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One of D.C.’s best Korean BBQ restaurants is opening on 14th Street

One of D.C.’s best Korean BBQ restaurants is opening on 14th Street

American wagyu in dry ice at a Korean steakhouse Ingl. Photo by Jessica Seidman.

In the past, if you wanted to eat at a Korean barbecue restaurant, you had to go to the suburbs. But that has changed over the past five years with places like Gogi Yogi in Shaw and Iron age in Columbia Heights. Now one of the best table grill restaurants in the region, English Korean Steak Houseextending from Tysons to 14th Street.

Since opening in 2022 English Korean steak has become a standout in the Korean BBQ scene thanks to its high-end atmosphere. American wagyu cuts are presented in dry ice wraps, and the dining room has a clean, modern look with marble countertops and walnut accents. Expect a similar experience when the restaurant moves into the former Nama Ko (14th St., 1926, N.-W) in the fall of 2025.

James Jang, who previously ran Japanese rice restaurant Donburi, says the DC version of Ingle will focus on a prix-fixe menu while continuing to source high-quality cuts from specialty American wagyu farms. Curated by Executive Chef Jae Yoon, Virginia’s menu currently includes appetizers such as chilled oysters, garlic cod roe toast, and Korean-style steak tartare. There is also beef fried rice, spicy seafood noodle soup, and other soups and stews. In D.C., Jang and Yoon plan to add more beef small plates.

The new restaurant will focus more on the bar. They will be able to import a larger variety of Korean liquor into D.C. that they cannot get through Virginia’s state liquor distribution system. The place will also have a similar modern aesthetic, but with a slightly darker, more moody vibe with lots of Korean artwork.

D.C.’s high-end Korean restaurants are getting a little more buzz with a few more additions, too. On Friday, November 1, the famous chef Edward Lee will open Shiite— a contemporary Korean tasting menu restaurant with high environmental goals — at Union Market. Meanwhile, the Seoul-based restaurant group plans to make its U.S. debut with a fine dining room in the former Duck Duck Goose space in Dupont Circle.

Jessica SeidmanJessica Seidman

Food Editor

Jessica Seidman talks about the people and trends behind the DC food and drink scene. Before entering Washington in July 2016, she served as food editor and Young & Hungry columnist for the Washington City Paper. She is a native of Colorado and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.