Exciting Launch: Hojokban Brings Viral Korean Dishes to Los Angeles in 2025

The vibrant culinary landscape of Los Angeles is about to welcome a new star: the popular South Korean restaurant Hojokban. Known for its playful and innovative takes on traditional Korean dishes, Hojokban has already made waves in New York City since its opening in 2023. Now, it is set to open its doors in Los Angeles’s Arts District in early 2025 at 734 East Third Street. This move marks a significant expansion for the Seoul-based GFFG Hospitality, which will be running the Los Angeles outpost.

Hojokban’s menu is a delightful blend of traditional Korean flavors and modern culinary techniques. The restaurant is best known for its TikTok-viral Shin Ramyun-topped fried rice, honey Korean fried chicken, and sliced garlic pork jowl. However, the signature offering that has captured the hearts of many is the juicy sous vide-cooked short rib flavored like grilled galbi, served with its bone and an arugula salad. This dish exemplifies Hojokban’s approach to creating polished versions of familiar Korean plates.

The Evolution of Korean Cuisine in Los Angeles

Hojokban’s arrival in Los Angeles comes at a time when modern Korean food is experiencing a transformation from a novelty into a bona fide segment of the local dining scene. Early practitioners of this genre include chefs like Roy Choi with Pot and Kwang Uh with the first installment of Baroo. Koreatown’s now-closed Hanchic, Kinn, and Tokki also played significant roles in introducing new-school takes on Korean dishes. Today, establishments like the finer dining Korean spot Yangban, the energetic Korean drinking food establishment Danbi, and the latest iteration of Baroo continue to serve elevated takes on Korean flavors.

In Victor Heights, chef Jihee Lee’s Perilla prepares seasonally-driven Korean snack fare like gimbap, further showcasing the diversity and innovation within Korean cuisine in Los Angeles. Traditional mom-and-pop restaurants serving classic banchan and prepared dishes still dominate the scene, but the addition of places like Hojokban highlights the evolving tastes and preferences of Angelenos.

Hojokban’s Unique Offerings and Ambiance

Hojokban’s menu is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to quality and creativity. Mainstays include a truffle-laden gamja jeon (potato pancake) presented like fancy nachos around a ramekin of truffle mayonnaise, buckwheat noodles tossed in perilla oil, tuna gimbap seasoned with tobiko fish roe, and well-diced yukhoe (beef tartare) flavored with sweet soy sauce and nori aioli, served with fried lotus root chips. These dishes not only offer a feast for the taste buds but also for the eyes, making them perfect for sharing on social media.

The building on East Third Street will also house another GFFG Hospitality concept called Knotted, a cream-filled doughnut shop with 16 locations in South Korea. The pink-and-yellow-themed shop, which served over 11 million doughnuts in 2022, presents its colorful fritters inside illuminated glass pastry cases. Knotted will open around the same time as Hojokban in 2025, adding another layer of excitement to the Arts District’s culinary scene.

Director of brand strategy, Amber Koh, will head operations for Hojokban and Knotted in Los Angeles. Koh explains that GFFG Hospitality spent years searching for the ideal location before settling in the Arts District, next to the Michelin-starred omakase restaurant 715 Sushi. The decision to avoid Koreatown was intentional to prevent unfair comparisons to the traditional mom-and-pop establishments that already serve superlative food.

Our Advice on the City

Los Angeles is a city that thrives on diversity and innovation, especially when it comes to its culinary scene. For occasional travelers, we recommend exploring the Arts District, where you can experience a blend of traditional and modern Korean cuisine at Hojokban. The district is also home to a variety of other dining options, art galleries, and cultural attractions, making it a perfect destination for a day of exploration.

For expert travelers, consider diving deeper into the lesser-known gems of Koreatown. While the area is famous for its Korean BBQ spots, there are numerous other eateries that offer unique and authentic Korean dishes. Places like Soban, known for its impressive banchan spread, and Sun Nong Dan, famous for its spicy galbijjim, provide a rich and immersive dining experience that goes beyond the typical BBQ fare.

In conclusion, the arrival of Hojokban in Los Angeles is a testament to the city’s dynamic and ever-evolving food scene. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s always something new and exciting to discover. So, next time you’re in the city, make sure to indulge in the diverse flavors and culinary experiences that Los Angeles has to offer.