50 Best Korean Restaurants near La Jolla

“Opting for the organic tofu and veggies bowl, I enjoyed a very good, quick, and healthy meal. The tofu was expertly prepared, offering a flavorful and satisfying experience. The combination of soy and hot sauce added delightful flavors to the dish. From the ordering process to picking up the meal, the overall experience was great. I'm definitely looking forward to returning!“

“Delicious, crispy and leaves you wanting more. The tender box with devil garlic sauce was awesome, there's a reason there's only two tenders in there, they are huge. The coleslaw in the tender box is delicious, it's not full of mayonnaise it's nice and vinegary and delicious, and the french fries are super crispy without being greasy. The buldak noodles are super spicy and delicious, and again another tender in there making it an entire meal.“

“We sat at Sam Cha’s sushi bar and it was amazing. This will be our go-to place for sushi. Great food, fun ambiance, easy parking. We can’t wait to return.“

“A Culinary Masterpiece: An Unforgettable Evening with Chef Jiwoo Choi From the moment my girlfriend, Kassandra, and I stepped into the Choi’s in downtown San Diego, we knew we were about to experience something truly special. What followed was an extraordinary seven-course tasting menu crafted by the incredibly talented Chef Jiwoo Choi, a chef whose passion for food is evident in every detail of his dishes. Chef Choi created the menu around several questions sent via email before the date. He truly took his time to understand his customers and who they were. The dinner was designed around my girlfriend, for whom the night was centered around for Valentines Day. The customer service was impeccable from the start. The hostess greeted us warmly, immediately making us feel at home, and the entire staff was attentive yet unobtrusive throughout the evening. We were sat at an oval table exclusively to ourselves with candles and wonderful ambiance. Included was a little note card that read “A Dinner Written By You” . Wow. Our server was Chef Choi himself. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the ingredients, offering insightful explanations of each dish, telling the story of the meal, and even sharing about the inspiration behind his creations. The entire team worked seamlessly together, ensuring that every moment of our dining experience felt effortless and elegant. Now, onto the food—a true work of art. Each course was not just a meal but a beautifully presented masterpiece that engaged all the senses. Chef Choi has a remarkable ability to balance flavors, textures, and aromas in a way that leaves a lasting impression. Every dish had a story, each bite revealing new layers of complexity and creativity. Some standout dishes included: A delicate amuse-bouche that set the tone for the evening, bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors. Inspired by Kimchi, a sauce enveloped the bits of tofu with a fried rice cake. A The main course was an Australian Wagyu with fingerling potatoes in a chile con carne sauce based from my girlfriend’s childhood. The wagyu melted in our mouths. Potatoes so crispy and delicious you forgot what other potatoes tasted like. A sauce so savory, bursting with tomatillo, garlic, and other flavors. Perfectly balanced as all things should be. The unexpected dish that left me in so much shock was the Greek wedding soup. A cold dish that is better experienced than explained. If I could eat that everyday for the rest of my life it would never be enough. Nothing I could say would live up to the incredible flavors. I ate mine and half my girlfriend’s portion. Finally, a dessert course that was as stunning as it was delicious, showcasing unexpected flavor combinations that worked in perfect harmony. A hot desert, a play on sticky rice. Cardamon, sugar, a small stone fruit with rich notes of raisin and plum. The second dessert was unexpected and intended for my likes (which I found to be such a class act). A ferment plum wine reduction that he infused into a frozen dish (somewhere in the realm of sorbet meets gelato) with a crème brûlée top. Amazing, outstanding. Chef Choi himself took the time to visit our table, a gesture that truly elevated the experience. He shared his inspiration for the menu, spoke about the ingredients, and genuinely wanted to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves. This level of dedication and personal touch is rare and speaks volumes about his commitment to his craft and his guests. He even orchestrated a surprise set of roses for my girlfriend and played it off like I planned it. By the end of the evening, Kassandra and I were completely in awe. The attention to detail, the passion behind every dish, and the warmth of the staff made this one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had. Chef Jiwoo Choi and his team went above and beyond, creating an evening we will never forget. Five stars are simply not enough!“

“Best korean in New Hampshire! authentic korean. this is not korean bbq, though they do have kalbi. my favorite is soondubu soup, stone pot bibimbap, and japchae. I get it without egg and no meat. i enjoy dining in for the stone pot that crisps the rice, but also enjoy take out. everything is wrapped up good and safe. my family manages a severe nut allergy and eat here safely weekly.“

“Yummy! The chicken wings were so bomb, perfectly juicy and tender inside and crunchy outside. Never had tteokbokki before and it was also delish. Lastly, appreciated how the QR codes for the menu were held up by cute little animals instead of taped to the table. I’ll definitely be coming back here.“

“Pay attention everyone. THIS is how you operate a sushi restaurant.

We were greeted by the sushi chefs from across the room as we entered the front door. Seconds later, the wait staff guided us to a table. Water arrived lickity split, and our waitress patiently checked on us a couple of times until we were ready to order.

Miso soup and a side salad came with our entrees; they came out quickly and were delicious. The sushi didn’t take long, either. Before we knew it, our plates were empty and the owner herself came by to see how we enjoyed our meal. And we weren’t big spenders like the table next to us, but we were treated as if we were.

This is how you run a restaurant. It’s really not a high bar, but it’s astonishing how so few restaurants “get it.”“

“Visiting family from the East Coast and my daughter took me here today. I was stationed in Daegu South Korea for 2 years while in the Army. we used to get bb.q chicken almost every weekend. The kids loved it and so did I. This was my first time having it in 8 years and it immediately brought me back to being in Daegu. The food was amazing and brought us right back to being there. I highly recommend you check them out, you won't regret it!“

“No lie- Its rare to see a restaurant that can keep a high level of reviews. This is no lie! Steamy Piggy was FIRE. Ramen was TOP 10 hands down. A Creamy smooth slightly sweet pork tonkotstu. perfectly cooked thin Chasu pork medium noodles. the egg was not marinated well but if u let it sit til the end it absorbed the broth well. The pineapple fried rice was also spot on perfectly cooked shrimp and the hint of sweetness from the pineapple hit.

Will return!“

“Came here for lunch with my mom. There was still plenty of parking at 11 AM. We were seated right away. Ordered the cold noodle soup and mom had the spicy beef soup with vegetables. Both soups were delicious. The bon chons were very tasty and fresh as well. A definite go to for good comfort soups.“

“Dalbam Moon Night is an absolutely wonderful restaurant, a true hidden gem! The atmosphere is both vibrant and cozy; it feels joyful being here. Service is excellent; our waitress Saki was extremely kind, welcoming, and helpful. And the food is some of the best on Convoy, definitely the best for Korean cuisine. Everything we ordered was sensational, savory, and just right. We will definitely be returning here.“

“Came here for lunch with my mom on a Wednesday. Normally, this place has no parking availability. The place is very small but cozy. But during lunch, there were plenty. Walking in, we were seated right away. You can tell how good a restaurant is when you see most of their customers were Korean. My mom ordered the kimchi jigae. She said the broth was very good but was very disappointed that she only had 1 strip of pork belly in the soup. I ordered the galbitang and it came with 2 large beef ribs with the meat so tender it fell off the bones. The broth was also very good that i finished the broth before the meat and noodles. This is a definite place to go to again and again.“

“Great to share in good company!“

“First time dining here and we visited during Friday night dinner time. We were pleased to find out there was plenty of available parking. The strip mall which JKHP is located in depending on the day/time of week can be VERY difficult to park. We were given one of their booths and promptly served their complimentary Korean side dishes plus our water for the table. We had done a little Yelp research in JKHP prior to driving here and was pretty sure we were going to order their Galbi (grilled beef short ribs) and their Pork Cutlet. After mulling over their menu, we stuck to our original plan and ordered those two dishes mentioned. Wow, we were more than impressed with the taste, freshness, and portion size. Their dining room was clean and orderly, we were checked on by the wait staff regularly. They accept AMEX as a form of payment. We can’t wait to return to try other menu items such as their Bulgogi & Bi Bim Bap.“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“I took a day trip to San Diego from LA with my two friends and this was on our itinerary as the main event.

I ordered the Large Combo for 3-4 people with 3 choices of meats. It was $89.99 and it came with a corn cheese, the choice of a kimchi or soybean stew, and a steamed pot egg. We got the pork belly, the pork jowl, and the abomasum (I had no idea what this was, but my sweet server recommended it!)
The abomasum was really chewy and I wish it was cut smaller so the chewy-ness could be cooked down into crispier pieces, but the pork belly and jowl were excellent.

I thought it might not be enough since we were all really hungry and also added a side of the LA Galbi Meal (beef short rib on a hot stone plate and lots of grilled onion) and it also comes with rice, soybean or kimchi soup.

We also got a ton of side dishes aka banchan such as kimchi, pickled daikon, fish cake, fresh chives with spicy sauce, soy pickled onion, and sesame oil bean sprouts.

You can always tell the quality of a place by their side dishes at Korean restaurants and although it's not AYCE, the banchan here makes you forget about that and just enjoy the quality of the ingredients you're getting!

Everything was soooooo good and the portions were great!

We ate all the meats and were too full to finish all the banchan, but we kept telling each other how amazing the experience was as we were eating.

The servers are so amazing and would constantly come and check on our grill and replenish our sides without us asking. I love the hospitality and presentation of this restaurant so much.

The only thing I will say to look out for is that you may have to wait for parking and it depends on the busyness of the plaza (since they seem to have a bunch of great food businesses all in one) and it’s a small parking lot. Other than that, be ready to have such a good time!

If you're a local and haven't had SongHak, you're definitely missing out and need to try it! If you're not a local like me and have to travel 2+ hours for it, then I still say it was super worth it.“

“Just keep in mind I came here on a Monday at 6 PM so we didn't have to wait for a table or battle for parking. This parking lot was not turned into a paid lot try. It's where Chorus and Hive are. It's still fairly new so the menu is slightly limited. We saw photos of dishes on the wall but were told they were not available until next year. The jjajangmyeon was slightly watery. I got the "meat" one so there were strips of grilled pork. My husband got the "spicy" one which was green chili on top. It was not crazy spicy according to him but it was not that painful spicy. We got the chili shrimp and I really liked that. It was crispy, fried jumbo shrimp over with sweet chili sauce on a bed of cabbage. It had enough heat making your lips feel some heat. I liked it even though it's not a fancy dish. If I don't have to come on a busy weekend night I'm down to come back.

Oh just be ready to order on really slow tablets but your order gets through as long you're patient with the tablets. The tables are far enough where you feel like you're not on top of each other like at other restaurants in Convoy.“

“Bombtastic as usual! Been going for ever! Total San Diego staple!“

“My favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders!!!!!!“

“Amazing Asian supermarket with everything you could possibly need – from Korean to Japanese and more. The produce section is massive, everything is super fresh, and the bakery has an awesome selection too. If I lived around here, this would definitely be my go-to spot.“

“Every time I go to work and leaving work, I see this place and planning to go here. I finally got a chance to today. The place is hidden and probably does get busy during lunch hours, but the place is very clean and the aroma is smells delicious! I’ll post a PS after I get my takeout order. Stay tuned!“

“Good variety of proteins, lots of amazing sauces, veggies, and overall good vibes. My most favorite part that I love about this place is that you get the opportunity to be creative and become your own chef. Another great thing is you yourself get to serve and pick what you want since it’s buffet. Have fun, enjoy, and have a good time whether it’s for a date night or with a group of family or friends. Definitely a place I will go back.“

“Si ojalá iii iii Ku m lo más seguro“

“First timer. Not dissapointed at all. Food was yummy“

“Epic grub! Will be back for sure!!“

“Yum!!! Our group of 6 shared one Chocolate Banana Bingsoo after an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ dinner, and it was the perfect size and sweet treat to end the night. Great balance of light, cold, sweet, and salty!

Line was out the door, and inside was very busy on a Thursday evening around 8/9 PM.

Would highly recommend for dessert!“

“Pelicana Chicken was a great takeout option experience. I first visited this location and used the kiosk to decide on what to order. But my friend and I had a lot of questions, so we asked the staff a lot of them. She was very nice and explained the differences and gave her recommendations.

We decided to get the signature chicken with sauces on the side. We got the original and honey mustard. We also got an order of the corn cheese. It didn’t take long for us to get our order and leave. However, when we got home, we noticed the radish was missing.

Overall, the food was really great. The signature sauce was better than the honey mustard. The service was fast and quick. We went on a Saturday around 4:30 pm and it wasn’t very busy. But the plaza parking was crowded. They do accept American Express at the kiosk.“

“The search is over! Honestly- we’ve tried Korean Sundubu-jjigae (tofu soup *you can choose the protein) all over the U.S. and this unassuming restaurant delivers some of the best. Don’t let the lack of patrons make you think it is any less than neighboring places.

This place deserves more business honestly and if the owner decided to tear down the window covering more people would naturally come in and find out what we found out.“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“This food is unreal. I needed an all gluten free option while in from out of town, and took a chance on this place. I ended up eating their food two nights in a row! I had the barbecue chicken salad with sweet Korean BBQ and the impossible beef salad with gochujang. Both were phenomenal, flavorful, and generous in portion. I wish I lived here, I’d eat here all of the time!“

“I recently had the pleasure of dining here and was thoroughly impressed, especially by their outstanding curry rice dishes.
My dining companions and I sampled a good variety of their offerings. The pork cutlet curry rice and gurobuta curry rice were both absolute standouts. The curry itself was rich and flavorful, perfectly complementing the tender, crispy cutlets. If you're a fan of Japanese curry, you seriously need to try Monsta Ramen Curry – it easily surpasses other well-known curry establishments.
Beyond the curry, their teriyaki skewers and spicy mayo skewers were delicious additions, perfectly grilled and packed with flavor. We also enjoyed the potato shrimp and takoyaki, both of which were perfectly cooked and satisfying.
What makes Monsta Ramen Curry even more appealing is the very reasonable price point. You get incredibly delicious food without breaking the bank.
In short, if you're craving authentic, delicious, and affordable Japanese curry rice, Monsta Ramen Curry is an absolute must-visit if you’re in Convoy Streer. You won't be disappointed!“

“Food was amazing for a late night eats. Came here after Niteharts festival at SnapDragon. The atmosphere is dimly lit and lively, with karaoke rooms on one side of the restaurant. We ordered the Seafood and kimchi pajeon, beef bone soup with ramen, kimchijjigae, and bibimbop. The portions are huge but we managed to big back it all. There were side dishes as well, but we were never offered refills on it. Seems like service is operated with a button setup to streamline their workflow, where there’s a service button for: water, bill, server. Overall solid place that closes late.“

“First of all I must tell you that I typically do not like Korean barbecue. That being said, this place is excellent. The food is really good. The service was also really good. The atmosphere was good it's going to be a loud place because there's a lot of people and that's okay. I took my daughter here for her birthday. We had a great time and I highly recommend that if you want to go to a good barbecue place to go here. The ratings were high so we drove 35 minutes to get there and it was worth it.“

“Came here back in 2023 and finally back in 2025, always ordered the jajangmyeon and haven’t turned back on it since. Still great! Still consistent and will still order when i come back again.

Service is quick too, portion size is big too“

“My parents in law tried Korean food for the first time! We ordered spicy dawji galbi jjim, soy drumsticks, bulgogi, corn cheese, rice and of course banchan. The food was amazing, they loved it and I loved it too! We even had some leftovers. The place was nice, the servers were awesome. It was great dinner for us.“

“all is good!“

“Fair portions and hearty food. Chicken, rice, and vegetables do me well. The staff is always friendly. I have a big appetite and this is filling and somewhat health concious. I usually have enough for 1.5 meals if I get the plate. I always get the spicy korean chicken. I have come here many times and will continue to return.“

“Ant was great — super friendly, attentive, and easygoing. The spot itself is really nice, with a chill vibe that makes you want to stay a while. And the hotteok? Absolutely delicious — crispy on the outside, soft and gooey inside. Ant made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. Thank you!“

“My favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders!!!!!!“

“This place is good at first I was really bummed to see bibigo disappear and was thinking that nothing would ever replace it ,but this place does a fine job at that. I really enjoyed all the food here and it has motivated me to. visit the UTC more often so I can eat here.“

“Stumbled upon this little restaurant in Miramar when I was in the area. Came in for a late lunch and the place was empty. There was a musty smell and I think it must be because the building is old. But the restaurant was clean and service was quick.
I ordered my chicken,beef, and veggie combo rice bowl to go. There was a lot of food and the price was very reasonable. Good place to grab lunch on the go.“

“Always my favorite chicken place to go to. ☺️“

“Amazing food!!!!❤️👍👍 must try“

“So many choices of protein and sides. Spicy beef soup really good. The cheesy corn so yummy. I love the two dipping sauces, one is more salty but really good. They are always jam packed but once your on the wait list it goes by pretty quick 😉. Parking is an issue but there's parking up the street for $8.55 4hours. We'll worth it.“

“I have come here several times and I can attest that their food is exceptional. I have ordered the vegetable soon tofu, their boiled dumplings, and the seafood kalguksu. Each dish is made with love and care and I always feel warm after eating here. Their service is efficient and even if they are busy, they manage to be quick on the service. Their banchan selection is great as well, sometimes something new everytime I come. I have also gotten takeout from this place and I really love how they give me anchovies as a banchan selection as I love the little fishies. It's too bad their parking can become crowded if you do not come close to opening.“

“First time here for karaoke party. The room was big they had a big screen TV they had a digital selection book. The mics worked well. Everyone that was in the party I was with had a good time. We were there on a Sunday afternoon between 1:00 and 4:00. FYI: the first two hours of parking is free the third hour you'll have to pay. you'll need one of those parking apps or you can scan the barcode off one of the signs in the parking lot.“

“Staff very attentive and friendly“

“affordable, friendly and fast service“

“Ordered half of the whole chicken with Monster sauce and it was really good.

The chicken was crispy and the spice level was perfect!
I find it hard to gauge how spicy Korean chicken wings are at different places because its place seems to have their own level of spiciness whereas I find Thai food level of spiciness more or less the same.
So here's a little background about my taste in spiciness: at Thai food places, I like to get 7/10 for pad thai and 8-10 for drunken noodles/pad kee mao; which means I enjoy quite a bit of spice but I also want to taste the sweetness if the dish is supposed to be sweet.
Korean chicken wings should have some sweetness and but mild sounds too bland to me, so I went with my guts and got the monster. Jackpot!!! This really hits the spot; I got a little bit of spice, a lot of crunch and enough sweetness.

The portion is quite small; so go big next time.

Got this to-go and it was well-packed.“

“The server was extremely nice and helpful. The chicken was really crunchy and big, but also really oily, but that's to be expected, it is deep fried afterall. The flavor of the original chicken was really good. We also got tteokbokki and it was soft and the flavor was sweet. The cheese balls were a good size as well. The kimchi fried rice is also oily but I think that is expected, it is fried. Overall I think the flavor of the food was good. I specially want to highlight our beautiful server for being such a lovely person.“