Genwa Korean BBQ

Since opening its Mid-Wilshire flagship in 2008, Genwa has set the bar high for special-occasion Korean barbecue. The dizzying array of high-quality banchan—I’m talking around 20 different housemade sides, compared to the handful available at lesser joints—makes every diner feel like royalty, and the premium meat and seafood choice combos never disappoint on nights when money is no object. Additional outposts in Downtown and Beverly Hills offer the same experience, though the 90210 outpost is only open for dinner at the moment. While Genwa offers a few lunch specials in the $40 to $50 range, it’s best to come here for dinner and order one of the set courses, all of which come with one or more cooked items like japchae (stir-fried potato-based glass noodles), soondubu or bibimbap. Otherwise, a meal here can get pricey real fast, and you’re definitely paying a bit more for the ambience than you normally would.