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Soot Bull Jeep
Categories: Restaurants Korean Restaurants Barbeque Korean, Barbeque
3136 W 8th StLos Angeles, CA 90005
Neighborhood: Koreatown
(213) 387-3865
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
516 reviews for Soot Bull Jeep
Review Highlights
"And the side dishes are dee lish too."
(in 62 reviews)
"I always get the Short ribs,shrimp and octopus."
(in 52 reviews)
"Tastiest kalbi and squid i've ever had in K-town."
(in 68 reviews)
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516 reviews in English
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Review from Richard M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/9/2011 7 photos
Before I say anything else... To all foodies out there and to all people who are discovering k-town recently or those who have been there and done that... Let me tell you ONE thing: "Soot Bull Jeep" is one of the ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, LONGEST-RUNNING (many did not survive, SBJ started their kbbq restaurant business since late 80's) KBBQ restaurants in k-town Los Angeles!
Soot Bull Jeep is true to original kbbq taste and its process ("soot" = wood ash, "bull" = not the crazy red headed animal bull as in English but it means "fire" in Korean, Jeep = not the American military car brand Chrysler/Jeep but meaning "house" in Korean) . So there you go! No other restaurants come close to the taste of beef bbq ribs (kalbi) at "Wood Ash Fire House" = Soot Bull Jeep. They use real and flavorful woods! This is what I like about Soot Bull Jeep and if you're meticulous about AUTHENTIC Korean BBQ marinates/sauces, you'll agree that their taste is one of the best in k-town. No, let me rephrase that... One of the best in the States (including NY, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, all major cities)!!! Variety of "unlimited" side dishes (You must know... "Side Dishes" = Banchan (in Korean) at Korean restaurants are "unlimited", meaning you can order as much as you want to eat, small dishes after small dishes, without getting charged. I haven't been to Korean restaurant that charges extra for Banchan. If they do, then that means they will be "Out of Business", no Koreans are willing to pay for extra side dishes. Period. It's just part of Korean culture being hospitable to customers. Confucian culture, you know what I mean?) including three different types of traditional KIMCHIs: cabbage, "Na-Bak Kimchi" = watery/liquidy kimchi and pickled radish kimchi). Sesame oiled salad is so fresh and goes well with the marinated meat. FYI: This place isn't AYCE place. The whole AYCE KBBQ trend is not worth it unless you want QUANTITY over QUALITY and you're broke. Please take my word for it. If you're not satisfied with their taste, just let me know... PM me. Thanks!
WARNING: Be sure to bring a change of clothes, if you're planning on going to a pool party at W hotel or to a rooftop dance party at the Standards after eating at Soot Bull Jeep... Because you'll smell like SMOKED MEAT.Listed in: Meticulous Muncher's Meals
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Review from Lin G.
2/7/2012
Granted, it's been a good 6.5 years since I was at Soot Bull Jeep before today, but it's the same old restaurant, with the same old sign, out by Western and 8th. Good old Soot Bull Jeep.
The year was 2005 and I came to LA on the heels of a Korean boy that I was all strung up on back in Boston. He was a musician who smoked a lot of weed. He moved here in June after finishing at Berklee Music School, and I came to visit in September, hoping to prolong the romance any which way I could. After an atrocious car accident (quintessential LA experience indeed), he took me here and I was so impressed. We didn't have anything like this in Boston. And from then on, I was determined to someday move to LA.
Today I came here for lunch with a friend and the place was as endearing as ever. Nevermind that I choked a bit from all the smoke upon walking in and still smelled like barbecued meat 5 hours after. The galbi was juicy and tasty and we tried the eel. I'm not a fan of grilled eel but this was not bad. The seasoning made all the difference.
The ladies helped us grill and were friendly, especially for an Asian place. The banchan was kind of weak but I will try to overlook that since this place holds for me, some of my initial fondness of this crazy beautiful city called Los Angeles. -
Review from Jason G.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA
1/20/2012
Ate here twice now.. for some reason it seemed better the first time.
I love the garlic side and fresh lettuce leaf. The smoked charcoal flavor is top shelf... as someone elsed yelped... bring a change of clothes!! I have a sweater in my closet that still smells like SOOT. =p
This place is legit. I liked the salad and the rice was prepared perfectly. I could have used a little better service on refilling our sides.. they didn't even ask. Service was mediocre to poor, but I really like the meat and their smokey flavor.. I ate several pieces straight off the grill with maybe a slight dip into the sesame oil and salt. -
Review from Dr D.
Lakewood, CA
1/15/2012
This place was alright. I went during the late afternoon (no one around). The inside of the restaurant has an old feel (all wooden). They brought the food out a few seconds after I ordered it. They then proceeded to throw a bunch of the meat on the grill and cook it for me (?). I told them I could do it (since i like everything well done) and they left. This restaurant gives a LOT of greens. It was all ok.. Each meal had about 12 ounces of meat. For 18.99-21.99 that is kinda pricey for what you get, considering ACYE places have a LOT more choices. The meat tasted good, but was a bit on the fatty side. Everything was going fine until the server made one choice error that could potentially be a health hazard. All of our small cold dishes were at the end of the table. When we weren't throwing more meat on the grill right away (like really your restaurant is empty why would you need to rush us out?) the server came over and threw more meat on...ok....BUT she dripped all the bloody meat across the cold dishes, pretty much making them unable to be consumed any more. Thanks...I like blood with my salad please.. NOT..
You get charged $2 for a small rice bowl.... in the end my bill was about $27 for 12 ounces of meat, a soda, and a small bowl of rice. -
Review from Simply M.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/7/2012
Burp!! Still GOood!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/3/2009
Korean bbq at it's finest! Don't expect the best of decor think good food! The minute you walk in be… Read more »
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Review from Colin M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/29/2011
Soot Bull Jeep has fast become my go-to joint for friends who visit me in Koreatown filled with curiosity about this "Korean barbecue" stuff. Repeated endorsements from no less a food luminary than Jonathan Gold got me in the door in the first place. "Dinner at Soot Bull Jeep is an atavistic thing," he writes, "not just good liquor and platters of raw meat, but also smoke and fire, and showers of small cinders that can leave your shirt looking like a cartoon bulldog right after an encounter with an exploding cigar." That article appeared in the Los Angeles Times in 1993. Since then, Koreatown's bewildering array of barbecue houses has grown more bewildering still, but I haven't visited one yet that matches Soot Bull Jeep's all-around sensory impact.
The most obvious vehicle of this impact comes in the form, of course, of dark wood wall paneling, maroon plastic upholstery over cheap metal chair frames, and vast tracts of brown Formica. You'd think such decor would directly evoke the seventies, but it ultimately comes off as idiosyncratic rather than purely retro. Besides, the place only opened in the late eighties; it must have just seemed unfashionable then. I like to think I genuinely appreciate the dining room's faintly Spartan midcentury high school feel, but its visual aesthetics seem to function more as a means of focusing one's attention elsewhere, to the main event: the grill, the meat, the flames, the smoke.
Korean barbecue aficionados make much, and rightly so, of Soot Bull Jeep's hardwood charcoal-fired table grills. This makes for a richer dining experience -- richer smells, richer crackly noises, richer showers of sparks, and hell, probably even somewhat richer flavors -- than what you get from those just-flick-on gas grills used at even other Korean barbecue joints regarded as the crème de la crème. You can tell the waitresses to load these grills with run-of-the-mill beef and chicken, but given the context, why would you want to? Order up a couple piles of Korean surf-and-turf: tongue will represent the land, of course, but consider yourself free to choose between squid and eel as your envoy from the sea.
I often wonder why I don't run across more Korean barbecues that grill with wood, although the answer probably lays in people actually meaning it when they complain about the smoke smell clinging to their clothes. While they may, on some level, have a point, these people have exchanged the very concept of joie de vivre for a sort of anxiety-driven waking death. This also holds true for those who complain that Soot Bull Jeep doesn't offer all the meat you can eat, doesn't have a big enough parking lot, or operates out of a "bad neighborhood". Tell you what: move within three blocks of the place, like I did -- straight into the belly of this urban beast! -- and you won't have to deal with parking. You can go to Soot Bull Jeep every week and try everything. I'll teach you how to live again. I'm serious. -
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
Eating Korean BBQ is sometimes similar to a late-night Bootie Call. On the way there, you're excited, but afterwards you feel cheap, dirty, sleepy, and a little depressed. Of course, a few weeks later, you find yourself checking your Bookmarks and making the call to drive to Koreatown for another meat feast.
A lot of Yelpers have been with Soot Bull Jeep over the years. It's cheap. It's fast. It's enticing. It's the Lindsay Lohan of KBBQ.
We found the quality of meat at Soot Bull Jeep varied. BBQ (Beef) Tongue ($19.99) was the 5-star darling of our meal. It was soft, tender, perfectly cut, and delicious. Unfortunately, the most popular menu-item BBQ Marinated Short Ribs ($23.99) had odd cuts, a lack of tenderness, and a strange color/freshness (2 stars). The Banchan (Korean side dishes) were very plain & skimpy except for Doenjang (Fermented Soybean Paste) with fresh Lettuce.
At Soot Bull Jeep, a heavy charcoal smell permeates everything. Your clothes. Your hair (if you have any), Your lungs. You don't notice it until walking back out the front door and getting hit in the face by the smell of fresh clean air ... ah, that famous Los Angeles and Koreatown fresh air. Wear something you don't care about anymore like that 2005 Hello Kitty shirt and low-rise, flare jeans outfit.
The service and servers were pretty average for KBBQ. A premium is placed on speed and brevity. Parking was simple in the parking lot next to the restaurant.
Overall, Soot Bull Jeep felt more like a typical AYCE KBBQ than an elite Korean BBQ restaurant because of the less than remarkable meat, loud atmosphere, and rushed service. And just like with a late-night bootie call, expecting anything significant, special, or long-term will only leave you disappointed. So, just giddyup to the grill and eat without making things complicated.Listed in: Asian in L.A., Funny to Me, Myself, and I, Korean State of Mind
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Review from R. C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
Simply put: hands down BEST Korean BBQ I've ever eaten!
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Review from liz m.
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
HOLY SMOKES!!!!
Yes it will get smoky, yes the smoke will iritate your eyes, but on the plus side the longer you stay the more your eyes will get used to the smoke.
We came to celebrate a bday party, we needed to find a korean place stat because the one we were at was a guaranteed 1hr to 1 1/2 wait. A bunch of us started calling nearby restaurants and this was the only one that could seat us asap, reason being, it's not AYCE, but that's ok.
Food was ok, service was blah. For 10 of us with 2 grills the server only gave us one pair of tongs. And then when we asked for another she took the one at our table away for a few minutes and didn't return until we flagged her down again.
Funny cause I thought korean restaurants are used to loud atmospheres and lots of drinking, but they actually told us to quiet down. Never had that happen before. -
Review from Toshiro D.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2011
The GOOD, the BAD and the SMOKEY! "a Klingon would feel right at home at Soot Bull Jeep"
Oh, I have been meaning to come here for a long time, but something about the super sketchy micro-machine parking lot always turned me off. You're almost waiting to get robbed/killed as you walk to your car here. Anyway, I finally parked by car (which when I left was incomprehensibly jammed between two black mercedes who had tons of space on the opposite side) and went inside to enjoy an experience that even Smokey the Bear would brave.
To place in context, I have eaten at Totoraku, Seikoen and Manpuku in the last month because I prefer charcoal flavor and/or higher quality beef than the standard ktown stuff BUT Japanese bbq in LA is not usually a fun experience (Seikoen was). So Ktown still rules the kalbi kingdom.
This place looks like the 70's called, and wanted its style/decor back. I mean, I was transported back to the good old days on a trip to Seoul in 1972 when 3 friends burst into flames at a KBBQ like this, although one I set on fire myself as he tried to leave without paying. And so our table at Soot did ignite about 2 times as we were eating. Grilled ice cubes seemed to be the solution, which the mostly angry/mute waitresses placed for us just in time.
We got here early which was great since there was little to no smoke to inhale or ruin our clothes. I suggest an early dinner or come in something you intend to meet Korean girls in. I find that some of my best dates with Koreans are when I wear clothes that smell like their food. It must be some kind of aphrodisiac. The other night, one chick said, "Oh em gee, Toshiro D., you smell just like home to me". We married several hours later.
Actually, the chick who came here with me kept going on about how this was a Chinese-Korean joint and she was so terribly offended. When I mentioned that China was the Mother of both Japanese and Korean civilization, she threw some bean paste at me which I really enjoyed. As did my shirt. Why are koreans so pissed off at other Asian countries? I kind of enjoy the hostility and passion though. Reminds me of my Italian friends when they speak of Greece (which of course gave birth to their civilization). Maybe I just know too much (like Fredo - uh oh!).
Anyway, we ordered a few selections - my favorite was the bbq with just salt/oil which was very high quality - def could rival Totoraku but not quite as good. The flavors were great. And the atmosphere is a lot of fun. Soju was also light, and not too expensive. Skirt steak was my least favorite and bloody expensive for what looked like shreds of an old shoe.
I think what really makes Soot Bull Jeep work is that the food is tasty, price is a little too high, atmosphere is bizarre, area is sketchy, charcoal and associated smoke is wonderful/terrible, the metal tongs are long enough to reach another table and ridiculous to use at your own, waitresses/service is also up and down, the people all look kind of odd - all character actors from some movie about Ktown's underbelly.
It's what we would call...an experience. A roller coaster of love and hate. Kind of like me and my new Korean bride. The sweet and the sour - the spice of life...and Korea has opened up a worm hole for us to drive our starship enterprise into...speaking of which, I would venture to say that a Klingon would feel right at home at Soot Bull Jeep. Ferengi would not have the balls...of beef...
The price was too high for what we got and to me, its a borderline 3-4 star spot. But I did have fun and nothing was bad, except for the decrepit restaurant itself, and the almost non existent service. But I do love charcoal flavor in my food so this is a step up from most of ktown's gas experience.
I do ageee with Aiko S. Best to go to the ALL korean BBQ places, without a sign or menu in english. More fun and better experience or as Asians say "more better!". But this makes an interesting alternative once in a while and how else can I get my clothes to smell like 1972? And get married out of it.
As the Klingon's say: 'ey Soj'!
* Note: I am not really married and I also cannot really speak Klingon. -
Review from Shara D.
Los Angeles, CA
11/21/2011
Man oh man i love this place. Ive been coming here for my past two birthdays! even when i turned 21 years old! Came here with all my close family male cousins and friends about 10 of us. This is a ritual i can say we have had some of the best moments here. The grade for the restaurant is a B. WHO CARES! we go there get wasted have a night to remember continuously order and order and order and order and order...stay late...drink and drink drink drink and drink. There is no need to comment on the food everyone knows what Korean BBQ is. I love this place.
****important tip*****
DO NOT wear expensive clothes, or clothes you like! they will SMELL for days! even after washing them you will smell! i take 2,3 showers and i can still smell the fire!
-TFR -
Review from Joy C.
12/5/2011
Wear your old clothes in the dirty hamper because after sitting in this restaurant you'll smell like grease and beef!
Hubby has been waiting for almost 10 years for his friend to take him to this joint. Finally on one random Saturday we hit the jackpot!
Let me just say it was worth the wait. Friend recommended just getting the Calbi because she's tried other meats and it just wasn't comparable. She was right! The meat was marinated so well and when grilled over the charcoal grill, the aroma made you salivate. I'm not exaggerating. I've been to many Korean BBQ places and this one tops them all. Sorry Moo Dae Po, Manna and others! Order some rice to go along with your side dishes. The salad is also very tasty. Served in individual bowls the salad has like shaved green onions and a soy sauce dressing. Mmmmmm....so good. Wash it down with some Hite beer and you're set. For four people, 3-4 orders of Calbi shall do. -
Review from Anna V.
Glendale, CA
1/13/2012
The food here was pretty good. Not the best, but I guess everyone is skeptical when venturing outside their usual k-bbq joint. One thing I noted was that the waitresses seemed really sad. I'm not sure if it's the day I went, or in general.. I don't think there is something right there. I also found the tables and chairs to be very cheap looking. You can get better quality or at least looking stuff in the same price range, I'm sure.
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Review from Jamora C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/13/2011
I usually base my reviews on how drunk I can get at an establishment and how fun of a time I'm having while I turn my body into a sponge. Well, Soot Bull Jeep, you definitely passed the test.
Soot Bull Jeep is an experience you must have while in L.A., especially if you haven't had too much Korean food in your life. The smokey atmosphere and rowdy tables are a bit shocking at first. Yeah, the smoke gets to you but it's a smoke trail that will lead you to somewhere delicious. The prices are kinda expensive in my opinion, but I think the experience here is worth it. The meat is fresh, you get an abundance of side dishes (kimchi, pickled veggies-- that's the real Korean experience right there), and you get to cook your food on your own little grill. I've been to other Korean BBQ places and this is the funnest one.
Okay, now about the alcohol. Soot Bull Jeep doesn't have a full bar, but the Korean alcohol they do have is pretty damn cheap (there's a great special on beer and Soju). Just remember to bring a DD, cuz you will become a sponge too.
I got really wasted, kinda fat, and came out smelling like I was a Hickory smoked ham. And you know what? I was totally okay with it. -
Review from Nobody M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2011
Parking really sucks unless a spot is open in their private lot (which is also used as a bathroom at night considering the large puddle of urine near my truck).
Anyhow, service was spotty--we had to ask for water, had to ask for rice and psh, had to ask for more kimchee (which they never brought). Our waitress had a traumatized, 1000-yard gaze, and another one came out of nowhere, grabbed the tongs from me and took over the grill for an uncomfortable minute (was it a reprimand for being white or being a man cooking?). But the short ribs and the thin sliced steak (Stevenson?) were both very good--once I got my grill back. -
Review from Randy P.
Los Angeles, CA
11/19/2011
Are there many charcoal based Korean BBQ joints in LA? Not really and Soot Bull Jeep knows it.
I've been here several times and ordered the ribs, "Spencer" steak and pork bbq. Spencer steak means shiddy ribeye. The marinade is great, but service and lack of quality banchan bring the place down.
Service: They never refill water and won't bring rice unless you ask for it. Typical shiddy Korean restaurant service. They do like to meddle with your handling of the grill. It's amazing how involved they want to be in the grilling process, but completely over look empty water or lack of plates, spoons, chopsticks, and rice (RICE!).
Shiddy quality banchan. You get four average banchan and which is four less than most other Korean bbq joints in LA. I've had more banchan at a Korean bbq in Omaha, NE.
Cost: $20 for two plates worth of meat you get at AYCE Korean bbq places. So essentially, you are paying double for the same amount of meat at any AYCE Korean bbq place. The 2x is for the charcoal in the grill.
They rest on their laurels and long history of being in LA. It is worth trying once if you've never had charcoal based bbq. -
Review from Lindsay A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/18/2011 1 photo
I love it here.
I do.
It's bawls. If you go here your going to have legit Korean bbq.
Yes you will smell like camping,
Yes you are going to feel like the women who work there will stab you in the throat at any given moment.
Yes you will leave feeling like you should've worn sweat pants.
But you will not have missed out on flavor. Not a chance.
Banchan - great
(parks bbq kicks it's ass at banchan buuuuut)
Their scallion salad is the hot friend that got brought to the party.
I love love love the giant squid. Obvie.
The prawns are kickass and the marinated spencer steak has always delivered.
Everyone I have taken here has had a great time. Start off with some Hite and soju, and you will be smooth sailing.
I kind of wish I was eating some right now. -
Review from Julie E.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2011
Ahh..the smell of campfire in the morning...after a Korean BBQ dinner at Soot Bull Jeep.
It's appropriate that "Soot" is in the title of this gem of a restaurant, since that's what your clothes (and hair, and purse, and boots) will smell like until everything's been dry cleaned.
That said, I like Soot Bull Jeep because:
- they use real charcoal for BBQ
- you get a decent -- not overwhelming -- amount of meat. I didn't feel like I was rolling out of there like at other Korean BBQ joints.
- the meat is flavorful...just be careful not to overcook it.
- lowkey, casual atmosphere.
I'm no authority on the authenticity of Korean BBQ, but I personally prefer Park's. That said, Soot Bull Jeep is certainly worth a visit. -
Review from Joshua G.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
Great Korean bbq. I particularly like the Spencer steak.
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Review from yvette l.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
We (gringo husband and Korean grandma) came here for Christmas lunch. This place has reasonably priced charcoal bbq, a very limited menu but good, efficient service. The "banchan" here isn't really banchan (it's more/less kimchi and lettuce) but I guess this helps keep you from overeating. The free parking lot fits about ~15 cars.
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Review from Ermine X.
Los Angeles, CA
1/27/2012
Great Korean BBQ and a fun, eclectic crowd. We had a great time with a big group of friends. Their short ribs, the squid and the chicken were fantastic! It would be perfect if they had sides as good as at ChoSan Galbee.
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Review from David a.
Los Angeles, CA
10/2/2011
My father introduced me to Korean BBQ in the 70's and I still remember vividly the first time I ate Kalbi at Korean Gardens back in the day. It is a more cherished memory than my first communion. I also recall with great fondness the first time I ate at this place. What originally lured me in was the smoke billowing from the blowers on the roof and the hoards of Koreans smoking and waiting outside. Mind you, this was before all those AYCE BBQ places started popping up like retro-viruses throughout K-Town. The first time I ate here I was happier than a pig in a poke, and on subsequent visits, nothing ever changed.
The service here is great, I don't know what the fuck people are complaining about. If you look em in the eye, they will refill everything throughout the entire meal. I always get at least 3 bowls of soup, at least a couple of bowls of rice, and eat enough banchan to feed the fat son of the Dear Leader. But you don't come here for the service, you come here for the short ribs. The marinated short ribs, to be specific. Ribs cooked over charcoal to be even more specific. At 20 bucks an order, it is not cheap, but not as expensive as, say, Parks, but worth every penny. My brother used to get the eel, which was pretty good, and I have had the chicken and the Spencer steak, but it is all about the short ribs in my book.
When I am craving beef this usually does it for me. The crispy edges, delicious marinade, and the charcoal smoke flavor are everything I want in a piece of meat. And I like it in little slices rather than in huge slabs, come to think of it. This morning, the smell of charcoal still lingers in my hair, but I will be thinking about how good this dinner was all week long.Listed in: My very very favorites in LA
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Review from Daniel K.
Los Angeles, CA
10/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
In my opinion the best Korean marinated short ribs (khal bee ). My fam and I been coming here since I was a little kid and always tastes so good. Makes me believe I'm 10 again lol. Maybe I'm biased cuz of that, but it's really money. You cook it over charcoal which makes it that much better.
oh yeah, don't dress nice, you stink after. Love it when newbs come dressed fancy lol -
Review from Jennifer F.
Santa Monica, CA
10/1/2011
Warning: this is not the place for you if you just got yourself fancied up, are looking for great service, or are overly concerned with sanitation. You WILL smell like dead animals when you leave, so save your shower for after your dining experience. And you probably WON'T get that glass of water you asked for - sorry. And, like lots of other Korean BBQ joints, you WILL have heaping plates of raw meat sitting right next to your consumable food items. The food is just that good though, so it's getting 5 stars from me...
This place looks pretty unassuming - actually, it's pretty ugly inside. But once you put in your order (we get the spencer steak, spicy pork, and sometimes short ribs), a seemingly endless wave of food will keep materializing on your table. Each person gets their own green onion salad and clear soup (pieces of potato in a light broth). For parties of about 4+, your table will get about two sets of banchan, which usually includes a potato salad, a cold spinach dish, daikon kimchee and cabbage kimchee (sometimes there's more). You'll get some dipping sauces, including a salt, pepper, and oil concoction (my personal favorite), some lettuce to make bbq wraps in, and some bean paste. You can also get a side of rice upon request.
Soot Bull Jeep also uses charcoal grills and not gas grills, and your BBQ will have a delicious, smokey flavor. Make sure to get a few large bottles of Hite and a couple orders of Soju to complete your Korean BBQ experience! -
Review from Jay B.
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
SMOKIN' - Literally. For some that's 'nuff said, but I can't leave it at just that, come on you know me right?!
Soot Bull Jeep - I think they got the "Soot" right - in that you'll be covered with it by the time you leave. It was pleasing to see that "A" rating when walking through the old rickety doors that opened up into an environment that has seen its better days. Took a careful look at the cracked linoleum floors, blackened walls and spotted ceiling; and I was quite puzzled on how that "A" came to be?... But DAMN! That kitchen MUST BE SPOTLESS! Anywho, I was here for the beef, so the surroundings didn't stop me from experiencing one of the older KBBQ spots in LA. Given that, no AYCE offered at this place.
Soot Bull Jeep is one of LA Magazine's best of LA winners. For those who have never experienced the early pioneering ways of KBBQ in LA, then go just for the experience of gas ignited charcoal burning BBQs and remember how KBBQ used to be 15 to 20 years ago. For those who are already well versed in KBBQ etiquette - well I would head off to a more ventilated place, where the smell of smoke rarely lingers in one's clothes or hair; such as Genwa that still cooks with gas ignited coals. It's been a long time since I've been to a KBBQ place that followed me all the way home with deeply singed-brows.
About halfway through the meal, our whole group was gasping and eyes watering. The charcoal was emitting so much smoke and flame; rather than properly going up the ventilation shaft, it was just swirling around the whole table and infiltrated one's nostrils, hair, eyes, skin, and clothes. Splashing water on the flames just excites the soot and makes you the dunce of the party - SO don't be doin' that!
- BBQ Marinated Short Ribs (23.99) - This slightly sweet tasting Galbi is their star dish. A bit cheaper than other places, but not sure if the quantity is the same either. But quality wise it's 4.5 - 5 stars for the meat
- BBQ Marinated Sliced Spencer Steak (19.99) - 3 stars for these squared cuts of meat
- BBQ Marinated with only salt and sesame oil (19.99) - Old style meat, 3 stars
- BBQ Tongue (19.99) - Probably one of the better Beef Tongue cuts that I've had in a while, 4 stars
- Cold Noodle with Seasoned Soup (7.99) - Have to say 4.5 stars for these NOO-DOHs. Quite refreshing given the smoky environment and was ordered twice
- The banchan was very simple and nothing to write home about. The standard Kimchi, and dicon dishes. However their green onion salad gets 4.5 stars! Gilmok still has the best green onion salad
Given the price, I think the quantity of meat given is less than desired. It turned out to be about $25/person after ordering dishes and feeling somewhat stuffed.
The waitresses are EXACTLY what you should expect. Stearn, take no crap with those condescending "yyyYYeeeesssss" and rolling eyes. I'm used to that so wouldn't have it any other way! The Parking can fit about 10 matchbox cars.
The best experience was taking that breath of fresh air once we stepped out of the restaurant. Coughing up a ton of smoke and ash was the big downer. So if you haven't been here... Do it once before you die! I guarantee it will take 5 years off your life due to second-hand smoke inhalation.Listed in: Deep Kimchi in Little KT
-
Review from Lise E.
Los Angeles, CA
9/18/2011
I have mixed feelings about this place, and I think it might require a re-visit.
1) Service was very nice, -especially- for a korean restaurant. Even the older married women working there smiled and paid attention to the couple of non-asians walking in on a very busy Sunday night.
but.....
2) The place is packed, there's a line (not their fault it's popular), and we get told that the place we get seated at (giant table for six) has a reservation in an hour. Alright, a good idea on their part, but rushed (we eat fast, so not an issue, but I'm always iffy when restaurants do this especially after a 30 minute wait). But, again they were nice, which is VERY unusual in Koreatown, and only a couple of places have been nicer to us.
Also, re: service. I hate it (HATE IT) when my meat gets flipped and fiddled with by the waiter, and they only do this for non Koreans. It's not as bad as the places that charge extra and have different menus for non Koreans (!) but still, f off, or at least ask me first. If I wanted my meat thrown in the air and poked at every three minutes I would have gone to one of those theme restaurants....
3) The bbq is great; good charcoal flavor, great quality meat. A bit expensive, and you get very little meat ($18 for three thick bacon pieces is ehhhhhh...). On the other hand the banchan get refilled repeatedly, with a smile, and they REMEMBER what banchan you wanted more of! Good service, we had ice water refilled, etc.
but....
4) AVOID THE BIBIMBAP. I got dolsot bibimbap with squid (I know, it's a bbq place, ugh, but this was the worst I've ever had). Bright red, tasteless, super spicy, PREMIXED FOR ME (wtf? stop doing this guys - also I can flip my own meat, *slaps waiter*). I like spicy food too (the kimchi is mild here, sidenote, and the banchan is great in general, especially the almond & fish one), but this was inedibly spicy and flavorless. The squid pieces were the hardest, chewiest, worst squid pieces I've ever had, ever anywhere, even at home accidentally overcooking them.
So, I dunno! Some real misses, some hits. They tried, and it deserves a revisit, but there are so many other places to try too. -
Review from LA D.
Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2011
I'm a big fan of Soot Bull Jeep, but due to the smoke factor, would say to pick dining here wisely (in other words, if you have nowhere to go right afterwards because you will smell of charcoal and meat).
Huge portions, and a fun, casual atmosphere to dine with a group of friends. It's a very bare bones kind of place - no decor so to speak, but go for the food and take a shower afterwards and know you got a great meal and a great deal. My favorites dishes are kalbi miso and garlic shrimp. And be sure to ask for rice if you want it - I like to wrap it up with the meat in lettuce. -
Review from Dang N.
8/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is the legit Korean BBQ. It's exactly like a Korean BBQ restaurant in Korea. I mean exactly. So if you don't know what you're doing, the waitresses will actually help cook your food for you.
My cousin Phu took me here and I've been back several times after. If you've never had authentic Korean BBQ this is the place. Come in, order some kind of beef dish and order the pork. Those are great starts if you've never done this before. Even if you have, order these anyway. Then after grilling the meat, you use the lettuce they give you to wrap the meat and anything else on the table with it and voila! You're eating Korean style BBQ!
It's tradition for the youngest at the table to cook for everyone but then it's expected the oldest to pick up the tab. This always worked for me when I lived in Korea and it still works for me here.
Don't let the decor scare you off. Place may look slightly worn but that's authenticity! Seriously. And if you're really adventurous, order some soju with your meal-the drink of Koreans. They drink this like water over there. It can be a pretty harsh tasting alcohol but it's no where near the same alcohol content as in Korea. So stop wincing and take your soju like a Korean! Gunbei!
Place can get really busy on a Friday or Saturday night. Best time to go is lunch where there may be only one other table filled.
If I had one problem with this place is the price. Those beef dishes can cost more than $20. That's a lot for a Korean place in the middle of K-Town and is a near hole-in-the-wall. Really, it shouldn't cost this much. I'm thinking half this much and this place would be the King of Korean BBQ. So unlike Korea where I went every Friday night to eat BBQ, I think this place will find it's way to my diet once a month. -
Review from David K.
Los Angeles, CA
12/5/2011
this place offer original korean bbq food.
the place need major cleaning up but people that comes to eat at this place dont mind the enviroment and the way they serve food.
price seems fair but service is very fast and busy.
need to wait awhile during fridays and weekends. -
Review from Peter H.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eating here is like going on a black ops mission.
Your mission, if you decide to accept it, involves clandestine insertion into an un-mapped parking space. Watch your back when you exit your transport and proceed on foot to the target site code name: SOOT BULL JEEP. Gas masks on, breech the front door and prepare for heavy smoke screens and carbon. You will not be able to see so use your GPS to find your waypoint (dining table). Give the command: "Bulgogi". At this point you will take heavy fire in the form of hot charcoal dropping into your grill pit. Proceed to grill the hell out of the meat and you will learn where the soot from Soot Bull Jeep comes from. Keep eating until your team is full. Extract yourself before the whole place goes up in smoke. -
Review from Ann Y.
Irvine, CA
6/24/2011
For all those who are complaining about the smoke and the smell on your clothes, please, you are getting the best korean BBQ in town! it is called authentic charcoal experience folks. What makes this place truly great is the quality of meat that is served. They only put out the best meat.
If you are too high maintenanced and choose to skip out on great food, what can anyone say? why don't you just head on over to a spa instead and let soot bull jeep keep doing what it is meant to be doing by serving great meat. -
Review from Simeon V.
Los Angeles, CA
7/2/2011 2 photos
Great food. Charcoal DIY grill. Got the bulgogi and shrimp for the grill. Also cold spicy noodles. No complaints at all - very solid. Very casual place; no frills.
Are people really complaining about getting smoke smell on their clothes? DON'T BE AN IDIOT AND ENJOY THE STUPID FOOD. Also, don't ask for japchae because they don't have it. Also, don't go for a walk around the neighborhood at night. -
Review from lou S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
i can't rave enough about this place. best spicy pork and bulgogi ever. the charcoal grill really does wonders.
the service is not that great, you have to wave at the waiter to even get their attention sometimes. i was with a group of people and they forgot to bring drinks for half the table. but who cares, the food is so outstanding that i forget about everything else.
it's kind of got that hole-in-the-wall feel that makes you hope that the whole world doesn't find out about the place. but it deserves a great review.
IMPORTANT! don't wear anything that you wouldn't want to smell like charred beef for weeks. the smoke is totally everywhere! the place is practically on fire with the delicious smell of barbecued meat. -
Review from hellokittynme ..
Alhambra, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The meat is as good as my favorite KBBQ joint (Soowon Galbi) but the banchan is not as good and the service and decor pale in comparison. The charcoaled grills and quality meats make for a delicious meal.
Meats are very good here but I still prefer my fav joint. -
Review from Alex S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2011
Beep beep, who's got the keys to Soot Bull Jeep?/
vroom~ drive no further if you're in pursuit of meat/
their seoul food is so good, i became a fan so fast/
since they operate like a plug-in hybrid car, using no gas/
charcoal grills ftw, but you might want smoke masks/
cuz the second hand will surely make you choke *gasp*/
but for the best galbi in town it's well worth it/
plus korean chicks will flock to you since you'll smell perfect/
so what if your clothes stink, don't be concerned after leaving/
there's only one way to deal with it: burn after eating/ -
Review from Stephen T.
Forest Hills, NY
7/13/2011
Being in LA for a business trip I decided to hit up K-town to get some supposedly legendary kalbi. I suppose my expectations were too high since I wasn't blown away by the food at Soot Bull Jeep.
The first thing you notice as soon as you step in this restaurant is the heavy smoke which instantly clings to your shirt and seeps into your pores. I know it's a bbq joint but they could definitely use some better ventilation. Also, the place is a bit dingy.
My coworker and I were promptly seated and we placed an order of bbq short ribs (kalbi) and bbq honeycomb (stomach lining). The waitress brought out our water and some banchan which consisted of assorted veggie dishes. It was a lot less than what I was expecting in terms of variety and quantity. They were pretty tasty, however. Moments later, she returns to our table with the meat.
After that, she only came around to our table perhaps once every 15 minutes to check on the meat and flip it. We actually tended to the meat ourselves since it started burning. I guess Korean bbq is different out here than it is in NY where they pretty much do everything for you. They just don't seem as attentive as I thought they would be. Again, that just might be how it is here in LA.
The kalbi tasted great and although I'm not a fan of stomach lining, it was pretty decent. Again, I must reiterate that I was expecting the kalbi here to blow me away since I've heard such great things about the Korean food in LA but I still think Mapo in NYC has the best kalbi.
Sorry LA K-town, you haven't won me over... yet. -
Review from Maia K.
Newport Beach, CA
7/15/2011
I was going to give this five stars because of the atmosphere, but then I realized that what I considered basically the most awesome atmosphere ever could also be considered a serious disadvantage. . . so four stars it is.
I went here on Halloween 2010 with my boyfriend and our frequent-dinner-companion. It was like a Dante-esque descension into the lower bowels of the earth, complete with flames, smoke, and amazing food. We ordered two kinds of meat--beef, and some kind of squid (?). I had never been to proper Korean BBQ where you sit around the pit and roast it all yourself. I liked the beef best, but it was all delicious, including the usual Korean side-dishes. Basically it was a crazy amazing experience. Yes, we were rather smoky afterwards--leave your nice jacket in the car. -
Review from Julie A.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent place. Didn't blow me away but I would definitely come back. They served us and took us in even though it was pretty late in the evening. The waitresses were nice and worked hard.
I enjoy a good charcoal grill BBQ, and love the smell of the fire. -
Review from Shirley M.
Downey, CA
6/25/2011
HORRRRRRRRRRRRIBLEEEEEEEEEEEEE experience!
I took my family (party of 8!) for fathers day to this korean bbq place. By now I like to think of myself as a pro at K BBQ because I've been to so many places in LA and Orange County.
Anyway, we arrived and didn't have to wait long before getting a table. My dad was still trying to find a parking so I told the waitress to wait because we were waiting for my dad and wanted him to order. OMG, the lady kept asking what we wanted to order. To get her off my back I ordered marinated stake and beef tongue. She looked around and rudely said "that's it? more, more! you are a big group. Seriously? What if we ONLY wanted those 2 plates. It's none of their business!!!
Dad finally joined us and we ordered some more plates. We got the beef and were looking around for the rice (we had ordered rice), rice paper (they give lettuce instead), the sesame & pepper sauce, water, and plates. Well, 10 minutes later the meat was done but we had no place to put it or how to eat it!! We asked 3 waitresses for the things and neither one of them brought us what we asked for.
20 minutes later we finally could eat our already burnt meat that had been sitting on the side of the grill for 20 minutes. We literally had 4 pieces of lettuce. Seriously for a party of 8? and on top of that they brought 2 bowls of rice (out of 8) and 3 cups of water.
Uggghhhh just so frustrating. It's like we are beggars begging for food. WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER go there again. Not a good ending to an otherwise awesome father's day!!!! -
Review from Amy R.
New York, NY
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent but I should have tried an AYCE place.
