"LA Style" Korean BBQ in the Korea Town of Dallas

IF I were to tell you that Dallas has better Korean food than New York City or San Francisco, you probably wouldn't believe me.  Now what if I told you it's half the price? Well, it's true, and a restaurant named Yun Tan Gil is leading the charge, bringing an L.A. style Korean BBQ to Dallas.  What makes it an “LA style” you ask?  It's the use of higher quality meats with more subtle marinades, as compared to the traditional way.  For $13-$15, you can eat like a king, opting for either a plate of meat per person or the smarter value deals, which include a beer and slightly more food for roughly the same price - it's a fixed total price and preselected meats intended to be shared among 3-4 of your best friends.  Compare this to any Korean restaurant in New York or San Francisco, or even the infamous Korea House in Dallas on the other side of Royal, east of I-35, charges $22+ for an inferior meal.  Along with the meat at Yun Tan Gil, you'll also get some delectable ban chan, which are small, usually complimentary plates of side dishes.  Yun Tan Gil offers an outstanding steamed egg dish and a miso based soup, each served in a communal dish to be shared among your fellow dinner companions. 

The restaurant is a little hard to find, located down a nondescript road parallel to an I-35 access road, on the northwest corner of Royal and I-35.  The signage is mostly in Korean, and upon walking through the black tinted door along a black tinted glass storefront, you are transported into a completely different world - the wonderful smell of charcoal grilled meats and smoke bombard you, as you stroll through a dining area consisting of stalls filled with rocks and small tables with folding chairs, while Korean Pop blares on the TVs in the background.  They offer a wide variety of protein including beef, pork, chicken, and seafood.   I've had mostly all of the beef and the pork belly options…all wonderful, the pork belly naturally very fatty, but I generally prefer the marinated ribs or skirt steaks.  What's that, you like your meats cooked medium rare?  Well, each table is equipped with its own charcoal grill, and you are responsible for cooking your own meats.  I've never even asked if they could cook it for you, but I would imagine this option is possible.  However, all of the meats are such thin cuts that it's difficult to screw up and more enjoyable hot off the grill.  Request a complimentary bowl of rice, grab a piece of lettuce, and with the rice, meat, fresh piece of garlic, and the salty brown miso paste sauce they provide, make the most delicious wrap of your life.  Or just eat the meats - they stand on their own in terms of quality. 

Yun Tan Gil is an absolute treasure and promises to provide both adventure and the greatest party your mouth has ever known.  It's the best Korean BBQ this Korean American has ever eaten, and it's half the price.  Go now and don't be intimidated by the foreign language!

Listen To:  Oh Land, Lady Gaga, any Korean Pop

Yun Tan Gil

11445 Emerald Street.

Dallas, TX 75229

(972) 243-0043