50 Best Korean Restaurants near Fountain Valley

“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“

“I go to this place for their chicken wings. I've had 2 flavors of the chicken wings...soy sauce & garlic and honey & garlic. I like the honey & garlic flavor. Their chicken wings are very crispy, meaty, and flavorful. In my opinion, these wings are better than grocery-store deli and Wing Stop. I will continue to return to bb.q for my chicken wings hunger.“

“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.“

“Short and sweet, this place is so good! got the two popular items on the menu: military soup (boo dae jji gae) and garlic suyuk (sous vide pork belly). Literally cured our souls. It was the best korean food we have had, seriously. The soup was perfectly spicy (mild) and flavorful. The suyuk blew our minds and it was so juicy. Their sides were also simple and delicious. Service was great, they were attentive to our needs and refilled anything fast. Definitely the one of the top and best korean restaurants out here in socal. Just come and try it!“

“It was just so delicious. The tteokbokki was delicious and very similar to the taste I had in Korea, and the sundae seemed to be the best among the ones I had in America. When eating sundae in the U.S., most of the time it was dry or cold and tasteless, but it was really delicious. I highly recommend it if you want to experience the taste of Korean snacks. The food court was also in Korean style, so the atmosphere was nice. I'm eating well.“

“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.“

“Great Korean Food! The best so far!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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“

“Last stop for me in cali, and this was the spot we picked for our Korean cravings. It didn’t disappoint! Truly reminds me of my mom’s cooking from the banchan to the bbibbimbbap! Both my parents and brother in law shared the same sentiment. Definitely feels like an old school Korean restaurant and loved the hot barley water!

Vegetarian options: Lots of Korean dishes that are vegetarian friendly

Parking: Regular store plaza lot“

“It smells like fire and is delicious. A clean Jjamppong that is easy to enjoy as it is not too spicy. The ingredients were plentiful and the portions were plentiful, so I ate it happily. The ingredients taste fresh. I like the clean taste as if it doesn't use a lot of MSG.
Service is also friendly.
I am writing this as a review event, but other than that, I enjoyed it.
I think of this when I want to eat clean Jjamppong.

p.s. The drinks I received as part of the review event were also delicious.
Mango syrup flavor used in stationery slushes.“

“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“

“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“

“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!“

“A little mom and pop shop for Korean tofu. Wife and husband do a spectacular job running the place! Hidden gem! The side dishes are chefs kiss - can’t find some of them like their aloe Vera!Food never disappoints and has a home-y feeling. ☺️“

“Best double-fried chicken/ korean-style chicken. Plenty of flavors to choose from. I always get the half & half to get 2 flavors. And it seems also best value for the quality. These come with crispy curly fries. Yum! I cannot recommend more. Hope you enjoy“

“Excellent service and food“

“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.
​“

“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!“

“Best wholesome Korean food you can get. They've been consistently amazing for about the two decades that I've been coming to get food from here. Their dine-in is wonderful and they package their take-outs very securely. I'll never stop coming here when I need comfort food. <3

Parking: Pretty easy most of the time.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Our family loves Kaju food.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Surprisingly good, initially thought it was just an overpriced Korean BBQ place but they gave us a surprising amount of beef. Beef was so marbled, flavorful and delicious. Ashley was a great waitress and I feel like it’s been a while since I had such good service at restaurant. It’s not cheap it is pricey but if ur in the mood for quality beef, would recommend.“

“I went to the stewed black cod because I heard it was delicious, but it was very salty. It was too salty, so the first bite wasn't good. I fixed it and served it again, but it wasn't that good. My friend said the cabbage was also very tough... The server was friendly. It is said to be crowded in the evening due to golf customers, and the food does not come out quickly. It would have been nice if side dishes were prepared in advance.

Parking: There isn't much business, so parking is generous.“

“I dined in this past Friday and place was good. Mostly, the service and food was on point. I was exceptionally impressed with the service. The server that took care of us was very attentive. She took our order and checked up on us promptly. I accidentally dropped my chopsticks during my meal, and even then, she immediately got me a new pair of chopsticks. I believe that taste is most important for a restaurant, but service must be matched to the qualify of good to have a complete experience. This restaurant offered great food and service. The only thing i'd complain about is the cleanliness of the restaurant. The utensils weren't very clean and had tiny debris on them (probably food particles that weren't washed out) and the overall cleanliness of the restaurant wasn't up to par with food and service.“

“***I changed my rating from 3 to 5. After seeing my review, the store was quick to apologize and take action. Everyone makes mistakes, but the quality of the follow-up varies. I am satisfied with their apology and the make-up method. I will continue to use this store in the future. Thank you, Manager Eunice!***

Has anything changed, owner or recipe? I'm a regular customer and ordered the yupdduck mild and picked it up today. The amount of food was less than usual. There was no sausage or cabbage. I'm so disappointed with this meal today.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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“

“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 “

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

“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!“

“It's not bad I like it. If there were more selections I'd give it a 5 star“

“Came here on a thrusday early lunch!The food was good, but the only thing I have to say is that it's a little overpriced. I know I could have made this at home, but today, I was feeling a little under the weather to so came to try this place because I was craving the bibimbab.Would come back to try other food they have here for sure!They have a LUNCH Special for 7days11am-3pmOrdered2 Marinated beef which cost20.991 Vegetable & Rice in Hot PotI believe it was 17.99 or 16.99 around there1 Ramen cost8.99“

“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“

“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!“

“I know there is a long wait time. But trust me, this is worth a wait. Place has the top notch all you can eat with so many varieties. But what it makes the perfection is the customer service of the wonderful servers. Although they are very very busy running around but their service will leave smiles on your face.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Owners are awesome. Food was great. Very clean. The shopping center is a little older and made me think twice but absolutely worth it. Had the chef prepare his favorite so can't remember what it was but fresh and flavorful! Will go back. Great small business.“

“Very genuine Korean fried chicken it was!I was very satisfied with this whole chicken, I missed it so much!I loved they also give side dishes too.Those radish pickle and cabbage salad♥︎♡♥︎♡ very refreshing!I ordered additional dipping sauce($2) and it was tasty too!I can recommend this place :)“