Sept. 29, 2022

Diners will be able to grill their own Korean barbecue at the table when a new restaurant opens next year in Sioux Falls.

Johnny Phung, who owns two Envy Nails & Spa salons in the city, has signed a franchise agreement with Denver-based Dae Gee Korean BBQ, the restaurant chain said in a news release.

Phung hasn’t signed a lease yet, but he expects to open the restaurant early next year on the city’s west side.

“From generations of recipes passed down, Dae Gee leaves its customers well fed with culture, humor and top-quality, home recipe-style Korean food,” Phung said.

Dae Gee was founded in 2012 by Joseph Kim, and its rise in popularity began in 2015 when it was featured on Guy Fieri’s TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Customers at Dae Gee, which means “pig” in Korean, can choose from a variety of traditional marinated Korean meats such as sam gyeob sal, or sliced pork belly; galbee, which are beef short ribs; and dak bulgogi, or chicken. Meat, fish and vegetarian options can be enjoyed in a bowl, hot stone pot or tucked inside lettuce and eaten as a wrap. Entrees can be piled high with other ingredients such as rice, kimchee, broccoli, radish and fish cakes.

“I was searching for an emerging franchise concept to join, and Dae Gee’s dynamic food and exceptional dining experience jumped out at me,” Phung said. “With a complexity of different flavors and cuisine largely comprised of proteins, vegetables, grains and assorted spices, Korean food is a great choice for the health-conscious and clean-eating consumer. And the trend shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. I’m eager to bring a different flavor, variety and overall dining experience to Sioux Falls.”

Dae Gee, which has five corporate-owned restaurants in Colorado, expects to open as many as 10 restaurants over the next 12 months and at least that many each year thereafter. Earlier this year, the chain signed its first franchise agreement for the development of two restaurants in Amarillo, Texas.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Johnny to the Dae Gee family and look forward to opening our first South Dakota restaurant,” Kim said. “We’re excited to expand into this new market and are dedicated to Dae Gee’s success and future growth in the region.”

Editor’s note: The article has been updated since it was first published to correct the expected location of the future restaurant to the west side of Sioux Falls. Incorrect information was provided initially in the news release.