Korean BBQ restaurant franchise coming to Amarillo in 2023, Dae Gee owner says
A Korean BBQ chain is working to establish a new location in Amarillo by next year.
Dae Gee Korean BBQ is a restaurant chain founded in Colorado. When local entrepreneur Phuc Nguyen reached out to the franchise founder, Joseph Kim, they decided to open two new locations in Amarillo.
"When I had gone down there, I had realized that there wasn't anything else like this in Amarillo. ... We are most excited to bring a different flavor and variety to the city with some diversity," Kim said.
These two new locations will be the first ones established outside the state of Colorado and the first of their kind to enter Amarillo.
"I've traveled to other cities and seen the options and variety that they have. Then I come back, and I talk to people here, and they say that they have never tried this or that. So I thought, why not bring these things here, instead of traveling to get (them), because I like Amarillo. I live here, and my family lives here, so why not make it an option here?" Nguyen said.
Founded in 2012 and franchising since 2021, Dae Gee, meaning "pig" in Korean, currently has five corporate-owned restaurants open and operating across Colorado’s Front Range. The chain is much like traditional Korean BBQ, which exposes customers to an interactive, all-you-can-eat experience, which allows them to cook their own meat on grill tops at their tables when they dine.
Hungry attendees will have the option to choose from a variety of traditional Korean meats like Galbee (Beef Shot Ribs), Sam Gyeob Sal (Sliced Pork Belly) and Dak Bulgogi (Chicken), which are marinated in Dae Gee’s secret marinade. Each choice meat, as well as fish and vegetarian options, can be enjoyed in a bowl, hot stone pot, or tucked inside lettuce and eaten as a wrap. Entrees can be piled high with your choice of side or mixings, including rice, fresh slaw, spicy sauce and a variety of nine side dishes, such as kimchee, broccoli, radish and fish cakes.
Each restaurant will occupy approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square feet and employ as many as 10 people.
The restaurants will be owned and operated by Nguyen, who owns and operates both Venetian Nail locations in Amarillo. A location has yet to be determined for the restaurants, but both Nguyen and Kim hope to open the first of the two restaurants within the next 12 months.
Nguyen said he hopes to host a KBBQ sample opportunity for the community to come out and try before the grand opening of the restaurant.
"It's authentic food, and it's an experience, and I'm excited to bring it to Amarillo," Nguyen said.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Dae Gee Korean BBQ restaurant chain plans to open 2 Amarillo locations
