Dae Gee Korean BBQ is officially headed to Boston. A lease for the area’s very first restaurant has been signed in Chelmsford.
Located at 83 Parkhurst Road, the new 1,800-square-foot restaurant is set to begin construction in early January with a planned late spring opening. It will be the first of as many as five restaurants the company hopes to open in the metro area via franchising over the next several years.
Though leases have yet to be signed for any of the other locations, Dae Gee founder Joe Kim believes the seven-county region of Bristol, Worcester, Barnstable, Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, and Essex is ideal for the local expansion.
“From the rising popularity of Kpop groups like BTS to the hit Netflix series ‘Squid Games,’ the world is falling in love with everything Korean. Even Korean cuisine is fast becoming an American staple,” says Kim. “Dae Gee is excited about our local expansion plans and we look forward to bringing a different flavor, variety and overall dining experience to the Boston area.”
Founded in 2012, Dae Gee’s rise in popularity began in 2015, when the chain was featured on restaurateur Guy Fieri’s long-running food reality television series, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Fieri said of Dae Gee, “This isn’t just any Korean restaurant. This one’s off the hook!” The moment solidified Dae Gee’s place in the restaurant industry and validated founder Joseph Kim’s desire to expand Korean cuisine.
Today, Dae Gee exposes customers to an interactive experience that allows them to cook their own meat on grill tops at their tables when they dine. Customers have the option to choose from a variety of traditional Korean meats like Galbee (Beef Shot Ribs), Sam Gyeob Sal (Sliced Pork Belly) and Dak Bulgogi (Chicken), which are marinated in DAE GEE’s secret marinade. Each choice meat, as well as fish and vegetarian options, can be enjoyed in a bowl, hot stone pot, or tucked inside lettuce and eaten as a wrap. Entrees can be piled high with your choice of side or mixings, including rice, fresh slaw, spicy sauce and a variety of nine side dishes, such as kimchee, broccoli, radish and fish cakes.
“With a complexity of different flavors and cuisine largely comprised of proteins, vegetables, grains and assorted spices, Korean food is a great choice for the health-conscious and clean-eating consumer,” adds Kim. “From generations of recipes passed down, Dae Gee leaves our customers well fed with culture, humor, and top quality home recipe style Korean food.”
The local announcement comes at a time when Dae Gee looks to continue its aggressive franchise expansion across the United States. Looking ahead, company plans call for opening as many as 5-10 new restaurants nationwide over the next 12 months and at least that many each year thereafter.
Other Dae Gee restaurants are already in various stages of development across Indiana, New Jersey, South Dakota, Texas, and even Mexico.
