Moo Korean BBQ, an all-you-can-eat concept from the team behind Marina del Rey’s Namoo, is charging into Santa Monica this spring. Owner Daniel Hwang is aiming for an April opening and is waiting on alcohol approvals. The fast-casual spot is promising an AYCE menu and a beach-city spin on table-grill Korean barbecue just off the Third Street Promenade.
All-You-Can-Eat Plans And Opening Timeline
According to What Now Los Angeles, Moo will run a fixed all-you-can-eat price of $49.95 and offer more than 45 menu items, with a beverage lineup that includes soju, beer, and cocktails. Hwang told the outlet the concept is a spinoff of Namoo and that the team is targeting an April opening, though the exact date depends on alcohol licensing.
Taking Over A Known Grill Address
A bulk-sale notice published in The British Weekly lists Namoo Company LLC as the buyer of the furniture, fixtures, and leasehold interest for 225 and 231 Arizona Ave., and notes the transfer of ABC License No. 47-603040 is expected on or about March 9, 2026. That filing lines up with the owners’ plan to take over the former Gyu-Kaku space and convert it to an AYCE Korean BBQ outpost.
From Namoo To Moo
The Namoo website describes the Marina del Rey location as a modern, full-service Korean barbecue, and the group says Moo will translate that experience into a more casual, high-turnover format for the beach-city crowd. The operators say the lower-key, higher-volume model is meant to appeal to tourists, families, and late-night groups around the Promenade.
Menu Preview And Dining Room Vibe
The restaurant’s pre-opening site lists sample items ranging from ribeye and marinated bulgogi to seafood plates, banchan, and shared snacks, and advertises a coming-soon reservation option at a downtown Arizona Avenue address. The owners plan an upbeat, modern dining room with nonstop banchan and table grills designed for groups and date nights, according to the pre-launch materials.
Moo’s Spot In The Santa Monica BBQ Boom
Arizona Avenue has been a busy stretch for restaurants and turnover, and an affordable AYCE Korean BBQ could fill a demand for casual group dining in the Promenade area. A wave of all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ openings around the region has been tracked, suggesting Moo will enter a popular and competitive market niche.
