When Korean cuisine is mentioned, most people tend to think of all-can-eat barbecue feasts, but there’s a vast range of Korean specialities out there beyond KBBQ – and we adore digging into each and every one.
Here are Foodie’s must-visit Korean restaurants in Hong Kong, where we favour when we’re craving everything from kimchi and cold noodles to fried chicken and spicy stews.
Hong Kong’s top Korean restaurants
SAEMAEUL
Hong Kong’s latest Korean hotspot, SAEMAEUL is an offshoot of the famed 24-hour Korean barbecue chain, with more than 120 locations around the globe. The brand is the brainchild of celeb chef Baek Jong-won, a judge on the viral Netflix series Culinary Class Wars. In terms of the pork-heavy KBBQ on display, the go-tos at SAEMAEUL are the yeoltan bulgogi (HKD119/150g), or charcoal-grilled thinly sliced pork with spicy sauce, and ogyeopsal (HKD129/150g), or skin-on pork belly. The eatery’s prices are surprisingly on the affordable side of the spectrum.
SAEMAEUL, Shop 101, 1/F, Multifield Plaza, 3–7 Prat Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 4664 0103
Mosu Hong Kong
An offshoot of three-starred Mosu in Seoul, Mosu Hong Kong at M+ art museum is overseen by executive chef Sung Anh and newly appointed head chef Jeong Jin Hwan, known as Bruno. The tranquil, minimalist space with its verdant garden views is complemented by a fine-dining dinner tasting menu (HKD2,180 pp) where seasonal ingredients play starring roles. Chef Bruno has also introduced a long-awaited degustation lunch menu (HKD1,180 pp), which is our recommendation for sampling elevated Korean flavours at a fraction of the price. The pine-nut custard (Korean-style chawanmushi) and cast-iron pot rice are lunchtime highlights – light, clean, and elegant.
Mosu Hong Kong, 3/F, M+ Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2398 0291, book here
BUSAN NIGHT
A hip new kid on the Korean block, BUSAN NIGHT takes us on a journey to this seaside city in Korea, where soju and makgeolli are enjoyed at lively pubs around town. On the food side, seafood is a given, featured in dishes like boneless seafood stew (HKD588), where abalone, shrimp, squid, clams, and octopus are sauced with vinegar and wasabi soy, and green onion seafood pancake (HKD178) – one of the best versions of this Korean staple in town. If you want to show off, order the gigantic 50cm rolled omelette (HKD258) with egg, pork, tuna, perilla, and cheese.
BUSAN NIGHT, G/F, 28–30 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, 6657 1905, book here
GALBI TOWN
Another new addition to the Korean scene in Hong Kong, GALBI TOWN has literally become the talk of the town for its regular deliveries of premium Hanwoo beef imported directly from Korea. Diners can select from a variety of top cuts on the touchscreen menu, grilled tableside by the very capable staff. Our Hanwoo rib-eye (HKD340) came with a QR code providing information on its quality, grade, date of birth, date of slaughter, slaughter house, and packing house – quite an impressive provenance. We highly recommend the wang galbi (HKD320) short rib marinated in cherry-blossom honey, which is robustly savoury with a hint of floral sweetness. For an at-home KBBQ spread, GALBI TOWN also sells frozen pre-packaged meat for takeaway.
GALBI TOWN, 1/F, Grand Centre, 8 Humphreys Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2750 6001, book here
Hansik Goo
Michelin-starred Hansik Goo comes to us from Mingoo Kang, the chef-owner of Seoul’s two-starred Mingles. The progressive eatery elevates Korean cuisine, and chef Seung Hun Park, who heads the kitchen on the daily, showcases a dinner tasting menu (HKD1,480 pp) where traditional dishes are upgraded and modernised. On the more casual side, dinner add-ons include Korean staples of prawn and scallion pancake pajeon (HKD218) and some of the most succulent, crunchy Korean fried chicken (HKD128/3pcs; HKD198/5pcs) we’ve ever tasted, drizzled in a zesty, syrupy yuzu-garlic sauce.
Hansik Goo, 1/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, 2798 8768, book here
Samsam
Samsam is another relative newcomer to Hong Kong that delivers genuine Korean flavours to those who value authenticity. The signature dish here is the clear or spicy gamjatang (HKD340/HKD400/HKD460), a hearty soup made with pork bones. To up the carb quotient, we recommend additions of potato (+HKD10) and/or noodles (+HKD30) to your soup, along with a side of deep-fried dumplings (HKD80).
Samsam, Shop A, G/F, 55 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 9737 1656
Jeonpo Meat Shop
According to our Korean mates, dining at Foodie Forks 2024 Best Korean Restaurant Jeonpo Meat Shop feels like being instantly transported to Seoul with the eatery’s uber-lively ambience. Pork is the go-to protein at this KBBQ spot; we always order the pork belly and neck set (HKD470) with a side of cold buckwheat noodles (HKD98), which are as authentic as it gets. We also love that Jeonpo offers a wide variety of banchan (the kimchi comes both raw and fried) and that the staff themselves are straight off the boat. If you’re a Parasite fan, be sure to order the beef chapaguri (HKD98).
Jeonpo Meat Shop, multiple locations across Hong Kong
obp.
Its moniker stands for “Old Bailey Pocha”, and obp. refers to itself as a sool-jip, or casual Korean watering hole where the drinks are plentiful and the accompanying bites are flavourful and filling enough to soak up all the alcohol. Our must-orders when we’re vibing at obp. include the Wagyu beef tartare (HKD190) with aged soy, pear, dashi jelly, and quail egg, boneless fried chicken (HKD150), kimchi pancake (HKD150), and army stew (HKD370).
obp., LG/F, 3–5 Old Bailey Street, Soho, Central
Born Ga
Born Ga is a mainstay of Tsim Sha Tsui’s Korean dining landscape. The service may be brusque, but we think the restaurant offers up amongst the best raw crab marinated in soy sauce (HKD520) in town, served with a bowl of seaweed rice to achieve an umami flavour explosion. This stellar crab is in addition to classic renditions of hot stone pot bibimbap (HKD120), kimchi fried rice (HKD120), and soft tofu stew (HKD110). There’s also KBBQ galore on the menu, with the freshwater eel (HKD460) being particularly coveted here. It’s worth noting that Born Ga’s staff never seem to answer the phone, so if you want to avoid a long queue for a table, weekend lunchtime is your best bet.
Born Ga, 1/F, Eastern Flower Centre, 22–24 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2367 1087
KAYA Korean Restaurant
KAYA presents a more upscale KBBQ experience, showcasing a selection of barbecue sets – from A Set (HKD768 for 2) all the way up to K Set (HKD2,880 for 6) – that are quite fairly priced considering the quality of ingredients. KAYA also features commendable stews and hotpots for sharing; we’re partial to both the hearty budae-jjigae (HKD420 for 2), a comforting medley of luncheon meat, sausage, cheese, and instant noodles otherwise known as Korean army stew, and the lighter hamool-jungol (HKD498 for 2), or spicy seafood hotpot.
KAYA Korean Restaurant, 9/F, Soundwill Plaza II – Midtown, 1–29 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 2838 9550, book here
MOYO
Korea meets Italy at MOYO, a casual space that’s ideal for intimate gatherings. On the fusion front, we like the indulgent carbonara rice cakes (HKD188) and burrata and figs (HKD168) dressed with a tangy balsamic-soy dressing. Moving to the more traditional Korean dishes, the house kimchi (HKD78) – white cabbage, spicy cabbage, cucumber, and bok choy – MOYO bossam (HKD158/HKD238), and Korean fried chicken (HKD148/HKD208) are authentic crowd-pleasers. MOYO’s soju selection is very impressive too, especially the sought-after peach and grapefruit flavours.
MOYO, G/F, 36 Aberdeen Street, Central, 2858 2777, book here
Maru Korean Restaurant & Pub
Just down the block from BUSAN NIGHT (see above), Maru is a no-frills eatery serving up tried-and-true Korean favourites to the tune of catchy Kpop hits. Some of our must-orders here include the soft tofu stew (HKD128), BBQ braised beef (HKD288), hot stone bibimbap (HKD148), and black bean paste noodles (HKD120), aka jjajangmyeon. The flavours are spot on at Maru and wouldn’t be out of place at a neighbourhood joint in Seoul. Maru offers an impressive range of Korean beverages too, from fresh soju to tonic flavoured with black tea.
Maru Korean Restaurant & Pub, G/F, 48 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, 2559 5288
Kyung Yang Katsu
Kyung Yang Katsu, with dozens of branches in South Korea, is another contender in Soho, this time specialising in Korean-style tonkatsu, or deep-fried pork cutlet. You should head here if you’re ravenous, with free refills of the set meals’ accompanying shaved cabbage, cold noodles, rice, and sauces adding to Kyung Yang Katsu’s appeal. The drool-worthy cheese katsu (HKD188) is the headliner, starring premium pork loin stuffed with a boatload of cheesy goodness for the ultimate cheese pull.
Kyung Yang Katsu, G/F, 59 Elgin Street, Soho, Central
Yeon Nam Dong
A contemporary Korean addition to Sai Ying Pun, Yeon Nam Dong is a Korean-run spot that’s generating a lot of buzz in the ‘hood; the cosy decor is seemingly tailor-made for the ‘gram. There’s a Western slant to several of the most popular dishes here, such as the cheese potato pancake (HKD148) with Parmesan and truffle mayo and kimchi cheese arancini (HKD98). On the traditional, meaty side, the bossam (HKD240) and soy-marinated beef short rib (HKD548) are standouts.
Yeom Nam Dong, G/F, 46C High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 6175 9330, book here
Joongang Haejang
A hit in its native Seoul, Joongang Haejang has recently landed in Hong Kong with its famous hangover soup (HKD98) packed with Hanwoo beef tripe, ginseng-laced Hanwoo beef brisket soup (HKD128), and Hanwoo entrails soup (HKD108), steering clear of the usual KBBQ suspects. This is legit Korean comfort food, especially ideal after a heavy soju session.
Joongang Haejang, G/F, 18 Luen Fat Street, Wan Chai, 2382 2178
