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    Jun Won Dak

    4.9 (82 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Jun Won Dak Photos

    Business Info

    JUN WON DAK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Jun Won Dak

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    Galbijjim and samgyetang
    Alicia K.

    To eat here is to be blessed. Not only by the wonderful feast in front of you but also by the pure hospitality of the restaurant owner. Note that there is only one table available in the restaurant. Call ahead if you want to reserve! Otherwise, takeout galore. Our party was lucky enough to snag the table. While the shop is small, the whole experience (aka the food) made me feel like I was sitting at the bar counter of a Michelin restaurant. We ordered the Braised Cod, Galbijjim, and Samgyetang. From the banchan to the flavor of these dishes to the way the owner took time to cut the meat for us, we were all blown away. Braised Cod - Melts in your mouth, perfectly balanced. Galbijjim - Beats all other galbijjim dishes out the water. I was pouring that sauce ALL over my rice. Could eat by the bucket. Samgyetang - I could feel the life nurtured back into my soul. How this unassuming shop carries so much history and heart needs to be recognized!

    Banchan
    Mimi T.

    This meal was life-altering and truly healed my soul; the food was made with so much love and care. I didn't want to get full because I kept wanting to eat the owner Jeff and his mom were so kind and gave us special banchan and free samgyetang. we didn't order the samgyetang cuz we said we could make it at home but ts i could not have made it at home it was so good. there's barely any seating, it's a super small place, and food takes a while bc they put sm care into each dish but thats how they like it. Everything was perfect!! and lol he said my Korean pronunciation was good ty Jeff

    Braised Short Ribs (갈비찜) & Black Cod (은대구조림) - Koreatown | Los Angeles, California
    Justin L.

    Like a phoenix rising from the ashes! Jun Won on Western ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/jun-won-restaurant-los-angeles ) was one of my favorite K-Town restaurants. The late Jonathan Gold raved about their cod fish, which was the best one in the neighborhood. And I loved their braised short ribs! So it was very sad when they closed in July of 2020, we thought they were gone for good. I looked for alternative restaurants with those two dishes, and they just don't compare. But two years later, Jun Won fortunately reopened in a new space and added Dak (chicken) to their name. Only one table inside for 4 patrons (or two tables for two couples). And the menu is down to only 4 options. But I am happy they returned! Street parking on 3rd and Serrano Avenue was nonexistent when I went. There are some commercial loading only zones (yellow curbs) if you're quickly picking up a to-go order, which I will neither confirm nor deny I used... Cod (AKA Eundaegu-jorim 은대구조림) - Tasted the same as it did years ago! Super delicate and flakey texture-wise. Flavor was on point. Braised Short Ribs (AKA Galbi-jjim 갈비찜) - Also still amazing! Huge chunks of tender meat, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables. Not too spicy or salty. Their food is worth the parking headaches and hassles!

    Braised Short Ribs
    Furley R.

    Samgyetang Samgyetang Samgyetang. I remember when Jun Won Restaurant used to serve Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) only one day a year on Chobok (the hottest day of the year in July where traditionally in Korea, it's national eat Samgyetang day). I walked into Jun Won Dak today to learn that they now run a small, mostly to-go operation (they have one table for four you can reserve for dine-in). They now have only four dishes in their menu: Their signature cod dish (RIP Jonathan Gold who introduced me to the Eundaegu Jorim many years ago). The other three dishes are Braised Short Ribs (the wife and I still can't stop drooling over this!), Spicy Braised Chicken, and SAMGYETANG!!! There isn't a better Samgyetang to be had - dare I say even in Korea. Why? It's the broth. You definitely taste the comforting flavor of the chicken, but the broth is infused with secret herbs that their family ships from Korea. The chicken (18 ounce Cornish hen) is stuffed with sticky rice, a chestnut and whole garlic, a jujube, and a ginseng root, and makes for the healthiest of meals. Now I can have Jun Won's Samgyetang whenever I want. I'm so happy that I had to write this review for anyone who hasn't tried it yet. Thank you Jeff and Jeff's mom for the love you put into the Samgyetang and the other items you sell. See you again soon! P.S., order your food in advance (15-30 minutes) as everything is made to order!

    Galbijjim and sides, rice
    Sabrina R.

    The food is delicious!!! We ordered the Galbijim and we think it's the best in town. The rice is amazing and for a reason, the owner explained it is specially made with traditional technique instead of a rice cooker (and you can taste the difference!). The sides are good and kimchi is excellent too! Service is like eating with an old friend in a small community, mindful and kind and gracious. The ambiance is small community restaurant. Call ahead because things can sell out, they make everything fresh every day.

    Jose T.

    Every time I'm in K-Town, I have to stop by and get the Cod. Great food and great service. I recommend. Only complaint I have is that I don't live close by to have it more often. ​

    banchan
    Brie S.

    This was one of the absolute best meals I've ever had the pleasure to eat in LA. Further, Jeff and Jung Ye were so hospitable, coming and chatting with us throughout the meal. There's only one table up front and one in the back, so call and reserve if you know you want to eat in at a specific time; we got lucky just walking in. We ordered the ginseng chicken soup and the black cod. I cannot stress enough how absolutely amazing everything was. It felt like we had entered Jeff and Jung Ye's home and were being fed the family favorites. Banchan was fantastic and all made in house; really great, strong flavors. The soup absolutely has healing properties, and was so so delicious. It felt like a taste of home with every bite of delicate chicken, rice stuffing, and the light broth. I should mention that every portion is huge; we took so much home, but as with all good food, it continued to taste just as delicious in the coming days. Black cod is my all time favorite fish; it's so rich, and when we make it at home, we generally try to stand out of it's way by using subtle flavors. Here, the sauce both enhances and stands up to the fish with its boldness, creating maybe my favorite black cod I've ever had. The perfectly cooked fish fell off the bone, and I enjoyed the turnip just as much as I enjoyed the fish. We were literally licking the sauce from the bowl long after we were too full to eat another bite. This was an unforgettable meal, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some of the absolute best food in LA - just make sure you come hungry. Happy eating!

    Daktoridang: sooo tender that the meat falls off the bone.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Jun Won Dak

    Is this only takeout? Thank you!

    No, they have 1-2 dine-in tables (very limited) as well. The food tastes better when you dine-in though :)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    0.7 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    Visited Hangari on Saturday evening to try their renown Kalguksu with some friends. I've known that…read morespecific parking lot/strip mall to be a nightmare parking wise, so I bit the bullet and used the on-site valet. There is sometimes street parking but the availability is rough, it's tough to park, and even one of the meters we ended up at just didn't work. They only charge a $5 cash service charge though, which isn't bad. We were lucky to be seated right away, even in a packed restaurant. The restaurant has a surprisingly modern design, and is comfortable for as small as it is. We were quickly served their signature kimchis and barley rice. The kimchi, particularly the yeolmu (young summer radish) kimchi, has a unique flavor profile well suited to their food. We ordered 2 bowls of their plain kalgooksu, 1 bibim milmyun, and 1 tteokbokki. The food came out fairly quickly. The kalgooksu was as expected the star of the show. The anchovy broth brings a savory complexity that seems impossible for a soup made from just dried fish and a few other ingredients. It even has a rich, almost thick, quality to it that is surprising for a fish broth. Their noodles, the titular kalgooksu, have the signature irregularity and chew of knife cut noodles. I appreciate the vegetables that always come in kalgooksu, like potato, pumpkin, and zucchini, which offer an earthy heartiness to the light soup. My only complaint is that the potato is in huge irregular chunks, and is barely cooked, though I feel like I have had this issue with many of the kalgooksu bowls I've had over the years. The bibim milmyun was solid. I think that I prefer the texture and flavor of naengmyeon buckwheat noodles, but the milmyun, which are made with mostly wheat flour, still provide a satisfying chew. The sauce tasted bright and fresh, especially with a splash of added vinegar. It also came with a small side portion of spicy pork and some rice paper to wrap. The tteokbokki was the one let down of the meal. To be fair, I wasn't expecting much out of tteokbokki at all restaurant like this whose specialty is essentially the opposite. I ordered the tteokbokki as a "safe pick" for a picky eater in the group. It turned out to be a bit mediocre in our opinion, and that friend ended up enjoying their kalgooksu anyways. If you're looking to try this dish, it's definitely one of if not the best I've had in Southern California, so I'd totally recommend it. I'll also warn to steer clear of the Garden Grove restaurant of the same name and specialty. I think it's a disappointing mimicry of this place.

    Heard great things about this restaurant so I was very excited to try it while I was in town. Came…read moreon Sunday night at 7pm, and was very pleasantly surprised they had plenty of open tables to seat our party of 3 immediately. What we ordered: - Clam Kalguksu (5/5): this was sooo good! The noodle texture and broth favor was amazing. I would definitely order this again if I come back! - Large Bossam (4.5/5): I absolutely love bossam and this was exactly what I expect when I order bossam. Only reason it's not 5/5 is it's not really any different from bossam elsewhere. Overall, this place is definitely worth the hype and I will be come back when I'm in the ktown area again!

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    Hangari Kalguksu - Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

    Bossam jowl combo

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    Anju House - covered patio seating

    Anju House

    4.4(693 reviews)
    0.1 miKoreatown
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    It was my first time here. The place is very nice and love the decor…read more The parking is valet or street parking. The service was very good. The chicken was a little in the dry side but overall all the food was good. We will be back!

    I'll start with the positives. The location is very nice. Designed with an elegant, but…read moreminimalistic vibe. I love that, traditional mixed modern social dining feel. I had placed a phone order, for pick up; upon arrival, I found the service was prompt. I saw my food ready to go, just past the main walk-in area. Almost immediately after that, I was taken care of by the host and on my way. I've been waiting to try this place for ages so on the drive back to work I was excited to steal a piece of meat from the bag. Initial bite flavor was good, meat was tender just a bit on the chewy side.. I wasn't bothered by it too much as I'd have to leave it in an oven warmer at work. Trying to keep food warm, in doing so, I knew there'd be only two possible outcomes, melting tender or either tough & dry. So, the dish of meat and rice sat in the warmer for almost an hour hour and a half. The downhill slope.... Set the "meat " on the veggies and began to eat. Meat after meat, I kept experiencing the same exact texture. It was the same exact rubbery chew, I initially tasted. Each and every piece was the same exact flavor. There was no peak, there was no pitfall. If you cook or grill, you know this is a red flag. Normally, consistency would be a good thing, a Master craftsman type experience, but this was NOT it. As go on, I get the sinking feeling, this can't be real meat. I lock in, the deeper I dig, each piece looks the same, broken apart the same, tastes the same, just various shapes. They can call me crazy for this one - I'll stand by it. Something is not right here. I'm not even going to throw it away. I'm going to study it for the next few days and post an updated review. I hope I'm wrong but as of right now, I'll never revisit this place. Too freaky of an experience. We

    Photos
    Anju House
    Anju House - Inside

    Inside

    Anju House

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    Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

    Danbi

    4.5(383 reviews)
    0.7 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    We went shortly after they opened and it got busier as the night went on. The Honey butter chips…read moreare dripping with the honey butter sauce & I wished I had a whole bowl of that. The Grilled jowl was thinly sliced & one of my favorite dishes of the night! The Zabuton came out still sizzling on a bed of onions- I absolutely loved this & it is definitely shareable between 2 or more people. The Scallop pancake had baby scallops cooked in to it- very fluffy & filling, another shareable dish between 2 or more people. The Mushroom bibimbap mixed with the sauce is a great vegetarian dish! Parking- $10 self park in the plaza

    Food Seaweed salad…read more Elevated and the best I've had, easily. The only issue is I can't really eat too much of it. The cherry tomatoes bursted with acidity and umami. 4.7/5 Honey butter chips. I've eaten an alarming amount of chips in my life and I will say these are solid but nothing noteworthy. The chips had no warmth to them and were slathered with decently flavorful honey butter that pooled to the bottom. 4.2/5 Mushroom bimibap - A very balanced dish with cohesive elements. Wish there were more mushrooms as they of course were the best part. The chili sauce was solid but the dish benefitted when we added another half portion of it and mixed it in. 4.4/5 Waygu - A decent flavor (definitely needed the flakey salt), portion and a nice medium rare cook, wall to wall. The steak was not as tender as I hoped it would be and some extra chewing was required. The banchan was all solid. It reminded me of Cote's but actually edible. 4.5/5 Yuzu popsicle - Definitely the best popsicle I've ever had. Refreshing and light. Balanced sweet to sour flavor. 4.7/5 Service A decent job. Good hostess. The steak took longer than expected to come out? Perhaps the kitchen messed it up and had to start over. Either that or maybe the waiters were busy. Or maybe it just takes a while to make it. Not sure. The waitress did the job competently but nothing above that. Overall, definitely not Michelin level service. 4.4/5 Ambiance A little too loud and it affected the entire vibe because I had to raise my voice to speak with the waitress. It became easier to just use nods and thumbs up. Like Cobis, a very modern and upscale restaurant that is hampered by lighting that is too dark. Pictures turned out good because I used another phone's flash. Just a little more light would be so much of an improvement without losing the romantic intent. Bathroom was average. 4.5/5 Overall, I had a solid meal that left my mood elevated. The service or food weren't as good as Cobis, Barsha, Ammatoli, or even Sonoratown - all top LA restaurants, but still worthy of a experience and I may return. 4.5/5 I would highly recommend Chois in San Diego as an extremely similar modern Korean fusion restaurant that also had better food, service, and ambiance. That place was 5/5 in every way.

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    Danbi - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Danbi - Perilla Cild Noodle

    Perilla Cild Noodle

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    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.1 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$

    What more can I say? This K-town staple consistently delivers when you're craving Korean cuisine…read more We started our meal with a generous portion of Haemool Pajeon (Seafood Pancake), which arrived sizzling on a hot plate reminiscent of a Chili's Fajita Plate. Next came the main attraction: the Bossam Plate, featuring simmered and cooled pork belly sliced to perfection. When you wrap all the other ingredients together, they create the perfect bite. Just after the Bossam Plate hits the table, a bubbling cauldron of Kimchi JJigae (Kimchi Stew) follows behind just in time to help wash down the delectable bites of bossam. Don't forget to order some rice because you'll need something to soak up the stew which turns the rice into a whole meal by itself. The service was jovial and welcoming, and like other Korean establishments, they have a handy-dandy button that jolts the attention of every server working whenever you're in need of service. The small space is very cozy, just the way I like it when I'm visiting with my loved ones. They don't have an extensive menu, just the OG staple items, but I feel the taste has improved over the years. I wish Kobawoo were closer to where I live, or I would be here this weekend, but perhaps it's a good thing we're so far apart.

    This place has been here for so long, I haven't been here in yrs! I was in the area so I decide to…read moredo a take out for lunch to take home for me and my family, such a disappointment! $76.80 for 3 dishes and what a puny portions these are, like a kid's portion. Very small kimchi maybe one or two bites. Three orders that I'm surprised that they give such a small amount of banchan. How can establishment justify this high priced meal for such small portions? God and I drove all the way from South Bay, stuck in traffic for almost 1 1/2 hrs of this. Maybe this is the type of place you should dine in only?? Do not ever do take out here! The food in general was just ok. Nothing special and Kimchi soup was very salty. Threw all 3. Wow, what a waste of money. Very disappointing... I guess I won't be coming here ever again.

    Photos
    Kobawoo House - Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!

    Popular place. Had to wait 30 minutes for a table for 6 on a weekday at 6:15pm which is not bad!

    Kobawoo House - Lunch Jangban Guksoo

    Lunch Jangban Guksoo

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    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(510 reviews)
    0.8 miKoreatown
    $$$

    Be prepared to walk away feeling very full. We got the set meal here, which came served with…read moreappetizers, barley rice, a lot of banchan (and by that I meant a LOT), soup, congee, dessert, etc. It was definitely more than enough food. We also got an additional order of LA kalbi for some protein. The meat quality was good but I felt like the meat was not marinated long enough and so the flavor was a little bit lacking. If only it just sat in the marinade for a couple more hours, I think this would have been perfect. The tofu soup was not my favorite, to be very honest. There was some flavor in there that made it smell like a stinky towel. Very different from other soondubu soup places and unfortunately not for me. Everything else we had was excellent and I would definitely come back again just for the barley rice and banchan. Service was quick and servers were nice. We also came at 3pm on Saturday so there was no wait. Recommended!

    Across the street from the new Zion market is this wonderful and unique Korean eatery. Unlike most…read moreof the run-of-the-mill Korean restaurants in Koreatown this restaurant serves unique appetizers and a multi-course set menu that gives you a taste of a variety of authentic Korean village food - like pumpkin porridge and acorn jelly salad. It's a lot of food for the price ($35 pp at this writing). While the minimum order is for 2 people, we've tried sharing the 2-people order among 3 and it worked for us, with addition of a couple of other items from the menu. The Korean BBQ beef is at par with most other nice restaurants in K town; their marinated crab was delicious! Service is okay - given how busy they are! Most servers are not very conversant in English so a little patience would help you get the right things you need. Nice and unique vibe with Korean handicraft items and art work on display (and for sale, I believe).

    Photos
    Borit Gogae - Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Restaurant decor- art work and Korean figurines

    Borit Gogae - Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Barley rice mixed with side dishes

    Borit Gogae - Grilled spareribs

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    Grilled spareribs

    Ham Ji Park

    Ham Ji Park

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    0.7 miWilshire Center, Koreatown
    $$$

    Really sad that Ham Ji Park is closing down permanently. For years, this place has been our…read morefamily's go-to place for pork spare ribs - the best in town. In fact, we regularly brought visitors here. They raved about how good the spare ribs were and even insisted that their last meal before LA should be at Ham Ji Park.  Here's my belated review of what I consider the best spare ribs in LA. From the moment the Korean-style spare ribs arrived at the table, it was clear this was a dish worth savoring. Each rib bore a beautifully charred exterior--deeply caramelized without a hint of bitterness--offering that irresistible smoky aroma the moment it was placed before us. The glaze was nothing short of spectacular. A perfect balance of sweet and spicy, it clung to the meat with a glossy sheen that promised flavor in every bite. There was just enough heat to make your taste buds sit up and pay attention, but it never overwhelmed the deeper, richer notes of the sweet components. But what truly set these ribs apart was the texture. Beneath the charred surface lay meat so tender it practically fell off the bone with the gentlest tug of a fork. Each bite was juicy and succulent, the result of careful cooking and a respect for quality ingredients. Ham Ji Park, you will be missed. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the food.

    tl;dr the delectable pork ribs overshadow the otherwise authentic but standard lineup at this…read morenow-shuttered Korean stalwart Los Angeles Koreatown is home to restaurants that specialize in every facet of Korean cuisine. If you're searching for some of the city's best pork, then those in the know will bring up Ham Ji Park. For 2 decades, generous platters of pork ribs and pork neck stew decked every table. Now, our Korean friends lament the loss of their favorite pork joint in the city. The Koreatown proper location is located in the Royal Plaza mini-mall, just a few blocks off bustling Wilshire. Discounted parking is available in a lot across the street from the Chevron gas station. From the street, the entrance is flanked by potted plants and an enclosed street-ery. Inside, stainless steel chairs are pressed up against wooden tables, each outfitted with a metal grill. Oppressive fluorescent lighting shines down on the stone grey walls, which are left undecorated apart from a few flatscreens. Multi-lingual chatter blends with the sizzle of platters. I visited with some friends for a weeknight dinner, and about half of the tables were occupied. We shared a spread of grilled platters and sizzling soups. The meal began with a carafe of barley tea and a mostly standard spread of banchan. Across our food, the best dish was the signature Charbroiled Pork Spare Rib. The ribs were flavorful without feeling gamey, and the meat was complemented by sweet caramelized onions. The pork ribs handily outdid the good-not-great Charbroiled Beef Short Rib. Lastly, the Milt and Cod Rose with Vegetables stew was fishy and briny, appropriately flavored for the Korean palate. The service was appropriately attentive, although I would've appreciated more intentional refills of our banchan ramikens. The rib plates cost upward of $35 each, while the soup was just under $30. The portions were hearty; a single entree platter could reasonably feed 2 moderately hungry bellies. It's a shame to hear that Ham Ji Park has closed; I'm kicking myself for not trying their pork neck stew earlier.

    Photos
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park

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    Jun Won Dak - korean - Updated May 2026

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