Korea House Restaurant

"Korea House is a well-oiled machine, and you’ll know it from the minute you enter the tiny restaurant. Service is lightning fast, and you’ll barely have time to look around at all the awards and newspaper articles framed on the wall before you have a table full of some of the best Korean food in Nashville to distract you. video credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Kick things off with the crunchy kimbap and crispy fried dumplings before diving into the main attraction: the kimchi samgyoupsal, a delicious combo of pork belly, tofu, and spicy, garlicky kimchi. Other sure-fire choices include the saucy dweji bulgogi and the steaming soonduboo chigae, a spicy seafood stew stuffed with silken tofu, mussels, squid, and prawns that will warm you right up. Food Rundown Kimbap This protein-centric roll features beef sausage, egg, and crab stick, all brought to life with the crunchy tang of the pickled radish and the salty seaweed outer layer. A snack for quirky maximalists. Japchaebap Bouncy sweet potato noodles marry vegetables and beef in this satisfying favorite. The zucchini, cabbage, and the like are tender and add a nice lightness to the savory and salty dish. Soonduboo Chigae The king of Korean soups, this spicy seafood stew is served in a steaming stone bowl, beckoning you with its bubbling red broth that screams “FLAVOR.” Mussels, squid, and prawns make an appearance, and it's all brought together by delicate pieces of silken tofu." - Bailey Freeman

"Lunch is the best time to drop into this no-frills mom-and-pop operation on Charlotte Pike, where your no-nonsense servers deliver bountiful banchan and exceptionally scalding bowls of stew. The entire menu delivers, from spicy kimchi stew with pork and tofu to dolsot bibimbap with fresh vegetables and a fried egg, in a way that satisfies the same craving as classic diner food — but with spice. Plus, there’s shochu and beer on hand to quench any gochujang-induced fires, should they arise." - Ellen Fort

"Head to West Nashville’s Korea House for consistently delicious Korean dishes — the bulgogi and bibimbap are fan favorites. The unpretentious restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but it’s long been regarded by locals as some of the best Korean food in town over its decades in business. Plus, the service here is just as excellent as the traditional fare." - Kellie Walton