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    Jincook

    4.6 (372 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    JINCOOK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Bulgogi and beef bone broth
    Kelsey S.

    Jincook honestly exceeded my expectations. The aesthetic is cozy and elevated at the same time, the staff was incredibly welcoming, and the portions were HUGE. I definitely recommend ordering family style so everyone can try a little bit of everything. What we tried Beef Bone Broth (Seollung-Tang): 9/10 Very comforting without feeling heavy. The broth was super clean! Sous Vide Garlic Pork Belly (Garlic Suyuk): 10/10 Probably my favorite dish of the night. The pork belly was insanely tender and flavorful, and the garlic made it even better. LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Rib): 10/10 Super juicy with a perfect sweet-savory marinade. The portion was generous too. Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake): 8/10 The rice cakes here were perfectly chewy! The sauce had a nice kick without being overpowering. Bulgogi Hotstone: 9/10 The beef stayed flavorful and warm the entire meal. It also came with rice and an egg which complimented the dish perfectly!

    Hotteok
    Andrew L.

    This is one of my favorite Korean spots in Santa Monica. Further away from Ktown, this hits all of the right flavors, while being so filling! Definitely head there early before the rush hours since it does get packed. It's a small restaurant, nice seatings and a good spot to catch up with friends. Food: great! Their soups are just so comforting and makes you feel so energized after eating. Their mandu is really good too! Service: nice! The waiting staff are super nice and although there are just a couple of them, they are attentive and check up on you.

    Beef Short Rib Soup (Galbi-Tang)
    Miranda L.

    the galbi jjim here is quite delicious. Good flavor and tenderness. A bit on the sweet side. The short rib soup is also very good. Impeccable service and good ambiance and decor.

    Bulgogi hot stone with egg - soooo good!!
    Rachel C.

    Loved coming here last night!! I've been dying to try Jincook for a while, and I finally visited with my husband and our friends. My husband and I split the tteokbokki (with cheese) and the bulgogi hot stone (with egg), and our friends got the bulgogi hot stone and the spicy tofu stew (with egg). We all loved the bulgogi hot stone!! My friend said the stew was delicious and my husband was very envious - it looked so good and came with a side of rice to eat with it. The tteokbokki was also very good and the cheese definitely helped make it a little less spicy. It was very good, but I think I would have preferred a soup or additional hot stone. The spicy pork looks amazing, but so does everything else! It was tough to choose. My friend and I also got the koreanade to drink (I got passion fruit and she got a berry flavor). They were delicious and so refreshing! We really enjoyed coming here. The inside is nice and clean, and the service was great. Everyone was nice and we were seated right away without even joining the waitlist (possibly because people are out of town for Coachella? Unclear, but I'm not complaining!) Can't wait to come back and try more options!

    Melissa W.

    I love eating here and enjoy the ambiance. I try to go when it's not busy. Food is expensive but it is top notch. Consider going with a group and sharing. Their dumplings and chapjae were delicious. High quality ingredients and great flavor!

    LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Rib)
    Melissa H.

    Overall, it's a solid spot with a really nice interior and great service to match. We ordered the Brisket Hot Stone and the LA Galbi, and both were winners in terms of value. The portions are definitely fair for the price point. While the meat quality was perfectly fine, the absolute star of the show for me was the rice. It was incredibly soft and fluffy and honestly, it was the highlight of the meal. I would definitely return just for the fluffy rice!

    Lyla D.

    On New Year's Day, our original lunch plan was to enjoy hot pastrami dip sandwiches and fries with gravy at Pasadena's The Hat after watching and enjoying the renowned Rose Parade. However, since SoCal has been experiencing atmospheric river bands for the past week and we had purchased tickets to one of our bucket-list events, we weren't giving up. During our return drive to West LA, we were shivering, soggy, and hungry when we changed our original lunch plan to one of my bookmarked Korean restaurants closer to home. After showering and changing into warm clothes, we dashed down to Jincook in Santa Monica. We entered this casual Korean restaurant and were warmly greeted and seated by our server, Ben. Ben was friendly, brought us a carafe and cups of iced water, explained the menu, and took our beverage order for a large bottle of Terra beer. We took a few moments to decide on our meals, which were served in sizzling-hot stone bowls while snacking on the banchan. FOOD: -Bibimbap Hot Stone or Dolsot Bibimbap 돌솥 비빔밥): Jincook's vegetarian version of this mixed rice dish included assorted vegetables, kimchi, and Korean spicy chili paste (gochuchang). Both of my relatives added bulgogi for an additional $2. As Ben delivered the bowls to my relatives, he warned them about the hot stone bowls, and we could hear the rice sizzling along the insides. After my in-laws mixed the vegetables, meat, sunny-side-up egg, and gochujang, they scraped the crisped rice (nurungji). My in-laws said that they enjoy eating bibimbap, but the crisped rice (nurungji) is the key ingredient. $27.95 -Braised Beef Short Rib or Galbi-jjjim 갈비찜: My husband and I shared this dish. The stone pot was filled with tender-braised beef short ribs, vegetables (kabocha squash, carrots, potatoes, and onions), and Korean rice sticks (tteok) in a soy-based sauce. It was served with bowls of steamed white rice. We were so hungry that we finished this tasty braised dish. $65 We liked the convenience of this Jincook location, and we'd return to try their other locations in Los Angeles to compare. However, we appreciated Jincook's flavors and value and along with the ambiance and decor. Ben's friendly, efficient, and stellar service will certainly bring my relatives back here before we return to visit Los Angeles.

    Bibimbap Hot Stone
    Elly P.

    Decent korean food for West LA Food: - Hot Stone Bimbimbap: stone pot arrives searlingly hot, which adds a toasted golden crust of rice at the bottom. This intense heat melds the ingredients together, improving the taste profile of the dish. - Galbitang: broth is savory, but has more earthy mushroom notes than other galbitangs. Glass noodles are sparse, and short ribs are a tad tough - Pork Katsu Curry: standard flavor that is elevated with the hot stone pot. Pot keeps the katsu crispy and curry hot for a longer time, ensuring each bite stays hot and flavorful - Galbijjim: good for west La, I wish the meat was more tender, but the flavor was good

    Menu
    Crystal K.

    Truly happy to have more Korean food on the west side, it's a rarity. This place offers a variety of dishes whether you're craving that comfy cozy soup or stone pots. My favorite is the seolleongtang which is the beef bone broth soup. They have salt on the table so you can add to your soup based on preference. It always comes out piping hot and is truly cozy especially for the cold months. The barchan is okay and they give a small variety. The staff here are friendly and the place is clean and they have some traditional Korean decor which is a cute touch. There's two hour parking nearby or meter street parking.

    Banchan
    Annie L.

    Overall, everything was good and I'd definitely return. We ordered the bulgogi, katsu combo, and rose tteokbokki. The banchan were decent, though you do have to ask for refills. The bulgogi was pretty decent. If you've had the Costco bulgogi, it tasted very similar: 8/10 The katsu was also solid (ordered chicken and pork) it was nice and crispy, though a bit dry: 8/10 The rose tteokbokki was tasty with bacon and sausages, and had a very peppery flavor: 8/10 The restaurant itself was very clean and cute especially the ceramic dishes they use. The only downside was the timing of the food. We were almost done with the katsu and bulgogi when we had to ask for an update on the rose tteokbokki. Not sure if it was forgotten, but it would've been better if all the dishes came out within a more reasonable timeframe.

    Rose Tteokbokki (Rose Spicy Rice Cake)
    Austin H.

    Went to Jincook in Santa Monica and ordered the bulgogi, rose tteokbokki, and the pork and chicken katsu combo. The restaurant is a cute little spot, very clean, organized, and thoughtfully designed. I really liked the clay plates, which were a nice touch and made the meal feel a bit more elevated. We arrived at the right time because a line started forming shortly after. I did wish there was more banchan variety. They brought out four, which was fine, but I was hoping for a bit more. The bulgogi was solid and enjoyable, not bad. The katsu had a great crisp and flakiness, fried perfectly, though the meat itself was slightly dry. The rose tteokbokki was interesting and very vibrant, and while the flavor wasn't bad, it definitely stood out as something different. Overall, not a bad spot at all. There are some solid dishes here and a pretty big menu, so I'd be interested in coming back to try other items.

    LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Rib)  (IG & TT: @takeonefortheroad)
    Tiffany L.

    my favorite Korean restaurant in Santa Monica If you're looking for authentic Korean food in West LA, Jincook is the best. They start you with banchan, and everything I get here is always so good. This time I got the rose tteokbokki, Korean BBQ short-rib galbi, a cozy army stew perfect for winter, and their crispy sweet potato cheese curry katsu that comes out piping hot. We ended with refreshing cold noodles to cool down Service is amazing as well and it's great vibes!

    Liya K.

    Finally made it after wanting to visit for so long! Very very happy to know there's a great Korean restaurant in Santa Monica. I got the garlic Suyuk which was presented break. The pork belly was so tender that it almost melted in my mouth. It doesn't come with rice so I got a bowl on the side. I appreciate that they have a half size order for smaller party. The banchan didn't need my expectations. The only one I liked was the pickled onion banchan. The service was good, overall the restaurant is very clean & they had a nice mix of Korean and English songs playing. I look forward to my future visits!

    Beef Bone Broth (Seollung-Tang)

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    18 days ago

    The food's good, but being forced to use the Yelp app to get on the wait list is a huge pain.

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    Jincook Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jincook

    Do they take reservations?

    I don't believe so. Only options are walk-in where you put your name on a tablet (or can join on your own device via yelp) or take-out.

    Do they offer Chop Chae?

    Yes they have mushroom jap chae with truffle oil as one of their dishes. It's good if you like the truffle flavor!

    Do you have outdoor seating? Dog friendly?

    Yes

    Are you guys waiting for an alcohol license or something? I'm ok just eating the food, please open already :)

    We're waiting for our alcohol license! Coming very soon!!

    Supposed to open in April 2024. When are you guys opening?

    WE ARE OPEN NOW!!

    When the heck are you guys opening already??????!!!!?

    WE ARE OPEN NOW!!

    When will the restaurant open?

    WE ARE OPEN NOW!

    View All 19 Questions

    Mendocino Farms

    Mendocino Farms

    4.2(635 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Unfortunately I've moved out of LA County so the nearest Mendocino Farms is about an hour away…read morewithout traffic. Which means I've gone years without it :( I happened to be in the area so I suggested Mendocino Farms for dinner. Words can't describe how much I missed this place. I was so happy to see the offer a 1/2 sandwich and side order. It's perfect for me since I don't eat much. We both got that special. I ordered the 1/2 Chicken caprese sandwich with a small side of spicy couscous. My husband got the 1/2 farm sandwich with a small tomato soup. All of the food was perfection. I'm not a fan of lemonade. Im just not a fan of tart or sour if it isn't candy. However, I saw the guava lemonade and it was a no brainer. Another 10/10. Even my husband loved it. You taste the guava more than the lemonade. My husband ordered the Arnold Farmer and said it was just ok. We loved the patio seating. At night, it's a lovely place for a quick, quiet, bite. Highly recommend!

    Great location and usually very fast delivery - high marks there…read more We've had a few issues with hair in food and today there was a bone in the Not So Fried Chicken Sandwich. Not a fun thing to bite into in a sandwich I've easily had at least 30 times. Seems like quality is slipping. Can't even connect when calling it, always get a "call cannot be transferred" message for the last few days. Hoping things turn around - we order from here all the time.

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    Mendocino Farms
    Mendocino Farms
    Mendocino Farms

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    Dong Ting Noodle

    Dong Ting Noodle

    4.2(241 reviews)
    1.7 miSawtelle
    $$

    Dongting Noodle is located in the Sawtelle area. My boyfriend and I were looking for a light lunch…read morespot in the area and this seemed to be a good option. We actually didn't expect too much at a glance, but we were pleasantly surprised by our experience here. We were welcomed in and told we could sit anywhere we want. There was plenty of tables. The atmosphere was casual and laid back. The staff here are super nice and friendly. When another family come in, I saw how the workers went to grab a high chair and ran to reconfigure the table to give the family more space. It was a genuine and proactive display of customer service and care. They had physical menus, but you can scan the QR code at the table to order on your phones. My boyfriend and I shared a Beef Noodle Soup Combo ($19.99) and a Juicy Pork Dumplings ($9.99). This was a great deal because the beef noodle soup combo came with a snack in which we opted for the Wood Ear Mushroom and a drink in which we opted for the Arctic Orange Soda. The food was prepared quickly. The beef noodle soup combo came out first, and the dumplings came later on. It was quick AND TASTY. Wow! We try a lot of beef noodle soup but this beef is soft flavorful and tender. The portion of the wood ear mushroom was generous. The juicy pork dumplings had a thick skin compared to other xiao long bao places we've been to but the inside is tasty and balanced. A pleasant discovery that exceeded our expectations. It was friendly, affordable, quick, and delicious. What more can you ask for these days??

    My expectations for Chinese food out in the West LA area are not super high but Dong Ting was…read moresurprisingly decent! It is located right between Coco Ichibanya and 10 speed so I would opt to try to find street parking in the neighborhoods just behind the restaurants or metered parking on the main road -- this can get tricky during peak hours though. You have the option of ordering from a tablet right at the front if you're just planning to do take out! It was relatively empty when we got there so we were seated right away and placed our orders with a QR code. Our server was there by herself around 5:30 but the food was prompt with coming out. Portions were HUGE to be honest for the price relative to what you usually expect these days in the LA. - Popcorn chicken: came out piping hot and freshly fried, nice aroma from the fried basil. Solid spot if you're craving Chinese popcorn chicken - Woodear: surprisingly had a nice spicy kick from the chilies, no complaints! - Beef noodle soup with spicy: only a very subtle mala flavor but broth was beefy, noodles had great texture. Only lacking thing were pieces of beef were kind of small but otherwise I was very satisfied - If you spend over $50 you get a free dish (pork dumpling, xialong bao/soup dumpling, or spicy (saliva) chicken. Opted for the xiaolong bao which was okay... meat was on the leaner side and didn't taste fresh but the skin wasn't super overly thick and a decent amount of soup inside Overall, for the value and standard of Chinese food in the west LA area I would come back if I ever wanted something decent local to me! :)

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    Dong Ting Noodle
    Dong Ting Noodle - Menu

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    Dong Ting Noodle - Exterior

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    JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica - Tonkotsu Spicy

    JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica

    4.0(1.2k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    I have been here twice, and this place is seriously good…read more My first visit was fantastic. We were on a girls' weekend in L.A. and spent the day touring my daughter's friend around all the famous landmarks the city has to offer. After driving out to the Santa Monica Pier, we had worked up a serious appetite. A quick Yelp search led us to this ramen restaurant, and we whipped the car around and made a beeline straight for it. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted and seated on the patio. We were hoping for seats near the fire pit, but those are definitely a hot commodity and fill up fast. Our server was quick, friendly, and helpful with menu suggestions. I ordered the Spicy Vegan Creamy Ramen. The menu offers a wide variety of options, and I was really impressed with how accommodating they are for meatless diners. They have several vegetarian and vegan choices, and most dishes can be modified for most dietary preferences. Our food came out quickly, piping hot, and beautifully presented. One bite of my ramen and I was instantly in heaven. It was so good that I finished the entire bowl in record time. I would have ordered a second one, but I was completely full. I honestly feel like I could eat this every day of my life and never get tired of it. Our server kept our glasses full and checked on us regularly. The service was top-notch and made a relaxing end to a long day of sightseeing. It truly was an awesome experience. On my second visit, I was in town with my family, and I told them we were not leaving L.A. without eating here first. We came on a Saturday, and the restaurant was pretty packed. We waited about 15 minutes for a table, and to my surprise, we scored the fire pit seats I had wanted so badly the first time. Sitting next to the fire, feeling the warmth and watching the flames dance in the evening air, made the experience even more special. The second visit was just as great as the first. Great service, a relaxing atmosphere, and incredible food from start to finish. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. What more could you ask for? I highly recommend Jinya Ramen Bar. Trust me, it is absolutely worth it.

    First time trying JINYA! When visiting this location, expect to find street parking. It wasn't that…read morehard to find parking but maybe because it was Super Bowl Sunday? We were lucky to find a metered parking that already had money in it, yay! There are a bunch of eateries on this street as well. It's a small restaurant inside, but more space outside. Not that busy at all, there were only 2 other parties dining at the same time as us during prime dinner time. I saw they were running a Demon Slayer promotion and I wanted the free spoon haha. So I ordered the Tokyo Yatai Ramen and my friend ordered the Birria Ramen. The waiter or owner(?) who talk our order was also very nice! Very quick and efficient with our order. It didn't take too long for our ramen to be prepared. First glance, it doesn't look like your traditional ramen. It actually looks more Chinese style ramen. Especially the noodles? The texture is not quite the same as traditional ramen shops (and I have been to Japan). The ramen bowl itself was pretty simple, strong flavors from the chicken broth, the pork itself was pretty alright. It's honestly pretty standard but does not have a Japanese feel to it. I tried my friend's Birria Ramen and it's literally tastes like a taco in a bowl haha, which is pretty accurate. So even my Chinese friend likes the birria ramen because it reminds of her this Chinese instant noodle she always has lol. So I guess meaning in a good and bad way, but she still enjoyed it. Overall, the whole experience was not bad. I do only see JINYA in the more 'whiter' communities, so I find this to be not very authentic Japanese ramen. Also it's pricy for what it is when I can get an authentic bowl for $16.

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    JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica - Inside

    Inside

    JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica - Tonkotsu Spicy

    Tonkotsu Spicy

    JINYA Ramen Bar - Santa Monica - Tonkotsu Spicy

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    Tonkotsu Spicy

    Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe - Santa Monica - Oysters anyone?

    Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe - Santa Monica

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Santa Monica Seafood has moved since I was there last. It is on Wilshire and now has a small eatery…read morethat you will love. It still has the best seafood to buy and it is all great. They also carry great seafood and pasta salads which are all fresh and ever so tasty. You can order all your seafood and then have a seat and get some made for you. I think they take reservations. It is not a large seating area, but call them and ask. We love the service, they will tell you the best way to make the fresh fish you are buying and if eating there, the staff is nice. The prices are fair for what you are getting. Fish has gone up in price everywhere, so get ready for that. You will find metered parking or if lucky in a little spot in the back. Always grab a number to get your seafood to take home. They are fast and the wait is not bad at all.

    The market is excellent, great selection of excellent of fresh fish and seafood, all impeccably…read morepresented and served. Whether you are looking for high end crab, lobster, or dry scallops to an affordable cod or trout filets, they have it in stock. This review is mainly for the cafe which uses the fresh fish and seafood from the market but adds no flavor, flair, or seasoning. The 1st disappointment was the clam chowder which was a rich bowl of cream and clams without any seasoning. The oysters were fresh and delicious but there was creativity added with a mostly vinegar mignonnette. The calamari were mostly rings that were heavily breaded and unseasoned served with a side of bottled cocktail sauce and mayo. Perhaps the most disappointing of all was the crab Louie with a nice amount of real crab, but no amount of creativity ,textures,flair or flavor. Will definitely go back for the market but not to the cafe.

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    Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe - Santa Monica - Inside

    Inside

    Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe - Santa Monica - Fish and chips for my birthday lunch

    Fish and chips for my birthday lunch

    Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe - Santa Monica - Trio of Tacos to kick off 2025!!

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    Trio of Tacos to kick off 2025!!

    Zhangliang Malatang

    Zhangliang Malatang

    4.1(98 reviews)
    2.3 miWest Los Angeles

    i'm still dreaming about the beef broth two weeks later... zhangliang malatang has SAVED ME from…read morethe shackles of AI-Generated malatang wannabes around Westwood using seasoning packets for their msg-sodium-overload broths (*ahem* Bruin Bowl-- I DIDNT SAY NUN) god bless the Chinese mass cooperate malatang chains that still actually emphasize authenticity. I KNEW it was real when my Chinese international student friend from Beijing dragged me here and raved about it, and she was damn right. My bowl literally only came out to 20 bucks, but mind you i made it pretty veggie heavy. but the quality of the meats, especially like the cilantro beef, was AMAAAAZING. i'm a seafood fiend and like most of the meats were seafood like my eyes were watering from sheer joy. AND MMMM THAT BROTH was so perfectly flavorful and didn't rely on salt. it was genuinely so meaty and wasn't clear, so the fat added so much creaminess not typical in other malatang broths. plus the spice level was PERFECT at medium. the portion i had for 20 bucks was MASSIVE THEY DO NOT SCIMP. i pray that my chinese friend and zhangliang's ceo sleep very comfortably tonight thank you

    Great concept, build your own soup for about $15/lb. Sauce bar with plenty of different sauce and…read moretoppings to choose from. I do think their broth or options at the station might be riddled with MSG. I would suggest others to be wary of this and ask staff if you have any questions before you order. The signs at the "pick your own station" for ingredients are not very transparent especially the marinated meats. Also the same tongs used for shrimp can also be used on the meats so it's cross contamination. The place is clean and staff is friendly. I came at night and it was bright and lively with music.

    Photos
    Zhangliang Malatang - Decorated wall

    Decorated wall

    Zhangliang Malatang - Pork blood, quail egg, tripe, lotus root etc.

    Pork blood, quail egg, tripe, lotus root etc.

    Zhangliang Malatang - Inside

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    Inside

    Luke's Lobster

    Luke's Lobster

    4.2(70 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Had an impromptu lunch date with my husband at Luke's Lobster Santa Monica after the Run Travis Run…read more5K, and it couldn't have been a better post-race treat! The space is bright, clean, and welcoming -- simple décor with large windows that let in tons of sunshine, and thankfully, no overwhelming seafood smell when you walk in. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating from start to finish. Service was stellar -- when our kettle chips got a little soft from sitting next to the hot soup, they kindly replaced them with a fresh, unopened bag without hesitation. We ordered the lobster roll flight (lemon butter, spicy honey butter, and truffle butter). All three were fresh and delicious, but the spicy honey butter was the standout! The staff even recommended trying that flavor with shrimp next time -- we're definitely taking that advice. We also shared a bowl of clam chowder, which was creamy, flavorful, and loaded with clams. After a few disappointing lobster rolls and chowders elsewhere, this meal was an absolute hit. Everything felt fresh, thoughtful, and made with care. We'll 100% be back!

    Between two of us, we ordered: Clam Chowder, Lobster Bisque, the Lobster Roll Flight and Luke's…read moreLobster Roll warmed up. The total was $100. Everything was OK; The lobster roll was definitely not like how I had it in Seattle. At the first bite, I was disappointed by the hardly warmed meat and over-buttered bread that was dripping, soggy, onto my tray from my Luke's roll. I didn't try the flight but I was told that was a 6/10 too and not worth the price. We were disappointed to say the least. I really liked the Lobster Bisque, though. The Clam Chowder was good, too, but I was there for lobster! The ambiance in the place is casual. Order at the cashier and they bring it out to you.

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    Luke's Lobster - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Luke's Lobster
    Luke's Lobster - Signage

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    Signage

    Jincook - korean - Updated May 2026

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