HONGDAE 33 KOREAN BBQ

Hongdae 33 Korean BBQ, situated in Chinatown’s highly popular Dun Huang Plaza at 9889 Bellaire Blvd, Ste. D-229, specializes in premium all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue paired with a soju-focused beverage program. Named after one of Seoul’s most vibrant nightlife districts and open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Hongdae 33 differentiates itself by offering late-night revelers an inviting, neon-washed party atmosphere to gather for great food, creative drinks and after-hours fun.

With Hongdae 33, the Xias lend a modern feel to a traditional format, anchoring the concept with high-quality ingredients at a welcoming price. In line with the traditional Korean barbecue format, Hongdae 33 offers all-you-can-eat pricing. Tablemates select meats, seafood and other specialties to cook themselves over tabletop gas grills.

The AYCE menu comes complete with myriad house-prepared Korean side dishes, called banchan, and appetizers, including kimchi, marinated bean sprouts, japchae, scallion and seafood pancakes, kimchi and soybean stews, spicy rice cake skewers, a corn-and-mozzarella mix and steamed rice. Marinades and dipping sauces are crafted with house recipes developed through extensive research by Leo.

To complement the tabletop grilling experience, Hongdae 33 has a full bar program complete with special house cocktails. Similar to introducing Duck N Bao guests to baijiu, the Chinese spirit distilled from sorghum, Hongdae 33’s drink menu is heavily focused on South Korean spirits, including different styles and flavors of soju and Korean rice wines (makgeolli). Hongdae uses these traditional pours in various combinations with beer to create Korean-style bomb shots, which are wildly popular in South Korea. Signature soju cocktails include the Asian C-Cup (grapefruit soju, sweet vermouth, lemon, egg white and tonic), Banana Drama (soju, lemon, banana curacao, banana liqueur and egg white), K-Shawty (strawberry soju and puree, Yakult, lemon juice and Milkis, a creamy Korean soda) and Anger Issues (soju, sour mix, jalapeño, fresh mint, grenadine and soda).

The interior seats 80 guests, primarily at roomy booths outfitted with built-in grills and copper exhaust pipes. The traditional architectural details combined with neon lighting, teal and orange accents and a dancy soundtrack effectively transport guests to an energized night out in Seoul.