43 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“

“One of if not the best Korean restaurants I been to. Food came out real fast and was very filling and tasted great! Service was amazing, Ken really did a great job in helping to serve us, helped with giving us recommendations, brought extra side dishes quickly, and was very nice & funny as well! Will definitely be back for more!“

“We’ve been here several times and always love coming back! 😊 Everything tastes absolutely delicious we’ve tried almost the entire menu by now and have been impressed every single time.

The couple who runs the place are incredibly polite and friendly, making you feel welcome and comfortable right away. The service is warm and attentive.

We can truly recommend this place to everyone – you definitely have to try it at least once!We’ve been here several times and always love coming back! 😊 Everything tastes absolutely delicious – we’ve tried almost the entire menu by now and have been impressed every single time.

The couple who runs the place are incredibly polite and friendly, making you feel welcome and comfortable right away. The service is warm and attentive.

We can truly recommend this place to everyone you definitely have to try it at least once!“

“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!“

“At a glance, it looks like a mini mart. Don’t let the smell of Noah’s Bagels distract you. This place has legit kimbap with the golden ratio of meat, veggies, to rice. $11. The bulgogi marinade had perfect sweetness with the crunch from all the veggies. Then the Ttukbokgi in the hot section $7 had that street vendor flavor that only ahjummas can replicate, and thickness to the sauce that coats the ttuk just right. I even dunked my kimbap (see photo) to make sure I didn’t leave any sauce in the bowl.“

“I stayed at my friend’s place for five days while I was in LA. On the last day, I wanted to repay them a bit with a meal. It was a nice Korean place. I knew they wouldn’t let me pay, so I slipped out in the middle of the meal, gave my card to the waiter, and paid. I really thanked him for going along with it. The place was packed by noon. I can see why it’s popular.“

“We met up with some friends when visiting Marina Del Rey and enjoyed a premium experience. They cooked up everything right in front of us, switching out the grill plates between meats and keeping things fresh.

Our group of 4 shared:

🥩 Set A - brisket, boneless shortrib, signature bulgogi

🍗 Namoo House Chicken

🥟 Dumplings

The set was for 2 people, but it comes with sides like salad, corn cheese, veggie pancake and typical bonchon. They even make ramen at the end, so coupled with the chicken and dumplings we ordered, this was more than enough food.

Excellent service, gorgeous clean interiors, generous portions and perfectly seasoned meats - this spot ticks all the boxes 😋“

“Amazing food and service. We tried various bowls, tacos, and dumplings. All were great! The real winner were the loaded fries. Everything was super fresh. Forgot to take pictures before we ate.
Justine was very helpful in getting our order put together. Great service!!“

“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. ☺️“

“Love the taste and selection of the foods!“

“My 1st time Here
& I Must Say It Was Very Delicious.
And Im A Picky Person.
I Got A Chicken Plate That Came With
Salad Rice And Cut Up Chicken With Teriyaki Sauce & Green Onions.
I Paid Under $20 And The Portion Size Was
More Than Enough Nice Hefty Amount Of Food.
Its Was So Tasty Chicken Cooked Perfectly As Well As The Rice And The Salad Was Fresh As Well No Brown At All. I’ll Definitely Be Back And I Also Highly 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...“

“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!“

“Great food, service and atmosphere“

“We came for a friend’s birthday party. Looks like a new restaurant in a less visited plaza off 405. However when I stepped in, I waited for 15 mins to be seated as they were very short staffed. Nevertheless, food was good. We ordered AYCE $39.99 Menu B and were happy about the portion and quality of the meat. The room was a bit more smokier than I would like. If they keep the door open they won’t be a problem!“

“This is the BEST fried chicken 🍗 I have ever had, no joke. Sauces are wonderful too but I always get the classic golden fried. My bf said he thought they serve turkey since the chicken is always so big. 🤣 very juicy and crispy, the best!! ALSO make sure to get the cheese balls they will change your life.“

“Was not sure what to expect here as we were just hungry and swung by. Friendly service: the woman who helped us offered recommendations and explained items on the menu. Atmosphere is nothing special, just a clean area with tables and chairs. We got the Korean Galbi burrito, which was good but had too many raw onions, and the sou garlic Korean chicken wings, which were as good as any we’ve had in the area! Fried potato balls were a unique addition to the meal. Would recommend them if you’re wanting a little treat, but they’re not essential. Pretty good prices for generous servings!“

“Casual dinning atmosphere“

“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.“

“Growing up with granny making corn dogs, always have been a favorite.

I tried their fried chicken corn dog —CHEFS KISS, TO THE MOOOOOON!

Off thee CHAIN.

The fried chicken pieces are SUPER SAVORY, UMAMI INDEED.

I get it with the full mozzarella as is the BEST version of it to get —mozzarella is PREMIUM with that QUALITY STRETCH you ONLY find at quality, REAL pizza restaurants, not that cheap stuff at little Caesar’s and Pizza Hut.

The owner of this place really took initiative to make their food taste GREAT.

I will try the seaweed corn dog next time aka the Oreo one, or maybe I’m lying and I will get the fried chicken one again. 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅“

“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.“

“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.“

“4.5 stars

The Alibi Room is the ultimate hangout spot, especially when you're reunited with old elementary school friends and teachers (yes, you read that right—grade school reunions are a thing). The service was friendly and on point, despite our large group.

Parking is classic LA—street parking, so be prepared to circle the block for 5-10 minutes. But once you're inside, it’s all good vibes. The drinks were spot-on: I had the Watermelon Margarita and the Gold Rush, both deliciously refreshing. And let’s not forget the Kogi tacos—I always go for the short rib beef and spicy pork. They never disappoint.

With bar seating, cozy couches, and outdoor tables, The Alibi Room is a fun, chill spot for drinks, tacos, and a good time with friends.“

“It seems they have received many customers taking food that isn't theirs and now the employees have to see your ID as well as have you fill out a form. Ain't got no time for that especially as a regular. They offered to let me take a photo of the form and my ID for faster service but I'd rather just go elsewhere. Won't be coming back. If you are picking up HAVE your ID, the confirmation order, and be prepared to fill out a form.“

“Deli Deli si lo recomiendo“

“Best Korean bbq in Los Angeles. 강력추천합니다.“

“I almost didn't want to post about this place because i dont want this place to get too busy! I like the chill (titanic) vibe and delicious food above all. I get my most frequent take out dinners here. My favorite is Galbi-Tang, its very similar to caldo de rez, but with different veggies. Anyway, hoping this helps someone decide this is a good reliable spot to try sometime when youre craving Korean 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.“

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

“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“

“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!“

“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...“

“Honestly, not sure why they received some low ratings for service. The food was fresh and exactly the type of asian rice bowl taste I expected with moist soft rice and lightly sauced grilled chicken; not greasy at all. The cash register employee and cook were both extremely nice and explained everything on the menu in detail and with good etiquette.“

“organic taste 😋 and fast delivery 🚚 I recommend“

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

“Nice and clean inside of restaurant and easy to order and the food comes out quickly( but good quality!). I had ‘Kimchi Bulgogi Rice’ because it’s one of my comfort food, it was so more delicious than what I had in Korea!!!
Definitely worth going back and trying other dishes again!“

“(Veggie) Avocado Bulgogi!!!!!! Ah man. I get excited just thinking about this dish. The "meat" is sooo tasty, with the roasted sweet potatoes, and rice... Simply delicious

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free, and vegetarian options“

“10 out of 10!!!
Wow exceeded my expectations
A Must go! I’ve been to so many Asian bowl places! This is my fave!

Got the rainbow don (included piping hot miso)
Lots of warm rice with furikake-like seasonings
It doesn't even need spicy mayo and all those other things poke places have“

“Great good and friendly staff🎉🎊“

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

“I ordered the tofu bowl from moon bowls today. The food was delish! This location is located in the Culver City Cuisine pick up area and I order from restaurants here all the time and had no idea moon bowls was located there as well. So good and healthy! Fresh tasting food. I will be ordering again!“