Quarters Korean BBQ

If a gastropub-y chain like Yard House served Korean barbecue, it’d probably look something like Quarters. Or at least that’s the personality of this popular Koreatown spot. Dinner here entails flatscreens broadcasting Sportscenter, Top 40 tunes at full volume, and families cheers-ing with giant strawberry ‘ritas. And while Quarters’ slogan on the wall reads “we offer only the best,” we might quibble with that statement when it comes to their meat, which is just fine.

Our favorites are the marinated short rib that tastes better the longer it chars on the grill and a thick ribeye that a server will quickly cut into slices when it’s perfectly medium-rare. In fact, the service is the best thing about this place. The staff is attentive and fast, from refilling drinks to handling the grilling to bringing more banchan and sides, which include a fine-but-forgettable creamy broccoli salad and a too-sweet, crayon-yellow potato salad. Get the set menu for four, and your nearly $200 order comes with a tub of melted orange cheese “fondue.”

Quarters might not be the gold standard of KBBQ, but it is popular, with walk-up wait times on a given night averaging two hours (reservations are available a week in advance, but they go fast). As a crowd-pleasing gateway drug, Quarter’s fun atmosphere can work for a night of silly cocktails and bulgogi, but at some point, you might consider mixing it up with other (better) options in the neighborhood.