There’s a new reason to make your way to Burnaby’s Crystal Mall, and word’s already spreading fast among the Korean community.
Well, cause there’s already a gigantic line.
Korea Noodle House, helmed by Korean Celebrity Chef & TV Personality Chef Wonil Lee and his brother Johann, soft opened on August 7.
The restaurant takes over the space previously home to S.W. Pepper House, which closed in June after 20 years.
Known in Korea for his television appearances and YouTube cooking channels, Chef Wonil has built a menu that spotlights kalguksu: hand-cut noodles in broth, a dish still quite rare in Vancouver.
This marks his very first noodle restaurant here in North America, whereas he has already opened two kalguksu restaurants in Singapore.
“The dream was simple: bring a humble but beautiful bowl of noodles to everywhere, prepared with the same care and soul you’d find back home,” Johann told Noms Magazine.
“Our noodles are hand-cut, and our broth is made fresh from pork bones and chicken.”
The cozy 40-seat dining room channels the warmth of a traditional Korean house, creating a backdrop for steaming bowls of comfort.
Since opening, the restaurant has implemented a ticketing system to handle the crowds: lunch tickets start at 10:45 a.m. for the first 25 parties, and dinner tickets at 4:15 p.m. for the first 38 parties.
Yep it is that limited for soft opening.
Once tickets are gone, so is your chance for the day, and some menu items have been selling out early.
The menu reads like a love letter to Korean comfort food.
The Double Decker piles tender pork bones high in a spicy pork bone broth. The Very Shroomy Creamy blends perilla and mushroom into a rich, nutty noodle bowl you won’t find elsewhere in the city.
The Chicky Chicky Ginseng takes inspiration from samgyetang, delivering a ginseng-infused chicken broth that’s pure comfort.
Beyond noodles, the menu dives into shareable plates like the Kimchi Crispy pancake, made from Chef Wonil’s special recipe, and the Soy Drunken Seafood platter with scallops, shrimp, and deep umami flavour.
Korea Noodle House is still fine-tuning its offerings based on feedback, making diners part of the menu’s evolution.
Chef Wonil arrived in Vancouver to personally menu test and help with the soft opening.
On their Instagram stories, you’ll see customers starstruck and taking photos with the celebrity chef.
If you want a seat at one of Burnaby’s hottest new restaurants, you’ll need to plan ahead, grab a ticket, and bring your appetite!
And according to our source, Richmond locals may be getting one outpost in the near future.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: Unit 1812 Crystal Mall, Burnaby, BC