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    Woowa

    5.0 (251 reviews)
    Closed 11:45 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

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    WOOWA ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Woowa

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    1st page of menu
    Justin L.

    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.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Layla N.

    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

    Maruko X.

    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

    Rose sujebi
    Jennifer L.

    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!

    Paul L.

    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.

    Oil Sujebi
    Koharu S.

    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!

    Jeffrey S.

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

    Chefs choice appetizer
    Ellie R.

    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.

    Tteok galbi
    Jenny K.

    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

    Pork jowl with kimchi, sprouts, garlic and jalapeño
    JoAnn H.

    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!

    Huge Risotto after slick presentation
    J C.

    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.

    Tteok galbi and chuncheon dak attack
    Ken L.

    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.

    Rose Sujebi

    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!

    tteok-bokki (pink) w/ Beef Belly and Corn Cheese

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    18 days ago

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    20 days ago

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    21 days ago

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    26 days ago

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    12 days ago

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    11 days ago

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    7 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    10 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    9 days ago

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    1 month ago

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    21 days ago

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    7 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    8 days ago

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    19 days ago

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    21 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    26 days ago

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    17 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Woowa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Woowa

    Twilight Liquors

    Twilight Liquors

    3.7(9 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    NEGATIVE (HUNDREDS OF!!!) STARS…read more And I'm never EVER coming back here again. Decades. DECADES friends, family as well as myself have been coming through here because it's the most convenient to get easy quickie stuff: chips, soda, but for me personally, lotto tickets. Plus we are all about supporting local businesses. Now I've seen this place exchange hands/owners/names many times, and up until TODAY, the service and staff were above decent. I came through to exchange some winning scratchers and tickets. I walked in and greeted the front person. Other than a hard stare, no response. I thought, "Okay... maybe he's just having an off day..." and handed him my tickets, "$35" he says. Instead of getting the cash, I exchanged them all for more scratchers. I thanked him and he responded with nothing but a smug look. Like dang, who crapped on your breakfast this morning. I began to walk but called an audible and decided to get regular lotto tix. There was another customer behind me and I didn't wanna hold the line to search through my bag for my pre-filled lotto sheets. So, I got out of the cashier as well as the customers' way and tried to find a spot where I can put my bag down to search for them. The closest is on a couple of stocked boxes in an aisle. Note: that spot was close enough to the front. So, I started digging in, trying to find those sheets in all my pockets, but was unsuccessful. Decided to just take cash out and just do quick picks. I look up and that same cashier, now with a convicting look and tone, told me to open up my bag. That's right: HE'S ACCUSING ME OF SHOPLIFTING. That didn't feel real, and for a second, I thought I may have been hallucinating, so I ignored it. I asked him, "Are you done with him?" As I pointed at the customer who was behind me earlier. And then it got real, "Open your bag, what do you have in your bag?!" Needless to say, this incrimination sent me fuming, and just to embarrass him, I immediately and willingly opened it all up and asked him, "Are you accusing me of stealing?!?" While looking into my bag and pockets like he was the highest being of every airport's TSA, he responded with, "Well, why were you hiding?!?" I told him I wasn't hiding, I was trying to find my lotto sheets and take out cash because I wanted to get tickets. He found nothing, of course, and he had that dumbfounded look. I told him I changed my mind about buying anything, "Accuse me of stealing, that is messed up!" and walked out. He has clearly judged me soon as I walked in - evidenced by his lack of positive interaction from the very beginning. I have never felt so humiliated in my life! For those who wanna know: he's the slim, around 5'8" tall bearded guy. I will be making phone calls and texts to ALL friends and family members and save them the trouble of getting possibly profiled and accused of stealing should they decide to come through here. I may even take it further and file complaints if and where I can. I would never wish local businesses any ill will, but after today, I do not wish this place any success. If this is how they treat loyal customers, and even more especially after this experience, their business failure is inevitable. That guy is going to be the main cause of this business' demise. Never EVER again!

    I love this place The owners are nice…read moreThe deals are great and they have the best snacks They always have Mexican chips I never see anywhere else and the best drinks.

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    Twilight Liquors
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    Woowa - korean - Updated May 2026

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