ITAEWON GRILL

First time here. I arrived as they opened. Staff is awesome, patient and explained how to assemble your meal. They have a great selection of rice, sauces, protein meats and tofu. I had the Busan rice base, sesame sauce, and tofu large bowl. This filled me up fast and had some left. Next time I am going to try the Korean BBQ.

Welp guys this was my first time trying Koren BBQ and MANNNN !!! This place rocks, I’ve been craving it every since. I really can’t tell you what I had, I just went with a small and added everything that I had a taste for at the time!!! But this baby was packed with flavor and the meat was super tender. Guys if your in the area…. JUST GO THERE &. THANK ME LATER ✌🏽

Would recommend, place looks nice and I’m assuming the gentlemen I talked to was the owner and he was very friendly and energetic. Pretty roomy and a decent vibe. Was slow when we visited but the weather hasn’t been very great. Multiple options in this location but if you want a decent sized bowl to hold you over this is the place. For me it wouldn’t be a dinner meal but I’d eat it always for lunch! Give it a try!

Wow. I have never been to this area before but when you’re a busy college student and need something fast for lunch so you can go back to studying, you don’t have time to wait sometimes. The service was quick and the food was hot and it was mild spicy too and since it was a rainy day it was perfect. I really liked it. I will be coming back for the noodles and bulgogi meat!

This food is SO good. The food is hot and fresh, service is quick, and lots of indoor and outdoor seating. It's incredibly tasty and the meat is marinated and incredibly tender. The wings are so delicious. Definitely will be back!

First time eating here... Our company sprang for take out lunch during Covid. I was a bit skeptical at first but it turns out, it was good. The chicken was flavorful and the meal was filling.

As someone who lived in Korea for 2 years, I’m very happy I found this place. Great tasting food and simple to understand menu. If you never had Korean food before, this is an excellent place to start with a small bowl. Please give it a chance and ask the staff for their recommendations on what to order and try.

This place has me coming back for more every time. Their beef bulgogi is amazing, especially paired with their Itaewon sauce. It Is to die for. The price is good for the amount of food which you receive. Definitely recommend.

FOOD: Excellent fast casual Korean barbecue. You can choose to make your own dish with a combination of various noodles and rice, flavor meats, toppings, and sauces. I had the spicy udon noodles with teriyaki chicken, spicy gochujang sauce, and all the toppings. Flavorful, spicy, Great umami flavor. SERVICE: Came when it opened. Fast service, efficient. EXPERIENCE: There is some table top and table seating area for all, it is tucked away in the small plaza. Clean with Sunny windows VALUE: Great value with most meals being under $12 and a lot of food. You will definitely leave full and satisfied SUMMARY: Excellent fast casual Korean barbecue option. Come for a quick lunch and leave with a full belly and your taste buds satisfied. Would come back

I love the concept of Itaewon Grill. Building my own bowls is fun, and it's always a plus when I can load up on veggies, but still have a hearty meal. And still- each time you go you can try another variation! For my first visit I had the hongdae noodle bowl and beef Jjim for protein. The thickness and slurpiness of the hongdae noodles was great, and though they aren't really spicy for me, having a tiny kick is better than nothing. The beef Jjim was flavorful and fall apart tender. The side of mandu were crispy and juicy, highly recommend them to beef up your bowl! My only concern with the noodles and protein is that they were lukewarm. The flavor was there, but the temperature of the food took away from the enjoyment some. Perhaps a better warming element or stir frying things fresh would help. I would personally love to dine in and eat this out of a hot stone pot!

I've been going here about six months and I think it's safe to say I crave the bulgogi beef at least twice a month. Easy parking, great food, amazing customer service. No complaints!

Maybe the good ratings got my hopes up, but we dropped by for lunch on a Saturday. We got one super plain (so I could share with my toddler = sweet corn, carrots, bulgolgi over fried rice - sadly out of edamame) and one spicy with kimchi, etc. The plain one was very meh - never had high hopes for it anyways due to the ingredients I chose. But the other one should have tasted better and still didn't :/. I suppose it's a good bang for your buck if you load up (as a college student - think it's close to Duke Hospital too), but I kinda felt like I should have gone to HMart and picked out a few things to throw together myself. We were starving and it just wasn't very good, sorry. At least the meat was served hot :)

If you have an ounce of Asian blood and are looking for authentic flavors, this isn't the place for you. When's the last time you had mayonnaise in an Asian sauce? Chuckle! Our teen daughter said, "The food is tolerable as a last resort." The amount of food you're given in a medium bowl is impressive, and the fountain drinks have the right balance of syrup and carbonation. Can you tell I'm really stretching here? I want to give a good review, which is why there are 3 stars instead of 2. The service was fast and courteous, and the setup is basically a Chipotle. In a world of "be kind or don't comment," I rarely leave 3-star reviews, but I wish I had been given a reality check in one of these reviews.

First time I came here it was closed so they may be short staffed. Somehow I came in today it was open but it looked closed and I chose a kids size bowl just to try out. It was really good! I got the beef bulgogi with itaewon sauce it was yummy! The dumplings were great too.

I just love the food! It is not the healthiest but every time I'm near duke I get myself a bow (: Quick service and very nice people working the counter!

I wish I had come here sooner. The food is fabulous! I got cupdak on fried rice with carrots,green onions,pickled something. I kept it simple but they have many more veggies. Itawon sauce goes great on this plus a little of sweet sesame sauce. I also ordered the beef short ribs on noodles. Great too! One bowl was more than enough but I was trying different items. Very clean, staff friendly and helpful for first time. Definitely will go back.Also fast!

I love their udon noodles!! And it's really cool how you get to choose what to put in with the noodles (although the selection is pretty small). It's definitely worth it to pay extra for the braised beef, that stuff is amazing!! Tender and so full of flavor! The only thing I didn't like was the drink I ordered. I think they call it a smoothie, but it's not, it's basically like a slushy with very little flavor. Wouldn't order that again, but will definitely be back for the delicious noodles!

Food was yummy, and staff were very friendly! I had the Seoul white rice bowl with all the toppings (minus the kimchi which is extra), garlic sauce and garlic chicken. It was a huge portion, and I had some leftover. I wasn't sure what I thought about the chicken when I saw it...it looked like it was going to be darker meat, which isn't my fav...but it was white meat, cooked perfectly, with a delicious garlic flavor. We went for lunch and they were running a special buy one, get one for the bowls! You order right at the counter, so it's really quick! They have a fountain soda machine...with my fav...Dr. Pepper! There is a lot of parking in that shopping center area, but it can get pretty crowded at lunchtime.

Atmosphere: Itaewon Grill has a very clean and simple interior with a fairly easy to navigate menu. Service: The servers were quick and friendly. No complaints on service. Food: We ordered a bulgogi bowl and pulled pork bowl. While the bowls are not exactly "authentic," they were still very delicious! The different assortment of toppings and unique sauces (we got the Itaewon Sauce and Garlic Sauce) made each bite captivating and experimental. The pulled pork was a bit salty but the meal was good overall. Overall: Itaewon Grill is definitely a great place to get a quick, flavorful bite. The variety of possible combinations with toppings, sauce, meat (or tofu), and even the base makes each experience a unique one. That being said, the only thing stopping us from coming back more often is the price. It is on the pricier side, especially if you want more specialty add ons like kimchi.

This is one of my favorite fast eats in Durham. Itaewon grill is a Korean BBQ inspired built your own bowl place. They have some great vegetarian and vegan options. My go-to order is their Hongdae Noodle bowl (vegetarian version). You can customize your bowls too. You pick a base with either noodles or rice, and top it with vegetables and sauce. Do not miss their garlic sauce and Itaewon sauce. The food is delicious and you cannot beat the price point. For vegetarians, another great option is their vegetable mandu that's crispy on the outside and delicious on the inside. The also carry gluten-free option, which makes this place a great spot for people with varied dietary choices. This spot is located in a nice strip and parking is always easy to find. Due to covid, they currently only offer takeout and nearby delivery. However, there are some tables outside if you choose to dine outdoors. They are part of the back to the bull initiative, an effort by the city of Durham to open restaurants safely, so you need a mask to enter the restaurant.

My husband and I tried Itaewon Grill to-go for the first time today. I told the staff I had never been before and they said it's similar to Chipotle - in terms of how you order, I agree, but this place is significantly better and cleaner! One of my issues with places like Chipotle is the "cross contamination" of meat with my vegetarian dish, but I felt totally comfortable ordering here. Pretty much everything but the meat itself and the fried rice is vegetarian and though the tofu doesn't look flavorful it really is! I'd love to see a soy chick'n option sometime in the future. We both got the Hongdai Noodles as our base - I got tofu and my husband got the Teriyaki chicken. We included a few of the mandu (dumplings) as well. It was all super tasty and filling for a really reasonable price. We will definitely be back!

No, this place probably doesn't deserve 3.5 stars if it wasn't because it is right outside of my apartments and that they provide a 5 or 10% discount for Duke students. But since they do, I am rounding my 3.5 stars to 4 stars to support a local business. They are still open during the pandemic. They do deliver. Fusion style Korean grab and go/fast food rice bowl. A smaller serving size compared to the bowls you get from Chipotle next door. The staff is reasonably nice and since it's pretty much positioned as a fast food grab and go place, theres no service. Frankly, once every one or two months is how often I would order from them.

It looks closed, but it's open. I noticed I wasn't asked if I wanted my food to go, so I wasn't sure if they prefer for people to get it to go. The portion size is cool, but the flavor is lacking quite a bit. It's nice as a introductory taste for a person who hasn't had Korean food before.

What I like about this place is the fun twist it puts on Korean food byob fusion. It's like a bowl with everything but the kitchen sink! Spicy udon is a great base - some flavor but not overpowering. Then you can get unlimited veggie toppings- I liked the corn and cabbage slaw (similar to coleslaw.) You can also pick a sauce and then the price of your bowl depends mostly on what kind of meet you get - I got the cupdak where the chicken mainly reminded me of sweet and sour- but next time I'll definitely try the garlic fried chicken! I will say if you get your veggies, meat and base are all sauced, there are a lot of sauces going on, so next time I will have one of those items not be sauced to even out the ratios. The regular size bowl is around $8 but they really stack it; it's more than enough for one meal, but if you want to go big there is a size up. It's super cool for sure - 5 stars for variety and price. I can definitely see it becoming a favorite among college students.

5 star service. Friendly and nice. If you haven't been exposed to Korean BBQ just keep in mind it's fusion so don't take it for what Korean bbq should be. I am Asian and from the west coast so I have higher standards and expectation for what is called "Korean BBQ" For North Carolina standards and lack of Asian food overall this is like 4-star due to lack of selection, closest one would be Namu I don't think Korean BBQ is meant to be fast food Chipolte style with a torch as a grill. But... as the owner replied to this comment that it IS meant to be "fusion" I guess I understand but I'm not a fan of fusion in general I like authentic... with that being said some may prefer this mixture of westernize flavors on Asian dishes. The meat was ok season, ok texture. A for effort though, it does give it a fresh off the grill illusion Strange sides, it's not exactly a bibimbap to me and cheese? why? I guess that goes for fusion. Suggestion: adding an egg in the mix would have helped and sauce game too much like poke sauce, not quite a bibimbap seasoning

I'm so glad there's more Asian food options on Erwin Road now! My husband and I checked it out for lunch last week. He ordered a bibimbap (rice bowl) with kimchi fried rice, jeyook pulled pork, and lots of toppings including spring mix, corn, bean sprouts, pickled red cabbage, edamame. I ordered the white rice bowl with bulgogi beef and all the same toppings. Both of the bowls were SUPER flavorful and I especially enjoyed the spicy kimchi fried rice. They piled on a huge serving of beef bulgogi, which I liked only a tad more than the pulled pork. The kimchi fried rice packs a powerful spicy punch, so next time we'll order it without any extra sauces, and I'd pair it with the sweeter bulgogi beef instead of more spiciness in the pulled pork. I think our total for the 2 rice bowls was about $22 or so---not bad considering the portion size and the fresh ingredients and toppings. Edamame and pickled red cabbage definitely add a nice crunch to each bite! They have high chairs, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and there was no line during the weekday lunch time. I was amused to see that they sold Choco Pies at the counter, the quintessential Korean sweet snack!

So happy that a Korean fast casual place opened up close to Duke campus. Their kimchi rice is excellent, and their bulgogi top notch. (By the way, you'll see the slabs of meat in the refrigerators behind the counter as you go through building your bowl. It was impressive how much meat was in there.) Even the pickled veggies had a ton of flavor. You don't even need any sauce with all that flavor packed into one bowl. And maybe you'll want it on the side so you can taste the brilliance of the meat? The first time I went, I had the gochujang sauce, and I liked the spice, but the bowl ended up being too salty for me. The owner and workers are super friendly. They were really patient about explaining everything too. I'm going to be back very soon. Come here and support a local business!

I love getting food from here! We get it Door Dashed so I can't speak to the ambience or service, but the food is consistently amazing

Found this place via a groupon, and was pleasantly surprised. I was hoping it was going to be like one of those 'poke' places, except for Korean BBQ, and it turned out to be something very similar in concept. Here, you get to 'build your own bowl' for Korean BBQ. you get the first choice of rice (white, fried, brown), noodles or salad as your step one. So far, in the 2 times that I've been here, I've gotten the Noodles, as they are a thick yellow noodle called "hongdae". They do have a little spice to it, so if you are into spice, this is a great option. Step 2 is choosing your toppings. from mixed green (lettuce, spinach), pickled red cabbage, bean sprouts, and others, you can really turn this into at a huge meal. I picked for my sides, the lettuce, red cabbage, bean sprouts, kimchi (extra $1), edamame, organic carrots and beets, and bean sprouts. Added so much more nutritional value to my meal, especially since it is a 'take out' meal. Step 3 is your sauces. I was amazed at the dressings that were available were all VEGAN (which means no dairy, eggs or milk products). I had the Itaewon sauce, which is a spicy Gochujang rance sauce, as well as a Garlic Sauce (which looks like a creamy italian), as well as the Korean Spicy sauce (which looks like a spicy bbq sauce). combined and mixed up, this all tasted GREAT! Step 4 is the best part, as it is the proteins! The beef bulgogi is the one that i went with. however you can also get braised short ribs (beef galbi - $3), chicken, pulled pork, chicken nuggets or if your vegan, Garlic Tofu. On top of all this goodness, the lunch came with a free small soft drink during the hours of 12-2, and being an employee of the local hospital, i was able to get an additional 10% off! Overall, this was a great meal and perfectly priced for the amount of food that you are getting. It can be relatively healthy as well, as it contains a lot of vegetable items and most of it can even be deemed Vegan! The only caveat to this whole place is the parking. It is shared in a shopping center with a medical office, and the spaces are very limited.

Finally got to try Itaewon Grill. Had their hongdae noodle bowl and a brown rice bowl. You get to add all of the toppings that you want and they have some fresh options to choose from. They also have a great selection of meats to choose from. The bowl was amazing and the sauces that you can add them them top them off perfectly.

Definitely AOK. 3.5 stars. Great concept. You get plenty for the price. I didn't think the galbi was worth $3 additional cost. It had the texture of overcooked brisket and lacked the flavor of traditional galbi. Kimchi was fab and very much worth the extra $1. I was wishing for ssamjang and a fried egg. The fried mandu was not something I would get again. I think this is a good fast food place for sure. If the meat was cooked while you order it would be fantastic. But precooked meat with cold raw veggies (no traditional toppings other than kimchi) is not something I would want to eat often. Still a fantastic choice over other fast food joints.

Oh man! This is now my favorite place in all of Durham! I'm not kidding. The staff are super friendly and helpful in making menu selections. I am beyond impressed by the safety practices that they have in place. I saw them wash their hands and change their gloves. The restaurant is clean and they provide hand sanitizer at the register. They even wash their serving spoons each time they touch meat as to not cross contaminate for their vegetarian guests. They are so conscientious of everything they are doing and I really appreciate it. The food!! The food is absolutely amazing!!! Their house sauce is the absolute best, in my opinion. We ordered large bowls and ate them for two days! We will definitely be back.

This place has adorable branding (the tiger!) and friendly staff. The women who was working when we went in for lunch on Sunday was helpful and gave us a rundown of the whole entire system. Itaewon Grill works much like Chipotle, but with Korean BBQ. You choose your base, options including rice, noodles or salad. Then you choose your veggies (pickled radish was my favorite!), and your sauce (I tried and loved the house sauce!) then your meat (including tofu, but I got the beef bulgogi). The bowls are simple and straight-forward. Even though this was delicious, I still feel like I had a healthy lunch. While the ambiance isn't much, I would definitely consider taking food out. And the portions were huge!

This is a unique one! (At least for this area). As other reviewers have pointed out, it's a fusion restaurant where Korean bbq meets chipotle. You pick the base first (white rice, brown rice rice, kimchi fried rice, noodles, and cabbage)--I simply get white rice! Their toppings include kimchi, pickled cabbage, bean sprouts, corn, and cheese. Some people doubt the authenticity of some of these ingredients but these are very Korean in my very Korean opinion! Then you have several different protein options--beef bulgogi, pulled pork, beef galbi jjim, garlic chicken, and garlic tofu. You can get a combo of two different meats for an extra dollar--I'd recommend pulled pork and/or beef galbi jjim! For the sauces, I typically get spicy Korean sauce/itaewon sauce with sesame oil and top if off with sesame seeds! The portion size is good--you can force yourself to finish and get really full but they now offer smaller sizes (small and medium). For a normal, healthy meal, I'd go for a medium bowl (under $10 with tax!). They also have udon noodles seasonally in the wintertime and the Korean bbq meat went surprisingly well with the noodles and broth! What's probably overlooked by many is the smoothies. Priced at $3 and $4 respectively, yuja/honey citron and maesil/honey plum smoothies are absolutely amazing and absolutely a steal! I cannot emphasize this enough! And for bonus, they have some Korean snacks (chocopie) and ice cream for dessert! All in all, a solid place for lunch/dinner!

Walked in not knowing anything about this place, makes this Korean joint ideal for me as I am able to customize exactly what I'd like in my bowl! Let me tell you the steps 1. Choose your base (sizes S, M, L): salad, rice, or noodles. I chose their hondae udon noodles in a large bowl... enough to feed 2 bellies 2. Choose your toppings: out of the variety, I added pickled red cabbage, edamame, rainbow carrots, and corn into mine 3. The sauce: I chose a combo of their Itaewan sauce (a mild spicy gochujang sauce) with their Korean spicy sauce. Yum yum 4. The MEATS: I went with good ole bulgogi. The bowl was sized as a large, with everything filled into it like a koozie for canned drinks. This is the Asian version of their next door neighbor, Chipotle, to me. The meat was great, the sauces boosted flavor, and the veggies are always great. The notable mention is the pickled red cabbage, adds a good salty taste to the bowl. I love to customize my flavors and this is a great go-to spot for me in the future! I also got their Maesil smoothie, which they described as honey plum in flavor. The taste is sweet and fresh! Felt like a good after meal drink to me. I liked biting into the plum bits floating inside the cup. Bottom line: walked in a hour before closing with semi-limited options, but still ate pretty darn good quality food. I think I need to get a better experience by going in at the prime times!

Itaewon is so good-- essentially chipotle for Korean BBQ, but actually good. They also always are having great deals. I just stopped in on a random day, and they had buy one get one bowls. Other nights they give discounts to Duke students, ladies night, etc. This place is great for a quick and delicious meal!

I've only been to Itaewon Grill twice, but it really hit the spot when I had a taste for something different, quick, and a better option than a burger for lunch. Most recently I went with a bulgogi bowl with Itaewon sauce, fried rice and various veggies which was great and had my coworkers asking what the great smell was. If you haven't checked this place out it's definitely worth a try!

Best described as a korean BBQ version of chipotle, which is a great Idea and cap-stoned by good flavor. I ordered a medium combo bowl; Fried rice, bulgogi, pulled pork, bean sprouts, edamame, cheese, and Korean spicy sauce. total came to $12 with tip. Savory, sweet, spicy.. tastes very hand-made, normally I consider this bad but in this case it was exactly what i wanted and expected and i mean it as a compliment. The food is decently greasy but that's part of the reason why it's good and I'm sure you could avoid that with different food combinations.. its worth mentioning no where in the restaurant did i see a claim that the food was healthy. I generally like to try each part of my meal independently, and i found every component can stand alone. I could see some finding it annoying but I think them blasting K-pop on the radio pretty funny.. I look forward to returning to Itaewon and trying all the different ingredient combinations possible.

My fiancee and I both really like it here at Itaewon grill. At first, I wasn't so sure about a KBBQ place as a non-meat eater, but once I found out there was a tofu option, I was in it to try. I typically get the noodle bowl, with tofu and then depending on my mood go with a bunch of different toppings including edamame, carrots and a nice cabbage mix! The large bowl is a literal bucket, so I usually go for the medium unless I'm especially hungry or shooting on having some leftovers for the next day. They sometimes have a chalkboard advertising veggie madu special so sometimes we get the dumplings in addition to our bowls, yum yum. It's a pretty tiny place, but always clean, not too crowded and the employees are very on top of things! This is definitely my go-to place for a spicy noodle bowl, super fast, convenient and a great deal!

I've been many Korean restaurant but Itaewon is the best among them all. I love this restaurant so so much. So far I have been here several times with my friends and we never had any issues. I love the food, all of the fresh ingredients, veggies, proteins, sauces make the finished bowl a perfect combination. And it is just so easy to get healthy Korean food under 2 minutes Highly recommended!

This place is nice. Really friendly owner and staff. Good food. The Noodles have a little spice. Could use a little more even but they are good and the beef is awesome. Fast and freindly

A chain atmosphere of mediocre food that is overpriced. Beef is not Korean bbq, stored in pots and served over rice or noodles with toppings.

This is Chipotle for Korean food, plain and simple. Everything is really fresh, fairly priced, and you'll easily have enough for leftovers if you're not too hungry. I loved the grilled kimchi with my tofu rice bowl, and I loved that the veggies are mostly unlimited. Can't wait to try the bulgogi next time!

This is a relatively inexpensive place for Korean-inspired build-your-own bowls but nothing spectacular. It will do in a pinch if you're craving a quick meal but it's probably not completely authentic. It's like a Korean Moe's where you can build your own bowl along an assembly line. We got a deal on Living Social and visited on a Friday afternoon for a late lunch. It was not crowded but then again it was a holiday weekend. Staff is pleasant and food is okay, but I don't see myself going back anytime real soon. I prefer some of the Korean food trucks and eateries in the area.

Ordered this from DoorDash - was pleasantly surprised at the size of the bowl that arrived. I had the Hongdae Noodle Bowl with edamame, cabbage, spinach, Kim chi, beef bulgogi and spicy gochujang sauce. It was pretty solid overall. Good for the price and would order again.

"Korean-inspired bowls, large quantity/ good value, right off Duke's west campus" Just noticed that the salad store in this location on Erwin Road was replaced with this Korean BBQ bowl place. The space is small and somewhat spartan in setup, but this is a LOT of really good food for a reasonable price. There are a few outdoor tables, too. As others have written, it's similar in approach to Chipotle for burritos or Guasaca for arepas. There are four steps: 1) identify the base of the dish (e.g., lettuce wrap, white rice, kimchi fried rice, noodles), 2) identify toppings (cheese, edamame, pickled cabbage, etc.), 3) identify the desired sauce(s), and 4) pick the protein(s) (beef, chicken, pork, tofu). All of these are put into a rather large bowl for you to eat, and there's a self-serve soda machine for drinks at a small extra cost. They make it for you right as you place the order, so assuming the line isn't long, you get your food pretty quickly. I had the kimchi fried rice base with nearly all the toppings, the Itaewon & Korean spicy sauces, and beef bulgogi. My dish came to $11, and it was DELICIOUS... the rice and beef were excellent, the sauces and cabbage complemented the dish well (and were neither overpowering nor "too" spicy), and the presentation was great. The quantity was quite large-- I BARELY finished my dish, and I'm a huge eater. Service was friendly, and they were patient and offered recommendations since it was our first time going there. Overall, this was great. I'd very happily go back. I'm very happy to have this addition to the shopping center that already has Mediterra, Smashburger, Noodles & Co, Chipotle, etc.

First time here, I was expecting it to be good because who doesn't like BBQ? I was right by the way. You create your own bowl starting with brown rice, white rice, fried rice or spicy noodles. Then any toppings you like; bean sprouts, cabbage, cheese, kale, lettuce, sweet corn, kimchi, or edamame beans. They have a number of different sauces to choose, I went with the house sauce, itaewon sauce. Finally follow it with your choice of meat; pork, chicken or beef. My choice was bulgogi beef, thinly sliced marinated beef. The place was clean and neat and the employees were helpful for my first time in. The more I ate it the better it got! I almost wanted to take it to go but it was too good not to eat it all. I highly recommend this place.

Lots of options and quick service. But way too much sauce on just about everything. Ask for half sauce when you order!

I love the concept of this restaurant. It's basically the Korean version of Chipotle which is much needed in the triangle! I love a simple bulgogi plate with items of my choice. They did it right here! I stopped in on a Friday for dinner. I was surprised that there weren't many people here. I went with the white rice bowl with bulgogi meat. I was able to add other toppings. The bowl didn't look that big but it sure filled me up. It also came with a free chocolate moon pie for dessert. The restaurant is clean and is located in a popular area next to Duke. Overall, the prices are good for what they offer and what you get. I would stop in again for a bite to eat.

Wow the food here tastes way better than it looks. I came here to grab a quick lunch after seeing all the great reviews. Location is where Hungry Leaf used to be (rip). Reminds me of a poke place - you start with a base, add toppings, protein, then sauce. The asked me if it was my first time and guided me through the process. I went with the spicy noodle base (spice level maybe 0.5/10), all the toppings (corn, pickled cabbage & radish, greens, and cheese), tofu, garlic sauce, and a garnish of sesame seeds. The tofu looked a bit bland but it's actually okay - though not as flavorful as Chipotle's sofritas. It's not a big deal though because the noodles have sauce on them and the garlic sauce added tons of flavor and creaminess. I recommend mixing together thoroughly before eating. Value wise, it was a little over $9, but portions were enough to fill me up. For a healthier option, you could get a salad base, but eh the noodles are so gooood it's worth it. Another plus is that it's so close to Duke. They have plenty of tables inside but most people I saw were getting food to-go.

I love coming here. It's close to where I work, staff is always nice, and the food always tastes good! You build your own bowls and the rice is so fresh & sticky, just how i like my white rice! The chicken packs a ton of flavor and the sauces are to die for! The garlic sauce is a little sweet but so good and the Itaewon sauce has a perfect kick. I love adding corn, cabbage, and edamame to my bowls but you can also add other things! Love them and will keep returning.

Update: I went back again tonight! I knew I was coming back but didn't think it'd be this soon lol Parking was a lot easier this time because the construction is all completed! The weather was really nice so we got to enjoy the outside seating they have available. I basically got the same ingredients except I got hongdae noodles (spicy noodles) instead of spicy rice. I actually liked hongdae noodles more than spicy rice since it was a bit more spicy than the rice. I brought a couple of my friends and some of them have never had korean food. They all enjoyed it so much that they would come back again! Btw, their Maesil smoothie is to die for!!! Oh man! I've been waiting for them to open for the longest time!! I was so thrilled to try their food before their grand opening because I really couldn't wait any longer lol This restaurant is conveniently located near Duke. Though as of right now, there's no parking available so we had to parallel park, which could get a bit chaotic in the evenings. But I heard that the construction will be done this Saturday! So Itaewon Grill is almost like subway or chipotle except it's for Korean food! You first start with either noodles or rice- spicy or regular, you then choose your toppings aka veggies which include cheese, pickled radish, sweet corn, spring mix, lettuce, cabbage, kimchi, and more, you can add sauce of your choice (I really liked the korean spicy sauce! and finally your meat! They have galbi jjim, beef bulgogi, garlic chicken, and even organic garlic tofu (gluten free)! The end result is absolutely amazing!! Jay and his staff were very helpful and patient for this indecisive girl lol

The bowls are so flavorful! Loved the noodles and sweet yet slightly spicy. The beef Bulgogi was juicy and tender. Love their signature sauce as a topping! Tried the restaurant through Offline membership and it did not disappoint. Next time I'll try the garlic chicken.

So I came by today after finding out a new place has opened up in my area! It's another slew on the salad bar/chipotle style fast casual food, and I've seen chipotle versions to Indian versions, so here's the Korean version. Close to Duke's campus, catering to students primarily, I guess. Food : I got a to-bowl with the Hongdae noodles, added some veggies, the grilled kimchi and tofu with their house special Itaewon sauce. I loved the flavours, textures and taste! If I go again, I might try the spicy fried rice but to me, the spicy noodles were great. Pickled veggies are the best! I do feel like they could work a slightly larger portion size - it's not that I wasn't full, it's just that I expect something more in terms of quantity from restaurants of this type/ambience. I would've liked more kimchi and veggies on my bowl but also the portion size is limited by the size of the bowl. Bonus : nostalgia over the chocopie . :) Ambience : I think it's a bit odd/confusing to walk all the way to the back to start ordering just because of the way it is currently organized. They had a couple tables, clean, reasonably spaced for someone to lunch here on their own. Service : The folks I met today were super nice and helpful. But, it'd be great if they knew more of what the noodles were made of it what the sauces actually contained. A little more knowledge on what's okay for vegetarians and vegans might go a long way. And maybe one more protein that's okay for vegans would add to the menu.

I don't eat Korean food too often, but I really like Itaewon Grill! I went when they had their soft opening and tried a good deal of their food. I wasn't sure what to put in my bowl when I went up there, but it all turned out great! They start you out with a choice of rice or noodles, then a choice of toppings (lettuce, kimchi, and cheese to name a few), and then add some meats (like bulgogi, pulled pork, or galbi). After you put all that in you have a choice between a couple of sauces to put on it and whether you want your bowl torched or not. I was really surprised how great it all turned out at the end even though I didn't know what I was doing! It's plenty of food for one bowl, even enough for leftovers.

Got some take-out from here last night and it was so good... I am getting it again tonight! Their menu isn't huge- but what they do offer is good quality, deliciously flavored, and reasonably priced. From what I witnessed they seem to be respecting COVID practices. Ordered both Ramens (Japanese and Korean) and a bulgogi bowl. Enjoyed all 3 dishes! No family member could choose their favorite because they were all great! The flavors of each dish was uniquely different from the other dishes. The proportions of broth to noodles was perfect. tried other ramen places in Durham and so far this is my favorite!

This place is my newest obsession! I've been hearing about this place for weeks from word of mouth, but I didn't think too much about it. Based on their name, I was expecting basic Korean BBQ restaurants. I was surprised to find out this place is like Chipotle but Korean food! You have all different kind of options for toppings including carbs, protein, and veggies. I tried both Hongdae Noodles and Kimchi Fried Rice for the basic carbs. I'm hands down KFR person. Love love love it. And then I added whatever topping options I felt like getting. Jeyook Pulled Pork is LIFE. Never had Jeyook sauce with pulled pork, but it surprisingly went really well together. I also tried Itaewon & Garlic sauces, and oh boy, they were so delicious. There's nothing negative I can think of from my visit. Everything I had from Itaewon Grill was so delish. I didn't get to finish my bowl since it was pretty filling, so I had it to-go. I finished the same bowl couple days after my initial visit, and it was still delicious. I'm so sad this place is all the way in Durham and NOT in Raleigh :( But I will definitely stop by here to get some noms whenever I'm in Durham!

Good food, always fresh. Order in person though because the sauces are often forgotten if you order online. Lots of vegetable options including kimchi, which is awesome. The spicy options aren't really spicy at all in the sense of "heat" but spicy in the since of containing a lot of spice and are very flavorful. The bowls are of a good size, even the smaller one, though for the price the large bowl is the better deal. Easily enough for two meals. I have eaten here both pre and during covid and it seems like the amount of meat in the bowls has decreased during covid. The meat is very good no matter what you choose so this a a real shame; minus a star for that.