In Koreatown, the number of family-owned, mom-and-pop restaurants continues to diminish every year; late in 2025, iconic grilled pork rib specialist Hamjipark closed in the neighborhood as the family decided to wind down operations. Thankfully, places like Seongbukdong, serving a varied menu of Korean comfort food classics in the same strip mall as TikTok-famous bar Dan Sung Sa, endure after nearly two decades in business. Owner Young-hee Shon, originally from South Korea’s Gyeongsang-do province, which comprises large cities like Daegu and Busan on the southeastern corner of the peninsula, still serves some of the best galbi-jjim, fried fish, and banchan in Los Angeles. The dining room doubled in size in recent years, offering plenty of space for groups, small and large, to dive into the essence of Korean homestyle cuisine from Gyeongsang-dong.
Quiet, satisfying meals with family and friends without the distraction of overwrought decor or any semblance of ambience. Other than conversation, you’ll only hear the distant sounds of cooking in the kitchen or the clinking of plateware.
There’s a small fridge up at the front with Korean-flavored popsicles that work as a sweet finish, since most Korean restaurants don’t serve dessert. Or there’s the popular Oakobing for shaved ice across the street.