Baek am Korean Restaurant (백암순대)

14952 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249, United States
+1 213-670-5480
$$$ Korean restaurant
(31 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Baek am Korean Restaurant (백암순대) offers a straightforward, home-style Korean dining experience tucked a bit off the usual Gardena dining corridors. Located on Crenshaw Blvd, this spot feels like a slice of Korea’s traditional food culture landing in a working-class neighborhood that’s quietly building its own Korean food scene outside of the familiar Western Ave stretch.

The atmosphere here is cozy and informal, with staff who are consistently noted for their friendly, attentive service. It’s one of those places where the servers come around regularly, making menu suggestions based on what’s fresh and checking in to ensure the pace of the meal suits your group—making it comfortable whether you’re grabbing a solo lunch or sitting down with friends for a casual dinner.

The menu centers on dishes that balance flavor with a sense of healthfulness, which seems to resonate with the local crowd. Signature items like the seafood pancake (해물파전) arrive crispy enough to satisfy those looking for texture, while the steamed brisket or smoked duck stand out as options that showcase care in preparation without feeling overly heavy. The lunch combo pairing of chicken bulgogi with cold noodles seems like a reliable choice for midday visits, offering enough variety for a filling yet approachable meal.

People who appreciate authentic, homemade Korean flavors will find Baek am particularly rewarding. It’s favored by diners who know Korean cuisine beyond the usual barbecue and kimchi fried rice — especially those interested in traditional recipes and quality sourcing. For instance, you’ll find that ingredients like pork come from local farms, emphasizing freshness and an ethos close to home cooking.

Gardena’s Korean dining scene has been evolving, and Baek am reflects a quieter but deeply rooted part of that change. There’s a sense here that the restaurant caters to neighborhood diners as much as visitors, offering a no-frills environment where food is the main focus without the trimmings of trendier Koreatown spots.

The best time to visit seems to be lunch or early dinner, when the place has a steady flow but isn’t overwhelmingly packed. This allows for quick, friendly service and the chance to savor dishes brought out fresh. Those curious about Korean food beyond the usual mainstream fare will find Baek am’s menu and atmosphere a welcoming entry point into a more authentic, less tourist-trodden side of Gardena’s Korean food map.

Best for
Lunch
Parking
Free parking lot
Parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Thursday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

31 Reviews
Alison Kim

25 Dec 2025

I got the steamed brisket and it was actually so good. You can drench it into the sauce and it’s not salty. The side dishes are all so tasty as well. I got the seafood pancake too and it was really crispy. The food is tasty, but also healthy which I loved.

Manis Lu

03 Dec 2025

I’m wondering—has Gardena become a new kind of Koreatown? Why are there so many authentic Korean spots here? A Korean oppa took me to try this hidden traditional dish—Steamed Smoked Duck—and it instantly secured a spot in my “200-Year Hall of Fame” for food! When he first said we were going for authentic Korean food but gave me an address in Gardena, I was skeptical. But the moment I saw the menu, I knew it was going to be special. At other tables, all the ahjussis had ordered a big wooden box with steamed meat inside—it turns out this is the restaurant’s signature: Korean-style cedar wood steamed dishes. We got the Baekmok Steamed Smoked Duck, blood sausage, and seafood pancake. I don’t even know how to praise this duck enough—it looks clean and healthy, but the smoky flavor is deep and addictive. It’s served in a whole wooden box, steamed right at the table for a minute before eating, and the steam makes the duck incredibly tender. I’ve had my fair share of Korean blood sausage in LA, but this time I truly got why people love it—the blend of pig’s blood and glutinous rice creates such rich, layered flavors. Even the seafood pancake, which you can find everywhere, blew me away—packed with fillings and super crispy! This place feels like dining at an old-school, family-run restaurant in a small Korean city—everything tastes homemade and from the heart. If you’re tired of the same-old army stew and Korean BBQ, you need to try their wooden box steamed meats and blood sausage. Honestly, the only “downside” is it’s a bit far—almost in Torrance—but otherwise, it’s 0 flaws.

Daniel Zormagen

23 Nov 2025

I absolutely loved this Korean restaurant! The food was authentic, flavorful, and super fresh every dish tasted homemade with real care. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the service was quick even during busy hours. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a casual meal or dinner with friends. I especially recommend trying the house made soondae and smoked duck, it was incredible! Definitely one of my new favorite spots for Korean food.

Ar Kai

15 Nov 2025

Love seeing more new Korean restaurants popping up in Gardena! Baek am is a nice addition, though it’s a bit off the main strip compared to the other well known spots on Western Ave, and it’s located in a not so good part of Gardena. The staff here are incredibly friendly, and the service is top notch. They made great menu suggestions and checked in with us several times during the meal to make sure everything was okay. The food was very flavorful, and I have to say they serve one of the best Korean seafood pancakes I’ve had in the area. Prices are on the higher side, but the portion sizes are generous and worth it for the quality you get. -1 star because of two things: 1.The selection of Korean side dishes (banchan) is limited and just average in taste. 2.They charge $1 for each to-go box, even if it’s just for leftovers from your dine-in meal. I was caught off guard by this, and while they did point out the policy is written in small print at the bottom of the menu, I thought it only applied to takeout orders. Quick tips: Baek Am is located right next to Superior Grocers and has its own parking lot. They do have lunch combo special from 11am to 2pm Mon to Friday. Bring your own containers if you think you’ll have leftovers — otherwise, it’s $1 per takeout box!

Joseph C

11 Nov 2025

My Korean friend from LA recommended this place and he said this place is being slept on. I've been to almost all the Korean restaurants in LA and I agree - this is THE spot for Korean food in LA. Very friendly owner and staff. Real homecook Korean food made with a lot of love and care. They source their pork from well known local farm they personally work with. The freshness in the ingredients is next level. From the banchan to the pork bulgogi to their special steamed bossam, the quality and flavors are next levels. Plenty of parking, not having to deal with the crowd and traffic in ktown. Whenever I'm back in LA, this is one place I'll always return.

Crystal Zhou

29 Sep 2025

Loved this spot!!! Cozy vibe, clean kitchen, staff were super nice. Food came out fast, plating was pretty, and the flavor was actually balanced — not greasy, not too salty. You can tell they care about ingredients. Definitely a place I’d come back to.

Christopher T

19 Sep 2025

They recently opened within 6 month in a new plaza that just only them there. Parking is plenty and big. Just abit odd on turning onto the plaza, small, sharp & narrow..we missed it and did a U-turn. It's clean and basic decor, but bright. The menu is straight forward and good plenty choices but we're for the Hinoki. We got the BaekAm Hinoki Steamed Pork Bossam for $60 (wooden steam box of sliced meats over shredded green onions) and cold beef spicy noodle. It's a big portion and very tasty when you mixed all the ingredients together. Great, lovely, friendly and attentive service by the staff. We got compliments taste of dates drinks. Quite good. Overall, fantastic lunch and very filling with fantastic services for sure.

Esther Jou

17 Sep 2025

New Korean restaurant in Gardena (next to Superior Grocers on Crenshaw Blvd, just north of Marine Ave). They have their own parking lot in the plaza with plenty of parking spots. Closed on Tuesdays, and we went in for lunch on Wednesday around 1pm. The owner and staff are very friendly and the orders came out within 10 min after we ordered them. We got the steamed beef brisket and the spicy stir fry pork feet, both taste great! The pork feet were soft and the seasoning was very flavorful with mild spiciness. The steamed vegetables and beef brisket were fresh and taste great with the dipping sauces. Will come back to try their lunch cold noodles plus protein combo!

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