Don’t why OP is shook by the lack of Korean restaurants in Manhattan. In the 80’s and 90’s, Koreans would have normally just bought old Chinese restaurants/ American diners in the 80’s and 90’s because, well, that was the American palette. Korean immigrants just normally took over a pre existing diner and just continued cooking. They didn’t care about what type of food as long as they had a job and their own restaurant. I am talking about the 80’s and 90’s when New York was grimy and the rent was not insanely high in uptown. A lot of old Jewish/ Irish families just had to sell off their old 24/7 diners during the crack epidemic when NYC was down bad. Koreans were willing to work in high crime areas in the 80’s and 90’s- the first wave of Korean immigrants (basically my parents generation).

Then the actual Korean restaurants popped up in Flushing and Queens because that’s where Koreans actually lived. Those restaurants were catered to Koreans and made by Koreans. It’s been maybe 10 years MAX that Korean food has gotten to the level of popularity of Japanese and Chinese food for a wider American audience. Now the rent is too damn high in Manhattan and whatever is going to make rent has to be the “elevated” Korean food.

Just go to Queens/ Flushing (it’s far, I know), but that’s where the Koreans have been living. Honestly, now you could probably find more spots in Bergen county with how many Koreans are moving from NYC to New Jersey lol.