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    Sonamu

    4.3 (117 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    SONAMU ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sonamu

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    보쌈 (Napa wraps with pork)
    Joanne L.

    Top tier Korean food. Does not disappoint! Their cold noodles are sooo refreshing and massive portions. Noodles are perfectly chewy and the broth is sweet savory perfection. My friend also loved her spicy bibimnaengmyeon! The bossam also hit the spot and I think $26 for the bossam + cold noodle combo is worth it bc it's definitely shareable. Service was super quick and all the banchan was spectacular and great variety. They were very attentive and food came out quickly. There's plenty of seating here and a nice space! Will be back for sure.

    Phuonganh P.

    Sonamu has easily become one of my favorite spots for korean food. Good service, good food, and good vibes every time!!

    Eric K.

    Experience true Korean summer flavor with our Mul Naengmyeon--crafted with house-made noodles and a deep, savory broth. Hand-pulled. Cold-served. Authentically Korean. There are several restaurants specializing in cold noodles, but these are ranked 1st or 2nd in terms of taste. Kind smiles. Clean space. Real Korean flavor. Let our amazing female staff make your day.

    Bossam
    Charlie L.

    Came here for dinner with my fiancé because I was craving bossam and cold noodles. We were seated immediately. They took a little bit to take our order but the food was served quickly soon after that. The restaurant was spacious and wasn't too busy when we came. They have 2 jinro frogs in the front which are super cute too. They have combos so we ordered the combo with bossam and cold noodles to share. They split the cold noodles in half for us which was very nice and unexpected. Their Banchan was also really good. I'm a little picky with my cold noodles, but these ones were still good. The bossam was really yummy. Definitely give this place a try if you're craving Korean food! :)

    Max S.

    This restaurant is located on the corner of Lincoln and Beach, down the street from Knott's Berry Farm. It's in the corner of a strip mall, so there's plenty of free parking. Met family here for lunch. We ordered dish #1, which they are famous for, like a hot pot; the Korean seafood pancake that was the size of a large pizza; and jap-chae, not pictured here. The main dish came with two small bowls of purple colored rice that tasted better than it looked. Many unique side dishes, along with the traditional kimchi. Complimentary, as always. Service was good. They greeted everyone who walked through the door. Atmosphere, same as other Korean bbq restaurants. The place was clean. Bo-dee-cha and cold water at the table. Chopsticks and soup spoons in a container at the table as well. I would definitely come back again when in the area.

    Goat soup and short ribs
    Emily K.

    Delicious food and the two waitresses working last night (1/6) couldn't have been more accommodating and friendly. I can't wait to take my mom here.

    cold noodles
    Taylor T.

    Came here with a friend on a wednesday for lunch and it was pretty empty. few tables with older korean uncles and aunties and felt like we went to the right place. There was one lady who was serving running the food and cleaning and she was doing amazing. super sweet! bossam was delish! it was cooked with a marinade which helped give it more flavor. but the banchan??!! there was so many and i love their kimchi! the cold noodles were good but i'd rather save more space for the bossam next time. overall would come again!

    Grilled octopus bibimbap
    Grace N.

    My friend and I came here on a weeknight and we got the grilled octopus bibimbap rice and galbi full size. Although staff and service were very nice and friendly, I thought the food was just okay. The galbi portion was very small when it came out and I was very surprised, because it was expensive, $35! But the size was more of a combo size when you order with tofu at a tofu place... it was only two ribs cut up... I know you can def get a lot more at other places. The octopus bibimbap was flavorful and very spicy, this was okay also. Their banchan was also just okay. Overall, it was okay.

    Napa Wraps with Pork + Soybean Paste Soup/보쌈 + 된장찌개
    Vicky H.

    SO GOOD! My husband and I tried this place last night and wowed by the food. It's been awhile since we have been to Hangari but we thought this place was better!

    Bibimbap
    Edmund W.

    Came here on a Saturday night, and it wasn't too busy surprisingly. No wait for a group of 8 people. First impression of this place was that it was authentically Korean, and the Korean aunties were very nice. Service was actually better than the service I would get in LA K town to be very honest. Prices seemed on average with the other traditional Korean places out there. Got the bibimbip and beef bulgolgi combo, and both items were delicious and top quality. The food was not heavily salted/greasy, and I didn't get that heavy feeling after a Korean meal. The group I went with really liked their dishes they got as well, and they really liked the portion size for their meals. Also they were very generous with their banchan dishes, and they were of good quality as well. I really like their fish cake banchan the most. In my opinion, this is one of the best Korean restaurants to try in So Cal, and if I'm ever back in the OC area, it would be worth to try their other items as well.

    J'aime K.

    Overall 3.5. Customer service: 3.5 stars Food Taste: 4 stars Very Pricey: 2 stars This was a very expensive late dinner meal for two. We walked in just a touch past 8:30pm (their last call). They first refused us, saying they were closed. They did however allow us to be seated and wanted us to order some kind of bulgogi casserole which we didn't want. We ordered spicy squid stir fry. It came with too many noodles and boiled bean sprouts. We just ate the stir fry. $32 My friend ordered LA Galbi. Just a normal portion. $32. The taste was deep and savory. The grilled onions were nice. Rice we got served was white. It wasn't really warm. It was kind of dried out. But when we wanted a refill they brought out a really nice multi-grain rice that was fresher, tastier. The ban chans were delish. We were able to get a few refilled. They gave us the check as soon as we ordered b/c she said she had to pay her workers, their tips. Maybe if I go back during normal hours, it will be better next time. It's a good sign when you see senior Korean golfers eating somewhere that means the food is legit.

    Florence H.

    Sonamu is tucked in a small plaza and you could totally miss this gem! This is definitely your hole in the wall type of place and I would be gatekeeping if I did not tell you how amazing this place is. First of all, this place is huge so you don't really have to wait in line. The food is delicious and the portions are huge! I tried the Korean hotpot, Korean pork rib, Korean kimchi stew, and the veggie pancake! Everything was delicious including the banchan they give you. The veggie pancake was flavorful and not very oily. It had a crispy top and the veggies were fresh. The pork ribs were on the spicy side but had enough kick to keep me wanting more. The hotpot was interesting since it was fried but had a good amount of soup to balance out the flavors. Served with purple rice, this was a lovely combination of flavors. This is the place for you to have a large gathering. They were able to fit all 16 of us and it was super fun getting to know the owners. Sonamu is authentically Korean and everything was very homestyle. Coming here again when I am in the area!

    Rice cake and dumpling soup, kimchi, pig trotters

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    6 days ago

    Best Korean food in OC with a ton of Banchan. Everything is always large portions so perfect for groups or individuals who want leftovers.

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    1 year ago

    Good banchan, seafood pancake was alright, pork bossam was tasty. Barley tea is yummy and the owner is nice.

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    1 year ago

    Solid authentic food, menu, and ambiance. no complaints, and love their combo options

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    1 year ago

    The food is always delicious and the service is great! The vibe of the restaurant is super chill and I've never left unhappy.

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    Han Yang

    Han Yang

    4.3
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    This is hands down my favorite Korean restaurant. The quality of the food and the portion sizes are…read moreboth 10/10. The kimchi, kkakdugi (radish kimchi), and gat kimchi are absolutely delicious. I heard that the owner makes everything in-house, and you can really tell how much care and skill go into the food. The staff are also incredibly kind and welcoming every time I visit. Galbitang (Beef Short Rib Soup) - This is honestly the best galbitang I've had in both OC and LA. The broth is rich and flavorful, and the beef is always fresh and tender. Whenever I'm craving galbitang in the OC/LA area, this is the only place I go. Yukgaejang (Spicy Beef Soup) - The amount of ingredients they give you is amazing. I've had it both dining in and as takeout, and it's consistently delicious every single time. It's perfectly seasoned, and has just the right level of spice. As much as I love the galbitang, I think I actually enjoy the yukgaejang even more. Pork Cutlet (Donkatsu) - This place is known for its galbitang and seolleongtang, so I wasn't expecting much from the donkatsu... but why is it this good? The cabbage salad dressing that comes on the side is seriously addictive. The portion size is huge, there's no way I could finish it by myself. It has the crispy texture of Japanese katsu, while still having a great pork flavor of its own. I honestly think this could be considered one of their signature dishes. If you're looking for authentic Korean comfort food with generous portions and warm service, I highly recommend giving this place a try. I'll definitely keep coming back!

    Delicious and authentic! The banchan was so fresh and more on the spicy side, which I absolutely…read moreloved because it was so flavorful. It honestly tastes just like a home-cooked meal. ​I got the bibimbap and the galbi-tang...both were excellent. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Inside seating - decent amount of seats
    Inside seating - decent amount of seats
    Octopus bibimbap
    Octopus bibimbap
    Spicy sautéed small octopus bibimbap

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    Spicy sautéed small octopus bibimbap
    Misoolkwan OC

    Misoolkwan OC

    4.6
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.9 mi

    I've been here a few times but recently had dinner here with my coworkers. It hits every time and…read moreis a perfect place to drink, yap, and grub! it can get really crowded so definitely try and get here earlier if you can: There's always plenty of things to do though since it's at The Source and there's so many shops and photobooths while you wait. The restaurant is pretty huge but it gets super loud! The screens are always playing kpop groups with music playing and its always fun to watch. For food, I've tried a lot of their menu and everything is so good and shareable. The korean fried chicken is crispy, not dry, and seasoned so well! A favorite amongst the group was the beef intestine, which I've never had before and was pretty impressed by. It was super juicy and paired well with the scallions and sauce. Another favorite of the group was the corn cheese. It was like a pizza but corn cheese. My absolute tried and true is the pork belly. It is soo good, especially with the kimchi, peppers, and roasted garlic cloves. It definitely is my personal favorite on their menu! I can definitely see why this place is so popular!

    We came here on a Thursday night to watch the world cup with a few friends. The food and ambiance…read morewas nice but that's where my praise ends. They have a ridiculous policy that seems to switch from table to table. We wanted to order a pitcher of beer but since one person in our party wasn't 21 they wouldn't allow. Said policy was "everyone had to be 21". Ok perfect makes sense. BUT THEN!! a table next to us sat down and had about 6 soju bottles and SHOCKER they had kids at their table, but I thought the policy was that everyone had to be 21??? We asked about it and then they said it's because we might distribute it to our friend, yea no. They literally told us "becuase we were all around the same age they couldn't". We were not. And how do they know the parents wouldn't give alcohol to their kids? Are they just deciding when this so called "policy" takes effect? Ruined our entire night, we came just to watch the game and have a beer. Would not return.

    Photos
    Stir fried pork belly and kimchi
    Stir fried pork belly and kimchi
    Kkanpung Chicken
    Kkanpung Chicken
    Beef intestines

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    Beef intestines
    J’s Korean Cuisine

    J’s Korean Cuisine

    4.3
    (1.8k reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    They have changed locations and are located with Tokyo Eats but the food is still amazing and…read moredelicious! The bibimbap beef burrito is big and filled with lots of flavorful goodness! We ordered 24 wings and split it to try the soy garlic, K-sweet chili and Seoul spicy. Oh my! Generous size and served piping hot. Crunchy outside with tender chicken inside. Each one was very tasty and the spicy one hits you after a bit. So good! The K-pop street tacos were also very good and served with a spicy sauce. So glad they're still around. It's been a while since we came and we're happy and satisfied. Plenty of seating and the service is good. Attended to in good time and didn't have to wait long to get our food. Love the Japanese Cherry blossom decor mixed with K-Pop flare.

    We came expecting an all-you-can-eat chicken wing experience, but they no longer have that in the…read morerestaurant. So expect the regular menu. There is a small lot out front for parking, and I suspect you can park on the street when the lot fills up. We happened to come by during the Korea vs. Mexico game, and understandably, the place gets packed, with a line forming outside. We somehow beat the rush by about 30 minutes and were seated at a table as soon as we entered. We also realized then that they didn't have the all-you-can-eat option, so we ended up ordering the chicken wings, their version of loaded fries, and steamed rice. We also placed the order via the QR code. We had our drinks delivered to our table shortly afterward. The food, however, was taking a long time to get to our table. It may have been a combination of the FIFA World Cup and a staff shortage, but when we were there, there was only 1 kitchen staff member and 1 wait staff member. The lady on the wait staff did everything from serving food to accepting new customers and topping off water for all the tables. A wall separates the restaurant; there is a front room and an inside room, and both rooms had televisions broadcasting the game. The food itself was decent for the price that they charge. The chicken wings came out piping hot, crispy on the outside, and juicy inside. They have some options for different wing flavors. The fries were also delicious and well-fried. I hope the restaurant invests in more wait staff because there were times we needed something from the wait staff. Seeing how busy she was, or sometimes she's just in the front room, we haven't seen her in a while to get whatever we needed. Overall, it was a good experience. The food was good, and the atmosphere is very unique; it's definitely a nice place to get some Korean street food when you're in the area. The only things to note are that parking is limited, food will take a while to cook as it is made fresh, and there will be some waiting to be done if you need wait staff. Last thing to note: I love that they had some Korean Fusion dishes, and I wish I had a bigger stomach to try these as well during our visit, perhaps another time!

    Photos
    J's special menu's are here!!!
    J's special menu's are here!!!
    AYCE Menu! Only First Round can have a J's Super Fries!!! Only for J's Korean Cuisine!
    AYCE Menu! Only First Round can have a J's Super Fries!!! Only for J's Korean Cuisine!
    BIBIMBAP BURRITO 비빔밥 부리또

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    BIBIMBAP BURRITO 비빔밥 부리또
    Jinsol Gukbap Buena Park

    Jinsol Gukbap Buena Park

    4.3
    (384 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    came here with a large party and called ahead of time. they were able to accommodate us and we had…read morea great time. staff are so nice and are able to handle the rushes of people. their cold noodles were delish!!!! it is a very high contender to being one of my favorites in all of OC! so much flavor and generous portions. loved their seafood pancake and their kimchi stew was so comforting. the broth was thick and flavorful and the pork belly in the soup was meaty galbi was flavorful and seared nicely but i didnt enjoy their pork soup which they're known for, but that's completely on me since i usually don't reach for it.

    I've been to the Buena Park location twice so far, both times during breakfast hours…read more The restaurant itself is actually nice. The interior is clean, newly built, and has a modern Korean hanok-style look. The servers were also friendly both times, so I didn't have any issues with the service or atmosphere. Unfortunately, the main problem for me was the food. I've eaten at the LA location before and never really thought the food tasted bad there, but at this Buena Park location, both visits gave me the impression that the food didn't taste as fresh as it should. On my most recent visit, I ordered the soondae gukbap, and the soondae had an unpleasant off smell and didn't taste very fresh. It almost tasted like it had been sitting for a while. On my first visit, I tried the regular pork gukbap, and the pork flavor was also stronger than I personally prefer. I do tend to like cleaner-tasting gukbap, but this stood out to me because I don't remember having the same issue at the LA location. After the first visit, I thought maybe it was just an off day since the restaurant was still new. But after having a similar impression on my second visit, I'm not sure if this location is consistent yet. The space is nice and the service was good, but for a gukbap restaurant, the food has to be the main reason to come back. Based on my two visits, this location was disappointing for me.

    Photos
    Near the cash register. 6/14/2025
    Near the cash register. 6/14/2025
    Mul Naengmyeon (물냉면)
    Mul Naengmyeon (물냉면)
    Entrance. 6/14/2025

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    Entrance. 6/14/2025
    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

    3.9
    (2.9k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Came here recently with my family. We were busy eating and chatting so I forgot to take pictures…read morethis time. The tofu soups are delicious as usual. My whole family enjoyed theirs. I got the beef tofu soup 5/5 at mild spiciness and it was just as good as I remembered. We also got bulgogi which was flavorful and tasty 5/5. We got Galbi as well, but the meat was a bit burnt and didn't taste as good 3.5/5. Dinner rush was pretty busy. There was a bit of a mix up in terms of our order. There were some confusions as the staff tried to sort it out. In the end, they charged us for the right item and everything was fixed. So no complaints here and I'd still go back when I'm craving tofu soup.

    Before I start this review, let me clarify that yes, I have had BCD and I would choose Kaju over…read moreBCD any day. The sides just taste so much fresher here and the service is always phenomenal My favorite is the beef dumpling soup medium, the soup has just the right amount of spice and flavor without being overly salty. Galbi here is more so hit than miss but occasionally it will be a tad bit fattier than my liking. For the most part the last 3 visits I've had superb cuts and have devoured every bite. Whether you're hungover, cold, or craving something spicy, kaju will always be my safe space. Walking in, it's always bustling with people but the wait usually isn't long given their online yelp waitlist. You'll find Korean mothers walking around serving you or refilling your sides (my favorite part) which gives it a very homey aesthetic. I'd imagine a lot of restaurants are like this back in Korea. Overall 5/5 but please don't all come at once, I hate waiting

    Photos
    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant
    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant
    Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

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    Sonamu - korean - Updated July 2026

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