The Seoul of the South
Gogiya
If you are up in the Suwanee area, there are no shortages of good Korean restaurants, but until recently most of the BBQ establishments were concentrated around the Gwinnett Place area. Recent additions of Iron Guys and 770 BBQ provide some options and newcomer Gogiya next to the H-Mart on Lawrenceville Suwannee Road is a welcome addition. Located next door to the aforementioned Iron Guys, Gogiya provides a throwback option to the traditional BBQ places that I rmember growing up in Seoul.
The interior is a neat and more contemporary, but the menu boasts good old fashioned options from the beef and pork combos to all you can eat and a la carte options. BBQ is king as soon as you smell the charcoal and grilled meats, but unlike some other restaurants, Gogiya has an extensive menu for lunch and dinner that provide some great homestyle dishes including favorites such as beef short rib soup and kimchi stew. There are even more options starting at $5.99 for lunch which easily makes this a must visit stop any day of the week.
The sides dishes are also very traditional and perfect with your meal. The staff is very friendly and particularly cheerful. You genuinely feel welcomed by everyone from the server to the manager and owner who make their rounds from table to table when time permits. After trying his hands at a few smaller food establishments around metro Atlanta, the owner decided to try his hand at the ever growing popular BBQ business. Gogiya is a great addition to the Seoul of the South, and if you ever have a chance to visit, you will definitely enjoy the taste of a old school Korean BBQ place. Nothing too fancy and no frills, just really good food and great people.
