Tomukun Noodle Bar expanding on success with Korean barbeque next door

Growing up as a Korean American in Troy, going out for Korean barbecue with his family was a big part of Tom Yon's upbringing. With the success of his four-year-old Tomukun Noodle Bar on a roll in downtown Ann Arbor, he's now bringing that tradition to E. Liberty as well with Tomukun Korean BBQ. 

 

"I thought that Korean barbecue would be a great idea," Yon says. "It's something that's very close to me, close to my heart."

 

When Grand Traverse Pie Company closed in the building next door to his noodle bar, Yon says he knew the opportunity was right to bring the Korean barbecue experience to downtown. The dining concept allows customers to chose their own raw meat and grill it, with the assistance of servers, right at their own table. While some Korean barbecue restaurants are more formal, Yon says Tomukun Korean BBQ will be contemporary and modern. 

 

"It's a lot more casual, a lot more minimalistic," he says. "It will be a place for friends, drinking beer and drinking soju. It's kind like a Korean barbecue/bar." 

 

The 3,150 square foot space has undergone considerable renovation to install the individual grills at each table. The new restaurant will seat about 85 guests between the dining area and bar. Yon anticipates opening at the beginning of April with a staff of about 30 employees.