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Wool Um Ma Restaurant

4.4 (26 reviews)
InexpensiveKorean
Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

Wool Um Ma Restaurant Photos

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WOOL UM MA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Wool Um Ma Restaurant

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Tuna Kimbap (5/5)
Phillip T.

The owners are so nice and kind. I got the tuna kimbap, so freakin good. The rice and banchan inside is perfectly cooked, and the tuna has a perfect balance between being creamy but still staying present. Will be coming back to try the other kimbap.

Menu. Love the beef.
Rich C.

This small hole in the wall inside the Korea mart store is amazing. They have like 12 things but so yummy. My favorite is the pork dumplings and that yummy sauce. Their glass noodles are amazing as well. They have kimbap which is way better than a ca roll. The soups are good. I have had almost everything and can say you won't be disappointed. Yummy!!!

a tray of food
Chef T.

Tasty restaurant in a grocery store. Very low key and small, has fresh tuna kimbap which tasted good. Yukejang is also good and not overly spicy.

fish cake kimbap
G H.

My rating is mostly for the kimbap, which I think is their specialty. This shop is inside of HK Market so you'll have to enter thru the market entrance even if you're not going to the market. Kimbap - had the sausage, fish cake, and beef kimbaps. The rice to other filling ratio is perfect, they're generous with the meats and veggies. The flavoring is good and the kimbaps are wrapped well. You definitely get value for your money as each box is filled with 3 rolls while other spots give you 1-2 for the same price. They have a good variety of main fillings too (the burdock one is near the register and doesn't have a sign like the others). Tteokbokki/toppokki - not the best tteokbokki in Ktown but I bought it here for convenience and its still tasty to dip kimbap in the sauce. The ddeok or rice cake is cooked unevenly - some pieces were a bit overcooked and some under (I prefer it under since it sits in warm sauce). The sauce is too watery and isn't savory. Spice level was ok, could be more spicey for me. They give you a lot of sauce but I think the intent is for you to dip the kimbap. There was sufficient ddeok and fish cake. Fried dumplings/gun mandu - highly recommended!! Perfectly crispy and stays crispy even after a few hours. The filling of pork and green onions is super savory, not too salty. I like dipping it in the sauce (soy sauce and vinegar mix) but the mandu is flavorful enough you don't really need to dip. Support this ma and pop shop!

Menu on the wall as of 9.22.2018
Sabrina S.

For right now this is a solid 2.5 rounded to 3 stars for the friendliness of the owners. Just so you know... This is located inside the HK Supermarket. I can't really say if the other dishes are good or not. I can only judge on the tteokbokki that I ordered. All I have to say is that it was a huge disappointment. It ended up being more soupy which I would've been ok with as the broth was very flavorful and had a decent amount of heat. But the rice cakes...tteok... Was mushy. Very very mushy. #epicfail When I order tteokbokki, I expect the rice cake to be nice and chewy and these were so mushy that you could've smeared the rice cakes. Not good eats at all. I will never order this item again from here. BUT on the good side... The other dishes that I saw other customers eating looked really yummy! So I'll definitely be back to try these other dishes. And the kicker to this entire experience... The owners were so nice! Very friendly and very engaging. Says alot about a business when the owner is that nice. Loved it! :)

Menu
Helen H.

Love their spicy rice cake and fried black seaweed with glass Noodle. And of course their 7 different kinds of kimbap! The taste is always the same. Definitely recommend what I've mentioned.

Spicy Stir Fried Squid only $ 10!!!!
Miguel R.

This place is a diamond in a field of diamonds. What I mean by that is that even with all the great food in Koreatown this place stands out! I used to come here for some really great king sized dumplings that they have discontinued sadly. Now I come for their awesome Spicy Stir Fried Squid. The meal is delicious, filling and cheap. You get a soup, white rice, banchan and the entree! It used to be really, really cheap but the price has gone up. Another reviewer mentioned the food is spicy and she is right. I hate spicy food yet I still enjoy their Spicy Stir Fried Squid! It's just that good! This restaurant is inside the Han Kook Market. It is pretty basic as you might expect. They have a few tables. They have their menu posted on a wall in big pictures. You can see what the dish looks like and the price is adjacent to the picture. Parking is no issue since the Han Kook Market has a big parking lot. What can I do without here? I can see no defects here! What makes Wool Um Ma stand out? The value! You truly get a delicious cheap meal here! Five stars! This place is really, really ridiculously good!

menus on the wall

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2 years ago

Fresh and tasty Korean kimbap, very affordable price. Make sure to come early for best selection!

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Could use more beef, but I still love their Yukgaejang. And their kimbap is great, too!

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Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

Hangari Kalguksu

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

the clam kalguksu (바지락 칼국수) was definitely the highlight for me! it was super yummy and really…read morerefreshing. i remember eating it on such a hot day and it honestly hit perfectly i also got the yulmu bibim-guksu (열무 비빔국수), which is a cold noodle dish, and that was really refreshing too. overall, this feels like such a good summer spot. the vibe was lax, you just sit down and enjoy!! even the water felt refreshing because they serve it in those cold korean metal cups hehe they also move pretty fast service-wise, which i appreciated, and it's in such a good area with a lot of other food spots nearby. i'm really happy i randomly came across this place and i can't wait to explore more around the area

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.

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)
0.3 miKoreatown
$$
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

Came here with a big group of 10 adults plus a baby and honestly anju absolutely delivered. We were…read morelooking for a fun Koreatown spot for large groups, family-style Korean food, drinks, and a place where everyone could actually relax and enjoy themselves without feeling rushed. Found Anju while searching for best group dinner spots in Koreatown Los Angeles and now I completely understand the hype. First off, making the reservation was incredibly easy. Being able to book a large party online without having to jump through hoops was a huge plus. When we arrived, we got seated almost immediately, which for a large group in KTown on a busy night felt impressive. Parking initially confused us a bit because of the plaza setup, but they offer valet and it ended up being super convenient and worth it. The vibe here is awesome. It's technically an outdoor restaurant, but it still feels intimate and lively. Perfect energy for groups, celebrations, birthdays, catching up with friends, or just hanging out over Korean BBQ and soju. Kyle was our server and genuinely made the night. Super attentive, very accommodating with our large party and baby, constantly checking in, pacing the meal well, and just brought great energy to the table all night. Service like that really changes the whole experience. Food-wise, the marinated beef was phenomenal. Easily one of the standout dishes of the night. So flavorful, tender, and the kind of dish everyone keeps reaching back for. We also ordered an octopus and pork dish that completely blew me away. Probably one of my favorite bites I've had in LA in a while. The asado-style platter wasn't my personal favorite compared to the marinated meats, but it still came with a generous amount and was great for sharing with a large table. We ordered a ton of food, beers, soju, shared plates, and left absolutely stuffed. Considering the amount of food, drinks, and the size of our party, we all felt like the value was really solid. Dessert is definitely more simple and traditional, so don't come expecting some massive dessert menu, but honestly the focus here is the food, drinks, atmosphere, and group dining experience. Overall, this is one of the best large group restaurants in Koreatown if you want great Korean food, strong service, fun social atmosphere, and a place that actually handles big parties well. Will absolutely 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)
1.0 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)
1.4 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(512 reviews)
1.2 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)
1.0 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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Ham Ji Park
Ham Ji Park
Ham Ji Park

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Wool Um Ma Restaurant - korean - Updated May 2026

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