50 Best Korean Restaurants near Alhambra

“Got seated around 16:50, wanted to get the Lunch special but I was worried since it was getting close to 5pm. However, the lady was really nice and let me get the lunch special so I was quite pleased. Great service! The food also tasted great and was of great quality. I would definitely recommend others to come dine here, especially during the weekday lunch special (11am-5pm).“

“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.“

“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.“

“Really good kbbq i loves their marinated kalbi and yukhoe, they also had really good banchan and good sake; the ambiance is also really nice since they keep the place bit dim its a great place for date night, taste wise its just as good as many of the ktown kbbq’s that Ive tried, the staff was super friendly as well, highly recommended“

“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.“

“I know chef KI from meteora restaurant way before and now he have his own .
Dine restaurant KI few times and always Love it .
Great service
Tasty food
Nice atmosphere.
Thank you Chef KI for one more excellent restaurant in our city“

“Great experience and reasonable price“

“Attended this restaurant for a late lunch. I enjoyed my time dining, very clean, they play Korean music. Definitely a place to bring friends or family to share food portions, I feel as if the price is justified due to the portion. Food + Drink about $40 per person. Soju berry highball is the perfect sweetness. Will come back to show my family this place 😄I really liked the kimchi! Below attached photo of bulgogi hot dish, as you may observe it's served in a traditional stone pot.
- from a Latina lol“

“Good food big portions. Fast service.“

“Well, love at first sight on their packaging!!! They do the business seriously here 👏

The chicken katsu was juicy, tofu katsu was good. Chicken sando was delish. If anything to improve, they could offer hot sauce/some chili powder(togarashi). Sit outside get the view“

“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.“

“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.“

“So glad I found this hidden gem. The food is so good we wiped our plates clean! It’s just a single lady working here so the service might be slower if there’s people already here cus she’s taking orders and cooking all by herself but after she takes your order, she’s pretty fast at cooking the food and bringing it out. It’s honestly so so good for when you’re craving some authentic Korean food.“

“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. ❤️“

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

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

“They were not joking when they called this comfort food. I was sick, and it was raining, so I wanted something warm and hearty. This place seemed like the obvious choice, and far exceeded my expectations. Food came out fast and blistering hot, but still perfect temperature to eat right away. It was somehow nostalgic, even though it was my first time trying this dish. The tofu was extremely soft, but held its shape well, and very flavorful from absorbing the liquid. It really felt like it cured by illness.

Portion size was also very generous, which is always important. The menu was also pretty varied, I could imagine coming back multiple times and trying something new each time.“

“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“

“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.“

“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!“

“Great service, kind staff, and delicious food! If we weren't visiting and trying to eat at other places, I'd eat here for every meal. Korean food is so flavorful. I know no other cuisine that makes eating bean sprouts and fermented veggies so enjoyable. Definitely worth trying!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Stopped by after the farmers market, had their honey something wings and a beer. Wings were crispy and tasteful, however I prefer american style wings over this Korean version. Ambience is balance with good lighting and some k-pop music. Overall its a good spot to hangout after after the farmers market.“

“I've been wanting to try mulwhe for a long time and I found this restaurant! Everything was amazing, everyone was so nice from the moment I walked in. The mulwhe was very refreshing. I also ordered the yukwhe and ramyeon fried rice both of which were fantastic. They even offered a complimentary ice cream at the end. I can't wait to take people here! The portion sizes are great for one person but I think sharing the experience would also be very fun!“

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

“Two weeks ago on Sunday, fried pork to go but over fried, first time in 3 years...reluctantly told that to manager after few days...what a surprise!!!
No question were asked...deep apologies from the heart and gave same equivalent value meals offered!“

“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!“

“Even through storms does NT Noodles provide their delicious variety of dishes and noodles to us, where their passion can be tasted in their food, and their care in each dish set down by the cooks themselves. Their easygoing attitudes, clean and green atmosphere, and location provides a good stop for food during shopping!“

“My partner and I enjoyed this place a lot!! It’s a great Korean restaurant to enjoy without going to LA K-town. We were very much satisfied with all of our recent visits, with a kind service from the server named Billy. They were so friendly to us even during the rush hours. We sat on a seat nearby the door, it was very windy and cold due to the half-opened door, and they kept it closed every time people go in and out. Not only that, Billy checked regularly to make sure everything is good and asked if we needed anything else. We enjoyed the food, but it wouldn’t have been such satisfaction without their great service. Thank you.“

“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. ;)“

“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!“

“Like the food clean place the waiter and waitress are courteous“

“Finally tried this hand roll spot and it did not disappoint. Came during peak hours and waited a bit, but totally worth it. We ordered the 2person combo and everything was super fresh. The rice was perfectly seasoned and slightly warm, the nori was crisp, and the uni hand roll was outstanding — easily one of the best I’ve had. The soy marinated shrimp was also a standout. Small but stylish space, great quality overall. Would definitely come back!“

“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.“

“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👏🏽👏🏽“

“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.“

“Parking was a bit of hassle but definitely doable, ordered a basic sullungtang the soup was milky in texture and soothed my soul the server kindly reminded not to add too much salt which I obliged adding tiny amt and leave room for kimchi gakdugi juice I like that I didn't have to drive further for some sullungtang and galbitang“

“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!“

“Came here on a Tuesday night for some dinner with family since we've been wanting to try this place for a while. Its located in a small plaza that is a bit hard to see unless you look carefully when driving by. But this is the only restaurant here so there's plenty of parking. It was pretty empty when we came so we got seated right away. They have a good amount of tables and the interior is nice.

Their menu is not that big so it's wasn't too hard to decide what to order. They do have some pricey items here though. We got the Galbi Seolleongtang (25.99), Bulgogi Bibimbap (21.99), Tonkatsu (19.99), and Yangji Seolleongtang (17.99). They were served pretty quick and they also gave side dishes. The side dishes were actually pretty good and has free refills. The bibimbap was alright, tasted like other bibimbap places. The Galbi seolleongtang has two large galbi in it and the soup and meat are nicely seasoned. As for the regular seolleongtang, it is on the bland side since you need to add your own salt and pepper. It also has some vermicelli with it. But the seolleongtang was pretty mid. The tonkatsu had some good sauce on it and was crispy and not too dry or hard to chew. But I have had better tonkatsu before. The portions are all reasonable for this price and economy though and we enjoyed it. I just thought the seolleongtang would have come with rice but I guess this place doesn't do that.

I think this is an authentic Korean place to try since they do have a good assortment of soups and other entres to order. The only thing was I did notice some small gnats flying around while we were eating. It wasn't a lot but it did bother me a bit. This isn't a spectacular place I would crave but it is a decent spot.“

“I absolutely love this place and am giving them five stars so they stay open forever. The downsides are that the service is not necessarily always fast (it’s a bit slow like they were understaffed), though they’re always very nice, and the ambiance is lacking. I think this place could benefit by turning the lights down by like 20% so you can actually see the music videos they show on the projector. The food is amazing and delicious, huge portion, and haven’f been disappointed by anything on the menu yet. The Budae Jjigae and Crab Kimbap are a few favorites. This is my favorite hole in the wall spot, and I’m torn between wanting it to blow up because they deserve it and wanting to keep it a secret so I can get my same booth every time I go. There’s also free 90 minute parking at the parking garage down the street.“