangmyeon (black noodles).
The jajangmyeon was too heavy, and the stew’s flavors were too strong, so they didn’t go well together, but they’re both delicious on their own!
8. Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant
Luckily, as we were driving down Edmonds Street, we spotted this lowkey Korean diner. Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant was easy to spot thanks to the vintage, glowing red sign of the store’s name and the matching red awning.
Though it may have looked cramped from the outside, we really enjoyed the restaurant’s interior because of how open it felt.
Since it was late at night, we decided to start off with some Korean soju. We might’ve underestimated how strong this drink was, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
Despite not having a strong tolerance to spicy food, we decided to order the Spicy Pork and we were surprised that we could tolerate it as the fresh veggies added a refreshing crunch to the dish that helped balance out the heat.
We couldn’t resist ordering some Kimchi Fried Rice because, speaking from experience, Korean pork and beef pair perfectly with rice, and of course we were right.
9. Gaya Korean Restaurant
We’re not often surprised by how good restaurant food is, but the dishes at Gaya Korean Restaurant were excellent. The food here was like the first cup of coffee you have in the morning: energizing and revitalizing, and we couldn’t wait to return.
Now, onto our first recommendation. We’ll never forget that special tteokbokki. It was so good and we liked that it was filled with deep fried snacks such as fish cakes and calamari.
If you’re still up for it, there’s another dish that we recommend and is perfect for deep-fried fans out there.
The honey garlic wings at Gaya’s is a must. These wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and have a sweet and savory sauce that pairs well with beer.
10. Masita Korean Restaurant
Masita Korean Restaurant is a late-night Korean restaurant that’s perfect for families and large groups as the store offers a spacious dining area.
We especially liked that it feels like you’re dining with the other customers in the restaurant because the tables are arranged closely together, creating a communal feeling.
We ordered beef bulgogi, sweet and spicy chicken, kimchi, and various vegetables. You know the drill by now, right? Order some rice!
11. Na-Re Korean Kitchen
As soon as we heard that Na-Re Korean Kitchen serves traditional Korean dishes with a modern twist, we knew right then and there that we had to drop by their store.
They added a nice touch by using white and beige surfaces with different wood accents all over the room. The interior was brightly lit as well, giving us faith in the quality of the photographs we would be taking there.
At this point, we’ve already tasted a lot of Korean dishes, so we were a bit worried that nothing would surprise us anymore. Not until their servers recommend we get the beef tartare. Just look at how beautifully this dish is plated.
What sets this apart from standard beef tartare is the use of Hanwoo cattle, which are known for their robust beefy flavor and sweet taste due to their pure grain and grass diet.
We also encourage you to order a plate of Kimbaps Kimbaps as these seaweed and meat rolls are the perfect accompaniment to the rich flavors of the Hanwoo beef tartare.
12. Nadri
The OG dish of Nadri is the Nadri Gal Bi Tang, so that’s what we ordered. Our verdict? It deserves the highest praise! No wonder this is the restaurant’s specialty as it has an especially rich beef broth.
The meat comes off easily from the gal bi tang, and there was plenty of meat for everyone. It was so delicious I think I forgot my name a little.
Also, try their original chicken dishes. As for us, we got the sweet and spicy and soy garlic chicken and both were amazingly crispy.
That ends our article of the best Korean restaurants in Vancouver. We hope that this gives you an idea on where you can get a taste of Korea in the city.
On the other hand, if you’re craving for Korean pastries, check out our article on the best Korean bakeries in Vancouver.
