"When the large hot stone bowl of kalbijjim arrives, your server will take approximately 53 seconds to erratically blowtorch the shredded cheese on top until it resembles a gooey mound of fire-roasted marshmallows. The bubbling braised beef dish that's achieved nano-influencer levels of power (and social media notoriety) is also worth the hype. There are, of course, other reasons to head to the beef-centric Korean restaurant in Japantown—excellent kalbitang with chunks of tender beef, plenty of soju, and a buzzy atmosphere that's perfect for groups await, after you've braved the line. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway
Melissa Zink