In the evening of Sunday, August 23rd tonight, I went to Danbi with My Mom for their Dine LA dinner. Danbi has been extremely popular lately, and getting a reservation has been very difficult. I made our reservation about two weeks in advance, but every date and every time slot for the following week was already completely booked. The only times available two weeks later were 7:45 PM or 9:00 PM, so we ended up making a 7:45 PM reservation, which was much later than the time we normally have dinner. I was really curious to see what this restaurant was like since it was so difficult to get a reservation. Some members of my group had also really wanted to try Danbi, but they couldn't get reservations because everything was fully booked. They all asked me to let them know what I thought after I went. Today, we finally got to go. We arrived a little early, around 7:20 PM. I told the hostess that our reservation was for 7:45 PM and that we had arrived early. She said okay and immediately seated us at our table, which I really appreciated. We didn't have to wait at all. We were seated at a table for two. There were also two women sitting at a table for two on our left and another two women sitting at a table for two on our right. Interestingly, both tables were having the exact same Dine LA menu as we were. So before we even ordered, we could actually see the dishes that we were going to be eating right next to us, which was kind of fun. The first dish that came out was the Honey Potato Chips. They were slightly sweet and sticky, probably because honey had been drizzled over them. I ate them with chopsticks because they were so sticky. My Mom initially picked them up with her hands, but her fingers got so sticky that she eventually started eating them with chopsticks too. Next came the Watermelon Kimchi. It looked like the watermelon had been seasoned with pepper or some other kind of seasoning. It was cool, refreshing, and really delicious. I thought it was perfect as a light and refreshing summer dish. Then we had two Cheese Rolls, and they were absolutely delicious. After that came the Spicy Sashimi Noodle. It was basically like spicy mixed soba noodles with a gochujang-based sauce underneath, along with pieces of sashimi. Our server told us to mix everything together really well before eating it, so I mixed it thoroughly with a spoon. It was slightly spicy, but really tasty. Then the Pork Jowl came out with rice and chili crisp. The pork was incredibly tender and soft, and it was delicious. On its own, the pork tasted a little rich and greasy, but when I ate it together with the sauce and the chili crisp, it was really good. For dessert, we had the Goguma Parfait. Our server explained that it was made with strawberries, blueberries, sweet potato, and potato. It wasn't overly sweet, which I really liked, and it was surprisingly delicious. There were also two pieces of chocolate on top, and everything went really well together. After trying everything, I finally understood why this restaurant is so popular and why every date and time slot seems to fill up so quickly. Every dish was incredibly creative, unique, and delicious. It honestly felt like we were experiencing and savoring little works of art through food. After we finished, I asked My Mom which dish she liked the most. She said that every single dish was delicious. Personally, my favorites were the Cheese Rolls, the Watermelon Kimchi, the Spicy Sashimi Noodles, and the Goguma Parfait. I also really liked our server. I can't remember her name, but she was a female server and was extremely kind and attentive. We had some pork and Honey Potato Chips left over and asked for two to-go boxes. She said she would pack them for us herself, and she carefully packed everything into the to-go boxes and brought them back to us in a brown paper bag. I thought that was incredibly kind. The other servers who brought out our food were also very friendly. At one point, I asked for two extra plates, and they brought them to us very quickly. It was also funny and interesting that the two women sitting at the table on our left and the two women sitting at the table on our right were all having the exact same Dine LA menu as us, and they were also just drinking water, just like we were. Overall, I really enjoyed Danbi. All of the food was delicious, the atmosphere was nice, and the staff was extremely friendly and attentive. I definitely want to come back next time and explore their regular menu. I feel like it would be another very creative and unique culinary adventure. There was only one major downside: it was VERY, VERY noisy. I think part of the reason is that the mall itself is a popular place for younger people. I actually used to go to this mall all the time with my friends when I was in my 20s and 30s, so I know how lively it can get. read more

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Came here with some girlfriends for Dine LA. Cocktails (not included in Dine LA offer): Kimchi mule: 8/10. Inspired by white kimchi, not the traditional kimchi that most people are familiar with. It was unique savory and gingery. Didn't get much pear flavor though Hwachae punch: 5/10. Did not give any essence of hwachae, no milk flavor. Just tasted like strawberry juice honestly. Honey butter chips: 6/10. Chips were thin and crispy. The honey butter sauce was not distributed evenly across all chips, so some chips were just plain potato chips. It left me craving to go to Hmart and purchase a bag of honey butter chips instead. Corn cheese roll 7/10: fried well and the corn was sweet, but a bit bland Watermelon kimchi: 9/10. Refreshing and complimented the heaviness of the other dishes well. I liked that they included both watermelon and Hami melon. Spicy sashimi noodle: 7.5/10. The sauce was nice, balanced, barely spicy. Could have used more of the sauce. Noodles were a good texture and sea bream was fresh and not fishy, no sinew in the fish pieces. Pork jowl: 9/10. Highlight of the meal. Cooked well, tender, not gamey, good ratio of meat to fat. Paired well with the bean sauce given. The rice it came with was delicious. Goguma parfait: 8/10. Goguma was cooked well and a creamy texture Value: keep in mind that for the Dine LA deal, each pair of people receives 1 dish of each to share (with the exception of the cheese roll, which is 1 roll per person). So 1 bowl of rice was for 2 people to share. Overall I'm glad I got to try this place on the Dine LA deal to sample multiple dishes. I probably would not return unless for another Dine LA offer with new dishes read more

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Our first challenge was finding the place. Danbi sits behind Chapman Market, and the name is written in white on the window with a white shade behind it, so it was easy to miss. We went for the DineLA menu. We had reservations and were immediately seated. Overall, the restaurant had a modern, relaxed vibe. Our server was very personable and helped me choose the Kimchi Mule, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The food started rolling out right away, beginning with the Honey Butter Potato Chips. They were good, but probably not something I would order again. Next came the kimchi watermelon and spicy sashimi noodles, and I was impressed with both. I had a hard time imagining what kimchi watermelon would taste like and was surprised by how much I liked it. The spicy sashimi noodles were the standout for me. I kept going back for another bite and would come back just for those. The Corn and Cheese Roll came out next along with the Pork Jowl. Both were good, although if I returned, I would probably try something different. Up until that point, everything had gone extremely well. The food came out at a good pace, people checked on us, our waters were refilled, and dishes were cleared almost as soon as we finished them. Then we waited. And waited some more. Our server kept apologizing and telling us, "The dessert is coming!" After at least 20 minutes, we started talking about simply leaving without it. I finally flagged down the host and asked if there was a problem in the kitchen because we had been waiting so long for the parfait. A few minutes later, he came back and explained that there was an issue involving the whipped cream. At that point I asked how much longer we were expected to wait. Eventually the parfait arrived, and I couldn't help thinking that we had waited close to half an hour for what amounted to a small dollop of whipped cream on top. To make matters worse, the dessert wasn't very good. We couldn't finish it. I left disappointed, especially because the rest of the meal had gone so well. I know the kitchen delay wasn't our server's fault, but I would have expected someone to proactively explain what was happening or offer us another dessert rather than leaving us sitting there wondering when--or if--it was coming. read more

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Danbi is a modern Korean restaurant located in Koreatown in Los Angeles. It translates to "sweet rain" referencing the rain after a long period of drought. The restaurant was recommended on the Michelin guide. We made reservations online ahead of time. There is lot parking for $20 as well as street parking. HONEY BUTTER CHIPS ($8) - these were crispy, sweet, and salty. They're inspired by the ones in the bags but these were way better. The honey butter sauce on top was addicting. 4.5/5 SCALLOP PANCAKE ($25) - this was crispy, flavorful, and there were lots of scallops. I also liked the strawberry mentaiko dipping sauce. 5/5 BEEF TARTARE ($36) - this was silky from the bone marrow and the egg yolk. They came with the same chips as the honey butter chips to scoop. 4.5/5 UNI BIBIMBAP ($60) - I loved the sweet shrimp and the uni was silky. Note that this is sold at market price; it was definitely a smaller portion of food and you're mostly paying for the uni. 4/5 ZABUTON STEAK ($85) - the steak was tender and perfectly cooked. It tasted like it was in some sweet Korean marinade and was one of the best steaks I've had in a long time, even better than steak houses. Also, don't forget the delicious garlic rice cooked in beef tallow. This was absolutely amazing! 5/5 For cocktails both the luv u so matcha ($18) and hwachae milk punch ($16) were delicious and easy to drink. Note that they're soju-based and none of their cocktails contain hard liquor. Everything was so flavorful and we loved our meal. It's definitely a pricey one but we both thought it was worth it. This is a place I can see myself coming back to eat again. read more

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Nice spot if you're looking for Korean food with a modern twist. The interior is modern, sleek, and thoughtfully designed, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. The food here is definitely more creative than your standard Korean restaurant. A lot of familiar Korean flavors and dishes are presented in a more modern, elevated way. Scallop Pancake -- 7.5/10 Think scallion pancake, but with scallops. I really enjoyed this, especially because they don't skimp on the scallops. My only complaint is that the batter is a little too thick, and combined with how oily it is, the dish gets filling pretty quickly. This is definitely something I'd recommend ordering with a larger group so everyone can have a couple pieces rather than trying to tackle the whole thing. The dipping sauce is chef's kiss. Uni Bibimbap -- 9/10 My favourite dish of the night. All the different ingredients work together incredibly well. Every bite is balanced and flavourful, and honestly, I could probably eat an entire bowl of this myself. Beef Tartare -- 7.5/10 I love beef tartare, and this was no exception. My main complaint is that I found it a little lacking in flavuor compared to some of the tartares and yukhoe I've had at other Korean restaurants. The bone marrow is a cool addition, although I think it contributes more to the presentation and interactive aspect than the actual flavour of the dish. If you don't eat the tartare relatively quickly, the bone marrow starts to solidify and you end up with little pieces of hardened fat, which I found a bit unappealing. Honey Butter Chips -- 5/10 Not bad, but personally I wouldn't order these again. The honey butter sauce started becoming a little too rich and sickening for me after a few chips. read more

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Danbi has been on my list to try for over a year! I was super excited when my friend wanted to go try this place with me. They had parking for $10 in their shared lot. We got to try a couple of things. The first thing we ate was their corn cheese roll. The waiter said this is new to the menu and I hope it stays. If you are a fan of Korean cheese corn, you are going to love this. It's corn and cheese wrapped up in an egg roll like wrapper. It was a great starter. Next, we got the endive salad! This salad was beautiful and fresh! Everything you want in a salad and more. I love the sweet corn in this salad too. Every ingredient balance each other so well. We also got the scallop pancake. This was the dish I always wanted to try here but after eating it, it felt a bit heavy compare to the other dishes. It was okay but the other dishes shined more. Lastly, we got the pork jowl, my favorite of the night. It came with a side of garlic rice! You dip the pork with the chili crisp and eat it with a scoop of rice, delicious!! I wish I had that dish right now. Overall, a great dinner spot in ktown!!! read more

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Korean food with a twist. Chips: definitely in the sweeter side. Saltiness of the chips helped balance it out Scallop pancake: wish they were the larger scallops instead of the small ones but they were fried really well. The breading pancake part def was a bit doughy and a little undercooked Jowl: great. Loved the ssamjang and traditional peppers they gave with it. Should've asked for extra samjang Steak: most of my groups favorite. Cooked incredibly well and the perilla leaf chimchurri was very unique. Might have to incorporate that myself when making chimichurri. They had Korean inspired drinks which were yummy. The injeolmi flavor in mine came through really strongly (good thing). The gim-let tasted like a standard gimlet asides from the piece of fried seaweed ggim on top. Hwachae cocktail was also tasty but didn't taste unique read more

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I've exhausted all the restaurants in this plaza and this one came last but definitely not least. What a little gem this was. Great food, great service, and really enjoyable ambiance. Quiet, intimate, clean. Honey butter chips: For me they are a must try. Very sweet and unique and perfect for snacking during the meal. Thin, crispy, flavorful. Scallop pancake: the scallop pancake works so well, the scallop is crunchy and the side of sauce goes very well. Tuna tartare: I would definitely order this one. The bone marrow is a very subtle but nice addition, the tartare is dominated by the sesame oil and needs nothing more. Tartare comes in a generous portion Pork jowl: must order if you like pork. Good quality, cooked perfectly, pairs really well with the chili oil. So good with the accompanying rice Corn latte: order if you like unique desserts. It is sweet, has the hint of saltiness from the foam, a very faint corn flavor, the jelly adds great texture especially paired with the coffee flavored bed of shaved ice. I loved it but it's not for everyone read more

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Haven't been here in a while and came by with a group of friends for dinner. I noticed some of the drinks and food items changed a little since I've been here last. Overall, the experience was good but was a bit disappointed with the drinks. Last time, the favorite was the lychee cocktail with foam but this time the taste was a little different and there was no foam. But we found a new favorite, which was the I love you so matcha. Very refreshing cocktail. The food was still amazing. You can't go wrong with the focused menu that they have. All you really need are the scallop pancakes, beef tartare, pork jowl, and the plate of beef. The whole tables set! Staff was super friendly and attentive and made sure we were perfectly accommodated. Glad to see danbi is still busy after all these years read more

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My bf and I came here for a date night a few months ago after hearing so many raving reviews about this Michelin star restaurant and although the interior is beautiful (romantic and dimly lit with candles), we were disappointed by the food. The zabuton was tender and juicy, but tbh it was nothing too special and somehow tasted more sweet than savory. For $75, we expected more. I've had better tasting wagyu for cheaper The honey butter chips were great at first but over time became a heavy dish. These also tasted incredibly sweet (which makes sense bc it's honey butter), but combined with the zabuton it was overly sweet, to the extent that we couldn't finish the chips even with the provided palate cleanser. The uni bibimbap was okay, served in a small bowl. At the end, they gave us each a yuzu popsicle which I liked! Very refreshing and almost like a palate cleanser too No complaints about the service though- everyone was friendly, we just wished the food tasted better and that the portions were larger for the price point. read more

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I've been meaning to try Danbi for a while now, and finally popped in after they reopened. It's a great spot for date night or drinks with a few friends. Order the scallop pancake and the grilled pork jowls with some drinks and prepare to have a nice, chill evening. We tried a lot of food and the grilled pork jowl was our favorite dish. Scallop pancake was also great, topped with lots of scallops and stayed crispy until the end of the meal. The zabuton, which I was most excited for, was good, but nothing special that you can't get anywhere else. I was also thrown off by the sweet marinade. Docked a star because service was just ok on my visit and it's pretty expensive. read more

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It's been a while since I ate at danbi. Sad to see the menu change :( i also forgot to take pics of the food but overall was amazing Tried some new items- golden nuggets- fried ground chicken which I highly do not recommend. I ordered this so that my daughter had something to eat. Pork jowl and scallop pancakes were still delicious and tasty as I remembered the first time we had it. They didn't have the perilla cold noodles but they had pine nut cold noodles. And man was this dish so memorable. I really enjoyed the creaminess and how it just came together with the sliced pear and candied walnuts. Wish i ordered one bowl just for myself haha. Was sad that the zabuton was not on the menu but they had the chuck flat. Still think the zabuton tasted better! Service was great. Music wasn't as loud as when we first went. It was a great family meal! Can't wait to come back. read more

Danbi - New menu as of 7/5/26 - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Attended with some friends for Dine LA. We had a reservation but it still took 1/2 an hour to get seated which was mildly annoying. We all were questioning what the point of a reservation was if the table wasn't ready when we got there. By the time we were seated it was 10 minutes to last call for the kitchen and cocktail bar, so that was disappointing. Better coordination is needed. Although I understand they were busy, I was not happy. Food came out all at once instead of as listed in the set course on the menu which was super overwhelming. The staff was nice enough to throw in complimentary extras (house made chicken nuggets) due to running out of corn cheese rolls (we had a party of 8, and they had 7 rolls) so very nice of the establishment; and subbed the dessert due to running out of what was listed on the Dine LA menu. I was looking forward to the parfait but that's ok. Drinks were a bit light but still enjoyable. Vibes wise, the place was nicely decorated, we all loved the movie clips on the wall, very intimate vibes. Would I come again? Questionable for the experience I had, maybe another time for second chances read more

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Such an amazing spot and first time eating here with the friends. Everything from the food to the drinks was top notch. The service and setting is also amazingly welcoming and very comfortable. The matcha cocktail was my first time ever trying an alcoholic matcha and definitely something I'll be coming back for. Perfect blend of earthy with sweet. Then going to the foods, we got the tartare, grilled jowl, zabuton, and red snapper. Everything was perfectly made, with loads of flavor, and really makes you wanting more Next time we come back to the area, 100% stopping by again. Thank you Danbi! read more

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Danbi was the perfect pick for a girls' night out in ktown! We ordered drinks and some yummy dishes, and I'll definitely be back. Me and friend started with drinks at the bar - I got the hwachae milk punch, a pretty pink sip! My friend got the espresso martini, their take made with cold brew soju, Korean coffee mix, and makgeolli. Both were fun, well-balanced ways to kick off the night. Their honey butter chips were pretty delectable - fresh-cut potato, fried until crunchy and airy, then drizzled with a honey butter glaze that channels those nostalgic honey butter chip snacks. The sauce was good but can definitely be a sweetness overload, so if you don't have a sweet tooth, I would avoid ordering. Got the pine nut cold noodles, which was refreshing on a summer day - white noodles in a chilled soy milk broth with pine nut. The pine flavor was pretty subtle, so if you're into that, definitely get this, but for me it was just okay. The pork jowl was delicious though - comes with chili crisp and garlic rice, and we ended up taking some home because we couldn't finish it all! Service was great - we sat at the bar and got to watch the bartender work and chat. Parking can be hit or miss; you can either park in the several garage structures around ktown or the small paid lot in the Danbi plaza, but we came on a Thursday night and it was still pretty busy. Overall, a 9/10 meal with good vibes, cute drinks, and delicious food. Already dreaming about trying the galbi next time I'm here! read more

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best. meal. of. my. LIFE! I've had Danbi bookmarked for the longest time, and I can definitely say it was worth all the hype and MORE! The scallop pancake has such an amazing crunch, and paired so well with the slightly sweet and rich mentaiko sauce. My favorite bite was hands down the uni bibimbap. It was so rich and decadent and the sweet shrimp mixed with the creamy uni was an absolute textural dream. I'm devastated it took me this long to try Danbi. I am very pleasantly surprised. It was a cute and vibey restaurant, but be prepared to pay for valet. read more

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The food here is SO good! i am a personal fan of the scallop pancake :,) we also got the honey butter chips, perilla cold noodles, and the grilled jowl which i really liked! Service was great! Our server was very attentive and described each dish perfectly. The place was so cute! I really loved the ambiance :) 10/10 would come back again. read more

Danbi - scallop pancake, perilla cold noodles, honey butter chips, and grilled jowl - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Danbi is a ktown staple, great for a night out or a cute date. The ambiance is dimly lit, decorated with candles and sometimes a film projector playing movies. I've had the scallop pancake, zabuton, spicy japchae, and honey butter chips. I'd recommend the zabuton and the spicy japchae. Zabuton is great, but be sure to eat it while it's fresh and still hot because it isn't good cold! Love that the spicy japchae includes so many little clams and scallops and is seasoned well without being overwhelming. I'm not a huge fan of the scallop pancake like everyone seems to be, it's quite heavy feeling even with the sauces, but it's an interesting side. For drinks here I'd go with a makgeolli or wine recommendation from the server over the cocktails. EDIT: THEY DONT SERVE THE SPICY JAPCHAE ANYMORE AND THE ZABUTON IS DIFFERENT. RIP DANBI. read more

Danbi - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is vibey, yummy and i like their drinks. Fusiony korean food. You can valet or street park (but more than likely will be unsuccessful). This part of ktown is crazy! Everyone is quite nice here. Yummy! read more

spontaneous dinner because it's been on my list forever to try and so incredibly happy we went. this is one of the best meals ive had in a while. their service is incredible and the space is just beautiful. the zabuton was just cooked perfectly and so tender. it held such great, natural flavor, and the portion was huge. that's expected actually as the portion is for 2-3 but the size for that price & quality was just more than worth it. i looooved how the bone marrow didn't feel too oily or heavy once mixed in with the beef tartare (as suggested) & it was actually like butter & tuna. amazing dish. the honey butter chips weren't necessarily for me. it was just honey butter on the top layer of a few chips while the the rest was pretty much just regular chips. we were lucky to find parking on the street but parking is $10-15 if you need. read more

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I took my friend who was visiting town here a couple years ago, and it is a meal that we both still remember fondly. Reservations were very easy to make online. We were greet warmly and immediately got excited over their cocktail menu. The highlights of the food menu were certainly the crispy, savory scallop pancake (haemul pajeon) and tender Zabuton Wagyu. The one downside is the lack of street parking in that area of Koreatown, but if you want to avoid the headache, they do have valet parking. Otherwise, this is a wonderful place to enjoy modern Korean American food for date night or with friends. read more

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My bf and I had an 8:30pm reservation for his birthday and we were seated immediately upon arrival. Our server started us off with water and everything got off to a great start. The ambiance was lovely and perfect for a date night. The dining room felt dark, intimate, and cozy, and I especially loved the little candle on the table. It was a small touch, but it made the experience feel warm and special. We ordered the perilla oil noodle, scallop pancake, pork jowl, and hwaechae milk to share. The perilla oil noodle had a strong perilla aroma which I loved, but beyond that it didn't really taste like much. It wasn't bad but it's probably the one dish I'd skip next time. The scallop pancake was great. It was crispy, packed with scallops, and the dipping sauce complemented it really well. The pork jowl was easily our favorite dish of the night. It was tender, flavorful, and paired perfectly with all of the accompanying condiments. Every bite felt balanced and well thought out. The hwaechae milk was also delicious and refreshing. It was a fun drink to share and a nice contrast to the richer dishes. While the food was good overall, the portions felt pretty small for the price point. Everything tasted good but it was hard not to notice how quickly the dishes disappeared given what we paid. Maybe it was just the specific dishes we ordered but considering Danbi is on the Michelin Guide, I was expecting bolder and more memorable flavors. Korean cuisine is known for being vibrant and packed with flavor so I left feeling a little underwhelmed. Nothing we had was bad but aside from the pork jowl there wasn't a dish that really wowed me. To end the meal, the staff brought us a yuzu popsicle topped with a birthday candle, which ended up being my favorite part of the entire night. The popsicle was perfectly tangy, refreshing, and honestly more memorable than any of the dishes we ordered. It made the celebration feel thoughtful without being over the top. Overall, we had a great experience. The atmosphere was beautiful, the service was attentive, and it was a lovely place to celebrate a special occasion even though it was a bit overhyped given the small portions, high prices, and flavors that didn't quite live up to my expectations. I'd still come back to try the steak tartare, uni bibimbap, and the zabuton! read more

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We went shortly after they opened and it got busier as the night went on. The Honey butter chips are dripping with the honey butter sauce & I wished I had a whole bowl of that. The Grilled jowl was thinly sliced & one of my favorite dishes of the night! The Zabuton came out still sizzling on a bed of onions- I absolutely loved this & it is definitely shareable between 2 or more people. The Scallop pancake had baby scallops cooked in to it- very fluffy & filling, another shareable dish between 2 or more people. The Mushroom bibimbap mixed with the sauce is a great vegetarian dish! Parking- $10 self park in the plaza read more

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Had such a good experience here! Everything we ordered was really solid, from the refreshing hwachae milk punch and tangy kimchi mule to the corn cheese roll, beef tartare, crudo, and galbi. The goguma parfait was definitely a highlight too, especially the whipped cream. Our server Matt was great and made the experience even better. He was attentive, gave us good recommendations, and consistently checked in on us even as the restaurant got busier. Never felt overbearing, just genuinely helpful. Great food, drinks, and service overall--would definitely come back! read more

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Beautiful and stylish restaurant with a great atmosphere. I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. The Korean-inspired cocktails were unique and absolutely delicious. The scallop pancake was incredible--I had never tried one before, and it ended up being one of my favorite dishes. The steak was perfectly cooked, tender, and full of flavor. My only disappointment was the portion size. For the price, I expected a much larger steak. Other than that, everything was excellent. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes and cocktails. Great service read more

Danbi - Scallop pancake - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Romantic ambiance with black and white film clips playing in the background - very cute vibes :) Very attentive service! Scallop pancake: 1000/5. How do they manage to make this pancake so soft and chewy, yet crispy on the outside with scallop that's perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy?? The mentaiko cream that comes with it is divine. All of that topped with freshly squeezed lime juice, oh wow. Perfection. Zabuton: 4.5/5. Another must order. Perfectly cooked and so tender! I often have a hard time chewing through meat, but not for this dish. Yum, yum, yum. The pickled garlic and shishito peppers were so good as well. Points taken off cuz the garlic rice so moist that it was basically congee... The kimchi was not bad, but nothing special! Mushroom bibimbap: 4/5. It's a good dish, but honestly it's nothing special. I didn't like how garlicky it was, and it didn't have the charred rice that hot stone bibimbap has :( Charred rice is my favorite part of bibimbap. Wouldn't reorder this. Honey butter chips: 4/5. Also a good dish, but nothing special! I would save my money and order a different dish next time. Drinks: 1000/5. So well thought out and complex, yet the flavors work so so well together!! Our favorite was the Kimchi Mule for sure - slightly gingery, very light and refreshing. My second favorite was the Luv U So Matcha. The Hwachae Milk was pretty good but a bit too sweet for my personal taste. The Barley Soju was good, you can taste the barley tea infused into the soju but wow it was very very strong! TLDR: Scallop pancake, zabuton, and drinks (Kimchi Mule and Luv U So Matcha) are a must. Mushroom bibimbap and honey butter chips are a pass! read more

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Everything about Danbi is great, except for the parking (but it is koreatown)! I came during dine LA week, but my friend and I decided to go with the regular menu and split what we get. It was the best decision we could have made. It is located in the Chapman plaza where they offer valet parking in the back; depending on the day, it is either $10 or $20 for valet. You can also try to find metered parking. I got so lucky to find a metered spot on a Friday night. We tried: Scallop pancake - Big portion with a generous amount or scallops. It was crispy and came with a delicious side of sauce that complimented it. I am not the biggest fan of seafood, but this did not taste fishy at all. Zabuton - the meat was cooked very rare, but every bite melted in your mouth. It came with a side of garlic rice and grilled onions. Whatever the meat was seasoned with was sooooo good. As for drinks, I tried the luv u so matcha and my friend got the hwache milk. Although they are pricey, they are deliciously dangerous. The service was great. Our server was so kind, he helped us decide on our food and drinks. The ambiance is a bit with dimmed lighting, but still an enjoyable time to hear what the people you came with have to say. Go check this restaurant out :) read more

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Food is delicious. Best was the honey butter chips. Also, had the uni bibimbap which is good. Previously had the pork jowl which was also very delicious! read more

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Make sure to book a reservation in advance. We booked it few days before and found the table times were already pretty limited. The Wagyu Zuboton is a must-order. It's perfect for two people, especially with a bowl of rice and the accompanying condiments. The Perilla cold noodles were super refreshing and a great complement to the meal. We were excited to try the scallop pancake since it had great reviews, but it ended up being a bit too doughy and not as crispy as we'd hoped (might try reheating it in the air fryer at home). The tartare was average. Nothing particularly memorable. For drinks, we had the "Luv You So Matcha" mocktail and Kimchi Mule. Both were unique, but we definitely preferred the matcha one. The interior is quite dark and the menu font is very small, which made it a bit hard to read--my only real critique would be to increase the font size. The music is also pretty loud, so it's not the best spot for a first date or if you're trying to catch up and have a conversation over food. Service was great: staff were friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly. Parking: There's a plaza lot available, but it can be pricey. I'd recommend checking for street parking or nearby lots across the street first. read more

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So I learned I really just do not care for meat but the marinade for the zabuton was deliciously sticky and sweet. Scallop pancake was a little heavy but hit all of the marks of a great Korean seafood pancake The service is fantastic and sitting at the bar is way more fun since you get to watch the bartenders make all of the drinks read more

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This spot is such a vibe, right when you walk in. The dimmed lights, people dressed, and aroma is great. The food looked amazing and everything tasted so fresh! Evelated korean food, fit for impressing folks from out of town or a nice date night. My favorite dish of the night was the pork jowl. Tasty chili oil on a hot skillet was smacking! Parking is kind of hard, but expected in koreatown. Look for it in the street or you can pay for valet, but even then, it might not be available! Our server was attentive and friendly, would absolutely come back. read more

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I was introduced to this place by a friend. I went in completely blind not knowing anything about this restaurant prior to my experience. Moment you walk in its a super vibey designed restaurant w bar. Open kitchen counter seating available too which was cool. Salad 4/5 beef Tartare 10/10 Galbi (not what i was expecting but for what it was) 10/10 Scallop pancake 11/10 Corn latte 3/5 Service was fine nothing too much to rave about. I would come back for sure read more

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Came to Danbi for a birthday celebration and loved every minute. Great energy, amazing service, unique flavors, and a modern ambiance. Every dish was spectacular. Definitely a memorable experience and we'll be back again! read more

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Made a reservation for Danbi before going to a show at the Wiltern. We were greeted and seated right away. The restaurant has some mood lighting at night, making it nice for a date, girls night, or group dinner. We started off with drinks and ordered from their soju-based cocktail list. I tried the martini, which was a solid take on a dirty martini. I just wish the drinks were a little bigger for the price. There were 3 of us at dinner and we ordered 3 dishes, this was more than enough! We sadly had some leftovers that we couldn't take since we were going straight to a show and had Ubered there. We ordered the scallop pancake - lots of scallops and delicious, but a little heavy. The pancake was thicker than I'm use to but tasted great! We also got the mushroom bibimbap, which had great flavor with the sauces it came with. I would say our favorite was the zabuton. They give a generous amount of meat plus it comes with some pickled sides and garlic rice. There's also a side of salt to sprinkle on your wagyu, so good!! I was definitely impressed by the food and want to come back to try their other dishes. read more

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Modern Korean dining that's great for dates and special occasions! I visited this spot with some friends for a Saturday dinner and our experience here was great! For food, we shared: - Honey Butter Chips: These were tasty and I liked how it was a good blend of sweet and savory. - Grilled Jowl: Tender pieces and as someone who doesn't like fat too much, I enjoyed eating the fat from these. The jowl paired well with the crisp and fresh veggies. - Tartare: Delicious and a good amount of meat. It was unique combining bone marrow with the raw meat. The lotus chips to eat with the meat were crispy and good. - Zabuton: Loved the steak! Super tender and the cook on this was beautiful. Flavorful too. Comes with garlic rice. - Scallop Pancake: Seafoody and fishy in a good way. Loved that there was so much scallop. Paired well with the creamy dipping sauce. - Perilla cold noodles: Standard cold noodles and refreshing. A good pairing with the heavier dishes, but not mind-blowing. All the dishes we had were pricey, but the quality was pretty good. Great for sharing. They also do a small dessert for birthday's which is nice. My friend got a small yuzu popsicle which was cute. The interior is nice and I liked the mood lighting. The service was great and attentive. For parking, there's $20 valet parking at the Chapman Plaza. I would recommend making a reservation a week+ in advance especially if you're planning to dine on a weekend. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here. I would come back to dine here for a special occasion. read more

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I took my girlfriend here on a date, since my buddy treated me out to this spot a couple weeks back. Had to run it back. The ambiance of this spot immediately caught my attention. The lighting is intimate, the place is decorated nicely with greenery, and I thought the projector playing Ponyo on the wall was a tasteful touch. The drinks were unique. They had a wide selection ranging from a matcha cocktail to a barley soju, which I had (not pictured). It was the perfect pairing of tea and alcohol, in which I never had before. The food, though, was executed well. Scallop Pancake, 9.5/10: First time having a scallop pancake like this one. Honestly, I don't see how it could get any better than the one I had here. It was perfectly crispy and the mini scallops were cooked well. The lime on top combined with the creamy mentaiko sauce paired absolutely amazing with the savory pancake. Uni Bimbimbap, 8/10: Solid dish. I didn't taste the uni too prominently in this dish, since there were a multitude of other ingredients in this one. Though, I did like the creamy salty undernotes it brought to this dish. You can also tell the uni was fresh from the color. Honey Butter Chips, 8/10: These were cool. Can't go wrong. Tastes like the ones you get at Hmart, but a little less artifical than those. Bone marrow tartar, 8.5/10: The tartar was a good temperature. The lotus chips were a nice addition to offset the other textures in this dish. Also they look cool lol. I appreciated how much bone marrow they gave. The tartar was seasoned appropriately. Zabuton steak, 9/10: Wow, definitely my favorite dish here. Cooked perfectly medium rare-medium. Was skeptical of the sauce it came in since the steak was presented on a sizzling plate. This kind of blew my mind a little. How the subtle sweet sauce complimented the steak well, highlighting the meat, but not overcompensating. Steak quality itself was great. The grilled onions were a nice touch. Modern take on a classic steak. Love it. read more

Danbi - scallop pancake, uni bimbimbap, honey butter chips - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We had a reservation for 6:30, and they kindly allowed us to check in and get seated earlier. Their EVERYTHING is amazing! My favorite is the uni bibimbap, which came with an icy, kind of sour palette cleanser (that I honestly gobbled down on its own). The raw shrimp was sweet, well textured, and the uni was absolutely amazing. It had good body and that subtle sweetness that just melts. The tartare was good, and I preferred not mixing in the bone marrow and eating them side by side on a cracker. The pork jowl was also good; well seasoned, well cooked, and no complaints. At night, the restaurant had a vibey and darker feel, making it perfect for romantic or girls' nights. Our server was incredibly attentive and charismatic, making our night all the better. Very much recommend!!! read more

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I really like this place! Food was a hit, and I think it was worth it for the DineLA set menu at $45. - Honey Butter Chips: fresh cut potato w/ a final texture resembling that of kettle chips. Sweet, yummy honey butter drizzle on top! - Kale Salad: refreshing - surprised that there's egg yolk in it - Tartare: SO was saying how the lotus chips were harder than what he hoped, but I thought this was also similar to kettle chips, which I quite liked. less memorable than other dishes, but still good. - Perilla Cold Noodles: sooo yummy and fresh tasting! one of our faves. - Grilled Pork Jowl: suuper tender, melt in your mouth goodness. - birthday yuzu popsicle: refreshing frozen bits and pieces of yuzu! It's cute with the little candle it came with. I really liked the matcha drink; it has veggie undertones. The alcoholic drinks were not my fave, tho the sour plum, barley, and hwachae (best-tasting) were unique. The vibes are almost exactly the same as Tokki (prior establishment) and it's great for occasions. read more

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Danbi is a Korean spot in Ktown that's perfect for date night or drinking with friends while eating some delicious, upscale food and is located in the same plaza as Quarters. There's very limited valet parking in the lot, but you can park in the garage across the street where HMart is. The atmosphere is dim, chic, and very lively. We ordered: - honey butter chips: I loved these, they're slightly sweet, butter, and crispy, exactly as described - beef & bone marrow tartare: surprisingly pretty good, the chips are clumsy for actually eating with the tartare but the addition of the bone marrow was great - scallop pancake: delicious and covered in bay scallops, would absolutely get this again - uni bibimbap: it's cool to try but at like $60 for a tiny bowl of 4 shrimp and maybe 4 pieces of uni... pass, since it wasn't extraordinary in any way - zabuton: juicy and perfectly cooked, everyone loved it - mushroom bibimbap: pretty good but better to pair with a protein than by itself This was plenty of food for 3 and we took most of the mushroom bibimbap home. I liked the red makgeolli a lot, which was super thick. Luv U So Matcha was an interesting cocktail without strong matcha flavors. This isn't a 5 star review because of service. Service was okay, not great not terrible. However, the thing that left a bad taste in my mouth was towards the end of our meal (we'd been there for under an hour and a half), the hostess came and basically asked us to leave lol. We weren't done with our drinks, like mine was 75% full, and had to chug it. This would be fine IF it was their policy that was enforced across all tables at the 90 minute mark, but the table right next to us was there before we were, only had drinks at that point and were sitting there chatting. They were not asked to leave. So be prepared to eat and drink fast or be kicked out if you don't know people there I guess? read more

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My experience at Danbi was nothing but perfect. I made a reservation on a weekend--saturday night to be more specific. This place is located inside the Chapman Plaza. There is valet parking available, which can sometimes get full during busy dinner hours, but we got very lucky and had no problem. We were greeted by a welcoming host and waited about two minutes before being seated at our table. The vibe of this place is dim, romantic, and intimate. They also have a bar area where people can wait before getting seated or just enjoy drinks. Honey Butter Chips: 5/5 I love the Korean bagged chip version of this, so I already knew I'd immediately love it. Tartare: 5/5 I love bone marrow and beef tartare, and the chips they served with it added a nice texture and paired really well. Uni Bibimbap: 5/5 Another easy high rating for me because I love uni, but the uni they served was so fresh and buttery. Sabuton: Perfection Honestly the star of the show. It was so tender and soft and paired so well with the garlic rice it came with. I also ordered a matcha cocktail, and as much as I wanted to love it, I just didn't. However, the food is truly what matters to me, and overall it was the perfect experience. I would absolutely come back and recommend this place to anyone. read more

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