Korean BBQ: Los Angeles

One of the benefits of having Korean friends who are also hearty eaters is that they're eager to help me explore Korea Town and its many fantastic, commonly unknown (to outsiders) restaurants.

Korean cuisine is excellent for die hard carnivores and for late hour munchies after the club. I've found that most of the restaurants I've visited open late and enthusiastically cater to late workers and club goers without sacrificing the quality of their food or ambience.

1. If you are sincerely a carnivor, I recommend MANA:
MANA Korean BBQ
http://www.mannakoreanbbq.com/
3377 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
11am-11pm on weekdays
11am-12am on weekends

MANA is one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in the Greater Los Angeles Area for a very amazing deal.
For $16.99, a patron can eat an unlimited amount of meat with one restriction: don't waste food.


There are a few cautions I must express before you try out MANA.

1. In the unlimited meal deal there is a stern monetary penalty for food left over and untouched.

2. When the restaurant gets busy, the only way to get the servers' attention is to speak Korean.
These simple phrases help tremendously.

"Excuse me" sheelay hamnida
"I don't understand" Eehay moht algaysumnida
"Can you help me?" Mu-ŏ-sŭl do-wa-dŭ-ril-kka-yo?

2. Late Night Tofu
BCD Tofu House
http://www.bcdtofu.com/
(213) 382-6677
3575 Wilshire Blvd (at Ardmore Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90010
24 hrs

ask for the soon tofu
+combination if you're really hungry
they go from mild to spicy

Soon Tofu is essentially a piping hot bowl of soup with a lot of spiced heat from mild to extreme, accompanied with silky tofu and your choice of protein.
Traditionally, a raw egg is partnered with the stew. Crack the egg into the bowl and let the temperature from the soup cook the yolk and white.

The meal is attended with a few traditional side dishes (au gratis) ranging from salted fish, to kimchee (spicy pickled cabbage and vegetables)

3. Late Night Korean Sampler
Hodori
213) 383-3554
1001 S Vermont Ave Ste 102
Los Angeles, CA 90006
They have everything from kalbi (barbecue short ribs), duk-bok-ki (spicy rice cakes) to yuk-gae-jang (spicy beef soup with scallions)

Hodori is an all around Korean diner. The food is relatively inexpensive, the restaurant is immaculate, opened 23 hours and there is a huge variety of dishes for the budding fan of Korean cuisine.
Lit pictures of each dish is displayed proudly at the front of the restaurant for the timid visitor.
The meals are accompanied by an array of appetizers (au gratis) usually including a few forms of kimchee (pickled vegetables) and potato salad.
Hodori's food is delicious and recognized throughout the community. They're proud of their reputation as proven by the newsprint of a former president dining at one of their locations on one of their walls.