Kirby’s Top 5 Series
Having been a food blogger for more than 10 years and reviewed over 800+ restaurants all over the world, the most common question I get is: What is your favourite restaurant in Vancouver?
Literally almost everyone I’ve met has asked me that question after they discover what I do – and unfortunately, I do not have an answer for that because there are just too many amazing restaurants in Vancouver to choose just one! What I can do however, is to give you my Top 5 picks for the cuisine or type of food.
In this Top 5 series, I’m kicking it off with Korean BBQ restaurants in Vancouver. Feel free to send me your requests for other categories such as high tea, brunch, bubble tea, among others. Send me your suggestions or questions via Instagram @eatingwithkirby.
TOP 5 KOREAN BBQ RESTAURANTS in no particular order
1) Jeju
Jeju Vancouver (they also have a location in Tofino) is not necessarily a typical “Korean BBQ” restaurant, but one of their signature items does classify as Korean BBQ!
The item that is a MUST GET here is “The Galbi” which features 35-day aged prime short rib, arugula salad, kimchi, ssamjang, ssam-mu, jangajji, lettuce, rice.
Their restaurant is split into two parts, one are traditional Korean recipes by the owner’s mother Julie, and the other half of the menu has more contemporary dishes by the son Dylan.
Other items that are notable here include:
- Spot Prawn (with orange vinaigrette, garlic aioli, jalapeño jangajji
- Eggplant (Prawn, dill aioli)
- Soondubu (Spicy silken tofu stew, prawn, squid, onion, eggs, rice)
2) Kosoo
If you are looking for a hidden gem, you need to check out Kosoo Korean BBQ in Coquitlam. It is definitely a spot most people overlook when hunting for the best Korean BBQ in Vancouver. Honestly, this hidden gem is truly super solid and worth the short drive.
Additionally, they offer incredibly affordable lunch sets, and their cuts of meat are always remarkably fresh. The beautifully marinated options are also completely delicious and pack so much flavor.
Plus, my absolute favorite thing about dining here is their generous spread of banchans (Korean side dishes). They even include marinated quail eggs in the rotation! You rarely see quail eggs at other spots because they are a bit pricey. Fortunately, Kosoo doesn’t skimp on quality, making it a must-visit for any local foodie.
3) Gyubee
So, this next one is a bit of a cheat. It is not actually Korean BBQ. Instead, it is a Japanese style grill. However, it is such a phenomenal Asian BBQ spot that I absolutely have to include it on this list!
If you have never been to Gyubee Japanese Grill before, you are seriously missing out. Furthermore, it is a highly popular Canadian chain with multiple locations across Toronto, Waterloo, Ottawa, and Montreal.
They offer an incredible all-you-can-eat (AYCE) experience. Honestly, the premium meat quality is exactly what sets them apart from the competition. The overall menu is not quite as vast as some other standard AYCE spots. Regardless, the service and the quality of every single item are totally unmatched.
Just keep in mind that the Richmond location on Ackroyd Road gets super busy. You need to make a reservation ahead of time if you have a big party of six or more. Fortunately, smaller groups can use the digital waitlist tool online, or you can simply arrive before they open to line up!
4) Galbi Korean BBQ
Honestly, you can never go wrong with Galbi Korean BBQ. They have multiple locations across Metro Vancouver (Coquitlam, Burnaby, and New Westminister), and their food is always solid.
They’ve built a loyal following for doing the basics exceptionally well. Their marinated short ribs (galbi) and beef finger meat are incredibly tender and flavourful, and every barbecue order comes loaded with generous extras like fresh lettuce wraps, a large mixed greens salad, and a comforting bowl of tofu soup.
5) Kook Korean BBQ
This one is a popular one! Kook Korean BBQ is always packed and for good reason. Every single table uses premium, smokeless grills and their ventilation system is perfection (who wants to smell like smoke when they get home?!).
Their dine-in BBQ comes with 15 (yes! 15!) refillable banchans and also unlimited lettuce wraps. That in itself already belongs on my list because I have yet to find a good Korean BBQ restaurant in Vancouver that offers unlimited lettuce wraps, let alone give you 15 banchans with your meal.
The one thing to mention is that while the banchans are refillable and there are a lot of them, they’re actually not the best tasting banchans I’ve had. Many of them were mediocre but I did really enjoy about 4-5 of the 15 including the kimchi.
They use certified AAA or Prime Canadian beef for all of their signature meat cuts. Additionally, their curated combos make it super easy to visit with a big group and share an incredible meal!
I hope you enjoyed my Top 5 List of Korean BBQ spots in Vancouver!
Other Top 5 Lists
Happy Eating!
