JAE BU DO — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I had really high expectations for this place and had been looking forward to it for a while. I've gotten several recommendations for it for seafood, and saw YouTube videos of this restaurant so I was really excited to come.

We got here at 7 pm, right before the dinner rush, and didn't have reservations but were seated within 5 minutes. The service is definitely 5 stars, and every server who stopped by our table to help flip the shellfish and add more were super nice and helpful.

We got combo B, and the only sauce we got was ssamjang. Was kind of hoping there were more, and my boyfriend said afterwards that he saw other tables with bottles of sauces but we didn't have any and I guess didn't know to ask.

So, while the seafood was fresh, the freshness only goes so far before it gets kinda boring without other flavors (like something to dip it in) since there wasn't any salt either. So we were just eating unseasoned clams off a charcoal grill, which...I felt was overpriced for something that we could easily replicate at home with some fresh seafood. My boyfriend also said he bit into what felt like a rock or shell or something hard in one of the clams, so that also kind of turned off his appetite for more clams.

He enjoyed the small pot of spicy bay scallops and stuff, but I don't eat spicy so I didn't try it. The spicy octopus was cooked last, which I also didn't have any of but we brought the leftovers to his family and they say it was really good.

All in all, I think if I were in Koreatown again, I would just try other...

This place is amazing. It is small, crowded, hot, full of charcoal smoke, and there is a long wait, parking sucks. The service is slow (but extremely friendly and welcoming). None of those are positives but holy crap is the food good, and worth every star I can give it. Basically if you haven't been here, think of it as Korean BBQ but all seafood, mostly shellfish. Come here with a group and order one of the big combinations. The combos come with various shellfish, the selection of which tends to vary somewhat, but generally giant clams, cockles, mussels, abalone, etc. They also have freshwater eel which is by itself worth the hassle of coming to this place - it writhes around disturbingly on the grill but comes off with this fresh flavor and this amazing springy but crunchy texture. Definitely do not come here without ordering it. Also, it is no coincidence that everything on the menu is best accompanied by beer and/or soju, both of which flow copiously and inexpensively. If you come here with a large group, you'll leave stuffed, and probably half drunk, but you won't have spent much money and unless you suffer from some terrifying shellfish allergy, you'll be happy. And...if you do suffer from some terrifying shellfish allergy, you'll be dead - so it won't...

This isn’t the first time to have grilled clams in Ktown . My favorite place was Gaebul but they permanently closed. So me and my love decided to give it a try here.. some conflicts happened with Valet boy but it has nothing to do with restaurant. As usual, this place is not that clean environment like other Korean grill restaurants, however all the utensils and tables and chairs are very clean and knit. The clams were served and grilled by the boss man by himself. So devoted and detailed. I totally forgot about to take pictures to take care of my love for the first time trying this dish. Water sashimi was refreshing as an appetizer, all the clams were well done and very scrumptious with the savor and juice. The grilled white fish was so vivid textured and very deep flavored. Lastly the potato and sweet potato that grilled inside of the charcoal was a great hit as dessert…. Most of all the boss man was super kind and sweet… not sure we were gonna crave this type of dish again, if we do this would be the only place to come to eat grilled...