Fresh on the Scene: Breakers Korean Bar-B-Q, Masti, and more

Plus three other Korean barbecue joints to try
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Breakers Korean
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Breakers Korean Bar-B-Q
Forget the loud music, cramped seating, and smoky interior you might expect from a Korean barbecue restaurant; the luxurious Breakers is built out with roomy white booths, slick black tables, and a near-perfect ventilation system. Tender marinated steak, beef short ribs, pork ribs, and chicken thighs are grilled in the kitchen over charcoal, then finished at the table by the well-trained servers. Also on the menu: scallops, shrimp, and tofu, served with vegetable wraps and sauces. Cocktails are a mess, but the quality service is welcome. 3505 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth, 770-946-1000 

Masti
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Masti
Masti means “fun” in Hindi, which is exactly what you’ll get out of this colorful restaurant in Toco Hills shopping plaza. The kitchen pulls off wonderful tricks with Indian street food, combining traditional flavors and modern presentations: fish and chips, skinny okra fries, “tacos” (uttapam pancakes folded over spicy ground chicken, pictured), and lemonade (including one made with green mango). 2945 North Druid Hills Road, 470-236-2784 

Oddbird
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Oddbird
Fried chicken, pies, and booze are the stars at this restaurant-within-a-restaurant out of West Egg Cafe. For a pop-up that’s only open Wednesday through Saturday, the food shows serious zeal. Chicken (regular, hot, or “too hot”) comes fried in a thin, crisp batter; biscuits, buns, and waffles are big and fresh. Sides include a destination-worthy mac and cheese topped with rosemary breadcrumbs. Save room for a slice of lemon meringue pie. 1100 Howell Mill Road, 404-872-3973  

Zafron
Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Zafron
One of the rules of the universe is that there’s no such thing as a bad Persian restaurant. The former Flavor, a Sandy Springs cafe serving mostly desserts, has changed its name, upped its game, and still managed to stay affordable—now as a place to enjoy dizzyingly good kebabs over rice (pictured). Bring a group to share aromatic stews and specialties such as koobideh (minced meat) wraps made with flatbread, cabbage rolls in onion sauce, and lamb shanks stewed with rhubarb. 236 Johnson Ferry Road, 404-255-7402
—Christiane Lauterbach

Korean Cookout
Just as Breakers brings a touch of glam to Korean barbecue, other mainstays have their own calling cards.

  • Iron Age is the default for hungry masses (particularly students) on a budget.
  • Honey Pig excels at pork belly.
  • Cho Won Buffet caters to the exceptionally hungry, and 678 Korean BBQ offers a more intimate and organized grilling experience (short ribs are a must).

—Evan Mah

This article originally appeared in our July 2015 issue. 

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