King Chang - Buena Park

★★★★★ 4.8 (761) • $$$

"First time at King Chang, and I can see why my Korean girlfriend loves this place. The lively ambiance, upbeat music, and attentive staff were definite highlights.Food: * Banchan: Great variety--Japchae noodles, broccoli, candied peanuts, fish jerky, salad, and bean sprouts were all solid. The kimchi, however, was pale and bland. * Couple Combo: My boyfriend and his daughter, who lived in Seoul for years and is quite picky, loved the pork belly but found the Galbi a bit too sweet. The soybean paste stew was good but not the best she's had. * Seafood Pancake: Our favorite! Packed with seafood and perfectly crispy--if you love pancakes, this is a must-order. * Spicy Octopus Rice in Hot Stone Pot: Absolutely delicious! I wished for more octopus and less rice, but it was so good I happily took leftovers home. * Buckwheat Noodles in Chilled Broth: Served mid-meal, though it felt more like a dessert. It was okay but not something I'd reorder. * Corn Cheese: Simply delicious.Overall, we had an amazing experience. There's a reason this spot is a favorite among K-pop and K-drama stars. Just a heads-up--you will leave smelling like KBBQ, so come prepared!"

Soy Tofu

★★★★★ 4.6 (778) • $$

"This is exceptional Korean food. There are plenty of vegan options. I went for lunch and there was immediate seating available, quick service. I had vegetable bibimbap and vegetable potstickers. Everything was perfect, to the degree that a friend who joined me for lunch stayed back, trying to get the owner's business card."

Shilla Korean BBQ & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (910) • $$

"If you're looking for Korean barbecue in a cozy environment, this is it. At Shilla, the ahjummas (Korean ladies) will cook the meats for you and are always encouraging you to eat more XDNow that we're heading into a chilly winter this year, I wanna make sure ya'll have this spot saved for your LA food bucket list.The quality of all their meats is just unparalleled--the ladies will literally pick off the excess fat when they're cooking while making sure every cut is grilled to perfection.And this is the perfect place for family-style sharing so you can try a little bit of everything, like seafood ramen and galbi tang (beef short rib soup). I loooved their seafood pancake and would absolutely go back just for this!And you know their food is made with love when their kimchi fried rice is cooked right in front of you in a heart...so freakin' adorable.Thanks for reading! ^-^"

Palsaik Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (717) • $$

"Food was excellent, service was outstanding! I really enjoyed all the different flavored pork they cooked food for you right in front of you. We will definitely be back ! Overall wonderful experience! Great place to take your whole family or a date!!!"

Chon Dak

★★★★★ 4.5 (671) • $$

"We were pleasantly surprised with this hole in the wall bar joint. Funny thing about ending up here was that we weren't hungry and only wanted a small snack-y portion for dinner. We drove by many places and kept remarking how we weren't very hungry and didn't want to eat a full-on meal. However, when we arrived here, we checked out the menu and ended up getting a large Combo with enough food for 4 Adults! Needless-to-say, we took home a lot of food!We opted for #30, which is a Grilled Pork Belly BBQ Combo. It comes with 4 large pieces of Pork Belly and Kimchi, Combination Tofu Soup, Soy Garlic Wings, & Corn Cheese. This Combo costs $86.99.The server brought out a metal compartmental tray with a variety of Banchan. We ate most of it while waiting for our order. Our server kept super busy, yet he stayed on top of everything! We received the Corn Cheese first. So much cheesy goodness! Next to come out was the Combination Tofu Soup. Wow! It was so scrumptious with Mussels, Clams, Crab, and other goodies in a slightly spicy and rich broth! Then he brought out the Pork Belly with Kimchi on a grill. He cooks and cuts up the Pork Belly into almost bite-sized pieces. The Kimchi is flavorful and contains some Tteobokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) mixed in it. The Pork Belly is amazing! Hubby isn't generally a huge fan of it, but he said this one was really good!! It didn't even dry out sitting on the grill. I loved the pieces that were charred! Lastly, the Soy Garlic Wings arrived. As stuffed as we were, we forced ourselves to eat some wings! The exterior was crisp and the interior was moist. The wings were exactly as they should be! We loved the flavor & texture!Cost when ordered individually totals $92.96:Pork Belly BBQ $37.99Combination Tofu Soup $19.99Soy Garlic Wings $20.99Corn Cheese $13.99I know we'll be back! If you want a hearty and tasty meal, come here! Bring some friends with you, too!"

Peking Gourmet

★★★★☆ 4 (849) • $$

"I loved everything I order, the walnut shrimp were so big and juicy, Crispy and fresh! The black bean noodle are delicious, I recommend adding more onions for the flavor, the orange chicken, upgrade from Panda Express for sure! Haha, my friend have been eating here for like the past 20 years, so that's says something!The selection, the portion, the taste, the service, what more can you ask for? We drop our Togo plastic bag on the floor and the waiter immediately picked up and gave us a new one, awww"

Krave Asian Fusion Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (882) • $$

"I love this place. Bestie and I sound it back during our IVC college days. It has been a fave spot our ours for years now!! Best fried chicken (wings...drool) and their TVs are just enough to not be sports bar :). The ambiance is amazing. Not loud where you can actually carry a conversation and just enjoy the food at the same time. Their waitstaff and cooks are friendly and amazing too. It's a must try!."

眞 Jin Cook - Authentic Korean Soul Food

★★★★★ 4.5 (652) • $$

"My favorite galbi jjim (braised beef shirt ribs), hands down. The short rib is so tender, fall off the bone. The sauce isn't too sweet compared to other places I've tried. I love how the potatoes, squash, carrots and rice cakes are perfectly marinated in the sauce. It's good to share for at least 2-3 people and comes with rice and banchans (side dishes). You'll wait a bit on the weekends during lunch and dinner time, so I recommend coming during off times. They're open late and have a homey, traditional ambiance."

Ko Ryo Jung Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (889) • $$$

"Little cozy spot tucked in Plaza. Been coming here with my family for a while now. Service is always great and food always good. They actually have a great price for family meal when you want to stay in on rainy days and eat in the comfort of your own home. Usually the bulgogi family meals is devoured between 2-3 people depending how hungry you are"

Ziggle Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.4 (604)

"Loved this place! We were looking for a BBQ place near us, since our favorite spot is about 25 min away. The food was great! You scan a qr code and order online, which is so easy and convenient! Everything we tasted was good. I tried the macaroon and loved it! We tried the green one with strawberry ice cream. Parking can be a little tough and it was a little full, but worth the wait!!"

Mdk Noodles

★★★★☆ 3.9 (752) • $$

"Korean food makes me happy...If I'm starving, it's a good time for Korean food!If I'm pretty full, it's a good time for Korean food!I was able to try MDK Noodle on two separate occasions, and it was good both times. The interior is minimalistic at best....almost sterile.The waitstaff rushes around with pushcarts filled with menus, banchan, and water...it's pretty fun to watch.They shoot over to your table drop everything off, and they are gone!Once they come back around, you are able to order....and then they show up with your food on the cart. Its that simple!The surprising part was that you never receive tableware or napkins. There is a hidden shelf built into your table and everything is inside!The dishes we tried were tasty and the portion size was decent. We weren't blown away by the flavors, but it was satisfying. The items were a little expensive for what they was...but that's everything nowadays...This is your place if you need a quick, expedited sit-down Korean restaurant. It's relatively fast, and you can eat and get out of there if you really need to.Enjoy!"

Kaju Soft Tofu

★★★★☆ 4 (705) • $$

"Great place for when you're just craving tofu soup. It's currently $17.99 for their soondubu and comes with a hot bowl of rice and refillable banchan. The servers, along with the cat robots, are pretty attentive and stop by to refill your drinks/banchan regularly. Note: there are 7 spice level options on the menu I got a medium spice level which ran on the milder side, so I recommend getting spicy if you have moderate spice tolerance!"

Yup Dduk Irvine

★★★★★ 4.5 (542) • $$

"So so good. Got the Rose Yup Dduk with ramen..aka Rabokki. Fun texture, but till quite spicy!! You can see the chili flakes in the gochujang sauce. Loved the melted mozzarella cheese on top and mixing it in with the ramen and TBK was so satisfying. Would love to try with the Chinese Flat Noodles next time (are those the same as glass noodles? Curious.).Service great too, was ready in 15 minutes or so!"

Soju Belly

★★★★☆ 3.9 (674) • $$

"Came here for a night out with friends and had so much fun. The ambiance with the fluorescent lights were so nice and it genuinely felt like a club at some points with how loud it was. We ordered the Tteokbokki, Corn Cheese, with the Pineapple and Watermelon Soju Bowls. It all tasted so good but the standout was the Pineapple Soju Cocktail. I kept going back for seconds and thirds. Love this place!"

Kobe Gyukatsu

★★★★☆ 4.3 (536) • $$

"Great tasting food and generous portions at this Japanese & Korean restaurant. I ordered the creamy curry udon, which is a twist on traditional Japanese curry udon. The dish includes udon noodles, beef, and vegetables in a cream sauce. It was my first time trying this dish after seeing it all over social media this past year, and I'm happy to say it lived up to the hype. The sauce was different; it was thicker than what I'm used to from Asian restaurants while still maintaining a subtle taste of curry. The creaminess of the sauce comes from the use of cooking cream, or alternatively, evaporated milk. So you can imagine how thick the sauce coating the udon noodles was. All in all, it was a satisfying meal. ******************My Ratings:1 Star: Terrible; just thinking about it makes me angry.2 Stars: Wasn't a fan so Not likely to return.3 Stars: Meh. Average. Might return if others drag me.4 Stars: Yum! Likely to return.5 Stars: Amazing! Would plan my day around it."

Crunchicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (501) • $$

"Chicken was super crispy (not oily) but a little dry. I got the soy garlic sauce on the tenders and it was absolutely delicious! The portions are huge. Fries and onion rings were crispy and delicious. Not oily at all. Paid .99 cents for ranch (which was hidden valley). The house sauce that comes on the chicken sandwich was delicious! Recommend getting that instead of the ranch. Service was friendly and food was brought to our table. Inside was clean. They offered us free soft serve ice cream before leaving but we were so full we passed. Next time!"

Its Tofu

★★★★★ 4.6 (455) • $$

"So I've never been to BCD Tofu but I took a friend to this restaurant who goes there all the time and they told me that It's Tofu is a better and less busy version of BCD. In all honesty I still haven't been to BCD yet and after what she told me I don't think I'll be going unless I get a craving late at night Walking into the restaurant you're immediately greeted by all the employees, no matter what they're doing. The restaurant is a bit minimal as far as decor goes (at least when I went) but the food speaks mouth for itself. Even though I walked in at a busy time, myself and my friend were immediately seated and greeted by the staff. They took the time to explain the items on the menu and provide recommendations. Not even 5 mins later our waiter brought all the side dishes to the table, along with some tea and a rice pot for each of us Once the food got served we both dug in. The cut of the beef was so clean and tender, the broth with the soft tofu were phenomenal and you can tell everything on the table is fresh to order or at the very least prepared fresh daily. I made the mistake of falling in love with this place because all I do now is crave it almost 24/7 LOL My only complaint is that this place does close earlier than most restaurants, but it's not something in my book that is worth docking a star over. If you love Korean-centric food at a affordable price, this is the spot for you"

Kpop Rice Flour Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (448) • $$

"We were driving around looking for something tasty. One of our people can't do gluten, so options are a bit limited. We stumbled on K-pop and decided to give it a try. So I'll say, we didn't exactly blend in with the rest of their clientele... with that said, it didn't matter, the staff was awesome and made some great recommendations for our group. Super welcoming and chill. So we ended up ordering a bunch of random things.... Got a couple kinds of chicken. The garlic honey was yummy. Sides of sauces to dip in were great also. The meal comes with a side of salad and radish. I really liked them. It was a nice treat. Corn cheese was super good! Beers and saki was good and reasonably priced. Overall the food was good, and the service was awesome. I would definitely come back."

Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang

★★★★☆ 4.1 (476) • $$

"It has been a while since I've been back to Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang. We stopped coming since prices were creeping up. However, since prices have skyrocketed everywhere, we decided to give it a try. The service is the same - friendly and helpful. They serve delicious ban chans (side dishes) with your food order. My hubby and I shared #14. Chicken Soup ($22.99). It was more than enough food between the two of us. This is a great soup to get if you want something that is clean and comforting. The ginseng is mild and the chicken is not dry. Prices are comparable to other Korean restaurants in the area so I will likely be coming back to Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang as I love their soups!"

Han Nam Udon & Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (379) • $$

"It's been awhile since I've been back. The udon is still light, flavorful and delicious as ever. Service is always friendly. Got it to go this time"

Gangnam House

★★★★☆ 3.8 (520) • $$

"My family and I met here for dinner tonight to celebrate our father's bday since we couldn't meet at our parent's graves we met for dinner. We have been here quite a few times. My Dad's step son used to work here a couple years ago too. It's a nice restaurant it's always busy, the food quality is really good. You can cook in front of you or ask them to cook in the back, which is what we did tonight. There were 8 of us for dinner so we ordered 2 orders of Bulgogi and Beef Brisket. They give you a good amount of banchan too for side dishes. We also ordered Kimchi-jjigae my sister and I shared that, it's our lifelong favorite growing up. A lot of seating in here, but sometimes it gets totally filled up. Our server's name was Kaitlyn, she was really nice. She was her server the last time we came here as well. I just didn't take pictures the last time we came. She's really sweet and got everything we asked for thank you so much, she actually overheard our conversation about my sister and her kids telling us their story about their experience in the fires and how terrifying it was, she felt so bad, asked if we needed anything else she was just really empathetic and kind thank you so very much. It was pretty empty so they were able to hear our conversation easily which we didn't mind. It was really nice of her to ask if we were all OK. What my family went through and what everybody has into during the fires is truly devastating and heartbreaking so our heart goes out to everyone affected by the fires. All the employees here are friendly. It wasn't very busy tonight so we got seated right away. It's very nice restaurant. I highly recommend trying this restaurant if you haven't already. The food is delicious they are pretty quick with getting you everything you need. My one only thing I wish the barley tea was hotter, everything else amazing! Thank you so much for our delicious meal, and excellent customer service.Have a beautiful day, be kind to everyone :)Aloha"

Kimbap Paradise

★★★★☆ 4.4 (385) • $$

"This place was a very nice surprise. We were staying in the area and saw that it had a really great rating - turns out it was fully deserved. We got kimchi fried rice, some dumplings and combo tempura, all of which was a hit with the whole family. The service was fast and helpful. We were in and out for a fast lunch. We're in town for a week and we're planning to come again. Delicious!"

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

★★★★☆ 4 (451) • $$

"I was never a shabu fan until I tried Mokkoji. It's soo delicious, I can never get enough! All of my visits here have been great, from the service I receive, the food, the environment, everything is a 10/10. Depending on what time you go during the day, parking might be a little difficult since the plaza is a bit small. I usually get the Original broth with a Regular Toro, but if I'm feeling extra hungry, I would get the large and give my boyfriend whatever I can't finish. My boyfriend likes the Spicy Pork Broth, which is also really good but keep in mind, that one is $5 extra. The order comes with ponzu and peanut sauce, a bowl of white rice, and veggies/udon/tofu. The meat is plated so beautifully, you can't help but snap a picture. Not only that, but it's such good quality. I've had shabu meats where it's too dry or chewy and wasn't enjoyable. But that's never the case here, leaving me with a good lasting impression every single time.Some things to note: They do offer indoor and outdoor seating (I prefer sitting indoors). The price might seem a little expensive (my order comes out to around $25-$30) but for the amount of food you get + the quality, it's always worth it in my opinion. For your broth and/or sauces, the servers ask if you want hot drops but if you're not a fan for spice, beware because even just one drop is SPICY! Don't underestimate those tiny drops. Also Mokkoji is not AYCE, but even though that's the case, the amount of meat they give is enough to fill me up. 10/10!!!"

Myung Dong Tofu House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (423) • $$

"It was a chilly evening so my boyfriend and I were looking for something soupy for dinner. We decided to get tofu soup at Myung Dong Tofu House. It was really busy the time we came in, and there were a lot of Korean friend groups and families dining here, so it's probably authentic. One funny thing about this menu, is that it calls out a limit of a maximum of 2 side dish refills. We were actually neglected the whole time and didn't get anyyyy side dish refills. If you love side dishes, this isn't a spot for you. My boyfriend and I shared a BBQ Beef Short Rib (Galbi) + Tofu Soup Combination ($32.99) and a BBQ Sliced Beef Rib Eye (Bulgogi) + Tofu Soup Combination ($28.99). My boyfriend got the Clam Tofu Soup and I got the Beef Tofu Soup as part of the combos. The side dishes and fried fish came out first. The side dishes were average. The fried fish was on the soft side, lacking crispiness. Surprisingly the meats and rice came out before the tofu soups. They left our rice in the metal pot and warned us it was hot and to move it around with the wood thing it was sitting on. I saw other tables where staff scooped out the rice for them, but not with us. My tofu soup had good flavor, but not much beef bits inside the soup. The meats were well marinated. There was too much fillers like onions in the bulgogi for my liking. The galbi had good taste but the meat was a little tough. The perfect balance of a meal for a cold evening. We both felt full, and I had a little leftover for the next day. We had to waive down staff for boxes and the check. We got boxes first, a wrong size box and then a new box... thennnn still no check after a while. So we waived down a different staff member for the check. Still a nice meal for the most part, but I don't live close enough to be in a hurry to come back."

Yamas Teriyaki

★★★★☆ 4.4 (364) • $$

"It's been a while since I dined here and appreciate that they constantly innovate their menu.This time, I ordered the teriyaki chicken fries. It was a large portion with lots of flavor and delicious sauce.The table has teriyaki, sriracha, soy sauce, chili paste, and a vinegar based hot sauce, if you fancy.The cashier is shy, yet sweet. I love the oldies music too! That's such a nice touch to my experience!"

Lee's Tofu

★★★★☆ 3.9 (456) • $$

"One of my favorite soup shops! My go to is the dumpling soon tofu, medium spice level, with cheese. I love that they provide banchan, their rice is served in a hot stone bowl, and the tofu soup comes out bubbling hot. Service is always friendly and the shop has a cozy feel to it. It's the perfect meal for a cold or rainy day!"

Yoo's Place

★★★★☆ 4.3 (372) • $$

"We recently tried Yoo's Place, and I have to say, it was an excellent experience! It's a relatively new restaurant, but it's very clean, and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. We usually frequent BCD Tofu House, but we decided to give this place a shot, and we're so glad we did!We ordered tofu soup, cold noodles, and the tteokbokki with ramen, and everything was absolutely fantastic. The portions were huge, and the tofu soup was incredibly fresh and flavorful. The broth was rich, complex, and tasted homemade. It even came out boiling hot, which I love for soups--it made the experience so much better.The cold noodles were also delicious, with fresh veggies that were perfect on a warm winter day in Southern California. The tteokbokki with ramen was another highlight. The portion was massive, easily enough for four people! My sister and I shared it, and we were both impressed by the generous serving and flavor.One nice touch is the free bone broth on the side. It's perfect if you're feeling under the weather or just prefer something warm to drink instead of cold water. You can have as much as you'd like, which is such a thoughtful addition. The sides were also fantastic--the kimchi was fresh, and they even had sides I'd never tried before.Overall, I highly recommend Yoo's Place. The portions are generous, the food is delicious and fresh, and the prices are very reasonable. I'll definitely be coming back!"

Mhat Korean Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (344) • $$

"What the Mhat? Delicious! We were looking for something different, delicious, and some thing off the beaten path. Quiet, and modest in a small strip mall. This tiny place has some amazing Korean food. The gal that works there was super helpful in recommending some delicious food-Soon doo boo- a piping hot - boiling bowl of spicy kimchi soup full of flavor; chock full of silken tofu and beef this dish will make you warm and toasty inside and out. Spicy level is about a 6/10Gun Mandu - pan fried pork dumplings yum! Tender crisp wrapper with an inside that is full of flavor. The dipping sauce is absolutely packs a touch of heat (spice) but overall not hot and good for kids too spice level is about a 2/10Jeyug bokk eum - so far our favorite dish here. Thinly sliced marinated pork belly is stir fried with cabbage, Kim chi and other vegetables to make an incredibly flavorful meal. Heat level 7/10Our meals were served with rice and side dishes (banchan) that I could just eat on my own. And, as a matter fact, if you want to take them home, they have a refrigerator full of ready to go Banchan.We absolutely fell in love with the food and have been back multiple times trying different menu items. Not one bad thing on the menu!"

Zip Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.9 (431) • $$$

"Great experience. Won't break the bank but still delivers on quality. The menu's got all the essentials--no beef tongue or super fancy cuts, but they nail the basics like pork belly, brisket, and chicken. Shoutout to Jack, the manager, who was super friendly and accommodating. Will return."

Gam Ja Tang House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (348) • $$

"My boyfriend and I love to eat here! Whenever we are feeling sick or feeling some korean, this is our go-to spot. We always order the GamJa Tang meal, it comes with rice, side dishes, and vegetables. My boyfriend always finishes his bowl, but for me I always have leftovers for the next two days. The place is easy to find and we park behind the building. The workers there are always quick and efficient to the point where sometimes they're rushing us maybe 30 minutes before closing. Although we understand their urgency, we feel that we cannot enjoy or relax and feel like we need to rush and get out so they can close up as well."

K Food Express - Cerritos

★★★★★ 4.7 (286) • $$

"This place is far the best Korean joint in the Cerritos and Artesia area. We started going to this place for almost 11 years now when they were still under TangPalPal name and changed it to K food express. The owners are far the most friendlier people we know and the food is amazing particularly the bowl selections such the galbi-tang ( beef soup). The ambience is clean and pleasant. 10/10 stars."

Don's Teriyaki Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (288) • $$

"Once I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by the young man at the register. There was a slight wait so I sat down at one of the tables.Everything was tidy and clean....The decor didn't speak to anything specific. I did appreciate, however, that my food was cooked to order so when I received it, it was hot.Onto the food .... Now I'm a huge fan of Beef Bulgogi and this one did not disappoint!!! The macaroni salad was not my favorite and the potato salad was completely bland and lacked texture. With all that being said, I would still go back just for the beef Bulgogi because it was just that good. The beef was seasoned and tender. I have nothing to complain about regarding the beef."

Kaju Soft Tofu - Irvine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (342) • $$

"Fantastic food, great service, and timely!!The tofu soups and rice come out piping hot in a mini pot! If you want your rice crispy on the edges, keep you rice in the pot longer before scooping it out!!The banchan is also delicious!! Kaju serves fish cake, cucumber kimchi, bean sprouts, cabbage kimchi, and potato banchan, which were all delicious and fresh. The fried fish they serve you with the purchase of the tofu soup is also super light and flavorfulOverall, this is one of my favorite tofu soup places and highly recommend! The wait might get long on weekends but it's very worth it--especially on a cold night."

Bon Tofu & Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (295) • $$

"Great place for a work lunch.It's close by the office and there's never a wait to get seated. Parking is sufficient. (And if you want coffee afterwards, there are convenient options.The service is good. I've always had friendly waitresses and staff. The food is good too! Most recently, we all had the yupgyejang. Warm soup on a chilly day is the wonderful feeling. Try the seafood pancake. A favorite of my team is the tofu soup.I recommend this restaurant. You really can't go wrong with any of the dishes. The only thing to be aware of is that some dishes can be ordered spicy or mild. If you're sensitive to that, just make sure you tell the waitress when you order."

Yoo's Place

★★★★☆ 4 (362) • $$

"Such a great Korean restaurant with traditional dishes, but made with really high quality ingredients. The flavors are not the typical restaurant style stuff where you can tell it's just high volume sauces and pastes for marinade and soup. Their dishes have a different taste that is hard to explain, and keeps you wanting more. The service is impeccable even when it's so busy! They're so attentive to what is happening with each table where they quickly come to your table if you just look like you need something. The food is also VERY kid friendly. My 4yo inhaled the galbi, non-spicy ban chan, cold noodles, fried squid, zhachiang noodles and purple rice. She loved every bit of it!Amazing place and we can't wait to go back!"