corporate trainer. twenty-four. korean. happy.

When you meet someone for the first time, there are various aspects that impact the energy and direction of the conversation. Humans instinctively look for signs of emotion and as much context as they can for the interaction they’re about to encounter. That may be a smile, the direction their bodies are facing, defensive shoulders, kind eye contact, or the amount of focus someone directs toward you—physical aspects are often the trailers for the movie of the person we are about to meet.

Before I spoke a word to Ben, he created an energy that was warm, inviting, and bright. I showed up to Gen Korean BBQ House at 7:15 p.m., essentially smack dab in the middle of his dinner shift. This interview could’ve easily been an inconvenience to him, but he answered so genuinely, and I never once felt that he was itching to leave the seat. There is a deep-rooted kindness that Ben continuously showed, and when he told me more about himself, I could hear it in his stories as well.

Ben—being Korean, the same age as me, and also in the service industry—felt like an old friend. We both have an ancestral connection to Korean BBQ as a celebration food, something that gathers people to connect or to highlight an achievement in life. Ben explained best what makes Korean BBQ so special:

“Its the experience. You come with family and friends and cook for yourself and others. It’s always a great time because it’s more of a bonding experience and a hands-on experience rather than waiting for your food to come and being on your phone. You’re interactive with the people at your table.”

Korean BBQ is always associated with happy memories for me. From my first memories of it with my family in Atlanta to the hundreds of times I’ve done it with dear friends—there is a deep sense of community and connection. My mom taught me that food is one of the easiest ways to display love, and she continues to be right. While Mike, Sarah, and I shared our meal at Gen, we all felt joy and gratitude toward one another while absolutely stuffing our faces.

Ben also shared with me that he is family-oriented, prioritizing his parents, grandparents, and sister, and that he prefers to take care of others. I believe this is what makes Ben so successful in the service industry and why Gen as a company has trusted him to travel to other states to open new locations. When I asked him what sets Gen apart from other Korean BBQ places, he mentioned the lights and the party environment—but if you ask me, its actually employees like Ben. From the moment I came in, there were smiles from every person I interacted with and constant productive, excited movement. All the employees ensured that we were happy, and the environment was skillfully built for loud conversations and constant laughter. When a place is designed for customers to have a mini-party at their table, there is no better meal.

Now to discuss the food:

I was absolutely floored by the quality and flavor profile of the food at Gen. The meat quality was exceptional, and there were so many different options—from raw meats, marinated meats, to cooked dishes. Gen has easily become my favorite Korean BBQ restaurant in the Triangle area. I would highly recommend getting the Galbi, Chadol, Premium Steak, and Garlic Pork Belly. This is a place you should take your loved ones to eat until you can’t walk and share as many different dishes as you can.

Here is a review from Sarah Kim, certified Korean-American and someone I have enjoyed dozens of Korean BBQ meals with:

“Gen has the clean space, lively atmosphere, and friendly, attentive service I enjoy. Out of all the Korean BBQ places I’ve been to, what stood out to me was their meat options as well as the amount of sides they offered for their price point. All very good and special shoutout to their K-Gochujang beef belly!!! I don’t usually get marinated meats like that, but this one was so flavorful, tender, and had a nice kick to it. Some of the side dishes didn’t taste as traditional, but as a standalone they were enjoyable. I will say their kimchi fried rice, dumplings, and tonkatsu will be ordered again.”

Here is my favorite blurb from the interview:

“My favorite meal is 찌개s (korean stews) because that was always the comfort food my grandma cooked for me. Things like seawood soup on birthdays is always more heartwarming. Those soups and stews meant it was a special occasion.”

Thank you Ben for sharing a bit of your story with me. Thank you for the amazing service and smiles shared. Thank you for continuing to show your kindness to a world that can be unkind.