Quarters Korean BBQ

Compared to Origin—the newer, merely so-so option across the way—this ultra-popular restaurant in Koreatown’s Chapman Plaza delivers a standout, beginner-friendly KBBQ experience that lets you try several kinds of meat at once, even as a party of two, without needing to go to an all-you-can-eat establishment. A meal here can get a little pricey, but Quarters is also run by the same hospitality group that’s behind Ahgassi Gopchang, so you can expect your beef brisket, short rib and rib eye are of equal quality. These days, the restaurant has added a Wagyu selection for those looking to ball out particularly hard, but I’d still steer you towards the standard meat options, paired with a side of cheese fondue, perhaps some kimchi fried rice or a seafood pancake. The signature oversized “ritas”—sweet, fruity cocktails featuring an upside-down beer—and drinking fare like Korean nachos and galbi tacos also make it easy to hang out for awhile on the front patio while waiting for your table, but it’s the high-quality meats and banchan that will keep you coming back.