The densest Korean dining cluster outside Korea, three square miles of grill rooms, soft tofu houses and 24-hour pojangmacha bars west of Downtown.
Jenee Kim's Park's BBQ in Los Angeles Koreatown grills USDA Prime short rib over real charcoal in a buttoned-up dining room with reliable banchan.
OrderMarinated boneless short rib (yangnyum galbi) and the seafood pancake to share.
TipBanchan refills are free and generous; ask for the live abalone if it's on the spec sheet by the door.
The Lopez family's Guelaguetza in Koreatown, Los Angeles has cooked Oaxacan moles, tlayudas and clayudas for the city since 1994. A James Beard winner.
OrderMole negro over chicken, and a tlayuda to share.
TipThe Lopez family runs a moles-by-the-jar takeaway out the side door; carry one home on the plane.
Sun Nong Dan in Koreatown, Los Angeles serves seolleongtang ox-bone soup 24 hours a day and a cheese-topped galbi jjim that built a TikTok following.
OrderGalbi jjim braised short rib with cheese, finished tableside.
Tip24-hour, two-hour wait at 22:00 Friday; come at 23:30 instead, lines clear.
Quarters Korean BBQ in Chapman Plaza, Koreatown, serves marinated and unmarinated cuts in quarter-pound portions, encouraging diners to sample widely.
OrderA platter of marinated short rib, brisket and pork belly, plus a soju cocktail.
TipQuarter-pound portions let two people taste eight cuts; the staff manages the grill so you do not over-char the galbi.
Chosun Galbee on Olympic Boulevard has grilled charcoal galbi in Koreatown since 1989, in a large patio-and-hall room that seats up to 300 guests.
OrderMarinated kalbi short rib over hardwood charcoal and a portion of dwenjang jjigae.
TipPatio tables are the local order; ask for charcoal not gas, and book at least a week ahead on a weekend.
Soowon Galbi on Vermont Avenue, Koreatown, grills charcoal short rib galbi as the house specialty in a 2000s-era room beloved by Korean families.
OrderThe charcoal galbi set with banchan and a pot of doenjang jjigae for the table.
TipSoowon uses real charcoal, not gas; arrive before 19:00 on weekends or expect a 60 minute wait.
Cassell's Hamburgers inside the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown grinds its own chuck for griddled patties, a recipe in continuous use since 1948.
OrderThe third-pound cheeseburger with grilled onions, plus a vanilla malt for the side.
TipCassell's grinds beef in-house every morning; the breakfast burrito is the under-rated order from the same kitchen.
Break Room 86 hides behind a vending machine inside Koreatown's Line Hotel, with four karaoke suites, a dance floor and an 80s high school theme played.
TipOpen Wednesday through Saturday 21:00-02:00. Reserve a karaoke suite for groups of 10 to 20 through Tock at least a week ahead.
The Wiltern at Wilshire and Western in Koreatown, Los Angeles, is the 1931 Stiles O Clements Art Deco hall, now a 1,850-capacity Live Nation room.
TipFloor is general admission, mezzanine reserved; the rear of the orchestra has the cleanest sound. Doors at 19:00 most shows.
Apt 503 hides on the 5th floor of the Aroma Wilshire Center in Koreatown, a semi-rooftop Los Angeles lounge with DJs, dance floor and an outdoor patio.
TipReservations strongly recommended via Discotech. Dress code enforced on weekends; the patio fills first.
HMS Bounty on the ground floor of the 1924 Gaylord Hotel in Koreatown is the nautical-themed dive bar and diner pouring cheap pours and old fashioneds.
TipBurgers and kitchen run late. Friday and Saturday push to 02:00; happy hour weekdays 17:00-19:00.
The Prince on West 7th in LA's Koreatown, opened 1927, became a Korean dive in 1991: red booths, gold-flocked walls and Korean fried chicken until late.
TipCash and card. The fried chicken and OB lager combo runs to 23:00 nightly. New Girl built a set based on this room.
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