50 Best Korean Restaurants near El Monte

“I had an amazing experience at Flame Broiler thanks to Eaton and Brayen! From the moment I walked in, their customer service was outstanding. I asked for family meal recommendations, and they were quick to provide helpful suggestions. They went above and beyond by bringing the food directly to my table, instead of calling out my name or number. Their attentiveness and effort made the visit so much more enjoyable.“

“I went here for the first time on a Monday evening. The service was really good and on point on this day. Staff was always checking on us, always making sure our stove was clean or removing finished dishes. I got us the Deluxe meal. The spicy baby octopus was good. The gyōza dumplings and egg rolls were really good. They have sushi as well. Their menu can be accessed by QR code or you can ask for a physical menu.“

“🙂👍 Jin does a great job!“

“The quality of the meat here is seriously amazing 🥩
I highly recommend ordering the beef combo platter! The beef short ribs and Ribeye were both incredibly delicious — juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The beef tongue is also a must-order, sliced to the perfect thickness with a great texture after grilling✨

The steamed egg and cheesy corn that come with the combo were surprisingly good too, definitely not just side dishes 🌽🧀

What made the experience even better was that the staff grilled everything for us the whole time, so we could just relax and enjoy the meal. Overall, such a great dining experience 👍🏻“

“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.“

“Came from San Fernando Valley, was in the area with family looking for a place to have lunch. Stopped by and the service was amazing, as well as the food. Really recommend coming to eat here. I will definitely bring my family again, and I won't mind driving an hour.“

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

“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.“

“I ordered two types of kimbap—bulgogi and katsu. They were both delicious and fresh. I loved the packaging that the kimbap came in and the service was kind. Very cute, tiny place and yummy food. Can’t wait to come back and try other items on the menu.“

“I recently visited Jang Ga Nae for gamjatang, and as expected from a place specializing in it, the gamjatang was excellent. But what really surprised me was how good their bossam and Squid Stir-Fry are — it’s definitely another standout dish. If you come here, I highly recommend ordering both the gamjatang, the bossam and Squid.

The flavors are very clean, and you can really feel the care and home-style quality in the cooking. This is one of my top Korean restaurant recommendations in the Lorena Heights area — highly recommended!

One last thing: I hope to see the owner smile a little more often — it would make the experience even better.“

“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.“

“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).“

“This location has a special place for me, as it was my favorite spot years ago when it was a different establishment. After a fire, I honestly never expected to see it come back. Last year, I discovered that it had been rebuilt as 88Q and decided to give it a shot.

I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised. The quality of the food is top notch, and the service is friendly, efficient, and fast. Everyone smiles and truly makes you feel welcomed from the moment you walk in.

Because of the overall experience, 88Q has become my go to KBBQ spot. I will definitely be visiting frequently and recommending it to others.“

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

“Excellent food and friendly staff!!“

“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!“

“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“

“the food here is always so good! i get their mulnemion (cold noodles) and their korean bqq combo since eating those together always tastes the best. i suggest coming on weekday lunch time since it gets quite bust during the night. the servers are always attentive and nice, i have loved being a regular here!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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. ;)“

“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.“

“We stopped by Rowland Heights on our way home from LAX and stumbled upon Hanshin Pocha off of Gale and Nogales, just north of the 60 freeway. There are plenty of eats in the area and we thought this would satisfy our hunger for something hot and satiable - and open late night!

After perusing their menu, I was drawn to the steamed egg and, likewise, the rest of our party wanted the same thing. We were only a party of 5 (4 adults + 1 child) so we thought we would order 2 of the steamed eggs and a couple other items. When we placed our order, the server questioned us why we ordered 3 and asked, “Are you sure?” We said, “Yes.” After bringing out all our orders, we understood why the server asked his question; the steamed egg dish was a huge portion!!! Whoa! It was really good especially since it was cold outside.

We also ordered other items to share like their chicken wings, calamari, and fries with chicken for the child in our party.

Parking can be tricky even in the late hours.

Overall, we enjoyed the food and the vibe here. It’s casual, a little loud, but we were all comfortable and enjoyed the ambiance.“

“Wow best korean fried chicken I have ever had. The soy garlic sauce was perfectly sweet, the chicken was so crispy and juicy. 100x better than BBQ Chicken or Bonchon. The cold noodles were also so chewy and perfect. I highly recommend this place and will come back!“

“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!“

“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“

“All you can eat for $40👏🏽👏🏽“

“I've tried many different Kbbq's, mostly in OC and IE, and I gotta say this one here hit the spot! The meat was delicious, but what got me even writing a review was their spicy cucumber. Amazing! The best that I ever had! Can't stop thinking about it so much that it draws me to go back again for more. The service was incredible. She was super helpful and informative as well. Let us know they make everything there and don't buy by bulk (like the spicy cucumber). Definitely going back!“

“This restaurant stands out from the rest of the plaza. It feels as if you are transported to an entirely different space when you walk in. Its warm atmosphere is very inviting and the staff make you feel very comfortable and welcomed. Everyone is so nice and the food is amazing. The portions are filling and the drinks are amazing.. I recommend coming during a weekday or for early breakfast/brunch on the weekends before eleven because parking is really hard to find.“

“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.“

“As a Korean, this is by far my favorite restaurant in the area. It’s such authentic Korean soup, the flavors are rich and texture silky, plus unlimited side refills. My boyfriend and I come here at least once a month, and we look forward to it for days before we do. I almost always get the seonji haejangguk (blood) and he always gets the soondae haejangguk (blood sausage), we’ve also tried the kongguksu, pollock haejangguk, gamjatang, etc., they are all bangers!!! So good. Also the wait staff have always been so kind!“

“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.“

“분위기짱 안주맛도 일품 ...“

“The food was very delicious and fresh . They are a lot more accommodating than the previous owner . They recently changed management and their customer service is amazing now and I'm her to stay for it ! Jennifer and her crew were extremely helpful in helping me choose an item off the menu and I ended up choosing an amazing hot Cheeto corn dog that came out amazing and hot . THE CHEESE PULL GOT MEEE! 100% Recommended coming. The spot is also very clean as well as the bathroom they keep it real clean .“

“Great date spot, sure to impress! The katsu has a rich flavor and superior texture, melt in your mouth with a layer of crunch. The Matcha Yuzu Ade was so good my partner and I started making our own at home. Kind staff as well, we sat at the booth and it was fun watching the kitchen. I live far away from this place but otherwise would be a regular.“

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

“Very good place for a quick healthy bite. Obviously, one needs to choose the healthier options and stay away from the Magic Sauce (Sugar) and other options that make the meal unhealthy. I usually ask for the all white chicken, which is healthier and has more protein than the regular chicken. Flame Broiler is on my weekly fast food rotation, and I appreciate the taste and satisfactory feeling after the meal. Definitely recommend it to everyone.“

“Great place for Korean BBQ“

“This is a super tasty dessert featuring a generous serving of fluffy, finely shaved ice that melts delightfully in your mouth. I love how the light, airy texture complements the sweet, flavorful syrup drizzled on top, making it incredibly refreshing and satisfying. I highly recommend trying this treat for an enjoyable cooling experience.“

“I was craving something fast and healthy, luckily this was nearby.

I ordered their steak bulgogi, spicy chicken on the side and kimchi along with steamed vegetables. The quality of the steak was great and it was seasoned perfectly. The chicken was spicy and descent quality. The kimchi was good but wish it were more house made and not in a container. Overall it was a satisfying lunch.

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

“The food is good. They serve your order pretty fast. Maximum 5 items per order but no limit (cuz all you can eat). Minus 1 star because the inside is too smoky. The exhaust hood is not strong enough to get all the smoke out. Overall, I still recommend this place with such value and quality of the food.“

“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.“

“food was wonderful and delicious great service“

“Parking is rough, but the food is good, affordable and competitively priced! Servers and personnel are really nice and quick with our order! I come here frequently on lunch as I work near in the area, gotta come early to get a parking spot.“