Koreatown is packed with Korean BBQ spots, but one restaurant claims a title none of the others can touch. Mountain San BBQ, tucked inside Koreatown Plaza, says it’s the oldest Korean restaurant in the entire United States. From recipes that haven’t changed in decades to one of the only spots in L.A. serving dry-aged pork, this Koreatown staple is blending tradition with a new tasting menu as it sets its sights on a Michelin star.
The establishment originally opened in 1974 on 6th Street. Despite moving to its current location on Western Avenue, the foundation of the business remains intact. The first ten items on the menu are entirely unchanged, prepared and served exactly as they were five decades ago.
🥩 Half a century in Koreatown
when it first opened simply as “Mountain.” Back then, Koreatown was still taking shape as a neighborhood, and the restaurant quickly became a late-night staple, known for slow-simmered abalone porridge served to night-shift workers and neighborhood families alike. At one point, the original Mountain location even stayed open 24 hours a day.
Over the decades, the restaurant expanded, opening a sister spot called Mountain Noodles down the block. Eventually, the two concepts merged, and the restaurant relaunched under its current name, Mountain San BBQ, now serving both its classic noodle dishes and a full Korean BBQ menu under one roof.
Today, Mountain San BBQ is known for its USDA Prime beef and what it calls L.A.’s only dry-aged pork, alongside the housemade banchan and kimchi the restaurant has served for decades. The classic abalone porridge, the dish that built its reputation back in 1974, is still on the menu.
To align with its Michelin ambitions, Mountain San BBQ structured its offerings into two distinct tasting menus for diners seeking a guided experience. A $60 tasting menu is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, though it requires a prior reservation to secure a spot. For a more elevated selection, the kitchen prepares a separate gourmet tasting menu every other Thursday. In addition to the tasting menus, the restaurant maintains a daily late-night promotion. Beginning at 8 p.m. every night, diners receive a complimentary beer or a bottle of sojuwhich treats diners to a complimentary beer or soju to perfectly pair with their sizzling, open-fire feast.
📍 Location: 928 S Western Ave, Suite 351, Los Angeles, CA 90006
🕐 Hours: 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Sunday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–12 a.m. Friday and Saturday
