Choeng Wun BBQ Buffet Restaurant — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Wow! I've never been a fan of buffets, but this is different. My friends and I decided to come here to try out their Lunch Special Buffet on a Friday around 11am. The place just opened up, so everything was nice and fresh. I've never been to an buffet-style Korean bbq spot, where you're able to grab your own side dishes, meats, and other tasty goodies like their Korean soy chicken wings (don't skip this). I actually like the idea! There were also some more traditional side dishes that I'd never seen at other restaurants. You don't have to wave down a server multiple times, then complain about the service later in a review. However, I would suggest not overdoing piling up your plates though, and always take whatever you think you'd be able to eat. We all hate wasting food, so we were very intentional about our portions. They have so many options from japchae to pickled daikon/carrots and more. There were also some more traditional side dishes that I'd never seen at other restaurants. The only time we had to ask anything from a server is the infamous "green onion salad" and the cold noodles. Both were very delicious. They had a few rice options - white, glutinous, or fried. The day we went they had perilla leaves in the buffet, which is not an every day thing. I decided to mainly eat with perilla leaves and some green lettuce leaves with my proteins and stayed away from rice. The owner came out to actually talk to us and teach us traditional ways of eating. One of the servers helped us cook our meats to make sure we didn't overcook anything. We all truly appreciated it. I love learning new things. They also had different soup options. My friends and I were drawn to the pumpkin soup, since it's not like anything we've ever had at a Korean bbq spot. It was actually really delicious! More on the milder sweeter side, could pass for a subtle dessert. On the other hand, we were offered the fermented rice dessert that is supposed to help with digestion. It was different. The texture of the rice was definitely unique. Choeng Wun is honestly such a historic hidden gem. It's definitely more on the old school ambiance vibe. Definitely gives the late 80s/early 90s vibe, but honestly, truly worth the experience! The parking was easy, since it's in a free shared plaza. The space is pretty big, so it can probably hold big parties as long as they're notified...

Warning ⚠️ Long Paragraph Ahead -

⚠️ NOT COVID FRIENDLY ⚠️- -Although they have signs promoting that we are supposed to wear masks, NONE of them wore masks.

• Restraunt -

The restraunt had water dripping in there.  The roof was leaking.  It was not raining hard these past few days and they had a bucket and newspaper placed on the ground where water dripped. It was in the walkway. The seats where we sat were horrible.  The ugly teal colored leather seat was duct taped over and worn down. Both female and male bathroom lock was broken.  My sister was in there and I heard her scream, because someone opened her door even when she locked it.

• Food -

Only the bulgogi was good, it had the right amount of sauce to it. The rice was good in the beginning, until we kept asking for more rice, the server started to give us crusty hard rice.  (The hard rice is most likely from the side of metal rice cooker.  That means they did not mix the rice well around.) Most of the food was FROZEN, literally FROZEN when they brought it to us.  Which showed us that they brought it out of the freezer.  I don't mind it, but I thought they were supposed to come fresh to us.

• Grill - The grill was a bad grill, our meat fell into it and the liquid from the bulgogi fell into the fire and it caused the fire to go up and down. Their max for the fire was low, you can't even put it high at all.  The meat grilled slowly, unless you burned the tray. The waitress did not change the tray at all, until she saw it burning a lot.

• Service -

Each time we needed more food or water, we had to wait for them to come over to us because we could not see them to ask for more. Since we sat around a booth with chairs on the other side, the lady interrupted our meal by putting her arm between our cooking.  She reached her hand between my legs, without notifying me, to turn off the flame. The waitress did not place the items on the table, we had to put it on the table. The waitress did not even know her own menu, we had to repeat the word over and over again so she would understand it, or we have to point at it.

One thing that was messed up was that, was that THEY WERE SITTING AT A BOOTH EATING THEMSELEVES.  They laughed loudly and ate freely with their workers while they had customers. And we were the only customers in the restraunt, and they barely...

We had the most incredible dining experience at Cheong Wun BBQ Buffet Restaurant! From the moment we stepped inside, we were welcomed with warm smiles and unparalleled hospitality. The cozy, vintage vibe of the place immediately made us feel at home.

The food selection was absolutely top-notch—every bite was a journey through authentic Korean flavors. The marinated beef, spicy chicken wings, and tender ribs were simply divine, and the banchan (side dishes) added an exquisite balance to the meal. The highlight? The attentive staff not only served us but also helped grill the meats to perfection, offering tips on how to enjoy the full burst of flavors with lettuce wraps, bean paste, and other condiments. The seaweed soup at the end was the perfect comforting finish!

Service here is beyond exceptional. The staff, especially the kind ajumma, treated us like family, making sure our table was never empty and that we had everything we needed. It’s clear they take pride in every aspect of the experience they provide.

Although the parking is a bit limited, it’s a minor trade-off for what you get. Cheong Wun BBQ is a hidden gem and a must-visit spot for anyone craving authentic Korean BBQ with outstanding service and unbeatable value. We will absolutely be back, and we can’t recommend this place...