Los Angeles has one of the largest and most vibrant Korean food scenes outside of Korea. With Koreatown (K-Town) at its heart and Korean restaurants spreading throughout the metro area, LA is arguably the best city in the US to eat gukbap.
Top Gukbap Spots in LA#
1. BCD Tofu House#
While famous for soondubu, BCD also serves excellent dwaeji gukbap with their signature bubbling hot pots. Multiple locations throughout LA.
2. Soban#
Known for its Busan-style dwaeji gukbap, Soban in Koreatown is widely considered one of the best Korean restaurants in LA. Their pork soup rice comes with a rich, milky broth and tender meat.
3. Dan Sung Sa#
A classic K-Town pojangmacha-style spot that serves gukbap late into the night. Perfect for a warm bowl after a night out.
4. Sun Nong Dan#
Famous for their braised short rib soup, but they also serve an excellent beef-based gukbap that’s perfect for cold evenings.
5. Yuk Dae Jang#
Specializes in shredded beef soup (yukgaejang), but their house version comes with rice and all the right fixings.
Koreatown Guide#
Koreatown (roughly Olympic Blvd to Beverly Blvd, between Vermont and Western) is the epicenter. Most gukbap restaurants are concentrated around the Wilshire/Vermont area.
Pro Tips#
- Go early — K-Town restaurants get busy, especially on weekends
- Bring cash — Some smaller spots are cash-only
- Look for “Busan-style” — Restaurants that specify Busan-style dwaeji gukbap are usually the real deal
Inland Empire & South Bay#
- Gardena — Has a growing Korean restaurant scene with solid gukbap options
- Buena Park — Just south of LA, this area has excellent Korean restaurants too