Columbia, SC (Monday, January 10, 2022) Fellow Columbia food aficionados – get excited! Our fair city is about to be presented with our first unique Korean BBQ restaurant and unforgettable dining experiences!

Welcome to MOA – the brainchild of Blythewood resident Sean Kim, a restauranteur who launched 929 Kitchen and Bar in the Vista and the first MOA BBQ and Bar in uptown Charlotte in 2019. His new venture brings the success of MOA in Charlotte to Columbia. His third restaurant, MOA II, will be located at 1333 Main St. The restaurant will seat up to 265 guests, with a private dining room option, outdoor seating and a great bar.

So what exactly is Korean BBQ and what makes MOA unique? Visualize you and your mate or bestie meeting at 1333 Main St. in downtown Columbia for a special dinner. This building is in the same block as Cantina 76. A valet will park your vehicle. Inside, you’ll be greeted with the utmost hospitality and welcomed to this beautifully designed Korean-culture-meets-Denmark with calming colors, Korean-Scandanavian decor, and a relaxed atmosphere. Stop by the bar first, and enjoy a cocktail expertly prepared by their excellent bar staff. Put aside your cares and take in this truly unique bar and restaurant.

Each table features a grill in its center so that guests may prepare their meats themselves, with the assistance of the wait staff. The food is meant to be grilled and made delicious based on the individual guests’ preferences. You and those at your table choose your meats from the Combo menu, which allows you to pick your meats and sides. The range of meats offered vary greatly but here is the Basic Combo #2:

Prime Ribeye Steak
Prime Brisket
Thin-sliced Pork Belly
Marinated Short Rib
Beef Bulgogi
Chicken Bulgogi or Marinated Pork Rib

Diners also get to choose different sides with this Basic Combo – Banchan sides (Kimchi, Korean Potato Salad, and scallion salad to name a few) and hot sides. It’s a rewarding undertaking of first choosing your foods and then grilling them with your family/friends. It makes for a true “dining experience”.

Also offered will be options for traditional Korean fare, prepared under the guidance of their Korean Master Chef. Seafood Stone Bowl Bibimbab, Ttukbaegi Bulgogi, and Ssam Platter with Korean BBQ are a few of these selections.

Sean and his team are introducing a new concept for Columbia’s MOA – an in-store cafe and bakery. Stay tuned for details!

Both their original restaurant, 929 Kitchen & Bar, and its sister location, MOA Korean BBQ & Bar in Charlotte, will continue operations in their original locations.

The construction is being undertaken by Mashburn Construction, the company that built out the interior of Hall’s Chophouse, Smoked, and over 30 other area restaurants. The expected completion date is October 2022.

We’ll keep you posted. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for Foodie News and local events.