I was visiting and came here with friends. We went on a Friday evening at about 7ish. There was a…read moreline. There's a process to coming here. The hostess controlled the line so we wouldn't be blocking the entrance to the other restaurants. As you get closer to the front, you'll get a menu. The hostess will take your order. Once you place the order, you are NOT allowed to make any changes and cannot add on. Once it's your turn to go sit down, the hostess will confirm your order, the seat you. Your food comes out pretty fast I ordered the Bulgogi rice dish with a salad on the side. It was SO good! My friends split a seafood dish. Everything was delicious. It was a lot. I ended up having leftovers for lunch the next day. They have a good system in place in getting getting ppl in and out of there. The service was great and the atmosphere was lively. I would definitely come back.

I've clearly been sleeping on this place. Finally went with some friends visiting from out of town,…read moreand Hangari Kalguksu did not disappoint -- I see why it's a Ktown staple. The space itself is cute, trendy, and modern, but according to my Korean friends, the food stays true to tradition -- which is exactly what you want from a place like this. There was a line when we got there, but it moved quickly -- and they came around to take our order while we were still waiting, so food came out fast once we sat down. I've had bossam before and always got cold, sliced meat -- not my thing. Here, it comes out hot, and the pork jowl was incredible. I genuinely could not stop eating it, so tender with that perfect grilled edge. They also start you off with a little bowl of barley rice (bori bap) as part of the banchan -- first time trying it and it was such a nice, unexpected touch. We also shared the chicken sujebi and it was pure comfort in a bowl. The hand-torn noodles were perfectly chewy and the broth was seasoned just right -- not too salty, just deeply savory. Heads up on parking: it's tough. I got lucky with street parking but it's only 1-hour limit, so keep an eye on the clock. The lot is valet only and looked chaotic when we pulled up, so budget extra time (and maybe cash) if you go that route. Honestly one of my favorite meals I've had in Koreatown, and a great spot to bring visitors -- my friends loved it too. Already planning my next visit to work through the rest of the menu. Highly recommend, especially if you love Korean comfort food done right.

We tried this place based on the reviews. Plus, Korean food is usually a highlight for us…read more We walked in and it's literally a house and the front waiting room was really cute! Bathrooms were nice and clean. We got seated outside but it was humid so it was quite warm at 530 pm. I wish they had some portable fans or air conditioning to make the experience more comfortable. Regardless, we Uber'd here so we stayed. We ordered combo B - Grilled Galbi beef, crack corn, salad, blooming onion and Cass beer. The combo comes with Soju or beer! When I tell you that the beef was delicious, I mean it! Tender with great flavor! The crack corn is truly like crack! I couldn't get enough! The salad with sesame dressing was so refreshing with the food. The blooming onion was also very crispy! I'm glad we decided to stay and eat because the food was truly delicious! It was worth sitting outside with no air.

The place was pretty busy on a Friday night around 9:30pm, but we got seated right away for 4…read morepeople. We had: 1) fried chicken w/green onions - 4/5. Solid. 2) watermelon soju - 4/5. Came in a mini-watermelon with watermelon slices. Also good. 3) fried gizzards - 4/5. I've had better, but it was also good. Service was a little slow, but would return for the food.

Delayed review...so it is unfortunate it shows permanently closed :/…read more Sun Nong Dan was on my to-try list for awhile! Came by around 6PM on a Sunday. Surprisingly, no wait, though parking was getting filled up. Valet for $5, or street parking if able. Two of us ordered: #3, ox bone soup with assorted meats $20.99 #7, galbi tang $22.99 Their brown rice is actually purple rice. I personally ate most of the #3. I thought the flavors were nice and the amount of meat was more than expected, which was nice. Would definitely be back! I'm sure it could be rough in the area if you had to wait more than 20-30 minutes.

We came here after hitting a local dive bar in DTLA and I was pretty faded from drinking strong…read moredrinks at the bar. I was happy to see this is a 24 hours location and I wanted warm soup for comfort food to sober me up. The restaurant is in a small strip mall that offers valet service but we were able to find free street parking. I got the oxtail beef bone broth soup and it definitely hit the spot for comfort. I'm so sorry in my drunk state I ended up spilling my broth all over the table and floor. The staff were so sweet and understanding, I kept apologizing to them.

Danbi is one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, and we were very excited to try their Dine…read moreLA menu. Danbi is located in Los Angeles's Koreatown and specializes in modern Korean cuisine. For Dine LA, they offered a $45 tasting menu. We started with their signature honey butter chips. I used to not understand what all the hoopla was about these chips! But today, they were really good... and I think it's the honey butter sauce. The first time I ever had these chips, in 2024, there was no sauce on them. I just thought they were regular chips. And I probably never would have gotten them again if they weren't on a prix fixe menu. These chips were divine! Thinly sliced potatoes fried in house and topped with a decadent honey butter sauce and fresh chives. The sauce really made this appetizer. Thick and creamy, almost like condensed milk. And the touch of freshness from the chives really brought everything together. Although simple, I felt like this dish was very well crafted. Next, we had the corn cheese rolls - sweet corn and mozzarella cheese wrapped in an eggroll-like pastry and served with a sweet, tangy gochujang sauce on the side. These came piping hot and were so fun to eat. The cheese was so stretchy and the sauce really elevated this dish, cutting through that rich cheese and adding a savory, almost smoky element. Then our drinks arrived. I got the hwachae milk punch with milk clarified soju, strawberry, lychee, and lime. This drink was sweet and fruity and tasted just like one of those lychee jellies you would buy at the Asian grocery store. My friends had the kimchi mule, house white kimchi infused soju with ginger and pear - essentially a Moscow mule with fermented notes and a savory umami from the kimchi. Nice and refreshing. Then we had a watermelon kimchi salad. This wasn't my favorite. Compared to everything else we had tonight, this was a bit boring. It was light and refreshing, but I wanted more fermented flavor. But it was still good, and the Hami melon was nice and crisp. You can never really go wrong with watermelon. Then we had the spicy sashimi noodles with sea bream, soba, dropwort, and perilla. This dish was interesting, summery, and cool. Cold soba with a spicy kick. Flavor wise, the ssamjang and perilla stood out to me. And the soba and sashimi added some nice textural contrast. Our last savory course was their grilled pork jowl topped with their house chili crisp and served with a side of garlic rice along with some ssamjang and peppers. The pork jowl was, of course, delicious. The cut is naturally bouncy due to being jam packed with collagen. The grill imparted a nice, smoky charcoal flavor to the meat, which was also infused with that delicious chili oil. Their garlic rice is so good! It's packed with garlic flavor and perfectly fluffy. For dessert, we had a goguma parfait - sweet potato custard with a strawberry and blueberry compote. This dessert was.. interesting. The texture was smooth and creamy, but you could definitely tell that there was a sweet potato in there. I think this dessert could use a little more textural contrast. I definitely would have appreciated a cake layer in the parfait or a more prominent crunchy element rather than just the two pieces of tuile garnish on top. That being said, it was still good. Danbi is one of my favorite restaurants in LA if not my number one favorite. Their menu feels modern, interesting, and creative, innovating on traditional Korean classics while remaining authentic and delicious. I especially liked their Dine LA menu for this season as it felt very fun and summery. I can't wait to come back and see what else they have to offer!

The scallop pancakes were definitely the standout for me. Crispy on the outside with a nice texture…read morefrom the scallops, and really flavorful without being too heavy. The pork jowl was also really good. The slices were thin and tender, with a lot of flavor and a nice balance of fat without feeling overly rich. The uni bibimbap was probably my least favorite of the three. The uni itself was good, but I felt like the overall dish needed more seasoning and flavor to really stand out. It was a little underwhelming compared to the other dishes. Overall, the food was solid, but I'd especially recommend the scallop pancakes and pork jowl.

Respected reputation & long lasting & since the 80s. Kobawoo serves traditional Korean dishes that…read morestay true to the old country. Claim to fame ~ signature succulent pork Bossam, clean & tender. Banchan assortment simple yet fresh & tasty. A satisfying meal in Ktown.

Food 99point out of 100 Service 99 out of 100…read moreAmbiance 95 of 100 Must Go Place in Los Angeles Korea town We Love this Restaurant

I absolutely love coming here. The portions are huge, the food is fresh and delicious, and it…read morefeels like so much thought and care went into each dish. This is the kind of comfort food I grew up with so I always look forward to coming here. The servers are nice, parking in the back is easy, and set meal price is decent. I highly recommend Boris Gogae if you want traditional Korean food!

Borit Gogae is a great spot if you're looking for traditional Korean food with a mostly plant-based…read moremenu! The interior is beautiful and very traditional, from the decor down to the tableware. We went for lunch, when parking was free. They offer valet during dinner. Service was also great--our waitresses were very attentive and checked on us often. We ordered the set menu, which came out to around $45 per person with tip. You get SO much food: appetizers, the main course, two types of soup, and dessert. You definitely won't leave hungry! The food is mostly plant-based and pretty mildly seasoned, so keep that in mind if you prefer stronger flavors. Nothing particularly stood out to me this time, so I'm not sure I'd come back specifically for the food, but I'd definitely return when I'm craving lots of veggies and traditional Korean flavors. Overall, I'd recommend it if you enjoy Korean food and want something different from the typical Korean BBQ experience!

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.

I loved Ham Ji Park! This location has now closed and their other location is only open until the…read moreend 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!

Popped in for dinner in 420 to have a beautiful dinner to end the holiday Monday…read more When the woman that works there says it's a lot of food, believe that woman. Although, we were very happy to take some leftovers. Spicy (not spinach) Tofu and pork stew was amazing and I highly recommend sharing the short rib stew with a friend. Fire homemade kimchi

food: we got the super thick bean paste soup and seafood pancake! the soup was a bit too salty…read morehowever the flavor was very strong and savory. the pancake however had too little seafood and more vegetables instead. the pancake was too oily, but it had a nice crisp to it service: the services was really fast for a friday night and the server was really kind ambiance: warm lighting + very clean, minimalistic! it's not loud or chaotic so you can actually hold a conversations with friends or family

my $20 lunch special turned into like 4 meals. GREAT value…read more i was craving korean home-style cooking and found this place. it's got affordable lunch specials under $20. i was really surprised at just how much food i received for just $20... giant plate of sizzinging. perfectly seasoned pork ribs & onions with a really nice char. a big cup of rice, a really great banchan spread with lots of variety, and a massive bowl of broth with such a great mild flavor to balance the spicy banchan and rich pork. it was phenomenal, cured my tummy ache, and immediately took me back to my trip to korea many years ago. i inhaled everything but there was so much food i ended up with a big takeout bag. i kid you not this one $20 meal has turned into like 4 meals for me. pork turned into lettuce wraps, rice fried and mixed with eggs , broth used to elevate a cheap ramen. i WILL be back. i wish i could have bought some of the banchan as an extra charge or something so i could take it home with me because im STILL dreaming of it. the inside has good a/c and a cute homely atmosphere. and the staff was incredibly kind and helped me choose what to eat and helped me pack up the broth once i was done eating. you can see the giant goblet of boiling broth in the kitchen as you eat. easy parking behind the restaurant and in the street.

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.

My second visit since May 2026. This time in town for BTS concert I wanted to try gopchang since it…read moreis part of the restaurant's name. You can't order it as an add-on, so I'm glad that my friends were willing to try it too. We did know that it is beef intestines. I personally like beef and pork intestines I thought it was grilled well. My friends liked it enough to eat it, but I don't think they'll order it again. In fact, I'm pretty sure they won't order it again. Our server Douglas was super nice and helpful. He knew it was our first time ordering gopchang. We almost added the beef brisket, but then when he started to make fried rice we knew we would be too full to eat more. The Banchan, Kimchi Stew and Steamed Egg, were excellent and we really did enjoy our dining experience and being served by Douglas. He said 99% of today's customers were Army. We did have an hour wait which was what we were told, but it was worth it. Oh and the welcome for BTS Armies was touching. They had cold iced water and refreshments while we waited.

We came here with our family after the BTS concert because we heard this place was endorsed by the…read moregroup, so we were really excited to try it. Unfortunately, the experience was a huge disappointment. We ordered the marinated combo with intestine, bulgogi, beef belly, and pork, but the food was just okay and definitely didn't live up to our expectations. What made the experience worse was our server. He was rude, unprofessional, and seemed completely uninterested in helping us. Whenever we asked questions, he acted annoyed and made us feel like we were bothering him. He would even walk past our table without acknowledging us when we needed assistance. We came in excited to enjoy a nice family meal, but unfortunately, the food and especially the service left us very disappointed. We definitely won't be coming back.