Best Korean BBQ in Johor Bahru (JB)

Nestled between shop houses at Taman Pelangi, this comfy restaurant never disappoints for a genuine Korean BBQ feast. Embellished with wooden backdrop and tatami seating, it’s like stepping into Seoul out of nowhere. Grace up the table with colorful banchan (Korean side dishes) and gobble down multitudinous meats such as beef, bacon and pork slivers which are fresh and juicy. You can dip in their bean paste and sesame oil for extra taste. Two screens right above the dining space display Korean dramas, not a surprise as many as smitten with it these days. 

Be blown away by attentive service, pleasant ventilation, charming and brightly-lid ambiance. Soulfully showcasing exemplary Korean BBQ scene, opt to cup yourself on their tatami seats and revel in the abundance of rosy-red meats on the sizzling braziers. Sprawling sides of humble yet inducing bachans punctuates the party in your mouth. Not a grill-master? Let the courteous staffs take charge. 

Unpretentious welcoming and ambiance that offers a taste of home, a Korean home perhaps, are reasons why this restaurant is a must-visit. Yet the main draw is their scrumptious spread of meats that occupy the sizzling grill, which is often embroidered with series of sides that round off a wondrous meal. Among the celebrities are their marinated pork and chicken. Once the meats shrivel on the heat, aromatic fragrance just hovers in the air and when it’s ready, dip in their homemade sauces to an extra punch of flavours. Moreover, you’ll be armed with Korean spoon and chopsticks, aforementioned Korean home, oh boy it is! 

Another Korean BBQ joint that befits the quote – food brings people together. The immaculate interior is designed to make us forget we are in Johor Bahru with Korean artistic touches here and there. Among the standouts from the meat fare is their juicy and tender beef that is utterly drool-worthy from the moment it sizzles on the blistering brazier which rather looks like a luminous light due to the vertical pockets. Delish condiments and sauces galvanise the whole pick and grill merrymaking. 

Famed and fabled with numerous branches across Malaysia, isn’t a surprise being the best bet in Johor Bahru too. The eatery is adorned with hanging Chorong lamps as well as smoke-free hoods which point directly to the built-in braziers, where the magic takes place. It’s loaded with scorching charcoals, and truly must-try on the menu is the BBQ beef and pork modum. To further amp up your delightful dilemmas, a bevy of sides beg to a part of your grilling party, such as lotus roots, assorted kimchi, and mashed potatoes, to name a few. The best way to devour is enveloping the barbequed meat in fresh lettuce and dabbling in their spicy bean paste. 

Palsaik Korean BBQ has been famed for having 8 different flavours of marination for their pork belly. It's pretty much a display of gradient, and a great one at that. Each one of the 8 marinated pork has its own distinct flavour, but there are a few that are quite similar as a whole. From spicy to savoury, sweet to tangy, they have it all. 

Sodam Korean BBQ is a pretty massive restaurant with an extensive Korean menu. It ranges from standard Korean BBQ to a variety of side dishes such as Korean pancake, kimchi stew, Korean rice cake, bulgolgi and many more. Of course, their BBQ is the star of the menu, but for those who can't eat a lot, there's still plenty to choose from. All and all, it's fresh and delicious!

On a budget? No worries. This charming joint has been reaping up reputations with an authentic and lip-smacking range of Korean food at reasonable price, where Korean BBQ just sputters with savoury meats such as deboned pork ribs, pork loin and beef sirloin, to name a few. Colourful sides and sauces clamour to be a member of your bite and oozes the pleasantly charred meats with additional flavours. 

After satiating the palate of Singaporeans, this feted restaurant has frolicked over to Johor Bahru, thank you lord and hello authentic BBQ! Speaking off authentic, they use charcoal fire which is roofed with wire mesh, enrobing the succulent meats with smoky flavours. A long tray of fresh lettuce and other crunchy vegetables tags along the BBQ meal. Regarded as wizards of unique combinations, their thinly sliced beef brisket drenched in a pool of special sauce is not to be missed. Thick slabs of bacon are noteworthy too. 

When a restaurant specifies the type of bbq they offer, you know they mean business. Like every other KOrean bbq, you can expect a great deal of banchan (Korean side dishes) and variety of meats to compliment. The only question is, are you willing to pay the extra? Slices of pork and beef here are fairly generous, so it does justify the price. But then again, it's all up to you.

Kyung Bok Gung is another great Korean BBQ restaurant in JB. Named after the famous palace is Seoul, this restaurant aims to offer authentic Korean BBQ in a warm and cozy setting. The restaurant is located on the first floor and is set with limited seats. So each table has a generous walking space, and also large enough to fit all the delicious slices of meat. Oh yes, banchan is pretty good and refillable.

If you pass by this area, you'll find a massive signboard being slapped on the face of the building - that's Seoulia. For starters, they have an amazing amount of banchan (Korean side dish), with each of them providing different and unique flavour profile. Slices of meat are chilled and cut upon order, so do not worry on the freshness. All that is left is to allow them to cook for you and enjoy.