Korean BBQ Equipment List: Everything You Need for Authentic Grilling

Before outlining the necessary equipment, we have to ask what is Korean BBQ? Korean BBQ is a unique style of communal dining where guests cook their own meat and vegetables on tabletop grills. Korean BBQ ingredients include dozens of marinated meats and special side dishes, called banchan, to accompany them, creating new bursts of flavor with each bite.

The delicious meats and unique setting have turned Korean BBQ into an international phenomenon that's continued gaining notable popularity in the United States.

What Equipment Do You Need to Open a Korean BBQ Restaurant?

The unique setup of Korean BBQ restaurants requires specialized equipment, including tabletop grills, small condiment plates, and cooking utensils for customers. A proper ventilating hood system must also be installed above each cooking station. In addition, you'll need basic restaurant equipment suited for Korean-style restaurants.

Choosing the Right Commercial Grills for Your Korean BBQ Kitchen

In many Korean BBQ restaurants, grills are built into each dining room table, while other operations have freestanding grills. Grills are powered by either gas or charcoal; to ensure safety, it's important to find a grill that complies with fire codes and won't overheat the surroundings.

Built-In Korean BBQ Table Grills

While Charcoal is the more traditional heating method, gas is more convenient and the most common, while some shops use electric elements. Each heat source has its own advantages. A charcoal Korean barbeque grill needs closer monitoring but can provide a unique smokey texture and char from the high heat; gas provides a flame for a true grilling experience; and electric burners produce less smoke, are energy efficient, and are easier to clean.

If you're looking for a built-in grilling station, it's usually best to find a supplier that specializes in creating custom Korean BBQ indoor grill tables and hoods.

Freestanding or Back-of-House Grills

Some operations opt for small Korean BBQ hotplates or butane stoves with special Korean BBQ pans on top that allows the greases to drip off the meat; this method is popular for at-home Korean BBQ parties.

Other Korean operations focus on providing a classic restaurant setting for their customers. Rather than customers using individual tabletop grills, restaurant staff cook on commercial grills, charbroilers, or griddles for bulk preparation in the back of house. While this style is technically not the traditional Korean BBQ experience, it helps maintain a cleaner front-of-house operation and leads to faster service for those who want the end meal without going through the process of cooking it themselves.

Commercial burners offer greater power, their durable designs withstand heavy use, and they can be used to cook different cuts of meat simultaneously. Cleanup is also easier, as it eliminates the need to clean each individual tabletop grill.

Cooking Surfaces: Grill Tops, Pans, & Mesh Grates

There are several kinds of cooking tops common in Korean BBQ, with different styles suited for different meats. Some operations change out the cooking top mid-meal depending on what cut the customer orders.

Food Prep & Tableside Tools

Arranging, cutting, and turning the meats as you cook them is an important aspect of Korean BBQ, so customers need safe, easy-to-use, and heat-resistant tools.

Heat-Resistant Stainless Steel Tongs

Every operation should be equipped with commercial grade tongs for each customer. Ensure customers have dedicated utensils for handling raw and cooked meat.

Kitchen Shears or Meat Scissors

Kitchen shears help customers cut through meats and remove bones from ribs. Choose NSF-certified models designed for foodservice use.

Banchan & Sauce Service Supplies

Banchan dishes are key players in Korean BBQ operations. They're used to serve items like kimchi and bean sprouts and enhance the flavor profiles of meats and lettuce wraps. The small vessels that carry them help deliver a traditional Korean BBQ experience, and because restaurants will offer multiple banchan dishes per customer, they need to be well stocked with them. Melamine dishes are useful options for durable, light, and stylish banchan containers.

You'll also need chopsticks and spoons for eating Banchan and fresh-cooked meats.

Indoor Grilling and Ventilation Systems

One of the obvious dangers of having customers cook their own food is the hot surfaces and open flames, so train your servers to be aware of safety hazards. You'll also need to have some sort of ventilation system, so the cooking meats don't smoke up the room. Some restaurants use hoods over each table's grill, while others use downdraft grills that suck the smoke down from under the grill. These models help maintain a pleasant experience so customers can smell the aromas without the bother of smoke and grease.

Table Layout: Grill Tables & Equipment Stands

Find furniture made of heat-resistant materials that combines style with safety. You'll also need equipment stands and work tables to store and prepare large amounts of meat each day. Grill accessories help with cleaning and polishing grill tops between customers.

Commercial vs. At-Home Korean BBQ Supplies

Korean BBQ equipment provides great opportunities for home gatherings and parties. However, there are several key differences between a restaurant and home Korean BBQ setup.

FAQ: Opening a Korean BBQ Restaurant

Why Restaurants Choose KaTom for Korean BBQ Equipment

Korean BBQ restaurants need reliable foodservice supplies to serve their customers. KaTom connects customers with top manufacturers offering hoods, grills, and banchan trays, making KaTom every foodservice operators' go-to shop for finding dependable Korean BBQ restaurant equipment.