It was the spot with the neon lights and the slightly-too-loud music where you’d invariably end up smelling like woodsmoke and galbi. For nearly a decade, Char Korean Grill Atlanta (officially Char Korean Bar & Grill) stood as the gatekeeper of cool in Inman Quarter. If you lived "ITP"—inside the perimeter—and didn't feel like trekking thirty minutes up to Duluth for authentic BBQ, Char was the compromise. It wasn't just a restaurant; it was a vibe. But honestly, things changed.
The doors officially closed on May 12, 2025.
It’s weird to think about Inman Park without it. When Richard Tang first opened the place back in September 2016, it was a bit of a middle finger to the traditional, sometimes stuffy dining scene. It had these "10 Char Commandments" on a chalkboard, including gems like "Political correctness is not part of our policy." There were caricatures of North Korean leaders in the bathrooms and murals of the Gumiho—the nine-tailed fox—on the walls. It was irreverent. It was fun.
The Meat of the Matter: Why People Loved It
Most folks came for the tabletop experience. Unlike the massive, sprawling halls on Buford Highway, Char felt intimate, almost industrial-chic. You sat around these gas-powered grills with steampunk-style vents hanging from the ceiling.
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The menu was divided into sections that were, let’s say, "tongue-in-cheek." You had the Kim Jong-Un and Kim Jong-Nam combos. If you were feeling fancy, you’d drop some cash on the 28-day-aged Black Angus beef. Their marinated short rib was usually the star, though the pork belly had a loyal following.
People often forget that Char did the "small plates" thing better than most. The Kimchi Deviled Eggs were a staple. So was the Korean Street Corn, loaded with spicy aioli and cotija cheese. It was the kind of food that made sense after two or three Soju cocktails.
Why Char Korean Grill Atlanta Closed Its Doors
You might wonder why a place that always seemed packed would just vanish. Owner Richard Tang was pretty transparent about it. Basically, it was a perfect storm of "neighborhood evolution" and post-pandemic economics.
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- Parking Nightmares: This is the big one. If you’ve been to Inman Quarter lately, you know the struggle. Tang mentioned that his employees were facing $30-a-day parking fees. When your staff can't afford to park where they work, the business model starts to crack.
- Shrinking Margins: Restaurant margins are notoriously thin—usually around 10 percent. Between rising labor costs and the price of premium beef skyrocketing, the math just didn't work anymore.
- The Post-2020 Slump: While everyone went back to eating out, the "vibe" changed. The costs of maintaining a high-energy bar and grill in a high-rent district like Inman Park became unsustainable.
It’s a bit of a bummer. Char was one of the first big names to anchor the Inman Quarter development alongside Bartaco. Now, that corner feels a little quieter.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Experience
There was a common misconception that Char was just "diluted" Korean food for white people. That’s kinda unfair. While it definitely catered to the "American-style service" crowd, the kitchen—led for a long time by Chef Shaun Byun—was rooted in real tradition. Byun used recipes from his grandmother. The banchan (those little side dishes) were fresh, even if they were served a la carte instead of being unlimited like at the spots in Gwinnett.
Sure, you paid a premium. You weren't just paying for the meat; you were paying for the fact that you didn't have to drive 20 miles north and back. You were paying for the craft cocktails and the Brandon Sadler murals.
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Where to Go Now That Char is Gone
If you’re still craving that specific mix of upscale atmosphere and Korean flavors, you’ve got a few options, though none are a carbon copy of Char.
Girl Diver is Tang’s other venture over in Reynoldstown. It’s more focused on Asian seafood and doesn’t have the tabletop grills, but the energy is similar. If you absolutely need the grill-it-yourself experience without leaving the city, you might look toward Wagyu House or make the inevitable pilgrimage to Duluth or Doraville for the heavy hitters like 770 or Heirloom Market (though Heirloom is more of a fusion-to-go spot).
Honestly, the era of the "edgy" ITP Korean BBQ might be on pause for a minute. The overhead is just too high right now.
What to Do Next
- Check out Girl Diver: If you miss the specific vibe Richard Tang creates, head to 955 Memorial Dr SE. It’s got that same cool, moody aesthetic.
- Explore Doraville: If the meat was what you actually cared about, take the drive to Buford Highway. Places like So Kong Dong or Choong Man Chicken offer a more traditional (and often cheaper) experience.
- Support Local Inman Park Spots: The neighborhood is changing fast. If you have a favorite local haunt still standing in Inman Quarter, go eat there this week.