Route 40 through Ellicott City has quietly become one of the best stretches in Maryland for Korean barbecue. Along Baltimore National Pike, you can find tabletop grills, piles of banchan, and menus packed with pork belly, galbi, and bulgogi.
Some spots lean upscale, some keep things simple, and one stays busy until midnight. If you like cooking your dinner right at the table, these five places are a smart place to start.
1. ChoSun Hwaro, Ellicott City, MD
Planning a birthday dinner or a meal with the in-laws? ChoSun Hwaro is the polished pick on this list, with a renovated dining room and staff who handle much of the grilling right at your table.
The meat selection is the main draw. Marinated Galbi and Pork Belly lead the grill menu, and the Emperor’s Galbi is a standout name for anyone who wants to go big.
Food arrives with a generous spread of side dishes, so the table fills up fast. Beyond the grill, the menu includes Gyeran Jim, a fluffy steamed egg dish, plus Haemul Pa Jeon, Mul Naengmyeon cold noodles, Galbi Tang, and Jeju Kimchi Jjigae.
Expect to spend roughly $30 to $80 per person, which matches the higher-end setting. Families will find high chairs, and groups are welcome.
Saturday evening is the busiest stretch, so reservations for dinner are a good idea. The restaurant sits at 9445 Baltimore National Pike and is open daily from 11 AM, staying open until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Dae Jang Geum, Ellicott City, MD
From the outside, Dae Jang Geum looks pretty unassuming. Inside, it serves some of the most dependable Korean barbecue on Route 40.
The dining room has two kinds of seating: grill tables for barbecue and regular tables for everything else. That setup is handy if half your group wants to cook and the other half just wants a bowl of noodles.
I would not skip the rest of the menu here. Bossam, the Korean dish of sliced pork wrapped with fixings, and Naengmyeon cold noodles are both worth ordering alongside the grill.
Side dishes are refilled without limits, and the kimchi is a highlight. Prices usually land around $20 to $30 per person.
It opens at 10 AM every day and closes at 10 PM, which makes an early lunch possible. Sunday evening tends to be the busiest time, and reservations are accepted.
You will find it at 10194 Baltimore National Pike, with free parking on site.
3. Honey Pig Hot Pot + Korean BBQ, Ellicott City, MD
Can’t pick between hot pot and barbecue? This Honey Pig location says you don’t have to.
The concept is all-you-can-eat, with both a hot pot buffet and a small grill at each table. Fresh meats, vegetables, and seafood are on offer, and snow crab legs have been part of the spread.
On the barbecue side, Pork Belly, Spicy Pork, and Beef Bulgogi are the familiar favorites. Banchan gets refilled as you go.
The space is roomy, clean, and modern, which helps when a big group shows up hungry. There is also a full vegetarian menu and a kids’ menu, so picky eaters are covered.
Plan on roughly $30 to $40 per person. Friday and Saturday evenings get crowded, and weekend hours run until 11 PM.
Look for it at 8450 Baltimore National Pike, Unit 125.
4. Honey Pig Restaurant, Ellicott City, MD
Late dinner cravings have a home at 10045 Baltimore National Pike. Honey Pig Restaurant stays open until midnight every day of the week.
The dining room is high-energy and no-nonsense. Each table has a grill in the middle, and the staff will often cook the meat for you.
Pork is the star. Sam-gyeop-sal, or pork belly, and mok-sal, pork neck, are classic orders, and the spicy pork belly comes with a sweet-and-spicy balance.
A garlic dipping sauce and the house Honey Pig Spicy Sauce round things out.
Other menu options include Beef Kalbi, Spicy Chicken Bulgogi, Japchae, Seafood Pancake, Pan Fried Dumplings, and Soybean Paste Stew.
Meals typically cost $20 to $30 per person. Reservations are not accepted, so weekend evenings can mean a wait.
Midweek mornings and Wednesday nights are usually calmer.
5. Shin Chon korean bbq restaurant, Ellicott City, MD
Here is a fun detail: the grills at Shin Chon are turtle-shaped. It is a small thing, but it makes the table setup easy to remember.
This strip-mall spot at 8801 Baltimore National Pike, #25B, is built for grill-it-yourself barbecue. Bulgogi and spicy pork are popular choices, served with a steady flow of traditional side dishes.
The menu goes well past the grill. Galbi Tang comes with a flavorful broth, noodles, scallions, and big pieces of short rib, while Combination Seafood Jjim, Jap Chae, Kimchi Jjigae, Udon, and Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura offer plenty of variety.
Prices usually sit around $20 to $30 per person. A kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables make it an easy family stop.
Keep in mind it is closed on Tuesdays. There is often a wait on weekend afternoons and evenings, so a reservation helps.
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