With KCON just around the corner and BLACKPINK soon to play Dodger Stadium, K-pop stans are salivating in anticipation of these supergroups’ performances. But we were personally hungrier for the answer to a more gastronomical question ahead of their arrival: Where do BTS, BLACKPINK and others eat when they come to L.A.? Every fan dreams of a chance of rubbing elbows with their favorite idol, say, randomly spotting Jungkook through the oily sizzle and smoke of searing bulgogi. As it turns out, L.A.’s Seoul-rivaling wealth of Korean BBQ spots—most of them in Koreatown—unsurprisingly feature highly on our idols’ culinary hot lists.
Of course, we make no guarantees of celeb spotting, but all of the restaurants on our list have at some point hosted our favorite idols (think of it as the closest us mere mortals can get to clogging our arteries with the same decadent meats as them). Even if you don’t end up playing paparazzi for the evening, the places on our list offer delicious eats in an exuberant atmosphere that’ll have you feeling like K-pop royalty by the night’s end.
Ahgassi Gopchang
Celebrities Spotted: BTS, BLACKPINK, Jackson Wang and EXO
Named by BTS’s Jin as the “number one Korean restaurant,” Ahgassi Gopchang is known for its action-packed atmosphere, high-quality meat and, most importantly, gopchang (grilled intestines). Weekends are a lively affair with pulsating music, soju and wait times that can span well over an hour for this KBBQ hotspot, which is open until midnight. (It’s on our best Korean BBQ restaurants feature for a reason.)
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Woo Hyang Woo
Celebrities spotted: BTS, CL and Amber
Woo Hyang Woo (Korean for “beef scented house”), dazzles with premium cuts that include dry-aged tomahawk sets that melt away in your mouth as well as American Wagyu and Angus beef. Not as rowdy as some of its noisy neighbors or other entrants on our list, WHW makes for a perfect launching pad for a memorable evening, or your only destination for the night thanks to excellent, mouthwatering meats. Lines on the weekends are typically fairly short, which makes this a great spot for last-minute plans. Grab a seat on the outside patio and you just might spot CL or BTS coming out of a black Suburban.
Kruang Tedd
Celebrities spotted: BLACKPINK (Lisa + Jisoo)
One of our favorite late-night spots in Thai Town, Kruang Tedd will instantly transport you to Thailand from the moment you enter. With live blaring music, the neon-lit spot is the perfect place to start your night on this side of town—but an even better place to end it since it’s open till 2am. Apart from your standard Thai dishes, Kruang Tedd has a few unique specialties, including the Lisa fried chicken skin, named after BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Jisoo visited this restaurant.
Daedo Sikdang
Celebrities spotted: BTS (Jungkook, Jimin and J-Hope)
Upscale minimal vibes, soju cocktails and Angus beef await you at this Seoul import. Daedo burst onto the scene a few years ago and has carved out a place for itself in L.A.’s robust Korean barbecue sphere with more of a modern steakhouse feel compared to your average strip mall KBBQ spot. Expect a complimentary milk soft serve after chowing down on their Daedo cuts (a trio of expertly grilled rib eyes). Maybe you can be as lucky as the fan who ran into BTS’s Jungkook, Jimin and J-Hope on their night out on the town.
Crab House
Celebrities Spotted: BLACKPINK (Lisa)
This no-frills Koreatown spot specializes in raw marinated crab, with gloves provided at every table so diners can squeeze out every morsel of delicious meat. Service is snappy with your order taken before you’re seated, though you can expect a wait during peak dinner hours. Though the Lisa-approved restaurant is a welcome addition to our otherwise KBBQ heavy list, you’ll find our favorite soy-marinated crab on the other side of K-town at heavyweight Soban—acclaimed for hosting the Parasite cast after the Oscars.
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ABSteak
Celebrities Spotted: TWICE
Michelin-recognized chef Akira Back elevates the KBBQ experience at ABSteak, where clanging soju bottles and the crackle of grilled meats are replaced with high-quality Wagyu meats, galbi fried rice and an unskippable egg soufflé that feels like you’ve stolen a bite from a cloud. K-pop stans will recognize the intimate and elegant restaurant from one of the videos in TWICE’s vlog series, in which you can watch the girl group travel and eat their way around the world. You may not be so lucky to spot the group on your visit here, but the meal itself will be etched in your memories for years to come.
Pigya
Celebrities Spotted: BTS (Jungkook)
TikTok sensation Pigya exploded onto L.A.’s KBBQ scene in the summer 2023 and quickly made even bigger waves when BTS’s Jungkook was spotted at the restaurant. Dinner here brings with it a jovial atmosphere and the choice between Wagyu beef and premium pork; opt for one of their combo plates to get the best of both worlds, but the pork belly is really the star of the show. We recommend making a reservation through Yelp if you plan on visiting during peak hours, since wait times have ballooned post Jungkook spotting.