New York/ Food & Drinks
Published on March 20, 2020
3 top options for cheap Korean food in New York CityWoorijip | Photo: Shannon G./Yelp

Looking to satisfy your appetite for Korean fare?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable Korean restaurants around New York City, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to fulfill your urges.

1. Woorijip

photo: dave l./yelp

Topping the list is Woorijip. Located at 12 W. 32nd St. (between Broadway and Fifth Avenue) in Koreatown, this late-night buffet is the most popular affordable Korean restaurant in New York City, boasting four stars out of 2,619 reviews on Yelp.

Open until 2 a.m. on Monday-Wednesday and until 3 a.m. on Thursday-Saturday, Woorijip offers hot and cold self-serve buffets featuring an extensive selection of authentic Korean rice dishes, noodle dishes, soups, stews, meat, seafood and sweets. While Woorijip has table seating, there are also prepared grab-and-go boxes for diners on the run.

2. E-Mo

photo: jinhwa j./yelp

Next up is nearby E-Mo, located just up the street at 2 W. 32nd St. This takeout-only hole-in-the-wall specializes in gimpbap (sometimes spelled kimbap) — seaweed rice rolls filled with your choice of beef bulgogi, squid, veggies and more.

E-Mo's made-to-order gimpbap cost less than $10 each, and with four stars out of 373 reviews, this spot has proved to be a local favorite for those looking for an inexpensive option. (Note: E-Mo is cash-only.)

3. Cup & Cup

photo: morgan a./yelp

Then there's Cup & Cup, with four stars out of 335 Yelp reviews. This cafe, which can also be found in Koreatown, serves up Korean lunch boxes, in addition to an array of coffee and tea drinks.

In the evenings, it transforms into Take31, a full-service Korean bar and restaurant. Head over to 15 E. 31st St. (between Fifth and Madison avenues) to see for yourself.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.