Cho Mak/Joomak357

Second time here and the ambiance and service are as good as their food. Chevk this place out if ever you crave for korean foods. It is a must try place. There is lunch special on the menu. :)

First of all, the music their blare in this place, is exactly what it should be: KPop that was made for Koreans, not the modern stuff that was designed to brainwash people all over the world with an international flare! Plus, the food here is excellent! Just like the music choice, it's all ol'-skool! Can't ask for anything else!

I love the lunch menu here,very reasonable prices and the good food options! You can have very welcoming servers~ The Kimchi soup was little bit salty but it was not bad

Great lunch deal for under 15!! I can’t believe this deal exists in KTown LA. The portion is huge (especially the sides). Rice is very tender and smell good. Bulgogi is my favorite meat option. Very delicious!! Parking is available in a small lot. There was a person looking after the space so I got a spot despite being lunch time. The only thing I felt was off was the smell when I entered the restuarant. Maybe it’s the korean seasoning smell but it’s not a pleasant smell to me.

This was our first time here. It's a nice, cozy place. It has a nice atmosphere, looks like those restaurants you see in Korean dramas, and they play good music. We ordered a beef rib soup, kimchi soup and a plate with two fried fish that I can't remember what kind of fish they were, also fried dumplings and a bowl of rice for each of us. I gotta say that this is one of the best Korean restaurants we've tried. The beef rib soup was amazing, the best of all the dishes we tried I must say. The kimchi soup was also good and the fish were very tasty. The rice and dumplings were delicious as well. The sides? You can't have enough of them. We're very impressed with the flavors. The service is fast, the staff is very friendly and they recommend some dishes in case you've never been here, please listen to their recommendations. We're definitely coming back soon with friends and family.

Always my go to restaurant! They have so much variety of dishes and they’re all SO tasty. Very authentic Korean cuisine! I came and tried the kalbi jjim and did a lunchbox to go. It’s also so affordable!

The Service: Came during lunch time. Totally hands-on owners serving their customers. Always the best service! Attentive & efficient~ The Food: Thanks to the owner's recommendation. I tried a few of their signature dishes. Butter Squid - Love the table service! They cut the whole piece of squid into bite size then fire up with the torch for the smoky taste. Very tender & flavorful! Great texture too. Battered Fish Filet - really lightly battered, the fish is so fresh. No greasy at all! Love it~ Chicken Feet - saw this dish on K-drama all the time. Finally~ I got to try it myself! OMG! No wonder they call this "Korean Drinking Food". They are spicy & savory. It will go so well with beer or soju. Very authentic Korean food will absolutely come back & try out different dishes soon! The Parking: Private parking lot (valet $2). Street metered parking (1 hour).

I come to eat here when I visit L.A great flavors and I love the fish. I brought my eoma she 💙 it too! So glad I got to bring her.

Second time here and the ambiance and service are as good as their food. Chevk this place out if ever you crave for korean foods. It is a must try place. There is lunch special on the menu. :)

The Service: Came during lunch time. Totally hands-on owners serving their customers. Always the best service! Attentive & efficient~ The Food: Thanks to the owner's recommendation. I tried a few of their signature dishes. Butter Squid - Love the table service! They cut the whole piece of squid into bite size then fire up with the torch for the smoky taste. Very tender & flavorful! Great texture too. Battered Fish Filet - really lightly battered, the fish is so fresh. No greasy at all! Love it~ Chicken Feet - saw this dish on K-drama all the time. Finally~ I got to try it myself! OMG! No wonder they call this "Korean Drinking Food". They are spicy & savory. It will go so well with beer or soju. Very authentic Korean food will absolutely come back & try out different dishes soon! The Parking: Private parking lot (valet $2). Street metered parking (1 hour).

Cho Mak actually changed their name as Joo Mak 357. If you are looking for a chill authentic Korean bar food spot, then this is your spot. However, I did take my 5 & 7 year old along with me so a bar vibe that can be family friendly. Ordered: *Butter squid - its so cool see to the squid cook. definitely an instagrammable moment that needs to be captured. The squid is not super chewy and had a nice buttered flavor. *Fried chicken - super crispy skin and the chicken is nice and moist *Bulgogi - lightly seasoned super tasty over rice. *Army Stew - spicy and oh so delicious! the sausage was legit! *Chicken & Shrimp Skewers - flavored & charred. *Rice The staff were attentive, place was clean, and prices was really reasonable for the amount of food. I can definitely see myself coming back here as it really reminded me of the food I got in Korea or that you see in kdramas. They serve other soups that I totally want to try like the clam soup is on my list of must try next. I definitely give them 2 thumbs up and highly recommend! Tips: *restroom available *TVs *Shared parking lot with other businesses. *Valet parking or metered parking *Credit card accepted *Staff speaks English *Dimmed atmosphere *Serves alcohol *Indoor/outdoor seating

If you're in the mood for authentic Korean bar food, you definitely need to check this place out! Located in the corner of a plaza, this Korean restaurant serves a variety of comforting dishes! The parking is limited in the small parking lot and parking on the streets was tough to find. We ordered their popular dish which was the butter squid, and also got corn cheese, spicy seafood soup, chicken and shrimp skewers, shrimp tempura, and spicy chicken feet. The butter squid was delicious! It is brought out in a hot plate and they cut and torch it in front of you. The squid is so flavorful and rich with a nice char flavor. The corn cheese was sweet and so cheesy which I loved! They did not skimp on the corn or cheese and it was so comforting and delicious to eat. The chicken and shrimp skewers were so tender and had a charred flavor that I enjoyed. The spicy seafood soup had a good spice and came with crab, squid, and mussels! I loved how rich the soup was and it was definitely on the higher end of the spice level. The spicy chicken feet were also spicy but I loved the flavor! You eat it by eating around the bones of the feet and spitting it out. This was different from the Chinese chicken feet that I'm used to because it's a lot more flavorful and spicy! Overall, a great spot to hang out and enjoy Korean bar food in K town! They have so many food options that would pair great with drinks. Servers are also friendly but can be slow when it gets busy.

Ambiance felt like a movie. Went on a Wednesday night past 10pm, there were oldies from 90s and 2000s playing and people singing along. Definitely more of a spot for locals. Food was great.

One of the best authentic Korean food I've tried Love the warm and welcoming vibes here, and their dishes are so comforting and cooked to perfection Their food definitely pairs well with some drinks such as soju. Highly recommend checking this spot out if ever you're around Ktown! The ambiance here feels like you're transported to South Korea, I also like their wide selection of dishes to choose from in their menu. The have seafood, chicken, pork, beef and veggies! Really a fun spot for a night out with friends or loved ones! The dishes we got were: Spicy Chicken Stew Noodle Ddeok Bok Ki Croaker Fish Popcorn Chicken Green Onion Pancakes

Truely the best of authentic Korean comfort food restaurant I have been to in western hemisphere in the US. I am a restaurant owner myself, and I can tell they really pay attention to their food preparation. Therefore, the dishes they put out taste good. They have really big menu, so be ready ;) When most people think KBBQ is the thing nowadays, this is the real Korean food Side dishes were good, too. Owners were super friendly and very inviting. We will definitely be back next time in LA.

Great lunch deal for under 15!! I can't believe this deal exists in KTown LA. The portion is huge (especially the sides). Rice is very tender and smell good. Bulgogi is my favorite meat option. Very delicious!! Parking is available in a small lot. There was a person looking after the space so I got a spot despite being lunch time. The only thing I felt was off was the smell when I entered the restuarant. Maybe it's the korean seasoning smell but it's not a pleasant smell to me.

My goodness, I just had the most fantastic dining experience at Joo Mak! From the moment I walked in, the cozy atmosphere and friendly staff made me feel right at home. And let me tell you, the food was simply amazing! I couldn't get enough of those perfectly cooked skewers, the tender squid, and that stew was out of this world! But it wasn't just the food that made my night so special - the service was truly top-notch. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and were having a great time. I can't wait to go back and try even more of their delicious dishes, and maybe even sip on some soju with friends! Thanks, Joo Mak, for such a happy and memorable dining experience. You've definitely won me over as a customer for life! Until next time, cheers! Join me on instagram @hotbuthungryasianguy for more delicious finds! Until next time, cheers!

Oh man, where do I begin?! As soon as I walked in the staff greeted my friends and I. We felt right at home! The wait staff told us we could sit anywhere, so we decided to sit at one of their cool metal tables. I think we had the best seat in the house! The ambiance was amazing. I loved the Korean drinks on the wall and also the music! I didn't understand the music considering it was Korean, but the beat had me going. I couldn't get enough of the vibe. Now let's talk about the food! This was my first time here so I let the owner pick their best dishes. I am not a picky eater. I ordered the following: Fish Pancake Rice cake and sausage Bossam Butter Squid Shrimp & Chicken Skewers Corn Cheese Spicy Seafood Soup The food is super authentic and bursting with flavor. My favorite hands down was the Shrimp & Chicken Skewers, Corn Cheese, and Spicy Seafood Soup. I also really liked the fish pancake, rice cake and sausage, Bossam, and Butter squid. When they bring out the butter squid, they even torch it at your table! That was such a fun experience. My friends and I spent about 1.5 hours here just laughing and having a really great time. The owner is such a doll. She was super engaging and such a great host. I'll definitely be back!

10/10 service, food, ambiance! If you're looking for a place to eat a late dinner or a soju bar, this is the place to go. I went here with some friends on 2/24/23 and it was perfect food during the cold weather. The owners were really sweet and you felt their love through their food! We asked the owners what were there favorites and they didn't disappoint. The beef intestines (didn't capture a photo, wished I did though) were the best ones I've ever eaten. Fried and fatty to perfection. My second favorite dish was the butter squid which had the best charcoal grill taste and filled with the butter taste but it wasn't oily or heavy. All the dishes paired very well with soju of course so I highly recommend coming here if you want some Korean bar food with beer or soju.

If your looking for authentic Korean cuisine in a comfortable and casual environment with a wide range of dishes and friendly service, it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for some delicious Korean food. The prices are reasonable, and the portions are generous, which makes it a good value for the money. This is also a good place to have a drinks with your friends to catch up. Such a cute little place.

ATTENZIONE!!! HAPPY HOUR 5-8pm DAILY!! For soju, BOGO 1 cent!! Best deal in ktown. I suggest coming here to pregame the pregame. The grilled butter squid and grilled mackerel is a great combo with the soju. Our server literally put the grilled in grilled squid with her blow torch. Park in the lot or street.

Very kind service. Banchan is plentiful, and they're happy to replenish - and the white (clear) cabbage was a highlight. Military stew was just perfect, with a red broth that was given a smoky flavor from the sausage and spam. Only place where this restaurant fell down was in the kimchi stew, which has much better noodles than the military's ramen, but which had a bland, uninteresting broth.

My mom is a big fan of Chomak, and I finally went with her for an outdoor lunch a few weeks back. Chomak is a tiny homestyle Korean restaurant in one of the older strip malls on Western, but they've managed to close off a reasonably appealing little patio space. The only annoying thing is there are a lot of flies on a hot summer day, but I guess that's to be expected when you're eating in a corner of a city parking lot. We were about the only people there on a Tuesday at lunchtime, but I think Chomak has been doing a lot of takeout throughout the pandemic. They offer tons of very affordable lunch specials that they package in neat bento-type sets with plenty of banchan. I enjoyed dining in, though, and found the service to be fast and friendly. You can also apparently drink here, which I wouldn't have assumed based on the super casual atmosphere. There was a warning posted on the paper towel dispenser in the bathroom, about drinking increasing cancer risk and causing birth defects during pregnancy. Like maybe people would think twice about their decisions on the toilet, which, fair enough. Chomak specializes in fish dishes, so we shared a byeongeo jorim--a braised pomfret dish you don't see too often--and a chicken bulgogi lunch, just to have something else on the table. The byeongeo was definitely the centerpiece of the meal, a beautiful whole fish cooked in a flavorful, spicy sauce, served with a mountain of radish stems rendered soft and fragrant in the same braise. The chicken bulgogi was okay. There was a distinct sweetness to it that can only have come from like American barbecue sauce, but the chicken was tender and oddly addictive. We ate our fish and chicken with purple rice served in a metal tin with a little rolled omelet, as well as with soy bean soup and a slew of banchan--potato, spinach, bean sprouts, japchae, and a few different kimchis. I live really close to Chomak, so I'm glad to add it to my personal map of Koreatown. I'm sure I'll be back for more spicy fish in the near future.

Ordered the Beef Bulgogi Box - came with rice, lots of banchan. Overall decent meal, if you're in the need for a quick lunch.

Love this place. Great authentic Korean food and really good prices. I usually judge a Korean restaurant on their banchan and theirs is super fresh and clean tasting. I recommend the spicy beef rib, army stew (boodae jjigae), and pork with bean sprouts. Oh and extra few points on having a valet!

Food was delicious and came out quick! The staff was very nice and hospitable! I will definitely bring my friends here, again.

Food is amazing and truly authentic. The owner and chef is very friendly and really professional. I had lunch with a colleague and we weee both impressed by the portion and the quality of the food and service .

The food here is like the food your friend's mom would make when you go over, except your friend's mom is an extremely good cook and also serves you soju. The squid here is delicious. It's sweet and savory and cooked perfectly. The gimbap is a showstopper. It comes out fresh and warm, glistening in sesame oil. I could eat 10 of them everyday.

Came here for their lunch specials to go. Great deal. The food was really tasty with a good variety of side dishes.

My friend and I just walked in here for a drink, but ended up ordering an appetizer as well. Everything was well priced and came out very quickly. It has good open air while being relatively small, which gives the place a comforting feel to be in. We only got the onion pancake, but I'll be back again to order more food and enjoy it with a group of friends! The server was very nice as well despite us only being in a few minutes for a quick drink

I really like this spot. WHY? #1 It's super close to my house. #2 They have good banchan. #3 Their gopchang jungeol is bomb. #4 Their porkbelly with bean sprouts is SUPER GOOD... #5 Most of the food here goes well with alcohol :) The lady that works here is pretty nice too and she's always busy running around serving tables. (But sometimes you have to call them like 2-3 times because for some reason they never "hear" you lol) Also, if you don't want to eat inside, they have a small little patio area to enjoy your meal. They have good combo deals and lunch specials that you can choose from a meat/fish dish and a small stew. Yummy yummy~ If you like korean food, try this restaurant out!

Glad to see that they have an outdoor seating with the panels to separate the tables. Everyone was wearing masks when I went by. Picked up the take out. Talk about generous portions! They doshirak sets are no joke. Plus the seasoning was great on both side dishes and the main protein. Pictured is the Korean spicy squid set and the sticky pork sets both with the black forbidden rice and the hearty side dishes (ppan chan) that I love. Along with the usual fare, they had great marinated baby shrimp, the egg omelette roll, the pickled cucumber and cabbage (Bae Choo). The sausage slices were interesting as well. My fiancé and ended eating the whole thing. Will definitely be back!

This is a great place to pickup authentic Korean food to go. Great for picnics. We picked up some lunchboxes and brought it over to a friend's house. Food was good and the price is very reasonable. Portions are generous. They provide a variety of side dishes (banchan). I will definitely come here again.

The lunch box ($12 + tax) was so great! I ordered the beef bulgogi lunch box, and it took about 10 mins. The main beef was soft and good and the free korean soup was a little spicy but good too. The side menu(tofu, sausage, korean vegetable pancakes, cucumber kimchi and salad) was great! I ate them all. Especially the cucumber kimchi and the salals were awesome. Just try them! Great for your dinner!

Great Korean comfort food. The grilled flatfish was definitely the highlight and prepared perfectly. I've never had a bad meal here. I'm told that it's food like grandma made. Not my grandma, but certainly many other grandmas.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. This place has been here for a very long time and it is known for their grilled fish. No doubt they're one of the best around. However, aside from any of their grilled fish, everything else is subpar. Which is so unfortunate. But why this place merits just a one star is the obvious apparent lack of care and compassion for it's customers. First off, the one waitress that works here is not very pleasant. If you ask for something, she'll just say we don't have it and you'll see another table get what you asked for. She'll also give considerably better service to regulars. Lastly, my last time here, their side dishes were dry meaning it has been awhile since it was made, maybe even a few days ago.

Tucked away in the corner of a small strip mall in Koreatown on Western, Chomak is easy to miss, but when you are lucky enough to have found it, you'll never miss it again. With a very good list of very authentic Korean dishes on the menu, you are sure to find something that you like. My family loves their braised fish menu items, especially the braised mackerel. The spicy steamed beef is my personal favorite, though. The kick of the Korean spices complements the beef ribs so well. I also loooove their noodles, especially the soup with dough flakes. The parking can be a pain, but that's really true for all restaurants in K-town, so can you even complain? The food's good enough for me to forget about the parking nightmare.

After having a hankering for some Korean food, I was introduced to this quant restaurant and boy was it truly a surprise! I am fairly used to eating KBBQ with my girlfriend from time to time but this was definitely a fresh change of cuisine. As I walked in I was greeted by the owners who were super nice and helped with recommending some great options. Although I regret not taking a photo of it, our table ordered some delicious spicy beef ribs that were delectable and completely fell off the bone. We also ordered pork belly and bean sprout salad, some soup and the main event... the fish. The fish was moist and flaky, making it relatively easy to eat. The staff was amazing and got our orders out swiftly and made sure we were having a delicious meal the entire time! For anyone wanting to try something outside the realm of just KBBQ, I would highly suggest this restaurant!

I ordered Spicy Chicken Stew from this retaurant and found one of the pieces with feathers still attached. I lost my appetite immediately. When I brought the food back to the restaurant, the owner told me "if you have problems with chicken feathers, don't order chicken". Even though they refunded me, lack of apology and their attempt to put the blame on me was quite upsetting. I did not know that I should expect the full grown feathers when I order a chicken menu.

I like this place and foods are good. But I don't usually write down reviews even though I feel bad from service. The people who work here speak English not well especially Korean waitress women. I had a hard to time communicate the Korean waitress when she is there. She usually seems avoiding me because I am not Korean. She likes to serve only Korean people. That's why I order the food through online because of the communication. Today, I ordered the food through online. Then my app says " it's ready to pick my food". When I got there. Without looking at my phone, nothing we receive and go go go go and go away. I was trying to explain them then suddenly all people who work there came out yelling at me. So rude. No order no order go away. Trying to kick me out as possible without my explanations. How can they simply just said "oh sorry don't have order here yet or can you call the company to check and come back"? If you are not Korean don't go there.

Super delicious and generous portions! 1. Grilled Hairtail- Delicious! Crispy on the sides and plump/juicy in the middle. Tip! After you pull the sides with bones off, you can grab the crispy sides and eat the meat off the bigger bones. No fish was left behind. Pairs perfectly with rice. 2. Green Onion Pajeon- Thick and well cooked. Abundance of green onion and squid. Perfect for sharing! Take the little green onions from the dipping sauce, place on top and eat! 3. Grilled Doduk Root- I've always wanted to try this. Slightly charred, bursting with flavor and juicy/firm at the same time. Fresh off the charcoal grill taste. Great appetizer! Pairs well with beer or soju. The banchan is awesome and made with care. Their white kimchi is the perfect balance of crisp and ripe. I can eat a tub of their kimchi. Definitely planning to go back to try their other dishes.

My friend recommended this small restaurant on Western for our by monthly Restaurant Search Meeting. Yeah, we drive far for good food! There are so many small places to eat in Ktown's street mall. Chomak stuck in the corner on one of those street mail with impossible parking as one of reviewer wrote. We were the first customer that evening(yesterday!), so we got to sit on cozy room of the restaurant. Had fish stew, pork and a few sojus. The fish was super tasty. Pork was pretty good. Most of all banchans were excellent. Real gem in Ktown. Friendly service . I even liked old music they're playing.

Chomak is tucked away in a little inconspicuous corner of one of many LA K-Town plazas, but this is where all the best restaurants hide. They have one of the best pork stews I've ever had! Delicious, mouth-watering, and savory. Also excellent banchan (those small side dishes that could be a meal in themselves). Also, delicious mackerel and other fish dishes that I don't know bout but just happily devoured. Order to-go! Support your local businesses during this turbulent time.

This place was great! Got the spicy ribs with beer, really compliments the flavor! I would recommend this for anyone looking for truly authentic Korean food with great service with good company. I also got the fried pork which is a must!

Six empty tables yet service is so slow... wow They just took the order for the table next to us, and have yet to give us our side dishes. BUT their food is delicious so 3 stars it is. I would def come back - just not as hungry.

I ordered Lunch Boxes from Chomak and they were SO GOOD. The fact that the boxes are also only $12 is absolutely AMAZING! I've been to other Korean fusion restaurants around Koreatown who only give a little bit of food in their lunch boxes for $18+ (ridiculous). The lunch boxes come with a variety of banchan (side dishes) and a good amount of meat, depending which box you order. Overall they give a ton of food, but it was great since I had leftovers and saved the rest for dinner! They have a bunch of great specials right now along with the regular items they serve! I will definitely be ordering more soon!

The Sevice here is fantastic! The waitress (Connie?) is a sweet heart. I do feel kind of bad for her as both times here she was the solo server for the entire restaurant and was running around nonstop. Seems like mostly locals and repeat customers which is fine by me. We came here for the fish and this one of few places that actually charcoal grilled them instead of deep or pan fry. The hamuel pajeon here also top notch. We always get makkoli which washes down the fish and pancakes perfectly.

Really thoughtful service, great food! The staff made sure to cater to our diverse dietary needs, and were so kind about it! We all enjoyed our meals.

I have been eating here regularly for the past 3 years and I have never been disappointed in a meal. Everything here is so delicious and the owners/staff are always so polite and welcoming. They just opened their outdoor patio area!

We ordered beef ribs and sulungtang here. It was very delicious and reasonable price! And the staffs were very kind ill come again

Chomak is a hole in the wall type restaurant for really good traditional korean food. I was craving yookgaejang so we went here, but found out unfortunately they don't have that. However, they have a whole bunch of other good options and seems to be known for braised or fried fish dishes. So we got the kimchi braised mackerel which was very tasty but a bit on the salty side and a dduk mandoo guk (rice cake with dumpling soup). Be careful eating the mackerel as some parts still have the fish bones in it which sucks if it gets stuck in your teeth or throat. If you don't like spicy, the dduk mandoo gguk is a really good choice. The side dishes are very fresh and good as well. Located in a small plaza next to a Korean Chinese restaurant.

This is the epitome of the Korean type of neighborhood bar around the corner that serves of some good food. With COVID going on, I'm glad they were able to reopen with limited dining. They're known for their seafood dishes, but they make some good kimchi chigae and Jayook Bokum (kimchi and pork stir fry) that make it our go-to favorites. If you have a chance to order take out or go to the establishment, definitely recommend. The only knock is that parking can be a pain (small lot)

No frills, delicious Korean food served here The spicy ribs are a must get. They're so tender and flavorful. The pork belly pairs so well with spicy bean sprout salad. Kind of reminiscent of a papaya salad. The other dishes we ordered were delicious as well (seafood pancake, fried chicken). The service is friendly and attentive. You'll feel at home here! :)

I've eaten at numerous Korean restaurants and this is a stand out. Doesn't have the heavy MSG taste like other restaurants. Great place for dinner but also as a place to drink soju because they also serve anjoo which is meant to be eaten when drinking. And their anjoo is better than other drinking spots. And for non Koreans who want a more authentic taste then it's a must try.

Fish fish oh I love fish I have heard about them for a while but have not tried. Now i know why people say Chomak when I say korean style fish dish!! Food - impeccable. Parking - impossible to find parking!! I dont know why they are not doing anything about the parking. It is so annoying I almost just left. Service - typical Korean service. Nothing too good nor bad. They did make us say same thing twice because nothing was served unless i asked for it again.

saturday family lunch...looking for braised fish and search leading to chomak...finding a small korean comfort food restaurant...wooden, aged and tatty restaurant...specializing in korean fish dishes...mostly large portioned items for sharing...order of steamed egg for the kid...served egg in a stone pot with a slightly burnt taste...realizing bottom burnt...braised tile fish didn't taste too fresh and unimpressed...pork in kimchi $18.99 was definitely overpriced for basically just a large presentation of kimchi jjigeh with some pork pieces...disappointing meal...

Love this place! My sister took me here to try traditional Korean food. Their Bulgogi and Seafood Rice Stone Bowls are amazing! They are DEFINITELY a must try. Filled with a lot of flavor and are very filling. They give lots of delicious side dishes too! The owners and staff are also friendly and welcoming!

This is the place to come get delicious broiled fish asian style! Enough said, hands down, this place offers a variety, A VARIETY of fresh broiled and grilled fishes. You get a nice presentation of all of the side dishes they offer. This place is great for pescatarians; it even has great affordable prices.