DaeBokJung is one of those hidden gems that true LA food lovers already know and love. It's famous for its incredible Spicy Monkfish Soup (Bok Maeuntang), Clear Monkfish Soup (Bok Jiri), Braised Spicy Monkfish (Agujjim), and Monkfish Stew, all packed with authentic Korean flavors that keep you coming back for more. Their newer menu items, like Spicy Cockle Salad (Kkomak Muchim) and perfectly grilled fish, are just as delicious. Every dish is full of flavor, made with care, and leaves you thinking about your next visit. DaeBokJung is truly one of my favorite Korean restaurants in Los Angeles-it's the kind of place you'll crave again and again. Highly recommended! read more

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I came here for a basketball team dinner, but this is also a spot I've been to a few times before. The atmosphere is pretty much what you would expect from an older Korean seafood restaurant in Koreatown. Nothing fancy or modern, but it has that very local, familiar feel. Most of the customers seem to be Korean, and I honestly don't think I've seen many non-Korean customers eating here. I usually order the combo, so I can't speak for the entire menu. The sashimi is just okay -- not amazing, but not bad either. It tastes clean and fresh enough, but it's not really the main reason I come here. For me, the highlights are the Fried Monkfish and the fried rice they make after the monkfish soup. Those two items are basically the reason I keep coming back. The side dishes and other combo items are also pretty solid. Overall, the food here is good, and I do like this place. The only thing to keep in mind is that the service and setup feel very Korean, so it may not be the easiest restaurant for people who are not used to Korean-style seafood spots. The menu also doesn't have a ton of English, so it could be a little intimidating for non-Korean speakers. But if you know what to order, especially the fried monkfish and the fried rice after the soup, Daebokjung is definitely worth a visit. read more

Daebokjung - Halibut Sashimi - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It had been a while since my last visit, and I had such a great meal. I didn't get a chance to take photos, but everything--from the cockle bibimbap to the soup--was absolutely delicious. The staff were also very kind, which made the whole experience even better. Overall, it was a really enjoyable visit. read more

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The food was delicious overall, and I really enjoyed everything we ordered.Unfortunately, the service was disappointing this time. The young female staff member who always provides amazing service wasn't there, and I definitely missed her.One thing that made me uncomfortable was that some of the staff were joking around with a few older male customers, and the conversations didn't feel very appropriate from a customer's perspective. It created an awkward atmosphere while we were trying to enjoy our meal. The food was excellent, but I hope the service and overall professionalism improve because this place has so much potential. read more

The food is always delicious, and all of the side dishes are amazing. The sashimi is always incredibly fresh. It's a great place to come with friends--if you order one combo, there's more than enough food for everyone. I also love that they make a delicious porridge at the end of the meal. It's such a nice finishing touch, and I always leave feeling full and satisfied. read more

Daebokjung - Boiled octopus - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I went to Daebok (대복) in Koreatown LA for lunch today and had the daebok jiri (codfish soup) and agujjim (Spicy braised monkfish). My younger brother caught a cold and really wanted something warm and comforting, so we came here. All the side dishes were delicious, and every dish we ordered tasted great. I especially love the fried rice they make for you after finishing the jiri broth -- it's always so flavorful and satisfying. The food and service here have always been consistently good, so our family has been coming to this restaurant from time to time for many years. But maybe because of the slow economy these days, there were only three tables occupied during lunch (including us). After the other two tables left, we were the only ones there, and honestly, it made me worry a bit. I hope this place stays busy because their food is truly good. read more

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Came here to eat with some friends from out of town! It's a very old school Korean restaurant, like I mean OG OG! Honestly something about it appeals to me a lot because of that! Service is really friendly and very Korean! Their foods are really good but I think it also appeals to a palate for older Korean folks. Their aggujjim is good! It's a good place to go with your older parents! Might not appeal to a younger "aesthetic and social media-driven" crowd possibly. This is one of the few reviews of a restaurant where I don't have pictures but it is what it is! A great plus is that they have decent parking for a k-town restaurant! read more

Recently, I've noticed that some restaurants in LA are actually more affordable than in Orange County, and the flavors are backed by long-standing tradition. You can tell the difference if you visit and compare for yourself -- the ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes have their own unique character, so there isn't much to compare with others. Specialty items like monkfish or pufferfish stew and braised dishes are quite common in Korea, but here in LA they are rare to find, which makes this place even more special. read more

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Live halibut, freshly cut sashimi, finish with fish soup that was kept warm with the table top fire stove. Coupled with Hallasan Soju , can't get better than this. read more

We celebrated here for my boyfriend's dad's birthday and enjoyed the pre fixed menu. Most of it was seafood, all of which was fresh and filling for everyone! They ended the pre fixed menu with some soup, which rounded everything out. The service was quick - they did give us a fully Korean menu (though I think this is because his family is Korean, so I'm not sure if they have an English menu since I never saw one). His dad also mentioned that this is a really rare restaurant since not a lot of Korean restaurants in the US serve this kind of food! They specialize in monkfish, so if you're interested definitely check this out. read more

Daebokjung - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I recently visited Daebokjung with my mother; it was our first time together, and my first visit in over a decade since going with my father. We ordered the Agujjiri and Agujjim combo (from dinner menu, not lunch) and the Agu Tangsuyuk. After enjoying the Jiri, we mixed rice into the remaining broth. The flavors were clean and wholesome. The Agujjim appeared spicy but was actually mild, and I felt like I consumed a month's worth of bean sprouts today. Everyone was satisfied with this delightful meal. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in LA. I came here so many times, my favorite dish is octopus with pork belly, so tasty. They have very good free appetizers and rice, I love that so much. read more

Daebokjung - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food was good and its portion was large enough. Compare to other restaurants the price was fair too. read more

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The food is quite good. It's not salty and the seasoning is particularly good. Many dishes are filled with bean sprouts, so they taste similar. The service is the worst I've ever seen at a Korean restaurant. They took my food away several times without asking, refused simple services, and on my way to the restroom, I saw the servers talking amongst themselves. Their expressions also showed they didn't want to work so only minimum service showed. The location is convenient, as there's a dedicated parking lot. I used to visit this place about once a year, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, and after the poor service, I probably won't go back. read more

I was honestly disappointed to see how much smaller the portions are compared to before. Still a tasty meal, but it left me missing the old Daebokjung. For four people, it was just barely enough, when in the past it felt generous and filling. It's sad to see the serving sizes shrink, especially at $129.99 for the sets. We got Combo A and the food was fresh and savory. We had the Combo A. $130. 2 servings halibut sashimi (s), steamed monkfish , monkfish soup, Agutangsuyeo, grilled flounder, steamed egg, chive pancake, and fried rice. The food was delicious, but the portions have definitely gotten smaller compared to past visits. I was hoping for slightly more generous servings. Still, if you're here for taste and quality, it's a solid choice. Just be ready to order extra if you're dining with a group read more

Been going for years. Everything was good. For me, it seemed a bit pricey hence the 4 stars instead of 5. If the price seems reasonable to you, then it's a must go. Service was good and appreciated the server we had. read more

We had dinner here a week ago based on recommendations from our friends (4 of us total). I had been here years ago (pre-Covid). Our friends recommended we have one of the offered combos. In addition to a lot of banchans (side dishes) and small appetizer portioned starters, the combo included: Sashimi (halibut) - 4.5/5: I'm not a huge fan of halibut sashimi (or sushi) as I think it generally lacks flavor. That said, this was very good and probably one of the best I've ever had. Spicy Monkfish Casserole - 5/5: One of the best versions I've had. Definitely spicy but not overly so. Bok (pufferfish) Soup - 4.5/5: Very "refreshing" and really flavorful. At the end of the meal, they will make a complimentary fried rice for you. This was absolutely delicious (5/5) as well. Overall, we were all very satisfied and full. Compared to other restaurants, a relative bargain as well. read more

-If you love monkfish, this is the place to go. Amazing food and cheap soju. -Great service read more

We ate 아구찜 but no tasty no salty I think chef forgot garlic Only spice no taste I don't want order 아구찜 no more Bad taste Please don't order 아구찜 this place Only 복지리 ok read more

Saying it opens until 10 pm and closes the door at 8:45 pm. Crazy. Not going to this place again.

I've been coming here for years and taste is consistent. We ordered the halibut combo, which was started by the appetizers: pajeon, steamed egg, and side dishes. The main entrees were the halibut sashimi along with agujjim. Followed by the fried fish and agu. Finish the meal with a seafood stew with red chili and tons of garlic. Once there's a little bit of broth remaining, the server comes and makes fried rice and adds seaweed and chopped water celery. There's a huge parking lot for the restaurant. Not sure if there are valet attendants anymore. read more

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Hands down one of the best sashimi spots I've ever been to! We ordered the small combo for $119, plus two beers and a soju for just $24--which is a steal compared to most places. Every single dish was fresh, delicious, and the sashimi was honestly the best I've ever had. I live in OC and usually spend over $200 at places that don't even come close in quality. So glad I found this hidden gem--definitely coming back! read more

This restaurant has been around for many years and one of the few established Korean restaurants in the Westlake neighborhood that is still thriving away from other famous and trendy restaurants. This restaurant may be unknown to the younger generations but at one point a hotbed for Koreans getting their fish and sushi fix. What we ordered: COMBO A - Korean Sole Sashimi (small) + Agu-jjim (Braised Monkfish with Sprouts) + Pufferfish Maeun-tang (Additional $12 for pufferfish upgrade in the red soup) + Agu-tang-soo-uh (Deep-fried monkfish dipped in sweet and sour sauce) + Tsukidashi (Various appetizer selections). Korean sole SASHIMI is my favorite sushi. It is a white meat that has a very similar taste and texture to a halibut. You can eat it raw, dip it in soy sauce and wasabi, or in red chili sauce. Also, there was a live ABALONE was in the center. Braised MONKFISH was excellent as well. Although this dish is made with Korean chili powder, it is not spicy at well. The sprouts were refreshing and complement your taste buds with the fish. There are very few places in Koreatown where you can order PUFFERFISH meat. If improperly served, the tetrodotoxin (poison ) can put people to death. No death at this restaurant, so not to worry. Also, I believe they import the fish, so it is not served live. If you're a fan of fish in a soup, then this serving is right up in your alley. Deep-fried MONKFISH is very much like tempura. It is served with sweet and sour dipping sauce and can be poured on top or dipped individually. There is no wrong way of eating it. I thought it was tasty. Tsukidashi at Korean restaurants is typically add-ons to the sashimi. These APPETIZERS include pickled carrots, ginger, garlic, and escargot. Of course, it's always good to have options aside from ginger. Oh, there was a Korean pancake as well. read more

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Food is fresh & delicious+ quantity is plenty! The ladies are sweet and attentive I went twice in recent months and both times were great. They serve fresh true grated Wasabi. Don't even have to request it! Not even some sushi joints have that! Impressed for sure Parking is valet and $3 The neighborhood isn't the best but definitely worth going for the food! read more

Not a fan of fish, especially ugly fish. However, I enjoyed dining here. The monk fish was tasty. First, I was wary being in this part of neighborhood. You would never know this restaurant would exist here but has been running business for several decades and still going strong. The set menu of halibut sashimi came with numerous side dishes, spicy fish and fish soup. The waitress recommended us to have the clear soup instead of spicy and it was delectable. The spicy fish platter was spicy but had a lot of flavor from spice and herbs. Hardly any work to pick out fish bones. The meal ended with waitress mixing rice in little bit of soup left over with seaweed, and sesame oil. That was good. Will definitely return when weather is cooler. read more

Food is 4 stars Atmosphere and service is 3 We had spicy pork bulgogi This was accompanied by two large cold beers to compliment the hot lava spice heat !! read more

Daebokjung - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came on a Friday night, dinner before a comedy show with 3 other people. Read a bunch of reviews and wanted to give this place a try. As an intro, this restaurant is everything monkfish. Numerous courses of monkfish cooked in different ways. We ordered the Combo A. The combo menu is in korean so we had to ask the waiter what it included. He was nice enough to show us photos of the items. First came all the sides including the banchan, steamed eggs, veggies pancakes, scallops. Everything tasted good. I liked the scallops. Then came the monkfish sashimi. That was fresh. Monkfish sashimi has more of red snapper feel in my opinion. Then came the fried monkfish whole. That was very tasty and crispy. Fried monkfish (in fish and chip style) served with sweet and sour sauce. The sauce was a bit too sour for me. Monkfish stir fried with bean sprouts. I wasn't a fan of this dish. Just way too much bean sprouts and this weird tasting round thing that tasted like medicine. Last was the soup which we opted upgrading to the puffer fish soup. They cook the soup at the table. That was good too not too fishy. We were running a bit late for the comedy show so we asked for the check. Which we learned the final final dish is fried rice. They use the remainder of the soup, add purple rice, seaweed and sesame oil and cook it at the table. That was good too but we were full and in a hurry so we took most of the rice togo. Service was good. He explained the menu, brought our food, refilled our waters, and cooked the fried rice. The plus is they have a FREE huge parking lot which is rare in Ktown. I was all monkfished out by the end but definitely worth a try. read more

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Great tasting food and fresh seafood. I liked how they had so many different ways to prepare the fish. I highly recommend the combo meals to get a good variety of seafood. Very generous portions, good service, and delicious. read more

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I have bookmarked this place for awhile so I jumped at the opportunity to try this restaurant. If you like fish, seafood, and Korean food, I recommend that you give this place a try. We got 3 dishes to try and they were all delicious. Agu-jjim was spicy and tasty with soy bean sprouts. The sauce that is accompanied by the dish definitely deepens the taste of the dish. Nakji bokkeum is also spicy. Nakji was a bit tough but it was tasty. I love how they fried the rice for you at the end. However, I got short ribs for kids and they were a bit tough. read more

Daebokjung - Agu-jjim(Braised Monkfish) and Nakji Bokkeum - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Nice steamed monkfish and monkfish soup combo. Clean taste! Authentic Korean flavors. Nice side dishes too. read more

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This review is only for their Agu-Jjim, or their spicy monkfish dish. My mom loves Agu-Jjim, so we've had it at various restaurants over the years, but I think this place definitely makes it the best. It is spicy but not too spicy, there is plenty of soybean sprouts, and the fish is cooked well. We used to eat at the same location, but it was just called Dae-bok, so I'm not sure if it is still the same owners with a new name or if it changed ownership and they wanted to give it a new beginning. Either way, the dish is as good as I remember, and at a good price. You can get just the jjim only, or you can pay a little more and get a set of monkfish jjim and the soup. We got the set, but I was so full after eating the jjim that I didn't even taste the soup. They have other items if monkfish is not your thing, and it looked like there were a lot of people enjoying their squid dish when I went to go pick up the food. A part of their parking lot is available for outdoor dining if you prefer. Not a lot of places offer Agu-jjim, so this place rates high on my list of go-to restaurants in Ktown. And it makes my Mom happy, so that is a big plus! read more

They had an outdoor BBQ area in the back. Super friendly service. Amazing pork BBQ. Great ambiance. Highly recommend if you want a true Korean style BBQ. read more

Daebokjung - Pork BBQ - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've invited my sister and her friend to a lunch on 6/8/2024, Saturday. We ordered halibut sashimi combo special. Fish was good but, all side dish was just whatever. By the time leaving the place my sister I felt discomfort and about two three hours later we started with food poisoning symptoms and for hours it was followed by vomiting profusely and unstoppable watery diarrhea and severe dehydration. We called the restaurant to bring this to their attention but, they did not address the issue sincerely. I strongly believe maintaining side dishes need extra attention during slow businesses and this restaurant has not only failed it but also lost a possible good customers. NOT WORTH YOUR VISIT!! read more

This is my go to place in LA. I've been here few times and always I had a great experience. Stopped by for dinner with friends. We had to wait few minutes until they cleaned a table for us. Service(5/5)- This place Emo always very kindly and served very well. They kept checked on your table for you need something. Food(4/5)- we ordered agujjim with extra small octopus, webfoot octopus and Agujiritang. The foods were fresh and octopus was very soft, not a chewy. You can add extra only 2things. I would recommend add a webfoot octopus or small octopus and bean sprouts if you like vegetables. Agujiritang wasn't my choose but it tasted good. If you don't like salty, you can request them to not salty as i do. This place is nice korean restaurant in the area and it little far from middle of Korean town. This place is clean and just normal interior. They always welcome you and you can feel very comfort while you eat here from them. read more

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They close at 10:00 We got here at 8:40 They waiters rejected us saying they are already closed. Hopefully owner sees this review and do train their staff. read more

It is good for the people who like fish. Many different way to cook the fish and it was delicious. good for soju too. read more

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Dae would be the perfect restaurant for all exotic seafood lovers. However for my husband's family and I .. it was a little too excessive? There were 5 of us and we shared combo b (which was meant for 3 ppl and highly highly highly stressed by our server). I thought my husband and I have an above average appetite - but their 3 ppl portion was enough for 6 ppl. We didn't even touch the sea squirts (never have I tasted anything more fishy) and still had enough leftovers for 4 full meals. Combo B consisted of steamed eggs, chive pancakes, octopus, salmon collar, grilled saury, sea squirts, abalone, halibut sashimi, steamed monkfish, monkfish soup, and porridge. It took a full 2 hours before we made it to the soup course. By then we were overstuffed and half asleep. Every course was actually really yummy except for the sea squirts (maybe it's an acquired taste?). My fav was their monkfish soup! Similar to miso broth with sweet radish, watercress, and bean sprouts - simple and refreshing. I had monkfish stews from other restaurants before and the fish plus their bones were always grated up to unrecognizable pieces - I didn't know monkfish were actually so meaty. Texture was similar to swordfish. Overall - great for groups who all love seafood. You get a lot for the money. read more

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2018 - Yelp 100 Challenge! 7/100 For 2 we ordered the Combo A this time... we ended up taking the leftover which will feed us for 2 days!!! From my last visit the quality and service are both AS IS! Generous portion is always a PLUS! Enjoyed the fried monk fish!! AMAZING~!!! Fresh Sashimi! Fresh EVERYTHING! Overall will def be back! read more

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Seriously underrated food. First, let me state that I always judge a restaurant by how clean their bathroom is, if it's Korean, how good their banchan is, and more importantly, their "kimchi." This restaurant passed my test. The food exceeded my expectation. The service was good. We came at an off time around 3pm. They have an amazing lunch deal up to 3pm which we took advantage of. I ordered the agujjim & haemultang. Rice was fried for us on the table. The food was so good that we came back another time in the same week. This time we ordered the spicy squid & pork belly - delicious. They know how to make authentic Korean seafood. The entire menu is in Korean so you know they're legit - that means ajjummas and ajjushis come. If you're non-Korean you need a Korean friend to read the menu to you. But the servers speak English. Great place for spicy food and soju at night. A bit out of the way but it's worth the trip. I almost didn't want to leave a review because I don't want everybody to start coming here creating a wait and demand. If you want food that's not sweet but savory and authentic Korean, this is the place! read more

The Spicy Small Arm Octopus Iron Grill is Amazing. I really couldn't find any good place in LA but I am so glad that I got to know this place finally. I tried one with pork belly and the one with intestine, both are superb. The dish is enough to cover 3 adults and you can also eat fried rice with the sauce at the end, that's the part I love the most. Next time, I also want to try the sashimi menu and more seafood soup! I will definitely come back soon. read more

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