This is a local’s guide to the 13 best Korean restaurants in Boston in 2024! The city has an impressive variety of Korean food options, from Korean BBQ to Korean-Mexican fusion. Most of these restaurants are located in Allston (Boston’s unofficial K-town), but some are in other neighborhoods of Boston as well.
Last Updated: January 12th, 2024
1) Kaju Tofu House
This is the #1 place to get soondubu, or Korean tofu stew. It comes with silken tofu and your choice of meat (I always get bulgogi). You can also choose your spice level– I recommend medium if you can’t handle spice well.
The soup is served bubbling in a stone pot with a side of rice. I always dip a spoonful of rice into the soup to get a bit of everything in one bite! I also recommend adding a Korean BBQ dish like bulgogi to make it a combo.
In all honesty, I was a bit skeptical about trying soondubu for the first time. To my surprise, the soup here is very hearty and filling thanks to the tofu and meat. It’s the perfect meal on a cold Boston day.
56 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134
2) BBQ Chicken
This Korean chain sells the best Korean fried chicken in the city. There are over 10 flavors, ranging from classic soy garlic to more adventurous options like their maple crunch. I always try to get their lunch special on weekdays (check online for lunch hours!). For around $12 you can get a drink, fries, and 3 pieces of fried chicken. My go-to chicken flavor is the honey garlic glaze. Check out my TikTok review for more details.
An alternative Korean Fried Chicken spot is Crave in Boston’s Chinatown or Bonchon in Allston.
182 Harvard Ave, Boston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
3) Seoul Topokki
Next on the Korean restaurants Boston list is a popular tteokbokki restaurant just down the street from BBQ Chicken. For those who don’t know, tteokbokki are spicy rice cakes. It’s a very popular Korean street food.
Seoul Topokki in Allston has a variety of flavors including rabokki (ramen and tteokbokki), jjajang bokki (rice cakes with jjajang/black bean sauce), and creamy rose tteokbokki.
The tteokbokki here has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the rice cakes are perfectly chewy. Some cons about the place are the portions are small for the price and the other dishes aren’t great, so I’d stick with tteokbokki.
166 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
4) Bab Korean Bistro
This is definitely one of the best Korean restaurants Boston in terms of quality and taste! The menu at BAB has plenty of traditional Korean dishes. I recommend the cheese tteokbokki, jjajangmyun (black bean noodles), beef bibimbap (rice bowl with meat & vegetables), and japchae (glass noodles). The japchae is generously coated in a sweet, soy sauce-based sauce. The restaurant is located in Coolidge Corner in Brookline but is worth the trip a bit outside of Boston.
1374 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 / Visit Website
5) Koreana
I can’t have a best Korean restaurants Boston list without mentioning Korean BBQ. Unfortunately, Boston doesn’t have many options. Koreana in Central Square is the best in terms of quality. For first-timers, get the bulgogi and kalbi. The servers will cook the meat in front of you. You’ll also get complimentary ban chan (side dishes).
This is also the only Korean BBQ spot around that gives you lettuce to wrap the meat in. It’s on the pricier side at $30-50 per meat, but I think it’s worth it for the premium taste and quality.
158 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139 / Visit Website
6) Haju Kitchen
If you want Korean food closer to central Boston, Haju is an underrated hidden gem. They have an extensive menu with Korean fried chicken, stews, fried rice, etc. The combos here are a good deal – I always get “Set 1”. It’s only ~$30 for a giant tray of rabokki, Korean fried chicken, 2 drinks, and your choice of fries or rice. This restaurant is perfect if you’re with a small group and are craving Korean comfort food.
175 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
7) Coreanos
Up next on the best Korean restaurants Boston list are Korean fusion restaurants. The most popular one is Coreanos in Allston. Their Korean-Mexican-inspired menu is inventive with kimchi quesadillas and bulgogi tacos. My favorite dishes here are the chicken poppers with fries and Coreanos bowl. The bowl is loaded with carrots, daikon, your choice of meat (I always get bulgogi), a fried egg, and a drizzle of two different sauces.
Note: The interior of the restaurant is very small with only two or three tables. Most people get takeout here.
172 Brighton Ave, Boston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
Dining Tip: Check out my Foodie Boston Bucket List restaurant directory to easily find the best spots!
8) Kimchipapi
Just across the street from Coreanos is Kimchipapi. They sell fried chicken, Korean-inspired rice bowls, and the famous Korean corn dog. The KFC over rice is my favorite dish! The corndog flavors come in mozzarella, potato-coated mozzarella, hot dog, and half mozzarella-half hotdog. The batter is different from American corn dogs and is coated with sugar for a salty-sweet flavor. I always order the full cheese corn dog here.
81 Harvard Ave, Boston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
9) Mochinut
Another Korean corn dog spot is Mochinut, with locations in Allston and Chinatown. They have so many corn dog flavors here, including a hot Cheetos option. While you’re there, try their mochi donuts too. They are served in a pon-de-ring style and have a chewier texture compared to regular donuts.
154 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
Further Reading: 17+ Best Cheap Eats Boston
10) Sojuba
Sojuba is a very popular Korean lounge with a club-like atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot for a pregame or just to hang out with friends. They have a variety of soju pitchers, beer towers, and giant shareable watermelons to drink out of. Some of their popular dishes are the tteokbokki, Budae Jigae (Korean army stew), Korean savory pancakes, and wings. The atmosphere is very lively, with loud music and large friend groups.
1265 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215 / Visit Website
11) Caffe Bene
Next on the best Korean restaurants Boston list is a popular Korean dessert and cafe chain. I usually get honey toast or Belgian waffles here. The honey toast is a giant cube toast topped with honey, chocolate, and strawberries. I love that it’s not too sweet and indulgent. It’s the perfect shop to visit after trying one of the other best Korean restaurants Boston.
In the warmer weather, they also sell bingsoo (Korean shaved ice with various flavors/toppings like mango or strawberry). However, I think it lacks flavor compared to the other desserts.
More of Boston’s best desserts (including Asian desserts!) can be found in my Boston dessert guide.
333 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115 / Visit Website
Further Reading: 15+ Best Boston Coffee Shops
12) Naksan BBQ
Naksan BBQ is a newly opened restaurant for Korean BBQ in Boston. It’s an elevated Korean BBQ experience where you order a la carte meat or a BBQ combo (either beef combo or pork combo). They cook the meat for you here.
It’s on the pricier side, where each meat is around $50 and a combo is $150, but I think it’s one of the best options for Boston Korean BBQ. The small beef combo feeds 2-3 hungry people well.
1414 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02135
13) Baanga Korean Cuisine
Conveniently located steps away from the Green Line Kenmore station, Baanga (previously Kaju Tofu House) is a basement-level Korean restaurant with a great soondubu, also known as Korean soft tofu stew. The ingredients taste fresh and the tofu is silky.
Other must-try dishes include the bibimbap, Korean savory kimchi pancake, and tteokbokki.
Note: The spice here is no joke! I found their medium spice level to be pretty spicy.
Honorable Mentions of Korean Restaurants Boston:
Seoul Soulangtang is a popular restaurant for Korean seolleongtang and kalbi-tang. Seolleongtang is a traditional Korean beef broth soup with oxtail and brisket. You can add salt, pepper, and scallions to your preference. In the summer you can also get their cold noodles. In all honesty, I’m not a fan of their soup. However, people love it! I recommend trying it out for yourself.
1245 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134 / Visit Website
Last on the best Korean restaurants Boston list is Gopchang Story in Allston. The Korean BBQ restaurant specializes in gopchang, which are grilled beef or pork intestines. It’s personally not my cup of tea, but many people love it!
Conclusion: Korean Restaurants Boston
These Korean restaurants Boston are only a few of many, but they are my top picks!
Looking for more places to eat? Here are more of Boston’s best food in 2024:
- 15 Best Japanese Restaurants in Boston
- Best Chinese Food in Boston (by an Asian!)
- 9 Best Tacos in Boston
- 15 Best Boston Brunches
- 13 Best Boston Sandwiches
- 11 Best Boston Southern Food Spots
- The Best Breakfast in Boston: 27 Spots
Or, check out things to do around the city:
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