San Antonio's Korean scene runs deeper than most visitors expect. From tabletop galbi on the North Side to late-night pocha spots and Korean fried chicken worth driving across a loop for, the city has built a real roster over the past decade. These 12 spots are the ones the review record keeps coming back to.
№ 01
Gogi Street
6.6Great
$$
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Gogi Street earns its reputation on portion size and flavor both. The Spicy Alamo and the chicken-and-shrimp combo draw regulars who order enough to carry lunch the next day. Bulgogi bibimbap holds up as a solo order, and the Korean fried chicken rounds out a menu that covers the bases without overcomplicating things. Counter-friendly to-go orders move fast, and the lunch crowd stays manageable.
What to orderGalbi Korean BBQ Short Ribs, Korean Fried Chicken, Bulgogi Bibimbap
№ 02
Chas Market & Kitchen
6.1Solid
$$
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The clay pot bibimbap is the thing to get here: the rice crisps on the bottom the way it should, and full table service means you are not hunting down your own refills. Chas reads like a low-key mom-and-pop operation rather than a showroom Korean BBQ spot, which is exactly what makes it work. Galbi short ribs and bulgogi beef fill out the menu at prices that match the no-frills room.
What to orderGalbi Short Ribs, Bulgogi Beef, Korean Fried Chicken
№ 03
Sushi Express
6.0Solid
$$
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Sushi Express plays a dual role in Stone Oak, covering Korean staples alongside Japanese rolls with enough consistency to keep regulars on a years-long rotation. The bulgogi beef lands well, and the rainbow sashimi platter handles the sushi side. Full table service and a staff that makes first-timers feel oriented. The North Side location at Stone Oak Parkway keeps it convenient for the 1604 corridor crowd.
What to orderSpicy Tuna Roll, Bulgogi Beef, Rainbow Sashimi Platter
№ 04
Seoul Food Korean Grill
5.7Solid
$$
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Positioned near Fort Sam Houston, Seoul Food Korean Grill draws a military crowd and a neighborhood regular crowd for the same reason: the LA galbi is the standout, and the kitchen sends it out with a full spread of banchan sides. The room seats larger groups comfortably, and the kimchi jjigae holds up as a solo bowl. Bibimbap rounds out the core menu with straightforward execution and generous portions.
What to orderBulgogi Korean BBQ, Kimchi Jjigae Soup, Bibimbap
№ 05
Pelicana Chicken
6.1Solid
$$
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Pelicana Chicken is San Antonio's entry point for Korean fried chicken done seriously. The soy garlic preparation is the move, and the spicy gochujang wings follow close behind. Kimchi fried rice works as the table anchor. Early on the spot required reservations during peak hours, so walk-in availability is worth a quick check before you go. The chicken itself converts people who think they already have a preferred style.
What to orderSoy Garlic Fried Chicken, Spicy Gochujang Wings, Kimchi Fried Rice
№ 06
Koreana Restaurant
4.6Notable
$$
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Koreana is a straight-down-the-middle neighborhood Korean spot that regulars bring family to when they want a reliable benchmark. Bulgogi and bibimbap are the anchors, and the Korean fried chicken holds its own alongside them. Full table service and a room that handles families without friction. For visitors working through the San Antonio Korean scene, Koreana tends to rank near the top of the first-round tour.
What to orderBulgogi, Korean Fried Chicken, Bibimbap
№ 07
Pacific Moon Bar and Grill
4.9Notable
$$
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Pacific Moon leans into its bar-and-grill identity: a dimly lit room with couches, a proper bar, and a menu that leads with Korean BBQ bulgogi and kimchi fried rice. The mark-and-Mike noodle bowl is a lunch standout. It runs on word-of-mouth, and the staff earns the recommendations. More evening-oriented than most Korean spots in town, which makes it a natural call for a date night or a low-key dinner with a drink.
What to orderKorean BBQ Bulgogi, Spicy Kimchi Fried Rice, Bibimbap Bowl
№ 08
Wow Chicken & Cupbop
5.8Solid
$$
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Wow Chicken and Cupbop is a small mom-and-pop operation that rewards the detour. The Korean fried chicken wings come out crispy, the galbi holds up, and the cupbop bowls (bulgogi and spicy pork both) make a lunch special worth splitting. Ramen fills out the menu on the lighter end. The room is compact, the format is counter-casual, and the lunch special pricing is one of the better deals on the Korean side of town.
What to orderBulgogi Cupbop, Korean Fried Chicken Wings, Spicy Pork Cupbop
№ 09
One Pocha
4.7Notable
$$
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One Pocha is built for night owls: the atmosphere is social, the owner is hands-on, and the kitchen runs late. Korean BBQ hot pot and kimchi jjigae anchor the savory side, and the seafood pancake works well as a shared starter. The room is relaxed without being loud. For a late-night Korean meal in San Antonio, this is the call, and the staff's energy keeps the experience moving well past normal dinner hours.
What to orderKorean BBQ Hot Pot, Kimchi Jjigae, Seafood Pancake
№ 10
Arirang Korean Restaurant
4.7Notable
$$
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Arirang has the tenure: regulars credit it as one of the oldest Korean restaurants in San Antonio, and the kitchen still delivers on the classics. Kalbi ribs and galbi tang short rib soup are the standouts, and the steamed egg earns consistent praise. Late-night hours give it a niche most Korean spots in town do not cover. Bulgogi, bibimbap, and kimchi jjigae round out a menu that reads like it was built to last.
What to orderBulgogi, Bibimbap, Kimchi Jjigae
№ 11
Two Pocha
4.7Notable
Selma
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Out in Selma, Two Pocha draws the drive with garlic pork belly and Hawaiian beef that reviewers rate as the best things on the table. Banchan and steamed egg both land well. The all-you-can-eat setup has some operational rules worth reading before you go, including a two-person minimum for AYCE access. When the kitchen is on, it delivers on flavor and service speed. The room is clean, open, and runs at a good pace.
What to orderBulgogi, Galbi Short Ribs, Bibimbap
Frequently asked
What are the best Korean restaurants near me in San Antonio?
It depends on which part of the city you are in. Gogi Street and Chas Market and Kitchen are strong mid-city picks. Seoul Food Korean Grill sits near Fort Sam Houston on the northeast side. Sushi Express covers the Stone Oak/1604 corridor, and Pacific Moon works well for an evening out. Every restaurant on this list is ranked using the Insider Score, which weighs the full review record. No restaurant pays to be listed.
Is there late-night Korean food in San Antonio?
Arirang Korean Restaurant is one of the longer-running spots in the city and keeps late hours. One Pocha is also built around a late-night crowd. Both serve core Korean dishes well past normal dinner service, so either is a solid call when the craving hits after 9 or 10 p.m.
Where can I get Korean fried chicken in San Antonio?
Pelicana Chicken is the most focused option, with soy garlic and gochujang preparations as the headline. Wow Chicken and Cupbop does crispy wings alongside cupbop bowls at lunch-special pricing. Gogi Street, Seoul Asian Food Market and Cafe, and Koreana all carry Korean fried chicken as part of broader menus.
How does the Insider Score work, and do restaurants pay to be ranked?
The Insider Score is calculated from the full review record, weighting consistency, volume, and recency. No restaurant pays to appear on this list or to improve its ranking. The goal is a straight read on where the review record actually points, not a sponsored list.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Beto Treviño
Guides Editor
Beto runs the dish-by-dish beat across San Antonio, from the puffy-taco counters to the marquee rooms, building best-of lists that send you somewhere specific. His rankings start with the reviews and end with an order you can place tonight.