Soju and Modern Korean at Damso

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.

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

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

Lantern-lit West End izakaya where the sake list rewards bravery and stone-grilled beef keeps arriving until you've forgotten your plans.

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.

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

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

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

Tabletop grills, marinated galbi and a running argument about who's hogging the grill: Insadong is North Road's best date sport.