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Where to Get Korean BBQ in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a hub of culture, entertainment, and of course—food. This Southern California hot spot draws tourists and new residents every year to see the Hollywood sign, visit amusements at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and sample top-notch cuisines.

barbecue at los angeles california korean bbq restaurant

While Los Angeles remains a melting pot of cultures and cooking styles, Korean BBQ in Los Angeles is growing in popularity. It’s not surprising to see why, as the city is home to some of the most memorable bulgogi and beef brisket you can sink your teeth into.

Whenever I get the chance to visit Los Angeles, you can find me at one of the following spots for the top botch Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.


Park’s Bar-B-Q

Multiple locations
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Park’s Bar-B-Q has the chops to make my list for multiple reasons, including the amazing owner. Chef Jenee Kim opened Park’s Bar-B-Q in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles in 2003. Kim was born in Seoul, Korea, and graduated from the Seoul Women’s College with a degree in Culinary Science. The vibe at the restaurant reflects her passion and creativity.

Whenever I get a chance to visit Park’s Bar-B-Q, I always go for the Gal-Bi. This is prime beef short rib smothered in chef Kim’s award-winning Korean BBQ sauce. The restaurant is also popular for its large assortment of Wagyu beef products, including Ggot Sal and brisket.


Chosun Galbee

3330 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: 323-734-3330
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The sophisticated leather padded booths of Chosun Galbee give it a casual yet elegant vibe. The restaurant is on the southwest side of Koreatown, surrounded by local businesses like Bank of America and the Korean Christian Book Center. It’s a great place to stop for a bite if you’re running errands.

This is the place to go if you want to grill your own meat and thoroughly enjoy the Korean BBQ experience. If you can handle heat, I highly recommend the Daeji Bulgogi (spicy chili marinated pork). Order the Sewu Gui (black tiger shrimp) if you prefer seafood to pork, beef, and chicken.


Kang Ho Dong Baek Jeong

3465 W 6th St #20, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-384-9678
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If you’re heading to Kang Ho Dong Baek Jeong, plan to arrive early. This Korean BBQ restaurant has gotten so popular they had to stop taking reservations for the dine-in experience. Also known as Baekjeong Town and Baekjeong LA KTown, the restaurant straddles Wilshire Center and Koreatown.

Kang Ho Dong Baek Jeong has the best seasoned prime boneless short rib I’ve ever tasted. If you’re here with a group, however, I recommend going for one of the combo platters. The beef and pork combos include three styles of meat for the grill and your choice of soybean paste stew or pork kimchi stew.

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Magal BBQ

3460 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-383-1909
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Magal BBQ is owned by d. Eatery, a company also running foodie hotspots like Il Fiora and Misoolkwan. They are unique in that they don’t accept tips. They charge all diners a 10% fee to cover the costs of operations. If you’re looking for somewhere trendy to eat Korean BBQ in Los Angeles, this is the spot for you. The overall ambiance and aesthetic will have you feeling like you’ve walked out of LA and into Seoul.

The menu at Magal BBQ tells you how many people each combo is best suited to feed. If you’re not in the mood for a big meal, there are individual cuts of meat to grill and an a la carte menu. Try the thin-sliced prime brisket and pork jowl. You won’t be disappointed.


Genwa Korean BBQ

Multiple locations
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Genwa Korean BBQ has multiple locations, including a restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, and one in Beverly Hills. For me, you can’t go wrong with any Genwa choice, but my favorite is the Wilshire location near Koreatown. This is an upscale “grill your own” location, letting you experience authentic Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.

It’s hard to pick a favorite at Genwa, but if I had to recommend two things, it would be the Kotsal (marbled boneless beef short rib) and Samgyeopsal (premium Canadian pork). For some traditional add-ons, I also suggest the Tteokbokki (soft rice cake in spicy sauce) and Nakji Somyeon (octopus and Somyeon noodles).


Quarters Korean BBQ

3465 W 6th St #C-130, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-365-8111
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Quarters Korean BBQ is a chic restaurant with an industrial aesthetic. This is a great spot to eat in the summer when they open their patio for outdoor dining. The restaurant is named Quarters in reference to the quarter pound of food served for BBQ.

While I’ve heard a lot of buzz around the grilled bulgogi and rib eye here, I’m a sucker for the sesame chicken and jumbo shrimp. Korean BBQ in Los Angeles is nothing without side dishes. Try the Quarters kimchi fried rice and soybean stew. For a real treat, I recommend ordering the seafood pancake as a starter.  


Ahgassi Gopchang

3744 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-249-9678
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Ahgassi Gopchang isn’t your average Korean BBQ joint in Los Angeles. This specialty restaurant caters to those who love roasted beef intestines. If you’ve never tried them, I say don’t knock it until you have! It’s one of those things you should try at least once.

Ahgassi Gopchang has multiple combos and individual meals to order. If you’re feeling adventurous, or have a taste for the intestine, my favorite is the beef intestine, fried rice, stew, potato, onion, and mushroom. Not feeling intestines? That’s fine! Prime boneless short rib, kimchi stew, and spicy cold noodles. Amazing.

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Soowon Galbi

856 Vermont Ave B, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-365-9292

From the outside, Soowon Galbi is an unassuming Korean diner. On the inside, you’re in for a treat. This casual restaurant services some of the tastiest traditional Korean BBQ in Los Angeles. This hole-in-the-wall eatery has no official website. If you want to see what’s on order, however, they do partner with catering services like Uber Eats.

A trip to Soowon Galbi calls for grilled Chadol ( USDA prime beef brisket cut thin and served with mung bean sprouts and traditional Korean side dishes). I know this is an article about the best Korean BBQ in Los Angeles, but at Soowon Galbi, it’s all about their amazing side dishes. Don’t skimp on the Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew). This is the money dish.


Soot Bull Jeep

3136 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-387-3865

Soot Bull Jeep is a casual Korean eatery with that hipster ambiance the younger crowd seems to love. With long wooden tables for group dinners, it’s a great place to bring colleagues or family for a bite to eat. Located on 8th Avenue, close to the center of Koreatown, it’s a great place to eat if you’re out for the afternoon in Westlake or Wilshire.

Grilled to perfection, with that sweet and tangy Korean BBQ flavor, Soot Bull Jeep is my favorite LA hot spot for ribs. It’s also the best place for in-table grilling because of its selection of dipping sauces. For a side dish spilling over with comfort food feels, give the somen in kimchi broth a try.


Daedo Sikdang

4001 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-322-2559
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Daedo Sikdang has been on the Los Angeles Korean BBQ scene since 1964, but you’d never know. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and perfectly modern in style and ambience. It’s a great place for a date night or dining out with friends. Daedo Sikdang is famous for its steak and serves angus beef prime.

Daedo Sikdang is a leader in Korean BBQ in Los Angeles. They have even coined a “legendary Daedo cut” for their beef. This includes a ribeye roll, ribeye cap, and ribeye strip, each perfectly marbled for smoky richness on the grill. While you’re grilling, try the Kkakdook (cubed radish kimchi) fried rice or Denjang porridge made with fermented soybean paste.


Eight Korean BBQ

863 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-365-1750
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Eight focuses on implementing traditional Korean cooking techniques with modern tastes. This upscale eatery tries to promote the natural flavor of the meat they grill but also offer a variety of marinades. From red pepper paste to garlic to ginseng, there’s something for every palate.

If you’re ordering a combo to appease a big appetite, my favorite is combo C, a mix of prime beef and pork. It includes beef bulgogi and thinly sliced pork belly. The a la carte menu also has some winners, including a delicious spicy baby octopus with pork belly.

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Jeong Yuk Jeom

621 S Western Ave #100, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-384-2244
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It doesn’t get much fancier than Jeong Yuk Jeom. If you want to impress a date or customer, this is the place to go. Jeong Yuk Jeom offers an assortment of ban chan, including kimchi. In Korean culture, the fancier a place, the more ban chan you’ll be offered. Jeong Yuk Jeom is a perfect example of this rule.

The marinated prime galbi and dry-aged ribeye are both great choices for a first time Korean BBQ novice. Try the seasoned beef tendon with homemade ponzu sauce for something outside the box. The steak tartare is also phenomenal at Jeong Yuk Jeom.


Sun Ha Jang Restaurant

4032 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: 323-634-9292

Sun Ha Jang Restaurant is situated near Century Day & Night Spa on Olympus Boulevard. It’s a casual little place with a regular clientele who frequent the restaurant. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner. Something that sets them apart from other Korean BBQ in Los Angeles is their duck ingredients.

Sun Ha Jang has plenty of wonderful dishes to try, but two of my favorites are the spicy seasoned duck and the fish egg stew. If you’re not as adventurous as me, don’t worry. Sun Ha Jang Restaurant also has the standard beef bulgogi


7th Korean BBQ

698 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-315-5699

7th Korean BBQ is a bit more casual than some of my other go-to Korean BBQ in Los Angeles. It’s a great place to unwind with friends or colleagues after a busy week. The restaurant is located on the east side of Korea Town not far from Southwestern Law School.

At first I wasn’t sure what it was that set &th Korean BBQ bulgogi apart from other Korean BBQ spots. It’s the marinade. The restaurant has one of the best bulgogi marinades in the city, with a depth of flavor you can’t bottle. Try the marinated bulgogi in the all you can eat menu. I suggest mixing it with spicy ramen and soybean soup.


Hae Jang Chon Korean BBQ Restaurant

3821 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-389-8777
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Hae Jang Chon Korean BBQ Restaurant is upscale casual with a mix of traditional and modern decor. This is a great place to dine if you’re hungry, because they offer an all you can eat option, including 30 of their BBQ and side items. While Hae Jang Chon Jorean BBQ Restaurant sells chicken, beef, and seafood, their star ingredient is pork.

I love most of the dishes at this spot, and with all you can eat, you can try them all. If I had to name one item that stands out among the rest, it’s the spicy thin sliced Canadian pork belly. The pork is sweet and spicy with that smoky ridge of fat melting into the meat as you grill it. It’s perfect. The kimchi pancake and steamed egg go great with this dish.


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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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