The culinary landscape of Journal Square has gained a new layer of excitement with the opening of BRBQ, the latest restaurant concept from co-owners Jae Park and Chef Brian Kim — the acclaimed team behind DOMODOMO and ONDO. Located at the base of the 25-story Urby tower across from the Journal Square PATH station, BRBQ introduces a dynamic fusion of Korean-American cuisine and wood-fired grilling to the neighborhood.
This is the third Jersey City venture for Park and Kim.
Located at 532 Summit Avenue, BRBQ’s menu is centered on premium proteins and vegetables, cooked over real wood flames and enhanced with bold, Asian-inspired sauces and aromatics. Kim explained their culinary vision. “We’re taking the deep, charred flavors of wood-fire grilling and pairing them with Korean elements we love, from galbi marinades to gochujang and fermented ingredients,” he said. The result, he noted, is a smoky, savory, and umami-rich experience that is both familiar and unexpected.
The menu features a variety of standout dishes. Highlights include the Double Cut LA Galbi (marinated Black Angus beef short ribs), Spicy Pork Bulgogi Tacos, and Butterflied Branzino with charred scallion pesto. For more casual dining, lunch and weekend brunch menus offer items like house-made Korean sausages, BRBQ burgers with kimchi relish, and fluffy mochi pancakes.
Beyond the food, BRBQ provides a full-service bar with eight signature cocktails, a rotating selection of natural and biodynamic wines, and craft beers. Coffee and espresso drinks are also available daily starting at 11 a.m. The interior, designed by IDBD NYC, combines reclaimed timber, exposed brick, and sleek metal accents to create a warm and contemporary atmosphere. An outdoor terrace offers additional dining space overlooking the vibrant Journal Square streetscape.
The restaurant’s strategic location makes it both a neighborhood gathering spot and a destination for visitors. It is seamlessly connected to the Journal Square Urby lobby and just steps from the PATH station, making it highly accessible.
David Barry, founder and CEO of Urby, expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition. “BRBQ adds a new layer of excitement and culinary creativity to Journal Square,” he said. “It’s exactly the kind of chef-driven, community-focused concept we hoped to bring to this location.”
