A Taste of “Gogigui”

Discovering Delicious Korean BBQ in Woodland Hills

The delicacy of Korean barbecue – or “Gogigui,” which means “meat roast” in Korean – is steeped in a rich history of a Korean method of roasting beef, pork, chicken and other types of meat. Such dishes are often prepared at tableside on gas or charcoal grills that are built into the table itself, with some Korean restaurants providing portable stoves for diners to use at their tables. While the most popular form of Gogigui is usually made from thinly-sliced marinated beef sirloin or tenderloin, as well as marinated beef short ribs, Korean barbecue also includes many other types of marinated and unmarinated meat dishes, and can be divided into several categories.

Some foodie types predicted the Korean barbecue fad would die out in the early 2000s, but like the unmistakable smell of charcoal and soju on a shirt in the morning, it has stuck around and become an integral part of L.A.’s culinary – and cultural – fabric. Perhaps it’s Korean BBQ’s sustained popularity in the city, or the fact that L.A. is home to the single-largest Korean population in the U.S., but the City of Angels has become front and center for some of the finest Korean grill restaurants in the world. The following are some of the very best spots for Korean BBQ in Woodland Hills.

Grandma Kims Family Diner  is a family-owned restaurant in the San Fernando Valley that offers a casual yet refined backdrop in which to enjoy Korean specialties like the Seafood Tofu Hot Pot, Spicy Pork, super-tender Short Ribs and the customer-favorite Seafood Pancake. From great food to a friendly staff and everything in-between – including comfy booths – Grandma Kims is a West Valley staple amongst Korean BBQ lovers and connoisseurs, and has even been an L.A. Reader’s Choice winner for 2011 and 2012.

With more than 700 locations worldwide, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ  has been delivering happiness to its customers through a food and dining experience that must be experienced to be appreciated. The company’s Woodland Hills location, situated on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park, provides a social dining atmosphere that enables patrons to spend time with friends and family while remaining awe-struck looking at the grill installed at every table. Gyu-Kaku – meaning “horn of the bull” in Japanese – allows customers to share premium cooked meats over a flaming charcoal grill while sipping on Japanese Sake, Shochu and frosty cold beers, with some favorites encompassing Harami Skirt Steak in Miso Marinade, Certified Angus Kalbi Short Rib in Tare Soy Marinade and pork, lamb, duck, chicken and shrimp dishes.

Gen Korean BBQ House  is often called the best Korean BBQ restaurant in the Valley, mainly for the way this unique eatery attempts to transcend the norm by fusing different flavors from around the world. Representatives of Gen Korean BBQ strive to offer their guests an experience they will never forget, from boundless menu options consisting of freshly-prepared meats, seafood and vegetables, to refreshing and traditional Korean ban-chan (side dishes). The array of complex flavors exuded by the dishes at this Woodland Hills gem will truly awaken the palate to a new perception of “taste.”

Fresh Korean BBQ  has become renowned throughout the L.A. region for its tender and flavorful brisket and marinated beef, in addition to some of the juiciest pieces of chicken ever to tantalize human taste buds, as well as its all-you-can-eat BBQ option alongside an extensive house menu. The all-you-can-eat choice is offered in two groups – “A” and “B” – and consists of such Korean barbecue favorites as thin slices of beef brisket, marinated beef slices, marinated chicken, sliced pork belly, spicy pork, marinated beef short rib, prime sirloin steak, beef tongue slices, grilled small intestines of Chitterlings, grilled abomasum and ox stomach.

Pine Tree Korean BBQ Restaurant offers Angus beef brisket, spicy marinated pork, marinated BBQ chicken and Berkshire pork belly slices among a plethora of other Korean delights in the heart of the Northridge district. Here, traditional Korean cuisine with tabletop barbecue preparation is served in the form of Kal-Bi (marinated BBQ beef ribs), Bulgogi (marinated BBQ beef), Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap (vegetable medley over rice and fried egg in a stone bowl) and Min Oh Mae Un Tang (Chilean sea bass soup). Established in 1986, Pine Tree has been family owned and operated since its inception, and has won the hearts and minds of Woodland Hills Korean BBQ enthusiasts…many times over.

Korean BBQ in Woodland Hills doesn’t have to be difficult to track down – in fact, thanks to the crafty minds at Woodland Hills Magazine, finding a great restaurant that serves such treasures is as easy as choosing from this handy roundup we’ve put together.