A Seoul-inspired Korean BBQ restaurant will open its first U.S. location in Downtown Bellevue on Aug. 12, bringing staff-grilled meats and smoke-free dining to the corner of 103rd Ave NE and NE 10th St.

Goban Korean BBQ holds its soft opening at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 1015 103rd Ave NE, inside the MARI Bellevue luxury condominium building one block from Bellevue Square. No reservations will be accepted. Walk-ins only.

The brand takes its name from the Korean word goban (고반), meaning "a meal prepared with heart." According to the restaurant's website, the Bellevue location draws from Goban Black, a premium Korean BBQ spot in Seoul, and represents the brand's first expression in the United States.

Staff handle all the grilling tableside, and each table features downdraft ventilation so diners leave without smelling like smoke. A restaurant representative told the Downtown Bellevue Association that the brand's style aligns well with Bellevue's diverse and active dining scene.

The freebie: Follow @gobanbbq on Instagram and show the post to your server. Each table gets one free side dish, with choices including Korean steamed egg, corn cheese, kimchi stew, soybean paste stew or soft tofu stew.

Parking and access: Forty free underground spots are available via the Mira Flats entrance, with easy access from I-405 and NE 8th Street.

Regular hours after the soft opening: Monday through Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Groups of six or more should contact the restaurant via Instagram for Mezzanine seating. The phone number is (425) 728-4448.

Goban joins Omo Thai Tea as a retail tenant in the 138-unit MARI Bellevue building. The opening adds to a streak of first-Washington-state restaurant arrivals downtown: Rooster & Rice opened at Soma Towers on July 30, and KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot signed a lease at Factoria Marketplace on Aug. 4.