Korean in Houston

9715 Bellaire Blvd. Outer Loop - SW

713-988-2088

Open until the wee hours, this outstanding Korean barbecue joint caters to lovers of grilled meats. The grills aren't lit during the daytime, but don't let that discourage you. The bento-box lunch is not only outstanding, it's very cheap.

2 articles

Bon Ga Korean Restaurant

9861 Long Point Rd. Outer Loop - NW

713-461-5265

Asian, Korean, Best Of

Located on Long Point Road between Gessner and Blalock, Bon Ga is a favorite among local chefs, offering authentic, everyday Korean cuisine that can be ordered à la carte for one or eaten family-style. The menu is extensive, with several pages of illustrated dishes, ranging from popular boiling hot pot stews like the kim chi jjigae (kimchi stew) or soondubu jjigae (tofu stew) to appetizer dishes like the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) or twigim mandu (pan-fried dumplings), to noodle dishes like naengmyeon (Korean cold noodles). Bon Ga wouldn't be a Korean restaurant if it didn't have Korean barbecue on the menu, and you'll find a good selection of popular barbecue cuts like galbi (short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated sliced beef) on the menu as well. Barley tea service is free, and those needing help can always ring the handy bell for service.

2 articles

Bonchon

24437 Katy Freeway Katy

281-394-9188

Wings, Korean, Asian Fusion, Best Of

The Katy location of Bonchon opened in late May of 2016 at 24437 Katy Freeway in the Suite #100 space in the Katy Ranch Crossing Shopping Center, on the south-side feeder of Katy Freeway. Bonchon offers fried chicken drumsticks and wings, along with a variety of other Korean and Asian-fusion-inspired dishes. The fried chicken, using the traditional double-fry Korean technique, is tender inside and crispy on the outside, and both the soy garlic and spicy sauces were delicious. The side dishes need improvement, especially the Korean tacos and the house fried rice. Seasoned french fries were executed perfectly. Try the flight of soju to sample the different fruit flavors. The Katy location has a full bar serving wine, beer and mixed cocktails.

3 articles

Burger House

395 W. Main St., League City Clear Lake

281-316-8894

American, Korean, Recommended

Our latest find in the bi-cultural burger department is the soy and teriyaki barbecue sauce-flavored “Bulgoki Burger” at the Korean-owned Burger House in League City. Patrons describe the joint as the “poor man's Fuddruckers” because they cook fresh, not frozen burger patties to order and then offer a salad bar so you can dress the sandwich yourself. The regular burgers are tasty but not worth a detour.

Dadami

1927 N. Gessner Rd. Outer Loop - NW

832-657-0007

Korean, Sushi, Recommended

Dadami bills itself as a Japanese restaurant, but it actually serves Korean-style sashimi called hwe. If you go at night, bring a large group — you'll want to indulge in one of the multi-course dinners like the "deluxe sashimi" meal that feeds four to six people and features a stunning array of fresh, raw fish, fried seafood, grilled vegetables and dozens of banchan. At lunch, seriously cheap specials let you try smaller portions of the large dinners one at a time.

Dak & Bop

1801 Binz, Suite 120 Third Ward

713-528-0280

Korean, Mexican, Readers' Choice

Dak & Bop is attractive, hip and so sleek it would be easy to turn it into a franchise operation that does for Korean fried chicken what Chipotle did for burritos. That said, there are some compelling flavors to be found, including the sweet and savory tug of soy garlic, the mildest of the wings, or the Sriracha honeylime’s tangy push of citrus against deeper, underlying warming spices. Some of the most successful food at Dak & Bop delves into the flavors of Mexico, like the gorgeous style cornonthecob and the with thick chunks of roasted pork moistened with dabs of citrus aioli and . Skip the mediocre cocktails in favor of a pint of one of the many craft beers. Beer goes better with hot wings, anyway. Full bar and outdoor seating available. Casual attire. $ - $$

2 articles

Dosi Restaurant & Soju Bar

2802 S Shepherd Dr. Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-521-3674

Fusion, Korean, Menu

Dosi is a perfect Lower Shepherd/Kirby Dr. place to hang out with groups of friends and coworkers. Using an izakaya model, Dosi’s emphasis is on sharable dishes and drinks. The smallish menu is heavy on small plates, so diners should order several. The Goat Milk Ice is a can’t miss confection. Pricing is extremely reasonable and even after ordering alcoholic beverages, the check will be smaller than you might expect. Parents take note: Kids under age seven are not allowed and Dosi recommends that kids not be brought at all after 7 p.m. Get a sitter and go have some quality time with your grownup friends.

9 articles

Dragon Bowl Asian Bistro

1221 W. 11th St. Heights

713-426-2750

Asian, Chinese, Korean, Sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, Recommended, Menu, Slideshow

Dragon Bowl epitomizes the concept of a useful restaurant: a cozy, accessible neighborhood spot that serves food to please nearly every palate. But it manages to escape comparisons to a Pei Wei by actually offering very good food made with high-quality ingredients by a legitimate chef who puts modern Texas touches on the pan-Asian menu. Look for the Third Coast and roll with crispy fried oysters or the head-on Gulf shrimp in a spicy green curry. Dragon Bowl also does a brisk takeout business with standbys like its Hippie Fried Rice, but it's hard not to want to linger in the airy dining room or at the long bar while you watch the cooks work the woks.

6 articles

Il Me Jung Korean Restaurant

10017 Long Point Rd. Outer Loop - NW

713-827-8808

Korean, Best Of

2 articles

Jang Guem Tofu & BBQ House

9896 Bellaire Outer Loop - SW

713-773-2229

Korean, Recommended

With a name like Tofu House, it’s probably unnecessary to let you know that it is, in fact, vegetarian-friendly and Asian. Located in Sharpstown, this casual restaurant is right in the middle of an area saturated with Asian restaurants, but it is the only one specializing in Korean tofu dishes. They also offer a beer selection to cool off your tongue from some of the spicier dishes, like the spicy kimchi.

Korea Garden Restaurant

9501 Long Point Outer Loop - NW

713-468-2800

Korean, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Maybe it's the fun of cooking it yourself. Maybe it's the "eatertainment" value, as they say at Benihana. There is no doubt that do-it-yourself barbecue is the thing to order at Korea Garden. The snug little booths here are a luxurious and intimate place to hang out and cook. By all means, get the popular bulgogi (rib eye steak) and bulgalbi (boneless short ribs), but don't overlook the barbecued squid.

1 article

Kot Dae Ji

1411-A Gessner Outer Loop - NW

713-467-8801

Korean, Restaurants, Best Of

Korean-food neophytes might want to start with Nam Gang, a comfortable restaurant filled with Korean families eating at long wooden tables. A large portion of the menu is devoted to marinated meats (most are nonthreatening beef and chicken varieties, but you'll also find squid and tongue) cooked on the grill that commands the center of your table. Round up a bunch of like-minded friends, appoint one person to be in charge of the grill, and make an evening of it.

2 articles

Lim’s Chicken

10603 Bellaire, Suite B107 Outside Houston

281-575-8077

Korean, Wings

South Korean import Lim’s Chicken opened at 10603 Bellaire in the northeast corner of the Saigon Houston Plaza anchored by the giant Kim Son Buffet & Dim Sum Restaurant. The Houston outpost opened in mid-December of 2016 and is the first Lim’s to land in the United States.The eatery serves traditional Korean food, but specializes in fried chicken, cooked using the twice-fried technique that leaves the meat tender and juicy while securing a crispy, outer shell and usually served coated with a spicy, hot sauce. The kimchi is tasty, the Korean dishes are standard and the fried chicken is pretty good, but don’t just get the original flavor; Korean fried chicken isn’t “Korean” fried chicken sans the spicy sauce.

2 articles

Lucky Palace Korean Restaurant

8508 Bellaire Outer Loop - SW

832-409-6002

Korean

Located right on Bellaire Boulevard in the heart of Chinatown on the southwest side of Houston, Lucky Palace Korean Restaurant is a family-owned place that specializes in Korean barbecue. A popular spot for lunch, when the lunch specials knock a few dollars off the à la carte prices of dishes such as the sundubu jigae (tofu stew) and the bibimbap (a mixed rice dish), Lucky Palace shines the most at dinnertime. The restaurant excels at Korean barbecue, and though there are à la carte options, it’s best to come in a group so you can order one of the preset barbecue combos for two or more. The combos come with three or four selections of meat, a standard assortment of fresh-made banchan (side dishes), as well as steamed egg and Korean salad.

2 articles

Mugunghwa

10049 Long Point Road Heights

2818466729

Korean

Ohn Korean Eatery

9630 Clarewood Drive, Suite A16 Outer Loop - SW

Korean

2 articles

Republic Diner + Sojubang

1221 W. 11th Heights

832-649-3601

Korean, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Republic Diner + Sojubang is a glorious spot for casual, authentic Korean fare in the Heights. The flattop grills and stoves are located right behind the bar, so it’s possible to watch your meal being prepared while sipping one of the infused sojus or one of several craft beers. There are a few Korean and Japanese beers to choose from as well. Bibimbap, or rice topped with grilled beef, pickled vegetables and an egg, is served in searingly hot bowls — as is required to get a nice brown crust on the bottom of the rice. The wang galbi, or king’s ribs, is a wonderful, economical feast for two, with sliced short rib and an assortment of banchan, the small side dishes traditional with Korean meals. On busy nights, the place is packed with regulars, so visit Sundays through Wednesdays for a more sedate experience. Pet lovers take note: The patio is dog-friendly.

5 articles

Seoul Garden Restaurant

9446 Long Point Outer Loop - NW

713-935-9696

Korean, Sushi, Recommended, Best Of

Long popular with local Korean-Americans, Seoul Garden is more reminiscent of Kyoto than Korea, which helps to explain its wide range of Japanese fare. The shtick here is Korean barbecue; the meat is marinated, grilled at your table and then served with sticky rice, miso soup and spicy vegetables. Wash them down with Korean beer.

2 articles

Seoul House

10603 Bellaire, Ste. B-107 Outer Loop - SW

281-575-8077

Korean, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of

Seoul House is the laid-back little brother of the huge cook-your-own-food Korean restaurants that populate Spring Branch and parts of Bellaire Chinatown. The bulgogi and galbi are as good as we've had anywhere, and the stir-fried veggies with clear noodles and seafood pancake are excellent.

1 article

State of Grace

3258 Westheimer Lower Shepherd-Kirby

832-942-5080

Tex-Mex, Chinese, Korean, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

State of Grace is outstanding when it’s not suffocating under the weight of its own popularity. At least for now, smart diners will visit at non-peak hours, like 5:30 or 9:30 for dinner. Once safely ensconced in a seat, revel in the glory of unabashedly affectionate takes on Houston food culture. The menu is all over the map—but State of Grace does most of it well. There’s good Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, but the tributes to Tex-Mex are truly superb. Cut to the chase and order one Cheese Enchilada “A La Felix” for each person at the table. Right after everyone tastes the hot, gooey cheese mixed with the thick chili (note that it’s real chili, not chili gravy), they’ll each want his or her own. The Queso Oaxaca, garnished with hen of the woods mushrooms and accompanied by warm, bacon fat tortillas, is just as exquisite but more sharable. That aside, the Woodroasted Bobwhite Quail is a fun, hoisin-sauced take on Moo Shu (complete with a Chinese style pancake hiding under a bed of kimchi) and the Twice Fried Hot Chicken (a.k.a. Korean Fried Chicken) is better than that served by chains that specialize in it.

11 articles

Tofu Village

9889 Bellaire Blvd. Outer Loop - SW

713-777-9889

Korean, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Tofu Village is not a place for vegetarians. The fiery Korean "soon tofu," or soft tofu soup that is a specialty here uses bland fresh tofu as a counterpoint to hot and spicy meats and seafoods in a chile-based broth. The free side dishes that come with every meal are quite impressive.

2 articles

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Korean in Houston