50 Best Korean Restaurants near Fountain Valley

“The owner was so sweet. I ordered two things to eat in the restaurant knowing well that I’d take the extras home. So, the owner suggested that I order to go so the packaging would be better. She brought my food to me and let me know that I can also get more pickled radish as desired. When she saw that I was done eating, she brought over more radish and helped me pack up my food. It was a great experience!“

“I'm probably never going back to BCD. No MSG, more flavorful, where has this place been all my life?

I have an MSG/glutamate intolerance so I would have an almost immediate reaction after eating. But this is my second time eating here in two days and no reaction. I confirmed it with the daughter of the owners today. No MSG used. The food and side dishes feel like mom/grandma made them. Full of flavor without MSG, what is this magic? The bulgolgi tastes like caramelized kalbi. Amazing. Each of the side dishes have so much flavor maturation.

The beer is priced the same as most happy hours elsewhere.

What we ordered:
Soon Tofu soup + bulgolgi combo with kimchi beef tofu soup. They give you a small salad to start. The side dishes include kimchi, kimchi cucumber, Korean potato salad (with cucumbers and apples), fish cake, broccoli/or spinach tofu, and marinated bean sprouts. Every single item was flavorful and delicious.

I feel satisfied, nourished, and happy eating here. Such a hidden family-owned gem. Support small business y'all.

Dietary restrictions: No MSG“

“We checked out this place for the first time and were not disappointed. Everything on the menu sounded so enticing that we decided to order a variety of items to try—wings, pot stickers, udon noodles, bulgogi plate, and chicken katsu (don’t judge me ?). The spicy wings and pot stickers definitely packed a punch! The bulgogi plate was incredibly flavorful. You won’t be disappointed—definitely give this place a try!“

“Food is always amazing here. My family only comes here for Korean BBQ. There are hundreds of other options nearby but you just can't beat the quality of the meat and the service. There's a reason why a line is formed before they open... especially on weekends.“

“Saw excellent reviews on Google Maps and a YouTube reviewer I trust said this place was great. Only 4 minutes down the road from where we are staying. There's no sign or anything so it's good that I had looked it up prior. Door was open (which meant 3 big flies hovering), Halloween episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer playing (followed by a Halloween Freaks and Geeks); no AC. Unfortunately no gyoza available which I wanted to try but I got the spam musubi, single smash burger and fries. Spam musubi didn't have any fry on the spam and something in my 2 pieces was super crunchy, and the seaweed was difficult for me to bite through. The fries were fresh cut and amazing, GREAT portion. And the single smash burger is SO worth the hype! But beware that it is messy and there's like a whole onions worth on it so if we get to go back, I'll be requesting lite onion and lite sauce. Really good meal I'm glad I got to enjoy.“

“Awesome“

“It's a simple but very satisfying restaurant! As the name suggests, the main dish is a combination of rice and soup, and the gentle seasoning that brings out the flavors of the ingredients is appealing. We especially recommend the soup rice, which has plenty of ingredients and is perfectly balanced and nutritious. It's filling, but not heavy, and it leaves you feeling warm and warm even after you've finished eating. The inside of the restaurant is clean and has a calm atmosphere, so it's perfect for when you want to have a quick meal by yourself. This is a restaurant that can be recommended for those who are health conscious! Please try it!“

“The kimbap 10/10
Teokbokki was really watery so if you like urs thicker prolly not from here. But the rice cakes were really nice and soft.
Chicken very good and crispy
We got fries w our idk if it was on purpose but very gratefull“

“I'm not going to say this is an authentic experience -- Craft Bowl is to Korean food as Chipotle is to Mexican food. But it doesn't take away from the fact that the food is delicious in its own right and the value is insane. I'm so used to take out prices being eye popping lately that craft Bowl is a breath of relief.

Chili cheese tteokboki was a guilty pleasure: chewy crispy American Korean fusion dish.
The popcorn chicken bowl was really surprisingly good -- I did not think those ingredients would work together but they did. Chef definitely cooked here.
I'll be back to try the chicken bulgogi bowl.“

“Tasty food, great atmosphere!“

“Nice little place. I was looking for something different from the normal ramen or pho for dinner. I have had jjambbong at a couple of other places and they were good. This place was also good. I ordered the seafood with a rib soup dish and some dumplings. They did not disappoint. The dumplings were chicken with veggies. I put a couple in my soup and that really upped the flavor. The soup can be spicy to many and being an Asian dish it could start you on fire if not careful. I opted to try it mild and it still had some spice. It was a perfect for a cold night. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.“

“I got the short rib soup and it came out pretty fast. The soup was good but I wasn't a big fan of the banchans. The people working there were nice and I would come back to try other menus. Don't expect too much for the banchans though. The place isn't too big but enough space available.“

“If you’re looking for a trendy twist on Korean cuisine, Chan Chan is a great spot to check out! They offer classic Korean dishes but with modern flavor updates and presentation that’s both delicious and affordable.

Instead of traditional paper menus, you’ll need to scan a QR code at the table or check out the clear, easy-to-read menu on the wall. They keep the options concise, making ordering a breeze.

What I ordered:
▶️ Spicy & Sweet Tuna Kimbap 참치 김밥 – $9.99
The tuna had a creamy texture, wrapped up in perfectly cooked rice and seaweed. The size of each roll was about 1.5 times bigger than your usual kimbap—definitely not a one-bite deal!

▶️ Fried Chicken Tenders 치킨 텐더스 (4-5 pieces) – $13.99
I chose the chicken tenders during their lunch special. These tenders were made with chicken breast, so I felt healthier and lighter. I paired them with sweet garlic sauce (스윗갈릿), which had a hint of mustard and a touch of sweetness—definitely a unique flavor that you won’t find at traditional Korean restaurants, but it was so good!

▶️ Rose Pasta 로제파스타 – $17.99
Rose pasta is super popular in Korea, and even available in convenience stores too! The sauce is a mix of red (tomato) and white (cream) sauces, often available as a pre-made mix at grocery stores (just look for “cream cheese rose sauce”). Every restaurant seems to have their own take on this dish.
In Korea, it’s usually slightly spicy, but although Chan Chan marked it as spicy, I didn’t really taste any. The portion was massive— enough for 2-3 people to share!

The plating here is on point, with thoughtful presentation that’s perfect for photos. Even the dishes and containers have a more modern, stylish vibe compared to typical Korean restaurants.

The banchan (side dishes) were lighter in flavor, with kimchi and pickled radish that weren’t too sour, making them more suited to international palates.

Oh, and a clean restroom is always a bonus for me (yes, I’m one of those people who always checked the bathroom cleanliness! ).

Chan Chan is definitely on my list for a return visit! They also have another location in Irvine.

If you’re craving traditional Korean food, you might have to head over to Garden Grove or a little bit north for more variety, but Chan Chan is a great option for something a little different in the Huntington Beach area.

? Chan Chan
7862 Warner Ave UNIT 110, Huntington Beach, CA 92647“

“We tried the galbitang and bibimmyun—both simple dishes, but they were so flavorful and comforting, like something made with a grandmother’s touch. The banchan were amazing too. The service really stood out; they kept checking on us, even during their lunch break. If we lived nearby, this place would definitely be a regular spot for us!

Just a heads-up—it’s a bit warm inside, and the sunlight hits certain spots, but honestly, it adds to the cozy vibe, like eating at your grandma’s house in Korea.

Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor“

“This place is great. We were greeted by them and they asked us to wait while they set the table. We happened to catch them at a good time because as soon as we finished ordering the food, the restaurant filled up quickly. The food didn't disappoint. Sometimes what looks good on Instagram doesnt translate in real life. The boys wanted Katsu so they ordered 2 but we honestly only need 1. Pro tip, if you ordered the Katsu and the garlic su yuk, eat the katsu first. Once you have a bite of the 10 hours sous vide pork belly, everything else just tasted tough. Trust me... i was loving the tender pork katsu until I bit into the sous vide pork. After that there was no going back. By the way, the bathroom is clean which is a plus

Kid-friendliness: yes“

“Excellent service and food“

“I'm a fan of Soy Tofu! It is another local gem. The service is kind and attentive, the dining area is clean, and the vibe is pleasant. The decor is simple and homey.

I've dined here several times already, and each time was fantastic.

My current favorite items:
- Soon Tofu (soups) - mushroom and the beef + seafood with black rice
- The Tofu Combos - if you're a little more hungry, I recommend the BBQ short ribs with the tofu soup
- Dumplings - fried or steamed, they are both excellent!
- The complimentary ice cream!

When you receive the boiling hot tofu soup, immediately add the raw egg and stir it a little. The egg will cook fast in the hot broth. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.

If you're in the area, try Soy Tofu. It's in a plaza with a Korean market and many other restaurants. There's usually plenty of parking in the public lot.“

“Dakgalbi, tteokbokki, and pork cutlet are delicious!I think I will use it often!Add rice and mix the chicken ribs at the end.If you eat it with seaweed powder and cheese,It's really delicious!Pork cutlet meat is soft and seasoned.It's so perfect... I really recommend it.It's better than Beach Yoko...The thickness of the meat is just right.Anyway, give it a try!“

“Sookdal is famous for low temperature salt water aging pork belly.

Taste of pork belly is the best in OC.

You can eat pork belly with salt,
chopped garlic, wasabi,
grilled cheese and many different
pickled vegetables
(Cucumber, Cabbage, Radish tops etc.)
for unique taste.
​“

“I cannot leave a review glowing enough to do this place justice. Hands down my new favorite local spot. The Dirty Beer Battered Fries with the Fried Egg were intended as a side but quickly took center stage. Perfectly spicy and flavorful. The chicken tenders were huge white meat pieces. The sauces were all amazing but the soy garlic was outstanding. The portions were huge! The two of us each had full size leftovers and then some. And for under $40! The icing on the cake was the excellent service. Alma, our server, was gracious, attentive and answered all our silly questions. The chef, Raul, plated the best meals we have had in quite some time. Please treat yourself to this gem of a local restaurant. Highly recommend! 👌“

“I believe I’ve found the best jjampong in town. The photo is the other half portion I’m trying to finish but couldn’t. For $16 this could easily feed 2 ppl, very generous potion and the broth is super flavorful.
Recommend and would come back again to try other items!“

“My family & I love this place! The food is delicious & they have kim chi fried rice & other items some place don’t offer. The staff is also super nice & you get free delicious ice cream! We’ve eaten at other places & it doesn’t come close to here . The price is so good in comparison too!“

“Don't know what some of these low reviews are on but this place was great. It's a restaurant known for their seolleongtang, an authentic oxbone based soup. They cook the bones for hours until the broth becomes milky white and rich and top it with meat and noodles. The table will have a jar of salt and a jar of green onions so that each person could season their own dish (this is normal in Korea) and each meal is provided with side dishes (approximately four, again normal for seolleongtang) and healthy purple rice (this is high quality and more expensive than your standard white rice). I don't normally eat Korean food outside of my home because most restaurants disappoint me but this one deserved five stars. Would come again the next time I am in Cali.“

“Delicious food, fast service, friendly staff, beautiful atmosphere…all in all definitely a great place to eat at. I’ve been there twice and have left both times fully satisfied by the food and planning to return.“

“Best chicken and beef this side of the Pacific Ocean! Genki Grill is fast with top quality meet and vegetables. What more could you ask for? Why are you even still reading this review? So order some good food for yourself and others. Change the world!“

“Our family loves Kaju food.“

“Their cold noodles (물냉면) and galbi combo is really good!! Probably the best 냉면 & 갈비 I've eaten 🍜🥩. The rice cake soup (떡구) was pretty good too (just like a homemade comfort dish) 🍲. The service and atmosphere is great. Don't recommend the wagyu and spicy cold noodles though. The wagyu wasn't that good and the spicy cold noodles was kind of salty. Other than those, I highly recommend the other dishes!!“

“This place is super clean and the customer service is super friendly and fast . The cook welcomed me well and the cashier was very attentive and took my correct order. I would definitely return and they have special ck bowl & drink for 10.99 and happy hr 2pm to 5 pm. Plus all Disney cast members just have to ask for their discount or show their ID for Disney. Good job Flame broiler on ball rd.“

“Yupduk is the best ttheoboki i have had in California, amazing for the spice lovers and have a range of spice levels for those who cant tolerate the spice as much. Also has many other authentic korean side dishes to each together. Yupduk and yap“

“Newish spot next to HMart that sells Korean fried chicken. Compared to some other Korean Fried Chicken places I've tried, the wings here definitely stands out!The meat is tender and comes right off the bone cleanly and you can see the juices flowing out when you bite in. It's kind of amazing how juicy it is.It is a bit of a wait, but I was given some coleslaw and pickled radish when I dined in. Each table has wet wipes to clean your hands after and a metal bin to discard bones.“

“Absolutely amazing! This is the spot I’ve been taking everyone. Place inside is kinda small but super cozy and cute. You order at the kiosk and it’s super easy/convenient. They make the food in the front and it definitely adds a personalized touch. My favorites are the seared salmon and unagi yubu! They look small but 3 of them is the perfect amount for meal for me

Dietary restrictions: They prepare the food by the kiosk and you can ask them any questions directly“

“Excellent food. 👍. Will come back again.“

“Today, at Court Food I ordered Tofu soup & BBQ beef bulgogi from CHAM I saw the man, woman cooking my order & everything looked fresh & when I started my tofu soup with vegetables, sea food & spicy it tasted so delicious another customer in there recommended the other options but I will return again special a day after drink ? to get a hot tofu soup.“

“Owner boss lady was so lovely and helpful. She came out and explained all the food and how to eat for my non Korean fam. Gave the touch that only an owner operator can.

Jokbal was perfectly cooked, clean and delicious. The hardest part of making this dish is getting out the sometimes overpowering porky flavor that can come with pigs feet. Nailed it!

Same thing with the bo ssam. The meat was tender, cabbage quick salt pickled to perfection. Soondae was also splendid. Soft and chewy without the grit. All the banchan had that 손맛 like your momma made it. Kiss my teeth, delicious.

Wonder why they don't have a full service restaurant, the food certainly is worthy of more than a food hall at Hmart. Next time I have a gathering I know where I'm going.“

“First time there was today. The portions were good size, and the food was delicious. The waitresses, that waited on us were very polite and asked us every few minutes If we needed anything. My son also liked the cuts of the meats and the sauces were very good along with all the sides. We will definitely be going back again. Also, for desert ice cream. Yum.“

“The inside looks like a typical American Korean restaurant, but I can understand why the restaurant is called Gamjatang. Two men added kalguksu noodles to the gamjatang casserole. The noodles were chewy, the broth was delicious, there was a lot of meat, and it was soft and not fishy. It just tastes the same as what I had in Korea. They generously gave us perilla leaves and if you want to eat gamjatang, you can come here.“

“Extremely good crab dish for about $40 but you get a whole fresh (raw) crab and they show you how to eat it so I was quite happy about it. The server opened up the crab and squeezed the meat out right there for you. I didn’t expect this awesome food performance from the food court type restaurant. Other Korean dishes are very good too. My favorites are the seafood pancake and the tofu soup. Totally worth a stop! One of the not many places I want to be back!“

“Excellent and authentic food. Very friendly and informative service. Casual atmosphere. The restaurant was empty at lunchtime on a Saturday, but service was quick and attentive. Meat came out sizzling on cast iron platters. Banchan were very tasty. Refreshing cold chewy buckwheat noodles.“

“Staff were very welcoming with us and checked in frequently to make sure we had water and banchan. We got the pork and chives mandu and the original Yuk Gae Jang with glass noodle / ramyeon. Would happily come back to this restaurant chain and location next time we visit “

“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!“

“All Koreans should go here when they are tired of American food. You can experience Korean-style charcoal grilling. The taste of my homeland that I miss Take care of your health with appropriate vegetables, rice, and non-fried meat.

You can enjoy a healthy meal with the right amount of vegetables, rice, and meat. Both the owner and the staff are friendly, and the restaurant is clean as well!“

“I went there for the first time yesterday. When I first entered the store, it looked very small and cramped, but later it felt like a home, which was fine. I ordered and ate chicken ribs and tried this and that.
I ordered extra and ate plenty of fried rice without any leftovers. Prosper in business and be happy!“

“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“

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

“Ordered take-out. Bipimbap was ok, protein portion was small, maybe 4 tablespoons size. Likely will not order that again. However, the Budae Jjigae, had a nice (but not overly spicy broth) with ham, hot dog and spam. Would definitely order it again.“

“Chung Chun just opened in Anaheim, and it's now my favorite spot! I has the viral Korean hot dogs which had been in my list for a long time. And I loved the surprise drink with the cute keychain. (I asked to choose the keychain I wanted actually but the restaurant was happy about it.) Totally recommend for Korean/Japanese style home food! The food was very delicious!“

“My parents, who love loach stew, always stop by and eat it when they come to Calico. My parents admit that it is a restaurant that is thicker and better than most loach stew restaurants in Korea. The side dishes are prepared well and with sincerity, and everything is delicious. The servers are all friendly and I don't know if it's the owner, but there is a man there who is really friendly and makes me feel good every time I come.“

“The amount of stir-fried squid and sari is good for the price. I also highly recommend the seasoned whelk! The stir-fry stew is not bad. However, the green onion pancake is not so good, so please keep that in mind! (Updated)
The amount of seasoned whelk was so large for the price that it seemed like it could feed 4 people, and it was delicious.“

“I ordered the Cajun Tuna Roll just to keep it simple. It's great for the price, you get what you pay for. I got curious about the Spicy chicken sandwich and decided to try it out.I have a high spice tolerance and never was really "spiced"out by ANY Spicy Sandwich. Until today. By far, the best spicy chicken sandwich I've had so far. Very crispy and juicy.. Well done! I'll be regularly coming back :)“

“Cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Always perfectly fresh and tasty for all of the times I have gone over the many years--- Consistently perfect !! And the staff is always amazing and the restaurant is crystal clean! I love this restaurant!! Oh and I love the music too, it is so positive and uplifting that I go away feeling so happy and uplifted - thank you to whoever owns this restaurant for imparting such a wonderful experience, the food, the staff, the atmosphere and the MUSIC!
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!“