Following the openings of Apex Grill and SGD Tofu & BBQ downtown, the east side got its own Korean BBQ and hot pot restaurant with Korill Hut.
To be clear, the all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and the all-you-can-eat hot pot (you can order both at the same time for an extra $5) are the only items on the menu, as there are no other dishes. That’s okay, because they’re both outstanding.
In the back, there’s a sauce area that’s key to your enjoyment. Make sure to get at least one bowl of the various sauces, as they will enhance the various meats and vegetables you cook.
One unique thing about the Korean BBQ ($22.99 at lunch, $32.99 at dinner) here is that the restaurant gives you butter to cook your items in a bit of fat. I appreciated that, as it helped to prevent burning.
There’s a big selection of beef, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetable items, with each serving enough for about 2-3 people to share. Here’s a rundown of some of the items I had.
- The Korill Special short ribs were marinated and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness
- The garlic chicken was tender but only slightly garlicky
- The eggplant was worth it if you have the patience to cook it long enough (the butter helps a lot)
- The beef bulgogi sported a ton of flavor and was fall-apart tender
- The garlic scallops were fresh but also not very garlicky
- The finger ribs were a bit chewy
- Both the prime brisket and the pork jowl were bland
- The spicy calamari was coated in a cumin-based sauce but not spicy
- The pork belly was excellent, and the Korill special version took it another level
For the hot pot ($22.99 at lunch, $32.99 at dinner), everyone at the table gets their own soup base instead of sharing a central pot. I enjoyed both the Korean seafood tofu for its strong seafood flavor and the tonkotsu for its creaminess, though it wasn’t as rich as other ramen broths.
- The sliced pork belly was the best item I had
- The beef meatballs were far better than other versions out there
- The spam was a pleasant and salty surprise
- The mini sausage was dense and almost tasteless
- The Kobe beef was good but not as tender as I had anticipated
- The sliced chicken absorbed the flavor of the broth well
- The glass noodles had a wonderful texture and work with any broth
Korill Hut is open for lunch and dinner every day.
