Finding nice Korean restaurants can be hard.
Here’s how to spot good ones in the U.S.
Quick Summary
- The best Korean restaurants in the U.S. aren’t always the most expensive or famous.
- Naturally, bigger Koreatowns offer more quality Korean restaurants.
- Good Korean restaurants are often found near Korean supermarkets.
- Korean restaurants focusing on one type of dish are usually the best.
1. Explore Koreatowns
According to the Korean population report by Pew Research Center, most Koreans live in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, and San Jose.
Naturally, they offer more quality Korean restaurants.
In bigger koreatowns, you’ll likely find a range of choices, from BBQ and fried chicken to specialized spots like kimchi jjigae and Korean bakery cafes.
The Bay Area and Atlanta also have good options, but fewer than Los Angeles or New York.
But with the right knowledge, you can still find gems.
2. Check Out Korean Supermarkets
Some of the best Korean restaurants are found near Korean supermarkets like H Mart or Korean plazas.
They tend to attract authentic eateries catering to a Korean clientele.
If the area has specialty stores with Korean ingredients and snacks, there’s a good chance a quality restaurant is nearby.
3. Look for Korean-Heavy Menus
One of the easy ways to judge a Korean restaurant is by the menu.
It’s a red flag if the restaurant offers an overwhelming variety of dishes (especially if they include non-Korean items like sushi or Chinese food).
Korean restaurants focusing on one type of dish are usually the best, like BCD Tofu House. It’s a must-visit place even for Koreans visiting Los Angeles.
Places offering both jokbal (braised pig’s trotters) and bossam (steamed pork) are usually great for pork dishes.
4. Pay Attention to Rice, Kimchi, and Banchan
Rice, kimchi, and banchan (side dishes) are the backbone of Korean meals.
These core elements are great indicators of a restaurant’s overall quality.
Kimchi:
Good kimchi is well-balanced. You should be able to eat it on its own. Avoid places where kimchi is either too sweet or too sour.
Rice:
Most restaurants improve rice quality cooked in bulk by placing fresh rice into stainless steel bowls and storing them in warmers to keep the rice warm.
If the rice feels freshly cooked, you’re in a good spot.
Also, if you get purple rice, that means the restaurant really cares about health and quality.
The best one is where rice is served in a dolsot stone bowl.
Banchan:
The number of banchan varies depending on the main dish, but good banchan will feature local, seasonal ingredients.
These small bites can elevate your entire meal. A table full of banchan may look great on camera, but quality is more important that quantity.
Did we miss anything?
Let us know your thoughts or questions about Korean restaurants in the United States!
