Perilla is a korean superette located in a cute and hidden area. The inside is very small so the only seating is at the tables in front of the shop. As we entered, the famous owner, Jihee Kim, eagerly offered to help us with our order. We ordered a gimbap (from the shelf), dosirak chicken, and the dosirak cod. On our way out we made the last minute decision to purchase a few of the banchan sides. And good thing we did that because one of our favorite items ended up being the sugar snap peas! After devouring the peas we ran to Chef Kim and asked to buy 2 more containers! Overall everything we ate tasted very fresh and homemade in a "comforting" way. From the decorative and intentional packaging to the friendliness of the owner, I don't think I could ask for a better korean meal experience. Each item ranges from $6-$20 so I would call that affordable for the quality you're getting and for being in LA! Come to Perilla immediately! read more

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really cute little shop to grab something and sit outside with. delicious and simple. get the spicy asian pear salad with cucumber!

Finally tried this place for lunch today with my co-worker. I got the Dosirak Cod and she got the Dosirak Chicken. I got a side dish of kimchi which I devoured. The portion is pretty big and can be shared (we were supposed to share but she changed her mind and wanted to get her own). The dosirak comes with a few seasonal banchans. I liked all of them. Just wished that they would add kimchi as a ban chan so I dont have to buy it separately. Please note that the cod is NOT boneless. I accidentally swallowed a small piece of bone. It took awhile for it to come down. Anyway the cod was well seasoned and had a good flavor. I will definitely be back here again soon. As for the prices of their food, it is a little on the pricey side. But I guess that is typical for LA. They don't have indoor seating. They have a courtyard with tables and chairs for everyone to sit. Found my kimchi fix when I am craving for one!!! I highly recommend this place read more

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Hipster banchan Spot. The set up of Perila is really cute. The restaurant is hidden in a neighborhood in Chinatown. There is no dine -in, but some tables in the courtyard and the side yard. The menu is simple, and they offer different banchans. On this visit, we tried rolled egg, smoked eggs, fermented perilla leaves, broccolini with broken tofu, Okra, Kimchi, and garlic eggplant. My favorites were the rolled eggs and the smoked eggs. The portions are small, and definitely on the pricier side. read more

We got here fairly late given their hours but they still had almost everything in stock. I was curious to try this place after watching the Rebel Kitchens documentary and saw how much work goes into making the rolled egg. Being accustomed to free banchan from Korean restaurants or fairly cheap banchan from korean markets does make their prices seem high. Similarly, I tried their gimbap at an event and it was solid but costs way more than comparable options in ktown. So we ordered the dosirak which comes with marinated chicken or cod and a variety of banchan with rice. Maybe cause it was later in the day but the owner was friendly and accommodating about which banchan I could get too. The cod was excellent, moist and flaky. I was able to try the egg roll and a few other banchan. All of the banchan tasted fresh and well made but I was glad to get the dosirak over the banchan sampler since the cod was my favorite part and still got to try various banchan. The portion of cod was pretty generous too. I actually didn't finish and had leftovers later on. My friend really liked the chicken but I'm coming back for the cod. read more

Mushroom bowl had a good texture. Mushroom was cooked very well but I didn't care for ginger scallion sauce. It tasted too raw and I first thought it was a smashed eggplant. The sauce would've worked well with meat dumplings or heavily marinated chicken or beef, not with lightly grilled mushroom. Cucumber yuzu spritzer tasted watered down and overall food is not seasoned enough for my taste. read more

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Fresh, Friendly, Fantastically delicious Banchan means small side dishes and I love that they have a variety of to-go! Love for a quick healthy flavory savory dish read more

There are no halmonis at Perilla LA, the lunch and banchan shop on the border of Echo Park and Chinatown. I'm not sure my mom, who makes her own kkaenip kimchi, has ever said the word "perilla" in her life, and she'd certainly never park on a side street straight out of the first movie in the Fast & Furious franchise just to eat banchan in a hot courtyard. The second-gen ajummas, though, are a different story. We read The New York Times and watch The Infatuation on Instagram. We like hipster shit, don't mind eating with white people, and have come to associate mild physical discomfort with excellent food. Also, The Fast & the Furious was cool as hell. I went for lunch a few weeks ago with my friend Jim R., and we both had a bit of a time finding the place, which is hidden from view if you park at the listed address. The shop was cute and tiny, with no indoor seating, although there were a handful of patio tables for eating on site. Cashier service was quick and friendly, and we had no trouble grabbing one of the tables at noon on a Tuesday. The patio definitely filled up while we were there, though the vibe remained calm. It was a pleasant place for a catch-up lunch, if quite casual and pretty exposed to the sun. The food was fantastic. We shared a good chunk of the menu--kimbap, cold soy garlic noodles, a cod dosirak, and plenty of banchan--and everything was delicious. The kimbap was vegetarian and tasty, made with cucumber, avocado, egg, pickled radish, carrots, garlic chives, and sweet soy shiitakes wrapped in seaweed and rice. There was a mustard sauce for dipping, which was a nice touch. The noodles were addictive, with a springy texture and lots of flavor from the soy garlic dressing and a hefty sprinkle of crushed sesame seeds. They came with half of a lovely smoked egg, as did the dosirak. Perilla offers two dosirak: chicken or cod served over rice with that egg and a daily selection of four banchan. The cod was wonderful, black cod marinated in doenjang and cooked just right, buttery and flavorful, each bite coated in a sweet and salty glaze that also tasted great with the rice. I'll bet that chicken is amazing, too. The banchan were all stellar. The dosirak came with Italian sweet pepper muchim, garlic eggplant, potato salad, and broccolini and broken tofu. The muchim came with sweet Italian peppers marinated with ssamjang, yuzu, sesame oil, and garlic; the steamed eggplant was marinated in soy sauce, garlic, serranos, and scallions; the potato salad was creamy and studded with apples, eggs, and fermented cucumber; the blanched broccolini was tossed with tofu, sesame oil, and fish sauce. Every one of them went quite well with the rice and cod. I also picked up the fermented cucumber and pear, the rolled egg, and the smoked egg. The cucumber and pear were pleasantly spicy, seasoned with gochugaru, garlic, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil. The rolled egg was soft and spongey, made up of crepe-thin layers of sweet yellow egg and a little bit of savory seaweed. That smoked egg, though, was my favorite of the bunch, and I was glad I had some to take home. The eggs were supple and creamy with bright-yellow, just-set yolks, marinated and smoked in garlic and yuzu-infused soy sauce. The banchan container still had that marinade, and I got a solid light lunch out of mixing it all up with some leftover rice. I live within walking distance of Koreatown, but I would absolutely go out of my way to eat at Perilla LA again. I'd at least love to go back to stock up on more banchan. Maybe next time I'll even buy some for my mom. read more

I'm a little late to the party, but wow this small shop takes banchan to a different level entirely. Perilla occupies a small cottage off the street (enter past Heavy Water coffee). There are no tables inside, just some displays of whatever banchan is fresh that day, sold in to-go containers. There is also a menu of prepared foods that you can order and the owner will bring to you assuming you are sitting on one of the cafe tables outside. It was a beautiful sunny day today so my friend and I decided to make the brief 6 minute drive from the office. Everything we ordered was fantastic, especially the cod. The kimbap was unforgettable and possibly the best I have had in recent memory. Free parking is on the neighboring streets. read more

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roy choi said it best when he said when most americans think of korean food, they think of korean bbq, when it's actually mostly pickles and root vegetables. so, to all my fellow arrogant koreans out there, welcome home. i first tried perilla at a wedding they catered, and i was astounded by the quality of food- specifically, the balance and freshness. i looked it up afterwards to find it was somewhat trending in newspapers. this restaurant is not for everyone. korean food is not glamorous- if you're a foodie looking for artisanal level of creativity and exciting flavors that ravish your nose and tongue (sorry for being graphic) this place isn't for you. if your stomach is an insatiable garbage disposal like mine, and want large portions of a hearty, calorie dense food that will keep you full during a busy work day, this place is probably not for you... i would venture to say that because of its high price, niche flavors and small portions, this restaurant is not for most people. in some ways, perilla reminds me of cafe gratitude in venice beach. at these restaurants it seems as if health is prioritized at all costs, they are uncompromising in terms of quality and freshness, and while the flavors are not exciting, they are certainly not boring. although it is expensive, given the healthiness of the food, and the fact that is nearly indistinguishable from food made at home, the exorbitant price is nearly justified to me. this is honestly the food we should all be eating every day. perilla is one of those places you could eat at on a daily basis for a lifetime and never regret a single bite. all that being said, i spent $30 on lunch and was left starving after finishing the meal. as much as i like the food, i'll probably return very infrequently, unless they can increase the portions. i think that is the most effective way to address their calorie/dollar problem, because I sincerely doubt they will lower their prices. i hope they can adapt, because as of now, this restaurant is for rich, healthy koreans who eat like birds, and i'm not sure there are enough of those in LA to sustain this gem after the hype dies down. good luck perilla, may you never forget your prime directive. FEED ME read more

Perilla LA - banchan bowl - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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You will find this modern banchan establishment tucked in the back of a coffee shop in a residential looking area. It is unlikely you will randomly come across it. It's a destination and like me, you will visit because you heard about it in the LA Times or the NY Times. If words like "Rustic Canyon," "New York Times," "Los Angeles Times," and "farmers market" impress you along with a "hipster" aesthetic -- Perilla LA is for you. For me, as someone who expects warm, friendly service and hospitality when dining out (in America) from hole-in-wall and even more so at fine dining or Michelin-rated/starred restaurants, in my case, this place isn't for me. For Perilla LA, I felt like I was at some random establishment with a high school kid employee at the register who doesn't care about losing their job or gaining a regular customer. The most interesting part? It was the owner, Jihee Kim. No greeting, no eye contact, and her attention was what was happening on her phone. No apologies for being glued to her phone at all while a customer was in front of her. I understand that emergencies do happen where you have to attend to your phone. Whatever happened on her phone screen was more important than her customer. Not even apologizing for not acknowledging me and saying "I'll be right with you." I guess this is what happens when you're written up in the LA Times and NY Times. You just don't care anymore. She was definitely resting on her laurels. When I asked what I should get as a first timer? I asked about her banchan combination plate and if that's what I should order. Her eyes still glued to her phone she responded with an unsure tone "you caaaan." I was so done and irritated at that point and wondered what I was still doing there. To top it off, she turns her tablet over to me and asks me for a tip for ignoring me -- the owner asked for a tip. Ridiculous. So her employee drops off the container outside and seems to be very pleasant dropping off the food and bringing me over chopsticks. Maybe she should have put him at the register so she can play with her phone a bit longer. My experience with banchan is that it is free at many Korean restaurants and you can ask for more at no extra charge. If I want it at home, I will pick some up at my neighborhood Korean market for $5-$8 per container or $8 for gimbap (Korean sushi roll). You will see that they do use MSG in many banchan recipes at the Korean market. I would advise against getting the banchan with the rice at this spot as I see more value in picking up the containers of banchan of your choice without the rice. The highlight for me is the rolled tamago (egg) and probably the kimchi-style greens. I much prefer the traditional creamy Korean potato salad at the Korean market and restaurants over her tart more American "modern banchan" version. The other market vegetables tasted more like cold bland boiled vegetables. This kind of place feels like a good fit in this neighborhood bordering Echo Park/Chinatown and might be better suited for people who aren't familiar with traditional banchan any maybe interested in a modern take of it. I am not sure if it would survive in Koreatown. I thought about if I would ever return, probably not based on the lack of regard and care for her new customers or potential regular customer. Keep in mind that you will probably spend double for the modern banchan here. The banchan sampler with rice costs close to $20 with tip. Parking might be difficult in the neighborhood during the weekend. read more

Perilla LA - Banchan sampler with rice - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Some really great Korean banchan here. Got the gimbap, rolled egg, and the dosirak cod lunch box. The gimbap was full of fresh ingredients, the rolled egg a fun shape with seaweed on the inside, and the cod lightly grilled while still super tender. The cod is very much like Nobu famed black cod miso. Only wish the lunch box had a marinated egg since we already bought a rolled egg banchan. Service was made to order. The atmosphere was casual. read more

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Cute little gem tucked behind Chinatown! The spot is a bit hidden and you have to walk into a small area of houses. There's a small patio area for dine-in, although there is no indoor seating. Street parking is easy. I came to pick up to go dishes for a picnic and grabbed a few prepackaged banchans. The marinated okra and rolled egg were my faves. The marinated okra is slightly on the sweet side, but the sauce the okra is marinated in makes it so delicious. The rolled egg was so tender and light especially with the seaweed rolled into the middle. I also ordered a cod and chicken dosirak. Both were plenty of food (room for leftovers) and the bento comes with banchan too! Cod was so soft, and chicken was cooked really well. Nothing was dry. I can't wait to eat these dosiraks again. I came around noon on a weekday but it still took 20-25 minutes for the dosirak to be packed up for me. Kinda slow for me, but other than that, I enjoyed everything about Perilla!! read more

No good. Media like LA Times, NY Times trying to be trend picking this place.... is a joke. Korean food can't finished eating by Korean. lol. Nappa Kimchi was the worst. Lol Wasted of money. read more

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- Service: efficient - Food quality: good, flavors 50/50 - Rice was semi soggy (overcooked/too much liquid) - Chicken was undercook, high fire to get the char and grill but it is probably a good idea to move the chicken over to a lower flame and get the internal parts cooked through or to temp. - Packaging: eco-friendly - Parking: around the neighborhood is free and easy if you can find a spot (not complaining) - Will give it at least two tries for benefit of the doubt. Everyone gets a chance. read more

Perilla LA - chicken still raw.. and its not because it's 'dark meat'. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I really wanted to love this place. I had been wanting to try Perilla since before it was a brick and mortar restaurant and after hearing nothing but rave reviews since its opening, I was super excited to finally try it. The positives: customer service and the space itself were both great. The staff was wonderful and the woman helping me was very kind and helpful. The outdoor seating is spacious and very peaceful. Now for the food - I'm not sure if I was just very unlucky and somehow caught them on an off day but I was shocked to find myself extremely disappointed. We ordered mushroom dupbap, chicken dosirak, and gimbap. Presentation was lovely but the taste was wildly underwhelming. I'm very familiar with korean food and know that it sometimes can be on the mild side in terms of flavor. This however, wasn't mild, it was just SO bland to the point that it almost tasted like nothing. We came very hungry but the food was so under-seasoned that we didn't finish any of the dishes (which were relatively small for entrees) despite our hunger. Again, I really wanted to love this spot and almost didn't review it because I didn't want to negatively affect the restaurant but I feel obligated to share my experience as so much of my positive anticipation was due to the great reviews. Tons of potential here and I hope to come back at some point if they ever tweak the menu. read more

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What a great local spot hidden away in Echo Park! Chef Kim has again out done herself. Food is well seasoned and tastes fresh. Great place for vegetarian/vegan options. We ordered their Kimbap and the cod dosirak(bento) along with beer. Her mushrooms tasted really amazing in the kimbap. Marinated cod was also very good. Try their various "banchans" made to be eaten w rice. Loved their personally curated wines and beers to go along with their dishes. There's a large patio area right outside their store with tables and chairs to enjoy the food/drink. Plenty of street parking right outside as well. Tastes like home, homey. read more

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been following perilla since the pandy, and the brick and mortar does not disappoint. if you're looking for traditional korean food. this isn't the spot. but if you're open to flavors melded together in unique ways, it's well worth checking out. the banchan is all grab and go. you order entrees at the teeny counter area. they have vegetarian options, beer and makkeoli (hana, the good stuff). the yu choy and yuba had a lovely yuzu sauce and was my fave. the kimbap came with mustard sauce in a cute little miniature bottle. the food is nothing groundbreaking, but it's fun and healthy. perfect for a picnic or to graze on in their al fresco seating. there was even a jazz band playing. it's the package that makes it a must-try and try again! read more

Perilla LA - yu choy, kim bap, and white cabbage kimchi - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ever since my last time trying Perilla during the pandemic, I have been patiently waiting for their return. When they announced the soft opening of their brick and mortar store on social media (and subsequent announcements on Eater), I knew I had to come back to try it again. The storefront is located on the border of Echo Park and Chinatown near Dodger Stadium. It's right around the corner from Eastside Italian Deli. It's tucked away from the street in what looks like a small apartment complex, but appears like it will be a small collection of shops/restaurants. The kitchen/ordering area is small but there are maybe 6 or 7 tables with umbrellas to eat there if you wish. I picked out a few banchan from the deli case, plus I ordered a mushroom dupbap and chicken dosirak. Fifteen minutes later, they brought my food out to me and I took it home. The food was packed well and travelled great. For our banchan, we tried the sesame green beans, meiji tofu with gochujang, and fermented cucumber & melon. Each of them were really interesting and very tasty. I especially loved the creamy sesame green beans. The melon and cucumber also worked well together. The mushroom dupbap was really delicious - it included galbi marinated mushrooms (maitake?) and a ginger scallion sauce served over rice. The mushrooms really packed a lot of umami flavor. The chicken dosirak included grilled, marinated chicken over rice, with a selection of banchan: kimchi, white kimchi, eggplant, broccolini with tofu, and potato salad. Of those, the broccolini and the potato salad were the standouts. I wish I had gotten a full order of the broccolini. I didn't see the potato salad in the banchan case but I will definitely get that if they have it next time. My only minor quibble is that the portions are pretty small for the price, but I get that with inflation, the costs of operating a restaurant are expensive. Hi read more

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I love banchan, so a banchan focused restaurant is right up my alley. This restaurant is also up a literal alley, in a little courtyard carved out of a residential area. It's a pleasant retreat from the surrounding freeways. I ordered the cod dosirak, which in addition to the cod came with potato salad, seaweed in rolled tamago, marinated cauliflower, and some carrot and wood ear mushrooms, and I added one of their other banchan that was made out of some broccoli-like vegetable that I'd never heard of. I also ordered their housemade yuzu cucumber soda. It was an extraordinarily varied and healthy-feeling meal even with the mayo-soaked potato salad. The cod was caramelized-sweet and soft as a pillow. Both of the marinated vegetable dishes had that heavily fermented bite, and tasted very fresh. The soda was extra bubbly and not sweet at all, which was much appreciated. For me, sweet kind of kills refreshing, and refreshing was needed on this sunny day. read more

I don't know why they did this. I would not recommend eating here if you are wanting actual Korean food or even something similar to Korean food. Just drive 10 minutes further down the highway and go to ktown where you can get better and more banchans with your meal for free with your meal. The audacity to have this restaurant in La and be called a Korean restaurant while charging you an obseen amount for a small quantity and mediocre food is wild. We came here because it was listed as one of the top 50 most exciting restaurants of 2023 by the New York Times and after eating here, I am convinced the person who wrote the article has never eaten Korean food before. I am questioning whether they have had any food with flavor before either. What we ate: Here is my understanding of the concept: rice + protein + banchan. We got the beef (bulgogi) dupbap, chicken doshirak, and a side of picked cucumber/pear. Everything except the chicken was only salty. The chicken was supposed to be doenjang marinated and I think they forgot the doenjang in Korea because it was nowhere to be found visually or in taste. The bulgogi dupbap was just a salty pseudo bulgogi on top of rice. But the rice was soaked in the salty juice so it was so difficult to want to eat after one bite. Service: The reason why I put 2 stars instead of 1 is because the service was great. The person taking our order was very kind and bubbly. Now they just have to take their service model and match it with better tasting food (maybe just stay away from Korean food since it will be compared to genuine Korean food down the street.) Side note: what is also confusing is I am pretty sure the owners are Korean...maybe this is just a really good way to scam white people. read more

Perilla LA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Perilla LA emerges as a captivating new culinary treasure in Echo Park. Chef Jihee artfully weaves the tapestry of Korean flavors that marries tradition with a contemporary flair. With a discerning eye for quality, Chef Jihee meticulously sources her ingredients from the local farmers market, infusing her dishes with an undeniable freshness that rejuvenates the senses. Customers may enjoy their meal on a shared patio and order drinks from their curated selection of wines and beers. Chef Jihee's side dishes (banchan) rival or exceed the most seasoned Korean culinary ahjummas in terms of taste. She boldly forges innovative paths, elevating the Korean palate to new dimensions. Perilla has refined traditional taste with subtle intricacies that discerning palates applaud. There is ample street parking and Perilla can be found behind the "Heavy Water Coffee Shop." I look forward to my next visit, so I can stock up on banchan to take home. read more

Perilla LA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Cute little courtyard to sit and converse in the shade or sunshine, with a very small store, where you can pick out banchan small dishes (we got the soy sauce egg) and the black cod lunch box. I thought it was a bit fishy, but my friend thought the quality was quite good for a lunch box. The other small side dishes that came in the lunch box were ok and flavorful too. Felt pricey for the small portion. Parking is street parking nearby. There is a coffee shop right next to this too. read more

came here after seeing the surge on tiktok and social media. they sold out after TWO HOURS of opening, so we got lucky. it's a BANCHAN (korean side dish) specialty pop up that has a daily menu depending on their selection. i got the kimbap and banchan set. kimbap was delicious and came with hot mustard that added a nice kick, very fresh ingredients. the banchans were marinated peppers, seasoned green beans, potato salad, and sautéed chinese broccoli. it came with a soy marinated egg and furikake rice. everything was clean tasting, but i don't think it was worth the $30 total. overall, it's a great place to check out with nice vibes! read more

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I'm sorry, I want to support my fellow Koreans but we just spent $65 on food that we didn't finish because it just wasn't good. So overpriced and just felt like flavors were not on par. read more

This place is such a gem, sat within a quaint courtyard is this small Kitchenette Korean restaurant serving up STUNNING Korean banchan bento boxes. Such great attention to detail, perfect square meals with melt in your mouth proteins. read more

Perilla LA - Chicken - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stumbled upon this hidden gem by accident, and I'm so glad I did! This place serves up delicious Korean banchan, everything is packed with flavor and perfectly savory. I tried both the Banchan Rice Combo and the Dosirak (cod), and they were absolutely amazing. The kimchi is fantastic, but what really stole the show for me were the smoked eggsseriously to die for. A must try if you're in the area. This spot instantly made its way onto my list of favorites Definitely going back! read more

Cod dosirak was delicious. The texture/flavors of the cod were buttery perfection. Mushroom w/ galbi marinade was interesting too. Definitely coming back here! read more

Just tried Perilla from a friend recommendation, and it did not disappoint! It's tucked away in a quite neighborhood, so it's very discrete. I got the Spicy Beef and the Collard Green Kimchi- both absolutely delicious. The portions are also heafty! I ate half my beef dish and was perfectly full. The beef is melt in your mouth tender with a perfectly sweet, savory, spicy sauce. The collard green kimchi was the perfect combo with this meal. Would def come again! read more

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Found out about this place from the LA Times. It was a little hard to find because it's hidden in a small group of residential looking buildings across the street from Eastside Italian Deli. Picked up a couple of banchan, my favorite was the perfectly yellow rolled egg and Italian sweet pepper muchim. Broccolini with broken tofu not bad either. Delicious accompaniment to a bigger meal or good enough on their own for a light lunch in their pretty patio. read more

Perilla LA - Banchan including rolled egg, brocolini with broken tofu and italian sweet pepper muchim - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food experience was good. The foods were fresh and tasty and the meals were well balanced with the main course, rice, and the sides. The bachans are flavorful and well made. A great way to be introduced to Korean food. The first hurdle in finding this place is its actual location. The storefront is not located on the street rather it is located within a complex of small businesses. The entrance to the complex is on 813 Centennial St. Although yelp says there are private parking there is ONLY street parking. read more

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The food is okay, but I think everything is way over priced. The parking was a mission impossible! I was surprised that they charged tips for several containers of banchan. read more

love that the seasonings are authentic (and perfect) while the ingredients are changed up for a new experience. i often get upset with changing up wonderful korean banchan (changing up korean food in general) but this experience all makes sense. id recommend the melon kimchi, the smoked egg and kimbap - but it's all good here. something for all you "foodies" to talk about. check it out if youre in chinatown/dtla area, grab a fancy beer and just chill for this light but soulful lunch spot. is it pricey? of course, this shit isnt meant to feed your family nor retain in your fridge for months later. side note: it's okay to eat the dosirak stuff with a spoon - i see y'all struggling to keep it real - but it's real to eat dosirak and bibimbap with spoons. in fact, koreans eat bibimbap and dosirak with spoons. just helping all y'all out from feeling judged. USE A MOTHAFUCKIN' SPOON (im talkin' to the girl next to us...) read more

Not an expert on Korean food but learning and Perilla LA is certainly educating me. Saw Chef Kim during the pandemic on IG but never got a chance to try her banchan until she opened this brick & mortar. Interesting location near Chinatown, Victor Heights, and across the street from a long time favorite, Eastside Market at the edge of a residential area so parking can be a challenge. The banchan is fabulous and fresh. Chef Kim's modern take on banchan is a marvel. Kudos! read more

Was gd/interesting place and set up. I might not fit the intended demographic, 70$ for a couple beers, a Gimbap roll and yummy veggie/rice dish. Had to go to Cassell's next door for a burger after. Cute/good/overpriced read more

What a charming and welcome addition to the neighborhood! I've lived in Victor Heights for fifteen years, and I'm excited to finally have a place I can walk to that isn't another coffee shop. The food is comforting, the flavors are balanced, and you can tell that everything was prepared with love and a careful attention to detail. I especially appreciated all the vegetarian options they had to offer, but there were a few you might want to ask about if you're vegan. One vegetable dish had fish sauce in it, and the Meiji tofu dish is prepared with meat. Hopefully they'll have some more substantial vegan options to offer as they expand and tweak their menu. I went with the rice and banchan combo of the day because it had a little bit of everything and seemed like a good introduction to what they offer. The house-made yuzu and cucumber soda that they have is heavenly (although I wished the portion was a little larger). The patio is cute, but I would say the most ideal way to enjoy the food here is to get it as takeout and bring it to one of the many parks nearby. Los Angeles Historic State Park and Elysian Park are just around the corner from here and make perfect settings for a sunny picnic with friends. read more

Perilla LA - Banchan & Rice Combo. Perfect for a picnic or as a lunch option to bring to work. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Try the cod for lunch. Fantastic flavors. Met the owner after reading the LA Times article. Spot on reminded me of my childhood growing up in Koreatown. This place is a must visit. Took home of bunch of banchan read more

The spicy beef dupbap is very good. Just the right amount of spice without being overwhelming. You order at the counter and then they bring the food to your table. Even when you order to stay, it's served in a to-go container and with a plastic fork - if you don't use chopsticks. The presentation could be better if they served it on plates and with silverware but the food is very good and it's in a nice quiet off-street space. All tables have umbrellas for shade and the single bathrooms are nice. I also like that there's water set up outside to refill your cup (also plastic). It's card only, no cash. read more

Elegant and delightfully fresh food. Their take on Korean banchan is a refreshing as the cold homemade teas and natural wines they serve. One of the coolest little courtyards to sit at on the east side. I hope they do desserts - would pair nicely with an iced coffee from the coffee shop out front. read more