# Korean Barbecue Entrees Sweetgreen Created a KBBQ Menu with a Famed Korean Steakhouse By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2025-05-07 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kbbq-menu References: [businesswire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250507888556/en/Sweetgreen-Introduces-First-Ever-Korean-Inspired-Menu-in-Collaboration-with-COTE-Korean-Steakhouse) & [sweetgreen](https://www.sweetgreen.com/)  For a limited time, Sweetgreen is launching its first-ever KBBQ menu, sharing a taste of items created in collaboration with COTE Korean Steakhouse—the first and only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in America. On this Korean-inspired menu, three new entrees pair Sweetgreen's signature fresh ingredients with the classic components of a Korean barbecue experience. Alongside a savory-sweet KBBQ Steak Bowl with white rice, romaine, apple kimchi sauce, spicy roasted broccoli, cucumber kimchi, and pickled cabbage, a KBBQ Steak Plate is available for a more indulgent experience. Alternatively, those seeking a lighter, vegetable-forward choice will appreciate the refreshing yet fiery Cucumber Kimchi Crunch Salad. Last year, Sweetgreen introduced grass-fed, pasture-raised steak with a caramelized garlic flavor and customers have been asking for new ways to enjoy this protein. As such, Sweetgreen is remixing the fan-favorite item with a sweet, savory and spicy Korean BBQ glaze. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 40% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Fusion Cuisine Innovation:** The trend of blending traditional Korean barbecue flavors with Western-style fast-casual dining creates unique menu offerings that appeal to diverse palates. - **Limited-time Collaborations:** Exclusive partnerships between popular restaurant chains and renowned culinary establishments generate excitement and drive traffic through time-sensitive menu items. - **Vegetable-forward Dishes:** The rise of plant-rich dishes in traditionally meat-centric cuisines offers a fresh take on healthy eating while retaining authentic flavor profiles. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fast-casual Dining:** This industry is seeing innovation through the introduction of Korean-inspired menu items, which enhances cultural diversity in food offerings. - **Culinary Collaborations:** Cross-industry collaborations between prestigious steakhouses and casual dining brands lead to novel culinary experiences and expanded customer reach. - **Fermented Foods Market:** The growing popularity of kimchi and other fermented ingredients in mainstream dining highlights new opportunities in the food preservation and flavor enhancement sectors. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Korean BBQ Menu Additions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/korean-bbq-menu.md) - [Korean Cuisine-Inspired Steak Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steak-seoul-bowl.md) - [Caramelized Garlic Steak Proteins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caramelized-garlic-steak.md) - [Limited-Edition Swicy QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shake-shack-sweet-and-savory-menu.md) - [Savory Bulgogi Beef Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bulgogi-kimchi-cheeseburger.md) - [Korean-Themed Menu Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shake-shack-9.md) - [Mashup Korean BBQ Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paris-baguette-korean-bbq.md) - [Korean Cuisine Cheesesteak Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kimchi-cheesesteak.md) - [Korean BBQ Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cupbop.md)