50 Best Korean Restaurants near Lake Forest

“Ordered the Kimbap + Padak combo for a get together and it was honestly way more food than I expected. It was only $80 and easily fed 8 people. Everything tasted amazing and there were plenty of leftovers.
The kimbap was fresh and the padak was so good. Everyone kept going back for more. Definitely one of the best values I’ve found for feeding a group.“

“They have decent food combo options. I usually get the mini plate which includes one protein (I choose Kalbi) one base (I choose rice) plus two sides (I get japchae and asian broccoli) It's full of flavor and it's a lot of food so I usually have left overs. The staff are friendly And they have rewards system so be sure to sign up and get credits especially on your birthday.“

“This spot is great for hungry teens or adults to grab an after school snack, dine in, or get a meal to go. \n‘Twas hard to believe the perfectly cooked brown rice and generous portions of my “half and half” bowl—beef n chicken with veggies topped by their Magic Sauce—-totally delicious!“

“Stopped by for lunch and had a fantastic experience. We ordered the Donkatsu Plate, Spicy Tofu Soup Meal, and the Bulgogi Bowl, and every dish was delicious.

The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating. My son has a sesame allergy, and they immediately checked with the kitchen and confirmed the ingredients.

The donkatsu was the thinner, smashed pork chop style with a perfectly crispy coating, and the house sauce paired with it was especially good. The bulgogi was tender and packed with flavor. The spicy tofu soup was on the milder side, making it a great option for anyone who enjoys the flavor without too much heat.

The food came out surprisingly fast, everything tasted fresh, and the service was excellent. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in the area!“

“I recently visited Mubong-ri Soondae-guk and decided to try their cheese tonkatsu instead of the usual soondae-guk, and I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying the meal was. The breading on the pork cutlet was perfectly crispy, and once I cut into it, the generous amount of cheese inside melted out beautifully, adding a great visual appeal. The meat itself was tender and not chewy at all, making it a dish that anyone would enjoy, and the harmony with the provided sauce was excellent. Since it is a restaurant specializing in soondae-guk, I didn't have high expectations, but I was truly shocked by the high quality, which rivaled that of specialized tonkatsu restaurants. The savory flavor of the cheese filling the mouth was a real treat. If you are looking for a hearty and delicious meal, I highly recommend trying the cheese tonkatsu at Mubong-ri. I will definitely be coming back!“

“Top tier Korean bbq restaurant where they cook everything for you and you just get to relax and enjoy. The meat quality is superb and the best option is the beef/pork combo. The side dishes are limited but easily made up for by the main dishes. The place gets very busy so it is best to make a reservation. The entire vibe is casual and all of the servers greet you when you walk in. Really great experience, service, vibe, and food. Best part is the ventilation above the grill is great and sucks up all the smoke effectively“

“Staff are friendly. Place is clean and wait time was very minimal“

“I love this ZIP BBQ in Tustin, Its small placed but it well management the store are very clean the services are great and fast the foods are excellence. Thanks will coming back and recomend“

“Ordered: Calbi bento, chicken cutlet bento & calbi bibimbap bowl.

The food was great, chicken cutlet was tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. The calbi meat was tender and all the side banchan was delicious. We ate everything! Prices were reasonable and the service was nice. There was only two small tables inside so just head on outside where there is a community outdoor seating area.“

“We had such a great lunch at Annie’s Table in Irvine! It’s one of those hidden local spots that feels warm and welcoming the minute you walk in. The atmosphere is clean and relaxed — a perfect place to grab a delicious meal without any fuss.

The staff was friendly and made us feel right at home, which made the whole experience even better. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. From the comforting bowls to the tasty sides and drinks, it all hit the spot.

It’s also cool that they have fun drinks like boba, and smoothies if you want something extra with your meal.

Annie’s Table is definitely worth checking out — we’ll be back!“

“Everything is great! Love the food, service & atmosphere! Strongly recommended good restaurants!🙏🥰“

“Our family loves Kaju food.“

“Best, new family owned place! My first time trying Korean BBQ...had the spicy pork...soooooo good! Environment was very welcoming...and customer service was awesome! Kuddos to owners Maggie and Earl...you’re doing a great job! #customerforlife“

“Just hit up the I Can Barbecue at Tustin Marketplace and it’s legit! Their $23.99 weekday lunch AYCE is an insane steal. The meat quality is top-tier (definitely get the beef tongue), and I love that you can order half portions. The robot servers are a fun touch. Massive space with a huge patio, perfect to grab food before shopping!“

“The best chicken bites I've had for a long time. The chan chan sauce is phenomenal. We're coming back. Parking is usually easy but today USA plays Australian in FIFA so it took a bit. We were able to watch the game during our meal.“

“Very good 🥩 steak. Will come here again ❤️“

“とても美味しいスープがお手頃なお値段でいただけます。“

“This place is a hidden gem. 10/10 would eat again. The food is great. The staff are friendly. There are a TON of choices for drinks and sides (bottled drinks and individual chip bags). Large enough menu for both lunch and breakfast and they have rotating daily specials. They will be happy to make you a lunch time sandwich even at 8am.Can’t compliment this place enough. If you are in the area and want a quick and easy breakfast/lunch this is the place!“

“came here for the first time last week and honestly wish i’d found it sooner. the guy behind the counter was super friendly and helped me pick out something good since i couldn’t decide. definitely gonna be coming back, its my new favorite spot in the area.“

“My friend brought me to this place and I was excited to try. I ordered the tonkatsu and rice cake/dumpling soup. Not gonna lie, my expectations were shattered. I can't go back to my usual spot to enjoy the soup and tonkatsu anymore. Soup was so flavorful and tasty, the dumpling was massive, the tonkatsu is enormous. For the price, it was worth it. Would come back here again.“

“Not your classic korean barbecue but even better. My wife and I love this place and it’s one of our usuals. Great selection of meet, great tasting kimchi that is fried on the pan and the kimchi fried rice at the end is something else! Highly recommended“

“Spicy chicken feet is at the right level of spiciness. They don’t have boneless option, so you have to do your work. And if you decided to order spicy chicken feet, order with diy rice ball. Not because it’s fiery hot, but the portion of one order is def not enough for two people. So if you are hungry, combo menu will be the best. Me and my friend got combo A, and we got enough of various dishes ( chicken feet+diy rice ball+steamed egg+fried chicken). Also this place didn’t seemed to be overly busy even in the Friday night. No need for reservation.“

“Clean store and tons of Asian products too“

“my husband and I get lunch here weekly, on our way back from the gym. This is the best FB store that we've been to - from the friendly employee at the counter to the consistently delicious & healthy-tasting food that gets prepared super fast. It's our favorite FB location because of the people who work here and the food quality.“

“BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK FOR AYCE KBBQ! I visited during lunchtime on a weekday and was seated right away. Their prices caught my eye right away… $21.99 for lunch special!!

I loved their open meat and side dish bar where you can self-serve extra meats and rice as well! Stand out meats were definitely the beef tongue and beef belly!

The interior was spacious with lots of booth seatings available. The service was also very nice! Will definitely be back and highly recommend!“

“My partner and I got the 돼지갈비 김치찜 Pork Rib Kimchi Hot Pot and it was very delicious! We can’t handle too much spice, so they kindly offered us an extra bowl of bone broth to add in. Service was excellent! We got there just after 6pm on a Friday for dinner and there was no wait even without a reservation. It did get packed around 7pm, but there were still a few tables left. Portions were large so we couldn’t finish, but they offered us to-go containers, which made great leftovers the next day. 10/10“

“We ordered the signature set ($37.99) which came with a dumpling sampler, cold noodle, rose toekpokki (mild), and we did a tonkatsu add on. The only thing we didn't like was the add on, it was overpriced at $5.00 and only tasted ok. But the rest was SUPER DELICIOUS. Everything has such great flavors. Service was amazing, he was very friendly and even walked our food to us at our table. Would definitely come back for more.“

“I recently visited this local business and had a great experience from start to finish. The staff was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely interested in helping me find exactly what I needed. The space was clean, well-organized, and had a comfortable atmosphere that made browsing enjoyable. Prices were fair for the quality offered, and everything felt thoughtfully curated. It’s clear they care about their customers and take pride in what they do. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to friends and family.“

“My sister and I were craving kimbap and this place delivered. Because of the prices we thought the serving sizes would be small but it was very generous and filling. I really liked the beef vegetable and the spicy tuna which definitely had a kick but was tasty. But we also tried the spicy fish cake which we enjoyed more than expected (was not fishy at all which is what we were worried about but also wasn’t really spicy). Overall loved it all and the person who helped us was very kind and quick with the order.
It is in the grocery store and we ate at home but I think there is some places to sit outside. Not much of an atmosphere for this place but the coffee shop next door seemed great too.“

“Clean store and tons of Asian products too“

“Great service! We've been here before and like it a lot! We both got bowls with the purple rice and a side of the Korean street fries! The toppings in the bowl went so well with everything and is a good amount of food! Everything was so good and the rest of the menu with the kimchi burgers looks great! Will definitely be back to try everything on the menu“

“Good food and very friendly environment“

“I went to another KBBQ spot down the street and noticed it was not AYCE so I called this place and because we had a huge party, they had no problem setting up the table for us before we got there. I really appreciate the staff being so nice to us and having everything ready for us! 10/10 for the service. As for the food, side dishes are amazing and the kimchi was so fresh mmm! I loved the meat selections that they had to offer and the bangchan side dishes. I appreciate the atmosphere and the vibe too, I feel like more common kbbq spots have minimal lighting in the restaurant but this one was perfect!! I could see all my friends! Left with a full stomach! will definitely come here again!“

“Really delicious food and friendly service! My friends and I got the bossam and marinated crab - the bossam was not too fatty and came with a refreshing sauce and the crab was fresh and flavorful. They were also generous with the banchan refills.“

“My experience here was very good. I came in a bit later so there weren’t many people there and the service was fast. The food was so good it flew off the table before I could snap a picture. It a very good restaurant with reasonable prices and tasty food. They have dishes designed for 2, which I find very convenient if you come with your significant other.“

“Love this place! The food is always very tasty and flavorful, and the portions are generous. The staff is friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. We love coming here with our family and always leave happy and full. Definitely a go-to spot for us. Highly recommend!“

“I was able to pick up my food once I got there after a long morning at work. The person who was working in front immediately greeted me and helped me out! The food was top tier! It was my first time getting boneless wings and I can see myself doing that again“

“Yuchun can be found inside the food court at H Mart Irvine WestPark. There are a good number of Korean food options within the food hall, but we decided on Yuchun and it was the right choice. I went with the Yuchun Signature Set which included a variety of banchan, rice, soup and bulgogi for $25.99. I paid an upcharge to substitute kalbi as my choice of protein and it did not disappoint. Simply order at the kiosk and they’ll call your number when your order is ready, but be forewarned that the tray can be on the heavier side when you pickup. The Signature Set is not the most affordable menu option, but it provides a balanced meal of Korean dishes and the portion size is hearty enough for leftovers. I’ll def be back!“

“Nice place to hang out with friends“

“Wow! What a find! Had lunch at Tomo Sushi and everything was just so genuinely good. I ordered the cucumber salad and the sashimi roll, and the chef surprised me with complimentary crab tempura. OMG… that crab tempura was incredible — the flavor just burst in your mouth.

And the miso soup? Definitely a winner. Not lukewarm like so many places… I mean actually hot, fresh, rich, and flavorful. You could really taste the care in it.

The sashimi roll was amazing too — “flavorful” honestly doesn’t even describe it. The fish tasted super fresh.

The restaurant itself is quiet and comfortable, with two chefs and one server, and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Nothing felt forced or over-the-top… just genuine hospitality and really good food.

If you’ve never been here, honestly make the trip just to try it. Based only on what I tasted today, I’d absolutely come back again 🤗🍣🌹“

“Service was friendly and quick, and i got food.“

“This was my first time coming to HMart as I live 2 1/2 hours away. To my surprise they had a full on food court where I found Cho Dang and I want to say the food was absolutely AMAZING!!!!! I had the Hot Stone Spicy Pork Bibimbap the food was sizzling the aroma was pleasing and the taste was incredible the pork was very tender and flavorful. I will definitely take the 2 hour car ride to come eat here again!“

“This restaurant is located inside H Mart Northpark, and this was actually my second time visiting. They serve really good quality food here. On my first visit, I had the spicy octopus stone pot bibimbap, and this time I went with the pork cutlet set. Both dishes were delicious and definitely exceeded my expectations.

One thing I love is that the prices are noticeably more affordable ($12 - $22) compared to other places in the H Mart food court, yet the food quality is just as good — if not better. Since it’s close to my workplace, it’s super convenient for lunch. Plus, I appreciate that there’s less pressure around tipping, which makes the dining experience feel more relaxed.

Overall, it’s a great spot for a quick and satisfying lunch. I’m planning to come back regularly and keep updating my review as I try more dishes!“

“Fantastisk spisested. Kunne være fedt at have i Danmark �“

“It is a great place that opens till very late. We came at almost midnight and had some cold beer and authentic food. Some of the food is very authentic such as the blood sausage. We tried that and some fried whole chicken, fried tofu, and squid. It was nice you can just ordered thru the pad and they served quick. They gave us some free orange slices too.“

“Katsu elevated to an art form. The panko crust on the pork and chicken is perfectly crisp and never greasy, and the house-made tonkatsu sauce is something special. When I'm out with clients who want a deep dive into Irvine's incredible Asian food scene, this is always on the list. Minimalist space, focused menu, executed with real care and precision. If you love Japanese comfort food, this is required eating.“

“Kalbi Social at Irvine Spectrum is a great spot if you’re craving bold Korean BBQ flavors in a modern, casual setting.

The food really delivers—especially the short rib (kalbi), which is tender, well-marinated, and grilled perfectly. The meats come out sizzling and flavorful, and the banchan (side dishes) are fresh and a nice complement to the meal. The rice bowls and shareable plates are also solid if you’re not going full BBQ.

The drinks are surprisingly good for a BBQ spot. They’ve got a fun mix of cocktails and soju-based drinks that pair well with the smoky, savory food. Nothing feels too heavy or overly sweet, which makes it easy to keep ordering another round.

The vibe is lively and stylish—definitely more of a social, hangout-type restaurant than a traditional BBQ house. Great for groups, date nights, or grabbing food before or after walking the Spectrum.

Overall, Kalbi Social is a strong addition to the Irvine dining scene—great flavors, fun atmosphere, and an easy go-to when you want Korean BBQ with a modern twist.“

“The second flame broiler I have been to. The food is simple and decently healthy. Just meat, rice, and veggies. The flavor is good and does not leave you feeling bloated. The staff are very friendly but the food comes out slowly. Seems like they are not sustainable, only 2 people working and not that busy. The interior is large and clean.“

“Their specialty dishes are: 1. Sullungtang: taste amazing and very light. A good meal for winter/ 2. Cold noodle: the best I've tried so far, especially when you get a combo with spicy pork or bulgogi 3. Meat: spicy pork/bulgogi was homemade and were not like other korean restaurants. Taste very delicious!“

“Chai Lan in Irvine is such a great find! I ordered the black bean sauce noodle with pork, and it was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The servers were very nice and friendly, and the whole place felt clean and cozy — a really comfortable spot to enjoy a meal.

Free parking is a big plus! Highly recommended if you’re looking for tasty food, great service, and convenience.“