Korean food in Berlin has grown from a handful of restaurants concentrated around Wilmersdorf to a city-wide scene with different formats: all-you-can-eat BBQ, individual grills, Korean fried chicken spots, and bibimbap lunch joints.
Table Grill KBBQ
For the full Korean BBQ experience with individual table grills and ventilation hoods, look to the established restaurants in the Ku’damm and Kantstraße area. Samgyeopsal (pork belly), galbi (short ribs), and chadolbaegi (thin beef brisket) are the meats to order. A full spread for two with side dishes (banchan), rice, and drinks typically runs €50–80.
All-You-Can-Eat Format
Several Korean restaurants near Schöneberg and Charlottenburg offer buffet-style KBBQ at flat rates (typically €25–35/person on weekdays, higher on weekends). Quality varies — the best ones refresh the meat selection frequently and maintain the grill properly.
Korean Fried Chicken
The Korean fried chicken (chimaek — chicken + maekju/beer) trend arrived in Berlin and hasn’t left. Several spots in Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg specialize in double-fried chicken with various sauce glazes (soy garlic, spicy honey, original). Better than expected, comparable to the Seoul style.
Everyday Korean
For lunch-focused Korean — bibimbap, sundubu jjigae (silken tofu stew), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), and japchae (glass noodles) — several small restaurants in Wilmersdorf and Wedding offer solid cooking at reasonable prices (€12–18 for a full meal).
