Sizzle your way through the top 10 Korean BBQ restaurants in Birmingham
With globalisation, diverse cuisines are popping up all over the UK, and Birmingham is no exception. Once a scene dominated by London, the city now boasts a growing range of international flavours. My top pick? Korean BBQ.
There’s something special about grilling your own food while chatting with friends or family. It’s intimate and satisfying. Plus, with all the side dishes, you get a perfectly balanced meal (I’m partial to pork and beef myself!).
After exploring nearly every Korean BBQ restaurant in Birmingham, I’ve narrowed down my favourites. Here are the top Korean BBQ spots that serve the best meats and Soju in the city.
1. Tayudo BBQ
– Media credit: Tayudo Korean BBQ Buffet Instagram
Website: https://www.tayudobbq.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tayudobbq
Address: 139-147 Hurst St, B5 6SD
Contact Details: +44 7879 787978
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Tayudo BBQ is great for those looking for an authentic experience. Utilising an actual charcoal grill, they have a wide range of side dishes and grillable meats and seafood to choose from. All of which are unlimited with a time limit.
They offer 9 premium meats and 12 different stir-fry side dishes supplied by local farms and fisherfolk. My personal favourite is pork, and I often choose the one with teriyaki sauce because the umami flavour isn’t too overpowering.
They also have offal choices, such as lamb kidney and ox tongue. For side dishes, I go with prawns. All of this is self-serving, and you can stay at the buffet for 100 minutes.
| Pro Tip: This place is best for families. They have unique offers for families during the weekend, such as free candy floss for children and a free Polaroid picture to take home. This is limited to the first 100 families, so come early. |
2. Itaewon Korean Restaurant
– Media credit: 𝓜𝓪𝓯𝔃 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 Instagram
Website: https://www.itaewonbirmingham.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itaewonbirmingham
Address: 3-45 Station St, B5 4DY
Contact Details: +44 7380 910982
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Itaewon Korean Restaurant is a celebration of all things Korean. Featuring traditional Korean classics, the menu also offers a Korean BBQ option, which complements the other dishes. Most meals and side dishes here are spicy with bold flavours.
While you don’t get to cook your own meat here, I find their selection to be a true representation of popular Korean cuisine. With classic street food like tteokbokki and super crispy fried chicken, I simply couldn’t get enough of it all.
When ordering, I often choose the Tiger Prawn and the Thick Cut Belly, which are large and can easily satisfy my appetite. I also pair them with either a serving of japchae or tteokbokki, depending on whether I want a sweet or spicy kick to my meal.
| Pro Tip: Itaewon can get pretty busy on the weekends. I’d recommend booking through their website for larger groups since the restaurant is small and you may find yourselves sitting at different tables if you don’t. |
3. Kimchi Korean Restaurant
– Media credit: Kimchi Korean Restaurant Instagram
Website: https://www.kimchirestaurant.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037466905753
Address: 2 Dawlish Rd, B29 7AE
Contact Details: +44 121 293 5845
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: £
Serving Birmingham since 2005, Kimchi Korean Restaurant was one of the first to introduce this cuisine to Brummies. Guests can choose either self-cooked Korean BBQ or cooked meals, such as dubu or bibimbap (I tend to go for the latter).
This is a great place for newbies since they don’t use charcoal grills. They offer non-marinated meats or saucier ones and include free lettuce leaves with each order. In addition, they also serve a handful of banchans to go with the meats.
For their regular meals, they serve a mixture of Korean classics and some Japanese cuisine. I often opt for a platter of takoyaki as my appetiser or some Korean fried chicken when dining with friends.
| Pro Tip: For guests with celiac disease or those seeking gluten-free options, many of their noodle dishes (such as udon or japchae) can be substituted with gluten-free noodles. Additionally, tofu options are available as a meat substitute. |
4. Seoul Kitchen Birmingham
– Media credit: Seoul Kitchen Birmingham Instagram
Website: https://seoul-kitchen-birmingham.foodjoyy.com
Address: Unit 1, Sirius 24, Suffolk Street Queensway, B1 1LT
Contact Details: +44 121 448 9989
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Thursday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
I head to Seoul Kitchen Birmingham when I want set meals rather than a buffet. They have three sets, the first two are exclusively either meat or seafood, like pork bulgogi or squid. The third set is a mix of both, with king prawns and classic samgyopsal.
Sides aren’t included in these, but my preferred ones that I order are the mixed mushrooms and the scallops. They also have hot pot options that can serve 2-4 people. My favourite among them is the topokki hot pot that comes with rice and fish cakes.
They also serve classic Korean and Japanese cuisine. Whenever I don’t go for the BBQ sets, I often order some salmon teriyaki dupbap, which comes with rice and vegetables. There’s also a wide selection of Soju, from peach to banana-flavoured.
| Pro Tip: Several patrons have highlighted that bringing cash can unlock additional discounts, making your meal even more budget-friendly. |
5. Miss Korea
– Media credit: Miss Korea Instagram
Website: https://www.misskoreauk.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissKoreaRestaurant
Address: 155 Bromsgrove St, B5 6AB
Contact Details: +44 7837 427120
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: £
Miss Korea is another place that offers set menus. They offer more than just meat, but also include other dishes, such as soups and side dishes. Additionally, you can also grill various seafood, such as king prawns or scallops.
There are four different set menus, starting at £99. They can be shared between two to four people. Each comes with an assortment of seafood and vegetables.
When you’re dining on your own, go for their Bento boxes. These often come with the same dishes in the set meals, but they are already cooked and served with rice. My choices for these are the beef or chicken bento that come with dumplings and edamame.
| Pro Tip: When looking for something unique on their menu, I’d recommend trying the eel teriyaki. While it isn’t Korean, it’s one of the best types of seafood available here. For vegans, don’t sweat since there’s a tofu option that tastes similar. |
6. Topokki
– Media credit: Topokki Instagram
Website: https://topokki.has.restaurant
Address: 1C Hurst St, B5 4TD
Contact Details: +44 121 666 7200
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: £
Topokki doesn’t offer traditional Korean BBQ, but they’re here solely because their take on it is incredible. With generous portions, they offer some of the most affordable Korean dishes in Birmingham, with prices starting as low as £7.50.
Of course, you definitely have to try their bulgogi dupbap. The beef is marinated to perfection using soy sauce and sugar, and is incredibly tender. This also comes with a nice helping of rice and some lovely greens.
The highlight of this restaurant is their topokki, specifically their Royal Palace Topokki. It’s a sweeter take on the classic, with the addition of beer and some nice vegetables. I often order this with a side of bulgogi and add it to the saucy dish for texture.
| Pro Tip: Dessert here can’t be beaten. While there are great options, I would prefer that you try their ice cream mochi. It comes in three flavours, and my choice would be either the green tea mochi or the mango mochi, which aren’t too sweet. |
7. COCOBAB
– Media credit: COCOBAB Instagram
Website: https://cocobab.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocobabuk
Address: 23 Raddlebarn Rd, B29 6HH
Contact Details: +44 121 247 4316
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday: 12:00 PM to 9:50 PM
- Sunday: 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: £
COCOBAB’s samgyeopsal set is one of the more affordable options available. In addition to the meats, it also comes with egg rolls and fried fish cakes. There’s also the unique COCO chicken wings alongside a nice and refreshing seaweed salad.
These come in either pork belly or beef, though I prefer the beef since it comes with fried king prawns. They also serve some great jjigae, and I find myself coming back to the sundubu jjigae since it comes with soft tofu and a helping of seafood.
Aside from these, I often order their signature Korean fried chicken, which often comes in boneless form. My favourite sauce of these is the basic salt and pepper or the sweet soy.
| Pro Tip: COCOBAB is an inclusive restaurant that tries to accommodate all customers. They can often substitute items in dishes for those with certain allergens and intolerances, and will provide a list of items that can’t be substituted. |
8. Mon Korea
– Media credit: Mon Korea Instagram
Website: https://monkoreaonline.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mon-Korea-100080016577420
Address: 2 Heathfield Rd, King’s Heath, B14 7DB
Contact Details: +44 121 243 2752
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Pricing: £
When craving Korean takeout, I would suggest going for Mon Korea. Whether you’re dining in or out, their meals come out hot and sizzling. I was disappointed that they didn’t have a samgyeopsal option, but their take on Korean BBQ is still quite great.
The serving sizes here are enormous. There are three meat options, but I’d suggest sticking with the pork and beef since they absorb more flavour. The pork or beef sizzlers are piping hot and are served on a hot stone plate.
When looking for the classic bulgogi, their bibimbap and dubbap come with it. This can also be substituted with jeyuk, which is spicy pork or chicken teriyaki. They also have hotpot options, ranging from seafood-centric ones to ones comprised mainly of veggies.
| Pro Tip: When dining here, it’s best to get a reservation. The restaurant itself is small and can only accommodate a certain number of guests, which is why they rely on takeout so much. It’s best to call a few days beforehand to be safe. |
9. Jinseon Korean BBQ Restaurant
– Media credit: Jinseon Korean BBQ Restaurant Instagram
Website: https://www.jinseon.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jinseonkbbq
Address: Unit 5 Priory St, Fairfax St, Coventry CV1 5SQ
Contact Details: +44 24 7663 4800
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Located in the next town over, Jinseon Korean BBQ Restaurant is worth the short drive to Coventry. With a minimum of 2 dishes per order, their Korean BBQ comes in different platters. With four platters to choose from, the popular ones are surf & turf and meat.
For the surf & turf, aside from the bulgogi beef, it comes with tiger prawns and scallops. There are also offal options, such as ox tongue. They also have tasty side dishes, with highlights like honey butter chips.
For side dishes, I would go for their cheesy toppoki and some crispy mandu. There’s also the crispy seaweed rolls and some incredibly crunchy Korean fried chicken. You can also order some spicy dipping powder if the spice isn’t getting to you yet.
| Pro Tip: You don’t need to drive to Coventry to enjoy Jinseon. They can deliver their signature dishes to Birmingham with a small fee, and you can include as many side dishes as you’d like. |
10. Asia Asia Food Hall
– Media credit: Asia Asia Food Hall Instagram
Website: https://www.asiaasiafoodhall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiaasiafoodhallbirmingham
Address: 10 Pershore St, B5 4RX
Contact Details: +44 121 666 6777
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: £
A melting pot of Asian cuisine, the Asia Asia Food Hall is perfect for those looking to sample different cuisines. They have six different restaurants here, but we’re mainly concerned with the aptly and plainly named Korean Food Restaurant.
While they don’t have any samgyeopsal options, their serving sizes have more meat than most samgyeopsal sets. Their take on Korean food is among the most authentic in Birmingham, particularly the incredibly rich and creamy cheese beef bulgogi.
There’s also the spicy squid and the spicy cheese chicken, which are grilled strips marinated with the same sauces found in samgyeopsals. A unique option on their menu is the authentic Korean cold noodles, which are refreshing and tangy.
| Pro Tip: When you want a more comprehensive meal, their beef and pork bulgogi dub baps are a great option since they come with rice. For those who want a stone pot experience, I recommend their pork or beef bulgogi bibimbap. |