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    Jincook

    4.6 (406 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Soul Food, Soup
    Open • 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

    Waitlist - Jincook

    Live Current wait: 5 - 15 mins

    Order Jincook Takeout or Delivery

    Jincook Photos

    Business Info

    JINCOOK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos

    Rose Tteokbokki (Rose Spicy Rice Cake)
    Dennis N.

    Came here saturday morning with my girlfriend and the place was slowly getting packed as we waited for our food. Side dishes were good, Kimchi is not too sour nor sweet. We got the flat dumplings which i don't have a picture of, but they were really good, they had some sort of sweet red sauce on them. Typically I do not like Tteokboki, because it is too sweet, it this one is just right and we brought it home for left overs and that was good. The Jalapeño Curry Katsu was really good and if we didn't get anything else, I would just be satisfied with that to be honest. Interior was nice, they had some posters about food and overall clean. I would come back if I were in the area 5/5

    Jeffery N.

    Nice homey small spot. Really nice staff. We had the dumplings, rose teokbokki, suyuk, pork cheese katsu, bulgolgi Korean pancakes, and stone pot beef bowl thing. I really enjoyed the teobokki, pancakes, and the stone pot. The teobokki had a good amount of meat, the sauce was great, rice cakes were chewy, and just overall what'd you expect. The pancakes didn't look to appetizing but ending up tasting great, and the stone pot was flavorful and tasty! The pork cheese katsu was alright, not bad but I've had better katsu. Big portion but you couldn't really taste the cheese. Curry was alright too. I was not a fan of the dumplings or the suyuk. The dumplings I just didn't love, and the suyuk meat was dry and the sides to accompany weren't too tasty, they didn't accompany the meat well. I do want to dry the galbijim next time!

    Spicy Tofu Stew (Soondubu)
    David L.

    Nice Korean comfort food spot. Interior feels very Seoul. Food is authentic and tasty. Really enjoyed the seafood pancake which was crispy the way I like it. I prefer white milky soup for galbi tang. The soon tofu was also very good. Glad to know there is authentic Korean comfort food in Santa Monica area. Friendly and fast service.

    Food
    Thomas P.

    Very delicious food. I had the mushroom fritter, fried vegetable Mandu, Korean pancakes, and curry Katsu chicken. The service was fast and friendly. I got refills of the banchan. The food was good serving size. The ambiance was clean and cultural. They also have free parking at the back, which is nice.

    Katsu combo (chicken & fish), Braised Beef Short Rib (Galbi-Jjim), seafood Spicy Tofu Stew (Soondubu)
    Kathy X.

    This is THE best Korean restaurant I've been to in LA, which is a BIG statement (I eat Korean food a lot)! My favorite bites were the galbi jjim, the meat is so tender and everything is super flavorful, the fish katsu is so tender, and the steamed dumplings are packed with flavor! We also tried the chicken katsu and seafood tofu soup and both were really yummy too! Also their kimchi is really fresh and umami, it's my favorite kind of kimchi! Food comes out quickly and service is fantastic too!

    Seafood Korean Pancake, Spicy Tofu Stew (Soondubu), Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)
    John D.

    Super legit everything. So good. Best on Westside Korean food. The Spicy Tofu Soup at Level 3 Spice all day, everyday. Portions are insane.

    Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)
    Tiffany L.

    Came here on a Tuesday around 7pm and luckily got seated immediately. We were actually the last table before a wait started forming. There's plenty of parking in the back, plus outdoor seating if you do have to wait. I've been seeing Jincook all over TikTok, so I was excited to finally try it. My table of 3 ordered the $10 Tuesday rice cakes, galbi jjim, and a seafood pancake. The portions were HUGE! We didn't finish a single dish and happily took leftovers home for the next day. Service was okay. The staff seemed busy, but we were always able to get someone's attention when needed. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here. The easy parking is a huge plus, and I'd come back if I'm ever in the area again.

    Mushroom Japchae
    Kristopher C.

    Yummy high-quality Korean food easily accessible to Culver City, Century City, Brentwood and of course Santa Monica. We tried the Garlic Suyuk, a sous vide pork in delicious broth with house made garlic butter and Ssamjang. Excellent and highly recommended! Also the vegetarian mushroom japchae: fresh glass noodles and tasty mix of wood ear and other mushrooms. The restaurant is cozy without feeling cramped and our server Christina took excellent care of us. Will definitely be back!

    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!

    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!

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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 20 Questions

    Pine Tree KBBQ - Rib eye, brisket, egg and side dishes

    Pine Tree KBBQ

    4.0(101 reviews)
    2.6 mi•Sawtelle

    I was looking for a Korean BBQ spot outside of Koreatown so I could avoid the weekday traffic, and…read moreI'm so glad I found this hidden gem! It seems to be a family-run restaurant, and you can really feel the care they put into everything. The restaurant was exceptionally clean, which was one of the first things I noticed. The food was delicious and offered great value for the price. While it may not be a luxury Korean BBQ experience, everything was fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. For what you pay, it's an excellent meal, and it's definitely a place I'd happily come back to. What really stood out was the service. The owner was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our meal. Their genuine hospitality made the experience even more enjoyable. If you're craving Korean BBQ but don't want to deal with driving to Koreatown and sitting in traffic, I highly recommend checking this place out. Great food, great service, a spotless restaurant. I'll definitely be back!

    It was okay overall, but I didn't feel like I was really able to cook my own food. I felt watched…read morethe whole time, like I wasn't cooking my meat "right," which took away from the experience. I know how I like my food, so I wasn't a fan of being hovered over or having my food taken off the grill before I felt it was done. I also didn't like that the uncooked meats were being placed with the cooked meat. I prefer to keep those separate, so that was a big downside for me. The squid being mixed with the bulgogi wasn't something I enjoyed either. On top of that, we spent around $90 and barely got much meat, which didn't feel worth the price. We were also handed the check before our time limit was even up, which made us feel rushed. The bulgogi itself was good, and the restaurant was clean, but the overall atmosphere made it hard to fully enjoy the meal. For the price, I feel like you can find better options with higher-quality sides as well.

    Photos
    Pine Tree KBBQ - Outside.

    Outside.

    Pine Tree KBBQ - Banchan.

    Banchan.

    Pine Tree KBBQ - Temporarily closed pending construction permits

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    Temporarily closed pending construction permits

    NAMOO Korean BBQ - Beef brisket

    NAMOO Korean BBQ

    4.0(323 reviews)
    4.1 mi•Del Rey

    super tasty food and amazing service!! it felt like such an elevated dining experience. and there's…read morealso a lot of parking in the lot it's located in!! i order the combo a, house chicken, steamed egg and we had some leftovers! will be coming back!!

    Solid food, abysmal service. We were the first and only guests at the start of dinner service on a…read moreSaturday night, and somehow still managed to receive virtually no attention. Our server took our order and then seemingly disappeared, showing absolutely no interest in our experience for the remainder of the meal. We ordered a $17 bottle of soju that simply never arrived. Thirty minutes into our meal, I had to flag this down with the server assistant cooking our meat because our actual server apparently couldn't be bothered to check on us. I asked that they either bring the soju and comp it or forget it entirely. Any restaurant with even a modicum of hospitality would have immediately done so. Instead, I got an apology and nothing more. That pretty much sums up the experience: minimal effort, minimal attention, and absolutely no sense of hospitality. The food was decent, but good food does not excuse embarrassingly poor service. Korean BBQ isn't exactly difficult to get right. Good service, apparently, is. There are countless places in Koreatown where you can get better food, better service, and an experience that actually feels worth your money. Save yourself the trouble. Skip this place--you'll be glad you did.

    Photos
    NAMOO Korean BBQ - They just opened

    They just opened

    NAMOO Korean BBQ - This is the egg that was on the kimchi fried rice (this is only a small portion of the big pan of kimchi fried rice lol)

    This is the egg that was on the kimchi fried rice (this is only a small portion of the big pan of kimchi fried rice lol)

    NAMOO Korean BBQ - Namoo Chicken bites

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    Namoo Chicken bites

    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.3k reviews)
    10.2 mi•Wilshire Center, Koreatown
    •$$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    It's very possible that this is the world's best chicken noodle soup. Rich and pure chicken flavor,…read moreperfectly chewy knife-cut noodles that likely cook in the stock so the starch releases to give it a beautiful texture. Also got the oyster porridge. Very solid dish, but that kalguksu reigns supreme. Valet parking in the lot will run you $5-6, and the best time to go is within an hour of opening. The place fills quickly. The team works efficiently to turn tables without making you feel rushed. Highly recommended.

    A K-Town staple! I've been here a couple times and it never gets old. Just wish the lines weren't…read moreso long every time. I tried coming 15 minutes before opening on a Sunday during lunch time and that helped a lot! Would recommend coming during the day if you want to avoid waits. Some of our favorites: -Chicken Kalguksu: I get this every time! The broth is amazing, have never had such a rich, flavorful chicken broth before. You can taste all the herbs, seasonings, and time they took to prepare. The broth is a little on the thicker end, but super filling. -Seafood Kalguksu: the broth is so flavorful and it comes filled to the brim with all types of seafood! The spice actually pairs really well with the seafood too. If you want a spicy stew, this is it! Noodles are thick and chewy too. -Bossam: so yummy! I wish I could get it more often but it's a huge portion, so come with a group so you can try it and the noodles! Everything is quality- the bossam slices, the lettuce, the toppings on the wide. Chefs kiss! My only small gripe is the portions are so big that when I come with one other person, we only have the stomach capacity to eat two dishes! Always excited to come back and try more.

    Photos
    Hangari Kalguksu - Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

    Bossam jowl combo

    Hangari Kalguksu - (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

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    (MEDIUM) Hangari Bossam (Serves 2)

    Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining - West LA

    Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining - West LA

    4.0(846 reviews)
    1.8 mi•Sawtelle
    •$$

    I've lived 10 minutes away from this place for years and I'm so mad I didn't visit it sooner. Dined…read morehere yesterday with a friend and we ordered the traditional omakase since it was my first time there. It was a good way to try a little bit of everything and the portions were just right. I left feeling full enough to be satisfied but not like I ate too much. I also really appreciated how the waiters brought out the food a few at a time so we could eat at our own pace. Our server was very kind and accommodating to us and the guests around us, which made for a very comfortable atmosphere. I genuinely don't have any pictures for this review because it looked so good that I couldn't wait to eat. Overall 10/10, will dine here again!

    The Bottom Line: 5 stars: A nice Yakiniku (Japanese Barbeque) spot for high quality food and great…read moreattentive service. Location 4 stars: In the busy Sawtelle area. Surrounded by many competitors and many great Asian restaurants and Japanese novelty shops. Parking can be a challenge. There are limited metered parking spots on the streets and many paid parking garages nearby which I would recommend. Parking on residential streets is at your risk only as they have complex rules about when the parking is allowed and when it requires a resident permit. You may get a ticket worth several trips to paid parking garages :D Venue 4 stars: Medium-sized facility with indoor seating. Japanese style smokeless grilles at the table. You cook your own food. They take reservation on Open Table which I highly recommend. Service 5 stars: Staff were friendly, attentive, and super helpful. Food and Drinks 5 stars: Japanese-inspired food with some Korean influence as well. Excellent, high quality meat and vegetables and good selection of beer on tap and bottle, sake, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. They offer AYCE (All You Can Eat), packages and à la carte. We went with à la carte. We had the Spicy Beef Soup, the Garlic Fried Rice which comes in a hot pot and is mixed at your table, the Kimchi Cold Tofu, the Yakiniku-style Cabbage Salad, the Ikura Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelet appetizer with Salmon Eggs on top), the Angus Trip Tip, the Prime Skirt, the Prime Hanger Steak and the Chicken Thigh. All were excellent and highly recommended.

    Photos
    Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining - West LA
    Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining - West LA - Father's Day Special Lobster Tail

    Father's Day Special Lobster Tail

    Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining - West LA - Shrimp

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    Shrimp

    Sunny Blue - Miso beef and spicy salmon

    Sunny Blue

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    •$

    May 31, 2026 | Santa Monica | After arriving back from Catalina Island, friends, and I stopped at…read moreSunny Blue for dinner! My Bento Box included two rice balls of my choice, and I selected the edamame & Japanese pickles as my two sides! Spicy Salmon Omusubi | Delicious, filling, includes chili seasoning, & lightly spicy! I can handle the heat, so it depends on your spice tolerance! The rice ball is also topped with furikake seasoning & sesame seeds! Tuna Mayo Omusubi | Delicious, filling, includes albacore tuna, sliced cucumbers, chili seasoning & red onions! I opted for the spicy mayo, though you have another choice of wasabi sauce! Mainopoly Event | While at the event, I tried the Salmon Omusubi, which was quite memorable & ended up being one of my favorite dishes! Inside | Standing room only! You order food to go inside at the counter! Since it's a narrow space, people tend to wait outside or near the door! Customer Service | Friendly & helpful with the menu! Overall | Yes, please! Food is delicious here & I'm looking forward to returning and exploring more of the menu!

    No dine-in space, so enjoying the omusubi fresh meant eating at the pathway right in front of the…read morestore while people-watching on Main Street. Everything's made fresh to order but the waiting time was relatively decent. They did serve plenty of choices including for vegetarian options. We got their Spicy Salmon and Sunny Blue Curry. The first one was bit more tomato-ey flavor to my palate than spicy. The rice was perfectly cooked and moist coated in crunchy nori wrap. The salmon was pretty generous as well. I would recommend the latter more though as the curry flavor was so bold and delectable, well elevating the tender chicken.

    Photos
    Sunny Blue
    Sunny Blue - Spam misubi and ebi mayo

    Spam misubi and ebi mayo

    Sunny Blue - Cod roe onigiri?? I think

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    Cod roe onigiri?? I think

    Jincook - korean - Updated October 2026

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