5 to Try: Korean BBQ

170 N La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (map)

Not to be confused with its sister spot in K-town, this swanky joint is on La Cienega's chi-chi Restaurant Row. But don't be fooled by the "Nouveau Korean" cuisine, which still keeps prices around the mid-$20 range. Diehard foodies can still find hardcore grillers like tripe and sliced beef tongue. Who says you can't have street cred in the 90210?

4029 Lincoln Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (map)

Go West(side), young man (and woman): This Marina Del Rey mainstay is where you can get the thrill of the grill while sipping soju and sake. Full orders for chicken and seafood hover around $20, while the beef options range from $21 brisket to $40 Kobe ribeye.

9540 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 (map)

Culver City's super-sized two-in-one Korean barbecue and lounge is not just a cool setting--it's now one of the better deals in town. From Sunday through Thursday, you can order the $15 prix-fixe Korean BBQ special which includes 3 full-size banchan (side dishes, as if you didn't know), 3 ounces of prime meat, soup, salad and rice.

8256 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

Why whine when you can wine? Forget the hike to K-town and check out this pretty place where the smoke-free grills aren't the only draw: A candy-colored pachinko bar conjures up Vegas while the oversized anime statues add a touch of Comic-Con to the otherwise serene scene. As for the food, expect all the traditional Korean staples, only here they're expertly paired to the food: 30 labels of mostly boutique California wines.

1600 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (map)

Okay, so you've hit the clubs on Cahuenga and now you're ready for a meat market of a different kind. Enter this red-hued hangout, where you can dig into Shin's famous marinated ribs--priced at $25 for a full order; $15 for half--and other grill-ready grub till 2am. Go ahead ... drop it like it's hot.