Sura Korean BBQ Set to Open in Chula Vista With All-You-Can-Eat Grill Tables
The team behind Common Theory Public House and Realm of the 52 Remedies is bringing a 150-seat Korean barbecue restaurant with Mexican and Filipino dishes to 1960 Optima Street.
By Xiaoyu Wang ·
A new all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurant is coming to Chula Vista from the restaurateurs behind two well-known San Diego-area venues. Sura Korean BBQ will open at 1960 Optima Street, with owners Joon Lee, Cris Liang and Andy Ahn having targeted the end of June for its debut.
Lee and Liang opened Common Theory Public House in 2014 and followed it in 2018 with Realm of the 52 Remedies, a speakeasy known for its futuristic look. This year they also brought Common Theory to the Mix at Millenia in Otay Ranch, before the complex was fully built.
Sura will occupy 4,500 square feet and hold about 140 to 150 guests at 30 tables, each fitted with a gas grill. Lee was born in South Korea and moved to Chula Vista for high school. He says he has wanted to open a Korean barbecue restaurant for more than a decade.
Diners will choose from three all-you-can-eat tiers, called classic, premium and Sura, priced from $36.99 to $56.99 per person. The top selections will include ribeye and soy-marinated beef short ribs. Guests can order from servers or walk to a fresh meat bar, collect their cuts and grill them at the table.
The menu will lean on traditional Korean cooking. "We're going to have some of the most traditional Korean foods," Lee says, pointing to dishes such as japchae, fried chicken, spicy rice cakes and sweet-and-sour pork.
The owners are also tailoring the offerings to Chula Vista's mix of communities by adding Mexican and Filipino dishes, including pancit, chicken adobo and carne asada. "We're going to have tortillas, pico de gallo, and salsas ready," Lee says. "People can grill their carne asada at their tables and make tacos for themselves."
For drinks, Sura will offer craft beer, wine and soju, along with self-serve ice cream. "You can't go to Korean BBQ without Korean soju," Lee jokes.
Lee acknowledges that the Chula Vista Common Theory is off to a slow start but says he remains optimistic about the area. "This area is still expanding," he explains. He points to the San Diego State University campus under construction across the street from Sura as a source of potential growth. "It's going to be great," he says.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: Chula Vista Living
