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    Sun Nong Dan

    4.4 (3k reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Soup

    Sun Nong Dan Photos

    Business Info

    SUN NONG DAN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Sun Nong Dan

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    Crystalin B.

    A few of us from the Bay went to visit friends who now live in LA and they brought us here! We arrived a little under an hour before closing and the place was still pretty packed. Joshua greeted us right away and sat us down. Another worker Julian then came by to take our order and he was incredibly helpful. We knew we wanted the galbi jjim but weren't sure how much to order since we had three hungry guys with a bottomless pit of a stomach.... Julian suggested getting one large galbi jjim and one medium koh galbi jjim. We also added cheese and rice cakes to it. It was the perfect amount and so good!!! The meat was really tender and the cheese just makes everything better!! The food came out quickly, and both Julian and Joshua kept checking in to make sure we were taken care of and enjoying ourselves. Excellent service all around!!

    Galbi Jjim Specialty
    Christina N.

    I have to give this place credit for accommodating our very large party quite last minute. We were going through LA on our way back home and wanted to stop somewhere for dinner. They don't take reservations, but were able to seat all 16 of us relatively quickly. They weren't too busy when we came in, which definitely helped with this. It really is a small space, so I think we were fairly lucky. The food was great, the portions were large, and the service was quick. We ordered the large galbi jjim with rice cakes and cheese (~$110) and the mo deum soo yook. This was for 8 people and was definitely enough. The ribs in the galbi jjim were tender and fell off the bone. There were veggies in the dish, but they sort became a mush towards the end because of how cooked they were. The mo deum soo yook was also good, but the galbi jjim was definitely the star of the meal.

    Large galbi jjim
    Sydni K.

    I've been to the other Sun Nong Dan location on Western but decided to give the one on 6th a try. This location is much smaller and has a more homey feel. We came here around 6:30pm on a Wednesday, and there was no wait, but it got crowded when we left. Three of us shared the large galbi jjim with cheese. Their meat is super soft and flavorful, and I love all the other vegetables and starches inside. This was more than enough food for three of us, and there was still some leftover. Service here was friendly and energetic. It's always a show when they torch the cheese on the galbi jjim! This is definitely one of my favorite spots in LA!

    Janet C.

    This was my first time visiting the Sun Nong Dan location in Koreatown--I've always gone to the Rowland Heights store before. This location is smaller, but the beef soup was just as flavorful, and the beef itself was tender and delicious. That said, I personally find the side dishes at the Rowland Heights location to be more flavorful. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff provided excellent service. They even helped us pack up our leftovers, which I really appreciated--especially since most restaurants nowadays just hand you the containers. That extra touch of service definitely made a positive impression! FYI- this plaza is valet parking only. $5.00 per vehicle.

    Galbi Jjim Specialty
    Klarissa P.

    Delicious! Came here with friends and it's a perfect place to share a meal. Line may feel long, but it's worth the wait. Would come again. There's a parking lot attached if you want to pay and not worry about looking for street parking. It was affordable.

    Gilbert R.

    They should call this spot the Mukbang Cafe. The servings here are GINORMOUS. You will not leave here still feeling hungry, that's for damn sure. Fair warning though. It's kind of pricey. And you WILL NOT find free parking here. You will have to valet and it costs a few bucks. But if you're OK with all that, it's well worth it. Me and a good bud went here to check out their renowned short ribs (koh galbi jjim). I think there's a small and a large version. Got the small, but there is nothing small about it. It's a lot of food for sure, but most of it is rice cake sticks and potatoes. So we left most of the starchy stuff untouched and went straight to the meat. Speaking of the meat, it's tender and fatty, which I love. Fat is where it's at! You can also adjust the spiciness level of the dish. I got the mild level since I'm not too much of a spice guy. They serve this special dish with plentiful banchan and a bowl of white rice. Flavors were awesome - sweet, savory, and hearty. Not much heat, which is what I asked for, but I think next time I'll ask for a bit more spice to liven things up a bit. Service is great, too. Everyone is friendly. And there was even a guy who came by and cut our meat up with scissors. Nice service! This is not just dinner, it's an event. So make sure you come here on a totally empty stomach and a fat wallet. Enjoy!

    Marc N.

    Obviously come here for the galbi jjim. It's good but not the best I've had. Add cheese cause that's the way to go, though I kind of wish they added a second blow torch layer for extra texture, even if it might make it too cheesy. The dish comes loaded with tender potatoes, tteokbokki, carrots, and onions, all soaked in that rich braised short rib sauce. Definitely go with mild or medium spice, the chili adds a lot of flavor depth. Service: Efficient and used to handling big crowds Food/Drinks: Galbi jjim with cheese is the highlight, great vegetables and sauce, chili spice enhances the flavor Ambiance: Lively and packed, typical K-town energy 8/10 Solid galbi jjim spot that hits the cravings but doesn't fully stand out

    Soup, & Sides Menu
    Haku H.

    This place is a must stop by. Their most popular dish is the Galbi Jjim; a spicy, sweet, and flavorful braised short rib stew. The beef was know to be supper tender and fall off the bone. GALBI JJIM : Today, my family of 4 dine-in. We shared a medium size Galbi Jjim. Pricing at $94.99 for a medium size. We barely finish our plate and still have left overs for another bowl. The beef was tender but not close to falling off the bone yet. I felt like they didn't marinate the beef long enough because it was a little bit gamey. There's 5 level of spicy. We asked for medium spice but it wasn't spicy at all. I recommend trying to get this dish a bit spicy to experience the full flavor with chesse add-on. If it's spicy, the cheese will also help mellow the spicyness down. They did great on the veggies and tteokbokki. The veggies are for flavors/sides/extra only but it's so good. I recommend eating them too. They're cooked perfectly soft but still a bit crunchy in the middle. Tteokbokki was heaven! It was soft and chewy. The sweet stew flavor was there too. The stew taste like a sweet, savory, and caramelized soy sauce. With the spice, I bet it'll taste even better with the cheese. I think this dish is a bit over priced. Looking at the ingredients that they used is really cheap. Lastly, pretty cool experience with the fire and cheese show. RATE : 4/5 KIMCHI : Ouuu, they made fresh kimich today! It was pretty bomb! It was perfectly seasoned and not so sour like the store bought one. RATE : 5/5 PICKLED RADISH : All of the seasoning for the sides are the same but I felt like this one has been sitting. Because, it's a bit sour and vinegary... but it's still good and juicy. The crunch is still there. RATE : 4/5 GREEN ONION : The green onion is good with the beef. It adds an extra fermented flavor to the dish. The onions are a bit powerful so you can't really taste the seasoning here. RATE: 5/5 JALAPEÑO & ONION DIPPING SAUCE : This side dish was also really good too. The dipping sauce taste like sweet soy sauce. The onion and jalapeno was also soaking sweet. They did great on balancing the sweetness. RATE : 5/5 RICE : They have an option of white rice or purple rice. I had the white rice today. It was well made. The rice were separated perfectly. It's slightly sweet, moist, and fluffy. RATE : 5/5 AMBIANCE : It was a slow day on the week day's. Not a lot of guest dine-in today so they allowed a stroller in. Or they'll had to ask you put your stroller to the side. It was really quiet in there. This location is very small and narrow but with lots of seating. The interior seems a bit old and out dated but they have nice wall papers to cover it up. The appliances are old and falling apart. They have nice and clean tables. The floor seems a bit dirty from dinning area and the way to the restroom. The restroom is a bit creepy and old. It's location in the back is also very narrow. RATE : 3/5 SERVICE : The service was ok. The young gentleman that set up our table was not that social and a bit akward. But our server/order taker was awsome. He was really friendly and helped us with our order. He also check up on us and talk to us from times to time. We enjoyed the conversation. NOTE : I came here a few times during peak hours. They are pretty rude. RATE : 4/5 PAST EXPERIENCE : I was at fault for not knowing Korean culture and ask them to just keep the change. He was really upset and agressive. He start throwing/pushing chairs agressively. And, threw my change at my table. It wasn't like a nice placing down my change. My change was flying everywhere. I was terrified and confused. I was alone and was so closed to cry. He start interrogating me over and over. The same question, "why?" I told him, I don't know, tipping?... if not I'll take it back. He mumbled/broken english "get out of here...." Now that I know, I just want everyone to be aware and safe. My apologies. PARKING : Their lot has a valet parking fee at $5 for however long you want to stay there. They'll take your key and park your car for you. When you're done they'll bring back your car. OVERALL : Great experience. It's a bit pricy but I would definitely get the Galbi Jjim again with Medium Spicy and higher spice level. I wouldn't go for the ambiance and service. Yup, a new day, I'll give them a different rating but they definitely need to work on better customer service. I enjoyed my service today.

    Chadol Sulung Tang
    Steven T.

    Inside Sun Nong Dan, the warmth was immediate, a stark contrast to the cold wind still clinging to my jacket. The rich aroma of simmering broth and sizzling short ribs curled through the air, mingling with the low hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of chopsticks against bowls. I stepped up to the host, forcing a smile. "Table for two." They nodded and led me to a small table wedged between two groups deep in conversation. I sat, glancing at the empty seat across from me. Minutes passed. Then more. I checked my phone--no messages, no missed calls. The pit in my stomach deepened, a dull ache that even the promise of a hot meal couldn't soften. Eventually, I ordered for one. Chadol Sulung Tang. It arrived in a steaming, milky-white broth, the thin slices of brisket bobbing lazily in the surface. I took a sip, expecting something rich, comforting--something that would wrap around me the way the scent of the kitchen had. Instead, it tasted like... nothing. I frowned. Who would eat this? I reached for my phone, a quick Google search confirming what my taste buds already knew. Bland by design. A poor man's meal, eaten for sustenance rather than flavor. I glanced down at my bowl. I'd eat this. The side dishes, at least, had personality. Crisp, tangy kimchi, spicy radish, silky strands of bean sprouts--I loved every bite. My stomach, however, did not. Halfway through the car ride home, regret twisted deep in my gut, an ominous churning that had me gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled desperation. Note to self: if you're Asian, get an H. pylori test. Stomach cancer rates don't lie. Our ancestors really set us up for failure. The service? Fine. They brought my food and drinks promptly, no complaints there. If I needed anything, though, I had the distinct feeling I'd have to flag someone down. Not their fault--I've worked in restaurants before. A single diner at a table for two isn't exactly a top priority. I get it. I hate one-tops, too. As for ambiance, the place was packed, tables crammed close enough that I could hear snippets of conversations that weren't meant for me. Couples murmuring over steaming bowls, friends laughing between bites. And me, sitting alone, stirring my broth, wondering where the night had gone wrong.

    Chadol Sulung Tang
    Austin E.

    We had the Seolleongtang 설렁탕 (Ox Bone Soup) and Galbi Jjim 갈비찜 (Braised Short Rib) here. Both dishes were awesome and the flavors and vibe maybe me feel like I was right back in Korea at a local restaurant. I will admit that for me the flavors are on the sweeter side for the Galbi Jjim (Braised Short Rib) than I personally prefer, but I do not think that is a problem per se. The Seoulleongtang (Ox Bone Soup) had a deep rich flavor, and comes unseasoned so you can salt it to your preference, and the banchan (side dishes) were of high quality. For me, that is a big W! I can definitely understand the hype regarding this place as it does a great job presenting Korean dishes beyond bbq or tofu stew to the greater audience at a high quality level! The servers were extremely attentive and helpful. In addition to being fantastic during service, they helped us with valet parking as a member of our party didn't realize it was cash only (which please take note if you come and use the valet!)

    Kevin D.

    Was really excited to try this place especially since they have so many location. Friendly staffs and clean store. The food was just okay. I really liked the flavor of the soup and the broth had a good spicy kick! The meat just felt so dry. The potatoes could be a little softer. The tteok-bokki had a nice soft texture. The banchan (side dishes) was very limited and subpar. Overall, it was expensive and I only enjoyed the soup.

    Cardin N.

    Service here is fantastic! We got lucky and got seated very quickly at the last table that was available for 2. The Koh Galbi Jjim is amazing. We chose this one since it has the oxtail included. This is a smaller restaurant but it is quite efficient with prepping the food and getting everything cleaned up quickly. 5 stars!

    Galbi Jjim Specialty
    Lorencia P.

    The beef short rib took the stage! It was a bit pricey but the food definitely delivered. Also the service was a bit rushed but they even offer to cut the meat off the bone. Side dishes tasted authentic and it would be a good late night, casual Korean restaurant.

    Galbi Jjim with melted cheese

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    Sun Nong Dan Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sun Nong Dan

    Do they offer their galbi jjim in "small"? I see some people mention it in reviews but pictures of the menu only have it in medium or large.

    It only comes in this one size! I didn't even finish the entire portion. It has the spicy and non-spicy options as separate menu items though.

    Besides the parking lot if full, any street parking?

    yes lots of street parking but not many spaces available!

    What are the sides they serve?

    We serve kimchi and pickled radish with every dish! The jalapeno and onion dipping sauce also accompanies most dishes. THANK YOU!

    Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible? Interior on the pic guests posted look so cramped

    It can be if they space out the tables to give you more room but you're right, it is cramped. It is probably not possible during peak times but I'm sure they would move things around when the place isn't full.… 

    Are they still open 24/7?

    No it's closed 5am

    Do they require vaccination?

    No, They don't check for vaccinations.

    Is there still outdoor seating?

    None

    Are there any vegetarian or pescatarian options?

    Yes.. eat elsewhere.

    Can I buy chives kimchi ? I went this place to eat and there was chive kimchi for side dish. I really really just want to buy it if its possible

    Yes! You can probably find it at any Korean market including the HMart across the street.

    Are dogs allowed at the outdoor seating area?

    Yes, parties with a dog are seated outside

    Do u need reservations?

    They do not accept reservations

    What are the hours during COVID?

    They are open 24/7

    Do they open for dine in?

    Nope. Only take out. Just picked up today (Ktown location)

    Is the restaurant open on Christmas day?

    Yes

    What kind of cheese do they use on the galbijjim? Wondering bc I don't like certain types of cheese.

    Seems like a type of mozzarella

    When do they usually have Jeon Gol? It is always unavaliable when I go there.

    You can call and ask them.

    Do you take orders for pick up?

    Yes you can place orders by calling, Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber eats, hungry panda

    Wait on a Saturday night?

    Joanna is that even a real question lol! Of course there is. They take a wait list. I suggest getting there about 45min to an hour before you want to eat and put your name on he clipboard. Worth the wait! Good luck and enjoy

    Do they have any options for vegans?

    Some of the ban chan's are vegans. Also the white rice and coke works too.

    View All 37 Questions

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    They start you off with barley rice and banchan, instructing you to mix the nutty barley rice with…read moregreens, gochujang, and sesame oil for a savory first bite. The service is attentive, even when busy. We arrived shortly after they opened at 10 AM, and by 11:30 AM, there was a line outside. This place truly delivers! We ordered two popular dishes, including the Chicken Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles with chicken, squash, kabocha, potato, and dates in chicken and anchovy broth) and the Hangari Bossam (medium, boiled and tender pork belly with cabbage leaves and kimchi). The Chicken Kalguksu was a highlight with its thick, chewy noodles and creamy broth. The squash was a delicious addition - comforting and warm, a must-order! The Hangari Bossam (medium) was perfect for sharing, and the tender pork belly was amazing with the cabbage and kimchi. I especially enjoyed it with the jalapeños; it's the best of both worlds, melting in your mouth! We left feeling full and happy, already looking forward to our next visit. This is a must-try in Ktown!

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    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

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    Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

    Danbi

    4.5(423 reviews)
    0.1 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

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

    been wanting to try Danbi for so long but ended up disappointed. the place itself is cute tho and…read moreeveryone was relatively dressed to the occasion, so it definitely has that trendy ktown dinner vibe. honestly tho, food was nothing special. i can see the hype around the uniqueness of some of the dishes, but flavor-wise everything ranged from alright to good. nothing rlly mind blowing or particularly innovative to me. what brought the experience down the most was how they handled their restaurant week prix fixe. it's $45 pp, but multiple courses came as ONE plate for two people to split. like... if we're each paying for a prix fixe, at least put the effort into plating an individual portion? between two people, we shared a bowl of chips, 2 corn cheese rolls, 4 cubes of watermelon, a bowl of rice with the pork jowl, a bowl of noodles, and ONE small parfait. the parfait especially got me bc these are not exactly expensive ingredients lol. if we're splitting, then we'll at least get one parfait ourselves right? same with rice -- at least give each person their own bowl to eat with all that fatty pork jowl. atp i genuinely think we would've gotten better variety and value ordering regularly and eating family style. if these were the intended portion sizes, fine, but individually plating each course would've at least made it feel like an actual prix fixe experience. the "fresh cut potato" chips tasted basically like sour cream & onion chips with honey on them. nothing special. i also saw them being taken from a huge container of chips, so not rlly sure what they mean by fresh cut. corn cheese roll was exactly what the name suggests lol. corn cheese inside a deep fried roll with gochujang to dip. nothing particularly special, but at least it wasn't oily. the watermelon kimchi was interesting; sauce mostly coated the surface without penetrating the watermelon itself, so it was basically sweet watermelon + salty exterior. do what u want with that info lol. spicy sashimi noodle was indeed spicy. idk exactly what they were trying to achieve here -- maybe a take on korean spicy cold noodles? to me it tasted more like soft soba in gochujang with a splash of soy sauce + sashimi. soba lacked chew and the dish overall lacked depth, but it was refreshing and i didn't hate it. pork jowl was p good, although it got RLLYYY fatty toward the end. the chili crisp helped a lot and brought out the flavors while balancing some of that richness. again, would've rlly appreciated my own bowl of rice here and i'm not even a big rice eater lol. as a parfait lover, i instantly did not like the parfait. cream tasted super fatty, like it was just cream cheese + double cream + sugar. instead of that light, airy texture i associate with a lot of asian desserts, this was heavy and over-whipped. compote was fine but couldn't save it from all that cream. took one spoonful of everything and didn't rlly want another. guess it worked out that we only got one parfait for two ppl lol, but i still don't understand the decision. overall, cute place and interesting menu concepts, but the flavors didn't live up to the hype for me. the restaurant week prix fixe especially made the value and experience feel worse than if we had just ordered normally. their uni bibimbap does look promising, but LA has sm good food that i don't rlly feel the need to come back and risk another mediocre meal.

    Photos
    Danbi - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Danbi - Scallop Pancakes

    Scallop Pancakes

    Danbi - Honey butter chips

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    Honey butter chips

    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(537 reviews)
    0.6 miKoreatown
    $$$

    Korean comfort food. As soon as I walked through the door, I felt the warm sense of hospitality. It…read morefelt like you were going to a family friend's house and you knew you were about to enjoy a great meal. In order to do the 'Set Menu With Barley Rice' you need to have at least 2 people to participate. I dined alone so I wasn't able to order that, but I didn't feel like I missed out at all. I believe you get a comparable amount and variety of banchan when you order any of the proteins on the menu. I myself ordered the dried yellow corvina (fish). The order or set came with some barley, delicious tofu soup, and pretty much more banchan than I can eat myself. Just a wonderful meal and experience.

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

    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)
    0.1 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    Great service and Very delicious! Loved it here. Will definitely come back!And will recommend to my…read morefriends n family!

    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.

    Photos
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park

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

    Jinsol Gukbap - 3rd St

    4.5(886 reviews)
    0.5 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

    Hae Jang Chon

    Hae Jang Chon

    4.1(6.1k reviews)
    0.5 miKoreatown, Wilshire Center
    $$$
    All you can eat
    Established in 2002

    My son recently moved to Koreatown. KBBQ is one of our favorite meals…read more Hae Jang Chon is within walking distance from his place, and we absolutely loved it! The meats are so fresh and flavorful. The salad and sides are perfect as a palette cleanser. Corn cheese was yummy. Our server Jun was so nice and attentive. He asked if we had dined there before and after telling him it was our 1st time, he walked us through the menu to point out some of the popular items. He also told us the ingredients of the various sauces and which one would go well with the meats we selected. Jun cooked our meats perfectly. We felt pampered since we cooked our own meats in our previous KBBQ experiences. The individual tongs for picking up the cooked meats from the grill pan is a nice touch, instead of having to use the same tongs that are used for the raw meats. He also came back often to fill our waters, and to check if we wanted more meat. The restaurant is clean, pop music playing. The other employees were also really nice. One of them stopped setting the table so I could take a pic. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars. Definitely coming back!

    Hae Jang Chon is the way to go if you're looking for some quality Korean barbecue for AYCE! This…read morespot is known for their traditional flat stone than the metal grill that you see at other spots. We got reservations for a Monday night and it was a little more than half capacity. We were 5 people at 7pm. When we got in, we were welcomed right away with a table set up with our side dishes, plates with sauces and utensils. There were at least 6-7 different side dishes like garlic spinach, kimchi, spicy cucumbers, bean sprouts, mashed potatoes, spicy fish cakes and bean sprouts. We ordered a bunch of items including the Beef tongue, Beef brisket, Marinated short rib (Galbi), Pork Jowl and Chicken. The beef tongue was by far the tastiest because it was not overly marinated. I liked the pork jowl too because of its chewiness and you can grill it longer to make it crispy. The marinated short ribs were good too. Since the servers cook the meats for you, and when they cook the ribs, they take the bone off too! We requested the bone in since it makes the meat tastier! For sides, we also order the salad and some cheesy corn. The salad was refreshing. Unfortunately the cheesy corn was a bit too creamy for me. I think less cream and more cheese would have made it better. All, don't skip out on the kimchi fried rice at the end. They toss in some rice, sour kimchi, seaweed and cheese. The server even made a heart for us! The rice soaks up all the meat juices on the stone that makes it more tastier!

    Photos
    Hae Jang Chon
    Hae Jang Chon
    Hae Jang Chon

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    Sun Nong Dan - korean - Updated September 2026

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