Korean restaurants in Fort Lauderdale often feel like two extremes: touristy spots with watered-down bibimbap, or sterile strip-mall joints where you grab a plastic container of bulgogi before rushing home. These places rarely earn a spot in our regular rotation—but the gems on this list are glorious exceptions.
Minji’s Cafe
$ | (954) 572-5088 | WEBSITE
Minji’s Cafe is a Korean spot serving authentic home-cooked-style meals at a fair price, but there are no overly sweet, salty, or spicy dishes on the menu. There are, however, really good stews, served with either Spicy Chicken or Mackerel. Also, Jajangmyeon and tteokbokki. Stew is our favorite thing to get here, but the steak and Korean chicken are both just serviceable. We just wouldn’t choose them over other traditional dishes in the market.
Gabose Pocha
$$ | (954) 999-0603 | WEBSITE
Gabose Pocha offers Korean street food in an intimate atmosphere, and its octopus burger is a great choice for a casual dinner or late-night snack. If you’re looking for something more indulgent, we recommend the buldak cheese, which is exactly what it sounds like—a spicy chicken dish smothered in melted cheese. They also have karaoke on weekend nights and a selection of unique drinks like jelly sake.
TAKATO
$$$$ | (954) 414-5160 | WEBSITE
TAKATO serves some of Fort Lauderdale’s best Korean-inspired cuisine at their oceanfront restaurant. At TAKATO, you can enjoy versions of classic Korean dishes in shareable format, with fried rice as part of the base. TAKATO also makes creative mocktails, and they have standout dishes, like watermelon mocktails and duck bao buns. Come here when you’re not in the mood to eat a bunch of sandwiches.
GOGIYA Korean BBQ Restaurant (고기야)
$$ | (754) 465-5995 | WEBSITE
When you’re craving authentic Korean barbecue, GOGIYA serves up flavorful dishes in a cozy, family-run setting. We’ve yet to try something we don’t enjoy, but our go-tos are the Korean BBQ short ribs, because the marinade is perfectly balanced, and the seafood pancake, because any crispy pancake loaded with fresh seafood is going to hit the spot.
Grab the lunch special for a quick bite, or settle in for dinner and get the housemade kimchi and a milk tea—or make it a feast with the assorted Korean BBQ. We’re not here to tell you how to live your best food life.
HALLYU KOREAN BBQ & BAR
$$ | (954) 761-5227 | WEBSITE
If you want your evening out to be filled with flavor and energy, visit Hallyu Korean BBQ & Bar. The authentic Korean BBQ experience features dishes like LA Galbi and brisket prepared with exceptional quality—it’s a safe bet you’ll enjoy meat that many customers consider absolutely worth the price.
The spacious layout with 70 tables, VIP rooms, and Karaoke rooms creates a vibrant atmosphere perfect for everything from birthdays to corporate events, especially when K-Pop music videos are playing and owner Ray is providing his warm, personalized service. With incredibly kind staff and impeccable cleanliness throughout, Hallyu delivers a truly one-of-a-kind dining destination that makes you feel welcomed from the moment you arrive.
Bae Korean Grill
$$$$ | (954) 248-5946 | WEBSITE
Bae Korean Grill offers an authentic Korean barbecue experience with a truly excellent chef’s feast, and it’s a very good thing that they have a location here, because it means you can enjoy a special occasion meal like a date night or birthday celebration in a lively atmosphere. There is no wrong answer when it comes to the barbecue options, but try the ribeye and mignon at least once. They pair perfectly with our other favorite: the toasted scallops and lobster rolls.
Oh Korean Bistro
$$ | (954) 314-7797 | WEBSITE
This Fort Lauderdale favorite has been featured on best-of lists for years, and their current location continues to serve the same reliable Korean classics: fried kimchi rice with chicken, bulgogi, and those perfectly executed dumplings and pancakes. During dinner on a weekend, you’ll find groups gathered around tables sharing plates with those spicy thick sauces on the side. If we lived closer, we’d probably join them regularly.
You can’t really make a bad choice with the menu here, but you also shouldn’t expect culinary revelations. There are more adventurous Korean spots to explore.
Rok
$$ | (954) 530-1394 | WEBSITE
You might find yourself at Rok with a table full of sizzling meats and friends and think, a late-night feast would make this so much better. Fortunately, the restaurant stays open late, and just as with their Korean BBQ offerings, the focus is on perfectly grilled meats accompanied by unlimited banchan. You can’t take your bulgogi across the street, but you can enjoy the lively atmosphere while you savor every bite.
Volcano Hot Pot & Korean BBQ
$$ | (954) 534-7578 | WEBSITE
A good all-you-can-eat spot is an essential component of any successful dining scene, and we’re glad that Volcano Hot Pot & Korean BBQ anchors this one. If you’re looking for straightforward marinated short ribs or well-crafted beef tongue, they have those, but the seafood options are the main draw.
The selection stays consistent, but you can expect to find highly satisfying ingredients, like fresh shrimp and scallops alongside two types of crabs, or the unlikely but delicious Pork Uteri, with oysters, mussels, and clams. The reasonable $31.99 price makes it great value, and the clean, friendly atmosphere with attentive servers completes the experience.
While the kimchi could be improved, the overall quality is praised, making this a must-visit for families and anyone looking to enjoy a fun meal without breaking the bank.
THE NAMU Korean Japanese kitchen & izakaya
$$ | (754) 229-6772 | WEBSITE
THE NAMU’s Korean-Japanese fusion can be a bit inconsistent, but the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) is an absolute must-order. Honestly, it’s one of the most satisfying dishes in all of Fort Lauderdale. Generous pieces of crispy chicken come with a perfectly balanced spicy sauce that packs just the right punch. The flavors are bold, in the best possible way. Just don’t get distracted by items like the potato salad or seaweed sides in the bento box, which are fairly standard.
Gabose Korean BBQ
$$ | (954) 572-4800 | WEBSITE
Maybe it’s the charcoal grill tables, but we love getting the bulgogi at Gabose Korean BBQ. It’s grilled to order, and you can choose from two different marinades: soy sauce or sesame oil. We’ve tried them both, and the soy sauce is our favorite. If you want to mix things up, you can also add a bunch of other barbecue items to your order, like galbi, marinated pork, and crab pancake.