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Gonjiam

June 22, 2025

Step into Gonjiam on Beverly Blvd and you’re welcomed by a comforting wave of beef-bone steam, sizzling pork belly, and the tell-tale smokiness of an always-bubbling dolsot stone pot. A modest storefront in a tiny plaza, the restaurant feels like a Seoul back-alley soup house: laminated pictures of dishes on the wall, stainless chopsticks in tin cups, and K-pop ballads humming softly overhead. Open daily 10 AM – 9:30 PM, it draws a lively mix of Larchmont locals.

Services
• Counter-style ordering with full table service once you sit 🍽️
• Call-ahead take-out—most orders bagged in 15 min 🚗
• Delivery on DoorDash & Uber Eats for the entire menu 📲
• Late-night comfort soups perfect for post-karaoke cravings 🎤
• All-day gukbap and hot-pot menu plus lunchtime combo specials 💸
• Vegetarian tweaks possible on request (tofu swap, veg broth) 🌱
• Wheelchair-friendly entrance, restroom & ample shared lot parking ♿

Menu
Sullungtang – milky oxtail soup slow-simmered 12 hours; arrives bubbling hot with rice, scallions & sea salt on the side 🥣
Cow Head Gukbap – signature clear broth loaded with melt-in-your-mouth cheek meat, tripe & glass noodles, famed as the ultimate hangover cure 💪
Budae Jjigae – “army stew” of spam, sausage, kimchi, baked beans & ramen noodles in fiery gochujang broth, sized for two (comes with free rice refill) 🍜
Spicy Pork & Vegetable Stir-Fry – thin-sliced pork belly, cabbage, onions & perilla leaf in gochugaru glaze, served on a sizzling platter 🔥
Bibimbap Dolsot – stone-bowl rice topped with seasonal veggies, fried egg & choice of bulgogi or tofu; mix fast for maximum rice crust 😋
Kimchi Pancake – crispy-edge, soft-center jeon studded with aged kimchi and scallion, great for sharing 🥞
LA Kalbi – soy-garlic marinated short ribs char-grilled to sweet-smoky perfection, sided with fresh lettuce wraps 🥩
Yuzu Citron Tea – sweet-tart hot drink that soothes spicy tongues 🍋
Dessert Yakult Slush – frosty yogurt-drink granita topped with popping boba, an Instagram favorite 🧊

Pros
👍 True “hole-in-the-wall” authenticity—recipes unchanged since the founders’ hometown of Gonjiam 🇰🇷
👍 Twenty-plus house-made banchan rotate daily; free refills keep meals exciting 🌈
👍 Hangover-friendly hours and soups make it a lifesaver after big nights out 😅
👍 Portion sizes generous—one hot pot easily feeds two hungry diners 💸
👍 Free parking after 6 PM and quick Metro 16 bus stop out front simplify visits 🚍

Reviews

  1. “The Cow Head Gukbap is next-level comfort—rich yet clean broth, meat so tender you could cut it with chopsticks, and kimchi that sings. A must after any night of soju.”
  2. “Ordered Budae Jjigae for two and still took leftovers home. Perfect balance of spicy, salty and smoky—plus unlimited rice refills won my heart.”
  3. “Staff recognized me on my third visit and brought extra pickled radish without asking. Their hospitality matches the food in warmth.”
  4. “Spicy Pork Stir-Fry arrives on a sizzling cast-iron, still crackling. Portion huge, heat level ‘medium’ had me reaching for the yuzu tea—deliciously fiery.”
  5. “Bibimbap dolsot stayed hot until the end, giving that addictive crunchy rice crust. Only downside: parking can be tight at lunch, so come a bit early.”

From milky Sullungtang to bubbling Budae Jjigae, Gonjiam delivers the kind of old-school Korean comfort that hugs from the inside out—big flavors, bigger portions, and friendly service that keeps Angelenos planning their next visit before the last spoonful is gone. 🥢💖