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!“

“Great experience and reasonable price“

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

“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.“

“It's a little restaurant and it's wheelchair accessible. Even though it's small there's enough space for families to eat there or a party. The food is really good. The place is clean. The only complaint I had was it was a bit warm in there. The people that work there are very nice and knowledgeable about their menu. Service was fast and friendly! We spent under $40 for two people to eat with drinks.“

“Hey guys, don’t miss out on this place especially the tacos. They soft and crispy like no other place I’ve ever tried ,and my dad is a cook. sorry Dad, but the food speaks for itself like he taught me👌🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🌮🌮“

“My family and I come here pretty often, and today we came to celebrate grandpa’s birthday. I was actually the one who suggested Yangmani since we’ve always had a good experience here.
We ordered two Chef’s Cut Combos and one Variety Combo for the table. If you’re a big meat eater, the portions might feel a little small, but for us it was plenty and we left pretty full. The meat quality is always really good, which is one of the reasons we keep coming back.
The staff is also always really nice and friendly. There are so many new Korean BBQ places opening up these days, but somehow we still end up coming back to Yangmani in Rowland Heights.
I wish I had taken more pictures though! I only took a picture of the first round of meat, and after that we got too busy eating and I totally forgot. 😂“

“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.“

“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!“

“Great place for Korean BBQ“

“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.“

“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!“

“some of the best korean food there is, with reasonable prices! so far i’ve tried the galbi tang and gamja tang and they’re both heavenly. the side dishes, especially the kimchi were so good as well! it’s a family run restaurant, and the staff were really nice. they have lunch specials that are worth checking out as well. plenty of parking in the parking lot. the portions are huge as well. please check them out!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Excellent food and friendly staff!!“

“Great food and service. We do appreciate the gentleman’s service and his decent recommendation. However, it would be great if we know in advance from somewhere (menu or elsewhere) that they charge a mandatory 18% of service fee if it’s more than party of 5 (including baby). It’s worth the money (because of the service) but it would be great if we know it in advance.“

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

“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!“

“Great location with reasonable prices. We did not need to make a reservation on a weekday night. The menu was broad including a lot of stews, noodles, meat, and shareable dishes. The spicy knife cut noodles was interesting as it didn’t include seafood as it usually does. I would be interested to see what the other dishes tastes like. The inside felt a little oily and foggy full of smoke without adequate ventilation.“

“The best Chinese vegan restaurant around here!“

“Updated: I've been to this spot for years and it's still excellent. The base price is $32.99 but if you go at non-peak times you can save money. I still think you can get a great deal at that price point. Efficient service and great food as always.

WONDERFUL! This was my first all you can eat Korean BBQ experience. We came at 7pm and was ahead of the Saturday rush crowd, so we were seated right away. They have two price points with $22pp for the regular menu, which we opted for, because it had over 20 options on it! They bring you 3 selections at a time, and after you order more, the selection portions are halved so you don't waste food. Every single piece of meat was delicious, but the Beef Bulgogi and the Brisket were my favorites. The shrimp were a little hard to eat because they were on the small side and hard to pull the shell off. They also have 2 stations with hot items (appetizers, glass noodles/vegetables, mushroom/broccoli, wings, soup) and cold items (salad, onion/mushrooms for cooking, lettuce wraps, fruit).

The service was good, but they were incredibly busy in taking care of everyone. They were a good team and looked out if we needed a new grill plate, or if were ready to put in more orders.

I will definitely be back - what a great spot to bring out of towners.“

“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.“

“Hanoka Korea house services authentic Korean food in San Gabriel valley. Cooked and served by Koreans. Save a drive to Ktown!
Free Korean banchan/small dishes and free refills
We came for the Marinated raw blue crab 🦀 super fresh and decent size. Lots yolks in bright orange color. You know it’s fresh!
Also ordered small size Braised beef 🥩 short ribs. It’s huge! Comes with lots beef ribs as well as rice cakes and glass noodles.
Meat is so tender comes right off the bones.
Nice to have a Korean restaurant nearby.“

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

“Such a fun spot for good Korean food! We ordered the large boneless chicken wings. You get to try 2 flavors, so we got Korean spicy (mild) and soy garlic. We also got a regular order of the boneless Korean bbq wings. The Korean bbq flavor was our favorite! Definitely want to come back and try more flavors!“

“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 ! 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“

“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.“

“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.“

“All you can eat for $40👏🏽👏🏽“

“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“

“Spicy pork neck bone soup 뼈다귀 해장국 (감자탕) was so comforting and filling, came with lot of tender meat that fell right off the bone! The soup was flavorful and spicy but not too heavy, pairing perfectly with the veggies and rice.
The bossam (steamed pork belly) 보쌈 was also so tender and makes for a great sharing dish. The banchan, especially the kimchi, tasted so authentic!
Compared to other places, Moobongri Soondae tasted refreshing, not too heavy on oil or MSG, and nice portions for the price! The service was also great, we will definitely be back to try other items on the menu!“

“My first time and very satisfied. I ordered pork soup with rice and it is soooooo good!“

“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“

“Been here twice now, first time got two small ones, one matcha and one injeolmi. I love injeolmi so it was really delicious. The matcha too, very rich flavor. The ice itself is so soft and fluffy and tastes delicious. Definitely need the red bean on the side.

The second time we got the bigger melon one ($19.99) with red bean on the side as well. Heard multiple people both times complain about not getting red bean (it doesn’t come with most of them), so remember to order it on the side. The melon one was good, but the smaller ones were better.

Overall one of the best bingsoo places I’ve been to, Korea included. Def best in the US. The texture just hits different.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Excellent service!! I was nervous about cooking the meat perfectly and Sharon cooked it beautifully, and I’m so grateful! We LOVE the bulgogi and short ribs, great flavors and a great price. The music was good, and Sharon checked on us frequently. Fantastic service! The host was very welcoming too. We’ll be back next weekend!“

“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.“

“Hangang in Temple City is a great spot if you’re craving Korean food! 🇰🇷 The inside has a very traditional Korean aesthetic that gives the restaurant such a cozy and authentic feel.

They have really good deals on their combo sets, especially for the amount of food you get. The portions are generous, everything was filling, and we definitely left satisfied!

But the cold noodles were the standout for me! 🍜 This is officially my new favorite spot for Korean cold noodles. So refreshing, flavorful, and definitely something I’ll be coming back for.

If you’re looking for Korean food with a traditional atmosphere, good portions, and great value, Hangang is definitely worth checking out!“

“Best teriyaki chicken“

“There's a manager deal right now. $2.99 for a regular corn dog. The total came to $3.30 with tax. Lightly rolled in sugar and drizzled with mustard, it's a great deal. This isn't a traditional corn dog but a Korean version with a thick light crispy crust. According to my daughter, it was the popular rage a few years ago. It's still worth a try, especially with the sugar!“

“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.“

“분위기짱 안주맛도 일품 ...“

“I ordered a chicken and rice plate. The food was very good. The counter girl was very nice and helpful. My only complaint is that there was no air conditioning. The temperature outside was 100 degrees. Neither the customers or employees should have to be inside their business with no air conditioning. I hope the owner fixes this problem.“

“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 wish I would give this place 10 stars. The food was amazing and staff were super nice! Definitely will be going back 🤤“