Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu is a new restaurant that recently opened in North Providence, and Manager Sean Hu is encouraged by the enthusiasm and support the restaurant has received from diners in the opening weeks.
“I didn’t realize we would be so popular, so quickly,” Hu said, about the rush of business he’s seen early on.
The year-long renovations that went on at the landmark location – the former home of Luca Music – along with pre-opening advertisement, created a lot of buzz for Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu. When the doors finally opened on May 8, people were anxious and excited to try the unique cuisine.
Hu previously managed Jason’s Korean BBQ, located in Lawrence, MA., which has a menu similar to what this new eatery has to offer. The Mineral Spring Avenue location is much bigger, so it presented Hu and the restaurant owners with some challenges and risks that often go along with a larger sized establishment.
The dining room can accommodate up to 150 customers quite comfortably, with a retro-Asian style design that creates a comfortable and quaint dining atmosphere.
Hu sees a lot of opportunity with a dense population center in and around North Providence, and he seeks to introduce people to some new types of delicious food that they might not have eaten before. Hu is confident that once diners sample the tasty cuisine, they will most certainly return to experience even more of their extensive culinary dishes.
Several sites were considered around the state, but there were a number of key factors that ultimately went into choosing North Providence as the home of Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu.
“The location on Mineral Spring Avenue comes with a huge parking lot, so there are plenty of spaces for the customers to park onsite,” Hu said. “People don’t have that convenience in the city, where they would have to drive, and then try to find some place to park. But we are right here, in the neighborhood.”
Food quality and customer service are top priorities, and as such, they employ a large staff to ensure that diners have a great experience, one they will want to tell their family and friends about, and then return with those in their social circle, to experience again.
Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu is an all-you-can-eat style restaurant, so bring your appetite, and what you don’t try on your first visit, will be waiting for you when you go back. They offer a variety of food for all tastes, from children’s classics, such as French fries and chicken nuggets, to steak and snow crab, and a whole lot more. With so many options, Hu hopes that people will try new food they may not have eaten before. Besides continually adding new dishes to the menu, there will be a seasonal menu available soon, which will include dishes that people prefer, at particular times of the year. Also in the works, is having a traditional dining option available for those patrons who may not prefer the all-you-can-eat dining experience. Additionally, take-out ordering is something that is being planned for, in the near future.
While there are lots of changes ahead for Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu that will enhance the dining experience for patrons, their menu is available now.
Eat Eat Korean BBQ & Shabu-Shabu is located at 1530 Mineral Spring Avenue, where Luca Music was formerly located, and is open weekdays, from 4pm to 10pm, Saturday, noon to 11pm, and Sunday, noon to 10pm.
Visit https://www.eatbbqri.com/menu/ to view, for yourself, their extensive and impressive menu (along with photos of their extensive meal options).
