Jae Bu Do

Koreatown’s top-notch seafood-oriented KBBQ joint pays homage to the East China Sea by serving its edible bounty in waves at the table. The only real option here are the combo sets— the basic A set is enough to feed two—which begin with airy steamed egg, crisp-edged scallion pancakes, sizzling cheese corn and a spicy chilled seafood salad. Each guest receives a heatproof glove to be able to grab each item off the grill when it’s ready. All combo sets include an airy steamed egg, crisp-edged scallion pancakes, sizzling cheese corn and a spicy chilled seafood salad. From there, the main event also features whole shrimp, baby octopus and a couple pieces of potato (which you’ll definitely need to get full). Upgrade to a B, C or D set to feast on rarer delights like abalone, which squirm in their shells before yielding tender meat when cooked; crunchy pieces of hagfish that taste best when anointed with well-salted sesame oil; and steamed lobster. I’ve tried other seafood barbecue options in Koreatown, but what really keeps me coming back to Jae Bu Do are the high-quality accompaniments, including the delicious, comforting bowl of hand-pulled noodle soup that ends each meal.