Kitchen Story

Ehhh kimchee fried rice was aite… it was very garlicy. It was a good substitute if you don’t want to go to k-​town. I would probably not order it again.
Atmosphere is nice and very clean
Servers are friendly.

NO ALCOHOL ALERT! NO ALCOHOL ALERT! Luckily, I was in the midst of a (mostly) dry January and so it didn’t matter. Otherwise, we likely would have ventured elsewhere on this Friday evening.
After a little miscommunication with the stone-​faced female hostess, we were seated outside and had a great dinner. The portions are excellent and the guys who took care of us were nice and helpful. My wife had a Korean porridge, my son had their chicken wings with a side of rice and I had two rolls, along with three odang in a pot. Everything was excellent.

One of the newest additions to Sawtelle… and it’s a Korean place! Yay! I was quite excited to try it out, annnd it didn’t have a ridiculous 2.5 hr wait. Score.
So here’s my take on the food and why it’s only 3 stars: the main reason was that I’ve had significantly better Korean food… some of it homemade (is that unfair to compare??)
The best dish was the fried chicken. Slightly sweet but still savory and beautifully crunchy like corn flake crust. I would come back just for these. Although, I’m not really sure that this is a Korean dish.
The kimchi fried rice was… bland. Not fried enough. Too much rice not enough crisp. Not enough kimchi?
The ttukbokee was soupy and too sweet. The flavor grew on me though, and I think I liked it by the end of the meal? Not sure if that means I actually liked it or not haha
The budae chigae was also kind of lacking in flavor. It did have a lot of random meats like sausage and spam, but it was sooooo salty. Actually, I’m not sure which dish it was or all of them, but I was parched after eating here.
I’d probably come here again just because Korean food is lacking on the west side. The only dish I’d order again of the 4 is the fried chicken. I did like their side dishes. Not too extensive, but just enough that I didn’t feel slighted.
I will say that their lack of normal-​size plates or bowls to eat from made it hard to eat these dishes family style… which is what I assume is the best way to eat the rather large portions. I guess their dishes are meant to look like old school Korean cafeteria dishes. It’s a cute concept but not really convenient for my face-​stuffing ha

A small little restaurant nestled in the center of sawtelle’s busiest plaza, it’s easy to miss.
I have dined at kitchen story a total of two times now, the first being excellent and the second leaving me a little dissatisfied. On my first trip here I order the dduk mandoo gguk (traditional Korean dumpling and rice cake soup) and it was so delicious! It soothed my inflamed throat and tasted just like how my mom made it for New Years. However, my second time around I didn’t leave too happy.
We ordered ddukbokgi (spicy rice cake), beef kimchi fried rice and bulgogi kimbap. The ddukbokgi was enjoyable though a little too watery IMO. Also, it was a little sweet as other helpers mentioned. The kimchi fried rice was decent but there was way too much zucchini in it. I don’t remember traditional kimchi fried rice having that… There was also way too much of the diced raw onions making it kind of sweet and too crunchy. The biggest disappointment of them all was the kimbap. The entire dish was so bland, and they use tomago which is the sweet processed egg used in sushi for the kimbap. I did not enjoy it at all.
If you’re in the area for Korean «comfort food» this is an okay spot to satisfy your craving, but I probably would drive 10 miles to ktown to leave truly satisfied.

Love this place for their huge sizzle pans of kimchi fried rice and budaejigae! Everything is very affordable and comes in large portions so I always leave with a doggy bag — yay for leftovers! The kimbap rolls are also very well-​made and cheap. If you’re looking for korean munchies in the area, Kitchen Story is the place to be.
Forgot to mention that their staff is super friendly and nice. Love eating at this joint!

This place, hands down, has the best kimchi pork rice. The portions were massive and the leftovers were great! Each bite was flavorful and at $ 14 a plate, it was steal!
The kimbap rolls were huge as well. I had the opportunity to get o-​deng. One skewer was $ 1.00. They have valet and metered parking.
My boyfriend and I grabbed Honeymee (next door) after. It’s located across from Daiso and there’s a Marukai market around the corner.

Another Korean addition to the increasing diversity of Little Tokyo. This one’s in a strip mall but there is plenty of nearby residential street parking. Excellent comfort food. It has a small nice interior with a little outside seating. One wall is a plastic bush with small flowers sticking out. Sound weird? It’s actually really cute and interesting.
For a small place, they have a good selection: kim bap including shrimp tempura, fresh water eel and avocado/​crab meat. They have shin ramen and spicy rice cake! $ 7 teokboki
I love my mother’s duk mandu guk or meat dumpling and rice cake soup. I don’t mind spending a few extra dollars having it here instead of Koreatown. The soup is served super hot. I don’t think the broth is meaty enough but it tastes decent like oxtail soup. I liked the beef dumplings, too.
I got 3 kinds of pan chan: potato salad with apple chunks and cranberries; seaweed boiled (very vinegary) and a green, leafy water kimchi that I liked. Traditional cabbage often isn’t good at restaurants.
The fish cake on stick is a good appetizer, although the broth was a little watery. But hey, it’s only 1 or 2 dollars.
What I found very amusing was watching the flat screen playing K pop videos. Those male «hipsters», with their bleached platinum blond hair, raccoon eyes and perfectly timed dance moves, seemed like N’Sync wannabes, 15 years behind! lol
This is my to go place for my duk mandu guk cravings, but I should go with others so other dishes can be tried and shared.

This was my first time trying Korean food (other than Korean bbq) and I wasn’t a huge fan. The food looked a lot better than it tasted
The ramen tasted like Cup of Noodles. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it was, and they added some ingredients to make it look better. The kimchi fried rice (which was recommended by many Unilocal reviewers as well as our waiter) was very bland. I had to douce it in sauce and sriacha to give it some flavor.
The ambiance was cute, not too crowded with a pretty décor. The price as reasonable and the portions were pretty big.
Maybe I didn’t order the right things, but I wasn’t too satisfied with this place. With all the competition on Sawtelle, they’re going to have to work a little harder to keep up.

I wanted ddukboggi but didn’t want to drive all the way to K town, so we decided to try this place as it seemed to have good reviews. The store is cozy and clean. When we walked in, there was only one other person eating, but it soon got busier after we sat down.
We ordered ddukboggi, kimari (fried glass noodled wrapped in seaweed), spicy pork bbq kimbab and kimchi fried rice. It seems like the price might have gone up as some of the items price are higher than what I saw on Unilocal’s pictures before we went in.
Overall, we liked the foods and they seemed to have reasonable prices for the area. I am pretty sure you can get the same foods little cheaper in K town but I don’t think there are not many similar restaurants around the neighborhood. Kimchi fried rice seemed to have good portion and we liked kimbab which didn’t have too much rice but mostly spicy pork bbq. However, the dduckboggi seemed a little smaller than what we expected for $ 7. The service was pretty good and they spoke pretty good English.
I think we found a pretty good alternative for Korean foods in Sawtelle without driving all the way to K town.
Foods: 4 stars
Service: 3.5 stars
Atmosphere: 3.5 stars
Overall Experience: 3.5 stars

So I came back to try other items on the menu and my favorite Ttoppoki again, I think the cook must be replaced or they just simply changed their recipe.
The ttoppoki sauce seemed much darker and syrupy, and it tasted super sweet, didn’t have its simplicity in flavor like it used to have.
Beef kim chi jji gae is served in a tiny pot for $ 10 something, it is pretty salty and definitely not enough beef pieces. The meat pieces are just crumbs. Kimchi soup has been reduced too long and all the seasoning debris at the bottom of pot was just too much, it made the Jji gae soup way too unclear.
Fried wings are ok, not too much batter and chicken meat was quite juicy but they didn’t drained oil at all. It is not crunchy outside.
Veggie kim bop must have been my favorite, crunchy, fresh veggies are rolled in a very thin layer of rice, it is clean.
Overall, my re-​visit to this place ended up with somewhat disappointment, hope they get back to their simple clean home cook recipe.

This place is seriously legit. Dolsot pork kim chi fried rice and fried chicken were STUPID DERICIOUS. I was really mad about how good both items tasted. Fried rice was spicy but not too spicy. Chicken was crispy yet juicy yet not too greasy and served with the requisite pickled radish and a tasty new school mustard. Dumpling soup had tantalizing beef broth — deep layers of beefy goodness and with decent dumplings. Bulgogi Kim bap was as tasty as I’ve had them — super legit. Overall, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this place because there’s just so many awesome places on sawtelle but I think this is my new fav spot!!! Raging mad levels of tasty.

I’ve been here twice and I was very impressed with service. Even when they are packed, the food still comes out quickly. I had the kimchi ramen the first visit and it definitely hit the spot! I didn’t love the noodles though.
Today I had to kimchi fried rice with beef and the squid. The squid was a definite miss, something was off about it. It was too tough, I wonder if it was frozen before. The kimchi fried rice was a winner! It was so tasty and just spicy enough. I enjoyed it. The rolls looked pretty good too. I’ll have that next time! I know I’ll be back often!

Wow, the service here was amazing!
I’m usually never «that person» that asks for quicker service because I typically feel really bad about doing it, but I really needed to rush lunch because I had to make it back to work on time!
Our waitress was so understanding. Not only did she bring out our food literally seconds after we ordered, but we were in and out of there in 20 minutes. It was exactly what I needed! Plus, she was so sweet the whole time.
The food was amazing too. We split the kimchi fried rice and the bulgogi kimbap and we still had a ton of leftovers to take home! It was so delicious.
Definitely recommended!

Sooo I normally come to this area strictly just for Japanese food since it’s so good here, but hmm not this time. Friends and I decided to this place to have Korean food here and there are a few things that I liked about this place.
Well to start, three words: Kimchi Fried rice! That was truly really good. You can pick from beef or pork, we went with beef and did not regret that choice. I ordered the shrimp tempura udon which I thought was okay. They also have sushi rolls here which my friends got and I heard they weren’t the best but hey who gets sushi rolls at a korean spot? haha.
I have to say that this place is pretty affordable and convenient. You get free valet parking, don’t have to deal with a long wait. It is pretty small in there but we were able to fit just fine.

Came to this place with friends and to be honest, it was just ok. The kimchi rice was good and I got some basic California rolls with good taste. Other than that the food didn’t exactly blow me away.
The food had taste and wasn’t that expensive so those two things were a good start. The California rolls I got did taste freshly made which was a plus.
The staff was friendly here and very helpful during our visit.
Some of the downside is parking, we got lucky because it was slow and their valet had plenty of parking. Valet is free and there is a lot of guys helping park cars. Not sure how it is during busier times but if you don’t use valet parking around this area is nearly impossible.

Lately we have been on a Korean craze, so why not another Korean spot… Friendly staff from the beginning. They were able to accommodate us with a high chair so that was a plus. The kimbab reminded me of elementary school where I first learned to make it, I had the bulgogi kimbab. I have to admit, I really enjoyed it w a bit of soy sauce. My girl had the tempura shrimp udon, it didnt pack a lot of flavor but she adjusted it, it was good. The highlight of the meal was the kimchi fried rice with beef. Not only was it a huge plate, it had an an egg on top, and the taste was great! They also have rice dishes, kimbab, soups, and combination plates.
I forgot to mention that the price was the best part, I was surprised and happy at the same time. Parking is always hard in this area, but the food was worth it. Happy tummy, happy life.

I’ll make this sort and sweet. Craving Korean food on the westside but dont want soon tofu (ie. Tofuya/​Seoul Tofu), do not fear, Kitchen Story is here!
Kitchen Story specializes in kimbab, korean version of rice wrapped with seaweed delicious fillings of protein and veggies. Each roll is around $ 6 – 7 bucks and quite delicious.
Although they have a small menu, they still have a good selection of noodle soups/​dumpling soups/​kimchi fried rice, and other goodies.
Prices are standard and portions are actually pretty generous for westside standards. They usually have a good assortment of banchans as well including jap chae, pancake, kimchi.
I’ve been here twice so far and both times have been pretty happy with my choices. The first I got the rice cake dumpling soup. Very great broth, nicely flavor dumplings with yummy filling. Perfect for a cold night. The second time i opted for the Kimbap/​Fish cake sticks combo. YUM. But yes, Westside standards people!
If you do get anything, I would try those fish cake sticks in the soup broth for $ 1 a stick. Quite the deal!

Although Kitchen Story adds a little variety to the usual Korean restaurants on the Westside that serve primarily soondoobu, It is still just okay Korean food.
Going for the Korean comfort food angle, their menu items are what you may expect from your typical Korean food court in Ktown including udon, Korean ramen, soups, spicy rice cakes, fried rice, kimbap (Korean sushi), and Korean fried chicken. Given that there are no other places that serve these types of items out on Sawtelle, this is an attractive alternative for those who may want Korean food out on the Westside that is not soondoobu.
Unfortunately, from the food that I have tried, the options are good but nothing special.
Spicy Pork Kimbap– although this has the makings for something amazing, the kimbap falls short given the relatively small amount of the spicy pork. The spicy pork has a nice heat but is also kind of sweet. With a little slice of a pepper there is an added kick but there is also fresh crunch of the lettuce to offset the spiciness. I felt with just a little more spicy pork meat, this kimbap could easily be a slam dunk.
Dumplings in Beef Broth– although flavored nicely, the fixings that make this good were just okay and felt like and afterthought. The beef broth I thought was done pretty well with a deep garlic taste which make this perfect for a cold day. However, the dumplings did feel a little lacking. Granted, they do give a lot of them but their filling was not super meaty or with prominent veggies giving a manufactured dumpling feeling.
Banchan — They only had three options! When I went, they had your typical kimchi, pickled radish, and potato salad. But it looks like that at other times, they can vary with the glass noodle (japchae) and other types of kimchi. Perhaps I am spoiled with my ktown experiences where I have a wider array of sides to enjoy my meals. Perhaps it was because I did not enjoy any of these sides. Whatever the reason, the banchan was not impressive.
The service was overall pretty attentive and got seated quickly. However, the space is a little cramped so I could easily see that this place could have a line. There is parking in the lot that requires validation, but I would recommend just parking on the nearby street and walking.
Overall, Kitchen Story adds some much needed variety to the Korean food options out on the Westside, but still does not match the quality of most places out in Ktown several miles away.

Kitchen Story is located in Sawtelle Centre in the former site of Little Hong Kong Café. That space has been transformed into a visually striking (wall resembling a green hedge with flowers) restaurant specializing in Korean comfort food, a welcome addition to the throngs of ramen and soondubu shops in the area. While I didn’t find the food outstanding, I nonetheless appreciated the restaurant’s décor, the staff’s friendliness and helpfulness, and the lack of a lengthy wait.
Kitchen Story’s menu primarily consists of Korean comfort food, ranging from kimbap to ramen. (I don’t think why anyone would order something that’s labeled «Shin Ramen» off of a menu when they could easily make the instant ramen themselves, but there’s always room for debate.) Most others reviews seem to praise the kimchi fried rice and the kimbap, so I would definitely check those out if they piqué your interest. Certain items come with banchan (kimchi, pickled radish and potato salad), but these sides are unspectacular. I found the kimchi and radish overly pickled. The saving grace of Kitchen Story is the fact that it’s so affordably priced! Most dishes are approximately $ 5 – 10 with the rice bowls costing $ 12 – 19. Although you can certainly share your food, this isn’t necessarily a tapas /​small plate restaurant.
SPICY PORK KIMBAP
I’d probably order more kimbap the next time I come to Kitchen Story, as it was undoubtedly the standout of the things we ordered. If you’ve never had kimbap, it’s basically the Korean version of sushi. The spicy pork was moderately spicy thanks to the marinade as well as the jalapeño, but was mostly offset by the rice and lettuce. There’s definitely more pork than rice in each piece, but even then, I think I’d like a little bit more pork!
SHRIMP TEMPURA UDON
Overall, this was an okay dish. The skinny pieces of shrimp were nicely fried, but became pretty soggy after swimming in the broth. The fishcake and vegetables didn’t really add anything in terms of flavor, but were visually pleasing. The noodles were soft and tender — not over or undercooked. The primary issue with this dish was the overpowering saltiness of the broth, which tasted primarily like the granulated dashi (a fish-​based soup stock) I buy at the Japanese grocery store.
DUMPLINGS IN BEEF BROTH
If you don’t like garlic, then you probably shouldn’t order this dish, as the two main flavors of the broth are 1) garlic and 2) salt. That, however, wasn’t a problem for me! The dumplings were all right, but my friend commented on their lack of filling (not a lot of meat or vegetables). I wished I had ordered this instead of the udon…
Valet parking (evening) or self parking (daytime) is available in the lot in front of Kitchen Story. If the lot is full, you can find parking in the neighborhoods around the restaurant.
Overall, I liked dining at Kitchen Story, but definitely need to revisit and taste other things to better assess the food. Hopefully the other things won’t have a singular (in a bad way) taste!

This is Korean comfort food that emulates anything you can get in K-​Town but with the convenience of being right in the heart of Sawtelle.
Not every day is a ramen or sushi day and when you crave something else Kitchen Story is a good option located on the left corner of the plaza that includes Tatsu ramen.
They make a great effort to make it taste authentic and like Korean home cooking but I don’t know if its the ambiance of K-​Town or what but it just is a notch below places like Nak Won and the like.
We ordered a bunch of stuff and everything was decently portioned and tasted fine. The shin ramen dish is basically instant noodles you can make at home so I might not get that next time.
The Kimchi fried rice was a hit and our big group gobbled that right up despite it being a big portion.
The sides were pretty good though I wish they had more but they did have the almighty Jap Chae which they happily refilled.
The sushi roll and the fried chicken were also not bad. When I went they were still fairly new and just opened so I definitely believe they would be better now since they’ve hit their groove.
I think the best part is nothing is too expensive but yet you get the kind of Korean comfort food that you crave as a college kid coming out of the club late at night. Overall, A-​OK, you should give it a play.