The Most Delectable Korean in Santa Ana

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."

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."

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."

Seoul Haus

★★★★☆ 3.8 (681) • $$

"Delicious authentic Korean food!!! They are very generous with the side dishes. We ordered the pork katsu, ox tail soup, cold noodles & tofu seafood soup, everything was absolutely yummy! My entire family loves this restaurant, make sure to put in a reservation!"

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"

Tomo Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (502) • $$

"Too Sushi is a very good place if you like sushi. Sushies in this location are great. Not only taste good but also they look healthy. I am not sure if they are from organic wild catch though. Try it for yourself you wouldn't be disappointed."

Holdaak Fried Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (476) • $$

"A friend insisted that we try this little chicken restaurant, which is tucked away in a strip mall in Orange. We went for their Tuesday chicken sandwich deal. $4.99 for one of the best and juiciest chicken sandwiches I've ever had! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves a good chicken sandwich."

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!"

Kaju Soft Tofu

★★★★☆ 3.5 (651) • $$

"Absolutely love this place. The servers are sweet and kind. The prices are reasonable (in my opinion) for what you get. I usually order the spicy tofu soup that comes with the panchan. The little crispy fried fish are also a favorite. Recently, I shared the steamed egg dish and it's so fluffy and delicious. I can't wait to try the ginseng chicken."

Umma's K-BBQ

★★★★★ 4.6 (374) • $$

"I visited this business yesterday for lunch. The staff was very friendly and helpful with the ordering; the space itself is small, so you mostly eat on the shared patio - it was too hot for me yesterday so i brought food back to my office. I had the combo plate with Beef bulgogi and chicken katsu, with white rice, cabbage salad, kimchi and macaroni salad. The bulgogi was a little chewy and the mac salad was a little boring, but everything else was great. (Add some soy sauce to the mac to improve it!) It was really expensive - over $20. I may come back - the food was really good, just a little pricy."

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"

Da Rae BBQ Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (414) • $$

"We were craving "soup" during a chilly winter night. Yelp suggested a nearby Korean Tofu Soup.The Da Rae BBQ Restaurant is not well lite in the late hours. The small restaurant is located behind another Japanese restaurant and wedge between car wash express. The restaurant is very cramped and establishment hasn't be updated for some time so looks outdated. There are approximately 8 tables accommodating small family or groups.Being 1.5 hours before closing, we were quickly seated, orders taken and food came out fairly soon. The only complaint was two items were missed and we had to remind the owner. Ironically, those were "bbq" items. haha!The banchans (complementary side dishes) were good. The kimchi and cucumbers were the best. We ordered a side of japchae (cold glass noodles) and it was disappointing.The tofu combo soup is delicious and flavorful. There are option for spice level so amp it up if you can handle the heat. Overall, the service is good. The owner is very cordial. I will certainly return to support this mom and pop shop."

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!"

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."

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."

Myungrang Hot Dog

★★★★☆ 4.3 (319) • $

"If you are looking for quick eats... Try out this place. It is a fun twist to the traditional hot dog on a stick. The staff was friendly and quick. Not a long wait for my order at all. And this was on a Saturday during lunch time. Everything is made fresh. There's also a variety of toppings and sauces you can add to your hotdog.I ordered the sweet potato hotdog dog. 5 stars! Crispy on the outside. Light and fluffy batter. Hot and delicious hotdog on the inside. Definitely coming back to try the other items on the menu!"

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!"

Furai Chicken

★★★★★ 4.5 (284) • $$

"The chicken sandwich was hot and tender, and the glaze sets it apart with a unique savory/sweet flavor combination. The sandwich with the fried egg is unique, tasty and fresh! The pickled cucumber salad is a SPICY pickled cucumber. The serving is pretty small for six bucks though. The ambience is straightforward small-shop chill. Staff are laid back and nice. I wish for some kind of additional vegetable option to round out the fried goodness and make me feel healthier."