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Food

A Big Korean BBQ & Karaoke Lounge Is Opening In Gowanus


By

Nell Casey

Published Dec 9, 2015

Modified Dec 10, 2015


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Craig LaCourt


By

Nell Casey

Published Dec 9, 2015

Modified Dec 10, 2015


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Banchan with a side of Bon Jovi is the next thing on tap in Gowanus, which is getting a big new Korean BBQ restaurant that doubles as a karaoke lounge. Insa, the latest offering from the husband and wife duo behind beloved Red Hook restaurant The Good Fork, is opening up on Douglass Street next Tuesday, offering tasty grilled meats, stews and plenty of kimchee in the gourmet banchan selection. After a few glasses of Was It Good For You? Brett-Saison by Threes Brewing—which is right across the street—head into the separate bar area and await your turn in one of the restaurant's five private karaoke rooms.

Chef Sohui Kim, who was born in Korea, will offer four meat options for at-the-table cooking, including Yangnyeom Galbi (marinated beef short ribs, $35) and Yangnyum Moksal (spicy marinated pork collar, $27). Supplements to the bbq include meat dumplings ($14), seafood and scallion pajeon ($17), bibimbap ($18) and various stir fried noodles, soups and stews. Vegetarians are well looked after with Beosut Modem (mushrooms for the bbq, $35), vegetable and kimchee dumplings ($14), Dwenjang Jijigae (soybean stew, $13) and Yache Twigim (vegetable fritters, $15).

120915insa2.jpg
(Craig LaCourt)

The 36-seat bar will also serve snacks, as will each of the five karaoke rooms, which have room for 12 people plus one larger room with space for 22. They're each themed, too, including psychedelic, jungle, deep sea, and space, which should make for some trippy tunes. The karaoke and bar section of the space is open until a drunk-friendly 2 a.m. (dinner concludes at midnight).

Also unique to this establishment: no tipping. Checks will all have a 20% Administrative Fee, which the team says will go towards pay equality for both front and back of house staff. Takes any guesswork out of the bill after slamming back $12 Mai Tais and screaming your face off to Bohemian Rhapsody.

328 Douglass Street, Gowanus, 718-855-2620; website

Insa Menu

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Gowanus

insa

karaoke

korean barbecue

korean bbq

new restaurant and bar radar

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Nell Casey

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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