We’ve been to plenty of Korean restaurants in Korea town but we never been to one that’s more refine and upscale. There’re lots of really good homey comfort food in Korean cuisine but I’m not sure if fine dining exists (please correct me if I’m wrong). Upon research, seems like Yong Su San‘s prix fixe set menu comes to the closest to the general definition of “fine dining”.
Upon entering, the waitress took us to an individual room with only two tables. It’s nice to have our private room but the room was very very spare and undecorated. It wasn’t spare in the spacious zen way either. I do however like the traditional Korean music played in the background.
We got the Yong Table D’ Hote set which is $29.99 per person.
Kaesung style steamed tender pork belly and Soft creamy pumpkin pottage.
Both are excellent! I had the pork belly dish before at Kobawoo. I think Yong’s was a little bit better. The pork belly was tender. The pumpkin pottage was very good, it’s got great balance of savory and sweetness. I’d like to know the recipe for it!
Left: Black sesame tofu
Right: Clear mungbean jelly mixed with beef, mushroom and seaweeds and Mixed vegetable salad of bean sprouts, radish and apricot. I like mungbean noodle, light but flavorful.
Marinated Jelly fish with Asian pears, cucumber and thousand year old eggs
The pear and cucumber were nice touch.
Royal Kaesung style wrapped Kimchi – cabbage inside cabbage. There’re pieces of Asian pear and Squid inside too.
Fried Zucchini and potato pancake
Skewered Scallops and mushroom
Braised Short Rib – AMAZING! The meat was so tender and just fall off from the bone. The sauce was incredible too. Easily the star of the night. I wish there’s more of it!
King prawn a la Yongsusan – The weakest dish of the night, it’s very mushy and the flavor was so-so.
Banchan (side dishes): Lotus root (a bit too raw) and Turnip (good).
You get the choice of Cold noodle, Scorched rice or my choice: Soybean paste soup. It came with white rice too.
The dessert was Korean rice cake with strawberry and tomato as well as Persimmon punch made of fresh ginger, cinnamon and honey (not in picture).
Overall the meal was good but I was not blown away. I wish there’re just one or two more dishes like the Braised short rib. I think in general some dishes taste more refine than the other restaurants, but I can’t say the meal is “fine dining” per se.
Yong Su San
950 S Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 388-3042
The scallop and mushroom skewers look awesome. The dishes are all very tiny but I’d much rather have quality over quantity.
Korean fine-dining does exists, but sadly not in LA.
“Phil Kyung Jae” and “yeoldudaemoon” come to mind.
with Phil being more catered to western tastes.
“12daemoon.co.kr/bbs/zboard.php?id=food_gallery”
for pics of the “yeoldudaemoon”
oh and of course they are in Korea:P
Hey Mark!
Wow the Yeoldudaemoon pix looks amazing!
Ok gotta go to Korea one of these days, do you know how much these fine dining usually cost?
Hey Dave, don’t be fooled by the “tiny partion”, you’ll be full by the end of the course!
This always sounds/looks so cool but.. $30/pp takes me to Josie’s for prix fixe. Then there’s 50% off at DGM every night…
Now that you’ve found Korean fine dining, can you tell us where to get K-breakfast? Cuz I can’t find any.