50 Best Korean Restaurants near El Monte

“Best BBQ place in town! We’ve been coming here almost every week, and it never disappoints. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. The service is excellent too — everyone is friendly, welcoming, and always takes great care of us. Definitely one of our favorite spots. Highly recommend!“

“🙂👍 Jin does a great job!“

“We had a great experience at Yangmani KBBQ! The food was absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of high-quality meats and plenty of options to choose from.

The service was excellent from start to finish, and our server, Alex, was especially attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Alex’s great service really made the experience even more enjoyable.

We highly recommend Yangmani KBBQ to anyone looking for delicious Korean BBQ, great selection, and outstanding service. One of my favourite spots for KBBQ.“

“Great experience and reasonable price“

“Excellent service ! We ordered the large beef combo for 2 and it was more than enough. Very good quality.“

“Came here after reading the reviews, not too far from home. Absolutely hit it out of the park. Delicious food, I'll definitely go back. There’s a lot more on the menu I’d love to try. Kimchi fried rice 10/10, fried dumplings 9/10, cucumber kimchi 10/10, radish kimchi 10/10, Beef Bulgogi Sandwich 9/10, six-piece wings with sweet chili 10/10.“

“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.“

“Had a great experience at Eighty Eight Q! The food was really good, but the service from Hermione was what really stood out.

She was super attentive and somehow always knew when we needed more meat, sides, or dessert. She would check in at just the right time without us having to flag her down or ask. It made the whole experience so easy and enjoyable.

You can tell she really pays attention to her customers and takes pride in her service. Definitely one of the best servers we’ve had at a Korean BBQ spot. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“What a wonderful surprise! This small, quaint spot is serving up some seriously delicious food. I came specifically for the Baja-style fish tacos, and they did not disappoint. The fish was perfectly crispy, lightly battered, and served in generously sized tacos topped with fresh cabbage and flavorful toppings that brought everything together.
I also tried the burger, which was packed with flavor and cooked just right. The service was friendly, fast, and welcoming, making the entire experience even better.
From what I understand, this is a family-owned restaurant, and that personal touch really shows. Be sure to check their website for menu updates, as they have some exciting new items coming soon. I'll definitely be back to see what's next!“

“Tried the Curry Katsu Cup and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Price was beyond reasonable and portions were generous. I also met the owner who was extremely nice and he recommended other dishes for next time. Will definitely come back.“

“This was one of the best all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spots I've been to. The meat was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly every time we ordered. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we always had everything we needed. The restaurant was clean and had a great atmosphere for dining with friends and family. I'll definitely be coming back again soon!!!“

“The pork katsu was amazing, but the macaroni and the salad need some improvement. I hope it was just an off day, but the macaroni had a strange taste, and the salad was bland. I really hope those two items are improved because the pork katsu itself was excellent.“

“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.“

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

“This is #1 Korean Food restaruant in LA hands down, it is the only restaurant I have seen that gives MORE food than the photos.

Pork Belly wrap is so authentic in taste I thought I was in Korea, and you can tell every item is super delicious. Plus it was big enough for 2- 3 people👏

I plan to try every single item this place offers.“

“Drove 1 & half hours to eat here & I highly recommend you make the drive too!!

It's delicious
Pictures do it no justice.
Service was excellent.
And the vibes were just right. Small family owned & ran business Roxy was great Chef is awesome.

Stop by & thank me later!“

“Teri & Yaki is such a hidden gem! The food was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The teriyaki chicken was tender with the perfect balance of sweet and savory sauce, and the portions were generous. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better.“

“Great place for Korean BBQ“

“Overall decent place for Korean Home Food. The Bibim Nangmyeon was good. But the namesake Yuk Gae Jang is just OK. Not bad. Not great. It happens to be one of my fave Korean dishes. So I try it everywhere. Hodori / Myung Ga / Gamjagol ranked higher for me.“

“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“

“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.“

“Absolutely phenomenal 👏 from the breakfast, to the brunch, to the fried chicken, and the lattes. The rosemary latte had an earthy and aromatic taste, and not earthy in an overwhelming way either. The coconut Cloud Mango Matcha works in ways I never thought possible and is as light as the cloud in it's name. The double mocha was overwhelmingly chocolaty as advertised and my wife was ecstatic by that in itself so if you love chocolate try that one. The French Toast was DIVINE, the only time I ever believe I've had a French toast that didnt need any syrup, it was super buttermilk smooth. The bulgogi was a bit on the dry end, the kimchi it came with however was incredibly well seasoned, and the rice was nothing to scoff at. The Namu plate was overwhelming and large, worth the 19 dollars because even I, a large man, had trouble finishing it even though I was sharing with my wife and Sister, from the sausage to the crispy kale, and the mushroom eggs, everything complimented itself well.
And Finally, the Korean Fried Chicken. A 11/10 alone. Flavorful, sweet, spicy, I honestly felt high just eating it and I'm 10 years sober. I'm coming back, my family is coming back, if you read all this you need to go and see for yourself because words alone don't do this cafe justice. I want everyone to go so it can stay in business because chicken this good can't go to waste 🥲 if this review brings long wait times I could care less because as long as the care and quality they put into their food stays, so will I“

“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.“

“yeah so I finally tried that place on magnolia everyone's been talking about and honestly it hit the spot pretty well. the kimchi jjigae was super comforting on a cold day and had just the right amount of spice to warm you up without making you sweat through your shirt or anything dramatic but it was definitely solid. the side dishes were good too with the little fishcake being my favorite but i wish they gave you more banchan for how much the entrees cost, you know, like at least refill once. the bulgogi was tender and had a nice sweet marinade that paired well with the ssamjang and lettuce wraps they brought out, though the serving size felt a bit small for the price. i gobbled it up pretty quick and was kinda wishing i had ordered an extra rice bowl to make sure i got full. honestly id go back for the soup alone but id probably skip the grill items unless im really craving it and just stick to the hot pot choices since that is what they seem to do best.“

“Excellent food and friendly staff!!“

“Great service, accommodating servers even with a packed place of people“

“I am not Korean but I love this restaurant. They serve true comfort food. The galbi tang is so tasty as well as the braised beef. Now that they started serving rice cake soup with dumpling, all of my Korean comfort food is in one place. Yay!“

“Complex, authentic Korean flavors made with traditional p ingredients. A humble porridge could become a pleasantly enjoyable experience. I ordered bulnakji porridge today and instead of using ground beef or cheap meat, they used a good quality meat and then they sautéed the marinated bulgogi in butter. mmm. Chives/buchu they used were fresh and green. So was the octopus. Often times you taste the fishiness but this octopus or nakji had a very clean flavor. The venue and the food they served were very clean. I highly recommend this place.“

“Excellent shaved Ice. This is the only shaved ice that I've ever eaten that actually tastes like Ice cream. It's incredibly delicious and worth the visit. I recommend their mango melon. It's perfection. Strawberry one is great too if you like Strawberries. It is a small place and finding a place to sit inside will be challenging and uncomfortable if you get claustrophobic in a small busy space. I suggest take out. Also, parking is an issue but that's pretty much Pasadena for you. Otherwise, I strongly recommend it.“

“We love that there’s KBBQ at the mall close to home now- we got tired of making the drive out to Ktown so often. Ask for Billy to help you when you get there! We were confused about some side dishes but Billy really seemed to know what was up and helped us out :)“

“Dad and I wanted some Korean comfort and I am so glad we dropped by. We arrive at 8pm (they close at 9pm) and ordered the cold noodles with gamjatang with small side of pork bossam. The amount of food for approx $35 per person was a feast and we were both stuffed silly!

Cold noodles were very good - super chewy and refreshing. Gamjatang had three massive pork bones with plenty of meat. I will be coming back :)“

“Eat there only if you want to be treated like dirt. I am sick and tired of their way of treating their customers. They don't do reservations and their wait system is unforgiving and insane. 1. Long wait times like 1.5 hours 2. But with that long wait time, they only give you 10 minutes to "all be there" when they tell you table is ready. 3. That's not even the worst. They put a "wait time" estimate near their check in table. So you would think that is a solid guideline right? But no. The REAL wait time can swing a good 30 minutes both ways. Say they put "Current Wait time is 1.5 hours" you could get a call at 1 hour mark. And then they give you 10 minutes to get your party to be there. And they give you hell if your party can't make it like it's your fault that you don't have crystal ball to tell that your table will be ready in one hour’s time. I have tolerated it coz their food is actually really good. Meat quality is good etc etc. What broke the camels back today is. I checked in at 5:45 today. Wait time is 1.5 hours. So estimate sit time is 7:15 right? When I get the text that table is ready at 7:05 I thought all is awesome. AND THEN they told me that are actually having a staff party tonight and last call is at 8. That leaves my party less than an hour to do an AYCE dinner. I was furious. So I question them, “Why didn't you tell your customer that when they checked in?” "Well, we put the notice on the door. You didn't see it! So… 🤷🏻‍♀️” 1. There are a bunch of white and black notices all over the door and check in area. 2. And yes. My eye sight is not awesome. I didn't see it. But shouldn't it be THEIR JOB to let customer know VERBALLY when they check in that they are shifting the last call time an hour early? That’s basic decency. I wasted almost 2 hours there and by then it’s like lines all over the place for any place. I am never going back again for a restaurant that treats their customer like dirt so they can make money off me any more.“

“Just my daughter-in-law and me, spent our quality time well and satisfied. They were so delicious, except the pickles. We both planned to be back again.“

“Best teriyaki chicken“

“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. ;)“

“This was my first time going to this place & i’d have to say, it’s pretty good. Food was great, servers were nice. Although they do take a bit long to take any other orders from your table. Kind of unfair to have a 90 minute time limit when most of that time is cooking and waiting. Again, food was really good, EXCEPT FOR THE ICE CREAM!!!! I had to try the ice cream and I was extremely disappointed. Took 2 bite and couldn’t even bring myself to eat it. Tastes COMPLETELY artificial and frost bitten. NOT GOOD!!! Everything else is great.“

“If you offered me this ice cream 1 million times I would accept it 1 million times… It is so delicious. I got the pure milk flavor with black sugar drizzle, PERFECTION. I taste tested the dole whip, and it was also delicious. The texture of the soft serve is exactly what I was looking for. 100% will be back. The staff was so nice and they even have a free topping bar… Really cute little shop!!“

“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“

“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!“

“This was the second time I’ve been here and it was even better than the last time I went. The staff is extremely nice, they offered so much help from ordering the best soup to bagging up our sauces for us without even asking. The food is always good, there’s many different options from seafood to veggies. I prefer getting the Beef bone soup, it’s so flavorful! The staff here are so nice and the food is amazing. It’s usually empty when we come in, so hopefully they get busier soon!“

“★★★★★

Urban Pocha was such a great find! The food was flavorful and satisfying, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the overall experience was fantastic. I’d definitely come back again and recommend Urban Pocha to anyone looking for a fun and tasty dining experience in Pasadena!“

“One of my go-to spots for Korean street food, Soonheenee is one of the most authentic restaurants there is. This specific restaurant can be pretty busy especially during evenings and weekends. Parking can be complicated as the plaza is shared with other popular spots, can park nearby on the street and walk over. Parking in the plaza is free.

In comparison to the Soonheene in Chino Hills, this shop is a order then sit down restaurant. Most of the shop is self service based and has moderate amount of seating inside.

It's also a great spot that ranges from solos, duos, to large groups.

My wife and I ordered the Mayak + Oden (Fish Cake) +
Tteokbokki Combo ($27.99) to dine in, waited around 10-15 minutes which is pretty fast for the amount of food.

The Mayak (Kimbap) comes in 8PCs and is perfect to share, it's definitely the perfect dish as an appetizer, made different than the usual circle kimbaps, they're made long style instead, perfect for a bite size dish. Absolutely one of the most well made kimbaps around.

The Oden (Fish Cake) comes in 3PCs, the soup that comes with the fish cake makes the oden seasoned well. The flavor seeps into the soup which keeps the oden chewy and savory. Although I wish the portions could be a bit more, the size of the Oden makes up for it. High recommend as this balances really well with the tteokbokki.

The Tteokbokki is the main attraction for Korean Street food and Soonheene doesn't disappoint. The portions are massive, and very well sauced, and is filled with tteokbokki & fish cake. For people who like the tteokbokki a bit less spicy, you can dip it in the Oden soup to soften the spiciness, highly recommend as it's still very flavorful.

There's also a rose option which I prefer a bit more than the regular tteokbokki. It's very creamy, savory, and chewy. Best tteokbokki l've ever had.“

“All you can eat for $40👏🏽👏🏽“

“This place is GREAT! Went yesterday with my dad for the first time and I fell in LOVE ! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I got the steak bowl with the veggies and it was DELICIOUS 😋 a MUST try if you haven't ill be coming to this place alot more often!“

“Hangang Korean Restaurant is a newer Korean spot in the SGV that focuses on classic comfort dishes in a warm and comfortable setting. The restaurant is tucked into a small plaza, so it is easy to miss while driving by.

The menu focuses on familiar Korean dishes, and the standout for me was the galbijjim. The short ribs were incredibly tender and cooked to the point where the meat easily came away, with a rich savory flavor. The sauce had a good balance without overpowering the natural flavor of the meat. The bibimbap was also a good dish, pretty standard that compares well to other places that also serve the dish.

The soups and lighter dishes also make the menu feel well rounded. The seafood pancake is another good addition, with a satisfying texture and enough flavor to stand on its own. The banchan were a nice part of the meal as well. The side dishes came out fresh and added variety throughout the meal, making the table feel more complete.

Service was friendly and attentive throughout the visit. The staff were helpful and made the experience feel comfortable, whether you were ordering a full spread or just stopping by for a specific dish. There is also plenty of parking compared to some other Korean food areas, which makes the visit more convenient.

Overall, Hangang is a solid addition to the SGV Korean food scene. The combination of comforting dishes, generous portions, quality meats, and a relaxed atmosphere makes it a place I would return to.“

“Food was delicious and service was fast. They do also offer non spicy/mild for children. A variety of delicious options to choose from. Bulgogi was seasoned very well and nothing was dry. Overall 10/10. Very much looking forward to eating here again.

Kid-friendliness: Offer non spice options as well“

“Tasty food. I ordered the angus beef bowl. Not fatty or chewy. Goin back soon“

“The best Chinese vegan restaurant around here!“

“so we actually made a special trip out here after hearing about it and im so glad we did. the haejangguk was exactly what i needed on a cold day, totally hit the spot and felt like comfort in a bowl. the serving size was generous and the broth had that deep simmered flavor that takes hours. they even brought out some extra side dishes without us asking which id probrably think is great if we hadnt had so much food already. the only thing i would change is the kimchi was just a little too fermented for my taste but i know some people love it that way. overall this place really made my day and i can already tell i'll be dreaming about that soup“

“Chicken is very tasty. Fresh and flavorful and wings size are huge. Suggestions from staff were spot on. Tried cajun dry rub wings and they are great. Onion rings and our loaded fries great too. Will return soon. guy there is so friendly and works hard to get food out quickly and order correct. Prices are great too.“