42 Best Korean Restaurants near Santa Monica

“This is the first place in LA that brought me right back to being in Korea eating some delicious food. The seolleongtang hit so well! The beef and noodles were perfect! I highly recommend! Make sure to get on the yelp waitlist before you go!“

“Lots of vegan options“

“Their spicy beef and leek soup was really not that good. That beef was super tough and the soup was incredibly spicy even after I’ve asked the man in the back for it to be little spicy as possible. Their other soup won gi tang was amazing, packed with plenty of beef and it wasn’t too salty. Their big soup plate won gi soo yook was really great too! The two servers in the front were super nice and the welcoming. Very nice atmosphere and we got seated right away and served with water.“

“Great people and even greater food.
I would marry the Bulgogi Burger then divorce it just so I could marry it again!!

Also it’s a great price.

Whenever I come back into town from a trip this is one of my first stops!!!“

“I found my new favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. PZK BBQ on Beverly Blvd in the Fairfax neighborhood is it.

My daughter took me there for Father's Day, 2026. My go-to order at Korean restaurants is galbi, marinated beef short ribs. At PZK BBQ you can get all you can eat at a reasonable price. It's delicious. Service is quick because you grill it at your table. It's delicious.

The typical Korean side dishes, also all you can eat, are also delicious.

Our server was pleasant and efficient. The ambiance is pleasant. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. The way the restaurant is set up, I couldn't see any way for a party of more than six could eat together. We were a party of five, my daughter, her family, and me, so we were fine.

There's a valet parking station out front, or there's street parking. The restaurant is kid friendly as long as your kids like Korean food.“

“This place is like a Korean convenience store but upgraded and it's right by UCLA. Fresh kimbap, banchan, warm meals, snacks, drinks, ice cream, frozen meal kits and so much more.

What I tried:
- Tteokbokki
- Sweet Chili chicken
- Beef kimbap
- Bong Bong (Korean grape drink with real grape pieces inside)
Total came out $30.86

The price-to-quality ratio is seriously 👌 Affordable, and you can just taste the effort they put into the food. Authentic flavors but elevated quality. The kimbap is so fresh! Thinly sliced ingredients, generous filling, light on the rice. perfect bite every time.

Staff was super friendly, the storefront is clean and easy to spot, and there's public parking available. Already eyeing the egg-only kimbap for next time!“

“This is one of my favorite places on Sawtelle.
Everything I’ve ordered has been excellent, and the Galbi and Seafood Sundubu stand out.
I usually dine in, though I sometimes order food to go. The quality has been consistently outstanding.
The restaurant is comfortable, and the staff are very friendly.

With so many great restaurants lining Sawtelle Blvd, located in the area known as Little Osaka, it can be hard to decide where to eat. This place is always at the top of my list.“

“I love the BBQ, BUT they were slow to replenish the free condiments. Whether it's two or five people, the condiments, salad, and noodle were the same portion. I wondered why. I asked and they seemed to brush it off. I want more salad and kimchi!!!“

“Everything was great. Except this was the smallest burger I think I’ve had in LA. It would be considered a fries salad combo w a side of a burger for $19. Bottled water included. … by the vibe of it tho the Korean food prolly smackin.“

“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. ☺️“

“There's nothing I can say bad about this place I wish I could give the atmosphere a five star but I also love the fact that it's super casual and more relaxed. As far as the food I would drive from Beverly Hills just to get their bowls. It deserves a five-star. Everything went incredibly smooth and the staff were incredibly professional. I could go on and on about the quality of the food but I haven't had every dish. The one dish I had the bulgogi with rice was done to perfection. The rice was correctly made as can be. And the flavor from the bulgogi was not overly sweet and left a great aftertaste. Couldn't recommend it enough. If you're ever in the neighborhood pick some up you'll be happy you did.“

“Love the taste and selection of the foods!“

“Underrated halal spot on the Westside! On the slightly pricier side but portions are generous and service is great! The fried chicken is super tasty and crispy, haven't tried the bulgogi or katsu yet but I'm sure it's just as good.“

“I’ve been going to Golden Bowl for a long time, and it’s always been a great experience. The atmosphere is good, the food is consistently delicious, and the service is always kind and welcoming.

I really like the teriyaki chicken and shrimp—honestly, everything I’ve tried there has been good. I’ve been going since my firstborn was little, and now he’s 23, so I’ve built a lot of history there.

They always treat you well, the service is sweet, and the free refills are a nice touch. It’s just a solid spot to sit down, relax, and grab a quick bite. Definitely worth it, and I recommend it.“

“The food was very good. It was crispy and tasty. I really liked the food.

But I had a problem with parking. The validation machine in the store was not working. I asked the staff, and they told me I was “good to go.” But when I left the parking lot, I still had to pay $17.

This was frustrating because I checked before leaving. I hope they fix this problem soon.

Food is great, but parking needs to be better.“

“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...“

“Food was super tasty! Price was great for the portion they give and they really load up the bowl. Service was quick and my cashier was nice!

I got the spicy mayo chicken bowl and the chicken was juicy with a crispy batter. The sauce was really spicy which I loved and it went great with their house made pickles! Rice was perfectly cooked and soaked up all the sauce. I also got a side of their kimchi and it was good not as spicy as I like my kimchi but it had a good brine and crisp flavor and was a perfect combination with the spicy chicken.

Overall I will be coming back and am very happy that they’re a quick walk from my job!“

“I recently celebrated my husband's surprise 40th birthday party at the Alibi Room. Such an amazing time, the staff were so helpful, the food was amazing! If I could give more stars I would! Huge shout out to Andrea, Krystal and staff for the phenomenal service! I cannot thank everyone enough for making our celebration so special!“

“Best Korean food around! The bulgogi tacos were a 100/10—absolutely delicious. And the dumplings? Don’t even get me started… they were fire! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and packed with taste. On top of that, they had the best music playing, which made the whole experience even better. Great food, great vibes, and great service. Highly recommend!“

“Great food, service and atmosphere“

“Genuinely incredible. It is in a small plaza that doesn't get a lot of traffic, but I do hope that they thrive! When we walked in, I was initially pleasantly surprised at how the place did not smell smoky despite several occupied tables actively grilling meat. It wasn't until we directly walked past the tables that you got a small whiff--their ventilation is evidently top notch.

They do have a smaller meat selection for the AYCE but that wasn't a dealbreaker to me at all. The quality of all of the cuts were so good that despite NEVER getting chicken at KBBQ, we ordered a portion of chicken just to try it out. It was such good chicken.

The sides were delicious, perfectly fermented kimchi, pancake was delightful.

Service was so attentive (5pm on a Wednesday). Servers would ask us if we would like refills of sides when we had finished them and would even ask us if we would like more meat when they saw that we had finished grilling that type of meat!

Will absolutely be back here over making the trek out to ktown in the near future! :)“

“What a beautiful restaurant. Loved the menu- so many delicious options, ended up getting the bulgogi plate and it came with so many yummy sides I was delighted. Also the interior is Titanic themed and it’s pretty and fun. Thank you 🙏“

“Best Korean bbq in Los Angeles. 강력추천합니다.“

“Casual dinning atmosphere“

“Been familiar with Chef Celsie for some time. What is so imperative to highlight is the fact that when you have a true fusionist of tasteful delicacies; then you know you are just about to experience culinary heaven in your mouth. That is Chef Celsie, her deep knowledge of so many different kinds of culinary cultures makes her as force to be reckoned in La La Land. So in other words, you truly are in for a real treat!! #simplydelicious“

“Love the side dishes and all of their jiggaes. I got the mushroom jiggae, and it was great. I’ve been going here for awhile, and the food always comes out super quickly, prices are reasonable, the side dishes have a good variety, and there always seems to be at least one table open. Or even on the rare occasion that all the tables are full, the chefs get the food out so quickly that the wait is never long.“

“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!“

“What a great dining experience! The corn dogs were fresh, crunchy, and bursting with flavor. The portions were generous, and the presentation was appealing. The staff was welcoming and went above and beyond to ensure we enjoyed our meal. The restaurant had a comfortable atmosphere that made us want to stay longer. Highly recommended for anyone craving delicious American food.“

“I'm giving this place a five star review because for a fast food Korean restaurant it was delicious. I have been eating Korean food for many many years and ordinarily it comes with Banchan. You don't get that here but you do have the option of ordering kimchi in a pre-sealed container. It was actually pretty good. I say that because I love kimchi I've had various types. And this one is pretty good. I opted for the plate instead of the bowl because you get more protein. My dish was very tasty. I probably would substitute the slice of orange for another food item. But that's just me. The person with me had a bowl and she really enjoyed her food. I'm willing to say I would go back. If I'm willing to go back then I enjoy the food and the atmosphere.“

“This is my go to order when I’m needing something healthy and delicious. Not only that the service is amazing and the options are huge! Plus the sauces are vegan so you aren’t limited!
It’s not a restaurant though, you have to order online.“

“Great owners, long time staff who are really good people. They all care about their food and their service“

“organic taste 😋 and fast delivery 🚚 I recommend“

“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...“

“My first time eating at a Korean BBQ restaurant. I really enjoyed the experience and the food.“

“I enjoyed it! I got the Korean spicy chicken bowl with green onion only, and I thought it was very flavorful and spicy for sure! I took my meal to go, but the space was very small so if you wanna sit down make sure there isnt a big group of you.“

“I am so thankful that there is a Flame Broiler in Culver City. I’ve been going here for years, and the staff is always friendly, the prices are so affordable, and the quality of food is great. I have a severe dairy allergy and this is one of the only fast casual places that I can safely eat at. Please support this business! Also, love the app and rewards program. Get a free bowl every few hundred points. Well worth it!“

“What a great surprise... Everything tasted fresh and the flavors felt authentic, and the staff were super helpful.

Instead of the standard yuzu or ponzu you find at most poke spots, the salmon ikura bowl came with a unique house sauce that paired perfectly with the fish. The poke bowl’s mustard ponzu was another standout and added a ton of flavor without overpowering the ingredients.

You can tell they put thought into the small details here. If you’re looking for a poke spot that goes beyond the usual formula, The Bop is definitely worth a visit!!“

“Hidden gem with amazing fresh sushi The quality is very good and the prices are very reasonable. the best part ? Its a No -- Tip Restaurant. But the service is still incredibly friendly and professional. Highly recommended for a stress -free meal !!“

“Ortence Middleton was nominated twice as " Dining All Star" recognition award, for outstanding "Customer Service " 🤩👏👏🤝🍽“

“This was my first time ordering from moonbowls and I will definitely be coming back! I did a build your own steak bowl, with the spicy kimchi, sweet potatoes and mushrooms - solid 10/10!

I had the spicy house sauce, the gochugang sauce, and the chili crunch sauce and they were all good! My only complaint is they use Canola oil but I did give them feedback in hopes that they will make a change down the line, unfortunately so many restaurants still use seed oils, so until it becomes the NORM to be seed oil free, I feel like I can’t really complain all that much.

If you’re in the area I would highly recommend you try this place out! The pickup experience is different as well, they have a tablet that scans your order confirmation and assuming the order is ready already, it’s placed into a self serve locker that will open for you upon you checking in.

Ps. You DO have to buy your own utensils, which they charge $0.25 for, not the end of the world but definitely something to note, as i don’t think most people are accustomed to paying for their utensils.“

“Great good and friendly staff🎉🎊“