A new Korean BBQ restaurant is preparing to open its doors in Victoria, taking over the former MeeT location at the busy corner of Blanshard Street and Hillside Avenue.
OX Korean BBQ will begin a soft opening by reservation in mid-March through the rest of the month, offering guests a modern tabletop grilling experience where diners cook premium meats right at their tables.
The restaurant replaces MeeT on Blanshard, the Vancouver-based plant-forward restaurant that closed last summer after nearly three years in Victoria.
The new concept has been months in the making. Renovations began in September and wrapped up earlier this month, transforming the space into a 126-seat dining room across 25 tables designed specifically for Korean BBQ.
Each of the restaurant’s tables is equipped with its own gas grill and ventilation hood, allowing guests to grill meats at their table while keeping the dining room comfortable.
The project is led by directors Ian Lee, Eric Moon, John Kim, and Eric Na, along with head chef Kuma Woo and executive sous chefs Dean Kim and Brian Nguyen.
The front-of-house team is managed by Sasha Dmytiieva.
Moon is also behind Victoria Pocha on Yates Street, a Korean fusion restaurant known for dishes like jokbal, spicy rice cakes, and army stew.
According to the team behind OX Korean BBQ, bringing Korean BBQ to Victoria was about more than introducing a new restaurant concept.
“Korean cuisine is not just food — it’s culture, community, and connection,” the team said. “Around the grill, friends, families, and couples share laughter, conversation, and memories.”
Guests can expect premium meats as part of an extensive BBQ course menu, along with traditional Korean dishes such as galbitang (beef short rib soup), house-made naengmyeon cold noodles, and traditional Korean pot rice — a dish the team says is being introduced to Victoria for the first time.
The team also travelled to Korea multiple times during the buildout to source furniture, dishware, and décor while studying Korean culinary traditions to help shape the menu and dining experience.
The soft opening will run by reservation only from mid-March through the end of the month, with seating available from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The restaurant has already seen strong early interest, with reservations nearly full for the first week.
More information can be found on their website or on Instagram.
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