Gen Korean BBQ House in Lower East Side Manhattan - A New & Authentic KBBQ Experience

Introduction to Gen Korean BBQ House in Lower East Side Manhattan

Gen Korean BBQ House is a new and exciting Korean barbecue restaurant that has opened up in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Korean barbecue, also known as KBBQ, is a popular cooking technique that originated from Korea where meat, seafood, and vegetables are grilled right at your table. Gen Korean BBQ brings this interactive and social dining experience to the Lower East Side area.

This Korean barbecue joint first opened its doors in the summer of 2022 and has quickly become a go-to spot for KBBQ lovers in NYC. The restaurant offers an extensive menu with over 40 dinner options to choose from. Patrons can pick from an array of meats like beef bulgogi, spicy pork belly, chicken, and more. There are also seafood choices like shrimp, squid, scallops, and mussels. For vegetarians, there are options like tofu, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and fried rice cakes.

In addition to the DIY grilling, Gen Korean BBQ also offers a variety of banchan, which are small side dishes that are served alongside the meal. Some of the banchan highlights at Gen include kimchi, potato salad, spicy cabbage slaw, pickled radish, and japchae sweet potato glass noodles.

The Gen Korean BBQ Dining Experience

Here’s an overview of what you can expect when dining at Gen Korean BBQ House in the Lower East Side:

Tabletop Grills

Each table at Gen is equipped with a round grill in the center that uses charcoal to heat it up. The grills get very hot, reaching temperatures of over 500°F degrees. Once you place your order, the server will come over and place the raw meats and vegetables on the grill. Part of the fun is cooking the proteins and veggies yourself!

Changing the Grill

One of the great service aspects about Gen is that they change the grill after every meal that is cooked. This keeps the grills clean and prevents any flavor transfer from the previous diners. This attention to detail results in your food tasting fresh and clean without picking up hints of flavors from prior meals.

All You Can Eat

Gen Korean BBQ has an all you can eat KBBQ option that is very reasonably priced. For a flat fee, you get 2 hours to eat as much meat, seafood, veggies and sides as you want from their extensive menu. This is a great way to try a variety of dishes in one sitting.

Limited Drink Options

One thing to note is that the drink options are still limited since Gen is a newer restaurant. The beverage list mostly consists of a variety of canned sodas. So don’t expect too extensive of a liquor or craft beer selection just yet. The focus remains heavily on the food.

The Food at Gen - Menu Highlights

Now let’s talk about the amazing food at Gen Korean BBQ. Here are some of the most popular menu items that you should try on your visit:

Cajun Chicken

The Cajun chicken is a house specialty at Gen. The chicken is marinated in a spice rub that includes garlic, onion powder, hot pepper sauce, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika. It packs a punch of heat and flavor. Grilling the spicy chicken allows the spices to really permeate into the meat, resulting in juicy and tender chicken with a bit of heat.

Beef Bulgogi

No Korean barbecue meal is complete without beef bulgogi. Paper thin slices of sirloin steak are marinated in a sweet soy sauce marinade. The sugar in the marinade caramelizes beautifully when grilled. The beef becomes extremely tender and packs a ton of sweet and savory flavor. It’s easy to keep going back for more slices of this addictive beef.

Spicy Pork Belly

The spicy pork belly hits the perfect balance of savory and spicy. Generous slices of pork belly get a thick coating of a spicy gochujang based sauce. The sweet and spicy Korean chili paste permeates into the crispy pork fat. Each piece has a nice kick of heat balanced by the unctuous and rich pork belly.

Shrimp and Squid

For seafood lovers, you have to take advantage of the fresh shrimp and squid offerings. The shrimp is seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and olive oil. The squid is marinated in garlic and olive oil. They both grill up quickly and taste amazing when dipped in the house made spicy gochujang sauce. The sweet and briny seafood pairs perfectly with the hot and garlicky chili paste.

Potato Salad

While it may seem unconventional, the potato salad at Gen is a must-try side. Most Korean restaurants serve a potato salad banchan, but the version at Gen is extra tasty. It has the perfect creamy and smooth texture punctuated with bits of egg, carrot, onion, and pickle relish for crunch. The dressing has the acidic tang of mayo and mustard blended with a hint of sweetness. It’s the ideal starchy, cool complement to balance out the sizzling proteins coming off the grill.

What to Know Before You Go

Here are some good tips to know before heading over to Gen Korean BBQ House:

Come Hungry!

You’ll want to come with an empty stomach to fully enjoy the endless proteins, veggies and sides included in the all you can eat dining option. Pace yourself so you have room to try all your KBBQ favorites during your 2 hour seating.

Prepare for the Smell

The active grilling means your hair and clothes may pick up a bit of the BBQ smell after. Come prepared knowing that you’ll likely leave the restaurant reeking deliciously of grilled meat.

Watch the Cook Times

Keep a close eye on what you grill since the powerful charcoal heat cooks proteins and veggies fast. It’s easy to overcook and burn your food when caught up in conversation. Pay attention to the cooking times for each ingredient.

Mind the Heat

Again, these tabletop grills reach extremely high temperatures upwards of 500°F. Be very careful handling the raw food and cooking tools around the hot grill. Listen to alerts from your server on how to properly handle the grill.

The Verdict on Gen Korean BBQ

Gen Korean BBQ House breathes new and authentic life into the Korean barbecue scene in the Lower East Side. The hands-on grilling experience coupled with the extensive and affordable all you can eat dining option makes it a top choice for KBBQ enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The menu also shines with its variety of proteins, banchan options, and specialty dishes like the spicy Cajun chicken. While the drink menu is still limited, the focus remains heavily on providing quality ingredients and service. All these factors come together to make Gen Korean BBQ a can’t miss destination for your next meat-filled meal in Lower Manhattan!

FAQs

What is the price for the all you can eat KBBQ option?

The all you can eat dinner option at Gen Korean BBQ costs $29 per person. This gets you unlimited proteins, banchan sides, rice, lettuce wraps, and 2 hours to grill and eat.

Do you need to make a reservation?

It's highly recommended to make a reservation in advance, especially for Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant gets very busy on weekends. You can book online through Resy or call them directly.

What time does the restaurant close?

Gen Korean BBQ is open Sunday to Thursday from 4pm to midnight and Friday to Saturday from 4pm to 1am. Last call is an hour before closing time.

Is there parking near the restaurant?

There is no parking lot, but there are plenty of street parking spots nearby. Be sure to check street signs for any parking restrictions.

Do they accommodate vegetarian/gluten-free/food allergies?

Yes, you can request gluten-free soy sauce and no meat cooked on your portion of the grill. There are also many veggie banchan sides to choose from. Inform your server of any food allergies.