Dae Bak Bon Ga is one of the best Korean barbecue spots in Vancouver, as it ticks a lot of boxes. 

For starters, for a place that features continuous grilling at each table, the staff members do a great job of maintaining cleanliness. Furthermore, we appreciate how they promote hygiene by offering mouthwash in their restrooms.

Of course, the main highlight here is the AYCA promo, which is impressively priced reasonably, considering the quality and variety it features.

We especially love the variety of meat they offer because they don’t just offer plain beef and pork cuts, but they marinate them in different sauces as well. Plus, the quality of the meat themselves are always fresh, and some of the beef even has exceptional marbling.

The sides selection is great as well, featuring a myriad of fresh veggies, as well as Korean favourites, such as japchae, jajangmyeon, and of course, kimchi.

If we were to nitpick a downside, it would be the lacklustre interior decor. As far as KBBQ spots go, however, it isn’t too shabby.

Great food, great vibes, and great value

“Such a great Korean BBQ spot! The meat was tasty and fresh, and the all-you-can-eat deal is totally worth it. Super friendly service and everything came out fast. 

They even had mouthwash available in the bathroom, such a nice touch! Great food, great vibes, and great value, can’t ask for more. I’ll definitely be back!”

– 서녕rara, Google Review

Tastes so authentic

“Beef rib stew is one of the best in the city, and it almost resembles the soups in Korea. Tastes so authentic, great portion, and so tender that it easily comes off the bone. There are some potato noodles inside the soup, just like in Korea, so it is nice and filling.

Budae stew has so many ingredients inside, and usually it has to be ordered as a large pot to be shared, but they have a portion for one, which is great. You can choose the level of spiciness, so if you love sausages and noodles, this is what you go for!

Side dishes are what make it even better. Potatoes are so scrumptious, and kimchi tastes so fresh and authentic. Would definitely come back!”

– Summer.C, Google Review

Sura Korean Royal Cuisine offers one of the most varied menus in Vancity, offering a wide array of barbecued meat, hearty stews, and other staples of the cuisine. 

We also reached out to Koreans residing in the city, and they praised this place for being true to Korean cookbooks. For instance, they highlighted the yukgae-jang for its delicate shredded beef and perfectly tangy soup.

Locals also stated that they love dining here for its authentic Korean-themed interior, with its birchwood finishes and linen banners. Plus, they mentioned that the price is extremely bang-for-your-buck, considering the quality and portion sizes of their dishes.

The Chef’s Special was also a huge factor in why we added this spot to our review. This selection features favourites like bulgogi, japchae, and spicy galbi-jiim, all of which taste exceptional with their fresh ingredients and Korean spices.

The only discrepancy we noticed during our interviews was regarding the staff members. Some clients mentioned how they were served with a “rude” attitude, while others didn’t have complaints at all.

Efficient service

“Excellent, efficient service and delicious meat dishes. We especially liked the BBQ pork. The seafood pancake was also fantastic. They take phone reservations, and it’s a good idea to make one. The place was very busy with people waiting.”

– Joel Routledge, Google Review

Great food, warm service, and reasonable prices

“Fantastic Authentic Korean Dining Experience!

I recently visited Sura Korean Restaurant and was thoroughly impressed by both the food and the service. We ordered the pork bone soup, spicy squid and bulgogi soup—all of which were flavorful and well-prepared. 

The pork bone soup was rich and comforting, the spicy squid and the bulgogi soup were savoury and satisfying.

What really stood out was the exceptional service. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, promptly refilling our water and checking in to make sure everything was to our liking. They also generously offered refills of side dishes, which were fresh and delicious.

While we enjoyed our meal, we couldn’t help but notice the incredible value of the special lunch menu that many other customers were ordering. For less than $30 per person, it includes a variety of dishes, making it an amazing deal! We’ll definitely be back to try it next time.

Overall, Sura offers an authentic Korean dining experience with great food, warm service, and reasonable prices. Highly recommend giving it a try—especially the lunch special!”

– Daniel Zhang, Google Review

We stumbled upon So Hyang Korean Cuisine while browsing online threads about the best Korean spots in Vancouver, and it caught our attention for its authenticity. In fact, most of the users discussing the thread had Korean roots and said that this place made them feel at home.

Upon seeing the restaurant’s menu, we immediately understood why, as it consisted of multiple Korean staples, including bulgogi, japchae, and kimchi rice. Returning customers told us that these dishes never fail to satisfy their stomachs, thanks to their large portions.

We also noticed how most people order their hot pot, which comes as no surprise, considering the variety of ingredients they offer and their freshness. The package comes with premium cuts of meat as well as a myriad of fresh veggies—plus, the broths are rich and flavorful, too!

The only downside here is that it’s almost always crowded, which could sometimes ruin the overall ambience. Furthermore, it makes it hard for walk-ins, which is also why a lot of customers recommend calling ahead.

Service was quick and friendly

“Came in on a Wednesday for an early (4:30 PM) dinner. Not busy with only three other small tables for dining. I was greeted and seated right away.

Ordered the Mandoo (deep-fried pork dumplings) to start and the K12 Yook Gae Jan (Spicy beef stew with veggie and sweet potato noodles with egg drop). Plus a ginger ale. Traditional side dishes of seaweed, sprouts, Kim Chee cabbage and fish cakes came with the main order.

The Mandoo was great – crunchy exterior texture with delicious pork inside. Dipped in the accompanying vinegar, it was devoured rather quickly.

The Yook Gae Jan came pretty quickly. The temperature is hot with a nice spice level that wouldn’t overwhelm most. 

Everything worked well – the beef, vegetables, and noodles all made for a delicious dish with the bowl of rice helping to finish off the remaining soup, a perfect completion to the dish.

Service was quick and friendly, and a second helping of the side dishes was brought when the first set was finished.

Reservations are not taken, so if you arrive at the normal dinner time, I wouldn’t be surprised to have a little bit of a wait. So Hyang is a neighbourhood gem in the Fraser Street treasure chest of so many great dining options to choose from. Highly recommend!”

– Patrick Lee, Google Review

This is now our favourite spot for Korean cuisine!

I tried this restaurant for the very first time after a friend recommended it.  This is now our favourite spot for Korean cuisine!  It was almost a full house when we got there around 5:30 pm on a Friday.  

We were lucky to be seated right away.  The servers were friendly and super attentive.  Even though it was a whole house by the time we ordered, the food came out quickly and piping hot.  It’s a good thing because we were starving.  

Portions were big, and they didn’t cheap out on ingredients.  Free side dishes are available, as with most Korean restaurants. We ordered way too much and had the leftovers the next day. It was still very delicious. Definitely worth a try if you haven’t been!”

– DC KY, Google Review

Our introduction to Zoomak Korean Tavern’s offerings was through their han sang 12-delicacies tasting tray. It features some of Korea’s best side dishes, including kimchi and veggie pancakes, and a main of your choice between pork cheek, unagi, and short rib.

Their naing-myeon and galbi are also standouts from their menu. The rich and spicy cold broth (or hot sauce) perfectly coats their premium and tender cuts of pork and beef.

Regulars also told us during our interviews that they love visiting this place because of its Korean lager and cocktails. They also added that these pair well with the signature Zoomak Korean fried chicken.

We also want to give flowers to their staff members, as they never failed to make us feel welcomed every time we entered their restaurant. Previous customers also noted how staff members would patiently explain dishes they were unfamiliar with.

Our only gripe here is the slightly pricier rates compared to other Korean restaurants in the area, but still, it does offer great value for your money.

One of the best Korean spots in town!

“One of the best Korean spots in town! Their seafood pancake is hands down my favourite — super crispy on the outside, loaded with seafood, and just so tasty.

The Makgeolli Jogae Jjim is a must-try, too. If you’re into clams, you’ll love this one!

Also, don’t skip the Spicy Seafood Stew — rich soup base, big portions, and perfect for sharing. Overall, a great place to chill and eat good food with friends or family.”

– jlai, Google Review

So good that we want to come back

“Highly recommend coming here, but make a reservation since it gets quite busy. Our highlight meal was the pork cheek ssam. It was very tender and delicious. So good that we want to come back to try all the different meats. 

We got the fried chicken and beef tartar on happy hour, which were good ‘samplers,’ and now we want to try the full size. The clams were a little spicy but overall very tasty, and the crispy rice puffs that came with them added nice texture. 

We ended with the kimchi mul-kooksoo or buckwheat cold noodles, which were actually cold and quite refreshing after the spicy clams. The noodles had a nice kimchi flavour and weren’t spicy.

Looking forward to coming back!”

– Brandon Louie, Google Review

When it comes to Korean barbecues, variety is always important, and Kook perfectly nails this, whether it be with their meats or sides. For starters, they offer different cuts of pork and beef, with some having more marbling than others.

We also appreciate how they offer unique parts like beef tongue, as these are prominently featured in Korean barbecues but are mostly absent in Westernised variations. They also marinate them in various sauces, like soy barbecue, which adds a hint of smokiness to the meat.

Customers also highlighted their seafood offerings, like the haemul gui, a platter of salmon, cod, prawns, and baby octopus.

The place also offers a pleasing atmosphere, with its cool industrial decor. Plus, it doesn’t fall under the usual unhygienic tendencies of Korean barbecues, such as greasy floors and lingering raw meat aroma.

The main issue here is that staff members sometimes forget orders, which is common in all-you-can-eat places like these. However, our interviewees did say that they would acknowledge their delays.

All the meat was tender and juicy

“I’m not usually a big fan of Korean BBQ, but Kook BBQ was a surprisingly great experience. I really enjoyed the wide variety of side dishes and the quality of the meat. 

Even though it’s not premium cuts, the way everything was prepared and processed made a huge difference—almost all the meat was tender and juicy. Service was also very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!”

– Lizzie S, Google Review

Hands down, the best Korean BBQ in Canada!

“Kook is hands down the best Korean BBQ I’ve ever had in Canada! The food and service were both amazing. What surprised me the most was the variety of side dishes, and the best part is they’re all refillable! Every dish was fresh and delicious. 

No wonder it’s always hard to get a reservation. Highly recommend if you’re craving top-quality Korean BBQ!”

– Charly Yu, Google Review