The Best Korean in Los Angeles

Chimmelier

★★★★☆ 4.4 (313) • $$

"The best Korean chicken!! Every time I crave chicken, I always come here and they never disappoint. Service is amazing and you can order through a tablet which makes it so easy. The worker is available to answer any questions and the spot is so cute! I love the illustrations and the music playing. There's always parking available which is a huge plus especially being in LA. The K-Burger, seasoned fries, shrimp toast, and popcorn chicken is to die for! Must try!!!!"

Seoul Garden Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (634) • $$

"We have been to this restaurant for years and they used to have combo sets for you to select from the menu. We came today and found out that this place now has all you can eat shabu shabu!!! Amazing quality of meat and a soup base excellent. Service is very good too!!Highly recommend to anyone who likes AYCE hot pot experience!!"

Temaki Society

★★★★★ 4.8 (86)

"Such a cute place, small but with enough seating. For two people, we ordered the 5 combo handrolls and it was a good snack between meals. The food came out in about 10-minutes with a cute trash bin to put the wrappers. My favorite was the salmon and chopped yellowtail.We will definitely be back to try more of their handrolls!"

I Got My Sound Chicken

★★★★★ 4.9 (471) • $$

"Came here for dinner, on a Saturday evening in late February 2025 via car, with another couple. Parking was easy and free in this huge plaza. You go inside and order at the front but because it was busy, they decided to take our order outside by our table. The service was excellent - you can tell every member of the staff cared about the quality of the food that's being served. The food was very good. My partner ordered the Lang Saeb Chicken, which was exactly how it would taste if you ordered it in Thailand. The skin was still crispy. That sauce was to die for! We even asked for more of the sauce to dip everything else in. I ordered the Spicy Carbonara Topoki, which was very good. It was, in my opinion, how every carbonara should be. The rice cakes were cooked perfectly. My friends ordered the 12-piece chicken - half Gim Ballad & half Honey Luv Rap. They said they liked both. The deep fried batter on the Gim Ballad was out of this world. They got it so crunchy!"

Chang Hwa Dang

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"Simple no frills Korean dumping restaurant. The menu is small so you know the food will be great. I would definitely come here again! I love the fish soup - very simple and flavorful. The dumplings were bomb dot com. The sample platter is a must try."

Seoul Salon Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (295) • $$

"It's always such a treat discovering little gems in Ktown, and @seoulsalon_la is definitely worth checking out! This 1920s themed retro lounge whisks you away from the busy traffic of Ktown into an intimate, romantic setting that's perfect if you want a bit more of a laid back and classy night out. Their menu features well-executed Korean fusion dishes (especially for a pocha!), such as rose tteokbokki, Korean fried chicken, and Army Stew, as well as an impressive selection of signature cocktails, sojus, and makgeolli. Service was also very friendly, attentive and efficient, even with only two employees working the floor. Definitely check them out for a date or relaxing dinner with friends! Featured here: watermelon soju yuzu tea rose tteokbokki mom's touch army stew kimchi carbonara Crab meat seafood cream pasta"

Myung In Dumplings

★★★★☆ 4 (901) • $$

"Limited choices due to it being Father's Day. Sadly food was eaten semi cold since we waited to eat it. The kind lady was helpful.I lowered the two stars since the food was yummy but not mind blowing."

JunTong SulLungTang

★★★★☆ 4.4 (393) • $$

"I ate here for the FIRST TIME last week and I've already been here 3 times since I looooove this place sm already!! The service is great and so warm and the food is even better. For such a small space they really don't make you feel rushed. The food is amazing everything I've tried has been amazing so far. I must say the spicy one is my fave so far and the Kimchi is sooo good too. Can't praise this place enough. 5/5 experience for sure. This place is like a warm long hug"

Nolza

★★★★★ 4.7 (270) • $$

"A cozy place for hanging out with your friends for soju and drinking games!Highlights of the menu:1. Bulgogi with rice2. Spicy chicken with cheese and rice3. Cheese donkatsu4. Spicy jokbal (pig feet)"

Hite Kwang-Jang

★★★★☆ 3.9 (122) • $$

"The food is SO good. Highly recommend the odeng tang, new corn ribs, and my friends love the fried chicken and all of the other items. I used to go to Jjan all the time or Chi Chi's, Dan Sung Sa, DGM, but prefer the more laid back ambiance here. Very spacious. Reasonable prices. Fun for drinking on a sat night out with friends :)"

Butnal

★★★★★ 4.6 (62)

"Good service and nice decor and ambiance. Decent portion sizes and definitely is family style so come with friends or family! $4 valet parking~"

Bud Namu Korean BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.3 • $$

"Bud Namu has been a long time favorite for AYCE Korean bbq. It's super affordable, delicious and is consistently good. We came in on a Thursday night, and had to wait for 30 mins, which tells you how busy it gets. The banchan spread is delicious, and buffets style. I got rice, radish, kimchi, ginger and jalapjalapeño and everything was amazing. We also get the brisket, pork belly and bulgogi for the meat, and those were all delicious and pair well with the banchan. Overall cannot recommend this place enough!"

Kkondae K Bbq

★★★★★ 4.9 (9)

"Kkondae is the latest addition to the infinitely long list of Korean BBQs in Koreatown. I'm sure it's a tough business to be in with so much competition, but Kkondae seems to hold its own and is definitely a solid option. They seem to specialize in pork belly and pork cuts, although they also have beef options. You can order a la carte or choose a combo. I recommend saving yourself the hassle and just going with one of the combos. Combo A is an all pork option and Combo B is a mix of pork and beef. We went with combo A, and between the cuts of pork, the soup, egg, and the fried rice at the end, it was enough food for 2-3 people. The meat was good quality and everything was solid overall. They cook everything for you and the service was super attentive and excellent, especially considering that they opened recently. Not much more you could want from a Korean bbq. Also for any drinkers... the soju is a bargain compared to other places at $11 a bottle. 5 stars for both the food and the service!"

Hanshin Pocha

★★★★☆ 4.1 (188) • $$

"My sisters and I went to Hanshin Pocha to get lunch before our appointment at the consulate, the place is nice and casual yet has a cool vibe, the staff are quite friendly and the food - generous, yummy and affordable, unless you are famished and haven't had anything to eat for days, the lunch bento has the perfect amount of goodies to fill you up for your lunch craving. My sisters and I had the Kimchi fried rice bento while my cousin had something else - my Bento box personally was loaded, sausages, kimchi, tempura, kimchi fried rice and all other kinds of small bites, I liked it a lot and it was enough for a satisfying lunch.Overall, Hanshin Pocha is good place to hit especially if you want a quick lunch that won't ding your budget."

Bonggu Tteokbokki

★★★★★ 4.7 (227) • $$

"My friend and I ordered Bonggu Tteokbokki for delivery one night and were surprised it was as tasty as it was!Their tteokbokki sauce is one of the tastiest I've ever had! We had the Rose tteokbokki (they also have garaetteok) and both loved it. Creamy, spicy and sweet all in a wonderful medley, more balanced than I usually have had with some fish cakes thrown in. And the dduk was soft and chewy in all the right ways. The only fault is the melted cheese for $3 - they barely added any. Next time I'll just add my own cheese here at home.What's interesting is they have a bunch of fun tempura items, as well. It's not just tteokbokki here~! Their cheese sticks are very solid. I've also tried the sweet potato, deep fried egg, mini seaweed rolls, and fried sweet pumpkin - all of which were great. Freshly crisped with a good crunch and flavor.For delivery, everything was packaged so perfectly! Very secure and safe, plus everything stayed warm. Basically Bonggu Tteokbokki is the perfect Korean delivery meal!I will most definitely be ordering from Bonggu Tteokbokki! They've made me a fan."

Pixiu Mala Hongtang

★★★★☆ 4.4 (107) • $$

"Cali is finally getting cold, and this Mala Tang was perfect for the weather! It was date night, and we were excited bc this was our first time trying Korean style hot pot.Parking: The Source has a free parking garage. Plenty of parking and easy to find.Ambiance/Environment: This spot is located on the second floor. We visited right before their dinner rush. It started getting busy between 6-8pm. They have a large space inside with plenty of seating. Perfect for all group sizes. Very clean and modern inside.Service: Everyone was helpful and welcoming, but special shout out to Andrew! He was very knowledgeable about the menu and even gave us good recommendations. There was also a worker constantly walking around ensuring everyone was doing well. Overall, service was above & beyond excellent.What to do: After a server seats you, take a look at the menu. Then get a bowl & tongs from the toppings bar and fill it up. Remember they charge per lb, and they do have a scale so it gives you an idea of how much you're spending. Take your bowl to the register and choose whether you want Mala tang, Mala stir fry, or Mala pan. Choose your spice level. They'll take your bowl and prepare your dish. Then they serve it to you.Food & Drinks:1) Mala Tang, med hot - I ordered this. I absolutely looove the broth! It had the perfect amount of spiciness. All the toppings I chose were delicious, and the beef brisket & lamb were cooked well.2) Mala Stir Fry, hot - My bf ordered this, and I only took one bite bc this was veryyy spicy for me lol. The stir fry had so much flavor, and everything was cooked perfectly!3) Sweet & Sour Pork - This was recommended to us. The pork wasn't too chewy, and the outside texture was gooey. We never had anything like it, so it was a good different taste for us.4) Rose Tteokbokki - Another dish that was recommended to us. This was definitely rich in flavor. The rice cake was cooked well and drenched in the Mala sauce. The dumplings & sausages were also delicious!5) Milkis & Walovi - Some of my fav Korean drinks! Can't go wrong with these classics. So refreshing!Pricing: Definitely worth it $$$. These portions were HUGE, so they're shareable."

Choeng Wun Korean BBQ Buffet Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (386) • $$$

"I can confidently say this is the best Korean barbecue experience I've ever had, and I live near Westminster and been to K town plenty. Forget the high end places that bring out your meats from a menu. While the interior might feel minimalist, that simplicity is part of the charm--it keeps the focus entirely on the food and service, which are both outstanding.The LA Galbi is the best I've had, the beef belly was great and bulgogi. The grill setup seemed more traditional and it never needed to be turned up or down; amazing. The self-serve aspect is fantastic, with a condiment bar that's an absolute highlight. From the perfectly seasoned banchan to the fresh vegetable sides, every detail is thoughtfully prepared. But the true star of the show? The service. My server, Daniel, was hands-down the best I've ever had in my life. His kindness, attentiveness, and generosity elevated the entire experience. Without me even asking, he brought out cold noodles, onion salad, and other delicious condiments that paired perfectly with the meal. It was like he anticipated my every need before I even knew it.To top it off, I ended the meal with an incredible pumpkin porridge--sweet, comforting, and the perfect finish to an amazing feast. For the price, the quality is unbeatable, and I genuinely can't recommend this place enough. If you're lucky enough to have Daniel as your server, rest assured you'll be in great hands. This place has officially set the bar for Korean barbecue!ALSO, I've never had Sikhye before holy crap. He gave it to me after the meal it tastes like horchata but better! Look it up and try it. Definitely authentic"

Danbi

★★★★★ 4.5 (184) • $$$

"3/5 for me. I booked this spot as a bday dinner for my special someone and it didn't meet expectations. Firstly, I made a reservation right at opening. We were the second table sat and the hostess mentioned the bday and that something special would come. I didn't know it was dineLA week so the restaurant was fully booked but I had reserved 2 weeks ahead just to plan. We went with the dineLA menu and added a crudo and beef tartare a la carte.Of everything ordered - my favs were the crudo and zabuton. Red snapper was fresh and melted in my mouth. Sauce was excellent. Zabuton was super tender and the kimchi fried rice was great! The others were good/made well but not something I'd go out of my way for again - such as the honey butter chips, scallop pancake, and beef tartare. Beef tartare in particular was very fresh and could've made the mark but the burdock chips were so tiny so it madeIt difficult to eat. Maybe the bibimbap add on would've enhanced it. And then the very meh was definitely the kale salad and this strawberry yakult cake. Kale salad had so many weird flavors imo with the fried anchovy, sweet nuts, apple, and a creamy sauce that wasn't enjoyable to me. The cake was so sour..a regular Yakult would've been better - but that's just me.While ambiance is cute - can't help but feel like the experience was lackluster because the salad was forgotten for our table despite being the 2nd table seated and being noted for a birthday. We asked 3 different staff and no one would circle back with an update until it finally came out and the food settled to where we weren't hungry to eat it anymore Lastly, the table we got sat at ALWAYS had a waiter get between the gap for the table he was helping to our right and his BUTT was just in our face everytime he came by. Nothing wrong with him but seemed like common decency to find ways to insert himself maybe to the other table too so there's some balance? never had that happen before but all we saw was his butt next to our food each time. And it wasnt just because he was bringing out their food. It's while he's chatting with his table and walking them through questions but it was literally every single time he came by. He was nice and chill but please be mindful of other table experiences. hopefully you get a wall seat because anything in between = a chance for booty in your face. What I honestly disliked was there was a table of 2 in a 4 top next to the glass wall but they were enjoying wine and looked much older and never equally got butt in their face *shrug*After that, the bday boy I treated out got this jujube popsicle but it was straight herbal ice and not that enjoyable.I wouldn't revisit but hey, maybe you'll get a better seat and still enjoy some of their standout dishes if you go."

Jesse Boy

★★★★★ 4.6 (661) • $$

"LOVE jesse boy. My partner and I have to make a conscious effort not to order here multiple times a week. We typically do the spicy tenders with the salad. The tenders are crispy and flavorful and the dressing for the salad is so yum. We order often and the quality is always spot on."

Dasom By Chef Kang

★★★★★ 4.5 (114) • $$

"[edit] will have to try the oxtail next time then!!!====4.5/5 because banchan was a teensy lacking + needed more dumplings in my dumpling rice cake soup$41ish for two dishes and lots of leftoversPretty poppin' for a Saturday morning! Also smelled great *___*Special dumpling rice cake soupIs soooo good even with no hangover. I do wish there was more dumplings instead of the 3-4? That were in my bowl, but in terms of flavor, it was delish! The rice cakes soak up the broth so hurry and eat!Wagyu oxtailWoah this is super flavorful. But also little to no meat lol lots of fat/skin/tendon that was cooked wonderfully. This needs to be paired with a pickle of some sort , the banchan really helped. I'd get this dish if there's 3+ people eating! The medium spice def packs a punch and I enjoyed eating this with something sweet at home to offset the spice.Banchan Quail eggs and fish cake were our fav! There was also omelette and sausage slices so that's cool.Super solid place for Korean food at good prices. Some dishes aren't ginormous compared to other spots, but the flavor and quality is really there."

The Kimbap

★★★★☆ 4.4 (864) • $

"One of my favorite spots in ktown. I like the spicy pork the best. Best kimbabs in town. I drive 30mins for it."

Daebokjung

★★★★☆ 4.2 (68) • $$

"Food is fresh & delicious+ quantity is plenty!The ladies are sweet and attentiveI went twice in recent months and both times were great.They serve fresh true grated Wasabi. Don't even have to request it! Not even some sushi joints have that! Impressed for sureParking is valet and $3The neighborhood isn't the best but definitely worth going for the food!"

Soowon Galbi KBBQ Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"Soowon galbi remains one of my favorite kbbq places in all of ktown! It consistently delivers quality meat every time I go. There's been a wait when I went on weekend nights, but there was no wait when I came here on a Monday night. My go-to order is Combo D (~$225) if I'm sharing with 2-3 other people. It provides a good amount of meat and variety for you to try everything on the menu. The server cooks the meat for you so you can just sit back and enjoy. They were very attentive throughout the night without being overbearing, which we really appreciated.The banchan is great as well! I especially like the spinach and mac salad. We were also given two soybean soup, which I'm not sure if it was part of the banchan or combo. Regardless, it was a nice and flavorful complement to our meal."

Yipinchuan Lamb Kebab

★★★★☆ 4.3 (53)

"really good lamb skewers and don't sleep on the chicken gizzard!owner is awesome and is fluent in both korean / mandaringreat place to meet friends and have a beer with delish skewers"

Magal BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$$

"Heaven on 8th street. The images speak for themselves. One of the best in Los Angeles. If you go on a Wednesday night, it's not as busy as makes for a perfect date night. Delicious!"

Hangari Kalguksu

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"10 million stars!!!! Order the pork belly & jowl bossam, new item on their menu.......BOMB!!!I just had it yesterday and now, I'm making plans of going again, and again, and again.Amazing staff!"

Bowls N’ Bunz

★★★★★ 4.7 (15)

"My husband threw a birthday party for me in the hidden Garden at bowls N Bunz.The ambience was amazing, great music, very cozy atmosphere, romantic and inviting.The food is delicious and the service is great. Moshe, the manager was very accommodating and thoughtful. The family and friends at my party. Can't wait to go back. I highly recommend this restaurant. This is a case of don't judge the book by its cover, since the garden is hidden."

Young King

★★★★☆ 3.9 (693) • $$

"Stopped by last Sat. for a meal with a good friend. Went at 11:35AM and there were 2 tables seated. We ordered and was enjoying our food when I looked up and realized the place was full! That was about 11:50AM. We ordered 2 small jjamppong and the pork tangsuyuk. Excellent, as always. We got full off the jjamppong so I took most of the tangsuyuk home to Vegas. The owner recognized me and said happy to see you. I hadn't been here since about 2 years ago. I was a regular for years and it was nice of him to still remember me."

Jjamppong Zizon

★★★★☆ 3.9 (138) • $$

"Jjamppong Zizon is a new Korean/Chinese restaurant in Ktown that serves some delicious comfort food without all the grease.Jjajangmyun - the noodles were handmade and so chewy! I loved the black bean sauce for its tastiness without greasy heaving feeling. I think I've found one of my favorite spots for this dish.Sweet and Sour Pork - it was lightly crispy on the edges and chewy due to the rice flour. Absolute perfection. It came with a side of thinly sliced onions and the sauce served on the side. Everything complemented so well. The sauce wasn't as dank as other places but I liked the mild flavor and lighter feeling.Pan Fried Dumplings were fantastic. Fried to crispy perfection.Parking: Flat fee on Saturdays and Sundays $5 in the parking lot behind the restaurant. It says $3 with validation but the machine still charged $5. At the time of the review."

Pocha Eats

★★★★★ 4.7 (118) • $$

"Very easy to find restaurant with tons of parking. Sadly parking is plentiful because most of the businesses in this plaza seem to be gone. After awkwardly trying to get through their magnetic screen door curtain we were greeted by very friendly employees. Menu has a large variety of items and most seemed meant to be shared and accompanied by booze. Lots of pub style dishes. What brought us here was the "Pocha Bossam" which is soy glazed pork belly served with a delicious vinegary dipping sauce, raw green onion, daikon radish, and kimchi. We got the regular portion which was plentiful for two people to share. More than two people you'll want to get the larger size because this stuff is so good you'll want a big enough portion so you won't be fighting for slices. The employee made sure to let us know you want to grab a piece and eat it with the garnishes after dipping in the sauce. My wife and I both loved every bite and devoured it. The pork belly was braised or steamed so it wasn't crispy, just melt in your mouth tender. Just know they do not serves these with wraps like other Korean restaurants. You eat it with the garnish. I noticed some reviews are disappointed in this serving style so figured I'd mention it.We also ordered a serving of boneless chicken. What came out was a mountain of fried goodness. There's several flavors to choose from and we picked the soy garlic. It was more on the sweet side than I expected and I didn't taste much soy flavor but it was definitely heavy on the garlic. We ate a large amount but ended up tapping out and taking some home due to the enormous portion size. It tasted great the next day straight out of the fridge. Super crispy batter yet maintained moist tender chicken.To drink my wife and I shared a bottle of Green Grape Sochu. For $10 I was expecting this to be wine cooler strength but my wife and I had a pretty good buzz after polishing off the bottle. They had a lot of interesting sochu flavors so we'll definitely try another next visit. They gave us some pretzels with the drink.All the customers here seemed to be in a good mood. Service was so friendly you couldn't help but be in a good mood. Another employee was in the corner staging food for photos I assume for social media. He was taking pictures of bento boxes that I now see on yelp. Looks like they've expanded the menu since I was here a month or so ago. Can't wait to return!"

Tofu Bean Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.6 • $$

"Portion getting smaller and smaller. I understand no to go boxes for side dish. But when all the side dishes were consumed, and our entrees had many leftovers, you dont charge to go boxes for 50 cents each? Should had been wiser just ordered one dish and shared the whole family, then order again just as needed. Coz when we wanted to help businesses by ordering three entrees, the consequences were paying for the leftover to go boxes. This was not even an AYCE, and per entree cost about $29!"

Atoyubu

★★★★★ 4.5 (590) • $$

"My first time here and the food is great! Busy when I went. The one thing I don't get is there's a lady behind the kiosk but you still order on the screen yourself. I think the line would go faster if she takes your order and you have an additional kiosk for those that frequent the business. This way orders are expedited. Anyway, we don't like to rate low so 5 stars cause the food was so delicious! We will see you soon!"

Sookdal

★★★★★ 4.5 (65)

"Wet aged pork at Sookdal is the must get item. It's actually a bit magical here on the second floor at the corner of Western & 4th, entrance off 4th. The meat here is so filled with flavor and juicy, it's just wonderful~! Various cuts of pork which they have a cute little guide to eating with it! My personal favorite way to go is to try it ALL the suggested ways - plain, with salt, with various sauces, with various banchans, with myeong-yi (my personal fav) and with my second fav ----Grilled cheese! Basically it is the most brilliant and tasty thing of all time. You can get a combo that includes this cheese for grilling or add it for $10. Simple and well worth having the for bites of meat with cheese. I'm a cheeseaholic so I hope whoever is dining with me took their lactaid. Feed me all the dairy!Service was very good by the way. Great staff and all is cooked for you.I was really excited about the risotto! But...I dislike jalapenos and it's a very jalapeno heavy dish. My friend however loved it!~ So...I wish an option to have this without jalapenos was offered *winkwink* or some other style of spice. This is a Sarah problem, I realize, because like I said my friend loved the creaminess of the risotto - so no stars knocked lolz.Everything here just feels premium compared to other spots. I mean you get a little description of the pork you're eating. Sheesh, so cool~! I'm a big Sookdal fan. It's tasty and can be fun with a friend, date or group if you're looking for more interactive food. Really though, the eats are so high quality and that's what matters most."

Gangnam Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (278)

"My favorite kbbq spot!! My boyfriend and I discovered this place over the summer. we've been here countless times already! The quality of beef is amazing. We always get the small beef combo and the food is more than enough for the both of us. My favorite is the beef belly and gott sal. They load the side dishes and each one is amazing. But my favorite is the fluffy steamed egg and the soup. Very delicious. Each time we've been, the service has been great. Each server is attentive and very friendly. They even cook the meats for you. Which is nice so we can enjoy the dinner without the stress of cooking. The ambiance is very cute and casual. They have neon signs all around which creates a nice vibe. We love this place so much. We constantly recommend to our friends and family. We commute 30-40 mins to the restaurant and definitely worth the drive!"

MDK Noodles

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"MDK Noodles is such a solid spot for korean soup for any occasion. Parking was pretty easy since there's a structure nearby, and the parking meters were available given it was a Saturday. It's kind of hidden on the corner of a busy street, but not too hard to find. This was my second time here, and I had to get the Kalguksu and spicy Kalguksu again. They give you a big portion of noodles, so it feels super worth the price, which also wasn't drastically expensive from other soup restaurants.We waited about 30-40 minutes, but honestly, it was worth it. The food hit the spot, and I left feeling full and satisfied."