My wife and I had dinner here the other night and it was AMAZING. First of all the place has a warm yet dark vibe to it with multiple seating areas on different levels. The service was impeccable. Our waiter (sorry forgot his name) was very helpful as this was our first time doing Korean BBQ. The food was excellent, even though we cooked much of it. One of my beefs with most restaurants nowadays is the noise level. Noise was not an issue here- I was actually have a conversation with my wife without having to yell at her. Pricing may be a bit on the high side, but the food and the experience were well worth it. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Marinated shrimp, pork belly, and ribeye along with the "traditional" side dishes and sauces. - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Super excited to cook my own rib eye. Super excited to have some comfort food while on the road. Checked out MOA : what a disappointment. Quality of food was good...unfortunately quality of service lacked severely from my server. Reception team seemed enthusiastic, but the server was very "over it". After being brought my food- I was not checked on. No eye contact. She was very involved with the 3 other tables in her section.. difference was: they were drinking and eating for four leading to a bigger tip? I had to flag her down for additional rice and then water. Only thing I was happy with was the quality of the RibEye and the perfectly cooked rice. Upon exit: I talked with the manager (I think). Very enthusiastic guy: He offered to comp my meal- but I passed. Their food was good and I was happy to pay for it. the quality of people serving just sucked. I just didn't have the heart to NOT tip for the service I didn't get. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Ribeye and some banchan - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

LAfter getting my steps in Uptown and working up a serious case of the hangries, I walked into MOA specifically because I saw japchae advertised on the sidewalk menu outside. Honestly, smart marketing move. If you're in a high foot-traffic area like Uptown Charlotte, putting your menu outside absolutely works because it pulled me right in. Just keep it updated and current, and people like me will absolutely stop and read it. Now onto the japchae, which is one of my all-time comfort foods. If you've never had it before, these are glossy Korean sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sometimes protein. I ordered mine without protein because I just wanted the noodles to shine on their own. And shine they did. Perfectly cooked, lightly chewy, savory, comforting, and exactly what I was craving. I can never get enough japchae. Ever. I'm so glad MOA keeps it as a staple menu item because I would genuinely be upset if it disappeared. If you're newer to Korean food, japchae is honestly one of the best gateway dishes to start with. It's approachable, flavorful, comforting, and kind of the Korean cousin to pad thai in terms of universal appeal. The restaurant itself has a sleek Uptown vibe, and the location is super walkable if you live or work nearby. Parking Uptown can absolutely be annoying, so if you already happen to be in the area for work, a show, or meetings, it's definitely worth the stop. Charlotte, there's a big delicious world out there, and honestly, one of the nicest surprises about relocating here from Northern California has been discovering how good and diverse the food scene really is. So get out there and eat your way through it. read more

See all

AMAZING FOOD! So worth the price. We had an amazing experience, excellence service, & a great place to spend your birthday! read more

See all

Must try: KBBQ Classic #2, Dakkangjeong, and Rice Lager Beers! Why: I walked by this restaurant countless times and saw it has good reviews so got 3 other friends together to try. We started with Dakkangjeong (boneless fried chicken) and it was a great appetizer - sweet and tangy and even had rice balls that were slightly crispy outside and chewy inside. We ordered KBBQ Classic #2 as recommended by waitress for our party of 4. Had a great selection of meat like wagyu brisket, pork belly, bulgogi, and ribeye. Comes with 2 sides so we tried Kimchi Stew with Pork Belly and Corn Cheese - both delicious! I put some of stew over rice. Also, that corn cheese crispy edges hit the spot. Of course banchan side dishes were plentiful, and our favs were cucumber and kimchi, and got a second round of them. I also tried both rice lagers and the Jeju (South Korea) reminded me of a Blue Moon but better! Entire meal was fantastic experience! Notes: Waitress Ryan was superb - welcoming, friendly, and helpful! She made it a fun experience and provided great recs, and even took our group photo (with many options and angles). Restaurant was clean and spacious. Lots of tables and different seating areas including outdoor seating and a bar. Decor was chic and the ambiance was chill. We had reservations for 5:30pm on a weekday so early dinner before the crowd came. read more

See all

Great service food was delicious!! The place was sooo clean The quality was elite read more

Modern, hip Korean BBQ with options to bbq your own food or choose meals a la carte. We opted out of cooking this time, and ordered our food a la carte. I tried the Seafood Bibimbap with a side of beef and radish soup. While it was yummy, it was on the slightly too fishy tasting side, and I didn't enjoy the baby shrimp. For the cost, I wish they used better shrimp, the seafood just seemed to be slightly off. Everything else we had was wonderful, and I loved my beef and radish soup. I'm excited to go back and try more next time. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Beef and Radish Soup - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

I was on a 2 weeks assignment out of town. I was walking around trying to find a place to eat, and nothing; and I mean nothing was opened! I wonder if this is part of the Bible Belt; it's the only reason to explain why restaurants are closed on Sunday! Sigh! So, I, am resolutely heading back to my hotel, when I, see a line of Asians by a door next to a bank. I got curious and walked towards them. Turns out it is Moa - Korean BBQ Restaurant & Bar. I was greeted with enthusiasm and given a nice seat with the view of the lower section of the restaurant. My husband brought the kiddos to visit, but they left a little earlier. My suggestion did not sit well with my 24 year old, and the 12 year old was busy gaming, so dad took the 4 hour drive back to Atlanta. Thus my lone dinning! The food was quite simply delightful. A welcome tease to my tastebuds!!! Service was excellent! read more

See all

Came here for a nice evening with my wife while on vacation. The food was amazing. Everything was well hooked. The vibe and service is great as well. Will be back. read more

The food, service and ambiance were great ! We ordered the meal for 3-4. All of the cuts of meat were quality meats. Even the sides and soup were delicious. We frequent Korean bbq often. We didn't think this was going to be very authentic tasting restaurant but we were quickly proven wrong . If you're searching for a delicious but upscale Korean bbq establishment this is def a great place to go to. read more

See all

We had a reservation for 7pm on a Friday night which we were able to book same day. Ordered the $450 wagyu Korean bbq combo and was able to swap out the shrimp for bulgogi due to a shellfish allergy. All the meat melted in your mouth and the service was prompt. The table was a little bit tight but overall the ambiance and the food were fabulous. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

Amazing food a true experience. There wasn't an item that wasn't exceptional. Our server Leia was a delight as well. If you want a unique dining experience check this place out! read more

The beef bulgogi was incredibly tender and marinated to absolute perfection. It is a wonderful spot to enjoy high quality food right in the middle of the city. read more

Moa is a favorite. We enjoyed preparing our food on the Korean BBQ. The spicy pork dish was good. Service is good. Ambiance is also very good. The have multiple levels and areas for seating. read more

Came here for date night while visiting. Best ambiance and great service. Food is filling and it is a bit more expensive than typical Korean bbq places but it is worth it. You get to cook the food yourself. read more

See all

You ever go to dinner and end up questioning your own cooking skills? That's what happened to me at MOA Korean BBQ in Uptown. One bite of their charcoal-grilled meat and I realized my home grill exists purely for decoration. This was a hosted meal, but my opinions (and appetite) are very much my own. Parking in Uptown can feel like a game of "Where's Waldo," but MOA makes it easier. They validate parking for two hours on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 5pm. That's enough time to grill, chill, and waddle out satisfied. When you walk in, you'll notice the place has serious drama. Think moody lighting, plush blue chairs, and a steak locker that looks like something out of Jurassic Park, only instead of fossils, it's filled with glorious racks of dry-aged beef. The manager, Andrew, guided us through the entire meal like a KBBQ sommelier. He explained the cuts, showed us how to cook everything, and made sure no one burned a single piece of Wagyu. A true hero. The setup makes it perfect for an interactive date night. You can either show off your grilling skills or pretend to be chill while the staff does it for you. Either way, everyone wins. Our table of three included one vegetarian, and I was impressed with how many options there were. The banchan (small Korean side dishes) covered all the bases, from crisp cucumber salad and sesame broccoli to sweet marinated sprouts and a tangy green onion salad. They even had vegetarian Japchae (glass noodles with veggies) that turned out to be one of my favorites of the night. We started strong with the Sutbul Galbi, grilled over charcoal in the kitchen. It was sweet, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth tender, easily my top pick. The Tomahawk Steak, also cooked over charcoal, made a grand entrance and was carved tableside like a meaty performance art piece. Perfectly medium rare, juicy, and impossible not to photograph. At the table grill, we worked through an all-star lineup: * Marinated Chuck Flap, rich, buttery, and full of flavor. * Wagyu Brisket, thin delicate slices that cooked in seconds and practically dissolved on contact. * Pork Belly, crisp edges, tender center, and that irresistible sizzle soundtrack. * Chicken Bulgogi, moist marinated thighs that were delish. And of course, no KBBQ experience is complete without Corn Cheese, that bubbling mix of sweet corn and melted mozzarella that's basically Korean comfort food in a skillet. We also tried the Crispy Cauliflower tossed in a gochujang glaze, like Korean orange chicken's cooler vegetarian cousin, and the Dakkangjeong, a sweet and sticky version of fried chicken that I could've eaten by the bucket. The Mandu (fried dumplings) looked great too, but I forgot to take one. My tablemates enjoyed them while I sat there in dumpling regret. To wrap things up, we had the Basque Cheesecake with blueberry compote. It was creamy and rich, though I wish it had more of that signature burnt top Basque cheesecakes are known for. This one leaned more New York style, but still delicious. One of my friends ordered the Smoke Signal cocktail, a Lavender Mezcal Paloma from their seasonal drink menu, and swore it was great. They rotate the cocktail menu every so often, which will make you want to come back just to see what's new (okay, and for more galbi). MOA Korean BBQ nailed that fine line between upscale and approachable. Whether you're on a date, celebrating with friends, or just looking to eat your weight in marinated meat, this place delivers. And if you're like me and prefer your steak cooked for you while you watch in admiration, don't worry, they've got you covered. ____ Want more legit Charlotte food spots without the fluff? I made a guide. It's called http://evansfoodguide.com Follow me on IG instagram.com/charlottefoodieguy Go eat something good! Subscribe to my Substack Newsletter to be notified of my newest restaurant reviews and what's happening in the Charlotte food community! https://substack.com/@charlottefoodieguy read more

See all

Stumbled across this restaurant while walking through Charlotte and decided to take my little sister and cousin to dinner. The space is beautifully decorated, and the staff were friendly and informative. We chose the Korean BBQ option, which was $90, and had calamari as an appetizer. Our warm sides were the cheesy corn and their soft eggs. We chose steak, pork belly, and shrimp as our meat selection. The meat was fresh and flavorful, seasoned simply with oil and salt. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the BBQ and I would definitely return when I am back in the Charlotte area. read more

See all

5 stars!!! This food was amazing! I decided to order the Kimchi Korean Pancake and Edamame to start. That pancake was one of the best dishes I've had! It was so good and the sauce was an added touch. I really could've just ordered two of those. I ordered the Cream Curry Udon and that was very good too, good texture and flavor. Good portion sizes for everything. I didn't even have any Korean BBQ but I know if it's anything like what I've already had, it's exceptional. It was a nice vibe in there also, clean atmosphere and fun music. All in all, I highly recommend this place. I'll be back for the BBQ! read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Came here for restaurant week. Galbi (4/5): Tender meat that had a nice, sweet marinade. I prefer LA style though (with the bone). Samgyeopsal (4/5): Pork belly is always great. Small portion size though. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake (4/5): Very rich, but not quite as dense as I like. The cheese flavor was present but subtle. The chocolate crust (usually my favorite part) was not good. Kimchi Jjigae (4/5): I liked how much kimchi was in this. Could've used more meat though. Japchae (4/5): Great flavors, but the noodles were a bit undercooked and brittle. Also would've been better if it had meat in it. Sweet+Spicy Chicken Wings (3/5): This tasted like a Chinese buffet wing (I think because of the msg flavor?) tossed in a spicy sweet and sour sauce. Not bad, but I've had much better Korean fried chicken. Hazelnut Crunch (2/5): I liked the blend of textures with the crunchy bits and the frozen cream, but the flavor was not for me (too sweet and tasted kinda like amaretto). *The banchan sides weren't great RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

See all

5 stars. What a gem in downtown Charlotte! I love Korean bbq and excited to try a new spot for me. The ambiance was clean and inviting. We had fried calamari and rice cakes for appetizers. For the entrees we shared create your own combo and classic 2. Everything was absolutely delicious especially soot bul Galbi (beautiful presentation), pork belly, rice cakes, and American Wagyu Brisket. The dessert yuzu citrus cake was good not overly sweet just right. A must try again while in Charlotte. read more

See all

Popped in for lunch on a random Wednesday. Service and ambiance were on point! Food came out quickly, was hot (but not too hot) and cooked perfectly. Service size was generous. It was so good!! read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Galbi Stone Bowl Bibimbab with beef shortrib. - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I tried to order online and the online ordering system was "turned off". I called to place an order and the hostess said, "let me check to see if we can accept a take out order, we are busy at the moment". She came back and said, "we're not accepting take out orders right now, we are too busy". Really? I'm very disappointed, but there are a lot of other options in the area and I will not be coming back. read more

I made the reservation here on a Wednesday evening through OpenTable for a birthday dinner. When we arrived they did recognize the birthday which was a nice touch. This was our first time here. The ambiance is kinda dark and unimpressive in my opinion. Its expensive to dine here and I was disappointed with our dining experience . There was a large group at a table beside of us that our waitress was more attentive to. 1.All of the tables have the cook top. There is limited room under the table for you to stretch out your legs out because of the built in stove under the table. 2. Our waitress oiled our stove and took the cooking spray to the larger group. Our meats ended up being scorched because she never came back to check on us and we could not adjust the heat settings. We didn't even get to fully cook eveything because the stove turned off automatically before we were done. She didn't check on us until we were ready to go. 3. It took forever for her to come check us out. I did like all of the side small plates of sides, however, they were all cold. I won't ever go back. read more

See all

Wow! Saw this spot on Instagram and put it on our bucket list. Very glad we took the opportunity to try it during our trip. This was my first time experiencing Korean BBQ and our server, Alex, was superb. We chose the create your own combo served with prime ribeye, shrimp, and chicken bulgogi with several sides. Everything was fresh and the meat selections were high quality. We enjoyed the overall experience of cooking everything on the tabletop grill with Alex's preparation and suggested cook time. While everything was good, the cheese corn and radish/beef stew were memorable in terms of unique and highly flavorful dishes. I would highly recommend for a unique date or group dining experience. read more

See all

Got the bibimbap for lunch and the portion size was HUGE. It also comes with some miso soup which I couldn't even finish. The flavor of the bibimbap mixed well together and you can get more gochujang sauce on the side. I love the crispy rice at the bottom of the stone bowl and this one did not disappoint. Service was great! We had two servers--one was training--and they were both super attentive and very helpful with suggestions. The space itself is dim lit and was a nice atmosphere change compared to the harsh sun outside. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Bibimbap - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Very classy and high end KBBQ. It was pretty yummy and great service, but honestly a bit overpriced for an okay amount of food. It was tasty but I've had better KBBQ for cheaper. Still, if you want a classy and interactive experience for a date night, this is a good choice. Otherwise, for a casual meal, not the top of my list. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - 2 person all you can eat - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I wanted to finally try MOA today and braved the cold weather to walk a few blocks for takeout. I ordered the lunch box with beef, rice, dumplings, salad, broccoli, kimchi, and 2 sauces. It comes in a dope takeout box that's makes it easy to carry and eat out of. The boxed lunch was excellent, the beef was so very tender and flavorful and it was very filling and well worth the price. read more

See all

Found this place after a quick search of Korean BBQ options in the area. I was celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, so this is the perfect spot for his favorite meal with an upscale look. The interior looks high end and modern, and it's perfect for special occasions or a date. For appetizers, we started with bugolgi nachos and the Korean fried chicken with soy glaze. Obsessed with the fried chicken. Basically like BonChon but maybe better. For our entree, we went with the $90 combo and upgraded to the wagyu brisket. The food was delicious! High quality meat, and no complaints. The size are so pretty classic so no complaints there. I was a little bit offended that you have to pay for rice though. You're the meal doesn't come with even one bowl of rice, and the bowl that you pay for is relatively small. Yes it's only $1 to add rice, but rice is such a basic part and already pricey meal at a high end place that it shouldn't feel like a luxury to need to add on, at least for the first bowl. Even our server thought it was weird. Service was good, no complaints. At one point, our server asked us to set a timer for the meat on the grill which I thought was weird. I've never been asked to monitor kbbq with a personal timer for the server lol. Even when our timer went off we didn't really know what the expectation was.... were we supposed to yell out for our server? We ended up cooking it just fine on our own but just thought it was odd for the instance that we weren't customers who were capable of cooking it ourselves. The negatives are minor though and I'd still recommend MOA. Those small changes would elevate this to have been a 5-star experience for me! read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - $90 combo with upgrade to wagyu brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

It was a disappointing experience. We went for my fiancé's birthday and during the grill your own the grill went out and the service wasn't there to help. We suspected something was up. We made the most of it but we ended up just having meat cooked on a warm metal plate with no sear. When we communicated it to the server she apologized but there was no effort to make it right. We also did communicate that it was pretty disappointing. If we are paying well over $100 a person for premium meats and the tools to cook it. They have great cuts of meat, but if the cooking equipment is suspect it ruins the experience. I would not recommend and if you did want a similar experience I'd try someplace else. read more

Service and ambiance Is great . Nice spot for celebrating special event or take client. The meat is good but price is bit high ( for someone from LA) Overall nice place for some good Asian food + meat . read more

This place was so nice, everyone was extremely nice. Our server was so helpful, he helped us choose which menu options would be great for the table(party of 6) I believe we choose the premium 1 (I think) We managed to fit EVERYTHING at this table, it was tight but we managed. We definitely had leftovers for the next day. We will definitely be back. read more

See all

All I can say is wow. We ordered the $450 BBQ special. This would have been 5 stars had we not went there for the A5 Wagyu Beef and had them not grill it properly. The cut alone was $220. That's a lot of money to spend and be disappointed. Having said that, the rest of the meal was great! The waiters and waitresses mere very attentive. But should communicate more with each other. One was trying to get grill as hot as they could before throwing the wagyu on, but the other just walked up and threw it on before it reached a high temp. By far the Galbi and Tomahawk steak were the best due to the negligent grilling of the wagyu. My dog is still enjoying the bone. Ambiance was very nice. read more

See all

Best lunch service in Charlotte- healthy filling and server helped us cook. Ambience was dark but classy. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Lunch - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Have been coming here since its opening and it's a hit or miss. Sometimes seating is quick and food is great. Sometimes the food that they cook in the kitchen or outside grill is too charred. Tonight I came in and was told that the table will be ready shortly. So I paid for the vallet parking across the street and parked. After 15 min I asked again what's holding up. He said we are setting up your table now. 10 min goes again and others are getting seated and we are still waiting. If it's going to take 30+ min to seat us then say that. I would have gone across the street if the wait was this long. After waiting more, Now the manager told the host something and the host says he is sorry but there is no table for the party of 5 (our size) and I asked to speak with the manager. The manager uses the host being new as an excuse and says we can be seated in 4 people table or no table. We waited 30+ min after being misled that we can be seated right away as he is setting up the table and still getting an "accommodated seating". I wish they would have told us earlier what's going on or said something if the host made a mistake before I had to go up to the host/manager to inquire then complain. If I didn't complain in the end about misleading us I do believe we would have waited who knows how long. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Setting up the table - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A very elegant Korean dining experience in recognition of my father's birthday. The cuts of meat were great. Service quality was on it as well. Way to make us feel special. read more

The bestie and I were in town to see Beyonce last week. We're a couple of moms with toddlers that wanted to take advantage of being kid free. We both decided that MOA would be a fun place to eat! We started our adventurous evening with. Rickshaw ride to the restaurant. The blue furniture and lighting make for an excellent date or chill night out. We took a chance showing up without a reservation, but we're able to be seated immediately! Our server (whose name escapes me) was sooooo friendly and helpful! He was very knowledgeable about the menu and the process of cooking at the table. We selected the combo#1 option. For $90 we could have e easily fed 4 people with this selection. You get a variety of meats with rice, 6 cold sides, 1 hot side, and seasonings/sauces. The brisket, ribye, bulgogi beef, and kimchi were faves, but the star of the evening for us was the sweet and gooey corn cheese and the picked squash!! The corn cheese is just as it's described. Corn cooked in cheese. You can't go wrong with the salty sweet combo! The pickled squash was so refreshing. They were sweet, tangy, and super crunchy!! We washed it all down with some plum wine! It wasn't too sweet or boozy! It was the perfect compliment to our meal! We decided that our husbands would also enjoy this experience and that we would return here when we're back in town, but also look for similar spots in our local areas!! read more

See all

Had a business lunch here and the ambiance is way nicer than your normal Korean BBQ restaurant. I think it's a great place to take a client if you want something a little more unique while still being professional. read more

Classic Korean BBQ experience. Good variety of meats and cuts to choose from. Traditional side dishes (note the kimchi was very good). Nice selection of beers and drinks to pick from. "Booth seating" works well for 4 cookers/eaters, but the main dining room is quite large and therefore a bit noisy. Like almost all Korean BBQ places, cost per person runs up quickly, but food quality and the fun of doing your own cooking makes it a worthwhile investment of both your time and money. ENJOY read more

Went to lunch at Moa with my co workers. We had a large group and the restaurant had no problem accommodating all ten of us. I got the lunch box with beef bulgolgi and absolutely loved it! Would definitely recommend for a nice lunch. Will definitely be going back to try the korean BBQ dinner. read more

MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - lunch box beef bulgolgi - Barbeque Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Such an amazing and fun dinner experience. We came here for date night and everything was perfect. The staff were nice and friendly. We didn't have reservations and they still accommodated us. The menu was easy to understand and they have a lot of options. We did the build your own option and for $90 we had three meats, four cold sides and two hot sides. All of the cold sides were lettuce or cabbage. The meat was seasoned perfectly and very easy to cook on the grill! read more

See all