40 Best Korean Restaurants near National City

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“If you're craving some seriously mouthwatering Korean fried chicken, look no further than Bonchon! From the moment I walked in, I knew I was in for a treat. The fried rice was nothing short of amazing--perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and just the right amount of seasoning. It was the ideal start to an incredible meal.

Now, let's talk about the kimchi. Traditional, spicy, and packed with that authentic kick that really takes it to the next level. It's hands down my favorite kimchi I've had in ages! And speaking of favorites, the coleslaw was absolutely to die for. The tangy vinegar and black pepper profile was so refreshing and unique, it completely stole the show for me. Seriously, it might be the best I've ever had.

But let's get to the main event: the wings. Oh my goodness, the wings! Crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned--they're by far the best I've ever had. We went with the ginger soy and traditional Korean BBQ sauces, and both were absolutely phenomenal. The ginger soy had that sweet and savory balance, while the Korean BBQ was just the right amount of smoky and tangy. Each bite was a perfect burst of flavor.

Bonchon is a true gem if you're looking for incredible Korean flavors that are both comforting and exciting. I can't recommend it enough!“

“Food is consistently good. Service is also consistent....... consistently slow and unfriendly. If I didn't love those delicious dogs, I wouldn't give these grumps anymore of my money, but I can't quit them. Work on your timing. 30 minutes is a ridiculous wait time.“

“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!“

“Food already great here 💕 🍣 🍱“

“ohana Hawaiian island BBQ is the best in town I've been coming here since my son was one and a half he's seven now and it has become his favorite food I bring him here as a reward when he's a good kid thank you ohana you have become part of my family 🙏❤️“

“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!“

“I love that there’s a great Korean restaurant in Chula Vista. We’ve been here a handful of times and it’s been great each time. Had the pleasure of spending my birthday here this year. The beef bulgogi is so good, and my wife and daughter love the ramen. We will be back!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

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

“Amazing ! Easy to stay on track with clean food, I really enjoyed the meal and the customer service! It was my first time there and I will definitely come back again! I enjoyed a half and half bowl with veggies. Fresh and made just for me , not off of an assembly line.“

“The foods that we order was all good!!!“

“Si ojalá iii iii Ku m lo más seguro“

“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.“

“Love the food and the servers are very friendly“

“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.“

“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!“

“Delicious food and great atenttion“

“First time to try this place on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t busy at all, we were seated within a few mins. The ambiance is really nice, clean and well kept. Service is outstanding, younger employees working hard. They would check on us every 5-10mins and changed our grill when needed. The meat is fresh and has great quality. All in all our experience was wonderful. Def will be back!“

“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!“

“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“

“all is good!“

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

“Went here with my friends multiple times, and they do have really good food. The corndogs are really good and taste better with sugar, surprisingly!! The service is mediocre. The cashiers do play candy crush on their phones a lot or talk to each other or just seem like they have an attitude most of the time, so beware. The atmosphere?? It's a mall. What do you expect from it??“

“Amazing food!!!!❤️👍👍 must try“

“I had an amazing experience here! The staff were professional and friendly, making me feel right at home. The highlight of my visit was definitely the spicy chicken wings - the Gabli wings were phenomenal! The flavor was just perfect. I highly recommend this place for anyone craving delicious Korean BBQ food and excellent service. Will definitely be coming back!“

“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.“

“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.“

“affordable, friendly and fast service“

“Staff very attentive and friendly“

“My husband who has celiac disease loved it!! The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. This is the best fried chicken we’ve had since my husband was diagnosed. Unfortunately the sauces aren’t gf so we didn’t try those. The restaurant was very clean and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back!“

“This place was a gem! I was looking for something with good reviews open late night, and this ended being a really great option! Loved the atmosphere and look. And they had so many crazy options which I loved. Service was fast and very friendly. Great place!“

“Amazing food! Delicious every single time!“

“LOVED Flame Broiler - the food is delish :) The Owner is awesome - support a La Jolla small business.“

“Good quality of meet, good customer service,“