Popular Columbia, Charlotte Korean BBQ restaurant and bar could expand. Here’s where

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include new information shared by the restaurant owner after the original news release and after the initial publication of the article.

A Korean barbecue restaurant that has proved popular in Charlotte and Columbia could be bringing a location to a planned downtown Greenville development.

MOA Korean BBQ and Bar, which currently has locations on Tryon Street in Charlotte and at 1333 Main St. in Columbia, is planning a new location in the County Square development in downtown Greenville. MOA Hospitality CEO Sean Kim initially sent out a Tuesday news release announcing the Greenville location but has since reached out to The State to note that the final paperwork on the deal has not yet been completed.

The County Square development in Greenville is a more than $1 billion mixed-use project that will include residences, retail, offices, restaurants and entertainment facilities. The overall project is expected to be completed by 2026, according to the release.

Kim launched the first MOA Korean BBQ in 2020 in Charlotte, then opened the location on Columbia’s Main Street in September 2023.

The menu at MOA includes a host of Korean dishes, including bibimbap and kimchi fried rice. It also has a number of combos where high-quality meats — prime ribeye steak, prime brisket, beef bulgogi, 45-day dry-aged ribeye, etc. — are grilled tableside.

Aside from MOA, Kim also owns the 929 Kitchen and Bar on Gervais Street in Columbia, which underwent a major renovation earlier this year.