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    Young Dong Restaurant

    3.9 (340 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Young Dong Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    YOUNG DONG RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Cold black soy noodle
    Sylvia K.

    Got the cold black soy bean noodles. It's hard to find this in the US but have seen it on YouTube. So finally got to try this. It was refreshing. Very strong soy bean taste mixed with black sesame. It's big portion. Noodle was chewy. I believe it's authentic but I have never tried it before so I wouldn't know!

    Menu
    Sarah G.

    Well came back yesterday. Haven't been back since OG review. Been having the itch for this place for years and well let's say my craving was satisfied. The place is exactly as I remembered. I ordered #7 and the other eater with me ordered #1.

    Interior
    Angelo A.

    The good: - parking - service (sweet Korean auntie!) - food comes out fast Hole in the wall vibes. I got #2 - beef stew no fat The food itself had a decent portion of meat, noodles, soup. For banchan it was kimchi, pickled jalapeños, rice. They also provide a green onion bucket and seasonings for you to customize your soup. All of the food was serviceable and my stomach left happy. It wasn't mind blowing, but I understand it's not meant to be. It's a healthy bone broth clear soup that's high protein and healthy. Unfortunately, I do think it's a little expensive for what I got.

    7. Spicy Beef Soup with Vegetable
    Marcus A.

    This place seemed very old school with food that's more towards comfort Korean food. They had a private parking lot so that was very nice to not find parking super far away and that the place was very easy to find. I got the spicy beef noodle soup which was very simple. The soup felt like I could make it at home or get it from the store. The broth didn't have a lot of depth but there was a lot of meat. The kimchi was very fresh and complimented the dish very well. It seemed like it would fit for someone who was wanting a hearty soup to get full.

    3. Beef Bottom Brisket Stew $18.27
    Randy F.

    Casual, local sul lung tang specialist known for their clear broth. Good solid beef flavor. Nice cuts of beef. Kimchi is fine but I liked Han Bat's kimchi more. Seating is indoor only. They have a private large parking lot. Credit cards are accepted.

    Troy B.

    This is a hot take but I prefer clear sullungtang over the milky version, and I love Young Dong's iteration. Sullungtang runs at a steep cost these days but theirs really hits the spot. So much flavor and a good portion of meat in the soup. The kimchi here is some of the best I've had. It's nothing crazy, but pairs so well with the soup. This is one of those oldschool Ktown establishments and there is definitely a good reason why! A great spot to grab a quick meal but also a very solid takeout / pickup option for those cold nights where you just want soup and rice.

    7. Spicy Beef Soup with Vegetable 2. Beef with No Fat Stew 5. Ox foot stew
    Jackie X.

    Came here on a rainy Wednesday around 6 pm. They have a spacious private parking lot behind the restaurant that you can access from right next to it. There was only one group there when we came but a few more parties came in after we ordered. The inside seems to not have been updated in at least the past decade and there are old photos on the walls. But they must be doing something right for people to be coming back! The woman taking orders and delivering all the food was very friendly. She got busier when more parties came in but still was looking at every table to make sure they had everything they needed. The menu seems to change occasionally. When we went, we got #2 beef with no fat stew, #5 ox foot stew, and #7 spicy beef with vegetables. Each was around $16-17. All come with radish and cabbage kimchi, pickled jalapeños, and 1 bowl of rice each. You can ask for more kimchi but more rice will cost $2/bowl. The #2 came out the most bland in terms of seasoning, however the broth was still meaty. It came with flat thin strips of beef and noodles. There was white/black pepper mix and green onions at the table that we added and of course we ate it with the kimchi as we did with all the stews. #5 was already seasoned with white pepper and had a stronger meat flavor. The ox bones inside were covered in collagen and a little meat. #7 was my favorite! It had the most seasoning and saltiness and was perfectly spicy. It had bean sprouts and green onions and the meat was shredded. There were 4 of us splitting the 3 meals since we weren't that hungry. We left satisfied but not full, probably would get my own stew next time (but still try everybody else's haha). Prices have gone up it seems but it makes sense for their location. I would maybe come back on a cold day or night and get the #7 again. I've never had anything like it before and was very happy with the experience.

    7. Spicy Beef Soup with Vegetable 2. Beef with No Fat Stew 5. Ox foot stew
    Ethan Z.

    My family of 4 came in on a cold Wednesday evening around dinner time.. there were only 2 other tables occupied so we were sat and attended to immediately. The ambience clearly isn't the restaurant's biggest priority.. but there is a good amount of indoor dining space and kept fairly clean! We were sat and given complimentary tea and cups for the table to share. As a spot that focuses on stew, it was very easy to order as their menu signage is visually large and displayed on the wall. We decided to order 3 stews as pictured in my post (menu seems to change). All 3 came out steamy!! The spicy stew was the most flavorful by far and my favorite of the 3. The other two had tasty broth but not nearly as strong of flavor. The meats were prepared well and I'd recommend using the kimchi, jalapeño sauce, salt, and green onions on the table to season your stew!! I think it makes all the difference. Side note: the kimchi is free with your order of stew!! The first servings of rice are also complimentary but small. The extra orders of rice are $2! Overall I think the service was quick, good, and fast! We had a great dinner experience.

    Tracy K.

    I'm in the mood for soup Simply just because it's raining Funny, but when it's raining I'm in the mood for beef soup (sul lung tang) Sul lung tang is a beef soup with no fat. It looks plain and simple, but it just hits the spot! It's the tender beef, warm and comforting broth that you add white rice and a lot of green onion to. Then there are thin noodles that are just the perfect complement. But that's not all. There is a side sauce that you dip the beef in. It is salty, sweet, sour, and brings out the umami in the beef. Now, add some kimchi to every mouthful. Each spoonful of this goodness just makes you go 'ah~~~'. Side note, I appreciate the fact that there is plenty of parking in the back. The service is very quick, and they leave you alone. But when you ask for kimchi refill over and over, they gladly come by to bring you more.

    Sul lung tang Kimchi
    Ellie W.

    They serve very reminiscent guk bap (breakfast stews). It's not the fanciest nor the mind blowing but it brings back memories. The sul lung tang (beef stew) doesn't have a lot of meat nor has the milky texture everybody is used. Their rice is very tasty but they give half the amount that would be sufficient for the stews. The service is very fast and they provide both cold and hot tea with a lot of green onion (absolutely love). The restaurant is very clean and they have different chojang (spicy sauce). Overall: It's good but not noteworthy. It is also a bit expensive compared to other guk bap restaurants. I would wait for 5 min but leave if I have to wait 10 min.

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    My go-to for Sul lung tang. Love the #2. Very simple menu but delish and hits every time.

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    They will include extra 깍뚜기or 김치 if you're a regular. They have their own parking lot. There's a reason they're my favorite 설농탕 spot.

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    Ask the Community - Young Dong Restaurant

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    Hangari Kalguksu - (LARGE) Hangari Bossam

    Hangari Kalguksu

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    0.7 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.

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    Hangari Kalguksu - Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Belly and Jowl & Chicken-KALGUKSU

    Hangari Kalguksu - Bossam jowl combo

    Bossam jowl combo

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    Anju House - covered patio seating

    Anju House

    4.4(694 reviews)
    0.6 miKoreatown
    $$
    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)
    0.8 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.

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    Inside bar

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    Perilla Cild Noodle

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    Kobawoo House - Kimchi Jjigae

    Kobawoo House

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.1 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

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    Borit Gogae - Dwenjang

    Borit Gogae

    4.4(511 reviews)
    0.4 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).

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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)
    0.8 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.

    Photos
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park
    Ham Ji Park

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    Young Dong Restaurant - korean - Updated May 2026

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