Korean Recs - Ktown

[Lau]

I'm coming home to LA from NY for a wedding and im looking for some good recs in ktown in LA. I know alot of places from when i lived in LA, but restaurants come and go and i want to know whats the best. We're generally looking for specialist type places (bbq, soon doo boo, chigaes whatever). My gf is fluent, so language isn't an issue.

Also, if anyone knows somewhere with great nakji bokeum, she definately wants some of that.

Thanks!

[Lau]

just ate at ondal 2 again with my gf who is obsessed with this place...amazing again, nothing new to report other than its still really awesome and i love that raw crab dish they give you as a panchan with the chilli paste sauce

[Ciao Bob]

I am addicted to the pork ribs and the pork neck - potato soup at Ham Ji Park: 6th and Catalina. Stone Bowl Kimchee Rice is OK, too.

[neobite]

Yes, Bob - yes. I sometimes dream of those platters of ribs.

[MeowMixx]

Hi Bob! Can you believe I have yet to try Ham Ji Park?? Have you tried the pork ribs at Dan Sung Sa (aka the war bunker) on 6th and Berendo?

Haven't seen you at Zo lately ;)

[Ciao Bob]

Yes MM I've had them there and their chicken wings. Suffice it to say there isn't enough soju in K*town to level the playing field...world of difference with HJP the winner (s'like Zo vs. pre-cut sushi in a hospital cafeteria). Still DSS is definately fun, fun, fun. I am way overdue for Zo tho.

[nomo_fan]

I just posted this on another board, but I had the best Korean food in my life this past Saturday at Yong Su San on Vermont and Olympic. It's a bit pricier, but they had the best kal bi jim that I have ever tasted in my life.

[meatlessinla]

For a quiet refreshment, the charming Korean tea house, Hwa Sun Ji at 3960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100. I reviewed it last week:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/436729

[badseed]

I think Sa Rit Gol has some of the best overall food but for nakzi try O Dae San or Nakzi Village. Also, for crab try Wonjo Kokerang

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Sa Rit Gol
3189 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Nakzi Village
4177 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

O-Dae San Restaurant
2889 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Nakzi Village
928 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Wonjo Kokerang Agurang
3132 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

[Lau]

Also ate at Nakzi Village II in Koreatown Plaza. That place feels like being in Korea haha...anyhow, i thought it was good although wasn't mind blowing, i would go back again, but i dont think its something that id drive out of my way for.

Basically they serve the nakji bokeum in a huge metal pot thingy and then serve a fried rice on the side which i believe used alot of the sauce from the nakji bokeum they also put a lot of kim (dried seaweed) in the fried rice. The nakji was good although i think i was expecting more (it looks amazing when you walk in) as it was a little chewy (though not like too overcooked or anything), the clear noodles they have in the sauce are good and i thought the fried rice was pretty tasty. Btw, the panchan are pretty good there, different stuff (beef in a soy sauce, omelette things, cold tofu in a sesame dressing). Also, they give you think really nice and refreshing cold cucumber and scallion soup, which is really good.

Its on the bottom floor of koreatown plaza and for some reason the sign that lists everything in the mall doesn't list this place fyi. Also, it was on a bunch of those korean tv channel shows where they go around to different types of korean restaurants and try stuff (its posted on the wall and my gf was asking the lady about it as well)

[flavasista]

i totally recommend Sa Rit Gol. its home away from home. i'm really picky when it comes to Korean food in LA - i was lucky enough to live in korea for 8 years so i was spoiled!

i recommend Ondal as well but cannot confirm if they put MSG in the soup. many korean restaurants tend to put spoonfuls of MSG in their dishes...BCD is notorious so be aware!

[Lau]

yeah i like sa rit gol...its very solid

i love ondal, if they do put msg its not a ton b/c i can usually taste it, that said msg doesnt really do anything to me except it does make me thirsty if they put too much in though generally speaking i dont care unless they put in a ton

[ipsedixit]

Wherever you go, make sure to stop by Park's BBQ.

Also, check out Ondal 2 if you like crab.

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Park's BBQ
955 S. Vermont Ave, Suite G, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Ondal 2
4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

[MeowMixx]

I second Park's BBQ. Great meats and excellent banchan (love their gae jang - spicy marinated raw crab). They also have great galbi tang.

Soon doo boo: So Kong Dong on Olympic just west of Vermont (south side), or Beverly Soon Tofu which is directly across the street.

There's a yummy spicy galbi jjim place at Dduh Rak on Western, just north of 1st on the west side (in same center as Paris Baguette).

[Lau]

what kind of crab does ondal 2 serve? coming home is like a kid in a candy shop for me...too much good food (particularily chinese and korean)

[MeowMixx]

It's called kkot gae tang - it's spicy crab soup with lots of bean sprouts. Then when you're done, the waitress will throw in soo jae bi (basically a piece of dough, torn into bite sized pieces and thrown in the soup). THEN, when you're done with that, they'll make a spicy fried rice!

Their gae jang (spicy raw marinated crab) banchan is great too.

[Lau]

ok thx! i asked my gf, she knows what it is too

[ipsedixit]

Ditto what MeowMixx said.

See also my prior post on Ondal 2 here: http://www.chow.com/topics/423483

[Lau]

so we ended up eating at kkot gae rang agu rang (no idea what or if there is an english name as my gf's sister knew about the place and i forgot to read the sign outside). Its on the southwest corner of olympic and harvard...i really wanted to eat at ondal II, but one of our dinner companions had some reservations about the neighborhood that Ondal II is in (i was annoyed b/c i dont really care and i know exactly where ondal II is), but i caved and said we can go to kkot gae rang agu rang instead.

Pre-dinner drama aside, it was excellent, i mean really really good and unbelievably cheap, $60 for four people (excluding drinks, ended up being $80 all in with drinks). Exact same crab dish in the posts above, pretty crowded place...the crab has alot of good meat and the soup was very flavorful and spicy and the soo jae bi at the end was a nice touch. Highly recommend.

im curious if anyone has been to this place and ondal II b/c im wondering which one is better? im going to figure it out for myself in a couple months when my gf and her mother will be in LA visiting family and im coming out too. But, it was so good and if ondal II is better then it must be amazing. I have some pics, which ill upload later.

[Lau]

so here is the picture of the kkot gae rang and i just realized that badseed did put a link to this place below (wonjo kokerang agurang)...though i still really want to go to ondal as i read some reviews on yelp and its looks amazing

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Wonjo Kokerang Agurang
3132 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

[ipsedixit]

I think you'll enjoy Ondal 2. And the 'hood isn't all that bad.

[Lau]

haha im not worried about the hood at all, but one of our dinner colleague made a fuss about it, so i caved in as i didn't feel like making an issue about it, i come back to CA pretty often to see family and Ondal 2 is tops on my lists of places to try