Soju and Pojangmacha Plates at Zoomak

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Coquitlam's tiny family-run Korean spot with a 4.7 and a tableside bibimbap ritual that keeps people coming back every week.

Kang's Kitchen upgraded every table with a grill and overhead exhaust so cooking dinner together is now part of the date.

The West End Korean spot where even soju-skeptics order the yogurt bottle and come back for late-night all-you-can-eat wings.

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

French technique and Gastown cobblestones, with an atrium, award-winning cocktails, and a bar that doesn't rush you out.