The 8 best Korean restaurants in Charlotte

Korean food in Charlotte splits into two experiences. One is barbecue, where the meat arrives raw and the table does the cooking. The other is the home style kitchen, where bibimbap, stews and pancakes come out finished. This list covers both and says which is which, because a first timer who wants a quiet dinner and ends up at an all you can eat grill on a Friday night will not have a good time. Every restaurant here holds a public rating of 4.5 or better, and where reviewers flag a recurring issue we say so.

1. ANJU

The modern Korean room near SouthPark that works for a date as easily as a group. The cooking is lighter on sugar than a lot of Korean American food, which diners who grew up on the real thing notice immediately. Dumplings, kimchi fries, fried chicken, pork belly and rice cakes are the plates to share. Soups can run small for the price, and rice sometimes has to be requested.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.; Sunday until 10 p.m.

Address: 1600 E Woodlawn Rd, Suite 260, Charlotte, NC 28209

Why it made the list

• The most balanced seasoning on this list.
• Easy shopping center parking.
• Open until 2 a.m. at the weekend.
• Good with children at the table.

Directory listing: ANJU

2. Bibim

The small, clean bistro in Ballantyne with a focused menu and Korean families at the tables most nights. Everything is made to order. Dolsot bibimbap in a hot stone bowl, spicy sweet chicken and bulgogi beef ramen are the orders, and two appetizers and two entrées for two came to about $56. Japchae can run oily and only comes with beef.

Hours: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday

Address: 14027 Conlan Cir, Suite A2, Charlotte, NC 28277

Why it made the list

• Home style cooking done carefully.
• Excellent value.
• Plenty of parking.
• Closed Sunday.

Directory listing: Bibim

3. KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

Barbecue and hot pot under one fixed price in University City, with nearly 1,900 reviews at 4.8. The restaurant is built for groups, and servers walk newcomers through the process, including swapping the grill plate when it smokes. Garlic chicken, shrimp and pork belly in regular and spicy are the picks. Expect about half an hour’s wait on a Friday.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday noon to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 11:30 p.m.

Address: 8760 J M Keynes Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

Why it made the list

• Grill and hot pot in one visit.
• The deepest record on this list.
• Good for a large party.
• Open seven days.

Directory listing: KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

4. Joa Korean Food

The south Charlotte scratch kitchen where staff greet you, show you the food and recommend before you order. The kimbap is the item people drive for, rolled fresh even for pickup, and the kimchi pancake and house pickles earn their own mentions. Galbi portions can run light on meat, and diners raised on Korean food find the kimchi young.

Hours: Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday noon to 7 p.m.; closed Saturday

Address: 8016 Providence Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28277

Why it made the list

• The best kimbap in the city.
• Everything from scratch.
• Warm, guided service.
• Closed Saturday, which catches people out.

Directory listing: Joa Korean Food

5. Let’s Meat Kbbq

The South End all you can eat barbecue that regulars rank first on meat quality. A flat fee per person keeps a group bill simple. Bulgogi beef that crisps on the grill, jalapeño pork belly and beef cubes lead the order, with a strong soup and cucumber kimchi on the side. Service is hit or miss depending on the night, and regulars say so.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to midnight

Address: 1400 S Church St, Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The best meat of the all you can eat spots.
• Flat per person pricing.
• Open late.
• Service varies.

Directory listing: Let’s Meat Kbbq

6. MOA Korean BBQ & Bar

The Uptown grill on South Tryon, with more than a thousand reviews and servers who will cook at the table for anyone new to it. Combination sets like the Classic are the easy way in, and the kimchi stew competes with the meat. Leftovers can go home, which many barbecue places refuse. The restaurant costs more than the all you can eat options.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 128 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• The Uptown barbecue option.
• Staff cook for you if asked.
• Take home leftovers.
• Closed Monday.

Directory listing: MOA Korean BBQ & Bar

7. Seoul Food Meat Company

Korean inspired Southern barbecue in South End, with a back patio, cocktails built for photographs and a kitchen open until 2 a.m. at the weekend. The double fried wings in garlic soy are the order, alongside pork belly bao and kimbap. The restaurant is louder and more of a bar than anything else here, and the burgers run greasy, which some people want.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.

Address: 1400 S Church St, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The wings.
• The latest kitchen on this list.
• A bar as much as a restaurant.
• Shares a building with Let’s Meat.

Directory listing: Seoul Food Meat Company

8. Seoul Good CLT

The counter inside Monarch Market in Uptown and the fast option here. Bibimbap and bap bowls come with miso soup, and the potato Korean corn dog is the item people cross town for. Visitors have eaten here three times in a three day trip. Owner Da gets named for making a first visit easy.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

Address: 101 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• The best quick Korean meal Uptown.
• The corn dog.
• Food hall seating.
• Open seven days.

Directory listing: Seoul Good CLT

How we chose

We weighted the depth of each restaurant’s review record, how often diners who grew up eating Korean food vouched for it, and whether the same complaints came up repeatedly. We split the list between barbecue and home style kitchens so readers can pick the right experience. If your favorite is missing, tell us.