Korean Restaurant in Memphis

June 15, 2026

A Korean restaurant offers something a grocery aisle or a delivery app cannot reproduce: banchan refilled at the table, a stone bowl of dolsot bibimbap arriving still sizzling, and the option of grilling marinated beef or pork over a tabletop flame. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its Korean dining scene spans the city from the University of Memphis area near Highland Street to the suburban Cordova corridor along Germantown Parkway. The result is a mix of long-established kitchens and newer rooms, several of which offer cook-your-own tabletop barbecue alongside traditional home-style cooking.

Korean menus in Memphis cover a recognizable core. Bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated beef) and galbi (short ribs, often listed as LA galbi for the cross-cut style) anchor the barbecue side, bibimbap arrives either in a standard bowl or the hot stone dolsot version, and soups and stews such as soft tofu soondubu and kimchi jjigae round out the menu. Kimchi and a rotating set of small side dishes, the banchan, accompany most meals, and dishes like japchae glass noodles, mandu dumplings, and seafood pancakes are common appetizers. Some Memphis restaurants offer a tabletop grill where diners cook their own meat, while others serve barbecue dishes prepared in the kitchen, so it is worth confirming the format before a visit.

Restaurants in Tennessee operate under a food-service framework rather than any contractor or trade licensing. An establishment must hold a food-service permit issued through the Tennessee Department of Health or the local Shelby County health department and pass periodic inspections, and the inspection score is a matter of public record. Prepared food sold for immediate consumption is taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate rather than the reduced rate that applies to grocery items; in Shelby County that combined rate is 9.75%. A restaurant that serves beer, wine, soju, or spirits needs the appropriate permit, with liquor-by-the-drink service licensed through the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), which verifies a current health permit or recent inspection as part of its review. A standard business license is filed through the county clerk once annual gross receipts exceed the state threshold.

For diners, the practical checks are straightforward. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), handles complaints about deceptive business practices, and food-safety concerns route to the Shelby County health department that issued the permit. Menu authenticity, spice level, and whether a kitchen prepares dishes in the traditional style or an Americanized version vary from one room to the next, so reading recent reviews and confirming hours, which Korean kitchens often split between lunch and dinner services, helps set expectations. The three restaurants below were verified through their own listings and independent local coverage.

Top Korean Restaurant Providers in Memphis

1. DWJ Korean BBQ

Address: 551 S Highland Street, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (901) 249-2214
Website: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dwj-korean-bbq-memphis
Services: Korean BBQ, tabletop grilling, bibimbap, spicy pork bulgogi, samgyeopsal, soondubu soft tofu stew, japchae, mandu dumplings, dine-in, takeout
Description: DWJ is one of the longest-running Korean operations in Memphis, with roots in the city dating to 2002 and multiple locations over the years across Hacks Cross, the Cooper-Young district, and the Highland Street corridor near the University of Memphis. The Highland location is a Korean barbecue restaurant where diners can cook their own meat on a grill brought to the table or order dishes prepared in the kitchen. The menu spans the Korean core, including bibimbap, spicy pork bulgogi, samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), soondubu soft tofu stew, japchae glass noodles, and mandu dumplings. The restaurant is set in a modernized, garage-style space, takes reservations, and is known locally as a destination for self-grilled Korean barbecue rather than a standard barbecue restaurant.

2. The Han

Address: 1250 N Germantown Parkway, Suite 123, Memphis (Cordova), TN 38016
Phone: (901) 779-2769
Website: https://www.instagram.com/krestaurant_thehan/
Services: tabletop BBQ, LA galbi, beef and chicken bulgogi, bibimbap, soft tofu stew, seafood pancake, tteokbokki, stir-fried pork, mandu dumplings, kimchi fried rice
Description: The Han is a Korean restaurant in the Cordova area of Memphis, on Germantown Parkway, that combines tabletop barbecue with hot-pot stews and a broad menu of classic Korean dishes made from traditional recipes. Its most popular dish is LA galbi, grilled marinated Korean short ribs, alongside marinated beef and chicken bulgogi, bibimbap, soft tofu stew offered with vegetable, beef, or seafood, a seafood pancake, tteokbokki spicy rice cakes, spicy stir-fried pork, and kimchi fried rice. The kitchen offers halal-certified chicken options, which is uncommon among Korean restaurants in the area. Service is typically split between lunch and dinner, with the room drawing strong reviews for the authenticity of its grilled meats and stews.

3. DWJ Korean Restaurant (Hacks Cross)

Address: 3750 Hacks Cross Road, Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: (901) 746-8057
Website: https://www.facebook.com/dwjkoreanrestaurant/
Services: Korean BBQ, sushi, bulgogi, galbi, bibimbap, Korean soups and stews, banchan, dine-in, curbside pickup
Description: The DWJ Korean Restaurant on Hacks Cross Road serves the growing southeast Memphis suburbs from the Hacks Cross corridor near Winchester. It operates as a full-service, sit-down Korean restaurant and sushi bar under the long-established DWJ name, which has served Memphis since 2002, and carries a deep traditional menu including bulgogi, galbi short ribs, bibimbap, and a range of Korean soups and stews accompanied by banchan, plus a sushi bar. The Hacks Cross room functions as a more conventional table-service Korean restaurant than the self-grill Highland location, giving the southeast side of the metro a sit-down option for Korean cooking. It offers dine-in, outdoor seating, and curbside pickup, and accepts reservations. Confirming current hours by phone is advisable before a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Restaurant in Memphis

Q: What licenses does a Korean restaurant in Memphis need to operate?

Every restaurant in Memphis must hold a food-service permit issued through the Shelby County Health Department, the local arm of the Tennessee Department of Health, and pass periodic inspections that are recorded as public scores. A standard business license is filed through the Shelby County Clerk once annual gross receipts exceed the state threshold. A restaurant that serves alcohol needs the appropriate permit, with liquor-by-the-drink service licensed by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

Q: How much is sales tax on a Korean restaurant meal in Memphis?

Prepared food and drinks served at a restaurant are taxed at the full combined sales-tax rate rather than the reduced rate that applies to grocery items. In Shelby County the combined rate is 9.75%, which appears on the bill for both the food and any alcoholic beverages.

Q: Can I cook my own Korean BBQ at the table in Memphis?

Yes. Several Memphis Korean restaurants offer tabletop grilling, where diners cook marinated meat over a grill brought to or built into the table. DWJ on Highland Street and The Han in Cordova both feature this format. Other rooms serve barbecue dishes such as bulgogi and galbi prepared in the kitchen, so it is worth confirming the format when making a reservation.

Q: What dishes should a first-time visitor try at a Korean restaurant?

Bibimbap, a bowl of rice, vegetables, and a protein mixed with chili paste, is a common starting point, and the dolsot version arrives in a hot stone bowl that crisps the rice. Bulgogi and LA galbi short ribs represent the barbecue side, while soft tofu soondubu and kimchi jjigae are popular stews. Most meals come with banchan, the small shared side dishes that include kimchi, so the table fills quickly even with a modest order.

Q: Are there Korean restaurants on both sides of Memphis?

Yes. Korean dining in Memphis runs from the University of Memphis area on Highland Street to the suburban Cordova corridor along Germantown Parkway and out to the Hacks Cross area in the southeast. DWJ has operated multiple locations across the city since 2002, and The Han serves the Cordova side, so diners across the metro have nearby options.

Q: How do I report a problem with a Korean restaurant in Memphis?

Food-safety concerns, such as cleanliness or suspected foodborne illness, route to the Shelby County Health Department, which issues and enforces food-service permits and publishes inspection scores. Complaints about billing, deceptive practices, or other business disputes can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping the receipt and any documentation strengthens a complaint.