The One Korean BBQ + Bar

 

Located at 5820 Samet Drive in High Point’s Palladium Shopping Center, The One offers Korean cuisine for lunch and dinner. Online reservations are available as is online ordering through DoorDash. There is a drinks menu featuring sake, soju, and cocktails.

While its name may sound presumptuous, you can’t accuse The One of being misleading: Korean BBQ with table grills isn’t terribly common around these parts. For those who have had it elsewhere, The One may not bowl you over, especially at its price point. But for those who haven’t, it offers more than just a taste of something different.

Housed in a spacious, nicely appointed building, The One is clean and comfortable (with surprisingly supportive chairs). The menu includes all-you-can-eat BBQ, BBQ combos, meats a la carte, and an assortment of prepared dishes (apps, soups/stews, bibimbap, etc.).  My wife and I opted for the AYCE, and our server, Cody, explained how everything works: order up to three meats at a time, sides and banchan will be provided for the table, help yourself to the ramen bar. Cody was attentive and friendly throughout the meal, and The One seemed well-staffed and efficiently run.

While there were a few curious omissions (i.e. no galbi though there were pork ribs) and several dishes we hadn’t the stomach for, The One’s menu still left us with plenty of options. Across several rounds, we got to try the spicy marinated brisket, thin-sliced beef belly, garlic pork belly, spicy bulgogi, spicy pork bulgogi, and sweet & spicy pork ribs. They came with rice, vegetables for grilling, cheese corn, bean paste soup, and an assortment of sauces. We ended up passing on the ramen bar as it featured instant packs, and we’re spoiled by the real thing.

The food was, by and large, delicious. I would hesitate to call the “spicy” bulgogis actually spicy, but they were well-sauced, tender, and flavorful. The soup, on the other hand, had a welcome kick to it, and a few of the banchan provided a bit of heat as well. I didn’t run into anything that I would hesitate to reorder.

As with sushi, AYCE commands a premium, and The One’s version was no exception: $37 per adult ($25 if you go during lunch hours). Come hungry, for a special occasion (birthday in my case), and with a bulgogi craving, and you can get your money’s worth. Otherwise, it might seem like a reach. Fortunately, the prepared dishes won’t break the bank if you go that route instead.

Older reviews suggested that The One had some growing pains early on, but if our experience was anything to go by, they’ve put those issues behind them. It isn’t just the grills that are firing here. On ambiance, service, and food, The One knows how to make an impression.