Best Korean Restaurants in America

This cozy contemporary restaurant and pub is named for the Korean concept of food best consumed with alcohol. Flavor-packed bar snacks are served alongside makgeolli (an unfiltered effervescent rice wine), soju, and house cocktails, with classic comforting mains like dolsot bibimbap (sizzling stone bowl rice with vegetables).

The exquisite tasting menu experience at Atomix starts with snacks and drinks in the lounge before diners are seated at an intimate bar and served an array of ten courses executed with meticulous attention to technique and flavor. From the Hokkaido uni, Australian abalone, and house-milled rice to the evocative printed descriptions of each dish, every detail at Atomix serves to create an unforgettable meal.

With a flagship restaurant in LA’s Koreatown, numerous locations elsewhere in Southern California, and an outpost in New York City, Baekjeong is among the premier Korean BBQ operations in the U.S. Meats offered include top-quality brisket, ribeye, pork jowls and bellies, and beef tongue, and the flavors of the barbecue are matched by Baekjeong’s outstanding service.

Cuts like beef belly, ribeye cap, and marinated boneless short rib – plus A5 Japanese wagyu steaks at market price – set this upscale restaurant on a tier above the usual Korean BBQ joints; add to that a peaceful outdoor terrace garden and an art gallery, and you’ve got a unique dining destination. While prime cuts of beef and pork steal the show, the seafood pancake is not to be missed.

Cook your own BBQ over mesquite charcoal at this authentic no-frills, family-run establishment. Famous for their kalbi (marinated beef short ribs) and excellent variety of bottomless banchan, this lively and bustling restaurant is a shoo-in for a group celebration or large family dinner.