The best Korean restaurant in Birmingham for most people is Itaewon Korean Restaurant on Station Street, next to New Street station. It offers Korean BBQ, fried chicken and classic dishes in one place. If you want all-you-can-eat grilling, choose Tayudo. For cheap street food, try Topokki. For homely, good-value cooking, go to Kimchi Korean Restaurant in Selly Oak. Below you will find nine places compared by food, price, area and who they suit best, so you can pick the right korean restaurant birmingham has for your night out.
Best Korean Restaurants in Birmingham at a Glance
| Restaurant | Best For | Style | Price (per person) | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itaewon | Best all-rounder | BBQ, fried chicken, classics | £20–30 | City centre |
| Tayudo | Korean BBQ and groups | All-you-can-eat BBQ | About £27–30 | Southside |
| Topokki | Cheap street food | Rice cakes, fried chicken | £10–20 | Chinese Quarter |
| Kimchi Korean Restaurant | Home-style food, value | Traditional Korean | £10–20 | Selly Oak |
| Seoul Kitchen | Date nights, groups | BBQ sets, fried chicken | £20–30 | City centre |
| COCOBAB | Fried chicken, takeaway | Casual Korean | £10–20 | Selly Oak |
| Miss Korea | City-centre table BBQ | BBQ, noodles, rice dishes | £10–20 | Southside |
| Mon Korea | Quiet, local meal | Home-style Korean | £10–20 | King’s Heath |
| Grounded Kitchen | Light, healthy bowls | Korean-inspired | £10–20 | Moseley |
Prices are typical ranges checked in October 2026. Menus change, so confirm with the restaurant before you go.
Itaewon Korean Restaurant
Best for: an all-round Korean meal near the station.
Korean BBQ and Bibimbap Experience
Image source: official website
Itaewon is the easiest place to start if you are new to Korean food. It sits just outside Birmingham New Street, so it works well before or after a train or a shopping trip. The menu covers Korean BBQ, bibimbap, bulgogi and Korean-style fried chicken, plus burgers, brunch and cocktails. That mix suits groups where not everyone wants the same thing. It is busy at weekends, so book through the website.
- Address: 43-45 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY
- Known for: Korean BBQ, bibimbap, bulgogi, fried chicken
- Price range: £20–30
- Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–10pm, Fri–Sun 12pm–10pm
- Website: itaewonbirmingham.com
- Drawback: no weekday lunch, as Monday to Thursday service starts at 4pm
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Tayudo Korean BBQ Buffet
Best for: Korean BBQ, groups and celebrations.
All You Can Eat Korean BBQ Buffet
Image source: Freepik
Tayudo is the main choice for all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in the city. You cook marinated meat on a charcoal grill at your table, so it is a social meal rather than a quick dinner. Expect beef, pork, chicken, lamb and seafood, plus sides and hot dishes. Reports say chicken and lamb are halal, but confirm this with the restaurant if it matters to you. It has some of the strongest review scores on this list.
- Address: 139-147 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 6SD
- Known for: all-you-can-eat charcoal Korean BBQ
- Price range: about £27–30 per adult
- Website: tayudobbq.co.uk
- Drawback: buffets usually have a time limit, and a charge may apply for wasted food
Topokki Birmingham
Best for: cheap Korean street food.
Korean Fried Chicken and Street Food
Image source: tripadvisor.com
Topokki is a small, lively spot on Hurst Street, a short walk from New Street. It is known for tteokbokki, chewy rice cakes in a spicy sauce, with cheese versions for those who want it milder. Korean fried chicken, bibimbap and dumplings are also on the menu. Students and younger diners fill it up, and the prices are among the lowest here. Seating is limited, so go early or book at busy times.
- Address: 1C Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD
- Known for: tteokbokki and Korean fried chicken
- Price range: £10–20
- Website: Instagram page
- Drawback: small and often full on weekend evenings
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Kimchi Korean Restaurant
Best for: home-style cooking and value.
Traditional Korean Bibimbap Bowl
Image source: Freepik
Kimchi is a family-run restaurant that has served Selly Oak, near the University of Birmingham, for around 20 years. Portions are generous and the cooking is simple and authentic. Try the sizzling dolsot bibimbap, kimchi stew (jjigae) or bulgogi. It is one of the best choices if you want a proper Korean meal without paying city-centre prices, though you will need to travel out of the centre.
- Address: 2 Dawlish Rd, Birmingham B29 7AE
- Known for: bibimbap, kimchi stew, bulgogi
- Price range: £10–20
- Website: kimchirestaurant.co.uk
- Drawback: very busy in university term time
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Seoul Kitchen Birmingham
Best for: date nights and group dinners.
Crispy Korean Fried Chicken
Image source: Freepik
Seoul Kitchen has a modern look and a menu built for sharing: BBQ sets, hot pots, rice bowls and sticky Korean fried chicken. It suits couples and small groups. Review scores differ between sites, with Google generally kinder than TripAdvisor, so read recent reviews before you book.
- Address: Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B1 1LT
- Known for: BBQ sets and Korean fried chicken
- Price range: £20–30
- Website: Seoul Kitchen links page
- Drawback: mixed ratings across review sites
COCOBAB
Best for: Korean fried chicken and takeaway.
Authentic Korean Chicken and Rice Bowl
Image source: Freepik
COCOBAB is a small Selly Oak spot that locals rate highly for its Korean fried chicken, with boneless pieces, wings and a choice of sauces. Bibimbap, kimbap and rice sets are also available. It leans towards takeaway and delivery, so it is better for a quick, cheap meal than a long sit-down dinner. Some customers say the chicken is halal, but check with the restaurant first.
- Address: 23 Raddlebarn Rd, Birmingham B29 6HH
- Known for: Korean fried chicken and bibimbap
- Price range: £10–20
- Website: cocobab.co.uk
- Drawback: less of a full restaurant feel
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Miss Korea
Best for: table BBQ in the city centre.
Korean BBQ Dining Experience
Image source: Freepik
Miss Korea is one of the longer-running Korean restaurants near the centre. Tables have an iron plate where you cook items such as spicy pork, seasoned beef and sweet potato. The menu is wide, with bibimbap, kimchi pancakes, tteokbokki, galbi-tang and katsu curry, and a vegetarian menu has been reported. Its TripAdvisor score is lower than most places here, at about 3.3 out of 5 from nearly 200 reviews, so go for the location and the choice rather than top marks.
- Address: 155 Bromsgrove St, Birmingham B5 6AB
- Known for: table BBQ and a broad Korean menu
- Price range: £10–20
- Opening hours: daily, about 12pm–10pm
- Website: misskoreauk.com
- Drawback: mixed reviews
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Mon Korea
Best for: a calm, local meal.
Traditional Korean Meal and Side Dishes
Image source: Freepik
Mon Korea in King’s Heath is a small, friendly restaurant that is far quieter than the city-centre places. It serves sizzlers, dolsot bibimbap, tteokbokki and pancakes, with vegetarian dishes marked on the menu. Because it is small and opens fewer days, book ahead and check the current hours first.
- Address: 2 Heathfield Rd, King’s Heath, Birmingham B14 7DB
- Known for: sizzlers and homemade dishes
- Price range: £10–20
- Website: monkoreaonline.co.uk
- Drawback: limited opening days and few tables
Grounded Kitchen Moseley
Best for: light, healthy Korean-inspired bowls.
Healthy Korean Inspired Rice Bowl
Image source: Freepik
Grounded Kitchen is Korean-inspired, not a traditional Korean restaurant. Expect rice bowls, noodles, bao and wings with Korean flavours, rather than BBQ. It works for a quick lunch or a lighter meal, and it is a good pick for mixed groups with different tastes.
- Address: 119-121 Alcester Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8DD
- Known for: healthy Korean-inspired bowls
- Price range: £10–20
- Website: groundedkitchen.com
- Drawback: not a traditional Korean menu
Which Korean Restaurant Should You Choose?
| If you want… | Go to |
|---|---|
| The best all-round meal | Itaewon |
| All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ | Tayudo |
| Cheap street food and tteokbokki | Topokki |
| Home-style cooking and value | Kimchi Korean Restaurant |
| Korean fried chicken | COCOBAB, Seoul Kitchen or Topokki |
| A date night | Itaewon or Seoul Kitchen |
| Student budgets | Topokki, Kimchi or COCOBAB |
| A quiet, local meal | Mon Korea |
| A lighter, healthier bowl | Grounded Kitchen |
How Much Does Korean Food Cost in Birmingham?
Casual Korean food costs around £10–20 a head. BBQ sets and buffets cost more, usually £20–30 or above. The chart shows the typical top end of each restaurant’s range, before drinks.
Typical top-end spend per person (£, food only)
Based on price ranges listed above. Tayudo shows the top of its roughly £27–30 buffet price.
Drinks, premium meats, extra dishes and service charges can all raise the bill, so allow a little extra.
Where to Find Korean Food in Birmingham
Five of the nine places are in the city centre and Southside, within walking distance of New Street. The rest are in the southern suburbs.
- City centre and Southside: 5 (Itaewon, Tayudo, Topokki, Seoul Kitchen, Miss Korea)
- Selly Oak: 2 (Kimchi, COCOBAB)
- Moseley: 1 (Grounded Kitchen)
- King’s Heath: 1 (Mon Korea)
Near New Street: Itaewon, Topokki, Tayudo and Miss Korea. Selly Oak: Kimchi and COCOBAB, both handy for students. South Birmingham: Mon Korea in King’s Heath and Grounded Kitchen in Moseley.
What to Order at a Korean Restaurant
| Dish | What it is | Spice |
|---|---|---|
| Bibimbap | Rice bowl with vegetables, egg, meat or tofu and chilli paste; mix it before eating | Mild to medium |
| Bulgogi | Thin, sweet marinated beef, usually grilled | Mild |
| Tteokbokki | Chewy rice cakes in a sweet, spicy sauce | Hot |
| Kimchi jjigae | Hot, tangy kimchi stew, often with pork | Medium to hot |
| Korean fried chicken | Double-fried for extra crunch, then glazed | Choose your sauce |
| Kimchi pancake | Crispy savoury pancake, good for sharing | Mild |
Most meals come with banchan, small side dishes such as kimchi and seasoned vegetables, which are usually refilled for free.
How Korean BBQ Works
You order raw, marinated meat and cook it yourself on a grill built into the table. Once it is ready, wrap it in a lettuce leaf with rice, sauce and a little kimchi. Not every place does it the same way. Tayudo uses charcoal and an all-you-can-eat format, while Miss Korea uses an iron plate. Barbecue restaurants get busy at weekends, so book ahead, and check for a minimum order per table or a time limit.
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Allergens, Spice and Dietary Needs
Korean dishes often contain soy, sesame and wheat. Kimchi and sauces can contain fish or shellfish, and many dishes use gochujang chilli paste, so ask about spice levels if you prefer milder food. Vegetarian dishes are easy to find, for example tofu bibimbap. Kimchi is often made with fish sauce, so strict vegans should ask. Never assume a dish is halal, vegan or gluten-free from its name. Ask the restaurant directly and check the allergen information before ordering.
FAQs
What is the best Korean restaurant in Birmingham?
Itaewon is the best all-rounder, thanks to its BBQ, fried chicken and classic dishes beside New Street station. Tayudo is the best for BBQ, and Kimchi is the best for value.
Where can I enjoy Korean BBQ in Birmingham?
Tayudo has the all-you-can-eat charcoal BBQ. Miss Korea and Itaewon also serve BBQ, and Seoul Kitchen offers BBQ sets.
Which restaurant serves the best Korean fried chicken in Birmingham?
COCOBAB, Seoul Kitchen and Topokki are the most recommended for Korean fried chicken. Itaewon also serves it.
Is Korean food expensive in Birmingham?
Not usually. Casual places such as Topokki, Kimchi and COCOBAB cost about £10–20 a head. BBQ and buffets cost about £20–30 or more.
Which Korean restaurants are near Birmingham New Street?
Itaewon is right outside the station. Topokki, Tayudo and Miss Korea are a short walk away in Southside.
Are there halal or vegan Korean options?
Tayudo is reported to offer halal chicken and lamb, and Miss Korea has been reported to have a vegetarian menu. Always confirm with the restaurant before you book.
What Korean dish should first-time visitors try?
Start with bibimbap, bulgogi and Korean fried chicken. Add tteokbokki if you like spice.
Do I need to book?
Yes for BBQ, groups and weekends. Itaewon has an online booking page. For smaller places, such as Mon Korea, ring ahead.
Final Thoughts
Pick by what you want from the night. Choose Itaewon for an easy all-round meal, Tayudo for BBQ with friends, Topokki or COCOBAB for cheap and quick food, Kimchi for home-style cooking, and Mon Korea or Grounded Kitchen for something calmer or lighter. Check opening hours and the menu before you travel, as details change.
Author Bio
Editorial Team – The UK Post
The UK Post editorial team covers restaurant guides, travel stories, cafés, and lifestyle experiences across the United Kingdom. The team focuses on helping readers discover memorable places worth visiting.