Beef Tartare Bibimbap at Hansol

The tiny Burquitlam Korean spot with no grill theatre: dolsot bibimbap arriving sizzling in stone, a 4.4, and seats that go fast.

Robson St Korean with tabletop grills, banchan aplenty, and the universal icebreaker of shouting 'is that done yet?'

The North Shore's answer to 'where do we even go for Korean up here': bubbling soondubu, soy-garlic chicken, and harbour light afterward.

Surrey's decade-old Korean grillhouse hands you tongs, never empties the banchan, and earns a 4.6 from more than 2,000 regulars.

Smokeless Shinpo grills, fifteen free-refill banchan, and a Golden Plates Best Korean Restaurant win, plus you leave smelling exactly as you arrived.

Gastown's Gold-winning Korean tavern, named for old roadside inns, with a happy hour that runs twice a night.

Chef Tom named the restaurant after himself, so expect dark leather booths, a marble bar, and a 4.7 to match the confidence.

The Victoria Drive neighbourhood Korean where a seafood pancake loaded with squid does the icebreaking, and gentle prices do the rest.

The Korean grillhouse where you cook whole duck at the table and crack into soy-marinated raw crab Koreans actually call 'rice thief.'

Vancouver's original Korean fried chicken house since 2011: soy-garlic, cold beer, and a kitchen that runs till 1am.

A Richmond Korean izakaya running to 2am on weekends, because someone had to do it, and spicy chicken-cheese demanded a late-night home.

A jail-themed Coquitlam grillhouse where you cook makchang at the table and discover how adventurous you actually are.

Sooda's induction grills and neon at Amazing Brentwood, where you cook bulgogi side by side and argue over the honey-butter fried chicken.

Six or eight tables, Ethiopian art, and a tradition called gursha where you hand-feed each other, which is romantic on purpose.