If you have never sat around a table with your friends, grilling your own meat while everyone argues about who is overcooking the beef, you may be missing one of the most entertaining dining experiences in Abuja.
I recently visited Krave Korean Hotpot BBQ, and this time I wasn’t there for their popular hotpot. I came specifically to try the Korean BBQ experience.
And I have to say, this is one restaurant where dinner becomes an actual activity.
Krave has also moved from its former location around Los Angeles Mall. Its current listing places the restaurant at 1 Asamaukese Street, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Older online guides still show the previous Ahmadu Bello Way address, so keep that in mind when looking for directions.
If you’re looking for Korean food in Abuja, particularly somewhere suitable for a group outing, date night or family dinner, here’s what my experience at the new Krave was like.
First, What Exactly Is Korean BBQ?
The easiest way I can describe Korean BBQ is this: you cook your food yourself, right at your table.
If you’ve tried Krave’s hotpot before, the concept will feel familiar.
With hotpot, you have a pot of broth in the middle of the table and cook meat, seafood, vegetables and other ingredients inside it.
Korean BBQ changes the cooking method.
Instead of dropping everything into broth, you place your meat directly onto a hot tabletop grill and cook it while you eat.
Krave’s own social media shows this interactive style, including meat being grilled and cut into bite-sized portions directly at the table.
That’s what makes the experience so enjoyable with a group.
Nobody is simply sitting around waiting for a plate of food to arrive. Everyone gets involved.
Someone is turning the meat.
Someone else is watching the grill.
Another person is trying to decide whether the meat is actually ready.
Before long, dinner becomes part meal, part activity.
We Ordered the Small Family Platter
For our Korean BBQ experience, we ordered the small family platter.
I think ordering a platter makes the most sense if you’re visiting with friends or family because Korean BBQ is really designed around sharing.
Once the grill gets going, you cook the different pieces of meat gradually rather than preparing everything at once.
You can grill a few pieces, eat them while they’re hot, then put another batch on.
It makes the meal slower and more social than simply ordering individual plates.
Krave has long built its menu around both hotpot and tabletop Korean BBQ, with previous menu coverage showing options ranging from marinated beef and chicken to lamb, seafood and premium beef cuts.
But we definitely didn’t stop at the BBQ platter.
What Else Did We Eat at Krave?
We ended up trying several things from the menu, including:
Lobster ginger noodles, tempura rolls, Korean buns and firecracker rice.
Let me start with the Korean buns.
They were genuinely good.
They’re one of those dishes you might initially order as an extra and then realise halfway through the meal that you’re glad you did.
But my favourite dish of the entire visit was easily the firecracker rice.
And that recommendation comes with a warning.
The firecracker rice has a serious kick.
If you love spicy food, you’ll probably understand why I enjoyed it so much. There’s enough heat to make the dish memorable without losing the flavour underneath.
However, if you’re someone who starts sweating after one spoon of pepper, proceed carefully.
I repeat: carefully.
Krave has also been expanding the restaurant’s wider Asian menu beyond just BBQ and hotpot. Recent menu promotions have featured items including dumplings, prawns, crab sticks and chicken dishes alongside its Korean offerings.
The Lobster Ginger Noodles Are Worth Checking Out
Another dish that stood out was the lobster ginger noodles.
Krave has promoted its lobster ginger noodle dish publicly as one of its menu highlights, combining lobster with a pronounced ginger flavour.
It’s a good option to add to the table when you’re visiting as a group because Korean BBQ doesn’t necessarily have to be the entire meal.
That’s actually one of the things I appreciated about Krave.
You can make the BBQ the centre of the experience while ordering different dishes around it for everyone to share.
What About the Drinks?
We tried three drinks:
Mango lemonade, brown sugar boba and blueberry matcha.
Now, anyone who knows me knows I can be extremely picky when it comes to matcha.
There are places where one sip immediately tells you the matcha isn’t for you.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here.
The blueberry matcha at Krave was actually really good.
The brown sugar boba is another natural choice considering the type of Asian dining experience Krave is creating, while the mango lemonade works well if you want something more familiar alongside the spicy food.
And considering how much heat was coming from that firecracker rice, having a cold drink nearby was definitely useful.
I Think Krave Works Best as a Group Experience
You can obviously visit Krave as a couple, but I think the restaurant becomes even more interesting when you come with a group.
Imagine four or five friends around one table.
You’ve ordered a platter.
The meat is sizzling.
Someone is handling the grill while everyone else is talking.
There are Korean buns and noodles going around the table.
Someone underestimated the firecracker rice and is now desperately reaching for their drink.
That’s the Krave experience.
It turns a normal dinner into something you actually participate in.
This is why I think it works particularly well for birthday dinners, date nights, family outings, girls’ nights, group hangouts or simply trying something different in Abuja.
Is Krave Expensive?
This isn’t really positioned as a budget restaurant.
Krave’s current business listing places it in roughly the ₦50,000–₦60,000 price category, although your actual bill will naturally depend on how many people are dining, the platter you select, drinks and the number of additional dishes ordered.
The good thing about visiting with a group is that much of the experience revolves around shared platters and shared sides.
I’d recommend checking the current menu or asking for prices before ordering if you’re working with a fixed budget, particularly because restaurant prices can change.
Where Is Krave Korean BBQ in Abuja?
Krave’s new location is:
Krave Korean Hotpot BBQ
1 Asamaukese Street
Wuse Zone 2, Abuja
The restaurant’s current listing also provides the contact number 0904 132 9162.
This is important because some older articles and search results still point to Krave’s previous location at Los Angeles Mall along Ahmadu Bello Way.
So if you’ve visited Krave before, don’t automatically drive back to the old location.
Could Krave Be the Best Korean BBQ in Abuja?
Calling any restaurant the absolute “best” is always subjective.
But if we’re talking specifically about a fun Korean BBQ experience in Abuja, Krave deserves to be in that conversation.
I like that you’re not simply going there to eat.
The tabletop grilling makes the experience interactive, the platters encourage sharing, and there are enough additional dishes and drinks to turn it into a proper evening out.
For me, the firecracker rice was the standout dish, while the Korean buns were another surprise favourite. And yes, I’d order the blueberry matcha again.
Would I return for the Korean BBQ experience?
Absolutely.
And I’d probably go with a group again because that’s where I think Krave really shines.
If you and your friends have been repeatedly asking the dreaded “where should we go in Abuja this weekend?” question, send them this article and suggest Korean BBQ.
You might have just found your next dinner plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Krave Korean BBQ Abuja
Where is Krave Korean BBQ located in Abuja?
Krave Korean Hotpot BBQ is currently listed at 1 Asamaukese Street, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.
Did Krave Abuja move?
Yes. Older online coverage lists Krave at Los Angeles Mall along Ahmadu Bello Way, while its current business listing shows 1 Asamaukese Street, Zone 2.
What kind of food does Krave serve?
Krave specialises in interactive Korean BBQ and hotpot, alongside other Asian dishes. Its publicly featured offerings have included grilled meats, seafood, noodles, dumplings and other Korean dishes.
Can you cook your own food at Krave?
Yes. That’s a major part of the experience. With Korean BBQ, meat is grilled directly at your table, while the hotpot experience allows guests to cook ingredients inside a shared pot of broth.
Is Krave good for groups?
I think that’s actually one of the best ways to experience it. Order a platter, share several side dishes and let everyone participate in the grilling.
What did I enjoy most at Krave?
My favourite was the firecracker rice, although it is quite spicy. I also really enjoyed the Korean buns and blueberry matcha.
What should I order at Krave Abuja?
If you’re visiting for the Korean BBQ experience, I’d start with a BBQ platter and add a few dishes for everyone to share. Based on my visit, the firecracker rice, Korean buns, lobster ginger noodles and tempura rolls are worth considering.
Is Krave suitable for a date in Abuja?
Yes. The interactive tabletop cooking gives you something to do together rather than simply sitting across from each other waiting for food, which makes it a particularly interesting option for a casual or adventurous date night.
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