Korean BBQ brand set to open first NC location, and it’s looking to the Triangle

A Denver-based Korean BBQ chain has huge plans for North Carolina.

Dae Gee Korean Barbecue is set to open its first East Coast location in Wilson , but has plans for nearly a dozen locations in the Triangle and another five in the Triad .

Started in 2012 with its first Denver location, Dae Gee caught a glimpse of the national spotlight with an appearance on the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives,” blessed by the pope of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri.

The brand’s first North Carolina location is also its farthest venture east, following expansion plans into Indiana and Mexico. The Wilson location is owned by Anthony Ngoc Vu and Minh Mai.

A company spokesperson said that a franchisee hasn’t been signed for the Raleigh or Greensboro markets yet.

“As two of the most diverse metropolitan markets in the nation, the Triangle and Triad are consistently known for their flourishing economic growth and development opportunities,” said Dae Gee founder and CEO Joseph Kim in a news release. “We’re eager to bring a different flavor, variety and overall dining experience to the region, and give our customers a chance to fill up, indulge in eccentric flavors, and experience diverse dishes.”

The Dae Gee menu includes Korean BBQ signatures like bulgogi and pork belly, kimchi pancakes and fried chicken wings.

The brand seems poised for a rapid expansion, looking to open as many as 10 new locations in the next year. North Carolina’s first Dae Gee will be particularly large, at more than 8,000 square feet in Wilson.

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