BBQ is the star of every place and trip because the main enjoyment of it is found there. Every food has its specialty in cooking or with complementary dishes served. The vibe of the food always fills people with happiness.
1. About Gogi-Gui (Korean Barbecue):
There are two things to know about Korean people: first, they love to maintain themselves, and second, they love to eat. We always see in dramas that Koreans love to eat, and there is not one dish but various dishes with mandatory side dishes to complete.
Korean BBQ restaurants are popular places for Korean people and tourists. Korean Barbecue, or Gogi-gui, is a popular method of grilling meat, pork, beef, or chicken in Korean cuisine. The dishes are prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table.
Some restaurants do not have built-in grilling, so they provide portable stoves for the diners at their tables. There are two options for using the BBQ grilling, one by themselves and another by the chef.
Making BBQ is a ritual for Koreans, especially because it brings people together more often, and the center of the table displays the making of the food, which is quite fascinating. Korean BBQ is usually very thin-sliced marinated beef or short ribs.
There are two popular ways to cook and eat Korean BBQ; without that, the Korean BBQ is incomplete.
1.1. Marinated Barbecue Meats:
Grilled Bulgogi is the most popular variety in making Korean barbecue in many restaurants. Before putting the slices of meat or pork for grilling, it is marinated with various things like soy sauce, sugar, ginger, scallions, sesame oil, garlic, and pepper.
Galbi is a Korean word for rib containing marinated beef short rib in a sauce with mirin, soy sauce, water, garlic, brown sugar, sugar, and sliced onions. The Galbis can also be cooked raw on a tabletop grill, usually by diners.
Dwaeji Bulgogi, or spicy pork, is a popular dish marinated with gochujang (Korean red pepper paste). The flavor is more enhanced if made with a fattier pork belly.
1.2. Un-Marinated Barbecue Meats:
Chadolbegi is a dish made by cutting thinly sliced beef brisket. It is not marinated, and as it is cut so thin, it gets cooked very instantly.
Samgyeopsal is a slice of three-layer meat or grilled pork belly that is found in almost every Korean BBQ restaurant.
There are also many other choices on how to eat grilled meats in Korean BBQ that depend on the person.
2. Things About Korean BBQ Restaurant:
As BBQ is so famous in Korea, one can easily find many Korean BBQ Spots. One can see people hanging out with their friends and family gathering around just an atmosphere of happiness.
The popularity of Korean BBQ has made it worldwide. In many countries, there are many Korean restaurants to be found. Not only has Korean BBQ become famous, but as well the basic dishes of Korea have become quite popular.
Koreans don’t eat one dish but a small part of every dish they like. With Korean BBQ, some dishes are mandatorily served in the restaurant. Cold noodle soup, fried rice, kimchi fried rice, kimchi stew, cheese fondue, glass noodles, steamed egg, and many others, depending on the person’s choice.
Other than the main side dishes, Koreans love side dishes and dipping sauces. Without them, any Korean dish would be incomplete. While discussing side dishes, kimchi is the number one and the most important; Korean food is incomplete without it.
While meat is cooking on the grill, many people put various veggies on the side, so all the flavor of the meat gets on the veggies, and it tastes delicious—vegetables like bean sprouts, green onions, tomatoes, and varieties of them.
Any restaurant in Korea, from big to small, serves high-quality meats so that people can have the best Korean BBQ Los Angeles experience.
3. Korean BBQ in Los Angeles:
Everybody is familiar with the popularity of Korean food across the world. Many Koreans migrated to Los Angeles and started their Korean restaurant, and the original citizens of the city ran some restaurants.
In Los Angeles, CA, many varieties of cuisines are available, with many types of restaurants that serve authentic food. From Mexican to Korean cuisines, many restaurants can be easily found in LA to enjoy fully.
Korean restaurants are found in many places in LA, but there is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA, called Koreatown or K Town. By the name itself, all the things one will find are about Korea. There are so many best Korean BBQ restaurants in the area that one needs to try.
Koreatown has the originality of Korean people who try to create and spread their authentic food culture in the Western culture. If one wants to try and enjoy the proper Korean vibe and food, Koreatown is also an amazing place to visit.
4. 11 Finest Korean BBQ Restaurants in Los Angeles:
When something becomes popular, one can see it everywhere; the same goes for the Korean BBQ and every part of the world. The popularity of Korean people, dramas, and foods is known worldwide.
It is hard to find any country where Korean BBQ restaurants are unavailable. Los Angeles is a popular city worldwide and a great spot to find many Korean food items.
4.1. Quarters Korean BBQ:
Quarters Korean BBQ is one of LA’s most luxurious BBQ spots. The restaurant serves proper Korean food that is in high demand by the people.
The restaurant has combo platters of various types of meat, from pork jowl to beef brisket, with meat quality at its best. Besides combination platters, the place also serves a variety of Korean marinated and un-marinated barbecued meats.
Beef tongue, beef belly, and spicy pork are quite famous. The menu of the restaurant names all the possible items that a Korean BBQ restaurant should have. Combination platters, beef, pork, seafood, and chicken with side dishes like cold noodles, kimchi fried rice, and kimchi pancakes with Korean tapas (appetizers).
If one wants to enjoy a proper authentic Korean BBQ with a Korean vibe, Quarters Korean BBQ restaurant is the perfect place to visit.
4.2. Genwa Korean BBQ:
Genwa Korean BBQ is located in Los Angeles, CA, one in Downtown and another in Mid-Wilshire. As the people and the chef can do Korean BBQ, the option depends upon the restaurant and the people.
The Genwa Korean BBQ has the facility for the people to be their own chefs and make themselves a dish that they desire. The restaurant offers traditional Korean food, from appetizers to seafood; everything is top-notch.
The options of Korean dumplings, soup, rice, and different kinds of meat and chicken complete the perfect Korean BBQ feel. The restaurant offers dining, delivery, and pick-up services available seven days a week.
If one wants to be their chef and experience that feeling, then Genwa Korean BBQ is one of the best choices to visit. Other than Los Angeles, there is another branch of the restaurant located in Beverly Hills.
4.3. Eight Korean BBQ:
Eight Korean BBQ is one of the oldest restaurants at Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA. There is also a branch in Koreatown. Since 2008, the restaurant has provided all the Korean culture in food and feel. The inside of the restaurant is made exactly the way it is in Korea.
The menu lists all the items and combos one wants in a Korean BBQ place. There are pork combos, belly combos, and prime beef combos seasoned with red pepper and miso paste.
The place also has a wide selection of meat and traditional Korean dishes, which are their specialty. With all the traditional dishes, the place also offers burgers that are known as KTown Smashburger.
To enjoy the great food and want to spend some quality time, Eight Korean BBQ is one of the best Korean BBQs in Los Angeles.
4.4. Park’s BBQ:
Park’s BBQ is located at Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA. The restaurant owner, Chef Jenee Kim, was born in South Korea, moved to LA, and opened the restaurant in 2003. The place’s popularity is no joke because one needs to make a reservation beforehand to taste their delicious food.
The restaurant comes under the finest category of one of the best Korean authentic food, and the owner has begged for many awards and been featured in many media. The place serves high-quality food made with the finest ingredients to its people.
The KBBQ restaurant specializes in meat, chicken, beef, soup, noodles, and their special ribeye steaks and ribeye rolls. They serve pork belly, prime boneless short ribs, galbi, and vegetables to finish the perfect dishes.
Park’s BBQ is the perfect place to have the finest Korean barbecue with a pleasant atmosphere.
4.5. Soowon Galbi:
Soowon Galbi is a Korean BBQ restaurant at Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA. The restaurant is run by a family serving mouthwatering galbi (marinated short rib) for three decades. The restaurant’s dining area is one of the attractions for the people because of outdoor dining.
The restaurant serves a tabletop grill with prime boneless short rib, prime beef, spicy pork belly, beef tongue, chicken, and seafood. There is also an option of a tabletop grill of vegetables cooked like a BBQ for more flavor and taste.
Besides the tabletop grill, many other items are on the menu, including appetizers, Korean dishes, noodles, combo specials, beverages, and banchan (Korean side dishes). Soowon Galbi also takes orders for special events, hosting and catering for people who wish to have Korean BBQ at their house.
4.6. Jeong Yuk Jeom:
Located in Western Ave, LA, the Jeong Yuk Jeom (Butchers Shop) is a popular and modern Korean BBQ spot in Koreatown situated on the first floor of Madang Mall. The specialty of this BBQ spot is that they serve dry-aged beef, including dry-aged ribeye, dry-aged prime ribeye, and prime ribeye.
The place menu includes food items for BBQ and some appetizers, and the main meal includes items like Bibimbap, miso pork jowl, and spicy pork, with the meat section covering all the items that a person needs to have a fully Korean BBQ taste.
The place offers dining and takeaway options for the people, as the servers here take charge of making the BBQ an amazing experience for them. The spot is amazing if one wants to spend their time having Korean food and BBQ with family and friends. This modern and beautiful restaurant, Jeong Yuk Jeom Korean BBQ Los Angeles, is a place to visit.
4.7. Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong:
Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, popularly known as Baekjeong Town, is one of LA’s finest and most modern Korean barbecue restaurants. It is in Chapman Plaza of W 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA, and KTown.
The place is quite popular among the locals for its amazing BBQ experience. The place is always filled with people, and there is quite a seating for the people with a little extra seating, especially for the group guests.
The restaurant’s atmosphere is pleasant, with K-pop songs running in the background and the chattering voices of the people echoing throughout the space. The menu of Baekjeong Town is very well known among the locals for its Korean BBQ items that include meat, pork, beef, and combos of one choice.
One can find appetizers and meals like bibimbap, cold noodle soup, kimchi fried rice, pork kimchi stew, and various other famous Korean dishes that one can enjoy till they desire. The place gives a very much feel of the Korean atmosphere, so to enjoy the Korean vibe and food, Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong is a great place to have a Korean BBQ.
4.8. Hae Jang Chon:
A nice and luxurious dinner can only be complete if a place also seems like it. Hae Jang Chon Korean BBQ restaurant screams luxury with amazing food and friendly staff at service. Hae Jang Chon was first known as an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant established in 2002.
All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, located in Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA, was established to serve people fresh and high-quality food. Offering their food from lunch till late night dinner, the restaurant is open until 2:00 AM seven days a week.
The place has appeared in many newspapers with great reviews from the people. Many Korean BBQ places in Los Angeles have metal grills, but Hae Jang Chon has a stone grill for all the Korean BBQ cooking, and that is one of the unique features that attract people to their restaurant.
The place’s menu is something to talk about because by just looking at it, a person knows it is worth it. There are almost 30 items on the menu for people to choose from, so it offers a variety of options for a full-blown Korean BBQ experience.
Prime short rib, marinated beef short rib, un-marinated beef short rib, steak, beef tongue, beef brisket, pork, chicken, seafood, salads, and rice can be found on the main menu of the place with vegetarian options as well on the side. It is a fantastic place for spending money and time in return for a happy and fulfilled heart and stomach.
4.9. 7th Korean BBQ:
7th Korean BBQ restaurant is at 7 Vermont Ave Plaza, Los Angeles, CA. The restaurant serves amazing Korean BBQ and Korean hot noodles in the hustle-bustle lives of people in Los Angeles. It is situated where people are always coming and going, so sometimes visiting and having a nice Korean Barbecue and dishes is nice.
There are multiple options for people to taste the 7th Korean BBQ restaurant. From curbside pickup to home delivery, it gives people convenient options. From their restaurant website, one can place an order online for the food that will be delivered safely at home.
One can order spicy beef, spicy short ribs, beef short ribs, bibimbap, tofu soup, spicy pork, pan-fried chicken and beef, tofu pancake, glass noodles and cold noodles, sweet potatoes noodles, kimchi, and many more Korean traditional dishes to be found in 7th Korean BBQ restaurant.
It is great for grabbing lunch or hanging out with friends in Korean BBQ Los Angeles.
4.10. Sun Ha Jang Restaurant:
Sun Ha Jang restaurant, located on Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, is one of the best KBBQ restaurants ever. It is a family-friendly traditional Korean restaurant that provides authentic traditional Korean food.
The place is known for its mouthwatering roasted duck, spiced rice, and kimchi. The menu includes ducks cut differently, bibimbap, cold noodles, kimchi stew, fried rice, and beverages. There is also a vegetarian option on the menu, which allows people to have their BBQ of grilled vegetables.
The Korean barbecue was done very perfectly because the place has friendly staff. There is also an outdoor patio for people who like to sit outside and enjoy the weather. The Sun Ha Jang restaurant is a great spot if one wants to have a taste of proper authentic traditional Korean BBQ.
4.11. Soot Bull Jeep:
Soot Bull Jeep, located on W 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA, is a Korean BBQ restaurant. It is one of the finest spots for Korean barbecue grilled over an open charcoal flame grill. The restaurant serves various Korean traditional dishes as well as a variety of items for barbecue.
Soot Bull Jeep’s menu includes short ribs, chicken, shrimp, boneless short ribs, soups, pork, noodles, beverages, and vegetarian options for people. The place is amazing for having a Korean Barbecue with a pleasant atmosphere.
There are so many Korean BBQ in Los Angeles, CA, and worldwide. Korean BBQ is about eating and having time with family and friends to enjoy making food and getting closer to loved ones in this hustle-bustle world.
Final Note:
The journey of Korean BBQ made one learn so much, as well as making one’s stomach hungry. It is always nice to have a plan of going out and trying new food or cuisines. Like Korean BBQ, there are so many places with different methods and food that people try and learn so much about other cuisines.
Every restaurant screams happiness if their food makes people happy and wants them to return. The world around us has so many cultures, different people, and their food. So, trying out different and unique food is never a bad idea, just like Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
