Baekjeong, the Korean barbecue restaurant in Manhattan's Koreatown that closed in January 2024, has reopened on 32nd Street under the name Baekjeong Black. The restaurant spans two floors and 8,000 square feet in the Martinique New York building at 49 W. 32nd St. The lower level is a cocktail bar called Yangban, and the upper level serves tabletop charcoal barbecue. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and reservations are taken through Resy.
Baekjeong, the Korean barbecue restaurant that once had the longest lines in Manhattan's Koreatown, is back, about two years after it closed in January 2024. It now goes by Baekjeong Black, and both its location and its size are different from before.
Basic Information
Two Restaurants in One Building
Baekjeong Black houses two distinct spaces under one name. The lower level is Yangban, which serves small plates created by chef Sol Han alongside Korean-style cocktails made by beverage director Gregory Kong. The upper level is the Baekjeong people know, with a grill at every table for cooking meat yourself.
There is one more stop before you sit down: a butcher display modeled on the Majang-dong meat market in Seoul. Diners can see and choose USDA Prime, dry-aged beef and Wagyu for themselves, making the selection of the meat part of the meal itself.
What to Eat
The signature menu items are the Butcher Sets, meant for sharing. The beef and pork assortment includes boneless short rib known as "snowflake," skirt steak, Kurobuta pork belly, Ibérico presa and short ribs marinated for 72 hours. A more expensive option is the Mother of Pearl Set, which includes abalone, diver scallops and American Wagyu brisket served with perilla leaf kimchi.
The dishes beyond the grill are also worth a look. They include fluke sashimi served in a cold gochujang broth, a seafood pancake with sea grape-like seaweed (cheonggak) and oysters, and gujeolpan, in which various fillings are wrapped in buckwheat crepes. Gujeolpan is a dish that originated in Korean royal court cuisine.
Meals come with seasonal banchan, one stew and steamed egg. And for anyone who remembers Baekjeong, the one item that cannot be left out is still here: corn cheese cooked around the edge of the grill.
The cocktails also have a distinct Korean character. One example is "Hwachae," inspired by the traditional fruit punch and topped with Milkis foam. Another is the "Banana Milk Coffee," made with banana milk and instant coffee and given a savory note with doenjang (fermented soybean paste).
The Space
The building itself, Martinique New York, is a designated landmark. Doors from antique Korean furniture line the staircase, and behind the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin hangs a two-story-high digital mural by artist Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic. The furniture and decor were brought in from across Korea.
Operator Joseph Ko said, "Many Korean restaurants are becoming overly modernized and losing their cultural essence," and "Baekjeong Black was designed to be deeply rooted in Korean culture and heritage." He is also the person who opened the first Baekjeong in Manhattan.
Before You Go
For now, the restaurant is open only Wednesday through Sunday, and only for dinner. Lunch service is in preparation. Reservations are taken through Resy, and since the restaurant has only just reopened, it is better to book weekend evening tables in advance. For tabletop barbecue, the larger the group, the better the value of the set menus.
Koreatown on 32nd Street sits between Penn Station and Herald Square, making it easy to reach from New Jersey by PATH or NJ Transit. Parking is difficult. Meanwhile, Baekjeong is also preparing conventional-format locations in Long Island City and Downtown Brooklyn.
Menu offerings, prices and hours are subject to change. It is best to check the official website or reservation page before visiting.