everything was amazing and service superb, will be coming back asap to try the whole menu, the wall has certificates read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Was the first time trying this spot out and was happily surprised by the delicious flavors. I would recommend stopping by for bite. Joon was very kind and provided quick service. read more

Everything was amazing! Joon was so incredibly kind and the service was top notch for him just running the place by himself. Food was 10/10, definitely recommend checking this small business out. Can't wait to see its well-deserved success :) read more

Woowa - Pink tteokboki with beef belly and corn cheese, kimchi pancake - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Came on a Friday lunch, right when they opened. Lots of parking in the back! The owner, Chef Joon, greeted us and we sat anywhere we wanted to. We ordered the tteok galbi plate and the jjapagetti with grilled pork. When the jjapagetti first came out, I was like "I can make this at home!" But then when I tasted how good it was I said to myself, "Okay, I haven't been able to make it taste THIS good." Haha. The instant noodles were al dente and he did something special to the sauce because it was so addicting. The pork on top was grilled nicely. I kept eating it because it was there and I couldn't stop. The tteok galbi plate came with fluffy white rice with furikake, a leafy green salad and the galbi meatballs. The meatballs were so good-- not the typical Italian ones, but these were irregular pieces and crispy and charred on the outside. The salad had a good dressing and was nice to have to cut the grease from the meat. We killed that plate too. It's just a one (or maybe 2?) man show for now while he looks to hire more staff, but overall would definitely come back to order the tteok galbi, jjapagetti and try other dishes! read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time now. At the time of writing, it's rated 5/5 stars on Yelp, and it always seemed like there had to be something special about this place to earn that kind of rating... ...and oh boy, this place is definitely special. Everything we ordered was unique, came in a big portion, and was very, very tasty. Here's a quick overview of what we got: Hongdae meatball sandwich - MUST TRY I'm a sucker for a good sandwich, and this one definitely fits the bill. My friends and I have a debate about whether the bread or the filling is the most important part of making a sandwich "good" (I'm firmly in the camp that bread wins all), but that debate is irrelevant here because everything in this sandwich is SO delicious. The sourdough bread, the slaw, and the definitely-homemade meatball (more like a meat patty) all come together to make one of the best things I've eaten recently. If I had to nitpick, my only gripe is that it's messy and could probably use a skewer or toothpick to keep it all together -- otherwise, I'm 100% getting this again, and you should too. Spicy pork kimchi tofu - feeds you, your family, and everyone who lives on your street This thing is massive. It almost looks like an entire block of tofu was battered and deep-fried, then topped with a literal mound of spicy pork and kimchi. Honestly, when I got this I thought it would be more about looks than taste -- but man, was I wrong. Woowa is open late, so I could totally see this being a great dish to share with three friends over beer or soju. Ramyeon risotto - goodness gracious I was chatting with the owner and learned that his culinary background is in Italian cuisine, which he studied in Korea. I would have never guessed based on the Yelp photos, which focus primarily on the sandwiches -- but a big part of the menu leans into Korean-Italian fusion. If the risotto is any indication of what the other Italian dishes are like, every single one of them is sure to be excellent. It's a pretty simple dish, but it's executed so well: mild spiciness from the ramyeon, richness from the butter and cream, all soaked into a really great base of rice. I'm still thinking about this dish. Truffle fries - the kind of good fries that go with anything You know how fries can sometimes be soggy and a little undersalted, but you're going to eat them anyway because they're potatoes? These are not that at all: light, crispy, well-seasoned, and they go down easy. I could see myself eating a bowl of these alongside literally anything else on the menu. If I had to gripe about a couple of things: the interior is very dark and the music plays pretty loud. Honestly, that vibe is kind of nice for late-night eats, but when I'm having lunch around 1pm, it feels a little strange to be sitting in the dark -- especially on a sunny day. The other thing is that the menu is almost too overwhelming. I wanted to try everything, but the sheer number of options made it hard to choose. If you find yourself in the same position, just order the Hongdae meatball sandwich and a side of fries. If you like it, come back and try one of the Italian dishes. It was seriously that good. All in all, I can't wait to come back and bring some friends. Thank you for reading this essay.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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So glad to have eaten here! They offer unique Korean fusion foods It made me think of a haiku :9 Delicious woowa Risotto and Sujebi I am satisfied read more

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Ambiance: it's a cozy restaurant like a hole in the wall, private parking in the rear, limited seating inside, good for late night hangout Service: super friendly and attentive, patient with requests, cleaned table and refilled water adequately Food & Drink: classic Korean bar food with some creative ideas Ttoek Galbi Meal Set - ***** mix of Korean style salad, beef cube, and rice, very tasty, highly recommend Redondo Seafood Pancake - **** crispy squid pancake, good with dipping sauce, recommend Terra - *** light bottled bear Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, expect $30~$35 per person read more

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Tried a new spot today, Woowa in Gardena, a Korean-Italian fusion restaurant, and it was really delicious. We went around 5pm and had the whole place to ourselves, which made it feel really relaxed. The owner, Joon, is incredibly kind and even came over to chat with us, which made the experience feel extra welcoming. We ordered the tteokgalbi set (served with rice and salad) and the rose sujebi. The tteokgalbi was delicious -- the meat was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and paired so well with the fresh rice. The rose sujebi was super flavorful, and the sujebi itself had a really satisfying chewy texture, almost like rice cakes. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be back to try more dishes. Excited to see this spot grow! read more

Woowa - Rose sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Small hole in the wall restaurant that is doing Korean food with a twist. Got the rose sugebi and kimchi fried rice and they were both tasty. Talked with the owner and he seemed cool. Service was quick as well. read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

My husband's coworker recommended this place a few weeks ago, and we finally got a chance to try it -- I'm so glad we did! We ordered the Tteok Galbi Meal Set (Korean beef meatballs with rice and salad) and the Oil Sujebi with clams and zucchini. We enjoyed both dishes; the flavors were great. I especially enjoyed the texture of the sujebi, and they did such a great job cleaning the clams -- I didn't chew on a single grain of sand. A+! Parking was easy on a Thursday, and they have a private lot in the back. The service was also excellent -- very attentive and helpful with menu explanations. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

Woowa - Oil Sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Tteokk galbi is really good. Soft with a bulgogi taste with furikake on it. Served with big rice and big salad, definitely get it! read more

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Came in on a sleepy Monday night to find a beautiful old school Korean-style interior and a very enthusiastic chef you could watch work in the open kitchen. We came in for sandwiches - which is only available through the lunch menu - but the dinner menu is much more expansive and the chef is more than happy to make recommendations. He works deliberately and brought everything out himself, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. We ordered the Tteok-Galbi, a Korean Galbi sweet marinated beef meatball and were blown away by how juicy and rich they were. We also took a chance on the Chicken Pancake and were surprised by the unique take on a chicken parm with Korean flair. The portions are generous and meant to be shared, Korean Pocha style. The chef himself is friendly and passionate about his new restaurant, he's from Korea and got his degree in Italian cuisine. I can't sing his praises nearly enough, so I have to ask whoever is reading this to trust me and go support an incredibly talented young chef opening his dream spot. read more

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Was excited to try out this new pub like Korean restaurant in Gardena! We got their pork belly, tteok galbi, and garlic parm French fries. Everything was pretty decent... the fries were nothing really special. The galbi had good flavor to it, the pork belly though was disappointing. We saw him make the food and usually when you serve it in the stone pot, the food should be hot but it was not. Not too sure how the food was not warm at all. All the foods would have been better if served hot. There were only two tables when we dined in so we were taken care of well. Kind of a pricy place for the food but Overall place was okay read more

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We went on a Monday night around 8:30pm for late dinner because we didnt want to cook. Had ddeok galbi meal set, rose pasta with chicken and cucumber arugula salad. The portions were large and the food was all delicious. Reasonably priced also. 3 items were too much for the two of us but glad we tried all 3 items. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. It seems like a good spot for dinner with drinks but we were out on a Monday night so no drinks for us. Will definitely go back to try other items read more

My 2nd review.. they finally started their dinner menu a month ago!! We've been to Woowa 3-4 times since. The dinner menu is 5 pages long! So many options and everything we've tried were delicious! I really can't say enough nice things about their food! And Joonho, owner/chef, is the nicest man! Our favorites: cream gnocchi with shishito peppers, pork jowl with kimchi in sizzling pot, ramen risotto, moochin mandoo, fries with hot Cheetos (kids fave)! Can't wait to go back to try more stuff! Always easy parking, no reservation necessary (for now.. I have a feeling this place will be packed soon). Soju, beer and wine available. They also have fun drinking games! No take out available right now for dinner, just lunch. Check it out! read more

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Unique and delicious! The distinguished young chef here has something special that I have not ever tried before. Worth a stop and share with some folks, the portions are generous and filling. read more

Woowa - Huge Risotto after slick presentation - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Stopped in for lunch after hearing about it from a friend who raved about his place. The tteokgalbi is very good and portions are great for the price. Also got a dak attack sandwich which I recommend eating quickly because the bread will get soggy fast with the sauce dripping over it. The service and hospitality from the the owner Joon was amazing! Overall a uniquely nice Korean fusion spot to add to the South Bay food roster. read more

Woowa - Tteok galbi and chuncheon dak attack - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

A must try and a hidden gem in Gardena! Been hearing about this place and came to try it and was not disappointed. The ambience is nice, cozy, and intimate. The music is 10/10 and the staff were super friendly! The food was very good! The Rose Sujebi and French Fries + Galbi were delicious and we will definitely be back to try more off the menu! read more

Woowa - Rose Sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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This place has amazing food! Such a hidden gem and I hope more people find it :) Although the place seems to be run by just one person; the food came out super quick, tasted amazing, and he was super kind! They place some nice music without it being disruptive at all! read more

Woowa - tteok-bokki (pink) w/ Beef Belly and Corn Cheese - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Everything was delicious and owner was really nice! Highly recommend to check it out if you like korean and western food! read more

Woowa - Tteok galbi set was delicious and plentiful! Highly recommend! - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Small place great food a nice combination of some great Korean food, but more importantly, great hospitality by both the chef who came out to greet everybody and ask us how our food was and by the staff. I had the Haemul panjun. And the Sam kyup Sal. As an American, who speaks some Korean, they were very polite to me, even when I spoke Korean with sometimes Korean contend to be a little dismissive of. Again I would recommend this because the food is great. Hospitality is great and it's just the right combination of all. read more

First time here seeing the good reviews. Very nice vibe reminds me of Korea. Owner is very nice, explained us about the menu. Food is great. Authentic Korean food verified. Since we share the sane neigbor, I will definitely comeback. read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

My husband discovered this spot on Yelp and decided to stop by for lunch. From the outside, it looks pretty unassuming, but once you step inside, the music sets a great vibe. The food was so good that we ended up coming back later that same night to try the dinner menu. We tried several dishes, and my favorites were the Hongdae meatball sandwich and the rose pasta w/seafood--both were absolutely delicious. The owner, Chef Joon, was incredibly welcoming, provided excellent service, and personally prepared all of the dishes himself. Needless to say, we'll definitely be coming back again and again to try more items on the menu. I also love that they're open late since we tend to eat late. Be sure to check them out and show them some support! read more

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The dishes were amazing a must try! Thanks to the chef for making it a positive experience. read more

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Just want to start off saying I already love this place when I hear them playing Trance music. This is such a nice and intimate gem in Glendale! Parking is easy since they have their own lot in the back and seating area is quite good. We got the cheese tteok galbi plate, the ChunCheon Dak Attack sandwich, and the garlic parmesan fries. The tteok galbi was really interesting because I never had Korean meatballs before, but it was so juicy and flavorful! It came with a bed of rice and dressed salad. The cheese was the way to abandon but I should have asked if they could make it spicy and cheesy. Cant believe I never knew these existed Also, the ChunCheon Dak Attack sandwich had these huge chunks of marinated chicken in addition to these crispy chips for texture and some cabbages. I'm going to die for. Good call to get garlic parm fries with them too because they went well with the sandwich. Be sure to bring a jacket though. It is a little chilly. But id freeze my ass off for these foods again so we're chillin. read more

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Woowa!! The food was so delicious and service was fantastic, would highly recommend! The ambiance was chill with soft music. Restaurant was very clean too read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

The food here is very delicious. The Rose pasta was very good. The sauce definitely has culinary excellence. This is a place worth going to if you live in the Gardena and Torrance area. read more

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Food was amazing! For the first time, we opted for the top half of the ten recommended items, and I can say honestly, there are no misses! They have ice cold Korean beer that paired nicely with meal. Will definitely be coming back :) read more

Woowa - Ddukgalbi and Sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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Bomb as fuck. Great service, chill vibes, insane food. Strongly recommend. Showed up on a Friday with no reservation and sat down at the bar instantly. Get the oji sujebi and the pork belly. read more

Woowa - Oji Sujebi - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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We went for our Friday date night and immediately loved the ambience. It's a cozy place with great service. The food comes out quick and the portions are plentiful. My favorite is the pork belly but my boyfriend loved the ddeokgalbi. We probably ordered too much for two people so highly recommend to come as a double date or a group of 4 friends to be able to try everything! read more

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My husband came across Woowa on Yelp and we decided to check it out. So happy we tried it because the food and service were amazing and it's now one of our favorite restaurants within the area. We ordered about 5 dishes during dinner to be able to try different things (and have some leftovers). My favorites were the rosé pasta with meatball, spicy cucumber arugula salad with sweet potato, and the ramen risotto! And the Yaki Mandu too - honestly it was all good! They were so delicious and I'm happy we have leftovers to eat again today! Joon was an amazing chef & his wife, Elaine, was our super friendly/helpful server. We can't wait to go back again soon! The music, drinks, and portion size were all another plus! We will definitely be back for dinner, but also want to try their lunch menu as they have sandwiches and other items that sound delicious. Plus they are open late night until 2am as well. Side note, take the time to read the cover of the menu on how they arrived at the name "Woowa" as it's a cute story! Thanks for having us. Woowa! read more

Woowa - Ramen Risotto, Rose pasta with meatball, spicy cucumber arugula salad, yaki mandu, yum! - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

The fries were absolutely delicious, and the homemade tteokgalbi on top made them even more special. Everything paired so well with drinks, which made the whole experience even better. The atmosphere was great--super cozy and perfect for hanging out--and the server was very friendly and attentive, which I really appreciated. Also, the potato pancake and rosé gnocchi are a must-try!!! Definitely recommend this place! I also heard their lunch and dinner menus are different, so I'll definitely have to come back and try their lunch next time. read more

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E V E R Y T H I N G, and I mean everything about this authentic Korean Italian restaurant is exceptional. This is a small business with BIG flavor. My husband and I have dined here twice and every time have been so satisfied that we can't wait to come back to try new dishes. Our first visit we had was the soy slow cooked beef brisket, pork jowl, and toowoomba ramyeon cream risotto. Our second visit, we had pork belly, Woowa fried chicken boneless (special recipe) and the cream risotto again because it was THAT GOOD I had to get it again! Every dish was well executed. The depth of flavors felt so comforting and familiar while chef's mastery of complex technique makes us keep coming back for more. Woowa is extraordinary and stands out from other Korean spots. The chef came to check in on us and see how the food tasted...he was kind, friendly and humble. I can tell he takes so much pride in his creations and know's what he's doing in the kitchen. The waitstaff is very friendly as well, we felt very welcomed. Dishes are made to order and come out as soon as they're prepared. The restaurant is easy to pass by because it's so unassuming from the outside but I can't recommend Woowa enough! They have a small parking lot in the back and some street parking. Don't pass up on this gem of a restaurant! read more

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Gotta check out this 5.0 star yelp restaurant Hard to find a 5.0 place with that many reviews Owner is super nice and friendly So far the food is tasting delicious Glad I am trying out Korean food that is not Korean bbq! Check them out. read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

Tried Woowa the other night and wow... real Korean BBQ, no fluff. Amazing meat, great vibes, and somehow still feels like a hidden gem in LA. You can tell a lot of heart went into this place. If you're into authentic KBBQ, this spot's worth it. Joon cooked and served us. Wow! read more

Woowa - Soy Slow Cooked Brisket - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

I love this place! Everything on the menu lives up to the restaurant name. "Woowa" is an exclamation of "wow!" and you'll be saying it too when you take your first bite. My husband and I were waiting a long time for this place to open, and as soon as it did we were right there. Jun-ho is an amazing chef, and super friendly. You can tell he has a lot of passion for cooking, and you can taste it in every bite. So what are you waiting for? Go to Woowa and taste it for yourself~ read more

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We came here for a late lunch and ordered the spicy tteokgalbi and grilled pork belly with kimchi. The food was amazing and perfectly cooked--the flavors were outstanding. The portions were generous and definitely worth the price. Even though we arrived close to closing time, the service was still excellent and we didn't feel rushed at all. The restaurant was clean and comfortable. I would highly recommend everyone to come and give it a try! read more

Woowa - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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My foodie family tried the food here for the first time and all the food we ordered was almost licked out off the plate! Thats how good all the dishes! Its Michelin Star quality ! You'll see Chef Joon preparing/cooking his dishes at his open kitchen and you'll see the passion and pride. His wife, who serves our food also shows pride on their food. Happily explaining the dishes . The young couple take pride on this hidden gem. Dont be fooled on this small place, it's a huge gem in our community and I can definitely see the very good future of this eatery. This foodie family knew we won't be dissapointed to recommend Woowa! read more

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I stopped by tonight for the first time and super happy I did. My boyfriend and I ordered tried four items: the tteokgalbi plate, spicy cucumber salad, pork belly, and rose sujebi. Our favorites are the tteokgalbi plate and rose sujebi but everything we had tasted great, even the white rice. The tteokgalbi is well seasoned and layered in flavor, we also loved the fact that it did not taste too sweet. The cucumber salad is refreshing and spicy, peppery from the arugula, and had a vinegary punch. It helped balance the rich pork belly that was also better than other pork belly we've had. The sujebi was thin and chewy, and the rose sauce was different from other Korean rose sauces I've had. After learning the owner trained in French and Italian cuisine, I'm definitely coming back to try the pastas. Right now, it's just the owner/head chef and his assistant chef so be aware and patient. :) The restaurant is also on the smaller side so make reservations if you have a large party. Rooting for this restaurant to do well! The owner mentioned adding new items to the menu in the near future so looking forward to that as well. read more

Woowa - Tteokgalbi Plate - Korean Near Me - Gardena, California

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We've been coming here two days in a row. The food is amazing -- everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. My favorite dishes are the Rose pasta, pork belly, and rose tteokbokki, but honestly, everything is so good. The ambiance is so cozy; it makes me feel like I'm at a friend's house, enjoying food made from their own kitchen. I really hope they get more customers soon because everything here is fantastic -- from the food to the service. Joon is also the best chef -- he cooks incredible food and provides excellent service. We will definitely be coming back very often because this is our new spot now. Thank you for opening such a wonderful restaurant! read more

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