Who’s excited to talk about some of the BEST Korean Restaurants in Maryland!? My mom’s an amazing cook so I was pretty spoiled growing up…and now my standards are pretty dang high, lol. With that said, here are some of my FAVORITE spots in MD. These 10 (unranked) places are definitely go-tos so I’m pumped to share. Let’s get to it, Nomsters!
1. Siroo & Juk Story
If you follow me on instagram, you already know I love, love, LOVE Siroo & Juk Story. There’s so much to eat, but my fave thing there is their ddukbokki. They make their rice cakes fresh in house so the texture’s out of this world.
Plus, you can’t beat the price! They give you a big container of this spicy goodness for just $5.99. This spot’s pretty affordable in general & portions are huge so if you want bang for your buck, definitely hit them up. Other recs there include their bingsoo & kimbap!
📍10176 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
⏰T-Su 9-8pm
2. Daraewon
Korean-Chinese cuisine at its finest! Their jjajangmyun is next level, and I’d go as far as to say it’s as good as the jjajangmyun in Korea. You can often hear/see them making noodz in house, which is really cool. It actually scared me when I first dined there – the slapping sound’s surprisingly loud, lol.
The regular jjajangmyun is $9.99, but you can get other variations as well if you’d like. I also really love their kkangpoongi (fried chicken wing with garlic sauce), tangsuyuk (fried beef with sweet and sour sauce), and yoosamseul (shredded sea cucumber with sauteed shrimp & pork).
📍5013 Garrett Ave, Beltsville
⏰T-Sa 11-9pm
3. Kim Bob Na Ra
Kim bob’s one of my favorite snacks, and they do it so well here! If you’re never had these before, they’re seaweed rice rolls stuffed with all kinds of goodies. I like their beef roll the best, but I do get their ddukbokki + veggie kimbap combo fairly often. It’s only $15.50, and they do a mean ddukbokki as well.
📍9339 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
⏰10-6:30pm daily, closed Tuesdays
4. Kong Pocha
If you’re looking for amazing Korean fried chicken, you HAVE to go to Kong Pocha. They have, hands down, some of the BEST KFC I’ve ever had. It’s seriously SO good – think super flavorful, super juicy, super crispy. Go and thank me afterwards, lol. Runner ups include Rainpia and bb.q chicken.
📍9339 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
⏰10-6:30pm daily, closed Tuesdays
5.ChoSun Hwaro
This is probably my favorite Korean BBQ spot in Maryland (for a la carte). Their meat’s super fresh, and their food’s delicious as well. I usually get a combo to share with my friends or fam, and I like adding bibim naengmyun (cold, spicy noodles) & bossam (Korean boiled pork wraps).
Their noodz are super flavorful with a VERY nice kick, and their pork’s extremely tender. A close runner up’s Koho, but they’re super expensive. If you’re willing to drive, I HIGHLY recommend Ingle in Tysons Corner. Their KBBQ is exceptional.
📍9445 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
⏰Su-Th 11-10pm, F-Sa 11-11pm
6. Seoul Soondae
Korean blood sausage FTW! I’m a sucker for this dish, and Seoul Soondae’s the best in town. They’re located in Lotte Ellicott City’s food court, and they have lots of yum options. My dad loves their soondae guk (guk = stew/soup in Korean), and my mom’s fave is their soondae bokkum (bokkum = stir fry; if you like heat, get this). I enjoy both, but I think the best move’s to just get their regular soondae along with sliced liver. You dip it in their special salt blend, and it’s pure perfection.
📍8801 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
⏰Open daily from 8:30-10PM
7. be•se•to
I couldn’t resist listing be•se•to because it’s just a great spot. It’s a food hall with different stalls, and everything’s pretty good. I tend to frequent the Korean restaurant in the back (get their gamjatang aka pork bone soup + jokbal aka braised pig trotters on weekends) along with Delimanjoo for their bungeobbang (fish shaped pastry). They have a fairly large market downstairs with various goods so make sure you get your browse on before you go!
📍822 Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD
⏰M-Sa 10-9pm, Su 10-8:30pm
8. Ssong’s Hotdogs
My go-to spot for Korean hot dogs! Ssong’s executes this street food so well, and they have all kinds of fillings available – think fish cake, cheese, sausage, and more. Highly recommend the potato mozz stick with sugar & the ssong’s premium with hot mustard. PS. rem to have your camera ready for some epic cheese pulls.
If you want the full scoop on exactly what to order and what to expect, check out my dedicated Korean Corn Dogs at Ssong’s Hotdog in Columbia, MD review. —
📍10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD
⏰M-Th 11-8pm, Fr & Sa 10-8pm, Su 12-6pm
9. Shin Chon
I’ve been coming here for SO long, it’s kind of wild. This is my family’s go to spot for traditional Korean staples. We usually just get classic Korean dishes here like kimchi jjigae, yookgaejang, and more, but I hear their KBBQ’s solid as well. I’d say this is a great “well-rounded” spot for Korean cuisine.
For a more dedicated KBBQ experience in Ellicott City, check out Shin Chon Garden, which specializes in turtle grill Korean barbecue and has a solid menu of jeongol and mandu.
📍8801 Baltimore National Pike #27, Ellicott City, MD
⏰Su-Th 10-10pm, Fr & Sa 10-10:30pm
10. MeatUp
Probably the best all-you-can-eat KBBQ option I’ve been to! To be honest, I’m not a big AYCE person (I prefer ordering a la carte), but if you’re looking to feast, definitely make sure to check them out. They’re located in College Park, and their restaurant’s a vibe. They have this cyber punk theme going on, and it’s a really instagrammable space.
PS. you can add on their ramen bar menu for a few extra bucks, AND they offer a $10 all-you-can-drink add on which is WILD.
📍8503 Baltimore Ave, College Park
⏰M-Th 11:30-3:30pm + 5-11pm, Fr 11:30-3:30pm + 5-11:30pm, Su 11:30-11pm
Anddd that’s a wrap for today! I hope you guys enjoyed my latest post featuring must try Korean Restaurants in Maryland. Have you been to all 10 spots yet? Let me know by commenting below, Nomsters.
If you want to keep exploring the Korean food scene in Baltimore, check out my review of Motte in Highlandtown, a Korean-American fusion spot serving bulgogi pizza, spicy tteokbokki, and Korean banana milk ice cream. —