No survey of Korean restaurants in New York is complete without mentioning KumGangSan (meaning: "Diamond mountain" and named after the historical mountain in North Korea). This is the most well-known Korean restaurant in New York City and the reputation is deserved. If you want a restaurant with great food and an even better atmosphere, this is your place. When you walk inside, you'll immediately notice the indoor waterfall with the piano on top. Occasionally they will have a piano player playing traditional Korean music while wearing a hanbok (traditional Korean outfit).

The food is top-notch and the galbi barbecue is the signature dish. Occasionally the tables will run out of gas and your fire will go out, but other than that there isn't much to detract from your meal. The layout is more open than some other local restaurants which gives the place a more bustling, but less intimate, feel. Still, it's a great place to meet friends or go on a date.

After you order, but before your meal comes out, they will fill up your table with panjan (side dishes). Some are standard, and some are exotic (think: "Fish Eyes" or "Mysterious Gelatinous Stuff That Tastes Awesome But It's Probably Best Not To Wonder About Where It Came From"), which lets you alternate between what you know and trying something new. There's ALWAYS something new to try here.

The barbecue itself is pretty standard, although somehow the gas burners aren't quite the same as having a pile of flaming, red charcoal in the middle of your table. The food tastes great, so they're definitely doing something right! After dinner, clean your tastebuds with some orange or pineapple or some other fruit they bring out for a light dessert. You can get alcohol here, but fewer people seem to have a wall of empty green soju bottles here than they do at other places.

At $25 a portion, the galbi isn't cheap but is definitely worth it. Just so that you don't feel ripped off, I've had galbi in Seoul and it costs about the same and usually tastes better in New York. There is another KumGangSan restaurant in Flushing.

This is a great place to go for a Korean barbecue. It's popular, though, and sometimes fills up quickly. If that happens, you might want to try the place across the street (KangSuh), which is very comparable to KumGangSan. If I'm making plans with people who have eaten at lots of Korean restaurants in New York, I take them to KangSuh. If I'm making plans with people who are not familiar with Korean barbecue or don't eat in Koreatown often, then KumGangSan is absolutely my first choice because of its reputation and atmosphere.

Kum Gang San is probably the best known of the Korean restaurants in Manhattan's "Koreatown". It's a huge restaurant with two levels and a big fountain and a rock canopy where a woman in traditional Korean garb plays a harp. Unfortunately the ambience is ruined by a projection television that plays against the far wall, which they installed when Korea made a run in the 2002 World Cup. It was great to have a place to go to at 5am to watch the games, but someone needs to tell them that Mets baseball is not enough of a reason to keep the television turned on in a nice restaurant.

About the food. The food is high quality, which you notice from the very beginning with the ban chans (side dishes) they bring out. Not only do they bring out a lot, they are fresh, and delicious. Whatever you order there, you can count on it to be good. I've had Galbi (beef rib) soup, marrow soup, any number of chigaes (casseroles/stews), as well as plenty of Galbi (ribs) that you can cook right at the table in front of you, and haven't been disappointed yet. It is a bit pricier than the other Korean restaurants, but still well within a reasonable price range.

The Garment District is awash in Korean Restaurants. It's hard to pick and choose those that are better from the average. One restaurant, however, has long stood out above the others: Kum Gang San. Located conveniently on 32nd Street between Broadway and Park, this establishment serves top-notch Korean food in an atmosphere that is neither too fancy nor too rustic.

Kum Gang San has 2 levels. The better seating is on the 2nd floor, where you can look over the entrance and a very large water fountain, pool, and grand piano. On the tables, you will notice the traditional cooking plates for Korean barbeque (Bul Go Ki), which can be ordered and then cooked tableside. Bul Go Ki is my favorite Korean dish. It's marinated, sliced steak that comes with many smaller garnish side dishes (such as ginger, garlic, and the very spicy Kim Chee) and lettuce leaves. You wrap the steak pieces with the garnishes and rice in the lettuce. Very tasty!

All the traditional Korean dishes are available here, such as Be Bim Bop and Kalbi. Kum Gang San also has Japanese dishes and Sushi. For a great appetizer, try the Japanese Yakitori. They're like Teriyaki shish-ka-babs. The menu at Kum Gang San is meat heavy. There are many fish dishes, but not a great number of offerings for pure vegetarians. The vegetable side dishes themselves can make a meal, if you enjoy them.

Service at Kum Gang San has always been good for me. I first found this restaurant in 1999 when my friend and I were searching for good food at 3am (they are open 24 hours a day!). At that late hour, we were almost alone and our server was an older Korean woman who insisted on showing us how to authentically roll our Bul Go Ki. It was great! And Bul Go Ki at 3am! I love New York!

The only downside is the pricing. It's definitely a 'treat' for a budget hound like myself. The tab per person can easily break $30, especially if you are drinking OB Korean beer (which you should -- it's quite good). On many weekend nights, there can be a wait for a table. I recommend making reservations in this case, or if you have a larger party. Otherwise, you can usually find a seat somewhere.

If you haven't experienced Korean food, this is a great place to start!!

This lively, contemporory, and popular Korean resturaunt is a good place to go in Koreatown. It's near the Macy's herald square and Madison Square Garden, and is open as late as 1:00 AM!

The specialties here are Korean Barbeque and many traditional Korean dishes like Bi Bam Bap, a rice casserole cooked in a steaming iron pot.

Go with a group so you can try many dishes, and have the barbeque that is cooked on the grill in the middle of the table!