Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Gaju Gimbap

    4.0 (128 reviews)
    ModerateKorean
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Gaju Gimbap Photos

    GAJU GIMBAP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Gaju Gimbap

    Recommended Reviews - Gaju Gimbap

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sarah S.

    Back in the corner of California Market, furthest from the parking entrance, you'll find the Gaju Gimbap stand. Because it's in the market, it makes it super easy to pop over here during my lunch hour. I can drive over, park in the free garage on the top floor for idyllic views, get any groceries I need along with the gimbap, then I'm back home on my laptop 60 minutes later. You can grab one of their already prepared gimbaps like I do if you want to grab & go, paying right at their own separate register. Or you can order off their menu if something you want isn't already out. Bulgogi is always reliable, crab, fish cakes, ham - they have many fillings to choose from ~ tuna is usually my go to. But they also have some soups, fried rice and fried tofu options, as well if Gimbap isn't for you. But...gimbap is amazing! California Market Gimbap (often called Gaju Gimbap as Gaju loosely translates to our english slang of Cali) has been open 10 years now and is truly the best in Koreatown! My friend and I love getting gimbap from here! It's priced well, fresh & big portions and it's always delicious.

    북어국
    Kathy M.

    This is located in the back of the California market. They have a variety of gimbap, noodles, soups, and combos with half a roll of kimbap & a noodle dish, inexpensive and fast service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seating is limited but people eat quickly & leave, being considerate of others standing & waiting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We enjoy eating here then shop & the market. Remember, don't shop with an empty stomach.

    Daniel H.

    Gaju Kimbap!! This is the best kimbap spot in LA! It's not particularly fancy or flashy--it's just like the kimbap your mom would make. There's nothing overly special about it, but the seasoning of the ingredients is just right, and everything blends together perfectly. Plus, the prices are still very affordable, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal, even on your own.

    Diet Tuna Kimbap
    Hanna T.

    Simple shop you can't go wrong with. The kimbap is filling, cheap, and delicious. I love their diet version and it comes out pretty quick. Hidden gem I absolutely love!

    Tuna Diet Roll
    Salvina L.

    My absolute favorite roll here is the tuna kimbap and they deliver a consistently good roll every time at a really good price. I like that they offer a diet roll option, which replaces the rice with egg. This option is $1 more than getting a normal roll. Arguably I think this style of kimbap for the tuna roll tastes better than with rice. However for the beef roll I prefer it with rice instead of egg, because the texture works better together like that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a no frills spot where you can either order to go or eat there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking in the California Market structure is free.

    Only $19 for a satisfying meal
    Aiko K.

    Gaju Gimbap, thank you for always being our comfort meal that doesn't disappoint us!! We have been here at least 4x now (within 3 months) and their food always hit the spot. Few days ago we were disappointed by a pho restaurant that was charging $20 for the worst pho I've ever had and we took 2 sips of their soup and left.. To make up for it we knew Gali Gimbap would satisfy our soup craving so we drove over to Ktown and sure enough, we had a great meal for less than $19 (for 2 ppl!). There is always a line every time we come here and there's limited seating next to the restaurant but you can take your food to go and eat it on the rooftop on top of the market! The service is great too every time we come here.. I just wish they would sell their kimchi because I would buy a tub of that immediately!

    Solid Ktown meal lol
    Cat P.

    Love Kimbap and this place is SO great for the price. No frills but just homey, hearty food. It's a quick pick-up stall in the back left corner of California Market and truly a hidden gem. I'm pretty picky about the ratios in my kimbaps, but they really have this down. It's the ideal ratio of protein to veggies to rice. Generally, I tend to prefer less rice, and I feel like they do that well. The prices are also very reasonable for the amount of food you get.

    1st floor, tucked in the back of California market
    Jane L.

    Food taste great and is freshly made. The price is fantastic. Plenty of free parking. Don't know what else you can ask for. This shop is on the 1st floor in the back of the California market.

    Tuna diet roll and cheese diet roll
    Cece L.

    I love that this place is inside the market! I can place my order, browse the market, then pick up my food. You have to pay at this booth. They make delicious gimbap! Very flavorful and seasoned well. If you don't like rice, you can ask for diet roll and they replace the rice with egg!! Perfect for people watching their calorie intake as well. You can see my picture to see what the diet rolls look like. I was satisfied and happy with the portion and cost.

    Half tuna/half crab diet kimbap
    Christina K.

    My go-to kimbap deli in ktown. I come here at least once a week. I usually get half tuna/half sausage. Sometimes I switch it up with crab (imitation), which is like a Koreanized california roll. They also have excellent kimbap and noodle combos. I usually get the tuna kimbap with the janchi noodles, which is a simple, homey noodle soup with anchovy broth and veggies. Tip: You can now order "diet", keto-style kimbap that subs egg for rice, as well half and half mixed filling for a double roll order! (Instead of 1 roll of tuna and 1 roll of sausage, you get 2 rolls of tuna and sausage mixed filling!)

    Beef Gimbap
    Cindy N.

    Initially I came to the supermarket in search of the Korean corn dog spot and ended up walking around inside the supermarket exploring then stumbled upon this Gimbap spot. It was pretty busy at night and wanted to give it a try considering I really love Gimbap and there were so many types of Gimbap available! I settled in trying the beef gimbap with something I'm familiar with. The portions were so filling and really great ratio of meat to veggies. It all went so well together. Overall, it was totally worth visiting this spot!

    Aiza C.

    Amazing kimpap!! the best i've ever had! The dopokki was okay, great prices though. There is like 5 tables and it's inside a market!

    Seaweed soup with a side of rice, fresh kimchi and pickled radish
    Katie W.

    We got their seaweed soup and tuna kimbap. The food is so good and the portions are nice! The seaweed soup came with a side of fresh kimchi. It's delicious! I highly recommend this place.

    Menu 12/4/22

    See all

    Review Insights

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 6
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daniel H.
    0
    127
    438

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cat P.
    1355
    1003
    4232

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cece L.
    335
    414
    1163

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Amazing food and service . [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loooooooveee the pace and people looooooveeeeeeeee the place[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C K.
    0
    27
    7

    1 year ago

    Since change of ownership and the ladies making kimbap.... It doesn't taste the same. Pricing still can't be beat for two rolls.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Katie W.
    42
    103
    135

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David H.
    126
    1096
    1132

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 1
    Love this 23
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Catherine L.
    170
    214
    227

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marissa C.
    41
    472
    222

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of daniel l.
    570
    45
    39

    2 years ago

    The lady taking the order is extremely rude, food is good but service has been negative, will not come back anymore

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jon A.
    0
    15
    4

    2 years ago

    Underrated spot. One of the best Gimbap I've ever tried in ktown market. Extremely fast service. Prices affordable and quantity is ample.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S P.
    0
    77
    46

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tommy H.
    32
    59
    17

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Gaju Gimbap

    Are there any menu items that do not have soy sauce or can be made to order without soy sauce?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Korean 328,585 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hangari Kalguksu

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4
    (3.3k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    10/10 will return again…read more Galbi kalguksu - Soo good! I was craving a warm hearty bowl of noodle soup and this 100% hit the spot. Noodle had great texture and bite, soup was flavorful and hearty. Portion was big and came served with two beef ribs. Loved it. Beef bulgogi - very tasty bulgogi, generous serving of meat and veggies. Will order again. Pork belly and jowl combo bossam medium - it says feeds 2 but I think it actually feeds 3+. Comes with pickled veggies etc. definitely worth trying, doesn't have the funk that sometimes pork has. Very well cooked and balanced. Don't forget the sauce!! Overall prices are high but portions are huge and flavor wise it's on point so definitely worth it! Parking is a pain but there's valet parking for $5.

    Always my favorite place to get a vegan bibimbap when in K-town. I appreciate that they have about…read more4 options on the menu that can be made vegetarian or vegan, but I'm always craving a bibimbap. My partner always orders their Beef Bulgogi as well. It's expensive ($34.99) for the Premium Angus beef, but the flavor is just so worth it. Service is fast and efficient. Located in the corner of a strip mall in Koreatown, it is very difficult to find street parking nearby, so I usually opt to pay $5 cash to do the valet parking in the parking lot of this strip mall. It's just faster and easier.

    Photos
    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU
    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU
    Bossam jowl combo
    Bossam jowl combo
    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    See all

    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)
    Danbi

    Danbi

    4.5
    (414 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    Danbi was the perfect pick for a girls' night out in ktown! We ordered drinks and some yummy…read moredishes, 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!

    Our first challenge was finding the place. Danbi sits behind Chapman Market, and the name is…read morewritten 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.

    Photos
    Inside bar
    Inside bar
    Scallop Pancakes
    Scallop Pancakes
    Perilla Cild Noodle

    See all

    Perilla Cild Noodle
    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2
    (1.8k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    Great service and Very delicious! Loved it here. Will definitely come back!And will recommend to my…read morefriends n family!

    tl;dr the delectable pork ribs overshadow the otherwise authentic but standard lineup at this…read morenow-shuttered Korean stalwart Los Angeles Koreatown is home to restaurants that specialize in every facet of Korean cuisine. If you're searching for some of the city's best pork, then those in the know will bring up Ham Ji Park. For 2 decades, generous platters of pork ribs and pork neck stew decked every table. Now, our Korean friends lament the loss of their favorite pork joint in the city. The Koreatown proper location is located in the Royal Plaza mini-mall, just a few blocks off bustling Wilshire. Discounted parking is available in a lot across the street from the Chevron gas station. From the street, the entrance is flanked by potted plants and an enclosed street-ery. Inside, stainless steel chairs are pressed up against wooden tables, each outfitted with a metal grill. Oppressive fluorescent lighting shines down on the stone grey walls, which are left undecorated apart from a few flatscreens. Multi-lingual chatter blends with the sizzle of platters. I visited with some friends for a weeknight dinner, and about half of the tables were occupied. We shared a spread of grilled platters and sizzling soups. The meal began with a carafe of barley tea and a mostly standard spread of banchan. Across our food, the best dish was the signature Charbroiled Pork Spare Rib. The ribs were flavorful without feeling gamey, and the meat was complemented by sweet caramelized onions. The pork ribs handily outdid the good-not-great Charbroiled Beef Short Rib. Lastly, the Milt and Cod Rose with Vegetables stew was fishy and briny, appropriately flavored for the Korean palate. The service was appropriately attentive, although I would've appreciated more intentional refills of our banchan ramikens. The rib plates cost upward of $35 each, while the soup was just under $30. The portions were hearty; a single entree platter could reasonably feed 2 moderately hungry bellies. It's a shame to hear that Ham Ji Park has closed; I'm kicking myself for not trying their pork neck stew earlier.

    Photos
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park

    See all

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St

    4.5
    (884 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    My favorite pork bone soup! Can be flavored to your liking with the salt and white pepper on the…read moretable but it's so hearty, flavorful and the pork is always tender. I also really like their marinated crab but it is quite pricey for the portion. Otherwise, I appreciate that it stays open quite late and has its own parking lot.

    Suuper bummed about our experience today. We ordered the cold noodle & LA galbi combo as we always…read moredo, and a leek pancake as we weren't as hungry and the combo usually fills us up. Even when we ordered the food, the server said "that's it?" as if she was offended that we didn't order more food (lower sales?) I'm not sure if we misunderstood her attitude but that's kind of how it felt like. The quality and size went down and it was just... not good. This used to be my #1 spot for cold noodles but our other fav place was closed today so we decided to come here. As you can see, the size of the cold noodles became smaller. Everything was packed in this small bowl which made it harder to eat. I think they changed the noodles they use because it wasn't doing anything texture wise. It used to be chewy and had a good buckwheat flavor. The broth tasted.. like water with a splash of bone broth. The quality of galbi was also a disappointing as I feel like it's became less and the meat was burnt with more fat/chewy bits. The leek pancake was ok but again, comparing it to my picture from January, it was bigger in size and more dough-y. Service was decent previously but it felt a bit cold today. Again, super bummed because we still love this place but I probably won't be ordering their combo again. You can see in my pictures how often we used to order the cold noodles from here and you can compare the quality.

    Photos
    Counter area
    Counter area
    Never disappointed!!
    Never disappointed!!
    Kimchi Jjigae with Pork Belly

    See all

    Kimchi Jjigae with Pork Belly

    Gaju Gimbap - korean - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...