Korean BBQ - Cambridge/Boston Area

[FoodLush]

Are Yasu and Koreana the only suggested places to eat Korean BBQ in the area?

I know there are tons of previous discussions about this - nothing in 2007 though.

Any new suggestions or places to avoid?

[lipoff]

Koreana is excellent, but Wu Chon House in Union Square, Somerville is probably better. I would avoid Kaya --- although it is open late, the meat is of inferior quality.

[Sgt Snackers]

There are a number of spots, some good, some not so good.

Koreana is probably the best IMHO. In Burlington there is a spot called "Korean Barbecue Restaurant" (I think the actual name is New Jang Su but this is how it comes up on Google) which is fairly authentic and frequented mostly by Koreans. Shilla in Harvard Sq does Korean BBQ but I have never been that impressed with it. Kaya on Mass Ave in Cambridge is fairly lackluster; I have had better luck there going with a Korean friend of mine. Avoid Jae's at all costs.

Also, if you are after non-BBQ Korean food, don't forget to check out a couple of places in Allston - such as Color Cafe (very good, fresh, and cheap); Apollo in Chinatown has some interesting dishes; Buk Kyung in Allston does Koreanized Chinese food. If you want some REALLY authentic stuff there is some kind of hole-in-the-wall place in Chinatown that has a bunch of English and Korean graffiti all over the walls that does some rich and spicy Korean oxtail stews, and though they don't have a liquor license they scared up a couple of beers for us late one night. Not for the uninitiated.

[Craig K]

I'm pretty sure that Apollo went out of business.

[Joanie]

I walked by Apollo Sat. nite and it was open.

[another_adam]

do you happen to know approximate coordinates of the hole-in-the-wall place? i could definitely go for some unctuous (??) spicy korean stew in this dreary weather... :)

[Sgt Snackers]

I think it is called Korea House and is at 63 Beach St. Now, I am not sure about this - more than likely I had too many beers when I was wandering around with my Korean buddy in Chinatown late one night and we ducked into here. Something I read on the Web suggests that they moved to Brighton. Would love to know if they are around and if it's the same place or not...

[galleygirl]

Interesting...years ago, there was a great, and I mean great, Korean restaurant called Korea House in Brighton, right near the Bluestone Bistro, out on Comm Ave....I was a regular there, I've alwayswondered if the Ctown one was related, not that it's that unusual a name....

[iluvbacon]

The place on Chiswick is now called Damoah, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you want a decent non-bbq place, I like Min Sok (I think it's Cloe's in English) on Comm Ave. between the Paradise and the BU gym. Their galbi jim is better than my mom's.

[bostonsooner]

The Korea House in Chinatown is related to the one that used to be on Chiswick in Brighton. Or at least the owners were the same as of a couple years ago (they're closed for lunch, so I never get a chance to go). I walked by a few months ago, and it looked closed. Can anyone confirm?

[gourmaniac]

korea house in chinatown is definitely closed. The insides are torn apart.

[BJK]

Chung Ki Wa in Medford Square is good, too.

BK