Pick Up The Fork

A Serious Eater's Guide to Buenos Aires and Beyond

BBQ Town: Korean BBQ Right In Your Backyard

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Barrio Chino, my culinary mecca, and home to many disappointing Chinese restaurants (except Asia Oriental counter and Hong Kong Style), has now just gotten a lot more interesting: spicy kimchee, beautiful bulgogi, more than 25 small plates of hot and cold dishes, soup, oysters, bacon, shrimp, lettuce wraps, dumplings – I could go on and on. And eat and eat. And that’s what I did. It’s Korean BBQ and it’s ohhh sooo goood. 

For many Buenos Aires foreigners, Koreatown is quite the eventful destination where fun is to be had by all.  What’s better on a Friday night than to trek ALL the way to Bajo Flores, listen to taxi drivers tell you how dangerous it is, stuff face with delicious Korean BBQ, drink face with Soju, and hop over to Chess Karaoke Club across the street for a night of sober singing?  While that is all good and fun once a season, most days fiaca hits, and it’s hard to get down and dirty in Barrio Coreano. But now those dreams about conveniently getting some spicy kimchi-grilled pork action close to home have come true.  No need to fret anymore, the recently opened BBQ Town in Barrio Chino now offers the full Korean barbecue experience – cheap, tasty and right in my Belgrano backyard.

Upon sitting down, the mozo instantly brought the cold dishes, about 10, including kimchi, seaweed, boiled peanuts, parrilla salad, bean sprouts, octopus and more. Some of the dishes were great, others were good and the rest were not too my liking.  One thing is for sure, there is no lack in variety.

You have a choice between spicy and non spicy, my rule of thumb, always choose spicy.

Ideal to go with a large group, the space is large with tables that are designed for up to 8 people, with a moveable divider for smaller parties.  There are two grills at every table, similar to Bajo Flores spots, (unlike Biwon) this place gives you the real barbecue experience where you grill your own meat at the table. 

Mmmm raw meat. Pork, beef and octopus.

Start grilling that shit.  I wish the grill had been a little hotter, it took the meat a bit too long to cook, but when it did, mmmm kosher porky and beefy delights. Especially the pork. Marinated to porky perfection. 

Already starting to slow down, I thought that was the entire meal, until a round of hot small plates came to the table.  Green onion pancake, a Chef Boyardee type pasta, fried membrillo, dumplings, fried tofu, and noodles.

Fried tofu – great spicy sauce on top. Really delicious. 

Yummy noodles.

I could pop dumps in my mouth all day long.

How bout oysters? Sure, why not.

Yes, that is what it looks like.  Large shrimp and Korean bacon.  The bacon is meant to be grilled, topped with some sesame oil and garlic, and wrapped in fresh lettuce.  Too bad I didn’t know about that until after I was finished when the owner explained how to eat it and that it was a traditional Korean dish. The lettuce did have some bichos and needed to be cleaned better, but I ain’t gunna let no bugs stand in my way of a pork belly lettuce wrap.

You may feel a little lost with the whole dining experience, but just ask for help and the servers should guide you. My advice would be to get the meat on the grill as soon as it’s hot enough, so it can cook while you are chomping away on the small plates. If there’s something you don’t like, don’t eat it. If there is something you like, ask for more — this is like an all-you-can-eat type of deal — fatties, keep them plates coming.

The space used to be a Chinese restaurant, until the owners (who come from Taiwanese and Korean descent), realized the appeal and great need to open up a Korean restaurant in the more accessible Barrio Chino neighborhood.  Pure genius.  Not only is the food good and the atmosphere very accommodating for larger groups, the prices are still very reasonable at AR$70 per person.  Oh BBQ Town, I’ll be visiting you on a regular basis.

BBQ Town
1656 Juramento, Barrio Chino (Belgrano)
Monday – Friday: 12:00pm – 3:30pm, 7:30pm – 12:00am
Saturday – Sunday: 12:00pm – 12:00am
Price: AR$70 AR$85 AR$120 per person (inflation’s a bitch), all you can eat, not including drinks.

More BBQ Town photo fun!

Other Korean restaurants worth a mention: Mido, Daore, Una Canción Coreana, BiWon.

Author: ForkYou

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Comments

Comments

  1. New reader here… Always try to catch your New Orlean’s at The Office… And generaly skim through your articles on a daily basis, but this one in particularly caught my eye. I live a few block from BBQ, and have passed it regularly on my many adventures. I have always been fascinated by it, but frankly I see it as a restaurant that merits a true group exp.
    Unfortunatly most of my friend limit there culinary view as far as a pizza and hamburguer.
    But now after reading your delightfull and witty tale… I most visit this place. You have just cemented my next outing.
    Thank you

    • thanks for reading! definitely you should check out BBQ town. And I think you may be confusing this blog with nolachef.wordpress.com, who hosts New Orleans night at the office.

      • Visited the place Yesterday… first time in a Korean restaurant… was pleasantly surprised, but a bit lost. Felt like a two year old at a math contest.
        Was constantly reading up on your post, trying to paste together an instruction manual. In the end it was very helpful. Feel like I will get it right the second time around… still it was fun, delightful and I had just crossed half of Bs.As in the middle of the storm, after seeing at adventure film at the Imax, so one could say I felt like Indiana Jones in the banquet scene of Temple Of Doom… awesome outing.
        Thanks
        P.S: sorry for the confusion on the blog issue

  3. This looks fantastic! I wish this had been around back when I was still in Buenos Aires. Of course, I live in Los Angeles, now, with its huge Koreatown and abundant barbecue restaurants, so I shouldn’t complain.

  4. went to eat there tonight LOVE LOVE LOVE, more than anything the lovely smiling waiters.
    posted on ba expats for all to go.

  5. Hi Im the owner of BBQ Town… After hearing from New client after new client telling us how they heard of our restaurant through your blog countless times..I´ve decided to check it out .. and all I gotta say is WOW! Great Blog! And thanks a Million! In fact we had another satisfied new client today!! telling us how he heard from our restaurant through your blog they loved the food! The only bad news we had through that client was that they rejected our soup.. not because they dislike it .. but because they were so full and that their stomach ABSOLUTELY could NOT accept anymore intake!! Yes we have alot of variety I hope I proved my point! Not only that But I teach everysingle client personally who don´t know Korean Gastronomy at all.. How to eat and combine the foods!. Up to even beginners how to COOK!! I Love the review written by you About us .. great sense of humour and very direct!.. I invite you to come and eat for free.. and will teach you KOREAN BBQ Gastronomy on our food from A to B! You are welcome anytime! Just ask for Cristian and I will be giving you the honory gift! In fact I´ve posted your website on our fans page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/BBQtown check it out!! and thanks again!

  7. Nice work on your posts and photography. My daughter Emma S. introduced me to your blog and I know when my husband visits her in BA next month, they’ll be consulting your restaurant list.

  9. You had me at “pork belly lettuce wrap.” The food sounds amazing and the price is very reasonable. Next time I’m in Cap. Fed., I’m gonna mosey on down to BBQ Town.

  10. I have been trying to go K town for two years, now a Korean restaurant 4 blocks from my apartment!. The food looks delicious. Now I only have to convince my wife to go and find another 6 people to dine with.

    Another great find. France
    s you are amazing. It is always joy to read your reviews.

    Counting down the days until I am in BA

    Peter

    • It’s good to go with a big group of people, but they also accept smaller reservations so you don’t need to find 6 others.

      AND I think Frances is amazing too ;)

    • Thank you yaddynattygal for your inteerst. I’m presently working on my website, and look forward to keeping you up to date on some of my new video recipes I’ll be posting, contact information, and availability for catering services if you’re ever in the New York City area. Jah Bless

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  12. I was planing going to the Korean BBQ at Korea Town in Bajo flores (those are dirty/ghetto and super delicious) but you let me know that i can touch the heaven with my own hands a few blocks away from my place. U Rock!

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