Jeong Yuk Jeom is LA’s upscale Korean BBQ restaurant, offering high-quality service and cuts of meat. You’re not here for the all-you-can-eat experience, as this is an à la carte-style restaurant. Regardless, you’ll leave full one way or another. The upscale label does come at a cost, so you’ll realistically be here when you’re on an expense account or celebrating something special. Or, if you’re balling like that, which is all fine too.
The Jeong Yuk Jeom Experience
The Jeong Yuk Jeom menu consists of traditional Korean appetizers, meat cuts, and other traditional dishes. Even though the guest tables have grills, the staff will cook the meat for you at the table.
The Butcher’s Pride would probably be your best bet for a group. I had the 3rd option, which comes with beef brisket, prime boneless short rib, wagyu top blade, seasoned prime boneless short rib, marinated prime short rib, and aged prime ribeye. On paper, this might not be a lot for 4-5 people, but it ended up being a lot, especially since we also ordered other side dishes. This set costs $299 and includes banchan, steamed egg, and kimchi stew or soybean paste stew. Come to think of it, we never got our steamed egg or the stew. That’s kind of mean for a sub-$300 menu item.
Koreatown is a nightmare to drive into because of the bad parking situation, and it’s somewhere I wouldn’t want to be alone when it’s dark. I accidentally parked across the street, which cost me $34 for 2 hours of parking, which is crazy. Aside from all of that, the grilled meats were amazing – the staff did a phenomenal job making sure the meats were not overcooked, and everyone was well fed.
Sharables around the table included seafood pancake, galbi dumpling, miso pork jowl, spicy webfood octopus, giant beef tartare sushi, cold noodle soup, and beef tongue. Speaking of which, can we talk about how a plate of 6 pieces of beef tongue costs $50? Yes, there is a notable difference compared to standard-tier Korean BBQ. At the same time, I would have liked more because of how much I liked it.
Overall, I had a great experience and liked it. I don’t mind returning if I’m not paying or if it’s for someone’s birthday. Otherwise, as much as I cringe at Chubby Cattle’s management, I’m still happy with the $70 AYCE BBQ.
Tips & Tricks
If you go, you might as well get a set menu from the Butcher’s Pride page. If you have a smaller party, you can go with the smaller menu. These are thicker cuts of meat, so it’s not like you’re eating thinly sliced beef brisket and beef tongue left and right. Ordering an appetizer is a MUST as well. At the same time, why are you spending $30 on a seafood pancake? Order a bibimbap and the giant beef tartare sushi on the side. If you’re skipping out on the bibimbap, make sure to order plain rice to eat with the meat.
As for parking, don’t make the same mistake I did, so you should park in the attached plaza – they provide validation (the same lot where you go for H Mart).
Jeong Yuk Jeom Korean BBQ LA
621 S Western Ave #100
Los Angeles, CA 90005
