Several weeks ago, while researching for our piece on underrepresented cuisines in the Hudson Valley, we wondered if Korean food might be among that categorization. But to our delight, we found that Korean cuisine has a strong foothold in the Hudson Valley, with both longstanding establishments and newer spots serving everything from homestyle comfort dishes to sizzling barbecue and Korean-Japanese fusion. Hidden gems dish out steaming bowls of bibimbap and spicy tofu stew, while modern spots specialize in perfectly grilled meats and house-made banchan. Some eateries blend Korean flavors with deli classics, while others bring the energy of a late-night lounge, pairing kimchi pancakes with soju cocktails. Even pop-ups are making their mark, offering limited-run menus of bold, creative takes on traditional foods. Here are the Hudson Valley restaurants to get your Korean food fix.
Sook House
72 Center Street, Ellenville
A mural of swimmers by Ellenville artist Adi Oren stretches across the exterior of Sook House, making it hard to miss this Korean-Japanese eatery. Inside, the menu offers bibimbap, spicy pork, bulgogi bowls, and pajun, alongside Japanese-inspired options like udon and teriyaki plates. Lunch specials include chicken teriyaki with soup, salad, and rice, while desserts range from mochi to tempura-fried ice cream. The drink list features sake, plum wine, and bubble tea.
Seoul Kitchen
71 Liberty Street, Newburgh
Seoul Kitchen offers a cozy, home-style take on Korean cooking. Owner and Korean immigrant Heewon Marshall runs the one-woman operation with warmth, chatting with customers as she serves up steaming bowls of bibimbap, spicy tofu hot pot, and kimchi dumplings. Originally based in Beacon, Marshall moved her restaurant to Newburgh in 2016. Her menu leans into the comforting flavors of Korean home cooking, with staples like jjajangmyeon, bulgogi, and eel over rice.
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Seoul Kitchen
Seoul Sizzle
101 Monhagen Avenue, Middletown
Seoul Sizzle brings traditional Korean home-cooked meals to Middletown, focusing on balanced flavors and fresh ingredients. The menu features classic dishes like haemul pajeon (seafood scallion pancakes), mandu twigim (fried dumplings), jeyook bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and bibimbap served in Yugi brassware. K-BBQ specialties are paired with purple rice and banchan, while homemade cold drinks like hibiscus yuzu ade and butterfly pea flower tea complement the meal. For dessert, enjoy black sesame ice cream with green tea crumble or sizzling red bean buns with vanilla ice cream.
The Avalon Lounge
29 Church Street, Catskill
The Avalon Lounge pairs a vibrant live music venue and nightclub with a Korean-inspired menu and bar. The space features a bar room, an upstairs lounge with seating and a pool table, and a performance room/dance floor. The menu offers Korean dishes like pajeon (scallion pancakes), mandu (dumplings), and bulgogi (marinated steak or spicy pork), along with entrees such as tofu plates, japchae, and bibimbap, plus sandwiches like the bulgogi burger and fried tofu sandwich. The bar serves Soju, sake, beer, wine, and cider.
Lucky Catskills
5932 Main Street, Tannersville
Lucky Catskills offers a mix of Asian-inspired café offerings, tapas, and provisions. The menu features items like the 888 Sando (heirloom eggs, American cheese, Kewpie mayo, pork belly, and housemade kimchi), along with drinks such as black sesame and red bean lattes. It also serves boba tea with flavors like Korean banana milk and taro pearl milk. The attached grocery market stocks ingredients like kombu, black vinegar, and various soy sauces, as well as snacks such as Korean Turtle Chips and Japanese Kit Kats.
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Toro
1004 Main Street, Fishkill
A Fishkill staple since 2005, Toro offers a blend of Korean and Japanese flavors. With an extensive 18-page menu, the spot serves everything from fresh sashimi and sushi to traditional Korean BBQ dishes. Guests can enjoy a variety of soups, salads, and appetizers like the tuna tataki and kimchi mandoo. For heartier meals, options include grilled meats, teriyaki dishes, and hot stone rice bowls (gopdol bibimbap). Specialties also include tempura, seafood, and flavorful noodle dishes like Yook-Gae-Jang and Jajangmyun.
KorPot
2494 South Road, Poughkeepsie
Opened in early 2022 by husband-and-wife team Kwang and Ji Kim, KorPot offers a focused menu of classic dishes—that includes traditional flavors inspired by Kwang’s mother and grandmother, using locally sourced ingredients where possible. The menu highlights staples like bibimbap, bulgogi, and spicy stir-fried pork. KorPot also serves house-made kimchi, pickles, and broths. Starters include seafood and scallion pancakes and fried dumplings, while desserts include kkwabaegi (sweet rice doughnuts with cream cheese).
KPOT
1488 Route 9, Wappingers Falls
For an interactive, all-you-can-eat dining experience, KPOT offers Korean barbecue and hot pot. Guests can grill a selection of marinated meats, including beef bulgogi, pork belly, and short ribs, or cook ingredients like seafood, tofu, and vegetables in a simmering pot of broth. The hot pot menu includes a variety of broths, such as spicy Szechuan, miso, and herbal, with options to add noodles, dumplings, and assorted vegetables. KPOT also features a full bar, offering cocktails, beer, and soju to complement the meal.
Threshold Korean
430 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor
Threshold, a modern Korean restaurant in Livingston Manor, blends Catskills ingredients with traditional Seoul-inspired flavors, offering affordable, creative dishes, Korean drinks, and a cozy, artful ambiance. Threshold is the passion project of Cam Shaw and Thom Chun, longtime industry friends. Popular dishes include the tuna bite with chojane, sesame, and radish sprout; the half chicken ssam with mixed rice, sesame leaf, romaine, cashew ssamjang, kimchi, and braised potato; and the vegetable fritters with soy tofu dipping sauce. Each iteration of the revolving menu includes vegan options.
Salt & Pepper the Kitchen
455 Broadway, Monticello
Salt & Pepper the Kitchen blends deli-style sandwiches with Korean-American cuisine. Originally opened as a deli in 2006, the restaurant has since expanded into a full-service dining space, featuring a modern interior with light blue-green walls and outdoor seating. The menu offers a range of dishes, including Korean staples like bulgogi platters and bibimbap, alongside American deli options such as spicy chicken sandwiches and cheesesteaks. The restaurant also serves Korean-style pancakes (pa jun) and a variety of noodle dishes, including udon and jjamppong.
Korean Pop-Ups
Two Five
After moving upstate, Michelle Chiu, a self-taught cook with a consulting background, started cooking more Asian food at home since trips to Flushing or K-Town were no longer convenient. When friends and followers on Instagram kept asking where to get her dishes, she launched Two Five, a pop-up focused on Asian comfort food. Drawing from her Korean heritage and her husband’s Japanese-Taiwanese background, Chiu serves rotating dishes like handmade mandoo (dumplings), pajeon (savory pancakes), and Japanese curry, with gluten-free and vegetarian options. Two Five has most recently been popping up at the Starlite Motel, a restored 1960s boutique motel in Kerhonkson. Follow Two Five’s Instagram for updates on upcoming pop-ups.
Ogle Bogle
Ogle Bogle translates to “the sound or appearance of a small amount of water or stew boiling noisily in a narrow bowl, creating bubbles”—a fitting name for this Kingston-based pop-up serving homestyle Korean comfort food. Past offerings have included crispy bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), galbi jjim (braised short ribs), and mapchae—glass noodles with slow-roasted pork belly or a vegan option with mushrooms and vegetables. Most recently, Ogle Bogle popped up for a concert by Korean folk fusion group Sangjaru at The Local in Saugerties.
