ILCHA

Came by recently just to have drinks. ILCHA is cool because their concept is centered around premium soju. They do have the familiar and more accessible priced brands like Jinro, Chamisul, and Soon Hari but what stands out are the finer products. The premium sojus range between $34-65 for a 375ml bottle with most of them being at $40. My two favorite are Golden Barley, which has a sweet barley flavor, and Seoul Night, which has a sour plum flavor. Staff is efficient in serving and will typically pour your first round for you. The sojus also pair really nicely with the food but overall, the selection is great for drinking with a full range or brands and prices.

Came here with a friend to try out a new restaurant!This restaurant is nestled in the marina, and features dark-lit ambiance. There is a decent amount of seating which is nice! My friend and I ordered the bossam and oysters as well as the BUDAE JJIGAE! We loved both dishes. This was my first time trying bossam, and I really enjoyed it. I loved the toppings and every bite was so flavorful! The budae jjigae was also very nice and warm for a cold day :)The service was also great as the servers were attentive and helpful!Overall, the food was definitely a 10/10, and I'll be coming back to try more dishes !!

Such a cool restaurant in the Marina! Came here with a 6:45 PM reservation. The seating inside is one long table down the middle and then some tables on the side, each with stovetops to keep dishes warm. The inside is dimly lit and very swanky, loved the atmosphere and the minimalist wood furniture with the mural in the back. There happened to be a large party in the center table, which made it quite noisy, but once they left the sound was much more manageable. It took a little to get a waiter's attention since they were busy with the bigger party, so I had to flag them down.My friend and I got the Bossam and Oysters as well as the Budae Jjigae. They were both so beautifully yet cleanly plated!Bossam and Oysters: 5/5, the bossam was tender yet robust, and the oysters were so large! Loved the sauces they provided. I wish they gave more lettuce and perilla leaves with the bossam, they seemed vastly out of proportion.Budae Jjigae: 5/5, this was a HUGE pot -- easily could have fed 4 people. We ate it all though since I had just come from a long workout, and it was wonderful! Lots of great ingredients in there. I especially loved the rice cakes and variety of sausages. Someone actually came by to add the ramen noodles and cheese in for us, and they also moderated the temperature for us so it wouldn't boil over. Great service!Overall, had a great time here and would definitely want to be back to come try the raw shrimp, crab, and Korean fried chicken, which I've heard are also wonderful. A little pricey for Korean food but the quality is there and the ambiance is great.

The perfect spot to dine at with a group! Portion sizes are on the smaller size but really great flavors. I really enjoyed the LA Galbi and Budae Jjigae.Wish they had the raw marinated crab when I went, but it's off the menu and only available certain days!

Brought a visiting friend to Ilcha because I had been wanting to try it, but was saving it for some sort of occasion. We had a group of 4 and made a reservation- we got sat early and were told we would have 2 hours from our reservation time. The restaurant is pretty loud and the seating is pretty tight. The menu isn't too large and you can't go wrong with what you order, we ordered a half order of Korean fried chicken, army stew, soy marinated shrimp, galbi, and kim mari. (Presentation of all dishes was very nice unfortunately I forgot to take pictures) this was more than enough food for 4 people and there were left overs. They bust out the plastic gloves for the shrimp and that's exciting. I love an interactive meal and the shrimp and soup cooking definitely provided that. If you go the shrimp is a must. Price wise this place was shockingly reasonable. I feel like we ordered a lot and only paid about 40 per person, we didn't get drinks which always boosts a bill but still wouldn't have done that much damage. Overall very excited to go back again.

4.5/5 stars but not worthy of a 5 star because we give those sparingly!! I'm not a drinker so I didn't know what to expect from this place that is known more for drinking/bar type of feel but I was not disappointed. They had a substantial amount of food to order off of and my primary recommendations and why this place is worth 4.5/5 is for the SOY SHRIMPS. This comes with a special rice and is PHENOMENAL. Other things we got were a Korean stew, hotteok, and Korean fried chicken. All were good but not what I'll think about and the reason I'd come back here!!

Ilcha is a bit of a hidden gem. From the outside, the restaurant doesn't look much like a typical dining spot--it's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. The front has more of a nondescript, casual vibe, so don't let that fool you! Once you step inside, however, you'll be greeted by a trendy, dark ambiance that feels more like a bar than a traditional restaurant. We made a reservation for dinner for two, which I highly recommend, especially on weekends. The place fills up quickly, and since the dining area features communal seating at long tables, it's best to book in advance to ensure a spot at a table that works for your group. The communal setting is a unique touch, adding a social element to the meal, though it might feel unexpected if you're not prepared for it.We came specifically for the raw marinated crab, a dish we had been eager to try, and it did not disappoint. The crab was tender, flavorful, and coated in a savory, slightly sweet marinade that perfectly balanced the natural sweetness of the crab meat. It was a unique and refreshing dish, definitely worth the visit.In addition to the crab, we also ordered a few other items to round out our meal. The bossam (boiled pork belly wrapped in lettuce with garlic, kimchi, and sauces) was delicious--tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The oysters were fresh and briny, a great complement to the rest of the meal. And of course, we couldn't resist trying the Korean fried chicken, which was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.The service was friendly and attentive.

Had a reservation for dinner and the food was so good!! It is small and intimate inside, service is decent, staff are friendly and somewhat attentive. Started off with the bulgogi tater tots which were so good. The tots were perfectly crispy and crunch, the bulgogi was sweet and savory and perfectly balanced with the fresh toppings and sour cream. The Korean friend chicken was perfectly crispy too, juicy, well seasoned. I even enjoyed it by itself. The galbi came with a side of lettuce which was so delicious, the meat was tender, well marinated, savory, chewy, and paired well with the lettuce into a wrap and dipping it into the side pairings. The spicy ramen hotpot was also good, comforting, and definitely had a kick to it. It was a big portion and quite a bit for two people so I would recommend if going with more people.

Have been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally got around to trying it! We got extremely lucky by walking in and not needing to wait or need a reservation on a Friday night around 7pm. Food (4/5): We got the dubu kimchi, corn cheese tater tots, and Korean fried chicken. Everything was delicious and very nicely elevated. I could tell they use fresh ingredients. The only reason I give it a 4 is because it is on the pricey side for "bar food". My favorite dish was the corn cheese tater tots. It's a must get!Service (4/5): Nothing special. They came to check on us maybe once and were efficient with ordering and paying. Ambiance (5/5): I love this sort of ambiance. Dark, intimate, not too loud, and minimalist decor. Keep in mind that you'll probably need to sit next to other people at their family table which is a long rectangular table that can sit probably 14 people. I didn't mind, it was fun seeing what other people got!

Relatively harder to grab a resy here, so make sure to plan ahead! Arrived on a Saturday night for a second dinner lol bc 8pm was the only available slot. We got the marinated shrimp with rice, and immediately became fans. I adore a classic seasoned rice w seaweed flakes and sesame oil, and it paired so well with the shrimp. The bulgogi stew was solid, although nothing too crazy. It does hit the spot on a cold rainy day, bc that's what Korean stews do:') Super friendly and quick service! Very cozy inside, although you should expect to inadvertently listen into the conversations next to you. Will def come back to try more menu items!!