Home to the largest Korean population in the United States, it’s not surprising that Los Angeles boasts some of the best Korean food in the country. At times, Korean natives even argue that a number of the Korean restaurants in Los Angeles are better than their counterparts back in Korea. Having lived in LA for about two years now, I’ve been to most of the famous spots in Koreatown and have to agree that the food scene is not only authentic but truly delicious.
You’ve probably already heard people and the media rave about places like Sun Nong Dang, Quarters, BCD Tofu House, Ahgassi Gopchang, and other well-known Korean restaurants—and while they do live up to their reputation, I wanted to introduce my picks for the hidden gems in Koreatown. Don’t be fooled by their smaller, run-down interiors, because real foodies will know that the best food is always found in the more shabby and older places. With the help of some of my local friends, here is a list of the top 5 Korean restaurants in LA that only locals may have heard of!
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The Corner Place Restaurant
“Ghilmok Gui” (길목구이) set at The Corner Place Restaurant
LA has plenty of amazing K-BBQ spots that already have long lines outside their stores. The Corner Place Restaurant is one of the more hidden spots that has yet to receive much publicity, but surely one of the best picks in terms of taste and quality. One point to note is that the restaurant is not very non-Korean-friendly, as their menu is mostly written in Korean (with another tell-tale sign being that the restaurant is mostly visited by K-Town locals).
If you’re craving good quality beef, make sure to visit this spot and order their most popular 길목구이 (Ghilmok Gui), or house special, set. One serving should be more than enough for 2 adults and the sides that come with it complement the tender beef perfectly. This place is also best known for their 동치미국수 (cold dongchimi noodle soup) which pairs nicely with any choice of meat you can order, as the cold and refreshing noodles cut away the greasy sensation from the grilled meat.
The Corner Place
2819 James M Wood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
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Mapo Chicken
“Dakgalbi” 닭갈비 with cheese at Mapo Chicken (Source: Yelp)
Tucked away in a modest and small building, this gem of a restaurant has an instant mom-and-pop vibe with only a couple seats inside. Mapo Chicken specializes in one of Korea’s beloved comfort foods, the dish known as 닭갈비 (dakgalbi), or spicy stir-fried chicken. The menu is rather simple, but you can add extra orders of vegetables, cheese, rice cakes, or noodles to the stir-fry based on your personal preference.
Once your food comes out in a big sizzling iron pan, the workers will stir the dakgalbi for you until they are ready to eat. True Koreans will also know that the best part of any Korean stir-fry dish is the complementary fried rice that you make with the leftovers once you are done with your meal—so make sure to save some space in your stomach for this!
Mapo Chicken
1008 S St Andrews Place
Los Angeles, CA 90019
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Gaju Gimbap
To-go “kimbap” 김밥 sets at Gaju Gimbap
This small family shop is actually located in the back corner California Market, a large Korean supermarket in the heart of K-Town. While there is limited seating available, this spot offers plenty of pre-packaged choices for take-out. 분식, or bunsik, is a collective term for Korea’s well-known comfort foods such as 떡볶이 tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) or 김밥 kimbap and is meant to be a quick stop for mid-day snacks rather than a full sit-down meal.
Gaju Gimbap serves the freshest kimbap and is priced affordably compared to other stores, at around $8 per roll. They also feature various types of 분식 on their menu, including tteokbokki, janchi noodles, kimchi fried rice, and different types of dumplings. Their tteokbokki is probably the best I’ve tried in all of Los Angeles (or even the entire country), and their entire menu tastes more homemade without high amounts of MSG. I’d recommend getting an order of their beef kimbap rolls with the tteokbokki and eating them together for the classic Korean bunsik experience.
Gaju Gimbap
450 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020
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Hwang Hae Doe
“Yuksoo Bulgogi” 육수불고기 for two at Hwang Hae Doe (Source: Yelp)
There may be people that have never heard of a Korean dish called 육수불고기 (Yuksoo Bulgogi), but this hidden gem is the perfect spot to open your eyes to a whole new kind of K-BBQ. Essentially, this dish features bulgogi mixed in broth and with glass noodles and other vegetables, boiled all together, sort of like hot pot. The order also comes with an array of rice paper and fresh vegetables to wrap into spring rolls and eat together with the main dish.
I definitely did not expect to find this dish in the U.S., as it is a more niche type of Korean food, but Hwang Hae Do did not disappoint! The restaurant has plenty of other options on their menu, ranging from traditional K-BBQ, many types of soups, stir-fry dishes, and more, but make sure to order their yuksoo bulgogi for a hearty, authentic Korean meal.
Hwang Hae Doe
429 N Western Ave Suite 7
Los Angeles, CA 90004
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Yuchun
“Mul-naengmyeon” 물냉면 at Yuchun (Source: Yelp)
Last but not least, 냉면 (naengmyeon) and 갈비 (kalbi) are another combination you can’t miss out on when exploring Korean food. Naengmyeon is a cold buckwheat noodle dish that can be served either in a cold broth (물냉면 or mul-naengmyeon) or in a spicy red sauce without the broth (비빔냉면 or bibim-naengmyeon). Yuchun specializes in both types of naengmyeon and carries other menu items that pair deliciously with the noodles.
My personal favorite is eating it with kalbi, Korean barbequed short ribs in a sweet fruit and soy sauce marinade. Yuchun is also well known for its selection of steamed dumplings that are great to snack on or eat with the naengmyeon as well. Many Koreans will start craving these cold noodles once the summertime comes around, so make sure to visit and try it out yourself!
Yuchun
3185 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
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