Authentic flavours
Reviewers repeatedly describe the dishes as genuinely Korean, with fresh ingredients and well-seasoned food.
KOREANA
Al Barsha
KOREANA is a Korean restaurant in Al Barsha serving traditional dishes alongside Korean-style BBQ and hot pots. Reviews point to tender bulgogi, generous banchan and comforting soups, with a cosy setting that suits both repeat visits and family meals.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
518 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Tender bulgogi
Bulgogi is a consistent favourite, praised for being tender, juicy and richly seasoned.
BBQ experience
The Korean BBQ lets diners enjoy grilled meats, and one set was described as enough for two to three people.
Generous banchan
Side dishes are a strong part of the meal, including kimchi, fish cake and bean sprouts; one reviewer noted unlimited refills.
Vegetarian choice
Vegetarian diners have several options, including a well-liked vegetarian bibimbap.
Private rooms
Private rooms are available, giving family groups a more comfortable setting for a meal.
Cosy atmosphere
Several diners describe the restaurant as warm, comfortable and homely, with a lively Korean atmosphere.
What to Eat at KOREANA How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For KOREANA, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of KOREANA, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 4
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Kimchi Net +3
“All of the banchan were delicious and kept us wanting more, especially the kimchi and fish cake sides.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“All of the banchan were delicious and kept us wanting more, especially the kimchi and fish cake sides.”May 2026
“I love their kimchi and bean sprout! Crunchy and spicy! ✨”January 2026
-
Clam kalguksu Net +2
“Yummy Korean food in Dubai. The clam noodle soup was very flavorful”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Yummy Korean food in Dubai. The clam noodle soup was very flavorful”May 2026
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious.”April 2026
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Samgyupsal Net +2
“The samgyupsal was really good and satisfying.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The samgyupsal was really good and satisfying.”May 2026
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious. The yukjeon and samgyeopsal were so good that we ended up ordering more!”April 2026
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Yukjeon Net +2
“They have the best yukgaejang 😍 and their beef pancake is so yummy.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They have the best yukgaejang 😍 and their beef pancake is so yummy.”May 2026
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious. The yukjeon and samgyeopsal were so good that we ended up ordering more!”April 2026
Honorable mentions (29)
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Al tang soup Net +1
“We also were surprised to find here Al Tang soup, I believe it is only one restaurant in Dubai which serves it.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We also were surprised to find here Al Tang soup, I believe it is only one restaurant in Dubai which serves it.”April 2026
-
Bean sprout soup Net +1
“The rice topped with a fried egg paired really well with the beef, and even the bean sprout soup was light and comforting.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The rice topped with a fried egg paired really well with the beef, and even the bean sprout soup was light and comforting.”July 2026
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Beef bulgogi Net +1
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”April 2026
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Bibimbap Net +1
“Love the bibimbap and kimbap!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Love the bibimbap and kimbap!”February 2026
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Bulgogi hotpot Net +1
“Been always coming back at Koreana everytime when we are craving into a authentic Korean food it’s always good coming to taste there bulgogi hotpot and fried chicken it’s really just try and for sure will come back again to try different specialty Korean food they have.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Been always coming back at Koreana everytime when we are craving into a authentic Korean food it’s always good coming to taste there bulgogi hotpot and fried chicken it’s really just try and for sure will come back again to try different specialty Korean food they have.”February 2026
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Bulgogi kimbap Net +1
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”January 2026
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Chicken bulgogi kimbap Net +1
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”January 2026
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Chokye-guksu Net +1
“I especially love the refreshing Chokye-guksu (chilled chicken noodle soup) and order it every single time. Highly recommended!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I especially love the refreshing Chokye-guksu (chilled chicken noodle soup) and order it every single time. Highly recommended!”June 2026
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Cold noodle Net +1
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”April 2026
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Dolsot bibimbap Net +1
“😅✌️ Their dolsot bibimbap is also good (i forgot to take pic because im so hungry!).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“😅✌️ Their dolsot bibimbap is also good (i forgot to take pic because im so hungry!).”January 2026
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Fried chicken Net +1
“Been always coming back at Koreana everytime when we are craving into a authentic Korean food it’s always good coming to taste there bulgogi hotpot and fried chicken it’s really just try and for sure will come back again to try different specialty Korean food they have.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Been always coming back at Koreana everytime when we are craving into a authentic Korean food it’s always good coming to taste there bulgogi hotpot and fried chicken it’s really just try and for sure will come back again to try different specialty Korean food they have.”February 2026
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Grilled beef Net +1
“The spicy tofu stew was rich and comforting with the perfect level of spice, and the grilled beef was tender and well seasoned.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The spicy tofu stew was rich and comforting with the perfect level of spice, and the grilled beef was tender and well seasoned.”May 2026
-
Gyoza Net +1
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”April 2026
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Jajangmyeon Net +1
“The jajangmyeon had a rich, flavorful black bean sauce, and the bulgogi was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The jajangmyeon had a rich, flavorful black bean sauce, and the bulgogi was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned.”July 2026
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Jjampong Net +1
“Their Jjampong as always taste authentic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Their Jjampong as always taste authentic.”January 2026
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Kalbitang beef soup Net +1
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best food ever! Well ordered kalbitang beef soup, gyoza, beef bulgogi very soft and tasty which i recommend 😋”April 2026
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Kimchi fried race Net +1
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”April 2026
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Lunch set Net +1
“We always have an excellent experience dining at Korea and today is another great experience of their lunch set. All the food are great particularly the Bulgogi, very tender and tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We always have an excellent experience dining at Korea and today is another great experience of their lunch set. All the food are great particularly the Bulgogi, very tender and tasty.”January 2026
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Ramen Net +1
“Everything is soooooo delicious, kimchi, tokpokki and ramen was must have to try. And it was good, I wasn’t expecting much but trust me im very picky person.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything is soooooo delicious, kimchi, tokpokki and ramen was must have to try. And it was good, I wasn’t expecting much but trust me im very picky person.”June 2023
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Seafood pajeon Net +1
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious.”April 2026
-
Sondubu jiggae Net +1
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Kimchi fried race, cold noodle and ribs, sondubu jiggae, and topokki - very tasty and these are my soul foods!”April 2026
-
Spicy tofu stew Net +1
“The spicy tofu stew was rich and comforting with the perfect level of spice, and the grilled beef was tender and well seasoned.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The spicy tofu stew was rich and comforting with the perfect level of spice, and the grilled beef was tender and well seasoned.”May 2026
-
Spring onion pancake Net +1
“Perfect bulgogi and spring onion pancake ..with delicious side dishes just as u would get in an authentic Korean spot”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Perfect bulgogi and spring onion pancake ..with delicious side dishes just as u would get in an authentic Korean spot”July 2026
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Stir-fried baby octopus Net +1
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), yukjeon (Korean beef pancake), stir-fried baby octopus, clam kalguksu (noodle soup), and seafood pajeon — everything was absolutely delicious.”April 2026
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Sundubu Net +1
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”January 2026
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Vegetarian bimbibap Net +1
“I go to eat their vegetarian bimbibap and I literally loved it. The service is prompt and food tastes good.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I go to eat their vegetarian bimbibap and I literally loved it. The service is prompt and food tastes good.”June 2026
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Yangyum galbi Net +1
“A little gem!! Amazing traditional Korean cuisine, food is really excellent (the yangyum galbi and Korean chicken are to die for!) and service is great with very kind staff. We keep on coming back and each time very happy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A little gem!! Amazing traditional Korean cuisine, food is really excellent (the yangyum galbi and Korean chicken are to die for!) and service is great with very kind staff. We keep on coming back and each time very happy.”January 2026
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Yukgaejang Net +1
“They have the best yukgaejang 😍 and their beef pancake is so yummy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They have the best yukgaejang 😍 and their beef pancake is so yummy.”May 2026
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Seafood sundubu Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The seafood sundubu is okay. I wish there are more shrimp. 😅✌️ Their dolsot bibimbap is also good (i forgot to take pic because im so hungry!”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 1
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Hot tea Net +1
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Everything was delicious. Ordered: sundubu, chicken bulgogi kimbap and bulgogi kimbap, and the hot tea is also delicious.”January 2026
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
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Galbi dosirak Net −1
“And the galbi dosirak also looked nothing like the photo, and all the food was super cold.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“And the galbi dosirak also looked nothing like the photo, and all the food was super cold.”July 2026
Tips for a Better Visit
Ask first. If you want to grill the meat yourself, confirm the preparation before ordering; some diners had meat brought already cooked.
Share sets. A BBQ set may suit a small group, as one reviewer found a single set sufficient for two to three people.
Try banchan. Make room for the side dishes: reviewers specifically enjoyed the kimchi, fish cake and bean sprouts, with unlimited sides mentioned.
Consider dining in. For delivery, check the order on arrival; one reviewer said the food was cold, unlike the restaurant photos and paid add-ons.
Book a room. For a family meal, ask about the private rooms, which one reviewer found comfortable for their group.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Sheikh Zayed Rd - near Al Zahra Hospital
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Delivery issues
A Deliveroo order arrived cold, differed from the photos and was missing the paid cheese topping on tteokbokki.
Inconsistent service
One dine-in reviewer said meat arrived already cooked despite expecting to grill it themselves and found the welcome unhelpful.
Food concern
One diner reported that noodles tasted old and that reducing the spice involved watering them down.
Delivery safety
One delivery customer reported finding a fried insect on a pancake.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
KOREANA is a Korean restaurant in Al Barsha where the main draw is traditional, authentic-tasting food rather than a short, trend-driven menu. You can order Korean BBQ, bulgogi, gimbap, sundubu and noodles, with reviews giving especially strong marks to tender beef, rich soups and generously served banchan. Bulgogi appears repeatedly as a safe first order: diners describe it as juicy, tender and well seasoned.
The BBQ is also an experience rather than just a plated dish, although it is worth confirming whether you will grill the meat yourself or have it cooked. Sets can be substantial; one reviewer said a single set served two to three people. Vegetarian diners have options too, including vegetarian bibimbap, while private rooms can make family meals more comfortable.
The room is often described as cosy and homely, with a lively Korean feel. Service is usually praised as warm, attentive and welcoming, though a few reviews report less helpful treatment. Delivery has been less dependable than dining in: complaints include cold food, photo discrepancies, a missing paid cheese topping and one reported insect in a pancake order.
If ordering delivery, check the food promptly; for a first visit, dining in gives you a better feel for the BBQ and side dishes.