Dons Bogam

I'd never experienced Korean BBQ but my husband thought I'd like it, so we made reservations for our first anniversary while we were in NYC. It was excellent through and through, and the staff was very helpful in regards to my dietary restrictions! I'm allergic to gluten, dairy, and chicken, and everything on the menu was clearly marked. When they brought the sides and toppings, they went over which ones were safe for me and which ones were just for my husband. Everything was phenomenal. I had zero reactions, and if we'd had a microwave in our hotel room you bet we'd have taken a bunch of leftovers back with us!! We ordered way too much food but we wanted to try different things, and to our server's credit, he did tell us we had likely chosen plenty of food. 🤣

#CeliacReviews: Though DB is not dedicated gluten-free, they do have 5-10 celiac-friendly a la carte options in addition to Korean BBQ (marked on menu, but do your due diligence). It’s been tough not eating Korean as a celiac, and this was a huge relief. I called ahead and the knowledgeable server explained japchae (one of my favorites) is a safe choice. I also got a mushroom bibimbap. Both were delicious. Once there, I explained my needs to the waitress and although she did not immediately recognize the term celiac, she understood the need to keep things strictly gluten-free and consistently advised and reassured me afterwards (ex. avoid the flavored soju, here is GF soy sauce). I could eat 4/6 of the banchan (small gratis appetizers for the table), including kimchi! ❤️ Tip for the restaurant: Please ensure servers recognize the term celiac! Overall I felt in good hands and that the staff took my concerns seriously. I did not get glutened as I have other places that swore up and down they knew what to do. Be sure to let them know you have a gluten allergy and they will take good care of you.