Xain C.
Yelp
Hwaro 2 has been in my rotation since this second location opened. Dragon Factory owns so many spots in town that they have become the barometer for sushi and KBBQ, and this one still hits for both consistency and quality.
Forget the hushed, label-driven rooms chasing A5 Wagyu bragging rights. Hwaro 2 is loud, smoky, and alive with the sound of meat hitting hot grills. You smell fat caramelizing, hear pork belly pop and hiss, and the table crowds with dishes until there is hardly room left for your soju. This is the heartbeat of KBBQ, not the showroom.
Once the brisket round is done, the premium steak and tomahawk are the move. Pork belly brings richness, short ribs hit that sweet-salty note, and the bulgogi is the guilty sticky-sweet pleasure that sneaks in no matter how focused you are on the "serious" cuts. Seafood holds up, sides stay sharp, and the pro move is specifying to your server that you only want one or two orders of the larger cuts at a time so they hit the grill fresh and nothing goes to waste.
The crew hustles, but management does not staff enough people on the floor. Servers and bussers do everything they can, so tip them well. These days the table comes with a single watery sweet BBQ sauce by default. What needs to return are the staples that make the experience whole: gochujang with some bite, and the sesame oil with salt and pepper dip that cuts through the richness. Bring those back without raising the price and Hwaro 2 separates from the pack again.
Late night is the move. From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. the spread drops to $25.95 with drink deals, and the vibe shifts from family dinner to industry hangout. Plates flying, drinks clinking, the low roar of every table grilling at once. That is the Hwaro I come for.
It is not refined and it is not supposed to be. It is meat, fire, and noise at a fair price.
4 out of 5. Staff the floor and bring back the proper sauces and it is five alllll day