New Fast-Casual Korean BBQ Restaurant Opens in Crystal City

A new fast casual Korean barbecue restaurant has opened in Crystal City.

KBQ Korean BBQ & Bar is located at 2450 Crystal Drive, next to Buffalo Wild Wings. It opened earlier today, offering a Chipotle-style experience, allowing customers to build their own rice and lettuce bowls, lettuce wraps, tofu dogs and rice burgers.

KBQ offers six proteins — from steak to pork belly to tofu — and nearly a dozen “banchans,” or sides. That’s topped off by a selection of sauces and garnishes.

In addition, there’s a separate “bubble tea shop” offering a selection of bubble teas, including taro, chai and mango, for $5 apiece. As of earlier today, the boba for the teas was not yet ready, so customers had to make do with bubble tea sans bubbles.

Though KBQ seems likely to capture a primarily lunchtime dining crowd in Crystal City, it also has a bar serving cocktails, beer, wine and “bombs” — as in soju, Jager, car and cherry bombs. The restaurant will be open nightly until 1 a.m.

Korean barbecue “is the hottest trend in the culinary world,” according to a press release announcing the restaurant’s opening today. The full release, after the jump.

KBQ Korean BBQ & Bar, we combine these intense flavors in dishes that use a variety of fresh vegetables and lean meats for quickly-prepared healthy meals, in a ‘fast casual’ setting.

Korean BBQ is gaining momentum and popularity is the hottest trend in the culinary world. It’s savory combination of signature ingredients such as garlic, soy sauce, green onions, ginger and sesame are the bold flavors that are capturing the interest and taste buds across the country.

Korean cuisine is based on five tastes: Salty, Sweet, Sour, Spicy and Unami. KBQ Korean BBQ & Bar pleased to present Korean food in a friendly, casual atmosphere, inviting those new to these flavors to sit and enjoy, as well as being the comfort food spot for those already familiar with the cuisine.

We also have a stand alone Bubble Tea Shop within KBQ Korean BBQ. Bubble Tea (also known boba) is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in the 1980s.  Most bubble tea contains a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls added. Ice-blended versions are mixed with fruit or syrup, resulting in a delicious slushy consistency.

We want people to feel at home – whether you are taking a meal to go or enjoying table service and our full service bar featuring signature cocktails.  Open for lunch and open late – serving food till 1am every night. Catering is available. When you eat with us, we’re making these dishes fresh to-order and giving you flavors that we know you will love.