Mu Dung San

I don’t know why I never had kbbq in Koreatown before, but I started going recently and it’s fantastic ! This place serves a salad with their sidedishes that has veggies and crab. and it’s super delicious ! I know it’s just a sidedish but it’s. soo… gooood…
I was surprised at the price because I thought it’d be more expensive. This place is huge and they gave us coke as service too! Staff is all super nice and fast with coming back and paying attention to us.
Mmmm. kbbq…

I hate this place.
Driving down Western couple days ago, I felt giddy looking up to see that the yellow sign has since changed into something else, meaning the restaurant either closed down, or has new owners. Whatever it was, THANK GOD.
As a bright-​eyed naïve college student years ago, I used to frequent this place, thinking it was the greatest thing on the planet. You’d think it’s the greatest thing, too, if you can get all you can eat for 15 bucks. What I didn’t realize was the abundance of better ayce kbbq nooks peppered all throughout Koreatown that I didn’t think twice to judge the food at Mu Dung San with a more critical palate.
Since graduating college, I’ve had a more steady access to a vehicle and with a group of equally epicurean friends in tow, and I was able to discover ayce eateries all throughout Ktown that blow Mu Dung San out of the water. These places a) don’t serve day-​old meats that have turned blue/​purple and b) don’t have the same annoyed, snotty service characteristic of the middle-​aged ajoommas running this joint.
The last time I ever visited this restaurant, ladies constantly were mad-​dogging anyone (including my table) that requested things beyond the regular routine setup, and acted like they were being sent to Siberia to retrieve such items. We spent 2 hours there, not because we were busy stuffing our faces for the entire length of that time, but because the servers pretended we weren’t there. Tipped them roughly 10% at the end of the meal because I do not believe in rewarding terrible attitudes.
And then. The thing that I heard so often only in stories actually happened to me at that moment. The woman actually CHASED after me and said, «That’s it??»
How do you even react to that?

I came with my cousin for dinner one night. The menu had options starting at $ 12.99/pp ($ 9.99/pp was only available for lunch), so we opted for that. It was a decent experience…
Two days later, I came here on a date for lunch expecting a quick and inexpensive meal. Well the menu had completely changed. We politely asked if we could get the other menu or if there was a $ 9.99/pp option– the same waitress I had 2 nights prior, who barely spoke English, told us that was the only menu available. So we ended up paying $ 16.99/pp during lunch for the same deal I got at dinner with my cousin just two nights earlier!
What the hell? I really would like to know what happened– or did we just get screwed over?

My parents took us out to lunch here and it was great. Since my parents are regulars, the staff was super friendly and even gave us free sodas while we ate.
The cold nengmyun was the … light grey kind? which was a change for me since I’m used to the dark nengmyun noodles from YuChun.
Anyway, the food was good. The banchan was… meh.

Most bang for your buck place in K-​Town! Many places offer $ 9.99, $ 12.99, etc menus, but none of them compare to Mu Dung San! I usually stick to the $ 12.99 menu, all of the meat here is delicious! Whoever told you it doesn’t matter where you go and all the meat is the same knows nothing about KBBQ, meat quality is not the same everywhere and this place has good meats! I’m usually not a big fan of pork belly, but the pork belly here is a must have! Happy Q’in, and I’ll catch you here sometime!

Bad service kills the experience. Food is okay, bordering on pretty good, BUT. come on. No, I’m not Korean, but I’m here to spend money and have a meal. I’m a customer. I’m the reason you are in business. Show some professionalism. Jeeze.
I don’t really care if Ron Artest goes here. I want good food and good service, fer cryin’ out loud.
Seriously, though. Food is decent. I knocked down a star due to service and hellacious parking.

RON ARTEST GOES HERE ALOT! I saw him one time I went there!
Anywho.
This place is a very typical korean barbeque place. The meat is a tad bit better than most Korean BBQ place but their salad is kind of dry. They have free refills on soft drinks! First KBBQ place with refills on soft drinks. The only bad thing is their service. They take forever! Other than that it isn’t too bad.

So far, Mu Dung San is my favorite KBBQ for dinner in KTown.
Ive gone on weekends and weeknights and there’s no wait, it’s the best value for all you can eat and the service is far superior to any other KBBQ place I’ve ever gone.
The restaurant parking is kind of hidden and the entrance looks sketchy, but the interior of the restaurant is slightly above the standard for kbbq places. Everyone gets a leather booth, which I really like and definitely enhanced the comfort level of my eating experience.
Right away the servers politely greeted us and were very enthusiastic to bring us all our utensils and side dishes. (the only con I can think of about the food is that there is no pancake). We ordered chicken, marinated beef, and brisket, all of which were delicious, but the marinated beef was especially good. Multiple plates of marinated beef from Mu Dung San = best value KBBQ.
What really sets this place apart from the many others I’ve been is the service. The first time the guy waiter brought us extra egg soups, brought our orders immediately, and refilled water and salad without us even asking. I think they have a service button just in case they don’t, but napkins and chopsticks and utensils are also accessible (right next to tables) which is really convenient. Little things like this really make a difference and truly complete the KBBQ experience.
If you want to eat lots of good meat and have a quality experience, Mu Dung San is the place to go for KBBQ.

A really good price for all you can eat, but service/​dishes really change day to day. I get different sides/​appetizers sometimes, but luckily they’re all really good and you always get kimchi and the steamed egg. They seem to pre-​set the tables with the side dishes and I’m kindaaaaa grossed out by the fact that it’s just sitting out there, but hey most of it is already pickled right?
They were really accommodating with plates & forks when I brought a birthday cake in. Pretty good service, but you might have to ask a few times or different people and sadly they ran out of rice paper one time (!!!). They change the grill often enough and there’s rice if you want. They were also cool with getting us a tiny (… not tiny enough) portion of intestines to try (uhhh not my thing).
PS: parking is $ 3 or you can try the street.

PRO: Great service, good quality meat.
CON: Don’t get the small intestine.
I came here with a friend a few weeks ago on a Saturday for lunch. Parking lot for this place was pretty empty, as well as the restaurant. Awesome. The ambiance of the place was nice. They had a couple of TVs in there with ESPN. This place is pretty big even though it doesn’t look like it from the outside.
The service here is great. They get everything to you quickly and very friendly. They ask if you want more instead of trying to rush you out. Big + for me for AYCE KBBQ places.
There are different options for the kind of mean you want. If you’re going in with a small group, get the cheapest or second to cheapest option. Since it was only 2, we got the 12.99 option. It had 6 selection of meat, which isn’t that bad for its price.
For you people who like intestine or stomach meat, don’t get the small intestine. It was’t that great. Didn’t try the large intestine because we were pretty full by then. Everything else was great though
I would definitely come here again. Though one of my friend tells me that I should try Road to Seoul.

** 3.5 star AYCE KOREAN BBQ **
Hooray to AYCE places! And a BIG BIG Hooray for giving its diner an option on which AYCE level they want.
The great thing about this place is that it has 3 different AYCE level. I came here for dinner. So the options are $ 12.99, $ 16.99 or $ 19.99 AYCE. Whichever one you choose… it’s going to be a lot of meat for the small price you are paying! :)
Obviously… you have more option when you order the more expensive level… but my group decided to go with the $ 16.99 because it already came with what we like: Kalbi, Brisket and Beef Tougue. Yeah… the $ 19.99 gives you an option of sharing a Sirloin Steak, but bleh… I wasn’t interested in Sirloin Steak. *shrugs*
Service is friendly (when you are able to get their attention) and they kept refilling our side dishes with no complaints, but I definitely had problems communicating with the waiters. I had my scary moment at the restaurant when the waitress dropped and splatterd a bowl of boiling steam egg on the floor.
They have a tiny parking lot available in the back. Valet Parking for $ 2. Or you can always try looking for a spot on the street if you want to save $ 2.

Lots of variety to food but the meat doesn’t seem like it is that good quality. The bathroom was fairly clean and they were generally attentive.
Overall, an okay place. I would rather go to a place with better quality meats than variety but this place is fine.
The other thing is I wish their salad has more of the onion, etc things than just plain lettuce.

3.5…
My g/​f and her man took us here to experience another K-​BBQ joint. Seriously, I think I want to move to LA just for the food!!!
Another joint for an all you can eat for less than $ 20! Sure service is slow, but hey, I’m there to eat…

When I think of how a Korean bbq restaurant should be, this place definitely comes into mind. There is plenty of space, and plenty of food. I came with a large group and there was always plenty of water and appetizers to go around. Rice paper galore. The selection of the meat for 16.99 is amazing, and the quality is great.
The bathroom is also clean. This may be a small point but if i’m going to eat buffet, then I need to know my needs can be met if they arise.
However I have to warn against the valet parking. It is only 2 dollars, but the damage they may do is more costly. My friend’s car had key-​less entry, but they jammed a hole right into the door. If you want to take the risk, it is ok as well since it saves time in a high-​traffic area. I drive an old car so it didn’t matter to me, and it came back fine.

This is my favorite Korean BBQ in LA. Looks like any other typical restaurant here but what a gem! Its side dishes (banchan) are nothing fancy but who goes there for that? Meat are marinated just right and juicy to bite on.
Mu Dung San, you have my vote!

I was recommended to this place by a worker at Kim’s Home Center because I was looking for some good korean barbeque places nearby!
It was kinda hard to find this place! Their parking was SO small, some people said it was $ 2 valet? I suppose it’s free now. Got seated right away for lunch time. They have 3 options: all you can eat $ 9.99, $ 12.99 & $ 16.99.
My parents & I only wanted ONE thing: bulgogi! $ 12.99 option it was! Mmm, the bulgogi was marinated to perfection. We also tried their beef brisket & their pork belly, nothing else that we liked. Both of those were average. I wanted to try their spicy pork but the waitress said they ran out of it. We had an OKAY service. It was kinda hard to get some attention, especially when we were dying of thirst. Their side dishes were nowhere near appetizing. the salad was overdressed also, yuck.
Sorry Mu Dung San, you’re only a one time kind of place.

I’d rate this spot 50%
Their ‘All You Can Eat’ for $ 17 is a reasonable value.
The quality of the meats here isn’t the best.
I’ve been visiting this place 4 – 5 times the past 2 years or so.
The stoves are gas powered, as opposed to Charcoal.
The main reason I come here is for their duck.
It’s a more difficult meat to find at Korean (or any other type) AYCE joints.
Their other meats are average at best.
Their duck is very enjoyable.
Maybe a third of the meat I order here is duck
Their pork is pretty good.
Their beef bulgogi tends to be a bit too overbearingly sweet.
I like their Kalbi, although couldn’t get the servers to get me the Kalbi with the bone.
The condiments are decent.
I like their steamed egg.
The other stuff is fairly average & unimaginative.
I don’t care for their Kim Chee, as it is a bit bland.
Don’t care for their limited selection in alcohol.
Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of Korean beer.
Service is somewhat average.
They have improved recently, but prior most of the servers could barely speak any English & it was difficult to communicate.
Last time I visited, they had more younger servers who were much more attentive & friendly.
It has certainly improved during recent visits.
I tried coming here for a late lunch/​early dinner by myself once for the AYCE BBQ and was told (or at least got the impression) it was only for parties of two or more.
Kind of a hassle considering I like to dine out by myself often.
I’ve had good luck with parking on the side streets, or even at the parking structure next door.
Valet is around $ 2. but I’ve always avoided it (I am cheap, I will admit).
The location is a bit of a pain given the traffic is notoriously heavy if you’re coming in from the 101, and 10.
I dread having to drive here.
This is really more of a value on the quantity of food.
For $ 17, it’s very reasonable.
The food is decent.
It’s just not great.
I’d rather pay more and go to Soot Bull Jeep, or Cheong Wun for their $ 24 AYCE K-​BBQ.
There are also a lot of other K-​BBQ that are priced at the same range.
I’d rather try some other places first before returning.

When it comes to AYCE Korean bbq joints, this place is a pretty good one. The range sits quite close to the grille, reducing that «Korean BBQ» smell we all know and love. The great thing is that they have the Kalbi (ribs), whereas some places don’t offer that.
Everyone loves to cook Korean bbq and then eat it… personally, I’m more the I’d-rather-eat type when I’m AT a restaurant, but it’s always good fun. You can eat the million sides while waiting. Hard to go wrong when cooking the meat… go longer rather than rare, but the meat cuts are very thin and cook quickly, o that’s not really a problem. If you’re a first timer, just follow everyone else around you, like I said, very simple. Just make sure when you order more plates of meat, that you finish it… I think they can charge you for leftover meat.
The restaurant is fairly large so they can seat big groups; actually, they’re set up to seat large groups.
As with most of these types of establishments that I frequent. Don’t expect the Ritz. Expect the type of the service where sometimes you score, and sometimes it sucks to be you. The only time you need your servers really is to bring you more food and to refill your drinks after the initial order. at times, they can get a little neglectful, you just gotta be assertive. Remember how busy they can get, trying to serve a full restaurant with plates of meat upon plates of meat.
Parking here is pretty much valet only. unless you find parking along the street somewhere… and in K-​town esp along Western… good luck with that; esp during dinner times.
Just about the same price as some other places I’ve gone to and enjoyed (some places are cheaper but don’t give that many options for meat), but I’d come again… if the other places were unavailable. Dinner is more expensive than lunch, but dinner is the most popular time to go.

First visit here last night, for my brother’s big Three-​Zero birthday (it’s downhill from here on, lol!!!). One of the best Korean BBQ places he goes to, and might I add, this place is great. AYCE for $ 16.99, great for groups, and a nice selection of meats to nuke as well as tasty sides/​add-​ons. Make a wrap with the rice paper (more like chowfun noodle squares), or ask for a bowl of steam rice. If you’re not chopstick friendly, bring your of plastic utensils, lol! That’s what the birthday boy did, hahaha!!! The marinade is kick ass, full of flavor and you’ll be asking for more meat as you realize all the tasty bits are all gone.
The atmostphere is great, as I mentioned, it’s great for groups… birthday groups, or just hanging out with friends and family. Be prepared to STINK of korean BBQ, lol! Maybe you should hold off your laundry until you come back from this place so you can toss in your Korean BBQ flavored shirt in the washer.
Parking — to avoid paying for valet service, look for nearby sidewalk parking, there’s plenty. But it’s LA, so travel in groups to stay safe, haha!
I look forward to coming back, I think I can have several plates of meat to myself, hah!!!

They get 4 stars for offering all you can eat duck in their choices! For about $ 17 you get pretty good quality meat. They give boneless Kalbi that’s not bad.
For a full review and pics go to
and again at
Yes, I have been back many times. The service isn’t always that good. It would really help if you spoke Korean because their English is minimal. They definitely won’t bring you more meat until you finish off the plates that are out already or you are almost done. This kind of annoys me, but I can understand.
One time we came towards closing time and we wanted to order faster so that we can eat faster and let them go home. They wouldn’t give us more until we were done. My sister was very upset about this. Other than the service, I think the food is pretty good and well-​worth the price.
They are usually very busy and packed, so you might have to wait. This is just an extra tidbit, but you can always find street parking or risk parking at the Galleria if you are not willing to pay for parking. It sort of upsets me that even in this area there is valet. Booo!
I like the bean paste they use, although it often changes in taste but always good. The meats are good and I like the extra choice of duck! Also that they have boneless Kalbi. Keep in mind that they are a little stingy in giving this meat. Just keep ordering without regards and you will be happy! ^_​^
Man, I want some Korean BBQ now! If only this place wasn’t so far away from where I live! SIGH!