The owner's cooking of fusion dishes is exceptional. The food tastes outstanding If everyone comes and tries it together, I think they'll be very happy read more

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Came here for a quick Sunday lunch We ordered spicy cucumber arugula salad and dduk galbi sandwich; they were both really good! The chef/owner goes the extra mile to make sure you have a great time! Excellent service. Nice local spot for great food and good vibes read more

Woowa - Spicy Cucumber Arugula Salad - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Food was great! Enough to share between me and my gf with two dishes and an appetizer. It was cool to pick your own shot glass too! Def coming back for more! read more

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This place itched my korean food craving scratch - and then some. The portions were huge! I got tbe tteokgalbi monday lunch special and truly was expecting a small bowl with a patty on top. I was not expecting a container packed with meat, lettuce, and rice that was hard to close. Their spicy pork on top of tofu was also awesome. Flavorful and humongous portion also for an appetizer. I could probably have that as a complete meal. I think this place will make Mondays a lot brighter because now I cant wait to get this lunch special again! Oh and the owner was so kind..makes you want to support these businesses where they really do seem to care about each person's experience! He gave my daughter a little cracker to snack on while we waited for our food to be finished. Woowa has my loyalty now! Can't wait for Monday! read more

Woowa - Tteokgalbi - Monday lunch special $19.99 - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

우와~ This is a great cozy place to dine in Gardena if you haven't checked it out yet. It's a little nondescript but that makes it a great find when you walk in. It's giving pocha vibes if you're into that. We had just landed from a late night flight and were craving some comfort food so we came here. Sudok sudok, Jjapaghetti, and Rose sujebi were all bangers. Everything was comforting, yummy, and savory. The portions were reasonable. For the food quality and the fact that they're open late, this place deserves all the support. We're hoping to come back to try the rest of the menu eventually heh. They have a small parking lot out back or street parking is available as well. Either way, this is a nice spot to stop by any time of the week and any time of the day. read more

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Read this one before you go! Dude inside of the seafood pancake was mush/undercooked and mostly not seafood??? It was edible I guess? And what's this pork Jowl dish? It's presented in a puddle oil with chopped up onions and kimchi. It's like a zero work dish. It's like a dish I would make in a rush and accidentally spilled the oil can while making it. The table next to the front door has an insanely loud speaker. You'd like it if you wanna club here instead of eating. You need to play the game of telephone to pass the order to the waiter. The clam noodle was not bad. It was good tasting with good visual but practically it was very difficult to eat because the plate is so wide so everything is very difficult to scoop. I liked the fried chicken. Service was very slow. That's fine it happens. No point subtracted here. Just a note. read more

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We saw this late night join that have great review that open till Midnight. Was hungry after Sofi Stadium concert and finally arrived past 11pm. Small cozy restaurant with the few tables for 4 and 1 longer table at front. You can enter from with street parking or back door with back parking, better. Saw the Chef's sommelier long certificates wall posted. Great accomplishment! Only ordered 2 item. The Tteok Galbi Meal Set and Creamy Toowoomba Ramyeon Risotto. Food taste is 9/10. Very delicious and yummy. The Galbi is marinated meatballs, very tasty. Including Salad and dressing. The risotto is a mini show. Come in Buldak Ramen Cup upside down with cheese at the bottom. Interesting. Creamy and yummy. Portion is on larger side, like family style, thus the price is on higher side. Might come again and try different item. read more

Woowa - Creamy Toowoomba Ramyeon Risotto Tteok Galbi Meal seat with Salad and Rice - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Stopped by after Ho'olaule'a at Alondra Park. Long lines for food. Parking is on street or there is a small lot behind the restaurant and you can enter through the back door. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and told we could sit at any open table. I think the chef was the host, waiter and busser. He was working hard but we couldn't tell he was working solo. Service was great. Inside is small with 10 tables and a small counter with 3-4 seats. The inside got kinda hot if you're eating a spicy dish. There was no airflow. We ordered a lot of food for two because we wanted to try more than two main dishes. We ordered the pork belly, spicy pork belly, the Redondo Seafood Jeon, and Ttokbokki(red). My first time trying Ttokbokki seeing it so many times on Korean TV. Now I know why it's a popular dish. Everything was delicious. read more

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Why Woowa? An intimate small Korean spot off the Main Street of Western. - Not sure why it gives off bar vibes for a fusion Korean x Italian spot. - Consistently busy throughout the weekend nights though you can't tell from the outside. - Love the top 10 list on the menu wonder if it changes quarter to quarter? Would I come back? Yes, I would much better than the other Korean spot around the perimeter. Note: The food is very HEAVY based on what was eaten below. Food 4/5 - N Pork Belly = Loved how it was cooked and crispy + quality was solid - Dad's Kim chee fried rice = Solid with the egg on-top Service 4/5 Consistent follow-up from staff to ensure all is well. You can truly tell they care for their customers! Parking 4/5 Easy parking in the back or on Main Street of Western read more

Woowa - dads fried rice - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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This place has been on my list of places to try and it did not disappoint. The food tasted incredible. Big portions so great for family style to try different plates. Service was friendly and attentive as well. Will be coming back soon! read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Highly recommend the arugula salad and rose seafood pasta! Fast service and amazing quality food. The dining area is cozy and intimate, great music and friendly staff. Will definitely be back for the barbecue ! read more

Woowa - Rose Seafood pasta - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

A hole in the wall restaurant that is 100% worth trying in the Gardena area. Met up with friends and went as soon as they opened. They have a lot in the back where you can park. The food was AMAZING. The server/cook, Joon, was so helpful when we were trying to decide what to order. Love that they have a page of their recommended food items. The spicy cucumber arugula salad was definitely one of the best I've had. Nice and refreshing! I also enjoyed their seafood pajeon and pork belly dish. I wish I lived closer because this would be a great place to go to for drinks too! Highly recommend! read more

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Woowa is an extremely charming late-night spot nested on Western Ave, the legendary street that spans from Hollywood all the way down to PV. I highly recommend making a visit as they do Korean-Italian fusion in a very interesting way that you can't find anywhere else. I've been here about three times now -- earlier into the restaurant's opening and have been pleased to see its growth in such a short amount of time. Let's start with the appetizers; the rice paper-wrapped boneless fried chicken was very surprising. It's unlike other fried chicken, with a lighter texture that doesn't sacrifice the juice. It's a great snack throughout the night. I wasn't a big fan of the arugula salad as it was way too acidic (too much vinegar) and hope that gets adjusted. I do wish they'd add soy garlic WINGS... we are severely lacking in quality wings in Gardena and think Woowa would kill it. CM chicken across the street does not pass my bar, nor does Love Letter a few blocks down. There's also the kimchi pancake, which was very sizable and perfect for a group of 4. They fortunately provide a "top hits" menu, so I recommend you order from that list on your first visit. The top one is the bulgogi meatball, served with a killer gochujang salad. The salad needs to be a side option! The meatball was juicy and well-balanced; the rice was impeccably soft and paired well. You did order alcohol, right...? Because there's more to discuss. The N Pork Belly was INCREDIBLE. It's the highest quality pork belly in Korea and the dish was served on a cast-iron skillet, making every bite juicy and crispy all at once. It's a nice "side dish" as it doesn't come with rice or pasta. The brisket set is no longer on the menu as of writing but I quite enjoyed that one! Next top dish would be the carbonara and risotto - very creamy, yet the Korean flavors shine through to make every bite nostalgic and playful. I thoroughly enjoyed the chapaghetti - I ordered it with pork belly but they should add a steak option to reference the dish in the Parasite film...! I would probably pass on the smoke bulgogi next time around as it didn't wow me enough; the Ilsan style chicken noodle soup was very heartwarming and I think it'd be perfect after tons of alcohol. I've even been to Woowa during the world cup game and it was the perfect atmosphere. The owners and staff are so friendly and welcoming and you can tell every detail has been treated with care. I will say, between the dishes and drinking, the bill can run you up. I believe my average check is ~$120. I wished there were smaller plates with smaller prices so that groups of 2 can budget better, or groups can try more options. During the daytime, they do sell Korean-inspired sandwiches, so that's also another way to get a cheaper bite. Reminds me of The Bear... :) Overall, I am always a champion for late-night eats in Gardena; we always need more! Woowa is the perfect destination spot or even a companion spot to Donna's bar nextdoor. Give them a try!!! I'll see you there. read more

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A true hidden gem. Insanely good food, great service. Honestly one of the best Korean Italian fusion I've ever had. read more

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The service so just so friendly and welcoming! We were promptly greeted, seated, and consistently taken care of. The food is absolutely fantastic-- a cheesy dolsot buldak?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! It was so comforting and delicious!!! I will say, the interior is more like a dive-bar vibe, it's dark, and pretty small. But man, I will definitely be back, especially since they're open late :3 read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Came here at late night around 11pm. They said they ran out of pasta, which is what were looking forward to. My friend had the bulgogi meatballs, and he told me it was okay and it tasted like Koja Kitchen. It's crazy because it was the #1 menu item. Buldak was subpar and nothing crazy, considering the $24 price. Seafood pancake was okay too. I had really high expectations for this place, and I am disappointed. Would not go here again :/ read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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The food is so good here, ambiance is so cutie! Service is phenomenal, the server off top suggested some items we *must try* and of course we got the one he absolutely suggested we cannot go without. The #1 Tteok Galbi Meal!!! read more

Woowa - Pork Belly + Rose Gnocchi Pasta + Tteok Galbi Meal!!! 10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Incredible food, amazing music, and a fantastic vibe! Step inside, and you'll feel like you've been transported straight to a cozy, small restaurant in Korea. The food is absolutely spectacular. Their rosé pasta is crafted to perfection, featuring a rich, scratch-made tomato sauce. To top it off, the incredibly friendly owner came out to chat with us, which was such a cool, personal touch. The portions here are remarkably generous. They actually forgot our appetizer initially, but honestly, we were glad we canceled it because the main dishes were more than enough to fill us up! read more

Woowa - Open kitchen, which give this place a very special character - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Woowa is a nice Korean/Italian located in a small strip building on the corner of Marine and Western Ave. Street parking is available and also about 8 parking stalls around back. The owner is a nice fellow and tonight when we for dinner, he was a one man show. Hosting, waiting and cooking and did everything really well. He took the time to explain the menu and even gave great recommendations. We made a reservation and highly recommend that as they get pretty busy even other yelpers suggested it. Overall a great dining experience! read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Came to woowa with my wife and we throughly enjoyed our experience. We had the rose pasta, tteok galbi meal set, and the Kimchi tofu spicy pork. They were all very amazing, the atmosphere was very fun, and the service was top tier. Will definitely return again. read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Woowa remains unrivaled in both quality and quantity! The food is excellent as always, and the owner was kind enough to give us a free loaf of bread to dip into the rose sauce upon request. The vibes are great and it's a treat to watch the owner working on the order as you wait. read more

Woowa - Rose Sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Always passed by here, looked mysterious and wanted to give it a shot! Came here on a Thursday night with some friends. There's a few parking spots in the back and street parking. Inside there's a couple of tables and bar seating. We shared: Pancake: (3/5) least favorite dish. Feel like it wasn't very hot, flavor was decent though Fries with beef (5/5) beef was so tender, sauces were good and it was good ole crispy fries Rose pasta with meatball (4/5): wish the sauce was more flavorful, was definitely more garlic forward. the meatball was more like a patty and was slightly sweet which was good. Beef with salad/rice (5/5): beef was nice and tender. Same beef they used on the fries. Nice it came with their salad too. Service was really friendly, it was one guy who I think may be the manager or owner. Would come back to try the other dishes! read more

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Tried their rose pasta and pork belly and the food here is amazing. The service here is great and when we ordered drinks they let us pick our cups. Which I really enjoyed. The place feels like a small mom and pop shop and is really cute. read more

Woowa - Rose pasta - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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I've been seeing the red door for awhile, and I finally tried today - now I regret not coming here sooner! There is parking in the back of the restaurant, but we were able to park in the front on Western. Upon entering, we were immediately seated. We ordered woowa chicken, rose pasta with seafood, and fries with spicy pork belly. THEY WERE ALL SOO TASTY. Chicken was light but crispy and juicy inside. Gotta also mention that their special sauce was wonderful. Fries were also crispy and pork belly was tasty. What I love the most though, was rose pasta. It's creamy tomato sauce, and went so well with seafood. I loved the sauce so much that I ended up finishing all of it like a soup. The place felt so cozy and played fun music - in addition to lunch, I would love to return for dinner for date nights or hangouts with friends. Thanks, Joon!! read more

Woowa - Inside. There are bar seating and tables. - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Words to describe Woowa: "Wowza," "Deliciosa," and "Zooweemama" From tangy/spicy cucumber salad to creamy and decadent rose pasta, Woowa provides a variety of unique and intricate flavors. Every dish had their own moment like a Kardashian walking down the red carpet. Definitely come by and taste the food for yourself. You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend the Spicy Cucumber Salad. A dish that shouldn't have any surprises, but after one bite you'll be left in "wooo-awe." In addition to the food, both the ambiance and service were great. Zooweemama!! read more

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We live in Gardena, have driven by the place multiple times but today was our very first time dining here. It popped up on Yelp as the #1 Korean restaurant in Gardena. The reviews are amazing. We got there right at opening time for dinner, 5Pm, so we were the first customers. Joon, the owner recommended we pick from the top 10 menu, so we picked the Galbi/Salad/Rice (#1), the Gnocchi #5, and Pork Belly #7. Everything was wonderful. The Soebu (Gnocchi) was a bit on the Salty side but still very delicious, the Gnocchi was pillowy. The vibe is very trendy with good music, reminds me of days when we hit the clubs, has a young person's vibe. Loved it. Joon showed us a wall that displays all his certificates of his culinary trainings. How did we not come here before now? Joon, trust me, we will be back. Check them out on Yelp and read all the wonderful reviews. I forgot to check off that the service was very good, couldn't figure how to go back to check off without losing everything I already entered. read more

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Really enjoyed Woowa! It's a small, cozy spot run by a husband and wife, and you can tell they put a lot into the place. The wife was our server and was incredibly friendly and helpful, especially with recommending what to order. Everything we tried was good, and I already want to come back to try their lunch sandwiches. I came for dinner with my wife and baby and we had a great experience. The space is pretty small with limited tables, so I'd recommend coming early if you have a bigger group. Next time I definitely want to bring some friends, order a bunch of food, have some drinks, and just hang out. It has that kind of relaxed atmosphere that would be perfect for it. read more

Delicious, savory, spicy, flavorful. My wife and I came to check this spot out and were definitely happy with it. We started with the spicy cucumber arugula salad, which was soooo good (know going in that they MEAN spicy). I'm a vegetarian, and there weren't a huuuge amount of veg options, but I was very happy with the sweet and spicy yaki mandu! My wife found the tteok galbi meal set tasty, tender, and generously portioned (she was like, this could have been a shared dish for sure!!). Legit loved how much in the way of greens accompanied everything, too (and each greens dish had a totally different flavor profile which was nice that it wasn't just the same for everything)--I honestly wasn't super looking forward to going out to eat on a hot summer day, but all the greens kept it feeling nice and let and refreshing even as we packed away a bunch of food, lol. read more

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The Oil Sujebi is something I'm still thinking about. The nostalgic chewiness of sujebi paired with the flavors of a pasta dish was just perfect -- such a classic Korean/Italian combination and so, so good. As the child of parents in the food service industry, I also have a special place in my heart for family-run restaurants. I know how much work goes into running a restaurant and how much of your heart and soul you have to put into it. You can really feel that here. I can't wait to come back and bring the rest of my family! read more

Ambiance: it's a cozy restaurant like a hole in the wall, private parking in the rear, limited seating inside, good for late night hangout Service: super friendly and attentive, patient with requests, cleaned table and refilled water adequately Food & Drink: classic Korean bar food with some creative ideas Ttoek Galbi Meal Set - ***** mix of Korean style salad, beef cube, and rice, very tasty, highly recommend Redondo Seafood Pancake - **** crispy squid pancake, good with dipping sauce, recommend Terra - *** light bottled bear Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, expect $30~$35 per person read more

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The service here was really good, super friendly and helpful. The waiter helped me pick out a good soju and point us to good things on the menu. The food was super flavorful and hit the spot. I love the hole in the wall vibes, it felt cozy and fun at the same time. read more

Woowa - Bar area - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Absolute hidden gem on Western Ave--incredible food and even bigger hearts! If I could give Woowa more than 5 stars, I would in a heartbeat. Not only is the food here out of this world--rich, comforting, full of authentic flavors, and easily some of the best soul-warming soups and dishes in the South Bay--but the hospitality is what truly sets them apart. We dropped by for a family meal, and the experience looked to be a favorite just based on how delicious everything was. But what happened toward the end of our visit completely won us over. The Owner went out of their way to bring them over some special Korean candies. Their faces absolutely lit up, and it completely made their day. read more

I was very curious of this place because of the perfect reviews on Yelp and Google so I wanted to come check it out. I thought it must be good. It was not good at all. Seafood pancake: the worst I've ever had, it was undercooked, the batter is doughy, some parts were burnt Woowa chicken: nothing worth mentioning, basic fried chicken Oil sujebi: on the salty side and portion was very small compared to the plate it served on Pork jowl: only decent dish that was pretty good but again super small portions Service was also very slow. There was one waiter and only one chef making all the food so everything took so long. Overall, I don't recommend anyone coming here. Don't be fooled by the 5 star reviews, it looks like when people were incentivized to write perfect reviews with free drinks. read more

Woowa - very mid chicken - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Wooow!! What a lovely experience. My mother and I decided to try it after seeing other yelp reviews. We were there around 5pm for dinner. Food: 5/5, very good. Tried burrata and kimchi, spicy cucumber arugula salad, the galbi meatball meal set, and the oil sujebi. Great portions (generous!!!), very delicious. There was some spice but nothing crazy. Our first time trying Korean-Italian fusion and it was lovely! Service: 4.5/5. Poor chef does everything! He cooks and he waits on tables! Someone help this man. We were lucky enough to come early so he had time to help us, but once three other tables came in, poor thing was inundated. He did well with us, but do take note he's currently hiring and thus you might have a wait for a bit if things get busy. Restaurant: 4.5/5. Nice and clean. Can see the chef cooking from some of the table! Very cool. It feels very local and fun inside. However, the AC struggles to keep the place a comfortable temperature in the Gardena summer. Not a dealbreaker for my mother and I but something to keep in mind if you want AC! Overall, my mother and I say 4.5! Room for slight improvement but still really good. Rating 5/5 because, hey, the food is good!!! Open late!!! Neat!!! Chef was nice!!! Try it!!! read more

Woowa is a cozy Korean-Italian fusion restaurant with top quality food and great service. I stopped by on Monday for lunch with a coworker for the first time. After some deliberating, I decided to give the Monday lunch special (Tteok Galibi meal set) a try. The food came out fairly quickly and the owner/chef was very nice. I have to say, I've been to a lot of Korean places before but I haven't had Korean food that was this good in a long, long time! The meat was tender, extremely flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The salad was well-tossed with a delectable dressing that was sweet and savory. The rice was also the sticky kind, which I prefer. Overall, I was blown away by the quality of each and every part of this meal. Kudos to the owner/chef! I highly recommend giving this place a try if you're looking for some of the best Korean food this area has to offer. I will be back again soon to try the other items on the menu for sure! Thanks Woowa! read more

Woowa - Tteok Galibi Meal Set (Monday Lunch Special) - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Omg... WOOWA for sure. The food here was amazing! Everything was so delicious and flavorful. The other plus is that they are open late. Service was top notch. We are recommending to everyone we know and coming back really soon. I'm excited to try other dishes. read more

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Our food tasted great! Excellent service as well. We ordered the N pork belly and the Rose pasta from the recommended menu.

Wow!!. Wife and came by to check this new spot! OMG!.. food is absolutely amazing! Staff is awesome and help to explain the menu! You have to try the meatballs and Oli Sujebi (Clams)! My wife is Karen and proudly approves the quality of the food and service! read more

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Such a good spot! We ordered the Sweet & Spicy Yaki Mandu, Toowoomba Ramyeon Cream Risotto, and the N Pork Belly, and every dish was so delicious. The portions were huge and we left absolutely stuffed. The service was friendly and attentive, the music was great, and the whole vibe was really fun. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more

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Great food and service! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu and they even include a top 10 list. The service was great and the portions were big! This was my first time here and I will definitely be coming back! read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California