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    Ham Ji Park

    4.2 (1.8k reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ham Ji Park Photos

    Business Info

    HAM JI PARK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ham Ji Park

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    Sarah S.

    I loved Ham Ji Park! This location has now closed and their other location is only open until the end of the year, then it will also be closing. LA has lost a Korean food institution for sure! I've dined here a few times and love it. If you can make it before the end of the year to the other location, the spicy pork ribs are where it's at. Jonathan Gold touted their gamjatang as the best around, calling it his go to hangover cure. Pro-tip, gamjatang is full of collagen keeping our skin looking fresh! lolz Los Angeles losing Ham Ji Park is a big loss for the city and I'm sad to see them close!

    Tiffany T.

    OG place for a reason! Nowhere beats their charboiled pork ribs and gamja tang, the pork is so juicy and tender I am drooling just writing this review. Authentic, comfort food with generous portions. Bring a group of people to enjoy all the meat together. I have heard mixed reviews on their galbi, but our group loved it and found it perfectly juicy and sweet! Prepare for a meat coma afterwards, but so worth it. Parking is hard in the area, but it is $5 cash in the parking structure behind it if you tell them you are going here (otherwise it will be $15).

    Yiyi H.

    "Not sanitary! Food is okay." is how I would capture the essence of my experience at this establishment. As my first impression of the shop, shortly after being seated, a pitcher of tea was placed on our table, one that had a noticeably crusty spout. I didn't think too much of it, BUT THEN my friend found a piece of hair in his sesame oil and salt drop. AND a second piece of hair in his soup bowl. Aside from the clear health concerns here, the food is not that great. Surprisingly bad for a restaurant with a 4-star Yelp rating. The Charbroiled Pork Spare Ribs don't taste fresh and almost taste as if it was reheated out of the freezer. I didn't hate it, but the quality for the cost was entirely not up to par. In its current state, I definitely wouldn't recommend this establishment to others.

    IG: happyfoodietown
    Vy D.

    An authentic Korean casual eat that can satisfy your Korean food craving! With beer and soju of course. I had: 1. Pork spare ribs 2. Beef short ribs 3. Cod roe with vegetables soup

    Menu
    Cris I.

    One of many bbq places in Koreatown. I dined here with a group of three and shared among us the pork nech stew with potato. We also ordered beef belly and marinated beef to grill. We were served immediately with tea to drink while waiting. Soon our banchan, salad and meat for grilling were served. While grilling, the steaming hot pork stew was served. Meats for grilling were of best quality but I find the stew to have too much bones on it which wasn't necessarily bad at all since bones make the broth more flavorful. We thought that we ordered enough food for three people. We enjoyed our meal but we find the prices a bit higher than other bbq places in Koreatown.

    MJ H.

    Their signature dish, charbroiled pork spare ribs, is a must-try! So delicious! We also ordered the beef short ribs, which were tender and flavorful. The kimchi stew was very good but spicy so order a different soup or stew if you prefer mild.

    Tofu soup
    Alice H.

    HAM JI PARK IS OG this place has been around since I was a kid and I haven't ate here in YEARS but it was just as good as I remembered. I usually only get the pork ribs when I'm here and that's all you really need to get. It's their signature and there's a reason why they've been around for so long. One order of the ribs is enough to feed 2-3 people and it's 35.99 which pretty cheap for that many servings. We got the tofu soup this time and it was pretty good! But the star of the show was the ribs. My friend cut everything for me heeehee love her. Parking is in the back in the structure and it's 5$ for valet. I recommend coming on a weekday!

    Pork spare ribs and beef short ribs
    Joe L.

    Came here on a Saturday for dinner. Although it was busy, our group didn't have to wait long for a table. What our group ordered: 1. Charbroiled Pork Spare Ribs: Highly recommend this! If there is anything you should get, it's this! The meat is tender and has a sweet-spicy glaze over it which is super addicting. Plus it's served sizzling over a bed of onions. 2. Charbroiled Beef Short Ribs: Just your typical LA-galbi. Super flavorful and served sizzling over a bed of onions as well, but unlike the charbroiled pork spare ribs, it didn't really stand out. 3. Pork Back Bone Soup with Potato: The soup was super red and has a nice kick to it - felt more like a kimchi stew though. They do offer a lot of meat. Most of it was tender, but some pieces were a bit dry. Unfortunately, our group agreed that we've had better Gamja-tang in the SGV area. Overall, Hamjipark is a great place for casual, but authentic Korean food. Fyi: There is a parking structure underneath. If validated, it's only $5 in cash. Otherwise, it'll be $15 in cash

    Eating meat with gloves~
    Injoo H.

    Family feast at Ham Ji Park LA This place is famous for their charbroiled pork ribs and now my kids know why! We went all in with: Charbroiled Pork Spare Ribs (the star of the night my kids actually liked it more than LA Galbi!) LA Galbi huge portions, juicy & tender Gamjatang (pork backbone soup with potato - perfect comfort food) Stir-fried Tripe & Intestine 양곱창볶음 Super fatty and big pieces, wasn't sure at first But later at home with veggie wraps... wow, it was sooo good! So flavorful!! Portions are BIG -- totally forgot how generous they are here. Honestly, instead of ordering two combos at a tofu/naengmyun place, one order here fed us so well! Ended up taking some to-go and kept the party going at home Even if you don't eat pork, there are plenty of other menu options to enjoy! Great food, hearty portions, and perfect for sharing with family. Definitely coming back!!!!

    Pork Spare Ribs
    Sam M.

    So we came to this place again not too far back, just to order the same food again with the pork neck stew and the pork spare ribs and of course still hands down one of the best restaurants for this very dish! We just had one small negative experience however when we discovered some bugs in the salad -- (which on the positive side means it's very fresh!) But the server was very unresponsive and cold about it, like he didn't really even apologize or anything. We didn't really expect or demand for anything to be really done or anything, and we weren't necessarily complaining, we just said we noticed it and didn't want more salad at the time because of it. But it's just kinda common courtesy I think for servers to just simply say sorry just for some empathy and to simply acknowledge it. But if anything he kinda gave more of a cold and annoyed look, so it was kinda off putting. But it was just a one time thing I hope. Food here is too legendary to get worked about something like that! Still a highly recommended place!

    Edward S.

    Ham Ji Park's comfortable setting is perfect for enjoying some of the best gamjatang (pork bone soup) and pork spare ribs. Pork Back Bone Soup with Potato: The soup arrives in a gargantuan, boiling, hot cauldron. The red bubbling stew holds about a dozen back and neck bones with really tender and juicy meat. You can use the spoon to gently nudge the meat off the bone. At which point, you will be rewarded with rich complex flavors. The broth is nuanced and subtle with red chili peppers balanced with other spices and herbs. Break off chunks from the whole potato at the center and mix it with bites of the meat, soup, and rice. They also bring a big bowl for the boneyard, a small bowl to ladle soup, and a metal rice bowl. The banchan is tasty. And the turnip chunks, radish strips with a tiny oyster, and tangy seaweed provide a fermented funky contrast to the scalding heat and richness of the stew. Did I mention how huge the portions are? After a heroic effort, I hardly put a dent in the bowl. Dining Area: The interior has seen better days and there are many tables casually spaced apart. Parking: There's valet parking in the multi-level garage. If you want to find street parking, you'll have to circle a bit and then walk, which might be nice after a large meal.

    Gamja tang
    Leonard K.

    Yay I'm so happy I won an online giveaway contest hosted by socal.koreans on instagram to get free pork ribs! I gotta go to one of my favorite restaurants I've been going to since I was 16 years old that my mom introduced to me and quickly became one of my favorite places! When I was 21, the former love of my life and I broke up and I spent 10 years hopeless, wondering if I would ever get back with her (spoiler, it never happened). And in those early days, I would spend my days after work only going to two places all by myself: a Korean bbq place that no longer exists and hamji park. I would always order the pork spare ribs or the gamjatang, or both, as those were the best two things on the menu. Back then, I also used to buy the meat that comes out in a circle and eat that too. I forget what that one is called though. I'm not sure why I stopped eating that one because thinking back, it was actually really good. I actually won the contest a few weeks back, but I didn't wanna go by myself so I asked my friend to join me. He didn't have a free day until two days ago, when we went to the restaurant. I knew what to expect because I've been here hundreds upon hundreds of times, but he didn't. He thought it was just going to be some average Korean food, but if you've ever been here, you know just how hard it is to even consider moving out of la because then getting this type of food would be next to impossible. Last year, I gotta job offer to work in Georgia. It paid A LOT of money. I couldn't do it though. To leave ktown food behind? Man... that would've just been way too hard for me... Anyway, these pork ribs come out on a plate that's sizzling hot. When you bite into each rib, you get a slightly sweet and tangy marinade that just complements the ribs so well. On the bottom of the dish, you get onions that are just so flavorful. When I was a young adult, I didn't really appreciate the onions that much, but as an adult, the appreciation of those flavors are definitely there. The pork neck soup comes with a peppery broth. My friend felt it was really spicy, but for me, I normally can't handle too much spice and felt it was fine. I think he's used to spicy foods from peppers, but this is more peppery and that's more up my alley. The pork neck is cooked for a very long time, potentially in an endless pot. It's a family recipe that was passed down by the grandma who used to run this place, who unfortunately passed away in the recent years... R.I.P. I typically don't like salad anywhere, but I would say that here and Baekjeong both have the best salads. You get gochugaru and some other stuff in it and it's really hard to not ask for seconds. But they'll happily bring you out more salad or any panchan you want, as long as you ask for it. Some people may take a glance at the menu and think that the food is expensive here, but this is a traditional Korean place that is a legacy restaurant in Ktown. The portion sizes are meant to be shared. And if you come into the venue with that mentality, you'll realize the prices are way more than fair. The service here is always great. I love that they have the barley tea like other traditional places, and the ambiance is nice. Sometimes though, a customer will order one of their more pungent soups, which could leave the place smelling a bit awkward if you aren't from an Asian background, but they do have a small outdoor seating area for that to mitigate it if you are sensitive to smells but still want to explore great Korean food. Anyway, I should be coming here more. Oh yeah btw, my friend I brought here says this is now his favorite Korean restaurant, so I guess that says something in and of itself.

    Peter H.

    AMAZING pork spare ribs! Great flavor, savory, fatty, juicy, all the good words! We liked it enough that we ordered another order! They give very large amounts too. And then I liked it so much THAT I LEARNED TO MAKE IT AT HOME! The service was decent, nothing to complain about. Ambiance? Relaxed, not noisy, good place for dinner with family :)

    Pork Spare Ribs

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    Ham Ji Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ham Ji Park

    Do they serve alcohol?

    Yes soju beer and Asian wine

    What's the parking situations there? If there is street parking or close garage parking?

    Street parking. And there are garages near by. But parking is a biatch. Garage is the easiest. Runs about 5-10 bucks. I usually do street but requires driving around for 10-15 minutes.

    Do I need to make a reservation?

    No, you can walk in.

    Can I bring my own wine here?

    No, can't bring your own wine

    Do they have chicken in their menu? ?

    I don't think so. They've got fish & veggies but not chicken.

    Do they serve 1 person?

    Yes they will.

    Are there ANY vegetarian options?

    I really don't think so. Most of the food is pork. Even the banchans have some sort of meat or fish in it.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Hangari Kalguksu

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

    I came here with a big group of 10 people and we were allowed to make a reservation! Since we did…read morehave a lot of people we were excited to eat family style. The service was also quick. The restaurant was kind of small but it was clean. Everything was so flavorful and delicious! Seafood kalguksu 9/10: it was def filled with various seafoods. The flavor was super bold and a bit spicy but not intolerable. I love the texture of the noodles. Perfectly cooked. Bossam 9/10: also such an amazing dish! Perfect ratio of fat to meat. I do wish that for this large plate they gave us more cabbage. We ended up ordering more for $5 but I think it should be included given the amount of meat. Parking was valet and it's a small lot. I think we paid $5 for parking. I think there's also street parking but we wanted to play it safe and just do valet. Overall it's such nice place to eat with a group of friends. The portions are large and food taste better shared!!

    Love coming to this place every time I'm in the area. There's a small parking lot associated with…read morethe plaza they're in if you get lucky. You line up outside to wait and the turnover is usually fairly fast. They will take your order as you wait in line so by the time you're seated, you're not waiting forever for your food. My go to is their spicy seafood kalguksu, which contains plenty of seafood and always hits the spot. I've also had their chicken and clam ones as well, which are both super flavorful. I enjoy the squash and potatoes that they put in their noodles though sometimes the potato is less mushy/cooked through than what I prefer. The portion sizes are generous so definitely come hungry or you can share as well. I've tried their bossam and jowl combo as well and both are definitely great in their own way, but I absolutely love the minced garlic sauce that comes with the jowl. The jowl is a fattier cut while the bossam is meatier.

    Photos
    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU
    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU
    Bossam jowl combo
    Bossam jowl combo
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    Kobawoo House

    Kobawoo House

    4.3
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    What more can I say? This K-town staple consistently delivers when you're craving Korean cuisine…read more We started our meal with a generous portion of Haemool Pajeon (Seafood Pancake), which arrived sizzling on a hot plate reminiscent of a Chili's Fajita Plate. Next came the main attraction: the Bossam Plate, featuring simmered and cooled pork belly sliced to perfection. When you wrap all the other ingredients together, they create the perfect bite. Just after the Bossam Plate hits the table, a bubbling cauldron of Kimchi JJigae (Kimchi Stew) follows behind just in time to help wash down the delectable bites of bossam. Don't forget to order some rice because you'll need something to soak up the stew which turns the rice into a whole meal by itself. The service was jovial and welcoming, and like other Korean establishments, they have a handy-dandy button that jolts the attention of every server working whenever you're in need of service. The small space is very cozy, just the way I like it when I'm visiting with my loved ones. They don't have an extensive menu, just the OG staple items, but I feel the taste has improved over the years. I wish Kobawoo were closer to where I live, or I would be here this weekend, but perhaps it's a good thing we're so far apart.

    This place has been here for so long, I haven't been here in yrs! I was in the area so I decide to…read moredo a take out for lunch to take home for me and my family, such a disappointment! $76.80 for 3 dishes and what a puny portions these are, like a kid's portion. Very small kimchi maybe one or two bites. Three orders that I'm surprised that they give such a small amount of banchan. How can establishment justify this high priced meal for such small portions? God and I drove all the way from South Bay, stuck in traffic for almost 1 1/2 hrs of this. Maybe this is the type of place you should dine in only?? Do not ever do take out here! The food in general was just ok. Nothing special and Kimchi soup was very salty. Threw all 3. Wow, what a waste of money. Very disappointing... I guess I won't be coming here ever again.

    Photos
    Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!
    Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!
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    Borit Gogae

    Borit Gogae

    4.4
    (519 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    Looking for a healthy vegan meal in Ktown LA? Look no further, come over to Borit gogae. They…read moreoffer a preset menu but do require minimum of two orders. If you ever had Korean Bibimbop, this is similar but with some minor differences. This one uses a barley rice base (compared to white rice in Bibimbop). The barley rice is topped your choice of about 15 different side dishes of lightly flavored savory mountain roots, greens, mushrooms, and peppers. Comes with a soy bean paste that you use to further season. Just mix everything in a larger bowl and serve. OMG. Absolutely incredible!!!!!!!!!! Before this main course, you do get three small bites (pumpkin porridge, scorched rice/tea, and tempura). Additionally three different sides are also served (acorn jelly salad, Korean escargot/snail dish, steamed cabbage), along with perilla chicken soup, and soy bean soup, the latter which is the most traditional Korean dish. Last for dessert you get red bean porridge, dried persimmon rolls, and plum tea. Nothing like this in all of SoCal. A must come and try for all.

    Been to Borit Gogae about 4-5 times now after seeing it posted on social media during the pandemic…read moreto help boost sales and been a fan ever since! First, this being in KTown, know parking is always a big issue. Parking is available in the back usually. If not, there is street parking. Once you come in, there's a good number of tables; high ceilings; and a nice vibe overall with some screens that are showing nature + some K-Pop. The wait staff is also usually pretty nice and are able to do a good job to describe the menu / what you're getting. Most likely, you're here to get the banchan $35 set - an amazing value for the amount of food you get. Noting that this set doesn't include meat which you can order on the side along with some other dishes. But you get nearly 30 mini dishes such as barley rice, pumpkin porridge, scorched rice soup, spinach salad, stir-fried chili peppers, rice kimchi, perilla chicken soup, acorn jelly salad, snail salad, and corn porridge. It's basically a riches of really good side dishes, centered around some delicious barley rice/sesame oil. You may find a few of the side dishes not to your style, but most people will most likely find something that you really enjoy. For instance, I think the acorn side salad is absolutely delicious and saucy while the seasoned soybean paste is full of flavor and perfect with the barley rice. For the pricing, it feels like a steal. And has been consistent ever since I first had it back a few years ago. We've taken to go boxes each time I've went because it's so filling. Totally recommended!

    Photos
    Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines
    Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines
    Barley rice mixed with side dishes
    Barley rice mixed with side dishes
    Grilled spareribs

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    Grilled spareribs

    Ham Ji Park - korean - Updated June 2026

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