19 Best Korean Restaurants near Santa Monica

“Lots of vegan options“

“Very affordable and chill place to swing by with friends after work. The owner is very sweet and all staff is very attentive and care that you're having a good experience.

Place is open late and definitely recommend for a casual hang out with friends!“

“They came to Clovis and had amazing service and even better food and drinks!! The two workers were extremely friendly and gave us great things to try for our first time! The tuna mayo bowl and their iced coffee were THE BEST!! Hope they make more visits down here :)“

“This place is awesome! Very good food and very fresh. It was good for my whole family since they had both spicy and non spicy options. The choice of protein options was exceptional. Service was outstanding. The staff is very helpful. For example, the clean bathroom needs a code to get in (since we ar in LA) and they were proactive to help my younger son get in.
Only small issue is there could be more variety in fountain drink options.“

“Pretty standard Korean food. I got the galbi combo with the regular beef soup (medium spice), and the galbi was BY FAR the best part of the meal. Juicy, tender, and seasoned to perfection. My only gripe is I wish there were more! The tofu soup was just okay—I’ve had better at other Korean restaurants like BCD. All in all, not bad at all for somewhere located in a place known for Japanese food!“

“i had their bowls and it was delicious and affordable for all that they put on there!! huge size and flavor.. 5* for me i highly recommend them...yummmmmm///. yo. comi sus bowls y les doy un 5* por tanta comida como buen sabor...buen precio por tanta comida...“

“We ate inside at the counter and tried a little bit of a few things off the menu. The sweet & spicy fried chicken and fried chicken dumplings were delicious. 😋🍴 We also tried the bulgogi and spicy chicken bowl and both were so delicious. As a side note, the man that waited on us (not sure if it was the owner or not) was very nice and hospitable. ☺️“

“Best Korean bbq in Los Angeles. 강력추천합니다.“

“So glad to finally tried this place, I don't have to drive to Ktown when I have the cravings for Korean food. I was skeptical but I had to try this place at least once. I went there with my daughter for lunch, ordered kimchee fried rice, kimche jjigae and port katzu. The portions were good and the taste was pretty authentic. Definitely going back. I'm sure their sushi will be pretty good as well as our lunch was.“

“Portion sizes here are undefeated. You get so much chicken in the small bowl. The grilled chicken is juicy and hot with a unique teriyaki sauce that steals the show. I really like their short grain rice as well. Great post-workout meal.

I used to frequent the Long Beach location and this spot tastes exactly the same thankfully. Area is a little rough but the store itself is clean and inviting.“

“Sad the old place is gone. Newly renovated, cleaner, not broken tables. Quality of everything took a giant step up. Meat, especially. Prices went up too, but this is a different establishment than was here. Things taste fresher now, and not overly oily or sweet, however much I may have liked it prior, this is definitely a huge improvement. The speed at which things came out are a little slower but I hope they work they service kinks out soon since they just opened. New owners, familiar front of house staff.

Parking: Not much street parking, can become a mess at night“

“Great food, service and atmosphere“

“This place is incredible! The service was excellent. The person at the counter was very helpful and polite. The dining area is bright, clean and open. There's a little bit of a wait but worth it. The food is cooked fresh and the quality is amazing. A good menu and selection and the pricing is great. I'll be back to update my review and photos“

“Great atmosphere. You can be at the bar or outside with the tables - similar to a brewery. The only thing is the bartenders get SLAMMED. You're forced to wait to order food and/or drinks. I parked in BOFA lot (not sure if that's okay). I ordered 3 short rib tacos and they were delicious.“

“The drinks are so thoughtfully crafted and their potato chips are done fresh! The worker there was kind enough to offer me a reccomendation and she was incredibly understanding. I'll definitely be going again for that drink and those potato chips!“

“The food is fire! The service is mediocre, and the atmosphere is trash (literally). There was a city trash can right outside the restaurant door overfilled with garage and reeking of piss. As for inside of the restaurant, it is very small and crammed. You’re almost standing on top of other people as you wait in line to order or wait for your food to be ready.

As for the food… wow!! 10 out of 10. I ordered the Koren fried chicken (sweet & spicy) and a side of steamed rice. I cannot wait to go back and order this again. I killed the entire meal and did not leave anything behind. My wife ordered the Spicy Mayo Chicken bowl and the Fried Chicken Dumplings. The portion size was huge! She could not finish it. The spicy sauce was too spicy and overpowered the flavor of the chicken, rice, and veggies. Rating this bowl a 4 out of 10 on the spicy overkill.

The prices here are AMAZING! We only spent $25 for our food, drove to Manhattan beach, and enjoyed it while watching the sunset. Our food was still hot after the 35 min drive.“

“Came here today June 15,2025. The person wearing white apron is very nice to explain the menu and good service. Of all the 3 restaurant (HIDE, Big boi, Tofu ya) I went to. Tofu ya have the most decent amount of food for their price. Variety of side dishes. I’m glad I found this place. Will definitely come back.“

“One dish that eeally stood out to me qas their signature Chicken bowl. The grilled chicken tender and juicy, perfectly seasoned with their special marinade. The combination of the savory chicken, steam veggies and fluffy rice created a satisfying and well balanced meal.“

“This place was definitely a place I was a little sketched out to stop by, but the reviews convinced me otherwise. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT WAS! I have lived in Santa Monica for 2 years now and this was my first time - some of the best food I have eaten since living in LA. Very fresh fish and unique flavor profiles. I got the Alaskan spicy roll and it was one of the best sushi rolls I’ve ever had! 10/10 recommend!!! The gyoza was also phenomenal - very flavors and the sauce was awesome! I will definitely be ONLY going here for sushi moving forward!“