Baekjeong, the renowned Korean BBQ restaurant in Koreatown, is set to move to a larger location later this year to accommodate its growing popularity.
The restaurant, which has been a staple in the area for a decade, closed its doors at 1 E. 32nd Street, at Fifth Avenue, on January 1, 2024, in preparation for its relocation to 49 W. 32nd Street, at Broadway, in fall 2024 — it will be called Baekjeong Black in the new space.
In an interview with What Now New York, Co-Owner Bobby Kwak explained that the move was necessitated by the restaurant’s inability to meet the high demand in its current premises.
“Baekjeong is probably the most popular Korean BBQ spot in Koreatown,” Kwak said, attributing much of the restaurant’s success to the endorsement by the late Anthony Bourdain. “If Bourdain endorses you, it does a lot of good for the restaurant. After he endorsed us, we were flooded with customers. We’ve outgrown the space and are relocating. We couldn’t meet the demand. So we’re moving it down the block.”
The new location on West 32nd Street promises more space to serve its customers, who have been flocking to Baekjeong for its authentic Korean BBQ experience. The move also reflects the restaurant’s commitment to maintaining its reputation and quality of service amidst growing popularity.
In the meantime, the current Baekjeong space will not sit empty. Kwak and his team plan to open a franchised location of Los Angeles’ Ahgassi Gopchang on February 20, 2024, offering another tantalizing option for Korean cuisine enthusiasts in New York City. Unlike Baekjeong, Ahgassi Gopchang specializes in “exotic cuts” of meat like intestines, Kwak said.
