The best Korean spots in Austin.

Gangnam Korean BBQ at 1100 Little Texas Lane in South Austin is the highest-ranked Korean restaurant on this list. It is a tabletop grill house, and many diners choose the AYCE option, which lets a table work through a long list of cuts. Visitors describe a clean room, a welcoming staff and a warm atmosphere that suits birthdays and family dinners.

The meat gets the praise. Diners name finger steak, beef tongue, pork belly in regular and thick cuts, brisket and short ribs, and say the marinades are well balanced and the cuts fresh. Shrimp, a vegetable pancake and kimchi fried rice are the extras that come up, along with sesame Korean fried chicken and ramen. Banchan arrives early and keeps the table busy.

Service is the other reason for the ranking. Servers are named in many accounts, and managers visit tables. Birthdays are a common occasion, so mention one when booking. Waits show up at busy hours, and reservations are mentioned. Lunch is also available, and diners say it is a calmer way to try the grill.

SOHA at 911 West Anderson Lane is the late night Korean room on this list. Diners who have eaten here for years call it a go-to for food and drinks after hours, and visitors describe a lively crowd and soju at the table. The room is small and often loud, which suits groups more than quiet dinners.

Kimchi fried rice is the most named dish, followed by seafood pancake and Korean fried chicken. Dumplings, kimchi pancake, fish cake soup, military stew and pork rib soup show how wide the menu runs, and corn cheese is a side that draws praise. Beer and soju are the drinks most diners order. Plates are meant for sharing, and one table decided to share everything after a server took orders one at a time.

Service gets mixed notes. Many diners name a server who took great care of their table, while a larger share than at other spots on this list had a disappointing visit. Waits and noise come up, so go with patience. The late hours are the reason to choose this room over a daytime one.

DAM-A at 713 East Huntland Drive pairs AYCE hot pot with Korean BBQ under one roof. Diners describe it as approachable for people new to either, with a self-serve format that lets guests build their own pot, grill their own meat and make their own Vietnamese spring rolls. A diner who usually eats galbi jjim elsewhere found it welcoming to non-Koreans.

The soup bases are customizable, and diners praise the broth. Marinated short ribs, seasoned beef and chicken are the grill choices, and fried chicken, dumplings, kimchi fried rice and tteokbokki appear among the extras. The spring roll station is the favorite activity for groups. Quality is described as strong for the price, and price comes up often in diner accounts as good value.

Waits are real at dinner. One couple walked in and waited about thirty five minutes, and another party found the room very busy. Reservations are available. Service is described as polite, with refills handled quickly. Kids are welcome, and birthdays appear in diner accounts. Lunch is another option for a shorter wait.

An Nyeong K Tofu & BBQ at 5011 Burnet Road is a neighborhood soup shop. Diners call it solid and comforting, and one says it is their go-to for Korean food in Austin. The room is small, parking is plentiful, and families with young children say the visit was easy.

Tofu soup is the main order, in seafood, kimchi with pork, beef and original versions. The seafood pancake is the most named side, and dolsot bibimbap comes in a hot stone bowl with fresh vegetables. The raw marinated crab is another item diners single out. Banchan fills the table, and the kimchi gets particular praise for balance. Spice levels are chosen by the table.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and waits are modest. A diner who is Korean said the food is solid and comparable to other tofu houses. Another noted there are fewer tofu options than the name suggests. Portions are large enough to share. Reservations are mentioned for groups, and takeout is available.

Kochu at 8820 Burnet Road, Suite 502 is a counter service Korean eatery with a bright, welcoming room. Visitors say the staff greets them warmly, and one diner was offered a taste of the house drinks. The menu is wide for a small counter, with a mix of classics and creative plates.

The wings are the most named dish. Called kwings, they are large and crisp, tossed in yangnyeom sauce. Kimchi fried rice with bulgogi, jjajangmyeon, beef and radish soup, birria ramen and dumplings fill out the menu, and pork egg rolls with a citrus sauce open many meals. The brown sugar lemonade is the drink diners recommend most.

Portions are solid, and one diner took leftovers home. Menu items have photos, which helps first-timers. Lunch is the busiest time, and the ordering line moves quickly. Prices are described as fair, and the counter format keeps the meal fast. A larger share than at other places had a disappointing visit, so expect some variation.

Honey Pig BBQ at 13301 Lakeline Boulevard, Unit 7 is a high energy Korean grill house in northwest Austin. Diners describe a clean room, attentive servers and the fun of grilling meat at the table. One visitor who has eaten at many Korean barbecue spots in Austin said Honey Pig beats most of them for cleanliness, atmosphere, food quality and service.

Spicy pork bulgogi and boneless beef rib are the grill orders diners name most, with brisket also praised for tenderness. Kimchi pancake, seafood pancake, tofu soup, egg soufflé and hot stone chicken round out the table. Banchan comes with the meal, and diners call the side dishes fantastic. Fried rice made at the end is a highlight for several guests.

Waits come up at busy hours, and the room can be loud. Lunch is an easier time to visit. Kids are welcome, and birthdays appear often. Diners warn that it is easy to overeat once the meat starts cooking, so pace the order. Service earns steady praise, with servers named in several accounts.

Ghama Zone at 118 East Main Street is in downtown Round Rock, north of Austin, so the visit is a short drive for suburban diners. Visitors describe traditional Korean food in a contemporary room, with a spacious, clean dining area. One diner who had been missing flavors from Korea called it memorable.

The menu is expansive, running from stews and meats to rice cakes and Japanese dishes. Diners praise the beef rib soup, short rib steak, truffle potato pancake, spicy raw marinated crab and Korean fried chicken. Tteokbokki is a draw for those who usually have to make it at home. The Japanese side includes chirashi, nigiri and maki rolls.

Prices run higher than most Korean spots on this list, and waits show up at busy hours. Reservations are accepted and help for groups. Service is polite, and a server patiently answered questions about vegetarian items. A larger share of diners than at other places had a disappointing visit. For a longer, more varied meal, it makes sense.

Chi'Lantro at 11005 Burnet Road is a fast casual Korean spot in a small shopping area. Customers order at the counter, and the food arrives quickly. Diners say the staff is friendly and attentive, and the room is relaxed with indoor and outdoor seating. The setup resembles a custom bowl shop.

Kimchi fries are the signature, and diners say to order them all the way. Rice bowls, noodle bowls, tacos and burritos let customers pick chicken, steak or tofu, and a breakfast bulgogi taco is available. The Korean bowl is among the common orders. Wings and spicy chicken also show up in accounts.

Lunch is the busiest time, and a line forms at peak hours. A larger share of diners than at other spots here left disappointed, often citing the amount of protein, so ask for extra chicken or steak. The cooking area is small, so the room is close. It is a quick stop rather than a long meal.

K-Bop at 2002 Guadalupe Street is a small Korean spot near the university and a nearby conference hotel. Diners describe a very small room with ordering screens, a handful of indoor seats and a few small tables outside. It works well for a fast lunch between campus errands.

The beef bulgogi bowl is the dish diners name most. Spicy chicken, ramen, bibimbap and noodle dishes round out the menu, and tuna and tonkatsu kimbap earn notes for how well they are packed. Bowls come with generous portions, and diners say the menu includes familiar classics for first-timers. Vegetarian options exist for mixed groups.

Parking is the main difficulty, and one diner ended up at a meter after every spot was taken. Lunch is the busiest time. A larger share of diners than at other places on this list had a disappointing visit, so the experience can vary. Takeout is available for those who want to skip the tight room.

Narrow Street 512 is a stand inside the H Mart food court on Lakeline Boulevard, at the back near a hair salon. Diners treat it as a favorite among the food court stands, and some found it through delivery apps before visiting. A trip to the grocery store pairs well with lunch here.

The beef rib soup is the dish with the most mentions, and gamjatang, oyster soup, bean paste soup and a hangover soup show the soup range. Marinated beef BBQ comes with steamed rice, three salads and a soup, and thin sliced beef brisket is stir fried and lightly seasoned. A diner who misses home cooking said the food is the closest they have found since moving to Texas.

Service is friendly, and the stand takes requests. Portions are large, with meat dishes loaded enough that one diner could not finish. Waits are short, and the stand is easy to reach from the grocery aisles.