Sun Nong Dan

Sun Nong Dan is one of the best spots for Korean food in all of Los Angeles. They’re best known for their Galbi Jjim, a form of Korean BBQ that includes short ribs, rice cakes, veggies, and red sauce. 

It’s insanely good, and they’ll come out to your table and blowtorch the cheese on top for you, making the whole meal crispy and bubbly. It’s an experience you have to see — and taste — to believe, and it gets you some of the best Korean barbecue you’ll ever eat.

Tokki

Tokki offers a unique taste of the cuisine of Korea in an equally unique environment. We were blown away by their sake martinis and the rosé gochujang. If you aren’t familiar, the gochujang is a K-town classic, a spicy paste made with hot chili peppers, fermented soybeans, salt, and some rice. The addition of rosé makes Tokki’s sauce legendary.

Another killer menu item at Tokki is the truffle kimchi fried rice with bulgogi (tender strips of savory beef). Tokki’s trendy dining room is the perfect environment to enjoy a piping-hot plate of this unique fried rice on a date, dining solo, or with a big group of friends.

You’ll feel boujee AF eating this truffle-filled meal. And you deserve it. 

Dan Sung Sa

Dan Sung Sa is the place to go if you’re in Koreatown looking for some late-night snacks. This Asian eatery offers the best Korean bar food, including spicy fried chicken wings, savory kimchi pancakes, pork belly skewers, and much more. 

Their food is notoriously spicy — more than many other Korean restaurants on our list — so be prepared if you stop by. You can use a sip of soju to cool your burning mouth if the spicy Korean cuisine ends up being too much for your taste buds!

Soban

Soban is a Koreatown restaurant with a knack for creating amazing banchan dishes. There are 16 small side dishes at Soban, including boiled potatoes, shishitos, and many more. Soban also does an amazing job with fresh seafood, and the black cod is one of the highlights of their menu.

Kobawoo House

Kobawoo House is a legendary K-town establishment and one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. They’re famous for their bossam, AKA steamed pork belly, and some locals consider their bossam the best in the entire Koreatown neighborhood. If you’re looking for homestyle Korean dishes in a fine dining environment, Kobawoo House is for you.

Here’s a word to the wise: Kobawoo House is probably not the best option if you’re on a tight budget and just looking for takeout or a snack. Their pork belly plates are massive and pricey, so it’s best to enjoy them with friends, on a date, or when you’re really hungry. No judgment!

Mapo Galbi

Mapo Galbi is one of the more peaceful restaurants on our list, and they’re known for their delicious dak galbi. Dak galbi is a mouthwatering combo of rice noodles, veggies, chicken, and spicy sauce. It’s all stir-fried together and cooked right in front of you at your table — like magic. 

While they don’t offer the same nightlife experience (karaoke and tons of soju everywhere) as other K-town restaurants, Mapo Galbi gets an A+ for their food and peaceful ambiance.

Gamja Bawi

If you’re by yourself and just want a quick bite, Gamja Bawi is a fantastic choice. The highlight of their menu is the dolsot bibimbap, a Koreatown classic that no one should miss.

With rice, vegetables, a fried egg, and some strips of ribeye drenched in gochujang sauce, Bibimbap to go is the definition of self-care. If you’re ever feeling worn out and need a pick-me-up, swing by Gamja Bawi and get you some.

Surawon Tofu House

Surawon tofu house is famous for their soondubu, a soft tofu stew made with curdled tofu, veggies, mushrooms, onions, and red sauce.

It’s warm, comforting, and served in a boiling hot pot, so we can’t recommend it enough when the weather gets cold.

Young King Restaurant

Young King is a Korean-Chinese restaurant in Koreatown, and they've got some delicious dishes on their menu.

We recommend trying the Tangsuyuk, a fried pork dish served with sweet and sour sauce.

Jeon Ju

Jean Ju has plenty to offer in terms of KBBQ, seafood, and more, but we’re big fans of the dolsot bibimbap.

Made with short ribs and served in a hot stone bowl, this bibimbap is extremely flavorful and definitely deserves to get its picture taken and posted on your Insta story. Plus, the servings at Jeon Ju are ginormous, so you can easily get enough food to spread out over several meals.

Ham Ji Park

Ham Ji Park is an iconic Koreatown BBQ spot that’s tons of fun. Reminiscent of Koreatown in New York, Ham Ji Park is always full of big groups hanging out after work on weeknights and getting some late-night BBQ on weekends.

Their pork spare ribs are amazing and big enough to share with a huge group of friends.

Sun Ha Jang

Sun Ha Jang is best known for their duck BBQ. That might not sound great at first, but it’s insanely good and worth trying. Served on a huge plate in thick slices, the duck meat is savory, rich, and incredibly satisfying.

Antico Nuovo

Antico Nuovo may not be a Korean restaurant, but it is a must-visit Koreatown establishment. This Italian eatery serves delicious focaccia and pizza; their ice cream is unbelievably good. We recommend stopping here if you’ve been eating Korean BBQ and bibimbap for the last week or so on a K-town food tour and need a break.

Le Comptoir

Le Comptoir is one-of-a-kind, especially in Koreatown. This unique spot serves an eight-course meal at a fixed price of $175, so the price for entry is no laughing matter. However, if you’re willing to foot the bill for some fine dining, you’ll end up with delicious dishes made from ingredients sourced from a garden in Long Beach.

Eating in Koreatown: FAQs

If you’re new to the Koreatown neighborhood, here’s what you need to know before ordering your meal:

How Much Does a Meal Cost in Koreatown?

The answer to this question depends on where you’re eating. If you’re at one of the more casual spots we listed above, you can expect to pay about $30 for an appetizer, drink, and entree in Koreatown. Not bad.  However, if you’re all about fine dining, expect to spend the bulk of your travel budget on food in Koreatown. The priciest restaurants in the neighborhood can cost several hundred dollars per person when you include drinks, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you order!

What Are the Best Korean Dishes To Try?

If you’re visiting Koreatown, make it a point to try as many of these meals as you can:

• Kimchi: Spicy fermented cabbage, radish, and onion flavored with scallions, chili powder, and garlic and often paired with seafood. Kimchi tastes incredible, even though it might look a little bit weird at first glance.
  
  
• Bibimbap: This is another classic Korean dish. It’s a bowl of hot rice topped with a combination of vegetables, meat (usually beef or chicken), and an egg that cooks over the mixture.
  
  
• Red rice cakes: These aren’t the rice cakes you buy at the grocery store. Instead, Korean rice cakes are boiled cakes of rice stir-fried in a sweet and spicy red sauce. The cakes are often cooked with onions, garlic, salt, and a bit of sugar. Each rice cake is almost like a little dumpling.
  
  
• Bulgogi: Bulgogi is made from marinated beef and is a staple at any Korean steakhouse. The unique flavors that make this broiled meat taste so good include pepper, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, and garlic, all mixed and soaked into the beef for several hours before it gets cooked.
  
  
• Korean fried chicken: This ultra-popular Korean treat comes covered in a sweet, spicy sauce and several layers of crispy batter. It’s a far cry from typical American fried chicken and tastes much less greasy and spicier. If you want a kick, you need to try some Koreatown BBQ.

Koreatown Food: Believe the Hype

The food in Koreatown really is unbelievably good, especially when you know where to look. You won’t be let down by any of these legendary K-town spots!

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