Han Il Kwan

You’re at Han Il Kwan to gather around a flaming hot tabletop grill and cook some of the best KBBQ in town—as well as surround yourself with the most generously portioned banchan. Seriously, your table will look like an opulent banquet before the high-quality meats even arrive. The deeply flavored spicy pork, sweet-salty bulgogi, and pork belly are must orders. While the BBQ and banchan are more than enough food for an army (set menus that feed six and eight are also available), you’ll also want to order the  crispy skinned mandu and the vegetable-packed japchae, and ask for either the perfectly spicy soondubu or super fluffy egg soufflé which come on the house. Han Il Kwan’s atmosphere strikes a great balance between buzzy and laid-back, so use this place for casual dinners that call for a good time around heaps of BBQ. 

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Food Rundown

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Japchae

Han Il Kwan’s rendition has a solid ratio of vegetables to noodles. Could this stir-fried dish use more beef? Sure. However, we would still order it again and again.

Gunmandu

Just a nice crispy pocket filled with well-spiced beef. Like most dishes here, the portions are abundant—12 dumplings per order.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Maeun-Dwaeji-Bulgogi

You’ll always win anytime you order BBQ at Han Il Kwan. Like the galbi, bulgogi, and pork belly, the spicy pork is a standout. It’s mildly spicy, peppery, and really just so damn good.

Bindaetteok

A bit too dry and thick, considering there isn’t a ton of flavor. A rare miss.