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Grill Your Own Korean Food and Sing Karaoke at Bar Opening in TriBeCa

By Irene Plagianos | September 17, 2014 2:45pm | Updated on September 19, 2014 4:40pm
 You will be able to grill your own meat at your table at a new Korean restaurant called Gunbae that is opening in March in TriBeCa.
You will be able to grill your own meat at your table at a new Korean restaurant called Gunbae that is opening in March in TriBeCa.
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Wikimedia Commons/Peterjhpark

TRIBECA — A new restaurant will let patrons cook Korean-style beef at a tabletop grill — and then belt out their favorite karaoke jams.

The two-level Korean barbecue and karaoke bar, called Gunbae — which means “cheers” in Korean — is slated to open in March at 67 Murray St., said co-owner Andy Lau.

“There’s nothing like this below Canal Street,” said Lau, a Korean American who’s lived in the Financial District for about nine years. “We want to bring Korean food, done in our own way, and the karaoke to the area, but in an upscale, comfortable environment.”

The restaurant, which will seat about 70 people, is located on the ground floor and will feature tabletop grills. Customers can cook their own meats, seafood and veggies, or they can have a server prepare the Korean-style food for them.

There will also be a variety of classic Korean dishes, like bibim bop — a rice dish with sauced vegetables and meat served in a stone pot — for those who don’t want to grill.

The karaoke, on the basement level, will be separated into seven private rooms, said Lau, 38. There’s a capacity for about 100 singers in total, but each room will be varied in size.

Bar food and drinks will be served up on the karaoke level.

Lau, a Sunset Park, Brooklyn, native, already owns two eateries Downtown: Korean fried chicken spot Bonchon, on John Street, which is part of chain, and his recently opened Mike's Noodle House at 80 Nassau St. The small noodle shop, which opened just three weeks ago, serves mostly ramen-style noodle dishes.

The owners of Gunbae are hoping for a midnight or 1 a.m. closing time, but they’re still seeking the support of Community Board 1.  At a recent meeting, CB1 Tribeca Committee members were concerned about potential noise from the karaoke bar.

Lau said he’s confident there won’t be an issue from the basement level, but he’s returning to CB1 next month with an audio and soundproofing engineer to discuss any concerns and hopes to gain support for his liquor license application.