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MGD Korean BBQ

4.5 (2k reviews)
PriceyKorean, Barbeque
Closed • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

MGD Korean BBQ Photos

Business Info

MGD KOREAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - MGD Korean BBQ

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Parking situation
Ameer E.

Parking: We came at around 7-8 pm and there is a small lot on the backside of the restaurant. The parking was super limited and spots were extremely compact. I almost witnessed several accidents lol! Despite how busy it was on a Friday night, we came without a reservation and were added to the waitlist for a booth for two, the hostess gave us an estimated wait time upfront, and we ended up waiting about 40 minutes with the specification of not wanting to sit outside or on high chairs in the communal center of the restaurant. We put our names down and got a virtual timer/estimator which was helpful and we were notified to check in once ready. Ambiance: The dining area was large and open with a mix of booth seating along the walls, standard tables, and higher countertop seating options in the middle of the restaurant. The ambiance matched what you'd expect from a busy KBBQ spot, lively, bustling, and a little loud. Since we went on a Friday night, the atmosphere was expected and did not negatively impact the experience. Even while cooking at the table, conversations were still easy to have throughout the dinner. Despite the grills heating the air, the temperature felt nice and regulated which is rare with KBBQ and was honestly impressive. Food: We recommend upgrading to the supreme. I think the price was steep for the fact that you are limited to one order per person with certain items on the supreme menu, also for the lack of service. Additionally, I feel as though items such as galbi shouldn't be held behind the paywall of the supreme upgrade...But that's the food landscape of the valley for ya! We got several orders of the brisket, a couple of galbi, beef bulgogi, the prime steak, the giant short rib, radish paper, prime MGD steak and most importantly, only one order of rice between two people. Service: Our server was good and attentive, but the restaurant felt understaffed for a busy Friday and the host was not much help. Our server came once to replace our grill top but we would've wished for more opportunities to order more since you are limited to 3 items at a time. All things considered the true and final review is a 3.5 stars for MGD

Julie R.

My first time visiting this location, I was immediately greeted by the host and the strong aroma. There was no wait time for my party of 5 which was nice and unexpected for a Thursday night. My server Lee was so patient with us and very attentive, I would ask for her again! My favorite meats: marinated bulgogi & spicy beef belly.

Natalie Y.

Service , attentiveness, and meat quality have really gone up since the last time I went here 2 years ago! It has now taken the spot of go to KBBQ in the Valley!

Lobsters
Siamrath B.

This place is the vibe man. We came with a party of 9 and made reservations the ticket before for our friend's bday, and we were seated right away. What a great selection of meat and we even got lobster with the premium selection. That was one of the best lobsters I've had in a while and everyone in our table agreed! Service was very prompt and very helpful. We got everything we wanted and needed in a timely manner. I would highly recommend coming back!!!

Melissa G.

We've been wanting to try MGD for a while now, and we finally got around to going! They have a pretty decent parking lot, and whenever we are in the area it's always packed. We decided to go for an early dinner and we were sat immediately after arriving. They walked us through the Korean BBQ experience and we began ordering. They brought us some sauces and veggies. We ordered the spicy beef bulgogi and the regular beef bulgogi, as well as sides of rice and the sweet and spicy wings. We really enjoyed the flavor of the chicken wings, we had to order another round! The chicken was crispy and had the perfect amount of sauce. The bulgogi was perfect and it cooked fast being so thin, and it was so tasty, we definitely liked the spicy one better. We ordered the chicken and pork bulgogi too, but that was not one of our favorites. The restaurant was clean and the orders came out very fast. They are very attentive to what you need and if you want to order more. We felt very comfortable and VERY full when we left. We would definitely go back, the only reason we gave 4 stars was the price, definitely higher price but totally worth it to be able to order whatever you want!

Napa S.

Our favorite spot good meat good service good vibe we will be back thanks ! And I do recommend do the supreme lobster and MGD steak alone are worth it !

Vending machines
April N.

Paul was an amazing server always smiling and so patient and happy. The food is always ready immediately when you sit down especially on the weekends. They have good music playing Saturday night and plush toy vending machines to play with. It has a black and red modern vibe.

Sweet fries and sides
Ed M.

So good ! I come here every 2 weeks and love the vibe and picks. The sweet fries was random and good, I had peach soju and my favorite meat jumelok

Anthony R.

I love coming to MGD whenever I'm craving some Good quality kbbq! My favorite meats here are the brisket which is thinly cut and is super tender and the thinly sliced beef belly which has the perfect amount of fat and is also very tender! Their service is always on top! Always checking to see if you need anymore meats and they come out fast. Definitely my go to Korean bbq spot.

Pork belly
Penelope

Came in with a party of 3 on a Tuesday night and there was very little waiting time. Our server was super friendly and accommodated for our needs very well! Got the Standard AYCE, and portion sizes were very filling. I have been here before and have always had a good experience and never disappoints.

Lobster
Harrison W.

Food: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Well every good things come to an end. I really loved this place and it was my go to all you can Korean bbq spot. Last time I came I already saw it going bad but gave it a benefit of doubt. This time I went there around 7:45pm and had to wait about 25 minutes. I saw few empty tables but I guess they don't have enough stuff. The front desk already look burnt out didn't look very welcoming. After I got seated I worried they are gonna take a while to bring out the food (from previous experience), so I order four order of brisket right away. I guess whoever slicing the meat in the back lost patience and cut think ones for me. I have never seen brisket this thick. Next round I order only one brisket and it came out regular thin slices. I ordered chimichurri sauce, garlic and jalapeño but they never came. Asked again got the rest but garlic. I was told they ran out. How could a restaurant ran out of garlic? I have been waiting for next round of meat for like 10, 15 minutes. The server came over and check. Found out they never brought it out so she went back there again to make sure. Few minutes later one item came. Still waiting for two more. She had to do it again to get the rest of the order out. Their price was increased but the service went down. Either they are understaffed or bad management. I am sad to say this would be my last time coming here.

Pork belly and pork galbi
Analiea M.

The food here is amazing. This is definitely one of my favorite Korean bbq spots on the valley! They have indoor and outdoor seating and their service and fast. All the workers are super friendly as well! There's two AYCE menus, supreme ($45.95) and standard ($38.95). We usually go with standard, it has most of the classic meats and lots of side dishes and apps. You can order items a la carte as well but the you definitely get your moneys worth! All the meats are flavorful and fresh. Only downside to this place is that it's so popular there usually is a pretty long wait time, but the quality of the food is worth it. Super family friendly place also. If you're in the area, give this place a try.

Beef briskets
May T.

Food- Brisket meats were tough to chew. Meat quality was poor tonight. Service- was very slow, they said we can order 3 different meat plates at a time but plates came out one at a time and they took a while to come out, and we were just sitting there at the table after we grilled and ate one plate. There were several tables that were open but they didn't seat any group right away, they made parties wait for 20-30 minutes even though tables were available. I ordered garlic but they said it ran out. I was there for dinner time around 7:30-8 pm. This place is not worth it for the price they are charging for ayce.

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23 days ago

Great service! Good food and sides! Our server Nicole was very attentive. Accommodated our kids too!

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23 days ago

Great service! We had Nicole who was so attentive and sweet. Very kid friendly as well. Try the marinated meats!

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23 days ago

Nicole is an amazing server. Very attentive and suggested great things. The food was also good. Meat came out quickly.

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1 day ago

Best service, best food, best ambiance. Amazing time, holy smokes, I will be coming every week.

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1 day ago

The atmosphere is so chill, they play great music and are very attentive. Will be back.

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The food was delicious and the service was amazing! It was a lot of food for an affordable price and the staff were all very nice

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MGD Korean BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - MGD Korean BBQ

What kind of condiments do they offer to dip the meat in, is it just sesame oil & salt?

Yes! Nothing out of the ordinary

Are there gluten free options here?

It's mostly red meat that you cook. Isn't that gluten free?

Do they have rice paper?

Yes, they do

What are the kids ages to consider for kids eat free?

Under 5, 5-10 is $15.95

Can you accommodate 25 guests?

Yes they can. I would call a make a reservation

Can you make reservations in advance?

Yes, a party of 10 or more, and 24 hour advance is a required.

If you only get vegetarian items, do you still pay the regular price?

Yes

Is it kid friendly? Do they have high chairs for little ones?

I think good for families. Not sure about kid menu though. Yes, saw a few highchairs at my last visit.

Is this only ayce, or can you order appetizers or other already cooked items priced individually?

Yes, you can order appetizers and other cooked items priced individually.

Do you still have outdoor dining?

Yes open on weekends and they have a open air side. But sometimes closed due to high winds.

Do they have soy sauce?

Yes

Will you be open for thanksgiving?

Are the sodas free refill?

Yes

Proof of Vaccine required?

No. They did not ask when we went.

Hello! is this for reservation? or first come first serve?

Hello, it's first come first serve!

Do they serve AYCE to parties of 1?

Yes

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Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

Hangari Kalguksu

4.4(3.2k reviews)
19.5 mi•Wilshire 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

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(694 reviews)
18.7 mi•Koreatown
•$$
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

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Anju House
Anju House - Inside

Inside

Anju House

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Danbi - Wagyu zabuton

Danbi

4.5(383 reviews)
19.5 mi•Wilshire 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

Danbi - Pork cheek

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Pork cheek

Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

Kobawoo House

4.3(1.6k reviews)
19.9 mi•Wilshire 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)
19.4 mi•Koreatown
•$$$

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).

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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

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Grilled spareribs

Ham Ji Park

Ham Ji Park

4.2(1.8k reviews)
19.5 mi•Wilshire 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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Ham Ji Park
Ham Ji Park
Ham Ji Park

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MGD Korean BBQ - korean - Updated May 2026

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