Yerim Korean BBQ - Los Angeles

We can't keep going to K-town for my dress fittings and skip the Korean BBQ, but there always is the catch-22 of wedding dress vs weight gain. Eat smart, don't eat less; so we wait until my final dress fitting, a mere 4 days before the wedding, when I am securely out of the window for putting on last-minute pounds.

It's a big yes to Yerim, a highly-rated random Yelp find. We sit down to the standard small plates, plenty of pickles to munch as we peruse the menu. The kimchee is still my favorite, but the cucumber is cool and crisp, the bean sprouts are refreshing and light, and I love the texture of the cold noodles.

The AYCE selection is extensive, and we go for the lowest level. At $20/person, it's a steal. There are several kinds of Pork Belly, and we make no mistakes going for the garlic. The belly is fatty and thinly-sliced, juicy and easy to chew. Beef Brisket sits on the other side of the sizzling grill, shrinking into tender, meaty mouthfuls.

Chicken Hearts are the ultimate meaty mouthful but not for the faint of heart. Each one is a bite-sized mass of thick muscle, and there's no preparing for the iron-blood aftertaste. The Beef Bulgolgi is marinated all the way through, soaked with sweet-sauce, hot and juicy right off the grill. 

I've never seen a Squid so large and in charge, as we watch the tentacles dance on the grill. The squid is meaty, more like a seafood steak but clean and smooth rather than veiny and dripping with blood. We give the Tripe a try as well. Love the sting of the spicy sauce, and the honeycomb tripe is a texture that is either freaky or fun, depending on what you like. I had fun.

The service is a bit surly, and you have to wave like a raver to get a waiter, but occasionally one will take pity on us and do a little cooking. Then again, if the service were more speedy, the restaurant wouldn't be authentic. Service aside, everything is decent quality, and the AYCE is a quite a deal. When in the neighborhood, I would rarely miss the opportunity to stuff myself at Yerim. Those opportunities are a bit rare thanks to the 405, but I'll find a way to wander back.