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    KOBUNGA

    4.3 (252 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Barbeque
    Closed 10:45 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    KOBUNGA Photos

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    KOBUNGA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - KOBUNGA

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    soy sauce pickles, korean cabbage slaw, japchae with pork belly
    Rita C.

    came here to eat after the yelp event at the california science museum because i wanted dulce nearby! i got the build your own with japchae, pork belly, soy sauce pickled cucumbers, and the korean cabbage slaw. the japchae was pretty flavorful and paired well with the pork belly, as the pork belly didn't have much flavor. i wish it had more vegetables in the japchae, but the slaw and cucumbers made up for it! my partner got the kimchi pickles and i actually liked those more than the soy sauce ones! seating is outdoors at the USC village and you can ask for a cup of water at the counter!

    Drink selection
    Kat C.

    I first visited Kobunga about a year ago and was super impressed. As someone who's gluten-free, it's rare to find Korean food that accommodates that--and Kobunga really stood out. Most of the menu is gluten-free, which was such a pleasant surprise! Huge bonus: the kimchi is vegan, so no fish sauce or shrimp like traditional versions. That alone made me happy. However, during that first visit, I was told the dumplings were gluten-free by the front staff... unfortunately, they weren't--and I found out the hard way. The good news is the owners were incredibly kind and proactive. They apologized, took it seriously, and made sure to update the staff and labeling so future customers wouldn't have the same issue. I really appreciated that accountability. Fast forward to a year later--I finally made it back (I live far, or I would've come back sooner!). I was excited to try more items and went with a plate this time instead of a bowl. In hindsight, I should've stuck with the bowl--it felt like you get more bang for your buck that way. I definitely got more beef in my bowl during the first visit than I did on this plate. Still, that doesn't mean it wasn't delicious--the bulgogi and short rib were both flavorful and tender. The chapchae was also really good, and the kimchi, though a bit on the sweeter side for me, was still tasty. The staff were friendly, and overall it was a solid experience. Not quite as wow'd as my first time, but I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area again. Still one of the better gluten-free-friendly Korean spots around!

    Bowl - Beef Bulgogi
    Maria S.

    One of the best features of USC is the Village - and Kobunga is my favorite place to have lunch! The bulgogi is so good. I love their bowls. Everything is so flavorful. The employees are so friendly and always happy to give recommendations. Reasonable prices too. So glad to have this option for Korean food at USC!

    Beef bulgogi bowl

    I ordered a beef bulgogi bowl via a delivery app. When it arrived, it was still warm, a good sign of the preparation Kobunga took in completing the order. The bulgogi was flavorful and chewy, with very little tough meat or super fatty cuts. The rice was your standard part of the bowl, but thankfully they didn't make the bowl where the rice was the vast majority of the dish. Some vegetables and corn were also added to the bowl, which made for a good mix when you stirred it up! Lastly, spicy yet slightly sweet sauce was added for that extra kick! All in all, Kobunga has a great beef bulgogi bowl, which is something you should try if you visit!

    Price
    Nick L.

    Korean style food with modifications that cater to wider customers. The pork tastes great. If you want to avoid the crowds and save time during dining rush hours, it will be an alternative option.

    TBDT (Soft Tofu)
    Mallory C.

    Pretty good spot in USC Village with quick service and delicious food! I've gotten the TBDT (The Best Damn Tofu) and the USC Special (Slow Cooked Short Rib). Both were really good, but I will say they don't include a lot of protein, but always include a ton of rice. As for sides, the Soy Sauce Pickles were incredible. Never had those before! And the lemonade has free refills! I really enjoyed the yuzu lemonade.

    Build Your Own Plate (Short Rib & Pork Belly)
    Theresa L.

    I got the Build Your Own Plate with pork belly, and it was DELICIOUS!! The meat melts in your mouth and is very tender and juicy. I love the paring between the side and base with the meat. The short rib is also very flavorful and tender. The side of kimchi also tasted very fresh! A super delicious meal near campus. The food was ready very quickly, and the staff is very nice too! Plenty of seating around USC Village, and the underground parking lot is very convenient. I wish I gave this place a try earlier, but I liked it so much I went back two days in a row.

    Helga W.

    Stopped in after Trader Joe's. Service was prompt. While I was browsing the menu I was immediately greeted. I ordered a chicken bowl and was asked if I wanted rice, noodles or salad. I didn't get to read the fill menu so I was caught off guard. I got noodles, which is jap chae. I was thinking yakisoba when I hear noodles. Bowl was served in a reusable, microwavable container. It came with sour pickles and coleslaw. The pickles were reminisce of American sour pickles rather than Korean, so the sides were kinda weird. Chicken was cooked well and jap chae was cooked well. The drinks are great. I tried the plum lemonade and yuzu lemonade. Plum was sour and sweet. Perfect balance. Did not taste the yuzu too well, but it's perfect lemonade.

    Build Your Own Plate -1/2 white rice -1/2 japchae noodles -BBQ Chicken -Side Sauteed Corn -Side Korean Cabbage Slaw -Kobunga Sauce
    Tammy V.

    Quick easy lunch at USC Village where there is free 2-hr parking! Staff was kind and service was quick. This is the first time I've gotten the chicken as my protein, and it was served over white rice and japchae noodles. Flavor's pretty good, but I prefer the pork. The sides were nice and offered textural differences. The Kobunga sauce tastes similar to a bibimbap sauce. The convenience that is offered makes this place notable, but I wouldn't come here to expect mind-blowing, authentic Korean food.

    Cassidy F.

    This is one of the best places to eat on campus hands down! I'm surprised I didn't try this place out sooner, it's really good! We ordered 2 build your owns. We ordered the pork belly and the beef bulgogi. I personally favored the pork belly a lot more but I would definitely buy the bulgogi again! The japchae noodles were also really delicious! The sides were really good. Most of the options were fermented vegetables of some sort and we really liked their cucumbers. Overall, I definitely would come back. It really is one of the best places on campus. Service is fast and easy too!

    1st part of menu
    Mike L.

    tl;dr: easy and fast; you choose a base, protein, and two banchans. Pork belly is tasty and filling, great lunch. Their kimchi cucumber is sweet and with the right amount of gochugaru, even though I'd prefer it be a tad bit fermented. Not much acidity. The sweet carrots are in nice bite size and has a great texture (not overcooked). This pairs well with their japchae. Japchae is not too shabby. It is light (in flavor/saltiness) and not unctuous. There's a bit of soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil (mainly soybean oil I presume). The texture is almost perfect but what can I say for fast Korean lunch? It's a great base alternative; I'd pick this over rice or greens. The pork belly (kobunga) is well braised and seasoned. The gochujang pasted(like literally, did they brush or sprinkle the sauce tho?) on top tastes in-house made being light and syrupy (unlike the cooking/flavor one where it's floury thick), pairs well with the belly and even their japchae! It has the pork flavors your are looking for: savory, meaty (like eating pure meat cut against the grain), sweet braise, and a great balance of meat to fat ratio. I do wish they render the fat more with a better roasted/seared skin because it has no texture even though there's color (where's the burnt sugar crust tho). It may seem like there's some sort of crusty finish on the skin surface, but once you bite in...it's a bit one dimensional. I'm just being picky. Zzz still good. Despite being pork belly, it delivers a velvety soft palate that doesn't make you feel so predacious like eating American or Korean BBQ (where it's just proteins on proteins with lots of grease ~ bold flavor). Perfect for late breakfast or lunch. I'm glad it's not just a cut of fat, they do choose their cuts well. I can see why this place's namesake is the dish. Overall, for $11.95 I cannot complain. Yes it's like Chipotle of Korean BBQ, but not in a way where it feels like Chipotle nor kbbq. It's more as if your S.O. or your mum packed you a light lunch that is filling without being overwhelming. I do say the flavors (hint: sugar heavy, I did say it like 5-6 times lol) are to cater young adults (no shit, it's in the Village) or American palate: there's literally sugar in every component of my plate, but it doesn't subtract from the experience.

    Sarah S.

    Fast, casual, reasonable prices and darn good food means Kobunga gets all five of them stars. Pick a base, a protein and two sides. Seems simple enough but they execute really well with some truly great dishes. I had the pork belly which was cooked to perfection, seriously I'm a big fan of the thick cut swine and it was great. Their honey roasted carrots were tasty and made me pretend feel like I was healthy. I also did the corn which I greatly enjoyed. Just loved the whole shebang. With prices like this, I'll be back for more quick lunches.

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    Proximity to dorms is nice, food is good. Service was adequate. Chicken and tofu bowls are good with the extra dumpling & vegetables.

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    KOBUNGA Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - KOBUNGA

    Do you have to get the sauce with the short ribs or can you get plain short ribs with just salt?

    The short ribs are cooked in a marinade they come as is they don't have a sauce .. you can ask for one of their sauces on the side

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    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    2.7 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!

    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)

    Anju House - covered patio seating

    Anju House

    4.4(695 reviews)
    3.4 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)
    2.8 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.

    Photos
    Danbi - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Danbi - Perilla Cild Noodle

    Perilla Cild Noodle

    Danbi - Pork cheek

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    Pork cheek

    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    2.4 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

    Kobawoo House - Jangban Guksoo Vegan

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    Jangban Guksoo Vegan

    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(511 reviews)
    2.5 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)
    2.7 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.

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    KOBUNGA - korean - Updated May 2026

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