Korean BBQ House

On a Saturday morning around 1130am, it isn’t crowded and they aren’t busy at all. It’s probably because all the people are lined up outside Daikokuya 3 doors down. That preciously worked in our favor.
Was headed to the annual ‘Museum-​Free-​For-​All’ and decided to go have Korean bbq in Little Tokyo, since it was close to The Broad.
The place had customers, but they were construction guys getting food to-​go. Sure this place is murky, low lighting, the walls need a good paint job and booths aren’t the comfiest or cleanest; but hot-​seared-​meat on top of a turtle, that’s some great stuff!
Apps are average, eggrolls were like the ones from almost any Chinese buffet, the gyoza was good though. They have different combinations of meat & seafood on their menu, some automatically come with rice and 4 sides, sprouts, kimchi, potato salad and soup. I opted for the bbq beef & chicken and the hubbs got shorts ribs & chicken. The food came out scorching!!! Too hot really. Should have came with a warning like those microwavable meals (let cool for a few minutes before consumption). Still, it was pretty yummy bbq. Loved the chicken and short ribs! Bbq beef was okay. Sides were all good except the potato salad. Prices for theses combos are fair too.
Customer service was pretty absent even with us being the only customers but the bbq chicken & short ribs made up for it? Yes it did. If in Little Tokyo again we’d come through here again. Definitely wouldn’t be 3 doors down waiting to eat at Daikokuya (is it worth the wait?).

Been here (3xs).Great food and awesome prices… the place is packed during lunch time, LAPD, FIRE, Attorneys, Business People, LASD etc… despite it being crowded during lunch the service is fast and the food comes out piping hot which is a plus for me who does not like lukewarm food and food that has been sitting for some time. the quality of the food is legit, big portion sizes and great flavor. Last time I went I had a Halibut/​Beef Combo that was fantastic. piece of halibut was crusted in cornmeal and it was soft and moist… will definitely be coming back especially if I know that I will be in the area…
I must add that if you are one of those people who wants waiter service at your beck and call and expect a smile and chick-​fil-​a style service, you may be disappointed… basically, you will sit, order, get food, get check, pay and leave… but will be definitely satisfied with what you just ate, your wallet wont feel so empty and when you burp, you will continue to taste greatness!

Decent portions for the cost. Hole in the wall place, but it’s the bomb. Food was delicious, I had the bbq pork, it comes with miso soup, kimchi, bean sprouts, cucumber, potato salad, and a cup of rice. Would definitely visit again. I always get a kick out of the men’s restroom lol.

Isn’t the best or the worst … just Meh. for this korean bbq restaurant in little tokyo. i mean… how exciting and unique is their restaurant name?
Didn’t care much for the bbq beef … tasted like they drenched old meat in lots of marinade and grilled it. The shrimp was plumpy (1 thumbs up) and the bbq pork was delicious (2 thumbs up). Enjoyed the chard taste of crispy meat on the corners.
The side dishes: blah.
Atmosphere: dark with sticky menus & booths
Kid Friendly: Not really .The inconsiderate waitress failed to be helpful in terms of bringing a small plate or utensils, or a cup of water for the child. She didn’t even offer a highchair. *Gasp*
I would go somewhere else for korean bbq =)

Great Korean BBQ place. There are many selections for you to choose from. We ordered the BBQ Chicken and Grilled fish & spicy pork. They both were very tasty and good portion. Not to mention you don’t have to pay a lot for lunch and dinner. Their lunch and dinner are the same price.

I’ve been working late recently and have been on a takeout binge in the area, looking for something healthier than noodles. I chose this place because it was a Friday night and every other place was packed.
I got BBQ chicken and was very surprised when I opened it and the box was stacked with thick pieces of wonderfully cooked chicken, an assortment of banchan and fluffy potato salad. The lettuce was very crispy cold and a good counter to the smokiness of the meat. Best takeout I had all week. I wish I could post a picture here to show you guys but I ate it immediately LOL.
The chicken itself was perfectly cooked with a good char and tender flesh on the inside when I cut it open. Also very juicy without too much fat from the grill. Comparable Korean BBQ places in Little Tokyo (that shall remain nameless) charge over 15 dollars by comparison for the same dish of substantially less quantity and lower quality.
For less than 10 dollars this place is an AMAZING deal with excellent preparation. (I think it was 9.75 in total? That’s cheaper than one bowl at the ramen shop next door.) Will definitely be back tomorrow. Maybe today. Maybe right now…

My wife and I have been coming here for over 10 years when we go through LA. Good value for Korean BBQ however we noticed the side dishes are getting very skimpy now. Like one baby bite of Kimchee, one bite of cucumber, etc. Pork seems more fatty now too like cheaper cuts. We will try one more time here and hopefully they will be as good as they used to be with better portion sizes.

If you can get past the «rustic ambiance» (e.g.; the laminated wood grain tables, presentation of your meal on a plastic tray) … The kalbi here is spectacular and the portions are huge! I tried the short ribs, pork, tri-​tip and gyoza. The gyoza wasn’t (to me) that good; and I probably will pass on it in the future; but all the meats were pretty tasty. If you are only gonna try just one, get the shortribs.

The 2-​star rating is strictly based on customer service or lack there of. The food is good and price reasonable, but be prepared and patient with the hostess. She is not very responsive, meaning good luck if it only takes you 2 – 3 attempts before she addresses your needs. Small place so come early or expect a wait. Also you have to go to the register if you are ready to go… which leads us back to customer service issues.

Found this place on Unilocal.Horrible customer service! The waitress was too busy, was in a rush to take our order, dropped off hot sizzling dishes as she sped by, one right by my young niece. The breaking point was that my niece found a hair in her soup and we told her about it. When she brought the bill, I did expect a slight discount. I asked her about it and she said no. I told her that I came because I found the place on Unilocal.She became infuriated and said «Nobody has ever spoken to me like that.» I said that all I expect is some customer service. She told me that she was going to comp me %100 and to never come back to her restraint again. She walked me & my two girls out. The food was good but I am glad that I wasn’t forced to pay for horrible service and an embarrassing experience!

I wouldn’t normally come to Little Tokyo for Korean grub, but a friend suggested we check out this place, and I’m not one to decline a lunch invite.
The lunch specials are very inexpensive and come with tons of fixings. I ordered the BBQ chicken and shrimp: it came with soup, rice, and a small side salad plus a few other fixings (plenty for two meals). My friend ordered the Bimbimbop and thoroughly enjoyed that as well.
One major downside is the service here: the waitress seemed irritated by our presence, and the food was slow to come to us as was the bill. It wasn’t outright terrible, but it wasn’t great.
If you’re not in a hurry and looking for some budget-​friendly Korean BBQ, I’d say give this place a try. It also apparently has free parking, although, I couldn’t find it and opted for a spot in the Judge John Aiso lot (between 1^st and Temple) which is only $ 1/​hour for the first two hours.

On both of my visits here, I’ve ordered the BBQ Short Ribs. They are amazing! The platter of meat could actually feed 2 – 3 people. Then they give you Rice, Soup and 4 types of sides; Cabbage Kimchi, Potato Salad, Bean Sprouts and Vegetables. $ 13.99. The Short Ribs are done to perfection and everything else tastes like home cooking.
The surroundings are a bit dated and bland, but this block of Little Tokyo is considered an historic district. Very friendly atmosphere, and the staff are quite helpful and attentive. Conveniently within walking distance from my job for lunch, but well worth a trip across town for true lovers of Korean BBQ like myself. I guess I’ll have to try something else on the menu my next visit… maybe.

Came here today for lunch, a Monday. Food tasted great.
Five hours later, I’m regretting it. Awful food poisoning. I’m lying in bed right now praying it doesn’t get worse. I had to leave work early and am afraid of calling out sick tomorrow.

Although the restaurant is small and can get a little hot, the food is absolutely delicious! (No you don’t cook it yourself which takes away from the KBBQ experience people are used to, but it wasn’t an issue for me.) You can choose from 30+ meat/​food options, which are accompanied by 6 smaller plates: white rice, miso soup, kimchi, potato salad, edamame, cucumber, and seasoned bean sprouts. It is definitely enough food to fill any person!
The prices are also reasonable ranging from $ 8-​$ 13 according to the plate you choose.
The service is nothing special, though. The waitress didn’t come around much, but was very helpful and accommodating when we did call her over.
Overall, a great experience. Only downfall would be how hot it can get in there, especially since the meat is steaming when you receive it!

This place needs better ventilation! So much kitchen smoke, I was expecting someone to cough or wave.
The food is pretty good, would I say great, nope, but good enough to return.
Tried the spicy chicken and beef and it was a nice size portion. Sides were good and the fried gyoza was alright.

I would probably give this place 3 ½ stars… But I’ll round it up to 4.
It looks a little scary on outside. Okay, maybe on the inside too… But worth it!
You get a lot of food at a decent price. I got the bbq pork and beef, spicy and it was delicious. $ 10.89. I would come back and eat that again.
Only thing I have to say is the salad they give, is like a bowl of oil dressing with a couple pieces of lettuce in it. Yuck. Also the kimchi was kind of weird. But besides that, the entrée itself was 4 stars.

Came here on a Tuesday evening for a quick dinner. Not a happening spot on weekday evenings, apparently — it was us and two other tables when we walked in around 645. Anyway, the draw was the amount and type of food — generous korean bbq restaurants, especially at the lower end of the price spectrum, have a lot to offer.
I ordered the Bibimbap and Chen had a combination plate of short ribs and beef. Service was a bit slow because only one person was waiting tables, and she was also working in the kitchen… so either someone didn’t show up or they know things will be slow on weeknights. It wasn’t too bad, though, and when the food arrived we were impressed at the portion size and the quality of the small dishes of pickled vegetables. Normally these are a fun extra, but I think here they were actually the best part of the meal. The pickled cucumber in particular was unusually good.
My Bibimbap dolsot (in the stone bowl, with rice — apparently the non stone bowl version has no rice) was good, but not great. It’s not hard to make an okay Bibimbap and that’s what this was. For ten bucks, fine. Had a fried egg instead of an egg cracked into it to cook with the heat of the bowl. The meat platter was better. We noted a lot of sugar in the bbq sauce, but that wasn’t really a bad thing. Some of the meat was a bit stringy but most of it was good quality. We also had the gyoza. They were good.
A last note — we sat next to a table with three kids and two moms. As the kids became restless, one of the moms asked for the check, and had to lean into the kitchen to get anyone to pay attention, and then it was still several minutes before they got the check and were able to pay. I’m sure it’s challenging eating out with toddlers, and when it’s time to go and the kids are cranky, nobody wants to be left sitting there waiting for service, with nobody even at the counter. I don’t have kids but I couldn’t help being a bit annoyed on their parents’ behalf.
For the price point, you could do a lot worse. For the neighborhood, you could do a lot better.

This place has me coming back for more almost weekly. I moved to little Tokyo in November and tried it out. To my surprise this little restaurant doesn’t always have that many guests, compared to its neighbors which usually seem overcrowded with outrageous wait times.
So if you find yourself looking for a place to eat and everything is packed this little secret hole in the wall is great. Service is sometimes slower but if you are with a group it’s an easy wait.
There is free parking around back which is nice because people always seem to get tickets at the meters in this town.
The b.b.q pork and teriyaki chicken are my favorite dishes here. Great portions, flavors and quality fresh foods. They even do food for events and parties at reasonable prices.
I will be back soon I’m sure.

Wow, this place was bustling during lunchtime, and I can see why! Fresh and flavorful food, generous portions and fair prices make this a clear lunch time favorite for the local work force.
Korean BBQ House is a sit-​down restaurant, but it’s far from fancy. Worn pictures of the meal specials decorate the drab walls and bare burgundy booths house crowds of happy eaters. The air is saturated with smoke from the grill and one must use prudence in wardrobe selection, because the smell of barbecue goodness will linger in your hair and clothes for hours. The menu is minimal but consists of various combinations of savory meats served on a sizzling platters in the shape of a turtle. Choices include chicken, fish, beef and pork varieties. I was delighted to find out that each place comes with a side of steamed white rice, miso soup, salad, potato salad, pickled cucumber, pickled bean sprouts and kimchi. A veritable feast indeed! And all for around $ 10. The meats are well marinated and grilled to perfection in the kitchen (no self grilling here).
Service is minimal – don’t expect any special treatment here. Sriracha at every table. Score! Parking is available in the back of the restaurant – they validate. BONUS: they take cash AND credit!

The kimchi is made with green cabbage and not napa cabbage. Whomp.
There’s no spicy cold noodle on the menu. Whomp.
Lunch was served with MISO soup — huh.
The bi bim bop (regular, not dolsot) doesn’t come with rice. Whattt.
BUT the bi bim bop is wonderful variety of tasty things so it’s more like a fabulous beef salad.