Seong Buk Dong

"Previously a tiny strip mall slot, this classic Koreatown restaurant has recently expanded to the next-door space, more than doubling the seat count. Seong Buk Dong serves up well-crafted, comforting Korean dishes with huge flavors. The braised short ribs are a crowd-pleaser, along with the stone pot bibimbap. The spicy-braised mackerel is a show stopper with layers of rich flavor that go perfectly spooned over multigrain rice. Basically, everything on the menu is good to great, as if a Korean grandmother herself lovingly made every dish." - Matthew Kang

"There are a few rice dishes on Seongbukdong’s menu, a pared down restaurant housed in the same strip mall as Sun Nong Dan, but our favorite is the nakji dolsot bibimbap. It’s a hot, spicy, red-hot version of the bibimbap, that’s served in a stone pot, creating a layer of crispy rice on the bottom. Little pieces of octopus have been cut up and seasoned with sesame oil, salt, and gochujang, and you’ll get hit with a wave of seaweed scents as soon as it hits the table. It’s a one-way trip to feeling like you’re eating a meal in a small sea town in the middle of Korea, even though you’re just on 6th Street and haven’t been to the beach in months." - brant cox, kat hong

"Seong Buk Dong is a Koreatown legend for good reason. The strip mall restaurant is sometimes overshadowed by the constantly busy Dan Sung Sa, but those in the know push on past the pocha to share orders of some of the neighborhood’s best galbi-jjim (marinated short ribs), godeungeo jorim (braised mackerel), and bibimbap. Those looking for a bowl of something warm and comforting can find it in the kimchi jjigae (stew) and tteok guk (rice cake soup). When the restaurant first opened, Seong Buk Dong was just one small room with a kitchen in the back, but it has since expanded into a space next door, which doubles the dining area and makes it even easier to sidle up to a table at any time of the day. With generous portions, eating at Seong Buk Dong is best done with a group where multiple dishes can be ordered and shared. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor" - Eater Staff

"Located in the same strip mall as Sun Nong Dan, Seongbukdong is a quiet corner spot that’s also known for galbi jjim. But if the braised short rib stew is a heavy metal ballad at Sun Nong Dan, the balanced, complex version here is a smooth jazz tune (we say that as big Kenny G fans). They also make a spectacular version of nakji dolsot bibimbap, which arrives in a sizzling stone spot with little snippets of octopus, lots of sesame and gochujang, and a layer of crispy rice on the bottom (the smell and sound hit you as soon as it emerges from the kitchen)." - sylvio martins, brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder

"Seung Buk Dong is known for its tender beef bulgogi, which has edges of maillard crisp and is served with wilted onions from the cast iron pan’s heat. The bulgogi is a favorite dish for family dinners." - Eater Staff