Our story
At GEN, the grill sits at the center of every table, and everyone gets a turn at the tongs. Premium meats sizzle, banchan gets passed around, and the conversation keeps going between rounds. It's Korean BBQ made for sharing, and the best part is who you share it with.
The GEN story
Early days · Chapter 01
GEN began in Tustin in September 2011, when Jae Chang opened the very first location with a simple idea: great meat, a hot grill, and a table full of people. Chang soon teamed up with David Kim, a fellow restaurant veteran, and together they turned one busy dining room into a place people kept coming back to.
Growing together · Chapter 02
Word spread fast. Lines stretched out the door as guests waited for their turn at the grill, and GEN quickly became one of the most talked-about names in Korean BBQ. New locations followed one after another, and the brand grew from a single table in Tustin into a fast-expanding family of restaurants.
Around the table · Chapter 03
Today, GEN is a community staple, the place people pick for birthdays, reunions, team dinners, and nights out with friends. As the tables kept filling, the menu grew too, with new cuts, new flavors, and Korean-American favorites made for sharing.
What comes next · Chapter 04
Now GEN is bringing the flavors guests love beyond the restaurant. Our growing line of GEN products, starting with our marinated meats, is landing in grocery stores nationwide, so anyone can bring the GEN table home.
Check out our products!Scroll sideways or use the arrows to explore
At the center
The experience unfolds together: food on the grill, dishes across the table, and time shared at your own pace.
Pull up a chair