50 Best Korean Restaurants near Alhambra

“Excellent quality for AYCE KBBQ. Vibes are good and the service is very good here. They play great music (from 90s R&B to Korean house) and the buffet option takes this place up a notch. Jake takes really good care of his tables and we can’t stop ourselves from coming back. Our favorite meats are the beef belly, thinly sliced pork belly and the brisket. Def recommend if you’re looking for some quality AYCE in Alhambra“

“todo muy rico y fresco y muy atentos los meseros 💯“

“I was craving for Korean fried chicken, and happened to be in Alhambra. This was my go to Korean fried chicken place. I ordered via scanning a QR code, which was convenient. I got wings with Secret sauce and Honey Garlic sauce. Service was fast, and servers were friendly. I like the honey garlic the most, and I could not stop eating until I finished all the wings.“

“This place is so good I had to leave a great review . I love the fact I can I can modify my broth with as much or little with things like garlic or green onion. Both was on point. Meat was great, but the choices in veggy and add-ons were the best. Wife and daughter were happy too.“

“Their spread of banchan is amazing and almost all of them were very delicious and flavorful. Meats are also high quality and tender. I think our combo had kalbi, skirt steak and bulgogi. We added spicy pork bulgogi as well. A bit pricey but worth the splurge. Always walking out stuffed.“

“I really want to give it five stars and I may come again in the future. The food is great, to be honest, the pork shoulder and mushroom rice is enough.“

“Good food big portions. Fast service.“

“Amazing food. Plate licking sauces, organic,locally sourced food. Korean fusion. Did I mention organic pickled everything. Enzyme rich food. Beyond healthy. Humble little hope in the wall run by a husband and wife team. Dude went to Korea to study with the most famous vegan nun chef in Korea. A must go to for anyone who loves food and especially loves fusion with organic and very well priced. He should charge Much more but they don’t.“

“There wasn't a lot of Korean options I could find in SGV for a weekend lunch that included the regular tofu house kind of fare and that wasn't a place that BF and I were not returning to anymore. What caught my eye at Omma Tofu House was their cold buckwheat noodles, a perfect item to order on a hot summer day.

I knew I didn't have enough appetite to finish their combo of galbi and cold buckwheat noodles, so I opted for the cold buckwheat noodles only ($14.99). BF ordered the bulgogi and beef tofu soup combo ($22.99). Everything really hit the spot.

We've been back multiple times to try other things on their menu like their dolsot bibimbap, jajangmyeon, galbi, spicy pork, spicy grilled chicken, and seafood pancake. All were pretty solid. Our usual go-to now would be a solo order of tofu soup and a tofu soup combo with whatever protein we are in the mood for that meal. They refill banchan, so just bring back the empty plate to the counter for some more. The counter also has a self-serving water/tea machine so you can refill your cup too.

Plenty of parking in the plaza. They close at 8 pm for all 7 days of business, so don't stop by too late, as the food court also tends to shut down around that time.“

“Korean fusion sandwich shop located inside the mall. The spicy chicken sandwich was good, as expected, but nothing amazing. I guess it hards to find good food that's consistent since the other high reviews? Either way, I'd be back to try the other stuff if I was in the mall“

“I came in at 3pm when the dining room was empty and the lights had been dimmed. The owner warmly welcomed me in, lit the dining room again, and offered water. I ordered the dried pollack soup and it was served with several small saucers that included cabbage, pickled cucumber, rice, beansprouts, peppers, and 2 other dishes I couldn't name but were very tasty. I liked that the soup broth was flavourful but not oily and had several thick tofu pieces in addition to the fish. The meal in total was $20. I will definitely return to try more dishes. I also appreciated that they have their own parking lot, which is not a given in the area. The shop was clean and peaceful and the photos of the food help with ordering if you aren't familiar with the menu.“

“This was such a good spot! It’s inside a hotel on the 4th floor. Kinda tucked away but totally worth it! The gentleman helping us at the counter was very kind and gave my family Rice Krispie treats! Not to mention the food was AMAZING!!! We got tofu bbq, japchae, Korean ramen, chicken fried rice, and the chicken bowl. They were all so good! I would definitely come back if I was ever in LA. ❤️“

“Delighted with their service and food. Serving is perfectly good for 2 and with reasonable price.“

“Great food priced right! One of our favorites places to eat at’“

“Great experience and reasonable price“

“Didn't know they had more than one restaurant in the L.A. area. This is the second one we tried and it didn't disappoint, it was just as good as the first time and second times we visited the Koreatown location. The service, the food, everything is great.“

“I ordered chicken teriyaki bowl . It was flavorful and tasty .Side Salad was spicy and tasted good. Receptionist was very welcoming and helpful. Food quality was also good . If you like teriyaki flavor with reasonable price in Pasadena, you can try this .“

“Absolutely phenomenal ! And the food is absolutely delicious I couldn't believe I spent under $20 for such a wonderful design of takeout box it was beyond expectation like seriously, the only problem is probably the portion is not as much as I want . But overall it is worth it ! I would definitely coming back soon“

“Came here recently and really enjoyed the hearty, flavorful soup—it had the perfect amount of spice and richness, with fresh ingredients like tofu, green onions, and tender shredded meat. It felt like true comfort food and was definitely the highlight of the meal for me.

I also tried the bossam (steamed pork with tofu and veggies). While it was presented beautifully and came with generous portions, the pork itself was on the dry side for my taste, so it didn’t quite hit the same level as the soup.

Service was friendly and attentive, and the overall atmosphere was warm and inviting. I’d definitely come back for the soup again!“

“This establishment came highly recommended by our Korean friend who had lived nearby awhile back. Excellent food and large portions!!“

“I was craving Korean bbq but bowl style and this spot was nearby.

I ordered their marinated short rib bowl and I added extra proteins of spam, an egg and chicken with no rice, all salad. It was a phenomenal lunch overall. The flavor was definitely there. It was definitely pricey after I added all the extras, but still worth it.

I’d definitely come back here again to try their other menu items.“

“There are only so many Korean spots in Monterey Park, so I come to Lee's every now and then for some Korean comfort food. Even though the menu prices are a little higher than your average Korean meal, the service and taste never misses. I love the tofu soups, kimbap, cold noodles, and ban chan. Also can't go wrong with any of their meats or variety of entrees they have!“

“The staff was so incredibly kind! We had such a lovely time dining here. The bossam was fresh, the samgyeopsal was perfectly crisp, and the lettuce was crispy!!

I would definitely recommend for a nice week night dinner because it's super affordable!“

“I think this is a really legit Korean diner! Staff seems great and place is clean and simple like you would find in Korea. For the first time, I tried cold bean noodle soup. It has such a thick and creamy soymilk broth, a very filling treat on a hot day. The super flavorful banchan complement really nicely. Exceptional quality.“

“I've been going to Maria'a since I was a kid. My parents, when they arrived to the US from Mexico would go there and so did my aunts and uncles and cousins. Now I take my kids to eat there. The restaurant has always been the same with great quality food and great service. Maria's restaurant is a gem in the community and will hopefully be there for many more generations. Don't sleep on this place, give it a try.“

“This used to be one of my go-to restaurants when I lived in the Sunland area. It's a shame I can't visit as often since I moved away. We had a meal here with three families, and we made a reservation beforehand, which was a good idea—otherwise, we would have had to wait. They gave us a large table in the center, which was perfect for our group. Even with so many of us, everyone was able to order what they liked, and the adults shared a large galbi-jjim (braised short ribs).

The food is consistently delicious, and the owner is always so kind. It never disappoints. If you're missing a taste of authentic Korean food, I highly recommend this place!“

“Really, really good food. The pork ribs were amazing.“

“Came here randomly for dinner agter walking around the mall and was met with great service. Our server Irene took our order and took great care of us. It was our first time here and she helped us cooked our meat perfectly.

We got a small beef combo and kimchi jiggae and it was very filling. We'll definitely be back. Thank you Irene and Billy for taking care of us and great service.“

“Popped in because its always time for meat. Loved tge atmosphere, and the language lessons in the bathroom. The food was great. The only downside was lack of my favorite banchan and the high prices of solutions. I'll be back.

With my own bottles. ;)“

“Its a hole in the wall, homey, hearty and authentic vibe of Kfood that you can easily grab. Hope you can visit and give them a try. Bibimbap on dolsot is the best, LA Galbi, soup are so comforting, plus they have tteokboki, Kimbap and Bobas.“

“Good kbbq spot. Inside is simple and clean with tables and booths for seating. The classic ayce menu is good.

Service was ok. Kinda slow but staff is friendly. There's a small parking lot in back or street parking but you might have to walk a block or two.“

“I had stopped by when they had their grand opening in 2021, but didn't get to order since they were out of what I wanted. They were set up as a pick up and to-go spot, and given the very small parking lot to jostle for a spot, I didn't return until my friend suggested catching up at Soonheene for dinner.

They now have several tables for dine in and I was super happy to see that they used bowls and plates for your order if you dine in (though they use disposable utensils when bringing you your order). They also have a self-service area for iced water and iced barley tea and they use metal cups! Yay!

I came on a weekday at 6 pm and there was a lull as there was no wait. As it got closer to 6:30 pm - 7 pm, all the tables filled up! Lots of orders coming in for pick-up though, so if you don't want to wait for a table, order to go.

Since it's my first time here, I got almost everything, haha! The order included:

* shrimp mung bean pancake ($14.99)
* #15 combo of rose tteokbokki and mayak gimbap ($23.99)
* oden fish cake soup ($9.99)
* 5 pc wings soy garlic ($8.99)
* diet coke with Yelp check-in

If not for the Yelp check-in offer, I would've placed the order on their self-service kiosk.

Luckily, since we beat the rush, the food came out at a consistent pace. I had really wanted the mayak gimbap and the fish cake soup but since there was no combo for both, price-wise it made sense to do the combo with the rose tteokbokki. And it is heavenly to get all three! The mayak gimbap comes with a dipping sauce, but it's just as good if not better to dip it in the tteokbokki. If you don't want the usual spice of regular tteokbokki, the rose tteokbokki has been my go-to instead as it has the hint of spice without the usual burn. Soonheene's tteokbokki had very generous amounts of fish cake and sausage suporting the rice cakes, so it's my favorite iteration of this dish thus far. The oden fish cake soup came with three skewers of fish cake and fish cake tofu in a bowl of hot yummy soup and that was pretty solid.

I've never had anything like the mung bean pancake and it was good to have a protein in it for additional texture and flavor. It's best eaten when hot and crisp, otherwise, it's a bit dense the next day. The soy garlic wings were crisp and hot and full of flavor.

Obviously, the order was enough for two people to get a variety of options, but that did leave no room for some sides nor dessert. Maybe some gimmari and taiyaki next time!“

“Amazing hand roll restaurants in DTLA with a speakeasy bar. They have a $88 couple combo which is great for dating and couple. The fish were so fresh and premium quality. The staffs are really friendly and loved the environment. The cocktails are straight from the bar and wasted great. We would definitely come back.“

“I just had the best experience eating here. I was recommend this place because I love Pho and my fiance loves ramen. This place delivered exceedingly delicious plates for the both of us! We loved both so much and we know that this is out new spot. The most memorable experience was the kindness of the staff. I felt welcomed like I was being treated at a family members home and I was constantly attended to despite the restaurant being busy. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and this is my new favorite spot!“

“Another Korean rice dog place in Arcadia, this time at the mall's food court!

While also picking up food at the other spots, I got a squid ink mozza and hot dog. Not all Korean rice dog spots have squid ink so I was excited to try this one. I asked what sauce is recommended with it and was told sweet chili sauce. I got that and also had it sprinkled with sugar (never say no to sugar on a Korean rice dog, it makes a difference!). Took it home to eat with the other things I ordered in the food court and enjoyed my quick and easy dinner at home. Good amount of melty mozzarella cheese with the hot dog.

Would come back for another!“

“All you can eat for $40👏🏽👏🏽“

“I just want to say that not only the food is good here, but also their customer service. There was only one gentleman working today. He was the cashier and the cook. He had so many customers, yet as busy as he was, he was efficient, friendly, and acknowledged each person as they walked in. This guy needs a raise for all his hard work. Thank you“

“This place is tiny, but the flavors are extraordinary. I had a perfect meal and I keep on thinking about those bites of food my mouth is literally watering right now. On top of that, service was impeccable and so sweet. I can’t wait to come back“

“​⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Akai Asian: A Must-Try 5-Star Experience!
​[Disclaimer: This review is brought to you by a self-made professional food critic reviewer!]
​From the moment I stepped into Akai Asian, I knew I was in for a treat. The warm, inviting ambiance and the sight of happy, cordial diners immediately set a fantastic mood. I felt genuinely welcomed by the staff, who guided me through their extensive menu—and wow, was I blown away by the selection!
​For my first visit, I ordered the Chicken Bento Box, and it was easily a 5-star dish. It was a well-balanced masterpiece!
​The box featured a delightful salad with corn, which was perfectly topped with a nice sesame seed oil dressing—it was incredibly savory and very tasty. It also included four delicious California rolls. Alongside these were some fried veggies and fried shrimp. They were very pleasant; not overwhelmingly greasy or heavy, but perfectly fried right to the bite. Lastly, the star was the delicious chicken served on top of fresh veggies and rice. Everything was perfectly prepared, showcasing the high quality and fresh flavors of Asian cuisine.
​Akai Asian is a delightful setting with stellar service and truly exceptional food. I highly recommend it!“

“I almost didn't want to review this place with 5 stars, simply because I don't want this spot becoming too popular. It's one of my friends' and I's favorite spots; serving authentic and delicious Korean cuisine. It's definitely one of the hidden gems in Glendale when it comes to Asian cuisine. The restaurant itself is quite pretty, and the atmosphere is pretty nice, but nothing too special. There is usually quite a lot of space, and rarely, if ever, crowded. I recommend going in person because it seems that online the prices are higher for whatever reason. It's also easier to ask for sides such as kimchi, bean sprouts, or pickled radish, which also happen to be free as far as I'm concerned. Workers are generally nice and helpful. However, one thing that could be a bother to some people, is the fact that for whatever reason, it seems like they have new workers and trainees almost every single week which can make it a bit harder to order your food as it usually takes them a while to figure out how to work the restaurant's system. Moreover, there seems to be little communication between the people who actually make the food and the servers themselves—so if you're hoping to ask for the ingredients in a dish or you were looking to make certain adjustments to your order, you may have a hard time getting a proper answer. One thing I would recommend would be the house milk tea, definitely one of the best I've ever had. Sometimes the menu doesn't clearly state everything there is to know about the dish you're ordering, but usually it's nothing that changes the dish too drastically. Personally, this remains one of my favorite spots to get food from, not just in Glendale, but in most of Los Angeles.“

“Great Korean restaurant that serves authentic food. The bossam are their specialty and they also have lots of different soups. The side dishes are kimchi, radish, and fishcake. They could be benefit with more staff since there was just one lady running around helping everyone so it took a while to put in our order, but the food was great.“

“My plant friends shared a birthday lunch here at Young Dong Tofu. The food was delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful. The location was great lots of parking. We will come back again. We highly recommend this place.“

“I loved being at this place this past weekend. As a tourist from not California, I felt very welcomed and at home! The waitress (old asian lady, NOT RACIST IM ALSO ASIAN) was so nice and so loving towards us! I loved every second and interaction I had with her. She was SUCH an amazing person I literally loved it.
In terms of food, I loved the place! It was such an amazing experience, and the hospitality is one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It's became one of those places where every time I'm in the area, I NEED to be there.
10/10 place, would visit again.“

“Authentic Korean soup restaurant and most of the customers are Korean. Basic kimchi side dishes and water are served complimentary. The waitress is not rude but I do feel that she's trying to rush me for my order.

Parking: 50 cents an hour kerbside parking“

“Our family loves to eat Korean foods. This place is a good one because you have many choices to choose from. The portion is pretty big so you can share it. Good service, very clean and most of all the foods are delicious. I highly recommend it.“

“I grew up in Glendale so I known Mitzee’s for at least 15-20 years!! Your Chef AKA ( your cook ) has been there if not mistaken the same amount of time. Food taste and presentation has been the same since the first time I had it, their hot sauce it’s AMAZING! if you love spicy, if you don’t have high tolerance for spicy stay away or have just a little lol. I know leave in Downtown and when passing by Glendale I make it a stop…“

“Love this neighborhood spot. The vibes are excellent. Food and service top notch. Cold brew on point.

Only minor complaint: the online ordering setup you guys have is unusable. This is the second time where I set up an order and couldn’t check out. Wish you guys had Square or DoorDash. In the meantime, I’ll keep walking in to order… :-)“

“The Korean side dishes are very good. I usually am not a big fan of kimchi, but theirs is fantastic. Soups are amazing bbq is also so so good. They prepare the BBQ not a self cook. Portions seemed generous as well. Though a smaller restaurant in strip mall decor is very nice.“