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    Pho byob Ktown

    4.9 (57 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Pho byob Ktown Photos

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    PHO BYOB KTOWN ATMOSPHERE

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    Kina M.

    MOM'S COOKING ?! I didn't know she was here!! Their pho is sooooo good! And you can customize it too, you have to pair it with their Thai tea that was so yummy and their ice as well! Workers were so kind and restroom was nice!

    Interior
    Nik D.

    Wow. Their broth is really good. Even better than a lot Pho stores in Oc. I can tell this is best Pho broth in Ktown for sure. Can even compare to best Pho soup inside Vn. Very balance taste and herbs smell. Interior s so pretty and chill. So surprised that the owner has his own fish sauce factory and coffee farm in Vn. U guys should try it. Vinh, the server, is super helpfull and friendly. Very good service. Just 1 thing is I wish they had ribs on their menu. Me and i guess lot of people like ribs Pho

    Thai tea
    Stephanie L.

    PARKING: Small lot but it is $3 for valet! SEATING: Plenty of tables! There's about 9 in total! I did come here at 11PM so I don't know how packed it gets in the daytime. SERVICE: There seemed to be about 2 workers on staff but they were fast and attentive! They welcomed me. The self service kiosk was nice. FOOD: The drinks came fast and so did the appetizer! As well as the pho!! Everything was so amazing and you could tell they made sure we were taken care of. The rolls were excellent and you could tell they were made to order with the little crispy part still a bit hot. So yummy! The broth of the pho was fantastic! I usually don't drink all of my broth when I get pho but for this place I downed it all. The meats too were so tender and delicious. Only minor thing I didn't care for was that the meat was well done when it came out. I like it when it is still pink. But honestly what I loved the most was the self serve onion/cilantro/lime station. I get so embarrassed sometimes asking for extra limes and onions because I love A LOT. Here though? I could have demolished that whole tray of onions. Just wow, that really was so awesome. And at the end of the meal, they gave complimentary snacks! It was dried taro? sticks, cashews, and coconut cookies. That was really sweet of them! They were also very yummy! OVERALL: Definitely coming back here because this place is so chill and delicious! Really glad they open so late or else I don't think I would have found this place.

    Their waffles, UNIQUE waffles! So delicious!
    Karen Z.

    Food: I honestly loved the food! We got the Pho combination chicken and steak I believe and it was so good! They gave us free mini waffles and they were also Delicious! ( it was free cause it was like their grand opening). I've bee meaning to come back because food, service and atmosphere was great! Service: Let's just say if I could give it 6 stars I would! The owner was super kind and the cashier/ waitress went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. She gave us water 2 times while being there and we were only there less than 1 hour. She was also super kind to my toddler! Not everyone is kind to kids so I appreciate that a lot! Ambiance: You could tell they took their time to decorate and build this place! I was here previously and it didn't look like this at all! Looks so classy and nice! I really loved the vibes it gave!

    BYOB 2 Protein Brisket and Tendon
    Ver S.

    My wife and I were in the area and wanted to eat some pho. Not just any pho though.. we used to live in Koreatown close to Western and Olympic and the first original KTown Pho was over there. Kid you not we ate there at least 1-2 times a month and made great friends in KT and his wife. Their pho is simple and delicious. The broth itself is like a warm hug. This is their 4th restaurant and the broth itself felt like seeing an old friend. We moved away to Gardena and then Las Vegas and now back in SoCal but in Orange County and happened to be up in LA. The byob concept is what makes this place a little different than the usual places. I built my own bowl with brisket and tendon. A good combination of you like the usual protein and something else in addition that isn't quite tripe or meatball but still good and great for your skin! It was delicious. The meat was tasty and the broth had great flavor. Tbh I've tried some of the places down in Garden Grove and Westminster and I just don't like them. Either it's me or they're overrated vs a bowl made by KT and his crew, I always leave satisfied. It was or is their grand opening and they were giving free Pandan waffles out with your meal which was a great bite after a big bowl of soup. All in all, I'll be making my way back here anytime we are in the area but if ur local or have easy access to check this place out, you should! They have valet parking and it's $3. Cheaper than other places honestly

    Oxtail pho
    Gee K.

    went to ktown pho for my usual pho fix and noticed a sign and remembered the same owners opened up a second location on 8th street near vermont. so i took a leisurely weekday lunch to check out byob. although i usually get the filet mignon pho at ktown pho, here i decided i'd go for the oxtail. i think i generally just like the filet mignon garnished with ginger at ktown pho better, but byob's oxtail pho was solid. the broth was clean and deep just like its sister restaurant. next time i come, i'll try the wagyu steak or ribeye to see if i can get closer to the almost perfect filet mignon taste at ktown. service is pretty streamlined and minimalistic although the employee I talked to was friendly and informative. it's more like a food court/cafeteria concept where they bring out your pho on a tray. you can order at a tablet by the door and pay there or go to the counter and order through a worker. one of the employees told me that ktown pho had a problem with dine and dashers, which was one of the reasons for this concept and surprised me that it was even a thing. an especially shite thing to do to small mom and pop business owners. the condiments are basically self service, like onions, cilantro, and limes if you want more. they do bring out an initial batch to you, but i liked that i could just go serve myself. water too. i was told the owners are here getting this place up and running and they'll be expanding the menu as well in due time. their menu is definitely less expansive currently than ktown pho. only veggie egg rolls and shrimp spring rolls. Ktown pho offers regular cha gio, rice plates, banh mi, and even bun ho hue. byobs menu is much more simple yet it does what it does well. clean little restaurant with good pho. i'll definitely be back to try the other bowls and foods to come. convenient to have another ktown pho iteration on this side of ktown that appears to even have later hours. Parking lot is tiny though and likely valet during busy hours.

    honestly, everything was amazing. the staff was so welcoming and polite, and they made me feel absolutely welcome. i'm definitely going to come here often, whether i'm having a good day or a bad day, because the food and atmosphere here give such a positive feeling. i'm ashamed i didn't get the cashier's name, but we were there around 8-9 pm, and the service was amazing. much love to everyone here. please come support this gem of a restaurant!

    Brisket, chicken pho
    Jude K.

    The food was above average and the staff were very friendly but the music was a bit much. They play loud club tracks that made it hard to focus on the meal. Great spot for Pho but I really wish they would change the playlist!

    Entrance
    Marina S.

    Came here the first week of opening and owner was so nice and seemed so passionate. Service was great and food was delicious. Pho broth was the smoothest and we even got mini waffles of the house that had an amazing texture, between a waffle and mochi. The area was also decorated for lunar new year and was beautiful.

    Ribeye pho
    Grace Y.

    No one was here on a Wednesday for lunch. We came in right before 12pm so there was no valet in sight we parked on the street which was not easy to find at all. Especially it was Wednesday and half the streets was unparkable due to street cleaning. (Other side is no parking on thursdays 10am to 1pm) Staff was very nice. Place is modern industrial with concrete floor, unfinished walls and light natural wood tables. Their wagyu beef pho was frozen so they had have us wait to thaw or change the order but other than that everything else was clean and good. It was not really the make your own bowl as we imagined, you just pick from the menu. Still, the feel of the pho was still lacking compared to my walkable pho place down the street where I live, probably because it gets a lot of incoming clients, they have perfected what the customers want without us saying so. Whereas I didn't see anyone here. It feels as though it's doing a soft opening. There should be: more veggies for pho, more meat with pho, this one was still on the skimpy side.

    Their interior with lunar new year decorations!
    Colin F.

    This is one of those gems that you want to stay here forever. Between the warm welcome and friendly conversation by the owner KT and the delicate and flavorful pho broth, Pho BYOB is an instant favorite of mine. Right now they're celebrating the lunar new year with great decor - check it out! P.S. try their in house made chili sauce - it's got a great roasted flavor

    Having the pick 3 combo with passion fruit drink and egg roll.  I got brisket, ribeye and tendon.  My wife had brisket, ribeye and veggies
    Derek Y.

    You know it's good when the LAPD dines here. Love the food and the owners!. Fresh and healthy. They have meatballs and tripe if you ask.

    chicken pho

    I don't leave reviews often but our server Tony was extremely attentive and was so kind to separate my noodles from my soup when packing it to-go. Cheap valet parking, good pho and opens late. I'll be back because of the outstanding service!!

    Nice stuff and waiter

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    4 months ago

    Very good pho. Broth was super clean and hot. Service was also a 10/10 and everyone was super nice and friendly. Will def be coming back.

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    3 months ago

    Everything was great. Owner takes pride in his restaurant and is so knowledgeable. Highly recommend

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    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St - Cold Noodle (Naengmyeon)

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St

    4.5(887 reviews)
    0.9 miKoreatown
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St - Counter area

    Counter area

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St - Never disappointed!!

    Never disappointed!!

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St - Kimchi Jjigae with Pork Belly

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    Kimchi Jjigae with Pork Belly

    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.3k reviews)
    0.4 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    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.

    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)

    Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup - Brisket Soup

    Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup

    4.7(483 reviews)
    1.4 miEast Hollywood
    $$

    Had a great experience at Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup…read more Their beef bone soup is simple, clean, and really solid, the kind of comfort food that just hits right for the soul. They currently have a great deal at $12, which makes it even better value for what you're getting. The sullungtang comes with rice, soup, and two types of kimchi. Service was friendly and efficient, and the whole experience felt easy and satisfying. Place was chill, not too overly crowded. I've noticed a lot of people ordering other dishes every time I go, so I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of the menu, but I keep coming back for the basics because it's just that good.

    Sulga was definitely THE place to be for a warm bowl of bone broth on a rainy night. My friend and…read moreI stopped by for doganitang (for two), and the portions were indeed large - for four. We also added beef brisket since my friend wasn't a big fan of cartilage - more for me! The pot itself wasn't too deep, though there was a good portion of protein cartilage. Also important to note that rice was NOT included! The brisket add on came as a pre-cooked brisket that was added in after, as it didn't initially fit in the pot. The staff member told us at the time that broth refills were free. However, when it came time for refills, they said it was only one time - poor communication. Paying was fairly straightforward, but for future visits, I'd likely just come for their lunch special sullongtang after this experience.

    Photos
    Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup - Inside look

    Inside look

    Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup - Galbitang Rib Soup

    Galbitang Rib Soup

    Sulga House of Beef Bone Soup - Kimchi

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    Kimchi

    Pho byob Ktown - vietnamese - Updated September 2026

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