Kobawoo House

"Open since 1985, Kobawoo is a Koreatown staple, and home to our favorite plate of bossam in the neighborhood. With big, wooden booths and clean lines everywhere, Kobawoo’s interior is a little upscale, and ideal for a date. That said, if you’re flying solo and don’t want to eat a giant plate of pork belly wraps by yourself, they have a smaller lunch special for around $20. And maybe throw in a plate of their deservedly famous spicy acorn noodles if you're feeling peckish." - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins

"Though crowds show up mostly for Kobawoo House’s superior bossam, a Korean specialty featuring pork belly slices and accompaniments, it’s worth trying some more traditional dishes, including the hulking seafood pajeon and kimchi stew in a stone pot." - Cathy Park, Matthew Kang

"Kobawoo House has been around since before Koreatown was the land of limited street parking and soju bars blasting trap music. Open since 1983, this strip mall spot is a quiet restaurant right off bustling Vermont Ave where you can sit peacefully in a booth while a water fountain trickles in the background. Although Kobawoo House serves amazing jeon and steaming bowls of yuk gae jang, the specialty here is undoubtedly bossam. The portions are huge, all shareable entrees cost under $40, and it’s a laid-back alternative to newer (louder) Koreatown spots where you can actually carry a conversation without straining your voice." - brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins

"One of LA’s longest-running Korean restaurants is Kobawoo, located in the same Vermont Avenue strip mall since 1983. Sporting a dim, often quiet dining room that lights up for weekday lunches, most people come for the incredible bossam, a Korean steamed pork preparation that remains unparalleled at Kobawoo. Served with traditional accompaniments of cold blanched napa cabbage, fermented baby shrimp, julienned spicy radish, and pickled rounds of paper-thin radish, the bossam here makes for a wonderful shareable feast. Other traditional dishes are stellar too, such as the spicy braised black cod, golden brown seafood pancake, and stone pot bibimbap." - Matthew Kang, Eater Staff, Mona Holmes

"Good god, this restaurant is tasty. Tucked inside Seven Vermont Plaza, it's among the top korean bbq spots. It offers valet service but does not take reservations. Show up a bit early to put your name in and grab a tipple nearby while you wait - it's worth it. MMMmmmm, just thinking about their.....makes the tummy grumble. Bossam, pork belly, all top of the korean bbq rock." - The HR Dept