Korean Barbecue in Louisville?

Hello all. This is my first post here. I have "lurked" for a bit I suppose and never made the jump to actually post. So here I am.

My question is regarding Korean Barbecue. I have heard the legend but I have never experienced it before. Does it exist in Louisville and if so, where?

Thanks again!

[Robin Garr]

My question is regarding Korean Barbecue. I have heard the legend but I have never experienced it before. Does it exist in Louisville and if so, where?

Welcome, Adam! Glad you broke the ice.

Both of the city's main Korean places have grill tables where grilled-meat dishes like bul-go-gi may be ordered: Koreana II at the corner of Preston Highway and Gilmore Lane, and Lee's Korean in the Watterson City tower on Gardiner Lane just east of Newburg Road.

I have heard a rumor of a Korean place in Middletown in the Kroger strip mall. I think I heard it is the same owners and reincarnation of the old Arirang in Buechel. Again, these are all rumors that I have not had the time to substantiate. But as a person who has been introduced to Korean barbeque in the past couple years, I am sold and am always on the lookout for Korean restaurants.

[Robin Garr]

I have heard a rumor of a Korean place in Middletown in the Kroger strip mall. I think I heard it is the same owners and reincarnation of the old Arirang in Buechel.

That's correct, assuming it's still there. Also known as Arirang, and featuring a mix of Korean, Japanese and possibly Chinese as well. We went by a couple of times and found it okay but not really up to the other Korean spots I mentioned.

[quote]Both of the city's main Korean places have grill tables where grilled-meat dishes like bul-go-gi may be ordered: Koreana II at the corner of Preston Highway and Gilmore Lane, and Lee's Korean in the Watterson City tower on Gardiner Lane just east of Newburg Road.[quote]

Hi, hey Lee's is on Bishop Lane, not Gardiner Lane. At 1941 in the big office tower east of Newburg as noted. Good place and I believe the oldest Korean restaurant in the metro(?).

[Robin Garr]

Hi, hey Lee's is on Bishop Lane, not Gardiner Lane. At 1941 in the big office tower east of Newburg as noted. Good place and I believe the oldest Korean restaurant in the metro(?).

Oops, you're right, Lonnie! I was one block off.

And yes, I'm pretty sure Lee's is the oldest ... I remember Ken Neuhauser reviewing it for The Louisville Times years before I took on that assignment, so it probably goes back to the late '70s. At that time (and for many years) it was a Korean back room to a downscale diner, but in recent years it has gone all-Korean.

I ate at Lee's in college so I think it was there in 77 or 78. It's at leat 30 years in that location. I do recall the diner scene out front....they did breakfast for example. I'm feelin' old now.....

Excellent! Thanks for the help. My Friday night is now booked. It looks like it's gonna be Lee's. Cheers!