BANGIA

Located in a basement in one of the busiest streets of Korean Town. It’s a small establishment. Bar menu was concentrated on Korean alcohol beverages so I did t have my usual wine with dinner. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Loved the bell to ring them for service. Food was good and service was efficient.

Discovered Manhattan’s first soju smoothie with my husband! This place got this “you’re gonna leave here drunk” vibe with incredible hospitality and atmosphere. They got a fabulous blood sausage with rice cake and don’t forget their daily drink specials. Definitely a terrific experience luring you to come back.🥳

This is great lowkey spot in Ktown. They have a great menu and the drink options are super affordable. They also had a really unique desert - soju infused bingsu which you have to try! Overall this is a great place to bring friends for a casual meal with a great atmosphere and amazing service.

The food was flavorful and the vibes was nice for a hangout with friends. We were one of the few people there tho so I’m not sure what it’s like if the place is busy. Loved the makgeolli drinks they had. One downside is the blender. It was the loudest blender we’ve ever heard of and it could easily disrupt any conversation you have if you sit near the bar.

The alcoholic bingsoo a were great. Our favorite was the mango. We also ordered the soondae and tteokbokki were spicy and delicious. It was more than enough for a late night snack for 3 people. The atmosphere was great and the staff treated us very well even when we stayed past closing time. Will be back again.

If you're craving good Korean food without enduring absurdly long lines, Bangia is the ideal place to visit. While it is a bar/restaurant, I primarily went for the delicious food. During my recent visit, my partner and I ordered three dishes: Spicy Chicken Fried Rice, Spicy Squid & Pork Belly, and the Marinated Pork Feet. The Fried Rice was a delightful Korean classic that I highly recommend. Adding cheese for an extra $2 balances out the spice from the Kimchi and provides a nice kick and acidic flavor (would highly recommend). The perfectly cooked egg on top also adds a really nice richness to the dish, cutting it open and letting the yolk ooze made me immediately hungry. One thing I will say though, it was really difficult to find the chicken in this dish, perhaps it blended in, or they didn’t give a lot, but either way it was soooo good. The Spicy Squid & Pork Belly dish is perfect for those who enjoy heavy flavors. It offers a blend of garlic, onion, spiciness, and sweetness, complemented by a slight char from the hot plate. While there wasn't a lot of squid, the ample amount of Pork Belly made up for it. My favorite way to enjoy this was by placing it on top of a spoonful of fried rice for a timeless combo of rice and meat. Lastly, the pork feet, a dish worth trying even if you're not familiar with Asian foods. The texture is soft, reminiscent of the fatty part of bacon, with no distinct "feet" flavor but rather the taste of the marinated meat. Dipped in the provided ssamjang (sweet and salty fermented soybean sauce) and wrapped in lettuce, it becomes a delightful burst of fat, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. Personally, I slightly prefer their Cold Pork Feet, as I enjoy the chewier and springier texture of the cold meat over the "melt in your mouth" feel of the warm meat. Overall, Bangia stands as a solid Korean restaurant, offering a great alternative to other places in K-town where waiting 1-2 hours is common. While the dishes average around $30 each, the generous portion sizes make it worth the money. I find that lots of places in K-town will cost about ~$30 an entree, but you don’t get a lot of food.

A hidden (literally in the basement) gem just on the outer edge of K-Town. There was no long waiting line, but the restaurant looked fully seated when we came in. The waiters are friendly and food service is relatively fast. The lighting is a bit dark (all my food pictures were taken with flash on). Music was a bit loud but we could still carry a conversation. As for the food - great for the price, especially for this location. Every dish is about $30 but large enough for sharing - we ordered 3 main dishes to share among 4 people: marinated pork feet, corn cheese pancake and spicy squid and pork belly. The marinated pork feet is nicely flavored and has a nice tender to it. I wish we had more lettuce to wrap with the meat, but it only came with 4 big leaves. The meat does get cold pretty quickly as it is serve on a wooden board. The corn cheese pancake is basically cheesy extra soft bread. The corn flavor is a bit weak, as well as the cheese flavor. It might be good for those who like light dishes and don't want something too cheesy. The spicy squid and pork belly is sweet and delicious. It goes really well with rice. Good amount of meat as well as vegetables. Highly recommend this dish! Overall really good experience! I would certainly come back here again and bring a group of friends so we can share and try out more dishes!

Very nicely decorated! We did have a wait for a table of 2 on a Wednesday night. The food was BOMB. Bangia Bingsu— one of their cocktails. It’s a MUST TRY. It was essentially a soju snowcone with fresh fruit and a touch of sweetness. It was fantastic experience too. The spoon literally looks like a snow shovel. The army stew reminded us of Korea! All great, would go again!