Pigya sits in the very spot that used to be my favorite restaurant, “Kkul-dwaeji” (Honey Pig).
It struggled through the pandemic and closed a long time ago, and I quietly missed it.
So when the same kind of pork-belly house reopened right there — same heart, just a cleaner interior — my hopes were up.
The line is always long, though, so I picked a day, made a reservation, and finally went.
The short version: it didn’t let me down.
They grill the pork belly with kimchi and bean sprouts right on a big cast-iron lid, and the round, tavern-style tables are just as I remembered — the mood and the flavor I’d been missing.
So today, for anyone going for the first time, let me help you order with no regrets.
At a glance
- 🍽️ Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
- 🪑 Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- 💵 Price: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- 🤝 Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
- In one line: Great for nights you’d rather not grill yourself, or want a sure, delicious meal. A little much for a quick, casual bite.
A pork-devoted grill house where they cook for you
Samgyeopsal with bean sprouts and kimchi on the cast-iron lid at Pigya
Pigya is a pork-focused Korean BBQ on 8th Street in LA’s Koreatown.
True to the name, pig is the star — pork belly, jowl, collar, and chadol, plus wagyu beef.
What I love most: even though it isn’t some upscale BBQ place, a server grills all the meat for you. With the cozy round, tavern-style tables and the big cast-iron lid giving everything plenty of room to cook, you get to eat slowly and at ease — and the flavor delivers, too.
The combos are nice — but if you want only the best
Pigya offers combo sets, and they come with ramen or kimchi fried rice at the end — generous, and a fun all-in-one way to eat. If you’re with a group and want to sample a bit of everything across different cuts, a combo is the way to go.
But my real recommendation is a little different.
Rather than sampling a bit of everything, on a day you want only the truly delicious things, order the pork belly and the grilled shrimp à la carte. To me, those two are simply the best things on the menu.
The pork belly is seriously thick, yet never heavy — it gets nuttier the more you chew.
The shrimp is grilled in the shell until it’s plump and sweet — and the staff even peel it for you, so it’s easy to eat. For two people, a single order of pork belly is filling on its own; but come with three, and it’s worth adding the grilled shrimp. The pairing of pork belly and shrimp is something a little different, and quietly special. (The owner told me he sources the biggest shrimp in LA.)
Thick-cut pork belly searing on the round grill at Pigya, Koreatown LA
Once the meat is done, you can order kimchi fried rice or ramen to close things out. I’ve noticed younger folks here love piling shredded cheese on top of the kimchi fried rice, almost like a pizza.
They press the rice flat on the seasoned grill until the bottom crisps up like nurungji — that crackly layer is the treat. And the “hangover ramen” lives up to its name: spicy and soothing, with bean sprouts tucked in. Somehow the kitchen times it perfectly — it never goes soggy, arriving right when you want it, noodles still springy. The work of a proper Korean ramen house.
Samgyeopsal with bean sprouts and kimchi on the cast-iron lid at Pigya
There’s one thing I look forward to most.
It’s the yeolmu mul-guksu — cold young-radish noodle soup — for dessert.
Until I tried it, I always chose ramen to finish; now it’s the cold noodles, every time. Maybe because it’s harder to make at home than ramen. The broth is tangy-sweet, the noodles wonderfully chewy, and after all that rich pork, one bowl resets your whole mouth. So good. Even die-hard meat lovers — I’d say finish with this cool bowl.
🎥 피그야 방문 영상으로 보기 | Watch the Visit
글로 다 담지 못한 피그야의 분위기와 음식을 영상으로 직접 확인해보세요. The atmosphere and food at Pigya — in real life, in motion.
What I loved, and what gave me pause
Meat, banchan, and cold drink-an easy evening to share
What I loved: being spared the grilling work, and how clear and distinct the pork and shrimp taste when ordered à la carte. The banchan is kept well stocked, too.
What gave me pause: it’s popular, so evenings get crowded. The space is wide open, so it can get loud. Without a reservation, weekends barely even keep a waitlist — so you’ll wait. One night I couldn’t book and ended up waiting two hours; walking by, there’s almost always a line out front. It’s eased a little lately, but on weekends a reservation is a must. As a premium pork house it isn’t exactly cheap, but with today’s prices I thought it was fair. It suits a meal you set out to enjoy more than a quick stop.
A few things worth knowing before you go
- Reserve ahead. Evenings and weekends fill up; book through Yelp or Google.
- Use the valet — it’s the easy choice for parking.
- Value tip: For a small group, skip the combo and order pork belly and shrimp à la carte, then add fried rice or noodles at the end. A fuller, smarter spread.
- No grilling pressure. Even if you’re unsure at the grill, the staff handle it.
📍 Location & details
- Address: 3400 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005 (Koreatown)
- Phone: (213) 322-2588
- Hours: Mon–Thu 5:00pm–11:00pm / Fri 5:00pm–12:00am / Sat 12:00pm–12:00am / Sun 12:00pm–11:00pm (please confirm before visiting)
- Price: Combo sets $68–$98 (Pigya all-pork $68/$88, Pork Gyu $78/$98); à la carte available
- Parking: Valet · Reservations: Recommended
Thick pork belly on a cast-iron lid, a round stainless tavern table… a culture you could once only enjoy in Korea, now here in LA’s Koreatown — to share with American friends, too.
The older I get, the more I hate wasting time; my palate keeps chasing the old flavors I miss while quietly turning pickier; and the friends I see keep growing fewer.
Still — if today you can think of even one friend you haven’t seen in ages but would be glad to catch for a moment, or if you feel like clinking a glass with the husband you see every day, like a little date, come by once.
Tell me your own “this is how it tastes best” combo in the comments. I’ll be back with another Koreatown favorite soon.