YICHA

Saw this place on Instagram and was super excited to try this Korean pub. The service was great and the cocktails were actually really good, so that was a plus right away. Food-wise, I will say I was a bit disappointed. We ordered the king mushroom chips — they reminded me of chicharrones, but I really wish they came with some kind of dipping sauce, maybe a gochujang mayo or something a little more interesting. The mandu lumpia wasn’t that great, and for the portion you get, it definitely didn’t feel worth the price. The bossam was also super small, especially if you’re planning on sharing, and the flavor was just okay. And the hangover soup (gamjatang)… it just didn’t have that deep flavor that a typical gamjatang usually has. The things we actually did like were the tofu kimchee and the Wagyu bone marrow corn cheese — those were solid and honestly the best things we had. Interior-wise, I definitely liked the vibe. The restaurant looked really cute and well-designed. Overall, it’s a fun spot for drinks and a couple standout dishes, but the food overall felt overpriced for what you get.

A perfect new addition to Highland Park! Yi Cha blew us away. The moment we sat down, we felt welcomed and taken care of. The food was outstanding — bold flavors, beautiful presentation, and everything tasted so fresh. The team here clearly loves what they do, and it shows in the hospitality. The mural by ZibeZi is absolutely stunning and gives the space such an amazing vibe. We’re already planning our next visit. Highly recommend!

Yi-Cha means “second round” in Korean, which couldn’t be more fitting, because you’ll definitely want one more drink here. The food is amazing across the board. The King Oyster Mushroom Chips are perfectly crispy and seasoned. The Mandu Lumpia is a must-try. Make sure to wrap it in the perilla leaves with the pickled onion for the full experience. The Korean Caviar Dip is rich and layered, and the Tofu Kimchee hits that perfect balance of crunchy pork, tangy kimchee, and soft tofu. Chef Deb’s Hangover Stew (Gamja Tang) is comfort in a bowl. Spicy, hearty, and perfect after a few cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, this bar takes them seriously. Every drink feels crafted with intention, down to the ice. My favorite was the Corn Quartet, a roasted corn whiskey cocktail served with popcorn, pure genius. The Golden Gam is bright and floral, and even a simple gin martini with a twist was one of the best I’ve had. The bartender even surprised me with an “omakase” white Negroni that was incredible. Yi-Cha feels like a mix of a cozy Korean pocha and a top-tier cocktail bar. I’ve been to bars on the World’s 50 Best list, and honestly, this spot could hang with them. Highly recommend for anyone who loves great food, great drinks, and great vibes.

Such a cool modern Korean gastropub that beautifully honors tradition and grandma’s recipes with a fresh twist. You can truly taste the love and heritage in every dish. 🍶🇰🇷 The vibe is perfect for watching sports at the bar, group meetups, or even a casual date night — great energy without being too loud. Every plate felt comforting yet elevated, like the kind of food you’d want to share with friends over good drinks and laughter. Cheers to Chef Debbie, who’s not only a talented chef but also a community builder. You can tell she pours her heart into every recipe and experience here. Definitely one of those places that makes you feel proud to support local. I’m definitely coming back for the bossam and ssamjang sauce 💙💙💙

Absolutely loved my dining experience here! Every bite was packed with rich, vibrant flavors—especially the crispy fried chicken and savory stew. The warm atmosphere and attentive service made the evening unforgettable. I can’t wait to come back and try more dishes!

New location, awesome atmosphere, great food. Definitely recommend giving this place a try, the flavors are not intense like some restaurants are so you'll get nice subtle flavors that won't tire your pallet. Great date night too! I personally recommend the pork with tofu and the bossam dishes.

This place is just incredible. You do not often come across a fresh take on a Korean pub, especially one tucked right on Figueroa in Highland Park. I ordered my all-time favorite Korean dish, bossam, and it absolutely delivered. It had its own twist compared to the traditional style I grew up on, but in the best way. I really appreciated seeing a restaurant reimagine such a classic. The pork was perfectly juicy with a bit of crisp, and the cocktail paired beautifully. The interior is just as impressive. It captures that cozy, late-night alley vibe of Seoul so well. It feels nostalgic, modern, and very cool all at once. I am already looking forward to coming back with friends and family for round two (Yi Cha)!

Its still very new, so they probably have a lot to tweak. we made a reservation around 630pm and went in around 6, and the hostess try to seat us far back next to a loud ventilator and we were like we will wait for a better seating... I think she needs a bit more training in terms of how to be flexible since there were so many open seats in the main area. Second is food. We got the korean nacho, bossam, corn cheese with none marrow and chicken wings. The nacho taste was questionable. I just dont really get what they were trying to do with it. The fried rice cakes were hard to chew and the kimchi dip tasted like the kimchi pajeon batter which wasn't too good. By the end of eating the rice cake was soggy. I think they really need to change the recipe or plating or just something to make it taste better cuz its not good. Bossam is OK. It was kind of a let down since I want that buttery, soft chewy bossam im used to. I think they fry it in the end?? Not sure but the meat wasn't like too tender. But overall, thats the best dish we got. Corn cheese with bone marrow- since corn has a rather distinctive flavor i could barely taste the bone marrow. Its pleasing to look at, but I think its better to have bone marrow with toast rather than corn cheese. My friend liked this dish the most. The korean chicken wing had a mix of buffalo sauce plus gochujang?? I could taste a bit of gochujang but mostly tasted like buffalo sauce. I think they better have it traditional korean style chicken wing sauce because buffalo sauce dominates the flavor and its just not 'fusion' enough. We also got the drinks. It was a let down. They taste ok and some too sweet and idk what they are trying to deliver. The descriptions were attractive but didn't really live up to the hype. Overall, they would need to work on a lot of things. I saw that couple tables got gamjatang and when I saw they put the instant ramen noodle im like.... why would you make it into a budaejjigae? I guess they are trying new things but I honestly think its better to stick to really basic things and do those well rather than trying new things without really delivering the flavor. If you are korean customers you would be disappointed.

Highland parks most recent freshest, high quality, and most fun Korean pub is here What's amazing and impressive to me is how Yi Cha perfectly captures an atmosphere of taste, intention, coolness and modernity all wrapped around elevated Korean pub food Tl;dr - cool music, trendy atmosphere, some of the best food you'll ever get at these price points, oh AND they're open till 2am ;) You'll have a lot of fun whenever you show up at Yi Cha - I guarantee it

This place is just incredible. You do not often come across a fresh take on a Korean pub, especially one tucked right on Figueroa in Highland Park. I ordered my all-time favorite Korean dish, bossam, and it absolutely delivered. It had its own twist compared to the traditional style I grew up on, but in the best way. I really appreciated seeing a restaurant reimagine such a classic. The pork was perfectly juicy with a bit of crisp, and the cocktail paired beautifully. The interior is just as impressive. It captures that cozy, late-night alley vibe of Seoul so well. It feels nostalgic, modern, and very cool all at once. I am already looking forward to coming back with friends and family for round two (Yi Cha)!

Tucked away in highland park is this little gem Yi-Cha provides great ambience, fun cocktails and good food Favorites were the mushroom chips, korean nachos, and bulgogi burger My friend got the jeju sunrise cocktail while I got the melona one Service was good too as the host and the bartender helped us immensely with how things worked try it out if you haven't already! Got to go back for the stew couldn't order it because we sat at the bar, so excited to come back and try it out next time

Drinks are 10/10 here and food is a fun take on Korean classics. I enjoyed almost everything. Vibe is amazing so bring a bunch of friends and enjoy. Yichas take on gamjatang is a splice between gamjatang and a budae jigae. Different but really good. Pair it with some drinks and you're golden :)

I rated this place two stars and yelp is asking what could improve. It is the prices based on the food you get. Kicking it off: $11 for king mushroom chips - it's a bowl of salted chips that looks like they came out of a bag from the grocery store. Taste was decent though I will say and was more tasty in comparison to other dishes. $15 for Mandy lumpia - 6 pieces of lumpia that for some reason had an interesting and odder taste than the lumpia we know. It wasn't horrible, but 6 pieces at $2.5 a piece not worth based on how it tasted. $21 for bone marrow corn cheese - a lot of cheese, a lot of corn, barely any marrow which is expected but truly the dish is cheese and corn lol. It's bone marrow I get it, but was still mid in taste. Sorry not sorry. $28 for pork bossam - Google what this dish should look like. We got fatty and scrappy pieces of pork when this should have been FULL thinly sliced pieces. I have happily paid double the price for this dish in ktown for real bossam $38 for hangover soup (gamjatang) - price wasn't the worst based on portion but it did not taste like real gamjatang that you can find in ktown. Barely tasted any of the meat. They add rice cake and ramen, which did not go together well. Service/ambiance/drinks - these 3 topics combined is what makes yicha a good place to visit and try out. The vibes, the music, and the service hit for us.

They say it's Korean family style, but the servings are kind of small. We only had one taste of each. Food is tasty and small place but it was good service and great peole.

Saw this place on Instagram and was super excited to try this Korean pub. The service was great and the cocktails were actually really good, so that was a plus right away. Food-wise, I will say I was a bit disappointed. We ordered the king mushroom chips -- they reminded me of chicharrones, but I really wish they came with some kind of dipping sauce, maybe a gochujang mayo or something a little more interesting. The mandu lumpia wasn't that great, and for the portion you get, it definitely didn't feel worth the price. The bossam was also super small, especially if you're planning on sharing, and the flavor was just okay. And the hangover soup (gamjatang)... it just didn't have that deep flavor that a typical gamjatang usually has. The things we actually did like were the tofu kimchee and the Wagyu bone marrow corn cheese -- those were solid and honestly the best things we had. Interior-wise, I definitely liked the vibe. The restaurant looked really cute and well-designed. Overall, it's a fun spot for drinks and a couple standout dishes, but the food overall felt overpriced for what you get.

New spot at highland park serving drinks and bar food. It's a relaxed and fun vibe inside. If it weren't our 3rd stop for the night, we would have probably tried more things! Mushroom chips were perfectly crisp and we loved the Melona Dreamsicle cocktail. We sat at the bar and service was very friendly.

Yi-Cha (이차) translates to "second round" in Korean, referring to the next stop after dinner when friends keep the night going with more drinks and food. It's a key part of Korea's social dining culture, where each round deepens the conversation and the buzz. The name fits perfectly, because this spot is exactly where you want to be for that second round. Yi-Cha is blend of Korean pocha comfort and world-class cocktail craftsmanship. It's the kind of place that respects tradition while pushing flavor and presentation forward. I've been to several bars on the World's 50 Best list, and this one wouldn't feel out of place among them. The King Oyster Mushroom Chips are a simple but strong start. Each chip is crisp with just the right amount of seasoning, letting the natural savoriness of the mushroom take the lead. They're the kind of snack you unconsciously reach for again and again. The Mandu Lumpia comes wrapped ssam-style with Halmuni pork and shrimp filling, served with a bright Yuja Cha chile sauce. The magic happens when you wrap it all in perilla leaf with a slice of pickled onion. That bite brings together richness, tang, and freshness in perfect balance. The Korean Caviar Dip shows how well the kitchen plays with contrasts. Garlic chive crème fraîche, dashi-marinated ikura, Seoul-style gravlax, and soy-pickled Fresno chilies come together on a bed of seaweed rice chips. It's briny, creamy, and deeply satisfying without feeling heavy. The Tofu Kimchee is another hit, pairing crispy pork belly and lightly fried tofu with a kimchee gastrique. The balance between the fat, crunch, and acidity is spot on, creating a dish that's both comforting and polished. Then there's Chef Deb's Hangover Stew (Gamja Tang), a hearty bowl of spicy pork and potato broth with ramyun, tteokbokki, and a torch-melted layer of cheese. It's exactly what you'd want after a few rounds of cocktails, bold, spicy, and comforting. Yi-Cha's bar program takes craft cocktails seriously. This isn't a place where drinks are an afterthought; every detail, even the ice, feels considered. The Corn Quartet stands out the most. Roasted corn whiskey, Nixta, toasted wild rice, bitters, and puffed corn come together for a savory, boozy, toasted flavor profile that hits all the right notes. They even serve it with a small handful of popcorn that enhances the roasted corn flavor, simply brilliant. The Golden Gam offers a brighter contrast. Persimmon-infused gin, Lillet Blanc, and gentian bitters create an autumnal, floral cocktail that's both refreshing and refined. Even the classics are treated with care. I asked for a gin martini with a twist, and it was one of the best I've had in a long time, crisp, balanced, and aromatic without masking the gin's character. The bartender later sent out an "omakase" white Negroni, a bespoke take that showed just how skilled and creative the bar team is.

Loved everything about Yi Cha! What an incredible dining experience. The Korean pub-inspired dishes were delicious, the cocktails were spot on, and the service was so friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is lively without being overwhelming, and the mural wall is a total showstopper. Yi Cha feels like the exact kind of restaurant you want in your neighborhood -- fun, flavorful, and memorable. Love Yi Cha !!!

Interesting menu, but mostly misses We were really looking forward to trying Yi-Cha, but overall the food just didn't land for us. We ordered a wide variety of items: lumpia, nachos, KFC buffalo wings, bossam, hangover soup, apple egg rolls, and pie. Unfortunately, most dishes were underwhelming. The nachos were creative but not something I'd recommend. There was way too much sauce, and the rice cakes ended up in this strange in-between texture where they were neither soft or crispy. The "KFC" buffalo wings were the biggest disappointment. Instead of the thick, crunchy Korean fried chicken style we expected, they were more like standard dive-bar wings. The hangover soup also missed the mark. It was overloaded with potatoes and felt unbalanced. Adding something like spam, sausage, or even an egg would go a long way in making it more appetizing. If you try the apple egg rolls, definitely ask them to leave out the chile peanut brittle. It was overly chewy and didn't pair well with the apple filling. The one bright spot was the service, which was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. In the end, we left disappointed with the food despite the great staff. Hoping the kitchen can refine some of these dishes because the concepts are interesting.

Yi Cha is a must-visit spot in Highland Park -- a stunning blend of modern Korean flavors and creative art. We ordered the Sashimi Chopped Salad, Mandu Lumpia, Wagyu Bone Marrow Corn Cheese, Joseon Style Bossam, and Chef Deb's Hangover Stew (Gamjatang) -- every dish was memorable. The sashimi salad was fresh and full of texture, the lumpia was crispy and savory, the bone marrow corn cheese was rich, creamy, and absolutely addictive, and the bossam was tender and flavorful. The gamjatang stew wrapped everything up perfectly with deep, spicy comfort. The experience was made even more special by the mural art by artist ZiBEZI-featured in the movie "Parasite", which covers the entire wall with colorful, playful, and emotional drawings that radiate warmth and joy. It captures the essence of Korean creativity in the heart of Los Angeles. Delicious food, kind service, and an inspiring atmosphere -- Yi Cha perfectly represents what modern Korean dining can be.

This was our first time dining at Yi-Cha and we will definitely be back! Everyone we interacted with was pleasant and helpful. The food was delicious and came out quick. We needed a wheelchair accessible table which has been a little iffy at other places in the past but was super accessible and ready for us when we arrived. We had the Ahn-Joo Platter (surprised by how much I liked the fish jerky!), the Mandu Lumpia, KTown Nachos (absolute fav), KFC Wings and the Bulgogi Burgers. I'm still having dreams of the KTown Nachos!

We were excited to try Yicha in the former Otoño space. The food was great. Unfortunately, the service was not. We sat at the bar and were never checked on. We had to ask for water, then drinks, then food. There was also confusion about what was vegetarian vs. vegan. We got different answers from multiple staff members, and it still wasn't clear after asking. Our bartender also appeared to have blood on his fingers while serving us. I understand they recently opened, but these issues should be addressed. The food and space are strong, the service needs work.

Love the drink selections, perfectly crispy wings, hearty gamjatang, crispy lumpia and friendly staff!

This is a great addition to the neighborhood. Our cocktails (the melona dreamsicle, the corn one, the yuzu one) were great and interesting. We had the ahn joo platter, the kfc wings, and the bossam with tofu. On the platter, everything was great but I especially loved the kbbq nuts which were sweet and a touch spicy. The kfc wings were tender and the sauce felt fresh and herby. The bossam platter was lovely, with really well cooked tofu, fried garlic, and perilla leaves. My only complaint is that as a pescatarian, there weren't a ton of options for me, but that's normal for Korean. I would love to see a corn cheese option without the marrow! Either way, we'll be back!

Cool place in a cool neighborhood! Like the vibe. This is the first time I tried a Korean gastropub, and I love it! Food is great and there are dishes that I have never tried before. And I love them!! The bone marrow is such a pleasant surprise. I also ordered the Korean caviar dip and KFC wings and they are both very delicious! A great place that my friend and I enjoyed much!

My fiancé and I stumbled in because we wanted to try the late night offerings at the new neighborhood spot. The kitchen was closed early last night but we decided to stay for a cocktail and we're glad we did. Our bartender Emma was lots of fun. She let us know the highlights to check out on the menu for next time and made us the tastiest dealer's choice martini. We will definitely be back to eat.