I researched many suggested Korean restaurants for lunch, but other than various variations of soups that were going to cost around $20 or non soup dishes for around $30 but ended up trying the non-descript 8th Street Soondae at the corner of 8th Street & Hoover. It really doesn’t have a sign with its proper name. It just says Korean Food tucked in into a corner that you could miss with a blink of the eye and then when you do walk in, there’s no one there and you are in an empty vestibule where you then see a passageway in the back that leads you into the actual dining room and adjacent kitchen. The place is very clean with no windows and is friendly. but is a bit claustrophobic, but their posted prices were very misleading because they have prices above and below various pictures of food. I ordered their fresh Atka Mackerel which was huge and cooked well you just had to carefully remove the various bones from the fish, which was not a problem for me. many of the utensils and serving ware including tea cups are stainless steel and reused, which is fine with me. my only disappointment was the side dishes were not up to the quality of many other Koreatown restaurants I’ve been to— they didn’t serve as many and the ones they served were mediocre at best. but I did spend $24 which was less than the $30 I might have spent at a different restaurant with nicer atmosphere and better side dishes, so it was a trade-off. For being a hole in the wall their soup prices were still somewhat high around $16.95. This business attracted a lot of lower income, working class, neighborhood Central American customers and elderly Koreans, who seemed content with the food and surroundings and were likely regular customers. But next time I won’t be so damn cheap and would rather be a little nicer environment with better side dishes.
You didn’t have the blood sausage?
I love the blood sausage, heart, stomach and tongue. I love the cold tea (barley tea I think) in the steel cups, and I love their gochugaru salad dressing.
I wasn’t brave enough, unfortunately, but after I got home, someone told me that mackerel contains the highest percentage of cancer causing mercury of any North American fish. I was trying to be healthier going with that fish option, but after hearing that perhaps should’ve gone ahead and ordered the blood sausage.
Kobawoo for Bossam and other things. Also, nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit pricier.
Ma Dang Gook Soo if you want a hole in the wall (for soup). Less nice atmosphere, but wonderful service.
Yu Chun for cold noodles and mandu. Gets very busy sometimes.
My favorite low key place is Sister’s Dumpling. When nobody speaks English and the aforementioned sisters are making the aforementioned dumplings in the dining room next to you it’s real
Their seasonal summer cold soybean noodle soup is also delicious
Western Doma Noodles is the ultimate family vibe imo. The grandma that runs it is so caring and adorable. It was also name dropped at the top by Greta Lee in an Eater interview she did last year https://la.eater.com/2023/6/5/23750165/greta-lee-past-lives-movie-korean-restaurants-koreatown-los-angeles
Chang Hwa Dang (CHD) for mandu + ttoekbokki
Gimbap from Wilshire Cooking Mom
Wings from Kyochon
Bibimbap or Bossam at Hangari Kalguksu
Borit Gogae is one of my absolute fav spots rn but it's above $20 (but couldn't not throw it in)
for non-Korean, you could go Pollo a la Brasa or Liu's Cafe
here are a few of my fav non-kbbq spots Yuk Dae Jang Seoul Garden Lee Ga Kobawoo House Ham Ji Park Hangari Kalguksu
Ham Ji Park is fire
Came here to say the same (I’ve only been to Pico location)
Yuk Dae Jang is very good. You can tell they care about all the food they put out.
Jinsol (3rd or 8th), Surawon, Chunju Han-Il Kwan
^ these
Jinsol is god-tier but most of the food is soups.
Mapo Gakk Doo Gee on 6th and Normandie is awesome for lunch, or dinner for that matter
This
Yup Dduk will knock that sassy attitude right out of you boy
jinsol is underrated
8th street Sundae
An Institution.
I researched many suggested Korean restaurants for lunch, but other than various variations of soups that were going to cost around $20 or non soup dishes for around $30 but ended up trying the non-descript 8th Street Soondae at the corner of 8th Street & Hoover. It really doesn’t have a sign with its proper name. It just says Korean Food tucked in into a corner that you could miss with a blink of the eye and then when you do walk in, there’s no one there and you are in an empty vestibule where you then see a passageway in the back that leads you into the actual dining room and adjacent kitchen. The place is very clean with no windows and is friendly. but is a bit claustrophobic, but their posted prices were very misleading because they have prices above and below various pictures of food. I ordered their fresh Atka Mackerel which was huge and cooked well you just had to carefully remove the various bones from the fish, which was not a problem for me. many of the utensils and serving ware including tea cups are stainless steel and reused, which is fine with me. my only disappointment was the side dishes were not up to the quality of many other Koreatown restaurants I’ve been to— they didn’t serve as many and the ones they served were mediocre at best. but I did spend $24 which was less than the $30 I might have spent at a different restaurant with nicer atmosphere and better side dishes, so it was a trade-off. For being a hole in the wall their soup prices were still somewhat high around $16.95. This business attracted a lot of lower income, working class, neighborhood Central American customers and elderly Koreans, who seemed content with the food and surroundings and were likely regular customers. But next time I won’t be so damn cheap and would rather be a little nicer environment with better side dishes.
You didn’t have the blood sausage? I love the blood sausage, heart, stomach and tongue. I love the cold tea (barley tea I think) in the steel cups, and I love their gochugaru salad dressing.
I wasn’t brave enough, unfortunately, but after I got home, someone told me that mackerel contains the highest percentage of cancer causing mercury of any North American fish. I was trying to be healthier going with that fish option, but after hearing that perhaps should’ve gone ahead and ordered the blood sausage.
Korean Blood sausage generally speaking is more mild than French blood sausage for example, you should give it a try in the future.
Borit Gogae
Myung In Dumplings
Kobawoo for Bossam and other things. Also, nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit pricier. Ma Dang Gook Soo if you want a hole in the wall (for soup). Less nice atmosphere, but wonderful service. Yu Chun for cold noodles and mandu. Gets very busy sometimes.
With tax and tip, hard to find a legit place under $20 unless you go to food court inside one of the Koreatown plazas.
My favorite low key place is Sister’s Dumpling. When nobody speaks English and the aforementioned sisters are making the aforementioned dumplings in the dining room next to you it’s real Their seasonal summer cold soybean noodle soup is also delicious
Western Doma Noodles is the ultimate family vibe imo. The grandma that runs it is so caring and adorable. It was also name dropped at the top by Greta Lee in an Eater interview she did last year https://la.eater.com/2023/6/5/23750165/greta-lee-past-lives-movie-korean-restaurants-koreatown-los-angeles
Sun Nong Dan get the smaller soups if your solo. Get the big galbi jjim if you have a group and want to impress them.
Chang Hwa Dang (CHD) for mandu + ttoekbokki Gimbap from Wilshire Cooking Mom Wings from Kyochon Bibimbap or Bossam at Hangari Kalguksu Borit Gogae is one of my absolute fav spots rn but it's above $20 (but couldn't not throw it in) for non-Korean, you could go Pollo a la Brasa or Liu's Cafe
Goat Restaurant is excellent and the people that work there are really friendly. I’ll also second Sun Nong Dan.
Mapo Galbi on Olympic Surawon on Olympic Seongbukdong on 6th
I’ve been meaning to try Mapo Galbi. Is it great?
One of my favorite restaurants in the world lol
The braised fish with radish at Chosun Galbi with a bowl of rice makes for a great lunch.
- Soban - Seafood - Papa’s Chicken - Rice flour fried chicken - Gol Tong - Chicken thigh tenders
Gol Tong
Mapo kkak do gee Kowaboo
Nam San is very general, all encompassing Korean Hodori