dong il jang

Dong il Jang is a bit off the beaten path and, unlike many of the other K-Town BBQ's, is not AYCE (all you can eat). The restaurant is well ventilated, there's a pretty koi pond in the entry way and many worn in booths made to seat four comfortably, in addition to some private rooms behind shoji screens for small parties. If you're in search of an authentic family style Korean BBQ experience, without loud crowds, karaoke or leaving smelling like you came off the grill, this is a reliable spot.

All meals start with a clear broth served in a small metal bowl and end with a small glass of sweet grain drink. The banchan (kimchi and other small plates) are slightly less generous than other K-Q's I've been to, but here, it's all about the meat. Big, fat, family style platters of MEAT!

Their signature dish - Roast Gui, which comes with kimchee fried rice prepared tableside at the end of your meal - is well worth the price of admission at $21 for a generous plate. Another notable mention is the Spicy Marinated Pork. It's not too spicy, but the sweet-hot grilled flavor it develops on the fire is crack-like. Wasn't expecting to love this one, but it ended up being a favorite. The Marinated Shrimp ($28) was very good as was the Bul Gogi ($24), but I've had comparable flavor and quality elsewhere for less.


If you're in the mood to drink, ask for the lemon soju. It's also served family style, shaken with fresh lemon wedges, in a large, plastic jug with a flip top and shot glasses. The sweet tart drink is just enough to balance all of those grilled flavors and washes down nicely with a Hite beer (or two).

Service is pleasant and if you look less experienced (ahem, white) working over the table top gas grills, the ladies come around often enough to make sure you don't burn your dinner, or yourself.

If you feel like you're waddling out and can't quite climb back in your car, try the new Heyri Coffee House across the street. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a little coffee on the patio and digest.




3455 W 8th St
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 383-5757

rayfield's ribs

By a strange turn of events, I found myself in Santa Clarita (no, I wasn't buying, selling or manufacturing methamphetamine) and happened upon the most amazing BBQ I've had outside of the south - given that I was a NoLa wife in another life, I know a thing or two about the que.

I was driving around when I got a waft of some serious BBQ. I followed my nose and the plumes of smoke rising into the sky hoping I wouldn't find myself at someones meth lab, ahem, I mean, garage. It was a purely residential area so I imagined I'd be crashing someones backyard party, but lo and behold, nestled on this little street in the middle of bum fuck nowhere was a sweet, little church, and they were cooking up some mean BBQ.

This church put me in heaven alright (and I'm a Jew!). I ordered just about everything I could (the prices were so low, they were practically giving it away - chicken, pork ribs, beef ribs, hot links, and more). The pastor was doing the cooking in steel drums you rarely see this side of the Mississippi - or a cook off. His wife was running the till, and his kids were serving up platefuls of everything BBQ you could imagine, pulling sodas out of a cooler for the diners, and all the fixins - including dirty rice done just right, mouth watering greens and mac and cheese.

Turns out this was a Sunday tradition that had gained such popularity with the locals they'd started serving up a few weeknight dinners in the fellowship hall. The pastor is from Texas and his wife is from Louisiana, so you'll find specialties from both areas on the menu, (though the style of the BBQ itself leans toward Tex).

Since then, word of mouth has taken off like a Malibu wildfire and a couple of years ago they opened up an actual full service BBQ restaurant in a little Canyon Country strip mall. Naturally, the experience isn't quite the same, but the food and the service sure as hell is. They'll tell you they've been blessed to live their own American dream. Even still, this remains one of the city's best kept secrets.

You can't get me over the hill for anything, but if you want to trek to Santa Clarita for some REAL BBQ, I'll offer to drive :)

18436 W. Sierra Hwy, Ste B
Canyon Country, CA 91351

(661) 298-3663