Wow. The food here is so amazing. I'm so blessed to have been born into this world at a time where I can experience this truly remarkable restaurant. I grew up eating my mom's dank Korean food, and I can vouch that this place is dankkkk. Came here for lunch with a friend and we shared the Kobunga (pork belly) and the Mama Kim (bulgogi). Holy... My friend and I were talking about it all day. So naturally, we just had to come back for dinner. Even walked in the rain for a bit just to make a return. For round 2 we ordered the Kobunga again (cause duh) along with the USC Special (short rib) and Mama Cho (grilled chicken). Again.. amazing. We also got to meet the husband and wife who own the place and they're such nice people. They said they were preparing to open this place for about 3 years! So inspiring getting to talk with such hardworking, genuine, passionate people! They even threw in some extra bulgogi and pork belly. So within a day I've tried most of their menu. All of it amazing. The one complaint I have is that both times we visited, they didn't have something on their menu. But it's fine cause everything on their menu is delicious. My favorites are the short rib and the pork belly. The bulgogi is also really good. And the sides, so good! read more

KOBUNGA - Left: Kobunga (pork belly), right: Mama Kim (bulgogi) - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I absolutely LOVE this restaurant! It's one of the newer establishments at USC Village and a definite must-try! This was my first time, and as a Korean who has grown up on the BEST home cooked Korean food and restaurants in Koreatown, it definitely gets my stamp of approval! I walked in shortly after the lunch rush, and ordered the KOBUNGA since I was in the mood for some good pork belly. It's a solid 10/10. The sugar crust and the Kobunga sauce on the pork belly was a new experience, but something that will become my regular choice. They also have a new panko crusted chicken sandwich that I want to try next time! Along with great food, they also offer an awesome selection of canned drinks, a soda machine and an assortment of teas/lemonades. The watermelon lemonade was absolute . I also tried the Corn Tea and one other. Had to get a few refills as well LOL. If you're in the mood, for AMAZING Korean food, I highly recommend Kobunga! Everything here is vegan or gluten-free, of course besides the meat. It's healthy, clean and worth every penny! read more

KOBUNGA - The KOBUNGA w/ sauteed corn instead of the cucumber kimchi pickles. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Rice is poor quality. Pork belly is pretty good: flavorful and good marbling. Kimchi is bland. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A staple at the USC Village due to location, speedy service, and yummy fast causal Korean food. I loved that I got to build my own plate with my favorites and everything was so good! This will be my go-to restaurant when I'm on campus and craving something quick and filling. read more

Not what I was expecting but it's decent. The sides make the meal more edible. The service was filled with male student staff, friendly. Ambiance outside courtyard is pretty chill. read more

KOBUNGA - Average Short Rib Plate with Average Sides Cucumber Kimchi Pickles and Side Sauteed Corn. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Basic Korean food. Not good, not bad. The short ribs had a unidimensional flavor of salty soy. Nothing else. None of the complexities found in even an everyday Korean restaurant's Kalbi. The meat was tender. At $12 in a student focused USC Plaza, I thought the portion was small for the price. Skip it. If you go, remember to check in. You get a fountain drink with any entree purchase. read more

KOBUNGA - USC Special (Short Rib) - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

OVERALL RATING = 7 / 10 EATS:  USC Special (Short Rib) = 9   The Kobunga (Pork Belly) = 8 Napa Cabbage Kimchi = 8 Japchae Noodles = 7  TBDT (Soft Tofu) = 6 Roasted Sweet Potatoes = 5 Sauteed Corn = 4 Honey Soy Carrots = 3 ATMOSPHERE = 7 Located in USC University Village. No indoor seating, but plenty in the quad area. SERVICE = 8 APPEAL = 7 Korean-bento (doh-shi-lak) style. The meats were solid, but very small portions. Would come back if I happen to be in the area and craving Korean food. read more

Kobunga coming in hot with these chicken sandwiches WHERE THERE ARE ONLY 20 MADE DAILY! It's a combo of a lean chicken thigh with soy pickles and drizled in their housemade sauce! Beware though it is HOT! But you know you're girl can handle the heat especially cause I was able to tackle their home-made cucumber kimchi pickles that was paired with their tender roasted pork belly and japchae noodles!!!! Check out Kobunga with their vegan/gluten free sides! They do delivery with Postmates but they are also located in the USC University Village (for all you students taking finals this week!) Come on a Sunday for free parking on the side! read more

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The first time I had food from this restaurant was back in May. I lived right down the street and ordered the pork belly plate with corn and cucumber as my side. Let me tell you ... The second I took a bite of the pork belly-- it completely dissolved on my tongue. It was sooooo tender and soooo juicy. I have never in my life had meat like this before. It was truly amazing. Their sides remind me of my mom's cooking. And she cooks really well :) This past week, I was able to go back and get the same thing- except I tried their japchae as one of my sides. Japchae, is a dish in Korea that we eat especially during special occasions. Made with glass noodle and various veggies (which can vary). It was so delicious. Everything is seasoned perfectly and has so much flavor. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. I noticed watermelon cut up in the back and asked what they were for and was told that they make their own watermelon lemonade. The owner let me have a taste and it was so refreshing, I had to get a cup. I was able to speak with the owner who was taking my order. He was so welcoming and polite. The service was great both times. I'll be thinking about the pork belly again until next time !! *drool* read more

KOBUNGA - Pork belly and thinly sliced beef. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food was very good. And I do plan on ordering from this restaurant again. My only complaint which had nothing to do with the restaurant was for the second time in a row after ordering the food it was delivered by the driver who simply left it in front of the door and never rang the doorbell. So it sat there for about 15 minutes while I was wondering where was it? So when I went looking for it after noting that the app said it had been delivered, I found it, cold. Some things don't reheat very well in the microwave. The same thing happened the night before from a Thai food restaurant. I called YELP and complained, hopefully the world will get out when you drop something off ring the doorbell so people know it's there. So from now on when I order food I will put a special instruction on the order to ring the doorbell for tip. And not leave a tip on the bill automatically. read more

I haven't been able to eat grains/gluten for a while now but I miss Korean food and noodles soooo much. The noodles taste just like a less greasy chow mein and I haven't been able to ever make sweet potato glass noodles taste so flavorful and good. The texture was also perfect. I live 30 min away but I'll definitely be back. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow the food here was so good. I ordered the USC Special expecting a decent meal but I was surprised with an outstanding lunch. I don't get to have kimchi often because most places add shrimp, fish or some kind of seafood base which Im allergic to, so I was really pleased to have good non-life-threatening kimchi. The meat was really soft and tender and the glass noodles were a perfect consistency + well mixed with sauce and spices. The pickles were good but got old a bit quickly, and I think a bit too salty for me but overall couldn't complain. Maybe less pickles and more kimchi next time I go. The food took 5 minutes to prepare and parking was validated. 9.5/10 definitely recommend. read more

KOBUNGA - a meal in a plastic container - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

- Japchae Noodles - Tender Pork Belly with Burnt Sugar Crust - Cucumber Kimchi Noodles - Korean Cabbage Slaw Everything was delicious and felt authentic. Definitely want to go back. Service was good too. Food came out quickly. read more

Absolutely delicious food and you have so many choices where each visit can be a unique experience. We were able to find metered parking just around the block and it was very affordable/you can you your CC. Check in for a free fountain drink! read more

I don't think Kobunga lives up to its yelp stars. Bulgogi & jap chae did not taste right; they were not very appealing. Corn and slaw sides were good, but portions were tiny. read more

Kobunga is perfect for a stress-free Korean BBQ meal, and is a quick, affordable option. Portions are hearty and the food is ridiculous. The short rib is as tender as it gets, and its richness pairs perfectly with the kimchi cucumber pickles -- which I saw them slicing by hand. Everything comes on a huge bed of rice, served at the perfect temperature. As far as their sauce goes, I would drink that out of a bowl if they let me. And the iced green tea was definitely on point. This place is making Korean food more accessible, and taking LA by storm. It's worth going out of your way for. You won't leave hungry, promise. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Excellent option for healthy food right by USC. Pictured is a chicken/brown rice/greens/kimchi bowl. The crunchy, cleansing kimchi flavor was a great counterbalance for the sweeter chicken, which was juicy and tender. The amount of chicken was quite plentiful. I have had their popular roasted sweet potatoes before, which can be cold/burnt, so I don't recommend that side Cost is comparable to the other options in the village, if very slightly cheaper read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious food!! I ordered the chicken and japchae plate w mixed greens and kim chee . Everything was fresh and so good. I really appreciated the many gluten -free options. Thank you for that!!! I will be back for sure. read more

We went to Kobunga after walking around USC Campus before a Rams game at the Colosseum. It is marketing as fast, casual Korean BBQ. I ordered the actual Kobunga bowl. This comes with pork belly that is absolutely delicious, cooked and seasoned just perfectly. It also came with pickles and carrots, but I would have loved even more of the pork belly. My family also really loved their chicken and the bulgogi--they really know how to make meat. They also had very good lemonade. The food came out quickly and the portions were good. read more

Our whole family are **SUPER-BIG FANS** of Kobunga!!! Since we live in the Pasadena area, we aren't able to make it over to the USC Village area as often as we otherwise would to chow down here. Yesterday, when one of our daughters said that she had to drop off a return package at the Amazon located in the USC Village, my wife and I eagerly took the opportunity to go along with her. We both said at the same time, "We can hit Kobunga while we're down there!!!" My wife had the beef bulgogi, and she's completely **CRAZY-in-LOVE** with the Kimchee cucumber side dish. I had the short ribs which always hit the spot just right. Additionally, I am a **HUGE** fan of both their Yuzu & Plum lemonades. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kobunga in the USC Village is an excellent place to eat. The food was delicious! The service/the people that work there are really nice and super friendly. The food looks delicious and super healthy. I would recommend the "Build Your Own Plate". I got brown rice, short ribs (omg! The short ribs are yumlicious!), the rib eye, kimchi, and roasted sweet potatoes. Like another yelper wrote, "Fast, casual, reasonable prices and darn good food..." I wholeheartedly agree!! If you're on the USC campus looking for a place to eat, I recommend Kobunga for excellent Korean food/and a healthy delicious meal! read more

One of my fave places in the Village!! This is a fast casual kbbq joint and the meat is actually so delicious. I love the options that they have for the base (the japchae though), and LOVE the sides. The kimchi options are surprisingly good and flavorful. I've had the pork belly, bulgogi and the chicken and they're all great, although the best one in my opinion is the pork belly. It's the perfect amount of sweet and spicy and it's so soft. It's not cheap but it's definitely comparable to other options in the Village, and it's a good amount of food and I'm pretty full after. The workers are also really friendly and helpful :-) read more

KOBUNGA - Chicken with brown rice, japchae, kimchi cucumbers, corn ^_^ - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love Kobunga. It's a great value and always so flavorful. I hope they open up more locations so I can visit more often.

This food literally gave me massive shits. Nothing against the service, the food looked great. I went with 3 friends, and we all were on the toilet for hours. We literally had to contact trace what we all ate, and realized it was this food. Also, the food is grossly overpriced imo. Try it for yourself, nothing against the restaurant. Your intestines will yell at you. It tasted pretty good, it just took a long time to come out... of both ends. From the kitchen, end from the bathroom. I got the ribs, my roommate got the pork, and our friend got the tofu. Nothing was safe... read more

Kobunga is located in the USC University Village. You can build your own plate (choose base and protein) or order one of the Signature Plates. Signature Plate - TBDT (The Best Dam Tofu) * Tofu was soft and silky * Spicy garlic soy sauce was flavorful and not too spicy * Brown rice was hard and lukewarm Sides 1. Cucumber Kimchi Pickles * Cucumber pieces were crunchy, juicy, and a tad bit spicy 2. Roasted sweet potatoes - I was disappointed in the taste and texture * Sweet potatoes had the consistency of boiled potatoes I think it was just an off day because there are a few Yelp pictures that show cubed roasted sweet potato pieces. Overall, I was not impressed by the plate. There is no seating in the restaurant. You can find tables outside by the entrance or around the courtyard area of the University Village. read more

KOBUNGA - Signature Plate - TBDT (The Best Dam Tofu) - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kobunga is consistently good. It is a fast and tasty option at USC village. Their kimchi has flavor and zing, but it is not overwhelmingly spicy. read more

KOBUNGA - Bowl with chicken, mixed greens, and brown rice. Side Cucumber Kimchi Pickles and Side Sauteed Corn. - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The dining experience would be much better if I ordered right from the place in person instead of getting it via delivery. My boyfriend and I were craving some KBBQ with rice and other stuff. We were unsatisfied with the taste and knew it'd be better to have them there when it's fresh and made to order. It was okay overall. read more

I love that the Village has such a wide selection of restaurants, and I am so glad KOBUNGA is here to give students & visitors access to Korean cuisine. The service is super friendly and FAST. The folks here will treat you well and give you an unforgettable experience. You'll leave with a big smile on your face! I got the USC Special plate. Though the price is slightly high, it was still delicious + incredibly filling (I had enough leftover for dinner). The short rib was soooo tender and the kimchi + pickles tasted great. The rice was chewy - just how I like it! My friend got a bulgogi plate (marinated meat) and loved it! I also tried the plum lemonade and thought it was AMAZING. Such a tarty twist to your traditional lemonade flavors. I second what the other Yelpers said -- you MUST TRY the pineapple hot sauce! I used it to dip my short rib in. It's quite yummy. No indoor seating, but there are plenty of seats outdoors and scattered throughout the Village. The views are awesome! read more

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First time here and definitely not my last! So good, I forgive them for not having Alcohol! Wha?! Must admit, was skeptical, perhaps more incredulous of their slogan: "fast casual Korean BBq" dish? Wonder no more! It has made me a believer and will surely be back. Greeted immediately upon walking in, we asked for time to go over the menu. Not overwhelming and simple to understand, they have a "Signature Plates", "Extras", "Homemade sides" and "Build your Own" sections. Easy! Chose 2 dishes from the Signature menu to try: The USC plate~ Slow Cooked Short-Rib, Napa Cabbage Kimchi, and Soy Sauce Pickles. Short-rib meat so tender, moist and full of that smokey flavor. Extremely well made and plentiful with brown rice added. Pickles went well with this dish. Kimchi was flavorful and delicious, however do not expect the "traditional" Kimchi taste as it is not made with fish sauce. Inject Vegan delight here! The Kobunga~ Roasted Pork Belly with Burnt Sugar Crust, Cucumber Kimchi Pickles, and Honey Soy Carrots w/ white rice. Pork Belly so tender with a slight hint of that burnt sugar was a hit! Was expecting the sauce to be spicy hot but was a savory seasoned "homestyle" sauce that was a great accompaniment to da' belly! Kimchi Pickles tasted more traditional and were deliciously excellent. Honey Soy Carrots made for a nice side as well. All together it was a Korean Hit and was thoroughly enjoyed. Because it is a carryout fast-food establishment, there is no seating inside. However plentiful seating is available in the expansive and beautiful courtyard. Pricing was fair given the generous amount of food received; meat, rice, side dishes. No Alcohol available! :/ However! Was able to make use of the "free drink" with Yelp Checkin! YAY!! read more

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I got the Mama Kim plate which is about $12...it is very filling and tastes great. They cook the meat made to order. Must try the pineapple hot sauce, and the juices here is very good (free drink with yelp check-in~!) Hot cucumber pickle is one of my favorite sides here~! read more

Food was great. I got a sandwich. Started falling apart at the end but was really good. Not too expensive.

Today was my first time visiting Kobunga Restaurant, my friends and I could not stop talking about the tenderness of the beef and chicken as well as the glass noodles and Kimchi. Thank you Stephen for an awesome experience. read more

Foods solid! Only complaint is size is a bit small for the price, so you are certain to buy more than 1 item/entree. Costumer service is average at best too. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

USC Village is a very welcome addition to the campus, and with it, all the perks of gentrification: trendy food, convenience of Trader Joe's and Target, aesthetics... Kobunga Korean Grill is another recent addition to the village and serves up nice korean food. While the food itself is decent, I find the portions a little confusing. Also I feel like I came on an off day because the quality of meat was a little mediocre. While I'm unopposed to having lots of meat, Kobunga seems to give you too much meat for too little rice, again, that's not a bad thing necessarily. The side dishes are generous, the meat portions are generous, but the rice portions aren't. I imagine Kobunga does a few entrees well, like the pork belly while everything else is just okay. Regardless, everyone is friendly, prices are slightly up, but overall it does the job of providing decent korean food if you're too lazy to drive over to ktown. read more

I saw this place on the Yelp LA instagram on Monday morning, and I was mind blown since I had no idea this place was in the works. I knew I had to go here for lunch on Monday, but I noticed on Yelp that it said it was closed so I gave them a call, and they were open and I asked them where they were located at the USC Village, and they said next to Baked Bear...Viola! There it is! I debated between the short rib and bulgogi the entire time I was in line, and went with the bulgogi and as soon as I saw the short rib that my friend ordered, I was filled with regret, but I will definitely be trying the short rib soon, and that may just get me to give this place a 5 star review. The bulgogi was tasty, but I thought the serving size was a bit small for the price, but maybe I'm just a hungry gal that wanted more of the tender, delicious bulgogi. The brown rice was a bit dry. I thought the corn and marinated cucumber was pretty good, but I honestly wasn't too attracted to their sides, although I do need to try the rest. I think it would be awesome if they add jap chae (glass noodles) as a side one day, and switch up the sides some time. The special red sauce was delicious, and added a lot of flavor to my place. I will definitely be back soon to try the short rib. This is an amazing addition to the USC Village, and I highly recommend that everyone go check it out! read more

Kobunga is a new and refreshing twist on your traditional sit down kbbq. Rather than dedicating hours to an all you can eat, Kobunga reminds me of a quick order at Chipotle or Bibigo where you get your food almost immediately in a lunch tray style. Do not underestimate the quality of their meat. I've never, and I mean never in all my 22 years of existence as a Korean American, had such a soft and savory pork belly in my life! The chef really knows how to cook meats, marrying Korean flavors and meats with a true southern barbecue feel. For between $11-13 a plate, you'll get two delicious sides (pickled kimchi is a must!) and rice with your choice of meat. It's a deal!! read more

KOBUNGA - Pork Belly combo - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Worth to try. I hate cucumber but this place made me eat cucumber. So delicious. I highly recommend. read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kobunga is the Chinese takeout version of Korean food. For the following reasons: 1. Lemonade served in a plastic to go tupperware. (This is a plus). 2. Old rice layered with meat and suspicious red sauce. 3. Meal specials named after college campuses. read more

Adorable college spot that is quick, easy, and delicious. We ordered the mama Kim which is a korean bulgogi beef platter with choice of rice or salad. I had the salad with pineapple dressing and it's yummy. My bf had the USC special which is beef brisket and omg it's so juicy, soft, and delicious!!!! I would definitely come back for this one and to try their signature pork belly that was sold out this time. The watermelon lemonade is yummy too, totally forgot to check in to get that for free but I'll come back. read more

Really great spot in the hear to the USC Village (which is a beautiful location on it's own). This place is Chipotle for Korean food & it's a MUST TRY. You pick your base- brown rice for me please-choice of marinated: chicken, bulgogi, tofu or pork belly and then a choice of sides- I really enjoyed the pickled cucumbers and the purple yam (I think? It's not on the menu so not sure if they were just giving it a test run). The side of carrots were a little on the sweeter side and the kimchi tasted different than other kimchi's I've tried, more on the vinegar-y side. The mild sauce also tasted kind of...sweet? So if you like it spicy I definitely recommend the hot sauce. Of the protein, I really enjoyed the short rib and the pork belly (melts in your mouth!) I definitely want to go back and try the Spicy Rice cakes, so I'll report back! read more

KOBUNGA - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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