When Akira Back, who has multiple restaurants in Asia and Las Vegas, opened a steakhouse in LA, the original idea was to do a sort of Korean fusion with a focus on grilled beef. Now it’s an unabashed high-end Korean barbecue, with banchan and requisite side dishes that give it a complete Koreatown-style experience, only more west. At the moment, there might not be a more impressive place for Korean barbecue, from the sleek ambience to the helpful service.

An originator of grilled duck barbecue in Los Angeles, this now-classic restaurant on the western edge of Koreatown still has some of the most delicious and remarkable Korean barbecue that doesn’t feature beef, pork, or chicken. Everything about the meal, from the banchan to the finishing fried rice on the tabletop grill, is engineered for maximum flavor.

This very intentional Korean barbecue spot from Seoul serves just American-certified Angus prime beef, and only ribeye steaks at that. Seared on specialized cast iron skillets, diners will try ribeyes sliced into three distinct cuts and served with kkakgudi and other banchan that are fermented in Korea and shipped to the U.S. Try the cold yeolmu guksu to wash it all down.

Taking over an expansive space in the heart of Koreatown, Jeong Yuk Jeom offers a sleek, modern experience that would appeal to business diners and those who want a bit more creativity on the plate. Ultimately Jeong Yuk Jeom hangs its hat on its dry-aged beef, a thing that hasn’t quite caught on across LA. Overall, from the banchan to the meat, expect a very solid meal here.

With plenty of seating across multiple dining rooms, Ssam isn’t going to beat others in the premium meat game. But, the place does offer lots of space, quick service, and overall very good pork and beef that will come in ample portions through its combination menus. A reliable entry where the price will meet the level of quality.

One of the older, more established premium Korean barbecue spots, this focused restaurant has fantastic lunch specials and versatile dinner combinations that won’t break the bank. The mostly Korean crowd considers this one of the most reliable restaurants in town.

All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue is a staple of the genre, but few execute the concept as well as Yerim, which offers very good sub-$40 menus with a wide array of high-quality meats like marinated short rib, beef tongue, and intestines. After a few drinks, tax, and tip, expect to pay $60 a person, which is a solid deal these days.

If places like Cote in New York City provided a format on how to do big-city KBBQ, then Mun certainly picked up the ball and carried it to Los Angeles. With a very good starter set of premium meat sliced into cubes and served on ventilated tabletop grills, Mun is a mid-to-higher ranged KBBQ with a dark, date-worthy dining room. Definitely more for adults and couples than for families.

When people ask what the best Korean barbecue is in Los Angeles, most people will mention Park’s BBQ first. It’s hard to argue against over 20 years of excellence, with an energetic vibe inside and fantastic meat quality from start to finish. Chef and owner Jenee Kim does an amazing job with the non-meat dishes as well, like the delicious spicy braised black cod or the gochujang jjigae. Park’s is truly one of the most consistent Korean barbecue meals in LA.

Classic Korean barbecue Soowon might get a little overshadowed by its neighbor Park’s BBQ down the street, but the longtime restaurant still excels with high-quality beef and attentive service.

One of Koreatown’s most reliable barbecue spots, Yangmani has an expansive outdoor tented area for quality beef, pork, and offal cuts that younger diners tend to prefer in the neighborhood. Yangmani might be the best place if you want to take down bottles of beer and soju, and just have a good time with friends or coworkers.