50 Best Korean Restaurants near Costa Mesa

“Never wasting my time at a chain tofu house again after coming here, this one seems like a small, family owned business. Makes sense because the staff was very attentive and kind. 10/10 service. Food was great, portions for the sides were very 2x what you get elsewhere. The owner helped us out and he was very sweet and kind.“

“I’ve been here three times now? My favorites have been the snow crab yubu and soy marinated tuna yubu –both are so delicious and so flavorful. I prefer their udon over their miso. The atmosphere is comfy. Great service. I wish the bowls & cutlery weren’t all plastic and disposable, but maybe they’ll get dine-in stuff soon.“

“Clean store and tons of Asian products too“

“First memorable bbq chicken experience in the states ever ! Especially compared to the one in Jamboree I usually go to. The guy working morning on September 29th deserves a raise or something. He was in there all by himself, was very kind to us, and our chicken tasted amazing !! This will be my go to bbq from now on highly recommend.“

“Came here over the weekend and the food court was packed! We were lucky to have been able to get seats. Food came nice and hot and each with a set of banchan and really fast.

I highly recommend the eel rice bowl, egg tofu, and galbi. If you’re in the mood for Korean comfort food, k soul food is a solid choice“

“People are sleeping on this spot. Went there on a Wednesday for lunch and were the only ones there. The food was delicious and the person I took to try KFC for the first time was blown away. I got the strips with the sweet and spicy yungnyeom sauce and my buddy got the legs, which were giant, with the soy garlic. Both of us agreed to come back regularly.“

“This is my go-to fast food on super busy days. I like the 1/2 and 1/2 with white rice. I've also tried the veggie one and the white meat chicken one. They're all good. Service is friendly and fast and healthier than other fast food choices.

Kid-friendliness: They have child size meals

Parking: Parking is available in front of store

Wheelchair accessibility: They are accessible for wheelchairs, and although the door is heavy, they can accommodate“

“This place shows up last in Google searches, and it shouldn't. The food was good, the guy serving was helpful, generous with sauce and the store is in a great plaza with a Stater Bros. Great place to treat yourself before shopping for groceries.“

“Good lunch deals, easy parking, next to a 7-11 gas station. Ricardo was friendly and prompt making sure ask the right questions, so my bowl would be made perfect. I love the Kbbq sweet rib here. The pieces are a good size and the cucumber kimchi is perfect balance of sweet and vinegary. One of the healthier options.“

“The food was amazing and the presentation was beautiful! Our server Jack was great and the service was genuinely 10/10. We had such a great time from start to finish. I came from out of town and it was absolutely worth the trip. I would highly recommend Mo Ran Gak and would definitely come back!“

“The fries were great, and the burgers were juicy. I can definitely say that these are some of the best burgers I’ve had. Will be my go to burger place from now on. Just be prepared to eat in your car or get your food to go as they have very limited seating.“

“My friend and I got their spicy marinated crab and it was soooo good. The perfect texture and flavor. It wasn’t too spicy and it paired so well with rice and seaweed. We also got the beef soup with dumplings and rice cake which was also amazing as well! The workers here are so kind too“

“I’ve been eating at this location for a couple years now and the food is always good. However, today the food was prepared exceptionally well and we loved everything that we had. There were also some new items which was a nice surprise. The employees were very friendly and helpful. St the last minute, I added some additional items and the items came out quicker than expected.“

“Delectable though a bit pricey $$$ for lunch“

“Honestly surprised this place isn't rated higher! Came at like 6:30 pm seated right away, menu is very straightforward. The quality of the meat is phenomenal and they cook it for you. The kimchis and pickled vegetable array is unreal I literally would eat here over and over again. It's a very straightforward experience but 5/5 stars!“

“drove by this spot for many years but finally decided to try it. LOVEDDD ITTTTTTT and service was awesome! they were slammed with customers and definitely understaffed, but its ok bc everything tasted like it was made with love. good food takes time and im ok with that :)“

“I see why this place has such high reviews... at first, I was a bit skeptical, but I am so happy I decided to try 9 Dish out. It might even be my new favorite soft tofu house... As a Korean who frequents BCD and Kaju, I was very pleasantly surprised by 9 Dish's dining experience. They served small appetizers of soup and salad first, which I've never experienced at any other Korean restaurant in the US. The salad was fresh and springy, and the soup was simple and comforting. They brought our food out on a wooden tray with 9 dishes, hence the name! I thought that was cute. 1 for rice, 1 for the soft tofu, and a whopping 7 dishes for all the diverse side dishes. There were givens like kimchi, marinated quail eggs, and bean sprouts, but the rest were filled with tteokbokki, a mini pancake, macaroni salad, and glazed mushrooms! Where most other shops would provide only ~4 dishes of the very basic, traditional seasonal side dishes of Korea, 9 Dish provided us more in terms of both quantity and quality. I love to taste food and having brought a friend who had never tried Korean food before, I deeply appreciated the comprehensive variety of their menu. Everything was solid too, very tasty, and if you got tired of one thing, you could just jump to another. I enjoyed the soft tofu soup in particular. It was incredibly flavorful, the heat was perfect, and I was surprised by its sweetness which I've always felt was missing in most other soft tofu soups I'd tried. If the food wasn't enough, the service and atmosphere of the restaurant were equally great! We came in close to closing, but they told us not to feel rushed, and checked up on us often, tending to all of our questions and requests in a kind yet efficient manner. The interior and decor were simple, clean, and homey, with old kpop playing sweetly in the background instead of new, overplayed hits blasting like most places. We felt comfortable the whole while, and left with a stomach full of delicious food. Our only complaint was that we were too full! Will definitely be returning <3“

“Kind of a hidden hole in the wall spot a bit off of the main Garden Grove Koreatown strip.

Good set of 반찬 (side dishes) and the portions were large. I ordered the 갈비탕 (rib soup) and it had large pieces of meat that fell off the bone.“

“Excelente servicio y alimentos exquisitos“

“1. The chicken was meaty! The stir fried noodles have a nice smoky flavor!
2. The spot has fun casual vibes as it is part of a food court! The food court has high ceilings!
3. The staff was friendly and timely with our order! It was ready after 10 mins!
Note: There is a restroom area!

Photo: Fried Chicken Set, Stir Fried Noodles, and Taro Milk Tea“

“The food was good and I enjoyed it. However, the service was not the best. I felt that I was treated differently compared to some of the other customers, which made me feel a little uncomfortable. I hope the customer service can be more consistent and welcoming to everyone.“

“Ordered: Spicy soondae soup, beef short rib soup, combination soondae plate, and ONE chopped live octopus. $34.99 😳

The soups were delicious especially the beef short rib, we felt there was no need to add any additional seasoning. The soondae plate tasted amazing, even the liver was yummy. The live octopus was fun to order, but not for that price. This place is very expensive. Every dish I wanted to eat but didnt order started at $60-$70.

Service: they are very nice, but when they got busy you almost could wave anyone down.“

“If you’ve ever driven by this cozy Korean spot with traditional hanok-style windows and a constant line out the door, you’ll know why I’ve been curious about Hangari Kalguksu for a while. I finally caught a quiet weekday afternoon and went in right away.

The menu comes in Korean and English, but the English side is mostly phonetic, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t help much. I just pointed at the Korean menu and ordered their signature kalguksu ($17.99). They also offer sujebi, rice cake dumpling soup, cold noodles like buckwheat or soybean, plus classics like tteokbokki and fried snacks.

Banchan was simple yeolmu kimchi, light and refreshing. Then came the main event, a massive bowl of kalguksu, easily double the portion you’d expect, with a small side of barley rice (boribap). The broth was surprisingly clean and slightly sweet, loaded with shrimp, clams, potatoes, zucchini, and seaweed.

Pro tip: serve some noodles into your small bowl, then mix in their chili paste and sesame oil. It instantly levels up the flavor. Super comforting and honestly hard to stop eating so I ended up finishing the whole thing without realizing it.

Portions are huge, so sharing isn’t a bad idea. If you can’t finish, just ask for a to-go box.

They accept cash and Visa/Mastercard only.

Also worth noting, there’s another Hangari Kalguksu in LA (ktown) with a similar name and a more expanded menu. Not sure if they’re related, but something to keep in mind if you’re exploring different locations.“

“Great place to go on date“

“Great experience here this past weekend!

The interior is pretty small, so it's mostly a food-to-go spot (which is what we did). Service was so friendly and sweet, even gave us some good recommendations.

We ordered spicy tuna kimbap, bulgogi kimbap, pork cutlet, and fried dumpling for a group of 4 to eat. It was a pretty big portion size! The kimbap tins came with probably 15+ rolls. For $12 - $16 per tin, this was such a good deal.

If I lived in the area, I would definitely come back to enjoy more kimbap combinations at the good prices!“

“Excellent service and food“

“Food was amazing vibe was chill really enjoy it , for there only being one person attending everyone it wasn't bad customer service food didn't tke long to come out either I really enjoyed this place is highly recommend it.food that's not on the list below that we also got is the dduk bok ki,spicy beef belly soup, everything was delicious.“

“Absolutely love it here! This place exceeded my expectations. I was greeted with warm hospitality the moment I walked in, and the environment has a cozy, authentic atmosphere! Every dish was packed with unforgettable flavor :) My favorite has to be their jokbal and bossam!

Service was amazing as well. They were very attentive and answered questions about their dishes. You can tell that the food was thoughtfully prepared, and they truly care about the dishes they serve.

If you’re craving some comforting Korean food or want to try something new, this is a definite must-try!“

“Tried this place for the first time today and the quality is unreal! I got the ear, tongue, and stomach pork soup. Broth was silky and so much flavor, which can only comes from hours of cooking. All the side dishes compliment the soup really well too especially the salted shrimp! The service was incredibly nice, fast and welcoming. 10/10 definitely coming back soon“

“I was so heartbroken when they closed their LA ktown location so I followed them down here. This location is inside the HMart Eatery and does individual portions (as opposed to the jeongol build your own format from ktown). The flavors are just as good, just on a smaller scale. The soup has a rich bone broth base for a deep flavor. Their kimchi banchan is incredible!
They also do bingsoo; the strawberry flavor was really good. The owner is incredibly kind too.
Highly recommend for a comforting and filling meal!“

“Nice Lunch served very fast after waiting for our turn to be seated for 10 minutes. Friendly Host and Waitresses.“

“We went here for dinner and this location doesn’t serve liquors..abit bumped since it goes so well with fried chicken. We ordered a combo of fried chicken, Tteokbokki, and spicy pork kimbap, plus mixed assorted Fried Basket (seafoods & veggies). The portion is quite big and we do have some left over for lunch. The foods are quite nice and well cooked & well seasoned. As for the prices, very reasonable. Service is nice and friendly. The place is right on the corner of the strip so it has all windows from all 3 sides. So it well lite and clean plus spacious. Parking is good with front and back. Overall, not bad for a good & big portion meal at reasonable price and with nice & friendly service.“

“Our family loves Kaju food.“

“This is the exact same udon and futomaki I used to enjoy 35 years ago when they were inside the Kaju Korean Market. They still use the same recipe—and even the exact same bowls! I had missed their food for so long that I literally cried when I found this place. One bite brought me right back to the early '90s. I’m so grateful they’re still making it, and this is now a must-visit every single time I’m in Garden Grove.“

“I Can Barbecue Korean Grill is a popular all-you-can-eat (AYCE) Korean barbecue restaurant chain known for combining traditional tabletop grilling with modern technology and inclusive menu options.

Interactive Dining:
Diners cook a wide selection of meats, chicken, seafood, and vegetables on built in gas fire grills right at their tables.

Halal & Inclusive Options:
The restaurant stands out for offering certified halal meat choices alongside classic K-BBQ favorites, allowing mixed groups to share the same culinary experience.

Robotic Servers:
I Can Barbecue Korean Grill uses playful robotic food runners to help deliver trays and keep service moving efficiently between rounds.

Traditional Accompaniments: Every meal includes an assortment of traditional banchan (Korean side dishes), vegetarian options, dipping sauces, and various beverages including Korean beer, wine, and soju.

Locations:
The concept operates multiple SoCal locations in areas such as Santa Ana, Tustin, Irvine, Fountain Valley, and San Diego.

As for this Canadian traveller from Vancouver BC, what’s a west coast party without K-BBQ?!
It’s definitely delicious here. The ingredients are fresh. The service is good. Prices are higher for the Canadian tourists because of the conversion rate. But the hospitality is cozy here. The experience is good. Highly recommended 👌.“

“So we initially came here after hearing about this spot on IG reels. Love Korean food in general so we were excited. Ironically we had been to this plaza plenty of times for other food but never heard of this place.

So to our surprise it’s an AMAZING VALUE… and we weren’t even anticipating saving money.
We got the $45 “set b” which included 2 beers, 2 sides, 8pc of their fried chicken… seemed more like $70 worth of food and drink. Nowadays, you don’t see this with inflation and whatnot.

Quality and taste were amazing. Got the wing garlic/dry with the sauce on the side. Meat was juicy tender and delicious .I really liked the orange dipping sauce in particular.

Beer came out super cold in large chilled mugs, draft Sapporo totally hit the spot.

For the sides got the kimbap mini rolls and the pork and sizzling peppers (amazing).

We will definitely be back!“

“Best Korean BBQ in OC! Love the food and the service. Did i mention free Thrifty's ice cream?“

“The man and the woman who own the restaurant are so sweet and welcoming! They even gave us a small teopokki on the house. All the food was really good. The teopokki was sweet, spicy and super soft. We ordered the original Korean chicken and even without sauce the chicken was still crunchy and tasty!! I also got the kimbap and the vegetables were very fresh. Huge recommend. The service was really stellar. 💜“

“Paris Baguette is one of my favorite places for delicious pastries. Everything tastes fresh, and there is a great variety of sweet and savory options, so there is always something to satisfy a craving.
They also offer coffee and tea drinks—I recommend the cold brew and peach iced tea. Their cakes are available by the slice or whole, and the ones I have tried were flavorful, well made, and not overly sweet.
The staff is consistently friendly, welcoming, and ready to help whenever needed. Thank you to the team for the excellent service, dedication to customers, and hard work. I always enjoy visiting this location!“

“Good food and very friendly environment“

“Our family loves Kaju food.“

“walked in figuring it was gonna be just ok, but it was actually so good that im still thinking about it... tofu was perfectly chewy and the sauce had this instant kick...

food came out alot faster than I expected, total surprise“

“I found this place through a college friend who recommended this spot, and I’ve been coming here for years ever since. It’s something different from the usual Korean tofu soup or KBBQ, and the food is comforting and flavorful. The service is always friendly, making it a place I love coming back to.“

“Great pocha spot — loved the late-night energy, string lights, and plastic stool vibes. The pajeon was crispy, the tteokbokki disappeared fast, and the soju cocktails hit just right. Service was quick even on a busy night, portions generous for the price. Perfect for a fun night out with friends — will definitely be back!“

“Skyleur us the best. He is an awesome waiter. He remembered who I was from months ago. He makes the experience that much better! Thanks Skyleur!“

“The reviews are correct. Small little restaurant that looks family owned and ran by the owners. Love to support small business and even better when the food is delicious.

I’ve tasted plenty of teriyaki bowls and was expecting the usual watery chicken but this one tasted like it was cooked to perfection. It had a little charred tasted that had that extra kick and taste to make your mouth water.

Out of all the teriyaki bowls I’ve tasted, this one is definitely up there and a contender for the #1 spot on my list of teriyaki bowls, which says a lot.

If I’m ever around the area, I’m definitely stopping by and I would even make a drive from the other side of the city.

Highly recommend.“

“I dropped in late by myself, and the older ladies greeted me warmly. Overall, everything was quite good, but there were a few minor details that could be improved.
​When ordering the short rib soup, it would be great if they automatically provided an empty bowl and scissors together. Also, since the staff members are older, I felt a bit hesitant to keep calling them over. Installing a call button on each table would make it much more convenient for guests to request extra side dishes or utensils. Since there are about 12 tables, I really hope the owner considers adding table bells.
​That being said, the staff was so exceptionally kind that it more than made up for these few drawbacks, which is why I’m giving them 5 stars!“

“I used to buy the Jongga Kimchi (52.9 oz) from Costco. The flavor is actually pretty good, milder and not too sour but the jar is a bit too large for me.

Recently, I saw people in a Korean community group recommending Kimchi Nara, which is also available at H Mart, so I decided to try their smaller 32 oz size. Their kimchi is a bit more on the sour side compared to Jongga, but it works really well for cooking and I used it to stir-fry pork and it turned out delicious.

They also offer different size options at H Mart, which is great depending on how much you plan to use. Definitely a more flexible choice for different needs.“

“I like the big portion of this restaurant. I went 2 people so we ordered 2 dishes. We tried: 1. Pork Back Bone Stew: very huge portion. The meat is soft and you can feel the broth has been well cooked that gives you the sweet and rich taste. 2. Stir Fried Squid (because I love squid!): very good. This dish can be eaten with rice (if you want to be full) or will paired good with a taste of Soju. The portions are big so don't over ordering or you will have some food to go. The food is a little plaint and there's salt to add (if you are a salty food fan) to assure you don't leave the broth behind. You will feel healthy as you leave the place. Will be great to have for hangover or when you are sick. I went on a weekend night for dinner and the restaurant was a little quiet. I think this place is most suitable for lunch. I would definitely come back to try their other stews and pork belly!“