Sun Nong Dan Western

Despite having expanded to two locations in the area, this Koreatown galbi jjim specialist still fills up at all hours of the day with partygoers and night owls hankering for a cheese-covered mountain of marinated short rib, potatoes and onions. In my opinion, the local chain also makes a standout galbi tang, a clear beef soup topped with short rib. You can also find other well-executed takes of primarily beef-based Korean staples including sulungtang, a milky oxbone soup that can be topped with different cuts of beef; assorted takes on sooyook, or beef cuts designed to be dipped into a bubbling hot pot; and yukdaejang, a spicy beef soup seasoned with leeks and gochugaru, or Korean hot pepper flakes. For those closer to the San Gabriel Valley, Sun Nong Dan also has outposts in San Gabriel and Rowland Heights.