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    LA Hwaluh

    4.1 (51 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    a plate of salmon and vegetables
    Ann M.

    We came on a Wednesday night. First off, for those that seldom frequent ktown for food, the plaza is tiny. The parking is triple parked. When I got there I was so confused but there wasn't any street parking so I stuck my car in a spot. What happens if the two cars parked in front of me needs to leave I wondered. Well the restaurant had scrap paper at the counter for you to write your cell # to place on your windshield. If someone u blocked in wants to leave, they will call u to move your car which totally happened to me mid dinner. So my friend and I went outside to do musical car shuffle. If you aren't used to reversing in tight spots in your car, you may have issues. Now for the food. The menu on the wall is in Korean but they gave us an English menu once they realized we weren't korean. Everything was super fresh. We got the $200 combo that feeds 3-4 and ordered an extra salmon roll. There was so much food we couldn't finish it all. We saw the owner come and net up a big halibut for our sashimi. The meat was so good with the diff dipping sauces. All the raw seafood we had were fantastic. At the end of the meal, we got some very very spicy noodle with fish, kimchi soup and burnt rice porridge. Overall it was a delicious experience.

    Menu 10/3/22
    Fang Of H.

    One of the best places in ktown for korean style fresh sashimi. A very, very much of a hole in the wall place that has been around for 10+ years. Smallest size fresh sashimi (only) is $115 and smallest size sashimi combo (including abalone, other seafood, uni rice, spicy soup etc) is $129. Plenty of food for a male + female, maybe a little bit small portions for two males. A Korean couple running the business. There are about 5 tables even though this place specializes in take outs. Service is not the fastest but it's not slow either. Overall, a pleasant and comfortable dinner experience. General table setup is concise but all dishes are extremely delicious and fresh, everything from appetizers to the main dish (fresh halibut sashimi) and spicy seafood soup to top it all off. **They do NOT sell alcohol but have glasses ready for you if you bring your own. Make sure to buy some from the local Korean markets or the liquor store next door in the same plaza. I honestly really like this as your bill comes out significantly lower if you are a drinker (if you don't drink when eating Korean style sashmi, there would be something wrong with you anyway). Only con is that the menu is only written in Korean, so it would be a naturally difficult experience for non-Koreans.

    J P.

    This is the best/freshest Hwae aka Sashimi you will get in Koreatown! This is a place where it's best for to-go orders. It could be hard to find parking if you are dining in but I always am satisfied with the quality of the fish they use. Everyone complains about the price but you will get the freshest fish for the money you are paying for.

    A combo $99
    Bokyoung Y.

    Sashimi is super fresh! The sashimi price is crazy after pandemic, i was looking for some reasonable price sashimi. The small combo is all over $99 in koreatown including this place, i gave it a try. I never satisfied with the smallest combo in any sashimi place but this place. The side dishes are not many but they serve mauntang(spicy fish soup) in A combo. The fish was so fresh, i love they serve sashimi on top of ice tray for to-go order! The sashimi amount was big enough to feed two people. Next time, i want to try bigger combo with more seafood combinations! I will def go back.

    Uni rice
    Sunny M.

    Had take out: la hwaluh combo 1. Came with so many side dishes. Sashimi was fresh. Abalone and oysters tasted fresh as well. Uni rice was delicious! Didn't get any fried fish but that's okay. Parking. During dinner time it gets pretty hectic in that plaza. Small parking lot. I normally go there to do take out so not an issue. Food is always packaged very well. Will keep going back for more!

    Cali roll part of the combo
    Young Kyung K.

    Don't get me wrong the price and the portion was AMAZING! But this is the one place I wouldn't come too often even with their affordable prices. I saw that they used to have an English menu but that's gone and the only "menu" they had was on the wall. My mom an I ordered the "LA hwal uh combo" which translates to LA live fish combo. It was $74 it comes with a small plate of halibut, sea squirt, abalone, fresh oysters, California roll, uni rice bowl, and spicy fish stew at the end. Usually these combos at other restaurants are $80 or more. The price in my opinion was absolutely amazing! The cuts of the halibut was thick and it was very fresh. Abalone and seasquirt was prepared as soon as we ordered!! :D yumm The uni rice bowl was a bit small.. I did see that the customer base was filled with regulars and they were getting different dishes as us but... that's just something you can't really complain about hahha our uni bowls put together was ONE of the uni bowls on the table next to us :( haha It seemed like the whole family was working that night. The dad on the sashimi, mom with the side dishes and the son with the serving, but I couldn't help but sense that they weren't happy with what they were doing. They didn't smile one bit and none of them cared to ask if their food was any good. I'm very supportive of small, especially family owned, businesses but ...they really made me sad to be eating there. The place isn't great to be honest, it's very run down and ... if you don't walk in to eat there you might actually think they are out of business. BUT they still have A.. so it's okay I'm sure everything's clean haha!! BYOB!! WHAT RESTAURANT HAS BYOB for free no corkage and they are more than willing to bring you shot glasses and beer glasses when you do bring your own alcohol! Would I come back? not too sure but ...it's definitely worth the money here!

    Nicky N.

    What can I say? You get MORE bang for your buck! This place is a hole in the wall with the BEST QUALITY seafood. FRESH! FRESH! FRESH! For only $8 you can get the most fresh buttery uni in a bowl. Uni bowl has perfect amount of sesame flavored rice with 3 different types of caviars, seaweed and sesame seeds. Don't forget they offer FREE condiments consisting of quail eggs, kimchi, pickled dikon, egg soup and soybean. It costs me between $10-12 for live uni (sea urchin) at Redondo Beach but here I'm paying less and it tastes DELISH! Serves was kind of poor. They didn't even ask us what we wanted to drink nor offered us water. Live sea creatures in their tanks:) I must come back to try the live shrimps and oysters.

    Oysters and sea squirt on one plate. Octopus Salad and the Abalone with side dishes shown
    Susan N.

    Update: They had UNI for me!!! And it was AMAZINGGGG so I've decided, I will only come here for UNI! Had the combo again and I'm whatevers on them. I just want UNI UNI UNI! --------- I was just here a few days ago. I believe the yelp hours are wrong. The menu says they open from 3:30pm to 11pm but yelp says 11am to 11pm. I arrived on a Sunday around 6ish pm. Didn't understand much of the menu..ended up ordering the combo for 2 and sadly disappointed to find out that they didn't have any UNI left! I was so incredibly disappointed. I was set on cleaning out their UNI inventory! It's odd that they ran out so quick if they opened at 3:30pm. How can they run out in just a few hours? Anyhow, the lady said they would substitute it for fresh sweet shrimp so I guess that was okay. You know I'd rather eat an ocean of UNI instead! Food wasn't bad for the price. Best combo prices compared to other similar Korean seafood spots around. Combo for 2 included a bunch of side dishes, small plate of Halibut sashimi, sea squirt, abalone, 2 oysters, boiled quail eggs, octopus salad, lettuce and other greens to wrap the sashimi with, 2 sweet shrimps and their heads fried and served later, and 4 pc California roll. Thought the meal was over but the lady came out with another tray of food which I thought was for another party. Turns out it was for us! The finisher was fish stew that had the Halibut fish bones and extra fish meat along with veggies and tofu in it. Stew came with a fried mackerel fish and hot plain rice soup for each of us to slurp on. It was nice to finish with something warm. I'd say food is quite decent. The restaurant itself was run down but oh well. I don't judge by the place. It only fits 5-6 small tables. Tiny place!. There are worse places. If food is good then all else doesn't matter! I'm coming back tonight for my UNI. They better not be out again! Will update rating if UNI is AMAZING....dun dun dun

    Connie T.

    I have been back a few times and have been able to order without calling my Korean friend. Win! They have A, B or C orders of halibut sashimi, for 2, 3 or 4 people, respectively. I believe A starts at $55 and goes up. I am told these come with just a few side dishes. You can also get combos. $65 for 2 people, $100 for three. You get a lot of side dishes with this - edamame, corn, quail eggs, abalone, oysters, spicy tuna roll topped with halibut, sea squirt, rice porridge, baked eel (sometimes), variety of kimchee type items, UNI BOWL, grilled mackerel and I'm sure I'm still forgetting things. You get the halibut sashimi with the lettuce leaves, sesame leaves (gyen-nip), miso, garlic and jalapeno. You finish with the spicy seafood soup. The seafood soup is a winner. It has big, substantial chunks of fish, and usually a sac of fish eggs. Nice flavor. While my friends debate whether they like the halibut better here or Hwal A Kwang Jang, the soup is clearly better here (much more fish and substantial ingredients in general). The $65 combo comes with one uni bowl. They are so good we always order extra so everyone has their own ($6-7 each, I don't remember which). And we always add on a pound of amaebi (sweet shrimp) - $35, and ranges from 5-8 shrimp, we've found. The shrimp is so fresh (fished out of the tanks when you order) and the heads are delicious. BTW - the liquor store that shares the parking lot does have beer, wine and soju, but no sake. So you'll have to get that elsewhere if that's what you want with your sashimi.

    Clara L.

    small spot BYOB the food is fair but not as great as some other spots in ktown service was also very spotty many times, the waitress sat down to drink/eat with regulars which is cool but not when we're sitting there waiting for our food also ran out of a lot of items

    Masha K.

    This review is solely for the food. Due to the fact that it was so good, I won't comment on the decor, atmosphere, restrooms etc. Came here around 5pm on a Thursday night with my boyfriend. I was up on the game with the BYOB so we stopped by the liquor store on the same plaza to pick up some soju and beer. Only one other table was taken. Couldn't convince the BF to split the sashimi combo so we just ordered a la cart. Oysters came out first and were delicious. They were spicy and had great flavor. Boyfriend who typically is not an oyster fan, gulped them right up. Best $10 1/2 dozen oysters I ever had. Spicy tuna was next. It was fresh and tasty. Great value for $5. Live shrimp were amazing, as long as you don't mind your food moving. Best I ever had. Next time we are definitely getting a pound. Uni rice bowl was fire! The sesame oil was a nice touch. Lastly, we were hooked up with the squid side fish, which we both thought was fresh, tasty and not rubbery at all. I can see myself becoming a regular here. Next time I'm taking someone who's not afraid to try the rest of the menu.

    To-Go Halibut Sashimi (Hwaluh)

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

    I have been here last 5 years. It is fresh always!! And nice service too. If you like live fish, you must visit here

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    Sashimi is fresh but the others was so so.... not worth the drive all the way to los angeles from san jose...

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    8 years ago

    Cool place. Really enjoyed the food.

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    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    0.8 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    the clam kalguksu (바지락 칼국수) was definitely the highlight for me! it was super yummy and really…read morerefreshing. i remember eating it on such a hot day and it honestly hit perfectly i also got the yulmu bibim-guksu (열무 비빔국수), which is a cold noodle dish, and that was really refreshing too. overall, this feels like such a good summer spot. the vibe was lax, you just sit down and enjoy!! even the water felt refreshing because they serve it in those cold korean metal cups hehe they also move pretty fast service-wise, which i appreciated, and it's in such a good area with a lot of other food spots nearby. i'm really happy i randomly came across this place and i can't wait to explore more around the area

    Visited Hangari on Saturday evening to try their renown Kalguksu with some friends. I've known that…read morespecific parking lot/strip mall to be a nightmare parking wise, so I bit the bullet and used the on-site valet. There is sometimes street parking but the availability is rough, it's tough to park, and even one of the meters we ended up at just didn't work. They only charge a $5 cash service charge though, which isn't bad. We were lucky to be seated right away, even in a packed restaurant. The restaurant has a surprisingly modern design, and is comfortable for as small as it is. We were quickly served their signature kimchis and barley rice. The kimchi, particularly the yeolmu (young summer radish) kimchi, has a unique flavor profile well suited to their food. We ordered 2 bowls of their plain kalgooksu, 1 bibim milmyun, and 1 tteokbokki. The food came out fairly quickly. The kalgooksu was as expected the star of the show. The anchovy broth brings a savory complexity that seems impossible for a soup made from just dried fish and a few other ingredients. It even has a rich, almost thick, quality to it that is surprising for a fish broth. Their noodles, the titular kalgooksu, have the signature irregularity and chew of knife cut noodles. I appreciate the vegetables that always come in kalgooksu, like potato, pumpkin, and zucchini, which offer an earthy heartiness to the light soup. My only complaint is that the potato is in huge irregular chunks, and is barely cooked, though I feel like I have had this issue with many of the kalgooksu bowls I've had over the years. The bibim milmyun was solid. I think that I prefer the texture and flavor of naengmyeon buckwheat noodles, but the milmyun, which are made with mostly wheat flour, still provide a satisfying chew. The sauce tasted bright and fresh, especially with a splash of added vinegar. It also came with a small side portion of spicy pork and some rice paper to wrap. The tteokbokki was the one let down of the meal. To be fair, I wasn't expecting much out of tteokbokki at all restaurant like this whose specialty is essentially the opposite. I ordered the tteokbokki as a "safe pick" for a picky eater in the group. It turned out to be a bit mediocre in our opinion, and that friend ended up enjoying their kalgooksu anyways. If you're looking to try this dish, it's definitely one of if not the best I've had in Southern California, so I'd totally recommend it. I'll also warn to steer clear of the Garden Grove restaurant of the same name and specialty. I think it's a disappointing mimicry of this place.

    Photos
    Hangari Kalguksu - Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

    Bossam jowl combo

    Hangari Kalguksu - (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

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    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

    Danbi

    4.5(384 reviews)
    0.8 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    We went shortly after they opened and it got busier as the night went on. The Honey butter chips…read moreare 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

    My bf and I had an 8:30pm reservation for his birthday and we were seated immediately upon arrival…read more 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!

    Photos
    Danbi - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Danbi - Scallop Pancakes

    Scallop Pancakes

    Danbi - Perilla Cild Noodle

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    Perilla Cild Noodle

    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    0.4 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$

    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
    Kobawoo House - 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!

    Kobawoo House - Lunch Jangban Guksoo

    Lunch Jangban Guksoo

    Kobawoo House - Jangban Guksoo Vegan

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    Jangban Guksoo Vegan

    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(514 reviews)
    1.2 miKoreatown
    $$$

    Be prepared to walk away feeling very full. We got the set meal here, which came served with…read moreappetizers, barley rice, a lot of banchan (and by that I meant a LOT), soup, congee, dessert, etc. It was definitely more than enough food. We also got an additional order of LA kalbi for some protein. The meat quality was good but I felt like the meat was not marinated long enough and so the flavor was a little bit lacking. If only it just sat in the marinade for a couple more hours, I think this would have been perfect. The tofu soup was not my favorite, to be very honest. There was some flavor in there that made it smell like a stinky towel. Very different from other soondubu soup places and unfortunately not for me. Everything else we had was excellent and I would definitely come back again just for the barley rice and banchan. Service was quick and servers were nice. We also came at 3pm on Saturday so there was no wait. Recommended!

    Across the street from the new Zion market is this wonderful and unique Korean eatery. Unlike most…read moreof the run-of-the-mill Korean restaurants in Koreatown this restaurant serves unique appetizers and a multi-course set menu that gives you a taste of a variety of authentic Korean village food - like pumpkin porridge and acorn jelly salad. It's a lot of food for the price ($35 pp at this writing). While the minimum order is for 2 people, we've tried sharing the 2-people order among 3 and it worked for us, with addition of a couple of other items from the menu. The Korean BBQ beef is at par with most other nice restaurants in K town; their marinated crab was delicious! Service is okay - given how busy they are! Most servers are not very conversant in English so a little patience would help you get the right things you need. Nice and unique vibe with Korean handicraft items and art work on display (and for sale, I believe).

    Photos
    Borit Gogae - Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Borit Gogae - Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Borit Gogae - Grilled spareribs

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    Grilled spareribs

    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    0.8 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    Really sad that Ham Ji Park is closing down permanently. For years, this place has been our…read morefamily's go-to place for pork spare ribs - the best in town. In fact, we regularly brought visitors here. They raved about how good the spare ribs were and even insisted that their last meal before LA should be at Ham Ji Park.  Here's my belated review of what I consider the best spare ribs in LA. From the moment the Korean-style spare ribs arrived at the table, it was clear this was a dish worth savoring. Each rib bore a beautifully charred exterior--deeply caramelized without a hint of bitterness--offering that irresistible smoky aroma the moment it was placed before us. The glaze was nothing short of spectacular. A perfect balance of sweet and spicy, it clung to the meat with a glossy sheen that promised flavor in every bite. There was just enough heat to make your taste buds sit up and pay attention, but it never overwhelmed the deeper, richer notes of the sweet components. But what truly set these ribs apart was the texture. Beneath the charred surface lay meat so tender it practically fell off the bone with the gentlest tug of a fork. Each bite was juicy and succulent, the result of careful cooking and a respect for quality ingredients. Ham Ji Park, you will be missed. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the food.

    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.

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    LA Hwaluh - korean - Updated June 2026

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