Guide to the Best Korean Restaurants in Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville has one of the better Korean food scenes in the Carolinas, and a lot of that goes back to the military. Soldiers stationed in South Korea came home craving the food, and Korean families have been part of the community around Fort Bragg for years. You'll find a beloved buffet, all-you-can-eat grills, and some of the crispiest fried chicken around. Here are the best Korean restaurants in Fayetteville, NC, and what to order.
Best Longtime Hole-in-the-Wall: Shila Korean Restaurant
Shila Korean Restaurant is a mom-and-pop favorite known for bibimbap, huge kimchi pancakes that can feed the whole table, and OhSam bulgogi made with pork and squid. Bibimbap is the classic Korean comfort dish that consists of a bowl of rice topped with vegetables, meat, and a fried egg that you mix before digging in. Meals come with a changing variety of banchan, the small side dishes like kimchi and pickled vegetables that round out a Korean table. Shila opens Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Best Korean Buffet: E Tae Won Express
E Tae Won Express is a small, homey restaurant and buffet with a loyal following. The food is very fresh and cooked in small batches, with bulgogi, spicy pork, Korean fried chicken, jap chae, yakimandu, and a few kinds of kimchi in rotation. Jap chae is a savory stir-fry of sweet potato glass noodles, and yakimandu are delicious fried dumplings served piping hot. One fun twist at E Tae Won Express is that the cook is a third-generation Korean chef and her husband is a second-generation Cajun cook, so the menu picks up a little Creole influence. The restaurant opens daily except Saturday, and the lunch buffet is the easiest way to try a bit of everything.
Best Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: Gangnam
Gangnam serves all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot near Cross Creek Mall. Every table has its own built-in grill, so you cook premium meats, seafood, and veggies right in front of you. The hot pot meal lets you build your own bowl from a few broth options, from mild original to spicy mala broth. If you're new to Korean barbecue, the staff will help you get the grill going and let you know when each cut is ready. Gangnam's space has a lively, K-pop-inspired feel, and cooking your own food at the table makes it an entertaining choice for group dinners or a celebration. The weekday lunch is the best value, starting at around $20 per person.
Best Korean Fried Chicken: Koko CK
Koko CK is the place to go when you want Korean fried chicken done right - juicy and flavorful, double-fried so the coating stays crisp. It comes in flavors like mild soy garlic and sweet-spicy dak-gangjeong, and you can get a family-sized portion of the popcorn chicken for the table. The menu also has comforting stews like budae jjigae, the army stew loaded with sausage and ramen, and seolleongtang, a milky ox-bone soup. Budae jjigae has roots near US military bases after the Korean War, which ties right back to Fayetteville's own connection to these flavors.
Best for Something Different: Nak Won Korean Restaurant & Rice Cake Bakery
Nak Won is a quick drive north of Fayetteville in Spring Lake, near Fort Bragg, and pulls double duty as both a full Korean restaurant and a rice cake bakery. Steamed rice cakes, called tteok, are the house specialty, and the menu also covers Korean lunch boxes, kimbap, fried bulgogi dumplings, bibimbap, kimchi stew, and some of the best spicy ramen around. Korean rice cakes are chewy and mildly sweet, and they're a popular pick for birthdays and holidays. If you've already worked through the usual Korean menus around town, this is a good place to try something new.
Best Local Staple: Yummy Express
Yummy Express is a low-key local favorite right outside the Yadkin Road gate of Fort Bragg, with some loyal regulars going back two decades. The menu sticks to Korean classics done well, including bulgogi, kalbi, kalbitang soup, fried mandoo, spicy pork, cheese ramen, kimbap, and savory seafood and vegetable pancakes, all served with generous banchan. The kalbitang, a clear beef short-rib soup, is a warming pick on a cold day. Yummy Express is a quick, friendly stop, whether you dine in or take it to go, and they're open daily except Sunday.
Find Your Home in Fayetteville
Every spot on this list is a short drive from The Park Apartment Homes in north Fayetteville, which keeps you close to the area's best Korean food, along with easy access to Fort Bragg and the rest of town. The community offers 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments in Fayetteville, NC, with vaulted ceilings, spacious walk-in closets, and updated appliances. Residents enjoy a sparkling swimming pool, a fitness center, grilling stations, and a dog park, and the pet-friendly grounds are kept up by an on-site team. Schedule a tour today and see the space for yourself.