KBBQ is Life
Korean BBQ or KBBQ allows the patrons to have a more intimate experience with your food. There is typically a grill in the middle of your table and the meats are typically prepared table side. A social and interactive event for those attending. No secret, I love Korean BBQ.
In the Beginning
I was pretty fortunate to grow up in Gwinnett County, GA. I lived through the “Korean Renaissance” where a majority caucasian county transformed to one of the largest Korean populations in the United States. My father worked in Duluth, GA which was the epicenter of the renaissance. My senior year of high school, we went to my first KBBQ. Was just him and I did not know what to order. We have been to Long Horn before so ordered one beef dish each. The meats were prepared at the back and served at the grill. We were amazed with all of the side dishes. The following week we brought my mother, so now three of us. Unknowing to us, they brought out raw meat to our table. WTF, we pay to eat not cook! Ha we were pretty confused and was explained to this was the normal experience and since the previous time was just two of us they cooked in the back. The following Monday back at school in my Calculus class was a Korean friend, explained to him what happened. He was excited that we went to KBBQ. Pause for a while with KBBQ as my time at Georgia Tech centered around Dim Sum.
KBBQ Rebirth
I moved from one large Korean population to the next in my time in Fairfax County, VA. My first long term time away from ATL, was excited to be making new friends. So happens one Saturday a group of friends from the area went to a KBBQ in Annandale, VA. I sat back as they ordered and enjoyed the experience. The food was so good, we went back. As my network expanded in the DC Area, started going more and more to KBBQ. Became a weekly activity. Even after my departure from DC to NYC and back to ATL, was more than once a month at KBBQ.
L33T KBBQ Status
Over the last few years have been going to KBBQ weekly with a group of friends. Really look forward to our weekly visits to KBBQ. Our favorite Korean BBQ, Miss Gogi ATL in Doraville, is like an extension of my own kitchen. The first time we went to Miss Gogi, we must have eaten too much cheesy corn. Someone told us they were out. I retorted with “running out of cheesy corn is like Red Lobster running out of cheddar biscuits that doesn’t happen..”. We received some more cheesy corn and now we are friends!
Pro KBBQ Tips
If your first time, don’t be afraid to ask what is going on. Pick your meats and enjoy the ride!
Try to have a relationship with the staff. They work hard for sure and if they are really busy will make sure to take good care of you.
Always have Soju (Korean Sake) on deck. Learned that in the DC Area, even waiting in line to start crushing Soju. Get the owner and staff to do a few cheers with you.
Experiment with different cooking times and sauces. Pork cooks slower than beef so keep that in mind if having more than one meat on the grill.
Really #3 is really important. If you need to sober up, can switch to a Korean Beer like Cass of Hite and hit the Soju, again!
