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"I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! The food is very high quality, the servers are super friendly (to the point where they are feeding you…" read more »
Okay, so here's the deal: I'm white but I work for a Korean company, and my Korean coworkers told me something very interesting: the food you get in K-Town is actually more authentic than Korea's cuisine. How is this possible? Because about 30 years ago a bunch of Koreans relocated to LA and brought their old-school recipes with them. Meanwhile, back in Korea, cuisine has changed because of their increased exposure to the outside world. This means Koreatown's Korean food is some of the most authentic and delicious Korean food on Earth, even better than the stuff you get in Seoul. So consider yourselves lucky Angelenos; when you eat in K-Town, you are eating a dying art.
Among the Korean places in K-Town, I believe this place is among the best , and my Korean colleagues agree. Sa Rit Gol has this amazing fish dish that is their house specialty (not sure of the name) but oh man, it is off the hook, slightly sweet, a touch spicy and 100% yummy. Sadly I forget the name of it, but ask for their special fish dish, which runs about $20.
I gave it 4 stars because the service isn't so great and the seats aren't very comfortable. But if you can tolerate poor service and weird benches, then this is the place for you.
When I'm craving chadolbaegi, I head straight to SaRitGol. It's the best in K-Town. The samgyupsal and jumulleok are also one of the best, as well as their banchan.
Your tongue and digestive system will heartily thank you ... well maybe not your colon and large intestines, but proper courtesy was never their strong point anyway.
Speaking of which, I've looked @ the other reviews on this page and have noticed that people are complaining about the service. Korean restaurants are sometimes notorious for this, but I've never had an issue with this joint.
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I've found that speaking the language works wonders in getting you better service. So here are some basic Korean phrases to help you out at K-Town restaurants:
BAHNG-GOO - "More of this side dish, please."
OH-JOOM - "I would like more water, please."
DDONG-KO-MONG - "Check, please." [Note: If it's too loud inside the establishment, you can also use the Korean gesture for requesting the bill by placing both hands on top of your head and moving your arms back and forth.]
Difficult to pronounce for some, and even more difficult to find, tucked away in the corner of a small plaza. But if you get past these two small hurdles, you'll be pleasantly surprised with some great Korean food.
Like any other Korean restaurant, Sa Rit Gol has a standard selection of side dishes before you start your meal. I tried the Dongchimi Guksu (noodles in cold radish soup), the Yuhlmu Nengmyun (noodles in a cold kimchi-like soup), and the Eun Daegu Johlim (the second fish dish listed on the menu, which is like marinated, steamed fish in a stew). I just really felt like having some cold noodles that day, but I have to say, noodles are not their forte. I will say though, that the Eun Daegu Johlim was probably the best fish I've had at a Korean restaurant. The fish swims through your taste buds and leaves a somewhat sweet and spicy flavor. All the other elements of the dish (carrots, daikon, etc.) are just as delicious.
Next time, I won't be fishing for anything new. The Eun Daegu Johlim is just too damn good.
GET: Eun Daegu Johlim
When my friend Ed M craves chadolbaegi (brisket) he comes here. I've been here a number of times for the spicy seafood soup. Aside from the chadolbaegi, that's what they are known for. Unfortunately, the spicy seafood soup didn't measure up to the place across the street - Chosun Galbee. Yes, CG, the place where everyone takes their out of town guests for K-BBQ.
Now, back to SaRitGol. I have been craving chadolbaegi. We had it last week at the K-Town Cook-off winner Moo Dae Po. But my Korean princess told me that's what SRG is known for. I did my research and read Ed M's review.
I do agree with Ed that their banchan is great. Also, their miso/tofu soup was outstanding. But that's not why we went. We went for the chadolbaegi.
Bad news. To me, it didn't measure up to Moo Dae Po. Here's why. The meat looks pretty and there's the right percentage of red meat and white fat. But two problems. First, the meat is a little thicker than I like. It makes it a little tough to chew. Second, the sauce it comes with is too salty and dark. It overpowers the meat.
In comparison, the meat at Moo Dae Po is sliced paper thin. When it cooks, it melts in your mouth. To top it off, the sauce is perfect.
So I must respectfully disagree with Ed M (who has earned Review of the Day). He often gets a bad case of Bahng-goo, he will drink anything even if it's oh-joom and his tongue must be connected with his ddong-ko-mong.
;-)
Korean food is one of my favorite cuisines and the food here delicious. I've been coming to this place for years because they serve up some of the best pan chan in town - a fabulous selection of spicy, salty and sweet little side dishes - and a large selection to boot. There's always 7-8 dishes brought out with each meal. The scallion pancakes are great and they make a tasty soon tobu chigee. Plus they have about ten different nang myuns - cold noodle soups - which are perfect in hot weather.
The reason they get three stars and not more? The service is incredibly rude. I often dine here with a friend who speaks Korean fluently and that doesn't help. They're super rude to her as well. If you're willing to put up with major attitude - and I obviously am for good, spicy food- you'll get a delicious meal. Just be prepared for poor service and be rude back to the wait staff, if you have to. Somehow that earns some respect.
I can say that I'm not an expert on Korean cuisine, but for some reason it totally meshes with my Eastern Euro palate. I simply love this little mini mall gem and we visit Sa Rit Gol often. We always order the meat platter for two. You have to remind them to bring you your beverage, or they seem to conveniently forget.
As far as the BBQ is concerned, the Pièce de résistance is the pork. Make sure to pace yourself with all the other small meaty bits and incredible "pan-chan" (the tapas-style small plates of pickled items and epic kim-chi that comes with the menu). There's also mushroom soup that is served and must be eaten with rice due to its salty nature, which I usually skip because I'd rather eat the other goodies!
For the novice, its good to know to let the servers do their job. Let them grill the meat for you! DO NOT, I repeat: DON NOT PLACE THE RIB ON THE GRILL. It happened to us once when our friend dropped the meat on the grill and proceeded to smoke out the entire restaurant. We told her not to mess with "their" kitchen, but she did not heed our warning. We giggled out butts off as the Korean waitron scorned our friend "You bad girl!"... we all had a great laugh and realized that these ladies do indeed have eyes in the back of their heads.
As far as the service is concerned, patience should be exercised. After all, KBBQ ia an adventure that I like to take slow, and well, the service mirrors the experience. The servers recognize us at this point and they are all very, very nice. Once there's a relationship established, the language barrier goes away and is replaced with smiles.
Did I mention that you can BYOB? Not sure how they feel about it, but it is an option. Can't remember what the corkage is...
Overall, a fantastic and affordable dining experience in a lo-fi setting. It gets crowded on the weekends, so making reservations is recommended... especially if you have a party.
This is probably my favorite Korean restaurant in Los Angeles - a city with a lot of options for finding some of the most delicious Korean food anywhere. A small family-owned Koreatown restaurant which is tucked away in the back corner of a strip mall, Sa Rit Gol is well known for serving the most authentic Korean food in LA.
They make some of the tastiest barbeque, stews and fish dishes in K-town. But Sa Rit Gol's claim to fame is their wide variety of excellent complimentary side dishes or banchan.
Here is the list of banchan served here:
steamed eggs (gyeran jjim)
sweet soy braised potatoes (gam ja)
seasoned squash (ho bak jeon), potato salad (gam ja salad)
seasoned spinach (shi geum chi)
grilled Corvina fish (saeng-sun gui)
diced radish kimchi (kak-tu-gi), seasoned tofu (doo-boo cho-rim)
red leaf lettuce (ssang-chu)
seame leaf (kket-nip)
laver soup (mee-yuk guk)
fish cake (o-deng)
seasoned bean sprouts (k'ong na-mul)
mustard leaf kimchi (gat kimchi)
radish water kimchi (tongchi' imi)
cold radish kimchi noodles (tongchi' imi gooksu)
mung bean custard or cake (cheong po mook)
and, of course, Korean cabbage kimchi (baechu kimchi).
Their selection of menu items are among the most comprehensive you will find in any Korean restaurant. The barbeque meats are superb: quality meat, flavorful, tender. The waiter will bring the meat, cut it right in front of the patrons who will cook it themselves on the grill-in table. The beef rib (galbi), to me, is on par with Park's BBQ or Chosun Galbi. And you will get a good quantity of meat here. It's as good as it gets!
Besides their BBQ, the spicy black cod stew (dae goo maeun tang) may be their most popular dish. It is definitely one of my favorites here. They keep it boiling hot by heating it again on the tabletop grill.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes I have ordered here, including the seafood and vegetable pancake (hae-mul pa-jeon), spicy squid (ohjing-oe bokeum) and kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae). They are among the best I've ever had at a restaurant. It's no-frills, excellent homestyle cooking.
I am noncommittal about giving a strong opinion but the service here. Unfortunately, their service has received some bad reviews. I did not get the snooty attitude here mentioned by some reviewers but I would agree the service is generally pretty slow. I have noticed they are a bit understaffed here. There are call buttons at each table to request prompt service and I did use it the first time I ate here.
Note: make reservations on weekends or expect a long wait; a private dining room is available for special events; and they sell containers of their kimchi.
If you want real, authentic Korean food...I would totally recommend this place. i eat here often with the family. The food is good, but can't say about anything else...
The parking has a small valet, service (it's korean...we all know korean service ain't the best) and they have these really uncomfortable chairs that fit literally half of my ass cheek.
Hands down a great experience in Korean dining here. The food was delicious from the scallion pancakes thru the bulgogi and marinated chicken and all the way to the Hite and cold tea I enjoyed with my meal. The place was quite busy even on a monday night, always a good sign of neighborhood popularity. My girlfriend and I ate plenty of food and I only wish I could have ordered more. Return trip is in order.
Last July, I organized my quarterly "Quartet" dining series for my group and this time around, we focused on checking out 4 Korean BBQ restaurants, one a week for a whole month. The chosen four were: ChoSun Galbee, Shik Do Rak, Soot Bull Jeep and Sa Rit Gol. Considering that there are over 600 hundred restaurants in Koreatown, with quite a few of them being Korean BBQ places, it was hard to narrow them down. Eventually, after a lot of research (Chowhound, opinions, articles, food critics), I chose the four restaurants that I felt each had something unique to offer.
(see earlier reviews on ChoSun Galbee, Shik Do Rak and Soot Bull Jeep)
Finally, our Korean BBQ foursome ends with Sa Rit Gol. When I had read about Sa Rit Gol, the one thing that stood out from all the writings is that they are known for their excellent panchan and I can definitely see why now. The cool thing about Sa Rit Gol is that there were things that we ate and drank that you didn't see at either of the three previous restaurants.
For example, upon our arrival, instead of water, we all got iced barley tea, which by the way, was very refreshing. While the panchan included the potato salad, mung beans and cabbage kimchee that seems to be the standard, we also were treated to marinated watercress, a "greens" kimchee (maybe, spinach?) and a squash salad. All the panchan were absolutely delicious with lots of flavor and a kickiness to them. Of the four restaurants, I enjoyed Sa Rit Gol's kimchee the best. Just looking at the deep red of the sauce, you already know that their kimchee was going to give you a great mouth zing.
As for our meats, one of the things we ordered was a short rib, which while not marinated, was very good. Unlike the other meats at the other three restaurants, this short rib was cooked while still on the bone with garlic and with a sprinkle of sea salt. I'm not sure if leaving the bone intact makes a difference or not, but even without marinade, the meat was really tasty. Before eating, our waitress actually cut the meat off the bone and in pieces, so that we wouldn't have any trouble eating it.
Other grilled meats that we ordered included thinly sliced beef that was cooked with onions and garlic, bulgogi and spicy pork. All the meats were excellent and you can really tell that the meat quality was above par. While the meats at Shik Do Rak could have improved ten-fold with some kind of marinade, the ones that didn't have marinade at Sa Rit Gol still would have made the meal.
Along with the barbecue, we also ordered a mung bean pancake, which I enjoyed, but believe it or not, I liked the one at Shik Do Rak better, but considering that everything else met and exceeded my expectations, I'm not going to cry over one mung bean pancake. Finally, our meal ended with an iced honey tea, which was a nice way to cleanse our palate
Overall, this was a wonderful "Quartet." It was a great way to compare similar foods and to see how much the same or different they are from each other and the same goes for the 4 restaurants where we did our "Korean BBQ" tastings for the whole month of July. Even all the grills differ between ChoSun Galbee, Shik Do Rak, Soot Bull Jeep and Sa Rit Gol, from shape to gas vs. charcoal. But in the end, it's really all about our preference and for this particular foursome, Soot Bull Jeep and Sa Rit Gol were winners in my book. :)
To see pics, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/...
Number One Hundred! I've been saving it for something special but had no clue what. Lately it's been a sad affair of restricted calories. Unfortuntately, while I've made a lot of new friends since joining yelp, some of them have taken up residence around my middle section. Fat and Happy should be the official yelp motto.
Lukily for me, this weekend was my film school's "almuni conference" (think family reunion) and one of the visiting students, a native of South Korea, introduced us to her favorite Koreatown joint. Even better, she ordered a family-style feast of all her favorite things which made my experience yummier by at least ten fold. I would have just ordered "beef" and a side of "rice", as this was precisely my second KBBQ experience.
Dug the atmosphere. Tucked in the back of the "Olympic-Serrano Plaza", you'll find this place marked only by a sign in Korean. Inside is quaint and homey with brick walls and cozy but long booths perfect for big groups. It was well-lit and cute compared to Soot Bull Jeep's stark and dark environs. Our waitress seemed enamored with our friend who gabbed and giggled with her in Korean. We got enthusiastic service all night.
I just received a thorough text message confirming what we ate (Cos I sure as hell didn't know!)
We started with thumb sized glasses of Sansachun- a sweet wine made of sticky rice, rose essence, and spices. It tasted similar to plum wine.
We feasted on galbi BBQ (beef ribs) which we wrapped in lettuce leaves with bean paste and various condiments. The bean paste was spicier than Soot Bull Jeep's and my lame pallate had to rise to the occasion. Of course I had a bowl of rice to tame the burn. There was also a refreshing shredded green salad-like side and some cold marinated tofu to assist the tongue cooling.
A big yellow blob placed next to me didn't pique my interest until other people dug in and started making yummy noises. It was Haemul Pajeon (seafood pancake) and it looked like a cross between a pizza and a frittata, but tasted like neither. It was doughy and soft (something like a thick crepe) with calamari and some extremely friendly but not spicy flavors mixed in. There was egg involved but it was not a prevalent texture or flavor. I'm not sure if this description is selling it but I can tell you it was crazy delicious and the best thing I ate that night.
We also had bibimbap (fried rice with veggies and bean sprouts) which has a nice sesame oil flavor and all the comfort of a bowl of carbs.
As if this wasn't enough there was a cauldron of duenjang chigae- a hearty and spicy bean paste stew brimming with mushrooms and tofu that I loved in spite of my spice-puss tongue (who may in fact by evolving, yay!)
I am now a fan of Korean food. Some of the others had trouble with parts of the ribs that were unchewable, but I liked the flavor so well that i just sucked happily on the cartildege bits. Everyone in our group, both the KBBQ virgins and old timers, really enjoyed this meal. It was a sensational way to reunite with some very beloved individuals. I would probably come back here before Soot Bull Jeep for the fantastic vibe and tasty dishes that I now could order myself (I locked the text messege into posterity.)
Each person put in $25, including tip, which seemed like a great deal to me!
Complimentary Valet.
Honestly it was one of the best Korean restaurants I've ever been to in the U.S. and I've been to a fair amount. I was initially a little worried about their broad menu, but everything we ordered was delicious and came with a wide selection of banchan, not to mention complimentary soups and sweet rice drinks to finish off the meal. We ordered bulgogi ssam bob, chicken and burnt rice porridge, and seafood pancake, and it was plenty of food for three people. Efficient service, reasonable price. It's a little hard to find as you can't really see it from the road, but don't miss it if you love Korean food. We'll definitely be back.
I would like to thank my fellow yelpers for the recommendation. Without you guys, there is no way that I would've found this great BBQ place.
Excellent panchan. To my knowledge, Sa Rit Gol won the bronzed cabbage for having the best kim chi. Since I am not an expert in kim chi so I couldn't really tell the difference. But don't get me wrong, it was good. The tofu and string beans panchan were quite delicious as well.
Now to the BBQ, the Galbi was flavorful and tender. What really surprised me was the pork belly. They were thicker than most places, but not as oily and heavy. It went well w/ the lettuce and bean paste. I like the fact that they cooked for you. As far as BBQ is concerned, it's definitely on my top 2. We also ordered the cod stew, which is a pretty common dish, and it was a hit. Unlike most places that simply covered the cod w/ thick spicy sauce. This one was on the lighter side. It was not overwhelming and it had a nice sweet/spicy taste.
What truly make this meal great was the service. Prior to the meal, we were expecting the worse simply based on other yelpers' reviews. Initially, the waitress treated us as she would with any other customers (but she was not rude or anything). She chit-chated w/ us in chinese (there are several waitresses who are chinese/korean) as she cooked the meat. After a while, she began to share some personal stories with us and it was kind of touching. Oh yea and she was pretty attentive.
Anyhow, it was just a great meal that garnished with some pleasant surprises.
A brief review. Food excellent! Service adequate. Overall a 4 star place for me. This was the second time dining here. First time we all mostly had the black cod casserole that many Yelpers were raving over. It was good, but just to me... it was not to die for, but it was quite tasty and a good item to share amongst the 11 of us foodies.
We had the spicy pork which was tasty but hard to cook as the marinade was a bright orange and it was difficult to tell when the meat was cooked. The galbi(short ribs) was good but the bulgoggi was a bit unusual. Well it was called something else, sorry can't remember the name, but it came to the table frozen and in very thin rolled up slices. The Korean pancake was great and the panchan was all good. Loved the soybean paste and this place served red leaf lettuce to go with our meat dishes. The kimchee was delicious as well and I appreciated at they give us a ton of fresh garlic to throw on the bbq and peppers panchan.
Eleven of use were a bit cramped in one big table, but it made for a cozy experience. Foodie Extraordinaire Erica was out guide and ordered all the dishes for us and it was great. Oh, they do not sell chap chae which astounds me. I had a little more fun the first time I came here, but there it was dinner and we drank copious amounts of sake and KBeers.
Good street parking and there is a parking lot. Good for groups of 10 to use the table we sat at. They also have a private room where you sit on the floor using a low table, I guess we should try that sometime.
Wow, this place is amazing! Excellent Korean BBQ (though I am not expert) and a fun time. We had a long wait because it was slammed at 8pm on a Friday night - go figure. But they were funny and nice while we waited and the other people that had to wait were funny too. Made the time go by less excruciatingly. We had the BBQ for 2 even though there were 3 of us and it was plenty! The meat was seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. We also had an enormous bowl of spicy shredded meat soup or something along those lines, it was a delightful soup. The kimchi is hands down some of the best, and I have a picky palate. The greens and tofu were stand outs as well as whatever that paste is.
I liked the service, they were funny and chatty. Definitely would go back but next time I don't think we'll bring our own wine. $110 corkage is a bit much. Beer comes with the meal though!
Surly waitresses shouldn't dissuade you visiting this homestyle Korean nest. Getting their attention is hard, and the wooden benches are harder, but the portions are large and the panchan pleasing and plentiful. In fact one of the panchan was an extremely tender beef that I've never had the likes of anywhere north OR south of Wilshire. However, only come here to eat. If you're looking for employ as a dishwasher, go elsewhere because the volume of ceramic dishes this place goes through in a night would surely drive you mad.
Parking is a to-do, but take your cue from the lot full of Mercedes and go valet. It's only two bucks.
If it wasn't for my friend's wife, I don't think I would have ever found this place!
The food here was actually quite good. We came here after service for lunch, amd must say I wasn't disappointed.
We got the bim bim bap, the spicy beef noodle soup, and some huge stew thing that said it was for two. It was more like for 4+!
The stew had mandu, tofu, kimchi, beef chunks, noodles, and a tasty broth!
And they serve beer/wine.
The service pretty much sucked.
The panchan was good, though limited seiection, but tasty for what they had.
And the menu is fairly large.
Yes, I will be back!
On the recommendations of others on Yelp, I decided to drive out to K-town and try this place. I have to say it was a bit disappointing. The food was good enough but the service was atrocious! I've never sat around for so long without being served, and I'm used to Korean restaurants. Even after I spoke Korean to the waitresses they wouldn't serve our table. How aggravating!
So while the food was good, I wouldn't go back and deal with the rude wait staff again.
Update: I capitulated and went back because I was in the mood for Korean food without dealing with high prices. I have to say, this time the food was even better, and while service again left much to be desired, the food (especially their stews) makes it worth it.
EXCELLENT
and very authentic
I usually don't eat out at Korean restaurants, because why would I pay money for what my mama cooks me for free?
However, when I am entertaining guests and they want some Korean food, I can't very well put my mama to work, and I'm not going to take them to some dank bar on Wilshire and subject them to gizzards and bundaegi, so I take them to Sa Rit Gol instead-- yeah, yeah, everyone wonders why I don't take people to Shik Do Rak, but my guests are usually travelling folks and I don't like to send them away with the royal funk of burnt meat clinging to them for days on end. I'm trying to be considerate here, people.
Anyway, yes, panchan is great, the black cod soup is bonkers, and the service is totally shitty. Loves it.
By far the BEST Korean food I have ever had!
If you can find this place it will be well worth it. Tucked away in the corner of an obscure strip mall in the heart of Korea Town sits a little piece of heaven.
You don't come here for the service, you come here for the food which stands completely on it's own. I'm willing to be subjected to slow service as long as I have the honor of eating their amazing BBQ.
I recommend to let them do the cooking for you. It will taste much better! We had the traditional bul gogi but we also had their marinated pork BBQ which was amazing. We also had a fish dish which was cooked to perfection! Our friend Sonia, who introduced us to this place did the ordering and had us try a large assortment of dishes and had us experiment with the various different sides that come with it.
Try the plum soju it pairs well.
Good food (especially the grilled mackerel!) and banchan, but pretty bad service...
I've been here maybe four times in the last two years. I have mixed feelings about this place.
First off, the place is always crowded. That's good right? Tells you that something must be good about this place, because people keep coming! Well, it has its downside too. Two of the four times I've been here, they sat us down on the other side of an already occupied table. Usually this is not a problem, but the last time i went there, a family that had a little too much to drink made us feel very uncomfortable (loudness, getting up for them so they could walk out and take a drag, etc.).
Anyways, food-wise, the place has an extensive menu. A fun thing to order is the "ssam bab." It consists of many different varieties of veggies you can wrap your pork or bulgogi in. It also comes with a special "ssam jang"/bean dip that you can use to dip your meat or put in your wrap. The dip is served in a hot stone pot, and usually this is one of the highlights of the ssam bab. Unfortunately, Sa Rit Gol's dip did not meet my tastebud test. It was too salty and tasted too much like a Korean JJajjang (black bean) sauce.
Aside from this though, Sa Rit Gol has yummy side dishes and ok tasting stews--I've had better.
Staff is nice, if you are nice to them. ;) Service can be slow b/c it's so busy, but not too slow. If you go there during prime time, expect to wait...parking is valet in the plaza, but street parking is not hard to find....
This place is hidden in a corner. You can seriously miss it in a blink of an eye, so keep your eyes WIDE open and turn into the plaza, even if you can't find it...because it's there. :)
*Picture Posted*
One of the better Korean homey style restaurants I've been to. It has Korean BBQ, but it's more of a comprehensive, all around Korean cuisine kind of a place, since they have a very extensive menu that ranges from noodles to fishes. I came here twice and tried the ssap with bulgoki, the dolsot bibimbap w/ root vegetables, the yellow corviana fish, the pike mackerel, and cuttlefish green onion pancake.
Overall, their food is very good. Their banchan consists of unique choices and are pretty fresh, which is something I don't encounter at many Korean restaurants. The entrees themselves are very tasty and authentic, especially the bibimbae and the ssap. Cooked pretty well and of good quality. And I should also point out that the seaweed soup here is amazing. One of the bests I've ever tasted.
In all, I recommend this restaurant. Although not the best Korean food I've ever had, it's pretty close. Hardcore traditionists and food connoisseurs should find favor with the tastes of this place. In other news, the decor is practical but clean, and the service is so-so. But my 4 star rating goes to food taste/quality only.
the boytoy and I came here for an experience on the recommendation of a korean friend. love that it's not gentrified and that the signage is not even in english. that said, we got the american special dinner for two. a huge bowl of marinated meat and enough sides, soup and rice to easily feed 3-4 people - and we're big eaters. the bf isn't a big red meat eater and kept going back for more. the marinated pork was super spicy, but manageable in the lettuce wraps they provide. the soup was a nice surprise - full of chunky pieces of zuchinni, tofu, greens, onions, potato and meat and beans. I only had room for a few spoonfuls - so I'll have to come back for just a heaping bowl of that a big glass of hite.
parking is tight - park on a side street. only some staff speak english.
I woke up this morning feeling really homesick. I've been missing my mom's awesome homecooked meals I use to go home to everyday. But since I live 3000 miles away and can't just hop in my car and go back as I please - I needed a solution.
So, bibim kuksu was something my mom ALWAYS use to make me. Whether it was after piano lessons when I was small, or when I'd come home from a study session late at night and even when I'd come home at 3 a.m. after clubbing (yes I know...korean um-ma's are the absolute best!) so after reading Choc's review I decided to try this place.
I am aware it is TOTALLY unfair to compare anything to your mother's cooking and I am also aware this is a BBQ place. But my noodles were honestly...so-so. They definitely hit home but they were definitely not the best I've ever had...very far away.
When trying to explain what korean noodles are suppose to taste like...I always have a hard time. I want to say these noodles were missing the "crunch" they are suppose to have but that is definitely not the right word. Hmmm...let's just say after they were boiled, they are supposed to be SHOCKED with cold water and if cooked for the right amount of time and if the water was the right temperature...you just know. The more I try to explain it, the more confusing I sound. So let's summarize. They were tasty and the portion was generous. But there are better out there.
As for the banchan....I came alone - and my noodles were under $8.00...They still came out with 6-7 dishes of banchan...everything was relatively good....but I am not one to judge a restaurant on banchan. Simply because...ok I'll explain.
For example...at Sa Rit Gol...one of the banchan's was fried dubu with sesame oil, green onions and soya sauce. See...the thing about fried dubu is that it tastes the best when its practically right out of the pan. I am aware this would be nearly impossible considering the restaurant has many many people to feed and these dishes are "free". Or, for example...the bean sprouts. Most places don't take off the ends - and they are suppose to. And although many would disagree with me - I just feel like it's dirty when they don't. So why give it to me? Another thing...the kimchi was decent. But it was too new. (Anyone would knows kimchi understands) it needed another couple days to reach it's peak. So my point in all this is that I'd rather be served ONE GOOD BANCHAN than a dozen that are "ok". But I'm really picky...I've been spoiled...ahhh.
Oh and I have no complaints about the service. The women even smiled at me...told me I was pretty. heh
Would I come back? Yes...but I wouldn't be like "OMG GUYS LET'S GO TO SA RIT GOL" there are way too many options in koreatown...But if someone me invited - why not?
The food was okay - I got the seafood pancake and BBQ beef ribs. But the service was exceptionally bad. I have a decent amount of tolerance for unattentive or bad service, but I have to say place offers really poor service. They took a long time coming to take our order, bringing out the side dishes, and bringing the food and check (even though we requested everything several times) and they were not busy. Lots of times, the servers were congregated near the cash register just chatting and laughing.....completely oblivious to the waiting patrons. I likely won't be coming back due to the bad service.
good ban chan. Egg custard $1 but good. It's smooth and light.
They have gook su here. Like dong chi mi, bibim gook su etc etc.
the minnow meheun tang was good. And so was the gook su.
Kinda pricey for korean food.
i also tried the al tang, which was good. Had a clean taste.
The noo reung jee dahk jook was bland but good if you don't like lot of flavor. (chicken rice porridge)
After driving by the place 2 times because its hidden far back in the corner of the parking lot, we walked in to find a restaurant that was much smaller than many of the bbq places I've been to in the past. This place was packed, but we were still seated within 15 minutes. not bad
The menu is easy for korean bbq novices such as myself, since they have combinations a, b, and c, which mixed different types of marinated beef and pork.
I wasn't too impressed with the banchan, which was the reason I came here in the first place. They seemed to be all some variation of kimchi, with no meat or fish.
anyways, overall the meat was excellent and I'd definitely like to return and sample some more of the menu with someone who knows their k-bbq
1/27/08 ** Edit, edit, edit!!!
I went there today after quite a 3-4 month absence... I am sad to say that this place has gone downhill.
Their banchan has dwindled to a minimum 4 plate and they were just mediocre.
Worst of all was the service. The women were all pretty rude. We had to ask them to bring out everything (things that came with our order) and then they would give me the rudest look as if they were pissed that my meat came with dehn-jhang chigae.
My friend (non-Korean) and I frequent Korean restaurants about 2x a week so we were completely un-impressed with the downfall of this once enjoyed establishment.
With that said... we've agreed we will never go here again. There are way too many Korean restaurants that we would want to give our $$ to rude servers. As many of u know, it can get expensive eating KBBQ
*My new favorite spot. Ham Hung on 8th & Ardmore. Delicious, good service, and friendly staff.
MY OLD REVIEW:
The food is really good... Galbi and bulgogi is delicious and tender. They gave about 6-7 banchan plates... all really good. We even got ttuk with filling which surprised me.. I've never seen that given before.
One of the best things about this place is the menu is quite extensive. It seems like a great place to go and try new things, descriptions in English, and has things that I have never seen on the regular Korean restaurant menu.
Kimchee chigae... although large was only mediocre... BUT i will definately be back.
the henmu pajun (seafood pancake) here was REALLY good. ive been to quite a few places that just dont make it well. id come back here to have that again and try the spicy cod.
banchan didn't impress me much...good variety, but nothing i really wanted to eat or was actually worth mentioning.
I used to come here every other day a few years back cause the service and food used to rock. Seriously. The waitresses knew me and my father by name and always asked about whatever I was reading (always brought a book with me to read while waiting..). They were really generous on all the sides and meals, which were delicious. I have some REALLY fond memories of this place.
But as of late, it's gone down the proverbial toilet. Changed management and employees quite a few times, and nowadays it's overpriced and not as tasty. Do yourself a favor and go eat naengmyon at the restaurant next door (forget the name, but you can't miss it) instead. If BBQ is your thing, drive a bit down Olympic to Manna instead (all-you-can-eat bbq for like $16/person).
My favorite Korean restaurant in Ktown. My parents, who think all Korean restaurant food is at best par, even like this place. They have your Korean restaurant staples: Soju, lots of ban-chan, beer, BBQ grill with a variety of meats, rice, not sure if the wait staff speak english...
But my favorite dish there: Eun-deh-goo Jo-rim (Braised Silver Fish...or something like that). The best I've had at any restaurant. If anyone else has had better, PLEASE let me know.
The place isn't very large, so parties of 4 or less are recommended. Parking's a pain in their little lot, but drive around the block and you'll find a spot.
The people who are complaining about the service are clearly not Korean. Its typical Korean service, you have to flag down the waitresses for everything. They don't mind you screaming out ahgashee if you need something. This is definitely much more traditional Korean restaurant that has its place in Koreatown. Sa Rit Gol is best known for their ban chan and for good reason. They have the best selection and tastiest ban chan selection. We ordered the combination ssam and pork belly. The pork belly was tender but not as crispy as I would have liked, thus the preference of places where you are in charge of the grill. They handed us what amounted to a garden of greens and wraps - lettuce, dandelion leaves, seaweed, boiled cabbage, spicy peppers, etc... All in all a good meal, I'd go back just for the ban chan.
One of my favorite authentic Korean restaurants!
Faves:
Eun Dae Goo Jorim (spicy cod)
Haemool Pajahn (seafood pancake)
Dwang Jang Chigae
This restaurant is really yummy and the service has always been pretty good. I'm Korean and can speak Korean-food-language which I'm sure always helps. But every time I'm there, I always see tables full of non-Koreans.
The banchan is usually pretty good... the tables are a little uncomfortable (sometimes they seat 5-6 people in a table that's comfy for 4)... and the parking is usually valet which is convenient.
We came here for a friend's birthday and a coworker's going away. I had never been before but my coworker found it on Yelp and we decided to try it. It's pretty authentic and pretty darn yummy! You know it's for real when no one really speaks English and the name of the restaurant is only in Korean. We ordered some spicy octopus dish, some bibimbap and a whole mess of meat for bbqing. So good! And the waitress gave us a free bottle of beer since it was my friend's b-day! And they cooked and packed up all the leftover bones from the ribs for my coworker to give to her dog! How nice is that? I know a lot of people complained about the service here, but the service was pretty good when we went! The only thing is that it was pretty pricey - about $250.00 for a party of six...but I guess it depends how much you eat...
actually 3.5 stars. decent korean bbq. nice panchan. there was a gas leak in our grill, so i felt like there was a subtle chance that i would pass out at any given moment.
the spicy cod soup was amazing though. big chunks of tofu, vegetables, and a rich, spicy broth. highly recommended.
the homemade rice wines are not to be missed. they were out the night i went recently, but the milk rice wine in clay pot is really tasty and creeps up on you like a pickpocket in times square. tambeh!
i'm more into the flavor at some other places like shik do rak and soot bul jeep, but this is always a nice experience.
this place is hidden in a plaza, so FOCUS when you try to find this place. i came here for lunch and dinner b4.
Galbi Tang - the meat is very tender and chewy, but the soup is a bit plain, and you will need to add some salt and pepper to balance it.
Spicy cold noodle with no soup ..........very chewy and spicy!!! very flavorful.
Yellow bean porridge with pork - it's taste good with rice and the sauce that they provided which is pepper and spicy sauce and sesame.
They have many quality side dishes. steam eggs, bean sprout, tofu, kimchi, beans etc......
I think it's was kinda expensive cuz i had galbi tong at this other place b4, and it's a lot more. *if you check my other review* The size is still good, but just not enough meat for me to chew. lol~~~ i love chewy meat and soup. It's healthy and less salty and msg.
They also has BBQ as well, but i never have it b4.
it's good for a regular weekday's dinner or lunch when you don't have to impress your date.
The best Korean joint in town, period. From the unbelievable squid pancakes to delicious BBQ, this is one of those great restaurants where you stay all night and put on an Korean food appreciation clinic.
This is my favorite Korean BBQ place. Tried a bunch. Chosun is good too, but ritzier. This has an authentic feel, not that I'd know or anything.
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Category: Korean
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