Babo Korean Bar

We had SUCH a fantastic experience at Babo! The food was top tier - every single thing we tried was incredible. The portions are perfect, great for sharing. The staff are INCREDIBLY kind and helpful and fun. The vibe is immaculate. 12/10, would go again and again and again!!!

I came here with my girlfriend & best friend for my birthday! Got there right at 5pm as I read there was no reservations and it wasn’t packed at all. The food is 10/10, i don’t think I’ve EVER tasted Brussels sprouts that good before wow. Bibimbap, Fire chicken, & Beef Bulgogi were all also very good! The drinks also were amazingggg. I will say I could see a place like this getting crowded and packed later in evening. I’m not a big fan of crowds so if I visited again I’d probably stick to the 5pm slot. Overall though I really enjoyed Babo!

I have tried nearly everything on the menu at this point and every single one has been a hit. Highly recommend the fried rice, dumplings, and pork katsu. Servers have always been super friendly as well & easy parking.

I placed an online order and it was confirmed, but when I got there on time, they hadn’t started making it yet. They kindly offered me a drink while I waited, and the food was ready very quickly. The beef Bulgogi was tender and delicious. however, I was disappointed with the bibimbap, I’ve never had it with raw carrots and cabbage, and it didn’t blend well at all… Plus, there was some kind of congealed oil or fat in the carrots that was not appetizing. The kimchi fried rice was decent, but there were a few overcooked and burnt pieces that were bitter. I had higher hopes for this place, but hope my experience was just a fluke. But I probably won’t be back.

Our servers was super friendly. The atmosphere was great but the food is overly salty, heavily sauced and the flavors dont combine well. Only the glass noodles were decent. Dont get the Bandhan nor the pancakes. I wouldn't recommend this place unless you are here for the drinks. Dont come here for authentic korean food

Valentine’s Day was busy, but the atmosphere was great!! Food is great quality. I just didn’t love what I ordered but my fiances Korean fried chicken was AMAZING really good chicken. Drinks were also great and unique flavor combos. Parking is a nightmare they have like 8 spots. We paid to park down the road and walked.

The food at this Korean restaurant was flavorful, though I found some dishes to be on the saltier side. The spice level was just right for me, adding a nice kick to the meal. The decorations and overall vibe of the place are definitely unique, making for an interesting dining experience. Worth a try if you’re in the mood for something different!

This place is The best korean barbecue bar i've been to. The server was amazing.She was so polite and nice.I will go back because of her. The kimchi was delicious. The kimchi Fried Rice was burnt in some places.However the food was delicious. The egg on top was so good.

We stumbled upon Babo after a long day of sightseeing. It was a little bit hard to find at night because the sign is so small. Our server was friendly and our drinks were never empty. My friend needed to charge her phone and they gave her a power plug which was really nice of them. The food was hit and miss. The glass noodles were our favorite by far. Large serving and so so flavorful. The kimchi fried rice was on the smaller side and the rice was crunchy which we weren't a fan of. The bibimbap was pretty tasty but the loaded pancake was not the best. It was loaded with so many toppings that it made it really soggy. The beef dumplings were delicious! I would still recommend Babo because of their great service! Next time I go, I'll try some of their drinks.

Was excited to find more Korean food options in Nashville! Have been here a few times and am always shocked by the bill. Even one or two small bar food items or drinks end up being pretty pricey. The food is not authentic Korean food or very high quality, but the kimchi is pretty good.

If you are looking for authentic Korean food, look elsewhere. Pretty pricey for overly sauced, low quality entrees. On the bright side... Good drinks.

Very disappointing Korean food unfortunately and not authentic. I saw a lot of great reviews so I was excited, but I have to stick to my local Korean food places instead. I got the Korean fried chicken for the table to share and it looked really good, but they were a burst of salt. Wayyy too salty. I thought it was just me but my whole table couldn't finish it since it was just straight up salt. My friend got the dumplings and they were indeed handmade, but very bland. For entrees, I got the beef bibimbap and it had a good mixture of veggies and meat, but again, way too salty. It was drenched in the gochujang sauce. I think they added vinegar to the gochujang, which I didn't like. More of a bar than restaurant vibe. The drinks were good. I got the lychee martini and it was strong and yummy. The staff and our waitress was super nice though!

I went to Babo on a whim recently. It's definitely a small spot with limited parking. Going to the bar was the easiest way for me to get immediate service since there were a couple of spots open. My husband was hanging with a friend, so dining solo wasn't an issue for me. For dinner, I opted for the beef bulgogi, which was fantastic - flavorful and seasoned well - I just wanted more of it when I was done to take home. Sake was good. I decided on that after seeing their sake bomb being advertised. It is more reasonable to get a regular sake than the sake bomb. Do as you wish, but that's my suggestion. I appreciated being able to sit at the bar and chat with the bartender while I ate. She was nice and offered some suggestions on what to try on my next visit in. I also had the chance to talk to a co-owner of the restaurant, to my surprise. He was nice and told me how the concept of the place came about. The best part was that the restaurant wasn't too crowded. It still had enough people but did not feel too congested, especially since bar seating removed me from the main dining area. But what really stood out to me was the level of customer service I received. The bartender was attentive, and the co-owner was really cool. I had a nice low-key time at Babo Korean Bar. It's a great spot to go with friends or alone, have some great Korean food, and enjoy a calm and relaxed atmosphere. I highly recommend the beef bulgogi, the sake, and the wonderful customer service!

Do not eat here! They will steal your money! I was charged for items that were unavailable. The staff never reached out to notify of my unavailability of items in my order. Never received my food delivery; staff tried to argue with me. Terrible customer service. They also do not have a working phone number.

I had been looking forward to checking out Babo for a couple months and was unfortunately underwhelmed by my experience. I did like the ambience--dimly lit with red in the dining and bar area and newspaper-lined walls lit by a single green bulb in the bathroom. It felt like a nice mix between a neighborhood dive bar and a more upscale, quiet getaway. Sitting at the bar, the service was fine; we got drinks quickly and the bartender checked in with us often to let us order food and drink. It was the food that really let me down. The banchan + kimchi started included four sides: radish kimchi, potato salad, broccoli with a brown sauce, and cucumbers. I don't know if it's a palate issue or a preparation issue, but I hated the kimchi (which I had been looking forward to). It was *extremely* bitter and the radishes had absolutely no crunch to them--they were soaked through and mushy. The cucumbers/pickles were alright but more pickled than I expected. I had hoped they would be a little sweeter or more sesame-forward like oi muchim that I've had at other restaurants. The broccoli with sauce was fine, but I didn't go back for a second bite. The potato salad was pretty good, but my friend only ate a single bite and left the rest for me. My friend and I split the blistered shishitos and gochujang Korean fried chicken. I liked the sauce on the shishitos but wished they had been a bit more blistered in both taste and texture. The fried chicken was good, but it's nothing I'd write home about (or order again). If I was in the area already, I'd grab a drink at Babo, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit again.

Our go to takeout spot in East Nashville but it's even better dining in! We always get the Korean fried chicken with tofu ranch and kimchi fried rice. But the glass noodles and dumplings are also great. Lots of vegetarian options too. If you dine, they have a fun selection of Korean drinks and beer. The atmosphere is dark and very cool. Not too loud and makes for a great spot to go with friends or on a date.

Amazing! We were staying just down the street and wanted something casual and somewhere we could walk to and found this place. We both enjoyed our cocktails (a lychee martini and a gin cocktail) and decided to order a starter and two entrees to share. We went with the Korean fried chicken (half and half for flavors), beef bulgogi and glass noodles with an egg. Needless to say, we definitely had leftovers. The Korean fried chicken with both flavors were cooked perfect, the beef was super tender and the glass noodles had tasty veggies mixed in. We really enjoyed our dinner here and the next time we visit Nashville we'll definitely be back! Insider note: the waitress recommended the fried cauliflower because it's only available Friday and Saturday but we just had to eat the chicken. So definitely try the cauliflower!

The food is not true Korean. It's way too salty and filled with MSG. Not only that, but we couldn't finish our meal and ended up getting violently ill after coming home. I reached out to the owners and got no response. I'd avoid this place.

Came here on a weekday and sat at the open bar seating, cool atmosphere but since the scale is smaller can be busy! Got the bibimbop with no expectations cause I haven't had it in a long time. I was pleasantly surprised, big portion and the beef was very good mixed with the veggies and sauce. Egg was a perfect topper as well. Bar service was quick and pleasant. I would like to come back and try more of the menu!

My wife and I have lived half a mile from Babo for nearly two years and only just made our first visit. I now thoroughly regret all those missed opportunities. This review is limited by the fact that we only had two dishes, but it was easily among the best for we've eaten in Nashville. The glass noodles are perfect. I could have those 5 days of the week and not be bored. The dumplings were less enjoyable for me, so I only at one. My wife cleared the plate of the rest though, so individual tastes will vary. We plan on being back very soon to sample more of the menu. Cocktails were excellent and we had top notch service from the bartender. Five stars all around.

The vibes inside the bar were very nice. The main room is dimly lit with a bar along one of the walls and the kitchen in the back. Their food menu is quite limited and consists of Korean street food items. We ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice, Loaded Pancakes, and Pork Bulgogi. Honestly, the food is no where near authentic Korean food. If you ignore the fact that the food is advertised as "Korean", then the flavors are alright. The carrots in the Kimchi Fried Rice were chopped a little too large, and since there was no protein, it was slightly bland, but with the Pork Bulgogi, it tasted alright. The Loaded Pancakes were a little to salty for my liking due to the BBQ sauce that is drizzled all over it. I definitely would not come in with the expectation of having good/authentic Korean food, but if you're just looking for a nice bar with great vibes, then this is the place to go.

This place is one of my GO TO faves! I love sitting at the bar and enjoying the pork katsu with the most delicious sauce and flavor! The scallion pancake is also amazing. This is such a great place for date night, time with friends, or even if you want to eat alone!! You gotta try it

I love the bibimbap and fried chicken with the RC cola soy sauce. The staff does a great job as well.

We were craving bibimbap and found this local East restaurant to try out. We showed up on a Sunday evening and were able to be seated immediately without a reservation which was convenient. Sat at the bar and was not able to be served alcohol because I have a temporary TN paper drivers license. Honestly, a little disappointing because the drinks had high remarks so can't speak to that. But... if a paper license is good enough for law enforcement it should be good enough for a restaurant. I even offered to show photos of my passport and other out of state ID but was also not accepted. So note to new customers - bring your passport if you recently changed your drivers license to TN. The food was okay - husband got beef bulgogi and it wasn't the best we have ever had. However the bibimbap was pretty good and the stone bowl was nice and sizzling. The dumplings were outstanding and will be looking forward to trying other dishes next time.

So delicious and quick service! My bf and I got the dolsot bibimbop and bulgogi with samyang and lettuce for main dishes and got kimchi and kimchi+banchan! The inside was so cute and kinda dark and moody, maybe good for a date (just keep in mind kimchi leaves a stinky breath lol). The outside looked dark and probs could use a better sign or lighting but it had a small parking available too which was easy to park in! Can't wait to go back!

My friends and I were really excited to come here and luckily we were able to reserve the big table. However, the food was pretty bland. The beef didn't have much flavor and the fried chicken, although it was better, was also just lacking something. Good, strong drinks though.

I came with a few friends for dinner. I'd been wanting to try Babo for a while because it's really the only Korean food you can get on this side of town! Overall it was a decent meal. We ordered scallion pancakes to share, and I had the spicy pork bento. Scallion pancakes were tasty; you can taste the beer batter, but they weren't as crispy as I'm used to with Korean jeon or even Chinese scallion pancakes. The spicy pork bento was just okay. The pork wasn't nearly as spicy or flavorful as what I'm used to, but it was cooked well and wasn't dry at all for being pork loin. The banchan was also okay. Out of all, the radish kimchi was the most traditional tasting. I thought it was a little strange that you have to order cabbage kimchi separately, and it's not counted as one of the banchan items. Friends who ordered the fried chicken were very pleased with it, so I'd recommend getting that instead. I don't know, I guess from a place like this, I would have thought the menu could be a bit more creative or "new age" Korean. The menu is straightforward and simple, consisting of mostly classic, familiar Korean dishes. It would have been cool to see some of the fun street food dishes like tteokbokki carbonara or Korean cheesy corn. I think those types of dishes pair well with the bar atmosphere. I understand the menu has evolved since COVID-19 hit, so I hope to see more updates in the future.

Wowowowowowow Thank goodness this place exists here! Such cool vibes and incredible food

Despite this being my second time here, it had been years since I had returned so I had forgotten how delicious Babo was. We arrived around 9pm last night, and there were maybe 10 people inside. There was a sign that mentioned patio seating, so we took advantage. Around the back of the building Babo has a super cute patio section with colored lights, fans and iron tables. They really worked with the space they had and it's been done really well! Our server Tara was friendly and made suggestions of the menu. The kitchen closed at 930 so we made a quick order and round of drinks. First out was the banchan of pickled and fermented veggies. Their kimchi is so so good, and vegan, which I had remembered. The marinated broccoli was our favorite! The shishito peppers and dumplings were awesome too. Entree wise, we pretty much ordered everything haha. Glass noodles with tofu, vegan bulgogi, beef bulgogi, bibimbap, fried chicken - it was wild and every single dish was delicious. That's what I loved about Babo, there was nothing that we didn't rave about. It was dark or I would've taken pictures, but wow I would come back again tonight if I didn't work!

I went here knowing it was not going to have traditional Korean dishes - I expected fusion and that's definitely what I got. For starters, the drinks were great. It's a bar as mentioned in the name after all. I'd love to come back and drink - atmosphere was fun and seemed lively. The food was mediocre. The bibimbap was ordered in the hot stone pot, but the rice was over cooked and mushy while the pot was not hot enough to add crunch. It wasn't good, we didn't finish it. The pancakes were thick, mine slightly burnt with little scallion to be found. Funny enough the hot dog was banging though, really yummy. The glass noodles also decent but could use some spice. Definitely a hot spot to drink, an ehhhh place to eat.

I thought the food was good and need to come to try more to give them a fair review. The atmosphere of the restaurant was cool!

Its a cute and cozy korean bar in eastnash area. The small korean plates are perfect to go with good variety of cocktails. The place a young vibe to it. The service was fast and the staff was friendly. Its perfect place to spend a relaxed evening with your friends after a hectic work day. I have found a gem in Eastnash.

Delightfully local, great prices and big flavors. A gem of a find indeed. We are the entire menu and everything was delicious! Will definitely return when in town.

Drinks weren't my cup of tea, expect there to only be korean style cocktails! The appetizers were great - gyoza, kimchi fried rice, and pancake. Unfortunately, our entrees were lacking in flavor unlike the apps. Cool atmosphere though!

This place was so good!! I took my mom here, who loves bibimbap, and she said it was the best she has ever had! We got the banchan and dumplings as our appetizers and they were both delicious. The radish kimchi on the banchan was our favorite! As I said the bibimbap was absolutely delicious. Service was pretty fast and the vibe of the restaurant was really cool, but it was pretty dark and pretty loud. There is not much parking, so we parked in the church parking lot across the street and walked over. We will definitely be back!!

Decent Korean food. I would come back again because there are few Korean places in Nashville. But please work on your banchan portions! I wish the bibimbap was served in a stone bowl as the crispy rice from the dolsot is what makes bibimbap so great. The AC vents from the ceiling were so strong it made my boyfriend's food go cold halfway through eating it so he had to ask to have it heated up again. I ordered the spicy pork bulgogi and that was good. But the portions of the banchan was a joke. The two pieces of broccoli covered in gochujang sauce... that's it? I liked the potato salad and kimchi cucumbers but wish there was more of it. When I think of banchans, I think of limitless, I plan to get stuffed off of banchan and this didn't really cut it at Babo We shared the house special which was tteokbokki- however the waitress didn't know the name of the dish so she had to just describe what it was. Tteokbokki isn't hard to learn how to say and you should know what you're serving. The tteokbokki was good and very flavorful. Pretty well spiced with a decent amount of fish cake and rice cakes.

Walked over from the house at 7:30pm this evening. Open spaces at the bar when I walked in. Real nice darker haired lady goes "oh ya I just need to wipe down those spots you can sit there, one sec". I go ok awesome thank you. Then out of nowhere a heavy set lady covered in tattoos starts loudly saying "NO we're on a wait!!! Here's how this is gonna go!! I take your number down and I call you when we can seat you!!!". There was nobody else waiting. Bar has always been first come first serve. At this establishment and every other establishment in east Nashville that I can think of. But I digress..... The nice darker haired lady who greeted me responded with a mortified look on her face and said "uhhhh ok???" I walked out and said nothing. Too hungry to fight with an unhappy person. Heavy set lady covered in tattoos felt like they needed the last word and yelled "OK BYE WHATEVER". Remember when Nashville was full of nice people who took pride in their work and helping others? Maybe it's lost.... Sadly I will not be returning for service after this. I will take my hard earned money to some nicer people. Such a shame.

Like some of the other Yelp reviews mention, this is a uninspired Korean restaurant/bar. They served the banchan without the Kimchi and then I had to ask for a side of it. Also the scallion pancake is literally made of pancake batter. It certainly isn't your traditional pancake. Usually it's seafood pancakes as well, but I guess this is their spin.The Pork Katsu was good though and the tea was authentic :). The bulgogi wasn't great and poor cuts of meat. With that being said we enjoyed the vibe and our waitress was really nice.

Babo is the perfect neighborhood place. Hip but friendly, great dishes at low prices, charming waitstaff that remembers you (shout-out to Jess), fun cocktails, and fast service. It's become our low-key go-to. I am obsessed with the kimchi fried rice and lychee martini -- thank me later!

Very good atmosphere, staff was very informative and friendly and the food was spot on. Best Korean food I've had in Nashville and I've tried a lot. I did add some of their hot sauce to the beef Bulgogi, but it was still flavorful before and that little added spice was perfect if you like a little heat, but still a good flavor. The kimchi fried rice was very good as well. Will be back for sure.

I am a big Babo fan. My boyfriend and I go out of our way for Babo date nights whenever we need a pick-me-up. I can't attest to all of their food, but their kimchi dogs, scallion pancakes, and pork katsu are just great and worth going out of the way for. If you stick with that order, you won't be disappointed! I've also had their bibimbap & dumplings, which were just alright. And look, it is not authentic Korean food by any means. But, that is not what they are claiming to sell. The atmosphere is great, they always have weird niche cult classics playing on the projector and the music is always great. Where else can you grab a soju, listen to alt music, and watch Weird Al's UHF??? Babo is truly special and I take everyone I know where when they visit town.

Cool bar restaurant. Excellent drinks. Good food. I got half/half order of wings and they weren't too spicy. The dolsot bibimbap was delicious. It's a nice spot to swing by after work.

Food was a 4.5 Service was a 2 = Rude. Celebrating AJB's birthday he had always wanted to try this place. I got there a little later than him he was already seated at the bar. The bartender/ server was just rude and so busy with 7 people parked at the bar all talking to their group. I wanted to try a local beer and it was metallic tasting- so I passed. The Sake was a good call. We ordered- the food came quickly and was delicious. Be careful asking for a water refill... Order your drink sit at the other tables and enjoy.

First time here and will definitely be coming back! I had the Bibim Bap, as well as the dumplings and they were both scrumptious! The flavors and texture were so great! The atmosphere was so chill too!

Cool vibe and good food. We eat a lot of korean food and we were surprised by how good everything is. I am glad to have a place on the east side to get pork bulgulgi or japchae. 4 stars for having to wait at the bar to order drinks after ordering food at the counter. Seems like all the ordering can be done together...

Review update: Disclaimer: the manager knew of my previous review and knew I was there when I went again. Because of this, I tried to pay attention to the other food being plated around us to make sure we weren't the exception. When I spoke with the manager when we got there, he said that they had been able to train his staff more closely in the kitchen on how to prepare Asian dishes, which has helped considerably in the cook of the dishes. He also mentioned that they had updated their menu to include some new food and cocktail options and plans to have a rotating menu with more items added in the future, which I love the idea of. But, let's get to the food... This experience was leaps and bounds better than the last time we went. I was extremely pleased with everything that we tried. I went with a group of 5 and we ended up trying most of the menu. I enjoyed everything I got. Both the flavor and the cook was on point; evidence of the kitchen staff's extra training for sure. Here's what we had and what I thought: Drinks (all not strong but good flavors): -Cinnabon Scott - nice, fall-ish drink -Tartbreaker - so tasty! I loved this one with its spiced pear flavor -Eye Mizu - hubby ordered this and I tried it and really enjoyed it. The aperol is not strong so it doesn't overpower the other flavors in the drink. I would have ordered this if I had wanted a 3rd Food: -Banchan & kimchi - I loved all of them but the kimchi was the best -Dumplings - so much better this time around! More flavor and better cook. I love that the cabbage makes the filling purple too -scallion pancake - guys, this dish was by far the most improved. It wasn't greasy this time and it had its own flavor instead of tasting bland. I enjoyed it this go around -glass noddles - amazing! This is definitely the best item on the menu. Fresh with really good flavor. -fried chicken - good cook, good flavor, solid item -fried pork katsu - excellent -beef bulgogi - this was my least favorite as it didn't have as much flavor as all the other items. I've had the pork and really liked it in the past so I would recommend that over the beef. *did not get to try the bulgogi and kimchi fried rice again, but it will be on my list for next time. Like I said before, I was paying attention to the other tables and everything else looked like it was cooked just as well. This is a fun little place and I'm so glad our experience this time was better since we live right around the corner. We will be working it into our regular rotations of restaurants. Way to go Babo for making improvements and adjustments!!

Had the Korean chicken which was excellent! Nice laid-back environment with medium too high music noise. Will be returning when I'm looking for a good snack food in a bar type environment.

This place is excellent!!! The dumplings, fried rice and Korean bbq are so delicious- eat here consistently

The good: I really liked the vibe inside the bar/restaurant. Felt homey and somewhere you'd want to be in a cold day. Staff were all nice and were very polite. The bad: I don't particularly like leaving bad reviews because I usually enjoy most eateries. This was not the case. This bowl tasted of something you would buy at a refrigerated kiosk at the airport. It was lukewarm and all the ingredients tasted like they had been heated up in a microwave. The bibimbap sauce for the bowl was not good. Tasted artificial and pre-made. The "marinated beef" was not marinated and if it was, I'm not sure what in. It looked and tasted like the cheap ground beef that you buy at the grocery store when there's nothing else left on the shelves. Carrots felt like they were just thrown in there. I struggled to eat them because they were cut so long. Lastly, not enough rice. Overall, this was a disappointing meal and both my wife and I agreed that it was a one-time experience for us.

This place is near the air bnb we often rent when we visit Nashville and it is a really nice bar. The food is good, they have hot and cold sake, and the staff is so friendly as sweet. The ONLY reason I give it 4 stars is because the music in here is SO LOUD most of the time we're there. I get trying to create and ambiance, but it's like assault on your ears and you can't hear eachother speaking and often we don't go because of the noise. Just turn it down like 2 notches and you've got a 5 star in my book!

Went here for lunch for my fiancé's birthday. We're both huge foodies and we're Asian so I would say our gauge for rating Asian flavors is authentic and accurate. The vibe of Babo is really cool, an environment you would expect in East Nashville. Our server was great and checked up on us often, it was the food that was underwhelming. I got the bibimbap, my brother-in-law got the pork katsu and my sister-in-law got the bulgogi. Portions just didn't match the price and the flavors were not there even down to the gochujang sauce in the bibimbap wasn't right. The kimchi hotdog was just off, I appreciate kimchi, but not this combo. One good thing we enjoyed were their cocktails. Overall, wouldn't recommend.

Ordered kimchi fried rice, pork bulgagi, banchan, fried chicken rice. Fried chicken was ok. I will give a 3 stars. Kimchi fried rice should get a zero. Completely under seasoned and burnt as well. It was just inedible. When I was enquiring about kimchi fried rice with our waitress she didn't even bother to ask the details but said that's how it's supposed to be. Pork bulgagi is pork and soy sauce that's it. It's a 2 star. You are better of ordering the fried chicken out of these items. I was so much looking forward to try this place but it's not the typical Korean food taste.

A great jewel hidden in East Nashville. Babo is a cool spot to have a drink, enjoying a Sapporo or one of the Sakes they offer. The service and the bartenders will become your best friends after 5 minutes sitting at the bar. I got the kimchi platter and the pork katzu good paired with a Sapporo thanks of Ariel, the lovely bartender and her recommendations. I didn't expect the food would taste so good. The pork was so juicy, tender and delicious, perfectly salty and perfectly accompanied with the cabbage and the sauce, that I didn't leave any crumbs left on the plate. They open until late, and the food is completely affordable. The people there is amazing, and the vibe is fun and energetic. An amazing bar in East Nashville i can't wait to go back bringing a few friends to order the whole menu I'm dying to try.

Came here on a Wednesday night and we there were about 10 people here. We decided to sit down and grab some beer and food. The beer has to be picked up at the bar even if you have a table. I ordered the beef bibimbap and it was delicious. However I think the Korean chicken was better! It was crunchy and full of flavor!

I am beyond excited about Nashville having a pretty legit Korean bar! While there are a few Korean restaurants with amazing food, I was really missing the late night feels that a bar provides. I lived in Korea for 4 years and definitely miss the night life there. So when I heard about Babo opening in East Nashville, I was there. Babo Korean Bar is located in Inglewood. I believe the building used to be an old diner so it really isn't by anything else. It can be easy to miss if you aren't using a GPS so keep your eyes peeled! There is free parking out front which is always a plus. The outside is dark and just has a lit up sign that says "Babo" in Korean. If you don't know, Babo means "stupid" or "silly" in Korean. My boyfriend got a kick out of this (he's Korean). It's usually a cute teasing word. We went on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy when we got there. All of the tables were full but there are bar stools lined up in the middle and by the window. We grabbed a seat there and waited for a table to open. It only took about 15 minutes. The inside is pretty dark and loud. It definitely has more of a bar feel than a restaurant. There is a really cool booth with a tiger mural. I wanted to sit there but I think it's prime real estate. The music was fun but a bit loud. You definitely have to work to talk over it. Not a problem though! I get the vibe they are going for. I was surprised to see they have a pretty full food menu with bigger Korean dishes. Bibimbap, japchae, dumplings, pajeon, banchan, and more. It's legit! If you want food, you can order in the back by the kitchen or you can order at the bar. Drinks are only at the bar. The drink menu has a mix of local beers, Korean drinks, and Japanese drinks. We went with the huge bottle of Hite. If you haven't had it, Hite is a Korean beer that is basically like any cheap American beer. It's not great but it brought back memories for me. We also dabbled in the somaek which is soju mixed with beer. Try it. But they give you a full shot of soju in the glass so drink about half that amount with a glass of beer. There should be a line on your glass that measures the right amount of soju. You can also get a full bottle of soju or sake drinks. Now for the food. My friends ordered the bibimbap, japchae, and pajeon. I got us a side of banchan to nibble on. I sampled all of the dishes and everything was really good. The bibimbap had a nice mix of veggies and was the perfect amount of spice. The pajeon was a little mushy and didn't have a ton of veggies but it was still ok. Japchae (glass noodles)=yum. Banchan=yum. I think the banchan rotates but our was kimchi, kimchi radish, bean sprouts, and cucumbers. My friend lives close to here and said he wants to eat here every day. It's healthy bar food! Instead of grabbing that greasy burger, nourish your body with some fresh bibimbap! I'm really liking the feel of this place. It's nothing fancy but I don't think it has to be. The prices are fair and I can spend a whole night here and have fun. We will back again and again and again and again!

Don't go here for Korean food. It's trendy looking but just doesn't taste very good. It's Korean inspired food, but poorly inspired. Too salty, too much everything, not in a good way. Also it's basically a bar, in case you didn't know.

Great late night spot for food and drinks! I checked out Babo with some friends this past weekend, opting for an early dinner on Saturday. The restaurant was not busy at all, with another group of friends at a table and a few couples at the bar. I ordered a drink at the bar -- a totally reasonable $5 draft Kirin -- then headed over to the food counter by the kitchen. I ordered the tofu bibimbap, and it was so colorful and had the perfect level of spice. My only comment would be that once I mixed everything in together (which may have been my mistake), the texture was very uniform and almost gooey owing to the egg; I think the bibimbap bowls would benefit from some crunch, either the Korean version of wanton strips (if there even is such a thing) or thicker cut carrots that retain their crispness. The mushrooms were actually the closest thing to a firm texture in the bowl and they were really nicely cooked! Also, the portions were massive! A friend and I both had two days of leftovers after filling up during our meal. Next time I think I'll try the kimchi fried rice. One thing that really impressed me was the restaurant team. Despite only being open for about a month, they already seemed like a well-oiled machine, answering questions with ease and prowling the dining room with confidence. Everyone in my group was impressed by their food, especially the prices. I'll definitely be back for their happy hour when it's up and running!

Do you want fried rice and a super affordable beer at 11 PM but everywhere is closed? Babo has GOT you. I stumbled upon this little Korean bar on Instagram and thought "I'll bookmark this place for a late night stop." A few days later the craving hit my boyfriend and I at 9:45. We had 15 minutes to make it to most places that stay open a bit later, so I looked up Babo and saw the kitchen doesn't close until midnight- it was the perfect choice. We arrived around 10 PM on a Saturday and the vibe was lively but not overcrowded. It's a smaller space with a few tables and a ton of bar seating. It's dark but welcoming. The menu isn't huge, but everything sounds amazing and there are tons of vegetarian options which is exciting for Korean food. There's also vegetable dumplings, which I haven't tried yet but I'm most excited about this option since many places have only one meat filled dumpling option. I tried the Bibim Bap with tofu and my boyfriend got the kimchi fried rice. We both got a beer on tap as well. Our entire order was $30 flat. The prices on the menu include tax so you'll know exactly how much you're paying going in, which is awesome, and the price point over all is very affordable. The beers on tap ranged from $3-$6, which is a great price around Nashville and the dishes range from $5-7 for smaller plates/appetizers and $8-14 for fuller dishes. The food is served in metal bowls and plates which are fun and unique. The Korean fried rice looks pretty small in the bowl, but it's really packed in there. Halfway through the meal we switched dishes and the rice was delicious with a good amount of spice. I wouldn't order this if you're sensitive to spicy foods, but if you're in to it, the flavor is so good. The Bibim Bap was slightly less spicy, and also full of amazing flavors. We care back about a week later and I tried the glass noodles and he got the fried chicken. The glass noodles have no spice at all, but still pretty great flavor. They are topped with Korean peppers which look like jalapeños and taste like green peppers. The dish was great but could have used some spice after I'd tried the fried rice and Bibim Bap. The fried chicken is topped with a tofu ranch (I'm guessing the dish is dairy free) and smothered in a buffalo-ish sauce. It's a smaller dish and would probably go great with a shared plate of dumplings or ban chan. The glass noodles and Bibim Bap are very filling so they're great options if you're hungry or looking for leftovers. There's a decent selection of beer and cider- about half on tap and half in cans or bottles. There's also a Korean beer, Sake in a juice cup, and soju. The menu and space aren't huge, but everything we've tried so far is tasty, high quality, and worth eating again. Also, as a vegetarian I don't have to order the same exact dish every time so even though I've come twice in 2 weeks, I'll definitely be back to Babo soon for a cheap beer and to try those dumplings very soon!