In celebration of South Korea making it to the finals of the World Baseball Classic I thought I would finally write up about a new Korean food joint that just opened up on the outskirts of Hollywood. Galbi-n-Kimchi is a new fast casual Korean food joint in a somewhat drab mini-mall along Santa Monica Blvd. It’s much different than the typical BBQ joints just down Western. Here, you order at a counter and the cooking is done in the kitchen and not on a smokey grill at your table. In a way, it’s Korean food for beginners.
A few tables in the dining room for those looking to sit down and eat.
The grill is open to the dining room.
There menu is displayed in two languages, Spanish and broken English. Items like Galbi, Bul-gogi, and Bibim-bap are served with steamed rice, salad and 2 choices of 6 Ban Chan “everyday out of 18 that we developed”. All the main dishes, at around eight bucks, are served on top of wok-fried veggies with a somewhat mild taste. Most of the flavors here are pretty mild compared to some of the other BBQ joints I’ve been to. You can add any one of their $3.99 sides and make it a combo. Like Ojing-o Bokum, squid with veggies in a spicy sauce, or Man-du dumplings.
The Galbi - Grilled beef ribs with wok fred veggies and ban chan.
The good thing is, if I’m every feeling like a little Korean food, they’ll deliver for orders over $15. It’s not the best Korean food you’ll every have, but its quick and easy if you’re not looking for the whole sit-down BBQ experience.
23. March 2009 at 12:10 am
Good find, and it sounds like a pretty good deal, though the word “mild” doesn’t inspire confidence.
23. March 2009 at 9:56 am
Yeah, it doesn’t have the Korean kick. The flavors seem to be taken down a notch to cater to the mixed neighborhood.
23. March 2009 at 10:15 am
I’m so glad you wrote this up! I drove by last week and did a double-take at the name. I live close enough to Koreatown, so probably won’t be hightailing it here soon, but good to know about! I’d be all over this if it were close to my workplace or within walking distance of my apt.
23. March 2009 at 10:21 am
As did I, there were a few people just stopping in to pick up a menu. A few cops, fed-ex workers, and people who lived near the restaurant.
23. March 2009 at 5:19 pm
I actually drive by this place a couple of times a week and since I’m not usually in the Koreatown vicinity, this may be a good substitute if I have Korean food craving that just needs to be placated and now.
24. March 2009 at 10:00 am
I’ve driven by this place 6 times in the last 2 weeks… Kept thinking… do I dare? Nope, I don’t dare.
Kudos tho! It’s at such a RANDOM location!!
24. March 2009 at 11:08 am
Not somewhere you would think a Korean place would be, hence the menu in Spanish. But if you need to stop by AutoZone it might be an option, ha