{"id":197689,"date":"2026-09-05T23:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T23:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197689\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T23:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T23:12:07","slug":"first-look-inside-hwaro-torontos-new-premium-korean-bbq-steakhouse-visited-by-bts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197689\/","title":{"rendered":"First Look: Inside HWARO, Toronto\u2019s new premium Korean BBQ steakhouse visited by BTS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Add <\/a> <\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s Korean BBQ<\/a> scene is getting a serious upgrade, and one of the city\u2019s newest restaurants already has a celebrity connection most openings could only dream of.<\/p>\n

Located at 332 Yonge Street near Yonge-Dundas Square, HWARO<\/a> is a sprawling new premium Korean BBQ steakhouse and sister concept to Daldongnae<\/a>. Ahead of its grand opening, View the VIBE popped in for a first look during the restaurant\u2019s soft opening, getting an early taste of the menu, service and impressive new space.<\/p>\n

But we weren\u2019t exactly the first VIPs through the door.<\/p>\n

Before HWARO had even entered its soft-opening phase, the restaurant reportedly welcomed its very first diners: members of BTS, who visited during the group\u2019s Toronto tour stop in August 2026 for a private pre-opening dinner.<\/p>\n

During our visit, we even had the chance to sit in the very booth the group reportedly occupied.<\/p>\n

Yes, BTS fans, you may want to remember that table.<\/p>\n

\"HWARO<\/a>Photos: Courtesy of HWARO Instagram reposted from BTS. The BTS connection <\/p>\n

HWARO may be brand new, but its BTS connection began before the restaurant had even soft opened.<\/p>\n

During BTS\u2019s Toronto tour stop in August 2026, members of the group reportedly became HWARO\u2019s first-ever diners, visiting the restaurant for an exclusive pre-opening meal before the public had been through the doors.<\/p>\n

Posts surrounding the visit have identified their selections as Chef\u2019s Selects Beef, Pork Tomahawk, Perilla Oil Noodles and Prime Beef Tartare.<\/p>\n

The connection isn\u2019t entirely out of left field. HWARO is the sister concept to Daldongnae, the popular Korean BBQ brand with several locations around the GTA that has also become known for welcoming BTS during previous visits to Toronto.<\/p>\n

According to a Bangtan Bros Facebook post, HWARO\u2019s general manager Leo, who previously headed up a Daldongnae location, reportedly opened the restaurant exclusively for BTS members ahead of its public debut and invited them in for a tasting menu.<\/p>\n

Where Daldongnae delivers a more casual and traditional Korean BBQ experience, HWARO takes the concept decidedly upmarket.<\/p>\n

Think Korean BBQ meets premium steakhouse.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Photo: Steven Branco for View the VIBE The menu <\/p>\n

From the pricing to the meat program, HWARO is clearly positioning itself somewhere between a Korean BBQ restaurant and a modern steakhouse.<\/p>\n

Premium beef, Wagyu and pork dominate the barbecue selection, with diners able to order \u00e0 la carte or hand over some of the decision-making to the restaurant with one of its curated set experiences.<\/p>\n

For groups, the Butcher\u2019s Mix is $195 and designed for three to five people, offering a selection of meats alongside Korean accompaniments.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s HWARO\u2019s Table, with two more structured experiences. The Butcher\u2019s Set is $78 per person, while the more premium Signature Set is $110 per person. The biggest differences come down to the meat selections, with the Signature Set featuring an elevated lineup alongside additional accompaniments.<\/p>\n

\"\"The menu at HWARO Toronto Korean BBQ Steakhouse. (Photo: Steven Branco) <\/p>\n

Those who would rather build their own barbecue can head straight for the \u00e0 la carte menu, with a substantial selection of premium cuts available individually.<\/p>\n

And while meat is unquestionably the star of the show, the rest of the menu isn\u2019t an afterthought.<\/p>\n

\"HwaroA variety of Korean classic side dishes served (I believe they said a total of 18) (Photo: Steven Branco for View the VIBE) <\/p>\n

There\u2019s an assortment of Korean classics and shareables spanning salads and jeon to beef tartare, noodles, bibimbap, stews and kettle rice. Seafood isn\u2019t a major focus here, although options like a spicy squid jeon make an appearance. HWARO is very clearly built around its premium grilled meats.<\/p>\n

During our first look, our group of three went for the $195 Butcher\u2019s Mix, adding a jeon and cold noodles. Between the barbecue, banchan and accompaniments, it was more than enough.<\/p>\n

Our advice? Don\u2019t over-order right out of the gate.<\/p>\n

The table fills up quickly, particularly when ordering one of the sets, and there are already plenty of traditional Korean side dishes and accompaniments coming your way. Start with your barbecue selection, see what lands on the table and add more later if you need it.<\/p>\n

\"ServerServer grilling up the meats for us at Hwaro Korean BBQ SteakHouse Toronto. (Photo: Steven Branco) The service <\/p>\n

Premium ingredients may get most of the attention, but HWARO\u2019s service is arguably what pushes the restaurant into a different category.<\/p>\n

You really don\u2019t have to lift a finger.<\/p>\n

The team brings out the dishes, pours your drinks, keeps your water topped up and, most importantly, grills the meat for you at the table.<\/p>\n

No appointing someone in the group as grill master. No debating whether that premium cut needs another minute. And no forgetting something over the heat because the conversation got a little too good.<\/p>\n

The servers take care of it.<\/p>\n

It creates an interesting middle ground between the interactive, communal experience people love about Korean BBQ and the attentive hospitality you\u2019d expect from a premium steakhouse. You still get the sights, sounds and aromas of the tabletop grill, but your only real job is deciding what to eat next.<\/p>\n

At the time of View the VIBE\u2019s soft-opening visit, HWARO was still awaiting its liquor licence and was not yet serving alcohol. The team told us it was actively pursuing the licence and expected it to be in place around the grand opening or shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n

Once the bar program comes online, it should round out the premium dining experience even further.<\/p>\n

\"ThePhotos: Steven Branco The design <\/p>\n

If the menu is premium, the room certainly follows suit.<\/p>\n

First things first: HWARO is MASSIVE.<\/p>\n

The expansive restaurant has been designed to accommodate everything from intimate dinners and date nights to considerably larger groups. Yet despite its size, it doesn\u2019t feel like one enormous dining hall.<\/p>\n

Marble surfaces, gold detailing, elevated plateware and flatware, lush greenery and warm finishes give the space a much more polished aesthetic than your typical neighbourhood Korean BBQ spot. Playful touches, including neon signage, keep it from becoming overly formal.<\/p>\n

The attention to detail carries throughout the restaurant. Even the trip to the washrooms gets its own moment, taking guests through a lush, greenery-filled area before reaching an expansive modern space with sinks featuring integrated Dyson hand dryers.<\/p>\n

They went all out.<\/p>\n

The barbecue setup has been thoughtfully incorporated into the design too. Each dining table has its own dedicated lighting to keep the grill and food properly illuminated, along with an integrated fire-safety water spout.<\/p>\n

One of the smartest design choices, however, might be the individual bar seating.<\/p>\n

Each solo seat has its own grill, making it possible to come in for Korean BBQ alone without occupying an entire table or sacrificing the full experience. Servers can still attend to your grill and cook your meats while you dine.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something we rarely see at Korean BBQ restaurants in Toronto and makes a lot of sense given HWARO\u2019s downtown location, surrounded by Toronto Metropolitan University, offices, hotels, shopping and entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorPhoto: Steven Branco The VIBE <\/p>\n

This may actually be where HWARO surprised us most.<\/p>\n

Large restaurants can sometimes struggle to maintain a vibe. Once a dining room reaches a certain size, it can easily become cavernous when it isn\u2019t completely full.<\/p>\n

HWARO manages to avoid that.<\/p>\n

Despite there being a relatively small group of diners in the restaurant during our soft-opening visit, the space still felt intimate and energetic. The layout allows different areas of the restaurant to feel somewhat compartmentalized, meaning HWARO should be able to maintain its atmosphere whether it\u2019s operating at partial capacity or completely packed.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the music.<\/p>\n

The volume was pretty much perfect: loud enough that you actually hear and feel the music, but never so loud that you have to raise your voice to talk across the table.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/a> \"\" <\/a> <\/p>\n

You can hear the general buzz of the people dining around you without actually hearing their conversations.<\/p>\n

In our books, that\u2019s the perfect restaurant vibe.<\/p>\n

Lighting helps tremendously. The restaurant is dim and moody, with carefully placed accent lighting giving the room warmth, while those dedicated lights above each grill keep the food and cooking surface properly illuminated.<\/p>\n

The result is upscale without feeling stuffy, intimate without being quiet and energetic without becoming overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Moody without being dark, energetic without being loud, and big without ever really feeling too big.<\/p>\n

Perfection.<\/p>\n

\"StevenPhoto: Steven Branco The verdict <\/p>\n

Toronto certainly isn\u2019t lacking Korean BBQ, but premium Korean BBQ steakhouses remain a much smaller category, and it\u2019s exciting to see another restaurant pushing the experience in that direction.<\/p>\n

HWARO makes a compelling addition.<\/p>\n

The premium meat selection gives it steakhouse credibility, while the banchan, shareables and Korean classics keep the experience rooted in the traditions that make Korean BBQ so much fun in the first place.<\/p>\n

Then HWARO layers on the extras: attentive tableside service, servers handling the grill, premium finishes, moody lighting, a sprawling yet cleverly divided dining room and even dedicated seating for solo diners.<\/p>\n

And, of course, there\u2019s that BTS connection.<\/p>\n

Having BTS as your first-ever diners before you\u2019ve even soft opened is one hell of a way to enter Toronto\u2019s restaurant scene.<\/p>\n

The BTS booth will undoubtedly get fans through the door, and the celebrity connection gives HWARO a story most new restaurants simply can\u2019t manufacture. But after getting our own first look, the bigger takeaway is that there\u2019s a legitimate premium dining experience behind the hype.<\/p>\n

The BTS connection might get people through the door, but the premium Korean BBQ experience gives them plenty of reasons to come back.<\/p>\n

Save room for dessert.<\/p>\n

\"ExteriorPhoto: Steven Branco for View the VIBE <\/p>\n

HWARO Korean BBQ
332 Yonge Street, Toronto
North of Yonge & Dundas, at Yonge and Gerard
Grand opening week of Sept 7, 2026<\/p>\n

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