Midtown Lunch

Let me be the first to say thank you to Gyu Kaku for your years of service.  While your food has never been worth going out of the way for, your branch on La Cienega provided a fun option in Beverly Hills to people who like grilling their own meats and grilling their own smores.  Thank you, that is, but your services are no longer needed.  Here’s your engraved watch, enjoy your retirement.  Because now that Genwa has opened up their second location across the street, there is really no reason for anybody to ever go to Gyu Kaku again- unless you really are some kind of smores obsessed maniac.

Seeing as how Genwa’s first location is located on Miracle Mile, just outside Koreatown, and its decor and menu is decidedly inviting to white people,  it’s no surprise to see them expand into Beverly Hills.  But their quality meats and unreal variety of banchan make it a genuinely great option for Korean food lovers of all levels.  In other words, Beverly Hills is really lucky to have this place.

I never really bothered with the original Genwa at lunchtime because their lunch specials are a bit pricey (in the $13-20 range) and you don’t get to cook them yourself.  They come out pre-cooked from the kitchen.  And even though Genwa might be convenient for people who work west of La Brea, I always found myself traveling the extra 5 minutes east into K-Town for a cheaper BBQ fix.  But La Cienega is a long way from Western, and the new Genwa is now easily the best Korean food available anywhere west of Koreatown.  (Did I mention how lucky you are to have this place, Beverly Hills?)

The new location is more spacious than the dark and cave-like original, with windows lining the dining room, but the lunch menu is pretty much the same as the original location.

There are assorted meats available, with galbi being one of the more expensive options at $16.  Want to go a little bit cheaper, the bulgogi and spicy pork will run you $14.

The best value is probably the dolsot bibimbap, and it’s super delicious.  Pair that with one meat, and share with a friend for a more than filling meal.

But the real reason you’re there is the banchan, which is as good and plentiful as the spread you get at the original… if not better!  In fact there were a few little surprises that I’ve never seen at the location on Wilshire.

Like these tiny little crabs, which you eat whole.  So good!  (And they happily refilled our bowl a second time.)

There was also a little pumpkin soup to start.

Some sweet Korean rice drink for dessert.

And an egg custard, and other assorted goodies served with the meal.

Did I mention how lucky Beverly Hills is to have this place?

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Easily the best Korean food this far west of Koreatown!
• Love banchan, and these guys have the widest assortment I’ve seen.  So good!
• It’s no more expensive than any of the other places on this stretch of La Cienega
• Mini crabs FTW!

Genwa, 170 N La Cienega Blvd. 310-854-0046