Jersey's 12 Best KOREAN

BARBECUE RESTAURANTS

- BY LAUREN MUSNI AND SALEAH BLANCAFLOR

Korean barbecue, often referred to as KBBQ or gogi-gui (meaning grilled meat in Korean), is unlike any traditional American barbecue you've ever had. Marinated and seasoned meats — thinly sliced pork belly, bulgogi (marinated beef; translates to “fire meat”) and short ribs — are charred to perfection on a grill plate right in front of customers, making for a perfect interactive dining experience.

Lucky for us, New Jersey is home to some of the most vibrant Korean enclaves in the country, namely in Bergen County: Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Leonia and onward. Last year, Thrillist named Fort Lee as the country’s best Korean barbecue destination, so you know the Garden State is offering some unbeatable KBBQ.

The experience begins with ordering the meats, vegetables and sides of your choosing. Some Korean barbecue restaurants are labeled as “all-you-can-eat,” where you can order an unlimited number of dishes for a set price — the best option if you have a big appetite. The downside: If you don't finish all the meat at the table, you get charged for every pound gone to waste — on top of what you're already paying. Yes, a penalty for not finishing!

After ordering, dinner begins with banchan — a collection of Korean side dishes served as appetizers — including kimchi, pickled radishes, eomuk bokkeum (stir-fried fish cake), oi muchim (spicy cucumber salad) and gamja salad (Korean potato salad).