The bold flavors of Korean cuisine are well represented in Dallas. Since the ‘80s, Asian-owned businesses have flourished in the Asian Trade District, and in 2023, a 1.6-mile portion of Royal Lane was officially designated Koreatown. The neighborhood is likely to gain even more popularity when the first Dallas outpost of H Mart debuts along the strip later this year.
Farther north, Koreatown Carrollton has emerged as a buzzy dining destination at the intersection of President George Bush Turnpike and Old Denton Road. Anchored by popular Asian grocers like H Mart, 99 Ranch Market, and Daiso, Carrollton is packed with places to shop and dine.
From all-you-can-eat simmered rice cakes to double-fried, two-day-marinated chicken, the best Korean bites are in North Texas. Here are eight must-try spots.
Ari Korean BBQ
Ari Korean BBQ is one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most beloved spots for Korean barbeque. Ari specializes in individually or combo-priced premium cuts of beef, pork, and intestines. Don’t miss the bulgogi, Ari pork jowl, or gopchang, all served alongside a vibrant array of banchan and signature dishes like sizzling corn cheese, steamed egg, and kimchi stew. Keep the party going in the upstairs lounge, or visit the Plano location if you’re further north. 2625 Old Denton Rd., Unit 556, Carrollton, aribbq.com
Doma Seolleongtang
Find Doma Seolleongtang in an aging shopping strip with Korean signage. The restaurant, dedicated to serving Korean soups, has 11 beef soups on the menu. The protein-packed seok-uh seolleong tang ($18) comes with beef brisket, ox knee, and cheek; while the oo guh ji galbi tang ($20), a spicy beef back rib and dried cabbage soup, packs some heat. There are also five boiled beef soups, starting at $64.99, designed for three to share.11441 N. Stemmons Fwy, Ste. 137 Dallas, domaseolleongtang.com
bbbop Seoul Kitchen
Oak Cliff’s family-run bbbop Seoul Kitchen puts an American spin on Korean comfort foods. Start with the kimchi fries ($13), a heaping pile of curry ranch fries loaded with kimchi, cilantro, pickled jalapeños, spicy mayo, and a crispy-edged, runny-yolk egg. The For Realz Bop ($14) is a classic Korean rice bowl called bibimbap, with signature variations including coconut curry bop ($14), spicy chicken and dumplings ($14), and the spicy spicy bop ($14). There is a lot to love on the menu, but the star of the show is the wildly popular Not Your Mama’s fried chicken ($17), twice-fried chicken and tossed in your choice of spicy chili or soy ginger sauce. 828 W. Davis St., Dallas, bbbop.com
Escape Ttopokki
Get all-you-can-eat tteokbokki, a spicy, simmered rice cake dish and popular Korean street food, at Escape Ttopokki in Carrollton. The quaint spot offers a 90-minute all-you-can-eat experience for $15.99 at lunch, and $19.99 at dinner. Choose from a wide variety of add-ins, like sweet potato, noodle rice cakes, fried tofu, fish balls, assorted vegetables, golden-fried gimmari, ramen noodles, and more. Then, customize your sauce to create a flavorful broth, and simmer everything together in a bubbling pot right at your table. 3043 Old Denton Rd., Ste. 110, Carrollton
Seoul Garden
Korean barbecue is bountiful in Dallas, but Seoul Garden sets itself apart with smoky charcoal grills and a menu that extends far beyond meat. For more than 20 years, the Asian Trade District staple has been serving an impressive lineup of soups, stews, hot pot, noodles, grilled and steamed fish, and spicy seafood dishes that taste like they came straight from a South Korean home kitchen. Standouts include crispy haemul gochu pajeon ($18), a seafood and pepper pancake; galbisal tteokbokki ($26), featuring prime rib and vegetables; and nakji dolsot bibimbap ($21), a stone pot rice bowl topped with octopus. 502 Royal Ln., Unit 103, Dallas, seoulgardenkbbq.com
Harumama Noodles + Buns
Carrollton’s Harumama Noodles + Buns in Carrollton is the family-owned brand’s first location outside of California. A San Diego favorite turned internet sensation, Harumama is best known for its character steamed buns ($9), which arrive as a pair in adorable animal forms like chickens, cows, and pigs for the savory varieties, and Nutella bunnies and ube unicorns for the sweet varieties. For the noodles portion of your meal, go for the bulgogi beef udon ($17), made with grilled beef and caramelized onions in a rich, noodle-filled beef broth. 1060 W. Frankford Rd., Ste. 200, Carrollton, harumamasd.com
No.1 Plus Chicken
The secret to No.1 Plus Chicken’s crave-worthy Korean fried chicken lies in the marinade. Each piece is trimmed, skinless, and soaked for 48 hours in secret herbs and spices before it’s battered and double-fried. For even more flavor, try it glazed in soy, sweet honey garlic, or gochujang-based yangyum sauces. The platter ($29) includes a whole chicken showcasing all four flavors and a side of cabbage slaw. 2240 Royal Ln., Unit 103, Dallas, no1pluschicken.com
Damasita
Kimbap steals the show at Damasita. Not to be confused with sushi, kimbap is a Korean dish of sesame-oil-seasoned rice and fillings, tightly wrapped in seaweed. Try the maeun chamchi kimbap ($6), filled with tuna and spicy mayo; or other favorites like the bulgogi kimbap ($7) and spam kimbap ($6). Pair your roll with japchae ($5), a tangle of stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables. 2564 Royal Ln., Dallas
